70/365 The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Starring: Robin Wright, Blake Lively, Alan Arkin, Keanu Reeves, Julianne Moore, Maria Bello, and Winona Ryder ( a real ensemble)

Genre: Dark Comedy

Discovery: Watched a few weeks ago, finally getting to the review.  I adore Robin Wright, she has such a tough vulnerability.

Summary: Pippa (Robin Wright) is raised by an emotionally unstable mom (who loves her but is ill equipped to parent, played by Maria Bello), so she goes to live with her aunt.  During that time she meets her lover and future husband, Herb (Alan Arkin).  He forces them to move to a retirement community.  That is where she slowly starts ‘losing her mind’ but finding her true self.  She falls in love with a neighbor, Chris (Keanu Reeves),  who is like a guardian angel; loving her for who she really is.

First Glance:  Director Rebecca Miller is brilliant at bringing some very fine performance out of the actors.  Robin and Keanu shine.  Alan plays loving but unfaithful husband perfectly.  Shot beautifully, there were a few scenes that I was just entranced by.  (Behind the scenes girl says:  I would spoil to share but they are pivotal scenes. So you will have to trust me.) Wonderful story of being true to yourself.  LOVE.

Deeper Look: It would be so easy with a movie like this to get too maudlin.  To be full of itself.  Wonderful performances and fantastic writing keep this from being so. There are moments of chaos, great warmth, fun, heartbreak, and adventure.  Each one leading you further into the woman that is Pippa.  Utterly charming.  I related to pieces of this film, the idea that one has to bend themselves into a ‘good person’ to please the people around them.  The moment she is freed from this constraint is such a joy.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Your history is just a story.  It’s the present that matters.  Love heals.

Final Glimpse: Please see this movie.  Lovely, rich, and nuanced dark comedy that has such heart.