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Beginners

Beginners

Beginners

2011
Drama
1h 45m
A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.
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Directed by:

Mike Mills
Mike-Mills
Mike Mills
15 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Thumbsucker and 20th Century Women
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Writer:

Mike Mills
Mike-Mills
Mike Mills
15 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Thumbsucker and 20th Century Women
Read more

Starring:

Christopher Plummer
Christopher-Plummer
Christopher Plummer
151 total credits
Christopher Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. In a career that spans over five decades and includes substantial roles in film, television, and theatre, Plummer is perhaps best known for the role of Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music. His most recent film roles include the Disney-Pixar 2009 film Up as Charles Muntz, the Shane Acker production 9 as 1, The Last Station as Leo Tolstoy, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus... (Wikipedia)
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, Ewan McGregor
Ewan-McGregor
Ewan McGregor
89 total credits
Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor who has had success in mainstream, indie and art house films. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Mark Renton in the 1996 film Trainspotting, the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the romantic penniless writer Christian in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! (Wikipedia)
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, Goran Visnjic
Goran-Visnjic
Goran Visnjic
37 total credits
Credits include: Ice Age, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Rounders, Elektra and Beginners
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, Kai Lennox
Kai-Lennox
Kai Lennox
10 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Night Moves, Unbelievable, Apartment 143 and God's Country
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, Mélanie Laurent
Mlanie-Laurent
Mélanie Laurent
52 total credits
Credits include: Inglourious Basterds, Now You See Me, Enemy, Beginners and 6 Underground
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, Lou Taylor Pucci
Lou-Taylor-Pucci
Lou Taylor Pucci
31 total credits
Credits include: Evil Dead, Beginners, Southland Tales, Thumbsucker and Fast Food Nation
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, Mary Page Keller
Mary-Page-Keller
Mary Page Keller
17 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Johnny Tsunami, Timecop: The Berlin Decision, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board and Scared Stiff
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, Bill Oberst Jr.
Bill-Oberst-Jr
Bill Oberst Jr.
32 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Resolution, Synchronic, Nude Nuns with Big Guns and Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies
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, Melissa Tang
Melissa-Tang
Melissa Tang
8 total credits
Credits include: A Good Day to Die Hard, Beginners, Who Invited Them, The Goodwin Games and Transplanticipation
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, Keegan Boos
Keegan-Boos
Keegan Boos
2 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, There Are Consequences, A New Reality, It's Not Supposed to Be Easy and The Rules of the Game
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, China Shavers
China-Shavers
China Shavers
3 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Boston Public and Nightmare at 30,000 Feet
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, Amanda Payton
Amanda-Payton
Amanda Payton
7 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Trial & Error, Code 404, On the Same Paige and Homesick/Deghyat
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Genre:

Drama

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, French
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Beginners

2011
Drama
1h 45m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Average Percentile: 57.97%
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

