Oscar?

PinF went to the movies last night and saw a movie that could easily be considered among the top four films this year. No special effects. No spellbinding plot. No sex. Excellent character studies. Hilarious scenes, sad moments and real people all acting so believably it almost seems real. Little Miss Sunshine.


What this film did have was some drug abuse, offensive language, along with very gritty images of real life with a very real and stressed out family. Incredibly dysfunctional, abusive, mean, and loving all at once; the brilliant casting of this movie allow the two childrens' roles to shine through.

This movie works despite its predictabilities mainly due to the characters and their quirks. The cocaine sniffing grandpa, the angry mother, the failing father, the suicidal gay uncle, the angry and uncomfortable teenage boy and mainly because of the movie's champion as an incredibly cute, chubby, and real portrayal by seven year-old Abigail Breslin. This movie will have you crying then laughing --at and then with, this family. Just as quickly it will also have you ready to shed a tear of sadness as the movie veers down as many touching as comedic paths, often combining the two emotions as in the hospital scene.

PinF whole-heartedly recommends this film as a "must see" this summer. In the end this film succeeds on the love of the family despite their faults and weaknesses so convincingly brought forth by the actors. As quirky, contentious, and dysfuntional as they all may seem, they belong to each other. And because of this fact they are drawn to protect, comfort, and assure each other in their most dire, sad, and insecure moments throughout the film. The pinnacle scene of the movie may very well be the seven year-old Olive confiding in her grandfather of her fear of competing in "Little Miss Sunshine" for fear of losing, based on her father's disdain for losing. Alan Arkin is at his best here, assuaging, and assuring his grand-daughter Olive that the "....losers are those who are afraid of attempting to achieve...", the performance, tears, and general likeability of Olive may in fact place her and Arkin in contention for an Oscar.

The predictable parts of this movie are in fact probably the sweetest rewards of such an ensemble cast. Because of their character flaws-- rather than in spite of them, the family champions' each other's shortcomings and fears and become a cohesive team bent on the protection and care of one another - like real families do. I was accompanied last night by a close friend of mine, herself from Europe, and despite the cultural differences of lifestyles, and humor, she too felt the message in this movie, and could relate to the movie's theme of family. Go see this movie, PinF is giving it 5 PinF's.