MOVIE REVIEWS
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Amichai Greene
In her first of what I hope will be many films, Writer, Director, and Star Miranda July brings us a touching, funny, beautifully awkward, and oddly innocent first film. Me and You, amongst a few other things, is a blossoming love story between eccentric performance artist Christine Jesperson (as played by July) and newly divorced shoe salesmen Richard Swersey (as played by John Hawkes).
To be honest, I was already enamored by Hawkes prior to seeing this film due to his portrayal of Saul Starr on the HBO western Deadwood. In both Me and You and Deadwood he plays a very likable character, but in completely different ways. In Me and You he is a vulnerable loving father, still in love with his ex-wife, who – even after setting his hand on fire (a brilliant moment on screen) – has a delightful naive view of the world and of love itself.
As he struggles to put his life back together July’s Christine is just trying to put a life together period. Her only real social contacts seem to be the elderly she taxi’s for a living. Whenever forced to confront anyone: she never quite knows what to say, and when she does say something, you can tell she doesn’t get the reaction she expects. In addition of trying to get her performance art put on display at the local center for contemporary art, she tries, often unsuccessfully, to woo Richard. They are both heartbreakingly innocent characters you can’t help but fall in love with.
On the flip side all the children are far more grounded in the world than the adults. Filled with a wonderful quirkiness the children are the ones lacking an innocence often forced upon them in Hollywood movies (does anyone remember that horribly cute kid from Jerry McGuire?). There is the overly mature 12 year old girl who lives next door already planning for her future buying kitchen appliances now. There are two 15 year old girls who use Richard’s eldest son Peter (played by Miles Thompson) to help them discern which one gives a better blowjob. And finally there is Richard’s youngest son, Robbie (played by Brandon Ratcliff), a first grader who has an endearing internet romance with a 40 year old woman.
Filled with best, funniest and most original dialogue I’ve heard this year this film was a delight to watch. This movie, however, isn’t for everyone. When the term indie film is used, this is the sort of film people are talking about. Character takes precedence over plot, and most things aren’t tied up in a nice little bow in the end. Characters drift out of the story with the same gentle ease in which they drifted in, leaving a bit of a hole where one might expect a sense of closure. And that’s OK with me. I think it works. If you are looking for a great popcorn film I recommend seeing Batman (another movie I really liked). If you want a smart, funny, slightly challenging film this is the one for you.