Compact view
Compact view
Average Percentile: 57.97%
kmcneilKMcNeil
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06 Jul 2011
10
98th
The impossible task of trying to love and live, while dealing with an existential grief is handled expertly in "Beginners". It's a real rarity: A movie that feels genuine. Strip away the interactions, the small shifts in facial expressions and all the things unsaid, and you're left with a very ordinary movie. Fortunately these things can't be stripped away. They're part of the movie's flesh and blood. They're the very fabric of life. "Beginners" is pain and catharsis rolled into one.
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06 Jul 2011
sellissellis
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15 Jul 2011
92
92nd
Because of its emotional honesty and maturity, it's simply not logical to write off its creativity and fascination with sadness as twee or "indie." It's brilliant, borderline WKW/playful 60s Godard for America.
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15 Jul 2011
omgfridgeomgfridge
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04 Dec 2011
10
97th
I'm curious to know if Mélanie Laurent knows I am going to marry her.
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04 Dec 2011
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
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03 Jan 2012
40
13th
So, this is a Miranda July-inspired dramedy about depressed, but tender people, with cute drawings, cool (but sad) lines -- what the hell, is this a Tumblr or a film? --, eccentric characters -- they try to be lovable, but they are just irritating --, a dog that communicates with human beings -- it's Miranda's pet, I'm quite sure --, inadequate flashbacks and this poseur thing of putting historical and personal events together. Ok. Phony.
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03 Jan 2012
rufamRufam
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24 Aug 2011
85
93rd
"Beginners" is a lovely treat with brains and heart to spare. Mills skillfully handles the back-and-forth structure and he has a sharp eye for the human condition. The performances are splendid (especially Plummer) while the seamless way in which comedic and dramatic elements are combined is refreshing. And if occasionally the quirkiness feels forced or some dialogues ring false, it's all forgiven because this is a film so tender and heart-piercing that will undoubtedly put a smile on your face.
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24 Aug 2011
petrostserPetrosTser
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24 Aug 2011
90
97th
"Beginners" is the most beautiful surprise of the year. The direction was just brilliant, the script fantastic, perfectly balancing between drama, comedy and romance, while the cast was great as well. Static films don't get any better. Take that, Jean-Luc!
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24 Aug 2011
paxtonPaxton
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03 Mar 2023
65
50th
Oddly enough I was there for the sadness and got lost in the cuteness. Give me depressed Freud and even existential dog over those dates. I'm more of a wallower than a beginner though.
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03 Mar 2023
fredericg54frederic_g54
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03 Mar 2012
8
78th
(2nd viewing) Mills does a terrific job of scrutinizing its leads' despondent memories by way of getting through the day. While it unfolds rather disjointedly, I felt like treading familiar territory, as if I've known these people for a very long time and enjoyed my time spent with them. I wasn't involved with Plummer's character as much I had hoped but can see, given its resolution, how he fits the frame. McGr/Laurent are a match made in heaven, their offbeat relationship refreshingly honest.
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03 Mar 2012
filmfreak88filmfreak88
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28 Nov 2011
80
78th
An utterly charming, beautifully acted story about lost and damaged souls making genuine attempts at securing happiness and affection for themselves. The quirky/offbeat style feels disjointed at times, but the film as a whole is refreshingly honest, downplaying the romance for a more subtle portrayal of love and commitment.
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28 Nov 2011
bunkenBunken
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05 Nov 2011
80
88th
I want to marry Mélanie Laurent!
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05 Nov 2011
theficionadotheficionado
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20 Jul 2011
63
61st
Peel back the layers of forced ironic detachment (dog conversations, narration = barf) and its somewhat pat psychologizing, and it's surprisingly how deeply felt and occasionally thorny this one can be. Favorite moment in its fractured chronology: The point-where-to-go game, first shown as quirky romantic dalliance, earns weight after it becomes obvious it was first conceived by the protag's mother in a playful but somewhat cruel fit of passive-aggression.
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20 Jul 2011
sirstuckeySirStuckey
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16 Jul 2011
95
97th
This film spoke to me on a more personal level than most, as director Mike Mills takes on the nearly impossible task of trying to show the beauty of sadness. Everything about this film feels genuine and organic. McGregor and Laurent have amazing chemistry which only aids the realism of their romance. Besides a few moments that felt a bit too indie I was completely on board with this movie and it's message. Loved it.
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16 Jul 2011
tjekhovTjekhov
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07 Jul 2011
60
54th
The shift in time and place worked to perfection, equating the two separate stories, and their somewhat difficult quest for happiness. Showing happiness in a historical context gives the film a different perspective. The only downside is that the director is quite repetitive in defining the characters traits - balancing between Coppolla indie and 500 days of summer indie - he often chooses the latter, which I too bad. The cinematography shifted between the beautiful and the incredibly annoying.
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07 Jul 2011
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
