The last two weeks of December are two of my favorite weeks of the year. Everyone is in vacation mode and if you're lucky, you might actually have some time off from work.
With my time off I always head to as many nominated movies as possible before awards season kicks off in January with the Golden Globes.
I began my yearly tradition of film catch up on Sunday with Enough Said.
Enough Said stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini. I was nervous I might not be able to make it through the movie without crying, knowing I won't see James Gandolfini grace the big screen or the small screen again after his untimely passing this summer. I did wind up crying, but not because of him, because of the candor of their performances.
In the film Louis-Dreyfus plays Eva, a single mother of a high school senior who works as a massage therapist. As Eva, she is the kooky, zany, high energy woman we've come to expect from her roles on Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep. My favorite moment of hers in the film is her first date with her latest suitor. Her reaction when he tries to kiss her goodnight is so painfully awkward in the most amazing way.
Eva's love interest, Albert, is played by James Gandolfini. He is missing the brutish rough edges of Tony Soprano, but still has the seduction. Albert and Eva find common ground in their divorced marital status and their teenage daughters, both heading to college in a few weeks.
For me, the highlight of the film was the honesty in Eva and Albert's relationship. There was no pretense, no showboating - just the truth (sometimes the ugly truth).
Though their relationship was the focal point of the movie, there was a stand out performance from Tavi Gevinson, who plays Chloe, Eva's daughter's best friend. As Eva's daughter prepares for college and to leave both her mom and Chloe behind, the two bond over being left in the emotional dust. Eva advises Chloe on whether or not to sleep with her boyfriend and Chloe helps Eva when she discovers some unflattering facts about Albert. It's a surprising, yet very endearing connection.
I was disappointed by the performance of my fellow Wheaton College alum, Catherine Keener, who felt cold and heartless in this part.
As I said, the shining moments in the movie all came from the attraction (and the fumbles) in Eva and Albert's relationship. Louis-Dreyfus has been nominated for a 2014 Golden Globe award for this performance and the late Gandolfini has received a 2014 Screen Actors Guild award nomination.
Have you seen Enough Said? What did you think?
*All images courtesy of Enough Said.
