First up is the family dramedy JUNEBUG. Starting in Chicago (yay), Madeline is the director of an art gallery, and during an auction, it's practically love at first sight for her and George, the man she eventually (but quickly in the films' span) falls for and marries. Several months after their marriage, George and Madeline head to North Carolina to meet with an unknown artist named David Wark whom Madeline wants to court to have a show in her gallery. His paintings have a unique quality to them, and are humorously graphic in their depiction of historical battles and moments in time. But down the road not too far away is where George's family lives. Madeline is eventually aquainted with the entire family, including Johnny (Ben Mackenzie, of Fox's THE OC), George's younger brother, Peg and Eugene (Celia Weston and Scott Wilson), the parents, and Ashley (Amy Adams), Johnny's very pregnant wife whom is amazed at Madeline's presence. Where the family keeps to themselves, and isn't so great at expressing their emotions, Ashley is a polar opposite. Any quiet moment can be suddenly filled with her lively intuitions and thoughts.

I've seen a lot of family dramas in my life, but none of them has had quite the feel that JUNEBUG exudes. It's a unique film with touching moments, and awkward wonder, but somehow doesn't exactly have a purpose. Maybe we're just supposed to take the journey with Madeline, meeting this quiet new world, and to just enjoy what we see, because that's the best we can do ... and that's fine with me.

---

On a different note, but similar page is the quirky indie comedy The Baxter, from Michael Showalter, one of the guys in the comedy trio known as STELLA (from Comedy Central), and the cult hit WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER. You know how every movie with a girl getting married has her with the wrong guy , only to have the right guy FINALLY tell her how he feels right at the altar ? Well, that 'wrong' guy is known as The Baxter, and that's exactly who Elliot Wendall Sherman is (well, specifically to his grandmother's definition of the word) . Remarkably, Elliot meets and is soon engaged to the total babe Caroline Swann (played by Elizabeth Banks). They do not belong together. You know it , I know it, and the entire audience knows it. Once they're on screen together, we're all just waiting for the REAL guy for her to show up. And soon, he does. Justin Theroux plays Bradley, Elizabeth's high school sweetheart -- or simply the guy whom Elliot isn't. But of course, there's someone for Elliot, and that role is filled by his temp secretary Cecil Mills, the charming sweet opposite of Elizabeth, played by Michelle Williams. Nearly everything in The Baxter is predictable, but from the opening scene in the film, we know what we're in for anyway. If you can buy into the NYC hipster office mode of this movie, and enjoy any of the lead actors in general, then this is the movie for you. That is unfortunately because The Baxter is not a movie for everyone. It's cute, charming, and funny, but only to those willing to give in.

-- all images= movies.yahoo.com ---

Glad I'm not the only one that saw Junebug.

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)