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07 Jul 2011
93
93rd
I feel a certain amount of vindication for defending Mill's first film Thumbsucker as something more than just another run-of-the-mill "quirky coming-of-age" pseudo-indie. While still undeniably retaining some aspects of forced "quirkiness" (but never enough to really lose their charm), Mill's second film is more Greenberg than Garden State, a remarkably mature and personal work that still probably won't earn many points for originality but nonetheless comes across as quite genuine and moving.
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07 Jul 2011
cinematicespCinematicESP
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28 Jun 2011
89
84th
While it falls victim to certain cutesy indie trappings, it never feels artificial and ultimately succeeds thanks to good performances and some refreshing formal experimentation.
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28 Jun 2011
kasperlKasperL
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10 Mar 2012
40
19th
Plummer, McGregor and Laurent do well, with some of their work seeming at least semi-improvised, but Mills' direction style is peculiar. Aiming for an off-beat tone, his film becomes a superficial one, too confident of its own charms. Therefore neither of the two stories truly engage. Also, the jokes fizzle; a telepathic dog never was my idea of hilarity. Different, yet nothing special.
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10 Mar 2012
rossRoss
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29 Feb 2012
45
38th
It has fine acting, but the characters are too quirky to catch my interest and they seem too unreal. This made the film unengaging and quite boring.
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29 Feb 2012
brambonBrambon
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14 Jan 2012
84
55th
It's easy to take concepts like sadness and hope and dramatize them, but Beginners uses them in the first real portrayal I've seen in a while. Even when we're photo-sliding through memories, everything has an impact on the main characters and how they manage to love and live, smile and be sad, experience relationships and complexities. The heart of the film is too genuine to be bogged down by any indie philosophizing or gimmicks.
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14 Jan 2012
parcalihamparcaliham
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12 Oct 2011
65
33rd
12 Ekim 2011, filmekimi, abimle, atlas sinemasi & derin gorunen ama yuzeysel kalmis bir 'feel-good' film. Senaryo ve ritim konusunda sorunlu. Oyunculuklar hos.
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12 Oct 2011
maartenmaarten
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22 Sep 2011
87
97th
Every once in a while, you find an unexpected gem in the cinema: a film that does everything exactly right. Beginners's genuine feeling comes to life in exquisite performances by McGregor, Laurent and Plummer - while the humour (despite the topic of grief) is spot on. A few really clever or charming shots make this film feel a lot like Amélie - but so much more diverse.
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22 Sep 2011
bowfingerbowfinger
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16 Aug 2011
78
80th
This was one of the few movies I've seen in recent years that felt original and refreshing, especially the first half was great. Had really nice surprises like the costume party. "While I understand up to 150 words - I don't talk" has got to be one of my favourite movie diolagues ever.
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16 Aug 2011
cowfrappecowfrappe
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24 Jul 2011
88
98th
A well-acted, well-made story with a quirky, eccentric, and heartbreaking sense of humor.
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24 Jul 2011
lintonmyroxylintonmyroxy
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28 Feb 2022
85
51st
Plummer looks like Magneto + Dr. Xavier (original cast). This movie made me realize that gay guys can get rejected too (but only if they're 75). Why is it always small, scruffy dogs that get the "funny" subtitled speaking roles? I want to see a 110 pound cane corso call Ewan McGregor a pussy for not fucking on the first date
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28 Feb 2022
nobambanobamba
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04 Mar 2020
50
46th
Sweet movie but I wish it had a traditional narrative since the disjointed flashbacks did nothing for me. Would have liked to see more developments in the relationships or how Ewan McGregor handled his dad coming out. Minor complaint: both this and Transparent has dads coming out who are definitely wealthy or at least rich enough to avoid any typical struggle. Fav scene: roller skating around after being kicked out of the arena.
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04 Mar 2020
bentienbentien
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16 Dec 2019
55
40th
A bit boring in my opinion.
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16 Dec 2019
roofsrunnerroofs_runner
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07 Feb 2012
80
59th
Adorable piece of work. I am really happy to see McGregor again showing decent performance. Their chemistry with Laurent looks very credible. Special thanks to the dog who deserved an animal Oscar, if there was any. Another good example how an unconventionl love story can put into a deep muse.
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07 Feb 2012
deryDery
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28 Jan 2012
15
3rd
Biraz amerikan, biraz fransız olsun. Hem düz izleyiciye ulaşırız hem de entel kitleye. Gay mevzusunu da koyduk mu bir oyuncu oscar'ını da kaparız. Ama çok irite edici bir çift olmuşuz onu hesaba katmadık.
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28 Jan 2012
jesse25jesse25
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27 Dec 2011
88
64th
"Beginners" has a quirky charm about it thanks to a wonderfully unique style of storytelling. There's a lot of visual tricks thrown into the narrative, but they don't get in the way thanks to director Mike Mills' emotional attachment to the project. The raw emotion never gets lost, even amongst the quirkiness. Mills has a gem on his hands here with "Beginners". Films like this don't come along all that often and we need to appreciate this kind of quality filmmaking.
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27 Dec 2011
carsonwidCarsonWid
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15 Dec 2011
77
82nd
A very well-written story which unfortunately was a little slow at times....but still quite good, and worth watching for great acting and some interesting scenes.
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15 Dec 2011
bharathbharath
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04 Nov 2011
75
73rd
The movie captures two parallel scripts, coming to grips with the loss of a loved one and finding new love. The way these two scripts are woven together has been done well. the movie has some very good performance by all of the actors. The movie is clever and has some quirky humor. The movie is not something for everyone to watch.
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04 Nov 2011
vinegarbobVinegarBob
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21 Oct 2011
50
24th
This is a film that thinks it's very hip and smart but is very far from either.
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21 Oct 2011
bizortbizort
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21 Aug 2011
89
93rd
The pace drags a bit toward the end but a solid effort all around
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21 Aug 2011
senseisensei
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19 Aug 2011
40
6th
This is what a boring, depressed, charmless artiste looks like. This is what his boring actress girlfriend looks like. This is their boring bereft-of-passion romance. These are his hipster friends who ironically tag brick walls. Here is his charming gay father. And this is his father's dog whose thoughts appear on screen as subtitles - QUIRKY! All characters lack emotional depth. Bach's suite no. 1 is almost as cliche as Pachabel's Canon in D at this point. And: Why was this rated R?
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19 Aug 2011
astrakhanastrakhan
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31 Jul 2011
72
24th
Another one of those boy-meets-girl movies where the leads gaze longingly into each others' eyes, mumble philosophical nonsense, walk hand-in-hand, kiss, sit together in long awkward silences and listen to repetitive piano themes in flattering low sunlight. Problem. There's no substance to the story and no reason for us to care about these characters. And then, all the stuff with the gay dad didn't fit at all with the romance. 2 different films in one box. Pretentious and self-indulgent.
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31 Jul 2011
xacviantxacviant
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20 Jul 2011
82
56th
Enjoyable lightweight character piece by Mike Mills, contrasting Oliver's (Ewan McGregor) budding love for Anna (Melanie Laurent) with his father's (Christopher Plummer) exploration of his own homosexuality, having come out after his wife's death. Mills' script has a bit too twee to be a complete success, but it's generally sincere; excellent performances from the three leads, especially Plummer, whose serenity in the face of his various tribulations (i.e. cancer) is truly moving.
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20 Jul 2011
berni89Berni89
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14 Jun 2011
86
82nd
Me: Hello, Internet. me interpreting internet with a deep voice: Hello, Bernard.
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14 Jun 2011
chengmingchengming
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15 Apr 2021
65
47th
Appreciate the attempts at going beyond a mainstream rom-com - alas, they are not always successful.
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15 Apr 2021
karbonaichKarbonaich
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08 Feb 2021
90
85th
w/ Gurmes
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08 Feb 2021
yoshinarutoYoshinaruto
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20 May 2020
70
71st
An intergenerational gay couple in a film that has a budget of more than $100? I have to give it points for representation that I thought I wouldn’t see until perhaps 2030. Beginners is a pretty slow and depressing film, but it has good acting (especially Plummer), a few thought provoking moments, and a lot of enjoyable quirks (the dog’s inner thoughts are quite amusing). It seems pretty niche, certainly not for everyone, but I liked it.
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20 May 2020
burrrburrr
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29 May 2018
80
55th
78.00+1.50 = 79.50.
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29 May 2018
moonsmilkmoonsmilk
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16 Feb 2018
7
39th
I mean, it's solid, but a bit too twee and "quirky" to really hit home. Mike Mills did this way better in 20th Century Women.
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16 Feb 2018
danifoulleDaniFoulle
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18 Nov 2017
80
75th
Nhoim feel good movie
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18 Nov 2017
blakeengelBlakeEngel
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11 Mar 2017
8
42nd
Sometimes it feels like Mills gets lost in still-image tangents. Sometimes it feels like Mills uses a unique language to connect the audience to an emotional truth only cinema can fully reveal. There's nothing not to like about this movie, it just seems like Mills could have done even more. Perhaps investigate more of the realities of relationship, beyond the meet cute (specifically with the younger couple). The talking dog didn't do a whole lot for me. Still, a delightful movie.
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11 Mar 2017
twincinematwincinema
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26 Jan 2017
70
52nd
A quasi autobiographical version of Mills' life. Plummer is fantastic, and McGregor, perhaps intentionally, is forgetful. This is a nice film. Time shifts frequently in this film, giving the viewer a feeling of unrest. Flashbacks happen so seamlessly that they start to feel like the present.
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26 Jan 2017
agentsnipeAgentSnipe
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16 Aug 2016
81
74th
It's a lovely film that definitely has its heart in the right place.
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16 Aug 2016
flapjack6xflapjack6x
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28 Sep 2015
59
58th
Somewhat touching but to aimless to make an impression on me
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28 Sep 2015
vassagoVassago
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18 Aug 2015
77
77th
I thought this was a comedy film, at least that's how I started. But turned out to be a quite gripping drama. I find myself thinking about all my past broken relationships and it's a hard pill to swallow. Anyways McGregor&Laurent made a lovely couple.
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18 Aug 2015
movie_opMovie-Op
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21 Jun 2015
10
99th
It's a deliciously melancholic stew of love and loss.
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21 Jun 2015
coinquatroCoinQuatro
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26 Apr 2015
85
93rd
One of these life-saving movies.
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26 Apr 2015
driscarpindriscarpin
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13 Dec 2014
59
29th
Em honra dos 85 anos de Christopher Plummer.
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13 Dec 2014
ag0stomesmerAg0stoMesmer
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28 May 2014
3
73rd
Gentle weepy with agreeable indie stylings. The drama equivalent of an inoffensive observational standup routine. "do you ever...
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28 May 2014
nilooravaeinilooravaei
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24 Dec 2013
73
22nd
this film marketed itself as cute and quirky and it definitely was cute and quirky. the problem was that it little else. the characters and their relationships were superficial. in fact, every time the characters were about to have a conversation which revealed their thoughts/personalities/conflicts, the film would just play music over it. it felt looked lazy. over all, i felt like the film had an interesting premise, but was far from being fully developed.
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24 Dec 2013
glm01glm01
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18 Oct 2013
78
58th
77.500
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18 Oct 2013
derekstarDerekstar
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14 Oct 2013
80
68th
Melanie Laurent could easily convince me to do terrible, unconscionable things.
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14 Oct 2013
sweetmortalSweetMortal
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09 Jul 2013
89
62nd
If you think that these kind of films are air headed, it would be forgettable of you to not think that this film is one of those arty dramas that follows a path without any unnecessary commentary. It is tended with three genuinely well cast and sweet performances, and any lingering thought (that would be considered strange) or amusing line just fits into the puzzle piece.
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09 Jul 2013
syvyyssyvyys
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09 Jul 2013
70
24th
well maid.
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09 Jul 2013
ferstardustferstardust
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03 May 2013
85
69th
So beautiful and devastating.
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03 May 2013
perrystroikaPerryStroika
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24 Apr 2013
57
30th
Love the cast; Plummer, McGregor are good and Melanie Laurent's quirky charm is up there with the best of them, but I'm having major issues with the writing, the scattershot editing, the cloying music choices. And those dog conversations are bad miscalculations.
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24 Apr 2013
hatandbeardhatandbeard
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23 Apr 2013
5
11th
the DOG gets SUBTITLES, and his dad is GAY and he's AWKWARD; how absolutely fucking quirky!
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23 Apr 2013
david99david99
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01 Mar 2013
6
44th
This is a movie made for cute people who like cute things.
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01 Mar 2013
wezzoWezzo
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04 Feb 2013
83
59th
A marvellous melee: laden with offbeat structural and visual quirks, yet deep down an honest and tender look at everyone's search for what their heart needs. McGregor and Plummer stun.
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04 Feb 2013
ozonepaulozonepaul
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22 Dec 2012
77
24th
Quirky people should mean weird people in a good way.Sadly in American indie movies quirky people are just annoying and whiny.Usually they live in nice apartments,they don't really have to work to pay the bills,they're good looking with shiny teeth(that never needs dentist treatment)and they've got all the time in the world to contemplate and indulge about no one else other than themselves. They should be cured with a big slap.The acting(especially C Plummer)and the storytelling is great though.
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22 Dec 2012
pzinggpzingg
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12 Dec 2012
83
35th
Indie and well-written follow-up to Thumbsucker. Similar exploration of American family values and lonely men looking for love. Just didn't grab me. Mike Mills's drawings are nice, but I prefer Miranda July's take on the female view of the same issues.
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12 Dec 2012
ducoDuco
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11 Dec 2012
71
39th
A playful drama about two society outcasts that find a new love in each other. The acting's good, and the movie flows quite fluidly, but I just don't see any scene being memorable or excessively great. Still, compared to dramas of late, it's definately worth a watch, if not else for McGregor & Laurent.
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11 Dec 2012
ryan_luedersRyan Lueders
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15 Aug 2012
70
31st
I was fooled into thinking this movie was a comedy. Stupid library... the cover plus the label for the dvd made me think this movie would be funny but it really didn't have too many laughs. Sure Christopher Plummer was fantastic and deserved his Oscar but the rest of the movie was really hard to slosh through. The dog with the subtitles was probably one of the best parts and I also really liked the photo montages. Otherwise I can't say I loved much of anything from this other than the acting.
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15 Aug 2012
timon88Timon88
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10 Aug 2012
41
33rd
I so wanted to like this movie. But, except for the scenes between Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor, almost everything about it annoyed me. Especially the use of crappy music to mask a bad (or non-existent) transition or bad scene "ending".
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10 Aug 2012
damildamil
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21 Jun 2012
70
67th
This was a pretty nice movie. Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer both gave really great performances. And Melanie Laurent was absolutely adorable. The film really has two stories, and I thought they were woven together quite well. It was very quirky, but not obnoxiously so. I can imagine it might bother some people though. I enjoyed it overall.
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21 Jun 2012
whorrificwhorrific
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07 May 2012
85
58th
very beautiful film. the acting is lovely from all parties and the way it was filmed got me very excited. great use of play with sound and visuals. was hoping for something a little bit more concrete from the story, however it was all together a great movie.
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07 May 2012
rafalivrarirafa_livrari
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10 Mar 2012
84
76th
Muito Bom !
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10 Mar 2012
adrianavbadrianavb
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04 Mar 2012
77
86th
I haven't cried in years, since "The lion king", but this movie ripped out a few tears straight from my heart.
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04 Mar 2012
lauftLäuft.
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01 Mar 2012
85
83rd
Loved it from start to finish. Strong performances. Nice plot lines and there is enough depth to it for not loosing me at some point.
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01 Mar 2012
cameron326cameron326
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29 Feb 2012
40
2nd
Starts fairly promisingly but goes downhill at some speed. Unremarkable man meets unremarkable woman and they do a bunch of unremarkable things. This film, with its forced quikiness and annoying narration, irritated the hell out of me. I couldn't feel anthing toward the two bland leads. I had to turn it off half way through. (oh, just found this is the director who did thumbsucker - another god awful movie. It all makes sense now)
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29 Feb 2012
stuie299stuie299
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26 Feb 2012
85
76th
I really liked the style of the movie. The acting from the three main characters is great.I loved the seamless flashbacks and narration. The emotions for this movie are so vivid and almost palpable. To me the pacing really holds it back. While making the movie more realistic the quieter moments unfortunately sometimes slow down the film's momentum.
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26 Feb 2012
staryarabbistaryarabbi
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14 Feb 2012
55
32nd
you make me laugh but you are not funny
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14 Feb 2012
burkayadaligburkayadalig
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11 Feb 2012
87
81st
elegant, touchy, somewhat melancholic but still hopeful...a beautiful parallel story of losing love & finding love
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11 Feb 2012
lb94LB94
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09 Feb 2012
86
93rd
Absolutely beautiful. A film like this rarely comes along that is so devastating, powerful and hilarious at the same time. The performances from McGregor and Plummer especially are a sight to see, but it's the subtly and the calm nature behind Mills' incredibly screenplay that really makes it as good as it is. I am really impressed.
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09 Feb 2012
gillsoloGillSolo
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06 Feb 2012
80
73rd
A well acted film that is capable of evoking various emotional responses.
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06 Feb 2012
sebbysebby
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05 Feb 2012
70
73rd
Christopher Plummer proudly plays himself as an aged homsexual lothario with a $6400 scarf collection. A victory for all the Ewan McGregors of the world. Also there is a talking dog or something like that.
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05 Feb 2012
ajd612AJD612
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01 Feb 2012
81
65th
Christopher Plummer gives one of his best performances in Mike Mill's Beginners, but this film should not be considered a one-trick-pony. Mills takes what could have been a maudlin story and keeps it mostly light with just the right amount of emotional moments. The film occasionally loses focus when not in flashback mode, but as a whole, it works both as a romantic comedy and a bittersweet reflection on emotional commitment and self-understanding.
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01 Feb 2012
davidjohnsonDavidJohnson
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31 Jan 2012
66
40th
According to IMDb this is supposed to be a comedy, drama, romance. It is not very funny, sad, or romantic. People are praising Chritopher Plummer, I didn't think he was anything special. Mélanie Laurent was pretty good. It's hard to really get anything out of this movie. It jumps back and forth in time, with no real added effect to the movie. It's just forgettable, but it was sort of fun while it lasted I guess.
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31 Jan 2012
kavuKavu
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29 Jan 2012
69
46th
Juggles two good stories, but doesn't do it very well. Good acting.
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29 Jan 2012
zealot185Zealot185
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28 Jan 2012
84
80th
Despite the indie-flick trappings, they are overpowered by how the film deconstructs the complexities of love, life, and commitment with a light-hearted, ingenuous flair.
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28 Jan 2012
gordonbombayGordonBombay
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24 Jan 2012
80
63rd
Plummer is great as the late to life gay father and his acting with McGregor shows that love is difficult no matter what shape in comes in. Be is straight, gay or platonic love is love and is never easy. The real winner of the movie in my eyes is Laurent, she never has to be alone anymore. I am here for you Melanie!
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24 Jan 2012
joncolcoljoncolcol
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23 Jan 2012
75
0th
Has its moments, but as a whole, a little too low key for my taste.
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23 Jan 2012
halukilhanhalukilhan
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18 Jan 2012
70
17th
kopek, resimli anlatim
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18 Jan 2012
dogubombDogubomb
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13 Jan 2012
30
12th
Bam, tell 'em Rumplesink!
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13 Jan 2012
wetwillieswetwillies
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10 Jan 2012
90
80th
I like a lot of the little quirks and stylistic choices of this movie, the kind of things that may annoy some but I thought they were great. I also think the screenplay is great and Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer are great. Melanie Laurent is pretty good.
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10 Jan 2012
catscandalCatScandal
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10 Jan 2012
42
44th
shallow story covered up by pretty people and cute dialogue. but the dialogue WAS very cute.
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10 Jan 2012
auhasarderikauhasarderik
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05 Jan 2012
5
22nd
Romantic urban drama with a sideplot more interesting than the main one; director has a knack for cute pictures and slick montages and narration, but makes little sense of the story.
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05 Jan 2012
worstcasesceworstcasesce
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02 Jan 2012
1
0th
Admittedly I was less than enthralled with Ewan's character's romance, but Beginners is a genuinely moving film that centers around our parent's place in our lives and moreover the acceptance that they too are independent people with wants and needs and fears. The more specific a film is the more universal it tends to feel, and that's Beginners. Great pacing, style to burn, worth watching. Score is not a grade.
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02 Jan 2012
wayofthegunwayofthegun
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28 Dec 2011
70
41st
It held my interest and has some unique flashback narrative, but I felt it was trying to be more intelligent than it was. Good performances from the cast.
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28 Dec 2011
langelundLangelund
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23 Dec 2011
75
77th
Though brilliantly delivered by Plummer the dying gay dad character here and there feels a bit misplaced and overly quirky, but that aside one of the most intriguing and intimate mixes of love story and existential journey to come across the silver screen since 'Lost in Translation'.
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23 Dec 2011
okkervilOkkervil
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20 Dec 2011
87
93rd
A delightful, touching, beautiful and at times painful movie. Mills' script is wonderful, his direction elegant (if, for want of a better word, a little overly 'indie' at times), and the performances from the three leads are all very good indeed. Best of all are the brilliantly fleshed out character relationships, which are deep, complex and meaningful. The musical score is a real treat too; subtle and effective. One of 2011's very best.
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20 Dec 2011
rant1229rant1229
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13 Dec 2011
4
69th
Sure, all the problems people say are there are indeed there. For a film about life and death the stakes feel pretty low, and the adorableness of McGregor and Laurent's relationship feels overly constructed at times. But it's all wrapped up in such a pleasant and poignant way, if you're open to being charmed, it will charm you.
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13 Dec 2011
myfavchordsmyfavchords
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12 Dec 2011
74
43rd
This is a good character piece work. The three main actors: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Melanie Laurent are all very good in their roles. The story jumps around in time but it is easy to follow.
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12 Dec 2011
mlightle3mlightle3
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08 Dec 2011
95
91st
Stunning and captivating. A great example of true quirky indie movies.
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08 Dec 2011
glmglm
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07 Dec 2011
79
63rd
78.500
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07 Dec 2011
glumpy-99glumpy_99
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21 Nov 2011
56
16th
Frustrating drama succeeds as well as it does thanks to fine performances all round (especially from Plummer). After an intriguing and engrossing first half, where several original, daring and quirky ideas are tried (especially the amusing dog subtitles), it becomes increasingly fractured and disorganised, almost completely running aground and losing its focus, which ultimately hurts its dramatic impact.
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21 Nov 2011
sirrobbieSirRobbie
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21 Nov 2011
70
53rd
Elegant, charming, but I feel like I've watched it already.
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21 Nov 2011
billkerwinbillkerwin
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20 Nov 2011
79
38th
Moments of great emotional power, particularly from Plummer, McGregor and Keller, but Laurent is too fey to be believed and the interestingly fragmented narrative is marred by too much indie cuteness.
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20 Nov 2011

Cast & Info

Directed by:

Mike Mills
Mike-Mills
Mike Mills
15 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Thumbsucker and 20th Century Women
Read more

Writer:

Mike Mills
Mike-Mills
Mike Mills
15 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Thumbsucker and 20th Century Women
Read more

Starring:

Christopher Plummer
Christopher-Plummer
Christopher Plummer
151 total credits
Christopher Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. In a career that spans over five decades and includes substantial roles in film, television, and theatre, Plummer is perhaps best known for the role of Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music. His most recent film roles include the Disney-Pixar 2009 film Up as Charles Muntz, the Shane Acker production 9 as 1, The Last Station as Leo Tolstoy, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus... (Wikipedia)
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, Ewan McGregor
Ewan-McGregor
Ewan McGregor
89 total credits
Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor who has had success in mainstream, indie and art house films. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Mark Renton in the 1996 film Trainspotting, the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the romantic penniless writer Christian in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! (Wikipedia)
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, Goran Visnjic
Goran-Visnjic
Goran Visnjic
37 total credits
Credits include: Ice Age, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Rounders, Elektra and Beginners
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, Kai Lennox
Kai-Lennox
Kai Lennox
10 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Night Moves, Unbelievable, Apartment 143 and God's Country
Read more
, Mélanie Laurent
Mlanie-Laurent
Mélanie Laurent
52 total credits
Credits include: Inglourious Basterds, Now You See Me, Enemy, Beginners and 6 Underground
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, Lou Taylor Pucci
Lou-Taylor-Pucci
Lou Taylor Pucci
31 total credits
Credits include: Evil Dead, Beginners, Southland Tales, Thumbsucker and Fast Food Nation
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, Mary Page Keller
Mary-Page-Keller
Mary Page Keller
17 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Johnny Tsunami, Timecop: The Berlin Decision, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board and Scared Stiff
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, Bill Oberst Jr.
Bill-Oberst-Jr
Bill Oberst Jr.
32 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Resolution, Synchronic, Nude Nuns with Big Guns and Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies
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, Melissa Tang
Melissa-Tang
Melissa Tang
8 total credits
Credits include: A Good Day to Die Hard, Beginners, Who Invited Them, The Goodwin Games and Transplanticipation
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, Keegan Boos
Keegan-Boos
Keegan Boos
2 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, There Are Consequences, A New Reality, It's Not Supposed to Be Easy and The Rules of the Game
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, China Shavers
China-Shavers
China Shavers
3 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Boston Public and Nightmare at 30,000 Feet
Read more
, Amanda Payton
Amanda-Payton
Amanda Payton
7 total credits
Credits include: Beginners, Trial & Error, Code 404, On the Same Paige and Homesick/Deghyat
Read more

Genre:

Drama

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, French
IMDb
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