Movie Review: Junebug

Junebug (DVD Review)

With one Oscar®-nominated performance in the film (Best Supporting Actress), I'd heard of Junebug. But I'd heard little else, and one nomination wasn't going to get Junebug to the top of my "must see before March" movie list. But the strong recommendation of a fellow movie lover made me make the time to take a look at the film on DVD, and I'm truly pleased that fate conspired to get me to see Junebug after all.

This wonderfully quirky independent film tells the story of Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz), a Chicago art dealer who is a city girl from the tips of her sensible pumps to the top of her well coiffed head. Young, pretty, and newly married to George (Alessandro Nivola), both her life and her career are going well. The icing on the cake — at least for now — would be the signing of a talented unknown artist for an exclusive showing at her gallery. Madeleine gets a tip that just such an artist is ripe for the picking in a small town in North Carolina, and so she makes plans to see the artist and his work for herself.

George, as it turns out, was born and raised in North Carolina only half an hour or so from where the artist lives. The trip instantly becomes not just a chance to sign an artist but the opportunity to meet her new husband's family for the first time. If George seems a bit reluctant over the last part, well, Madeleine's own anticipation largely blinds her to it.

After the long drive from Chicago to North Carolina, the pair arrive at George's childhood home. His mother, Peg (Celia Weston) is fussing in the kitchen, and his father, Eugene (Scott Wilson) is staying out of Peg's way. Younger brother Johnny (Benjamin McKenzie) is sullen and uncooperative not to mention less than excited to see his brother and his new wife. Johnny's very pregnant wife, Ashley (Amy Adams) is, however, excited about pretty much everything.

The culture clash between Madeleine and George's family is obvious and immediate. The irrepressible Ashley, however, takes Madeleine in hand. Chattering non-stop, she shows Madeleine to her room — currently being prepared as a nursery for the coming baby — and makes no secret of the fact she's delighted to meet Madeleine. George isn't sure what to do, so he takes a page from his father's book and stays out of the way. Madeleine, meanwhile, is bemused and entirely captivated by all of it.

Madeleine does go to meet painter David Wark (Frank Hoyt Taylor) who is both talented (if you like that kind of thing) and exceedingly eccentric to boot. But Madeline is determined to sign Wark to her gallery, and neither a competing gallery owner from New York nor Ashley's labor is going to stop her from getting the contract! But interwoven between these seminal events are such ordinary moments as breakfast, a church potluck social, an on-the-job smoke break, and the woeful shortage of communication that can short circuit the relationships even of those who love each other deeply.

Embeth Davidtz is perfect as Madeleine. She overshadows Alessandro Nivola, but then Madeleine overshadows George so the casting makes sense. Celia Weston and Scott Wilson are perfect as George's taciturn parents, and Frank Hoyt Taylor is wonderful. Benjamin McKenzie (previously mostly of television fame) does a terrific job in a role that allows him to live some very emotional moments without a single crack in his tough-guy persona. Amy Adams, though, is a real delight to watch. It's no surprise that critics have recognized her performance as one deserving of awards. Her portrayal of constant optimism covering the surprising fragility and near despair of the woman inside is nothing short of brilliant. Good for her! (As an aside, the paintings that are the subject of so much of Madeleine's attention are absolutely priceless. I defy anyone to see this film and fail to drop a jaw and then crack a smile when you see painter Wark's rendition of Robert E. Lee.)

The production values on Junebug aren't the best. This movie clearly didn't cost a lot of money to make. Initially, I would have said that the edits were also on the lower end of the scale. But if you can just sit tight for Junebug's deceptively slow beginning, the edits will begin to be far better than just good, and the script and the story will thoroughly draw you in. The plot is engaging, and the script, for all of its subtlety, is just fantastic. Junebug is writer Angus MacLachlan's second script, and the first in a long while. It was worth the wait. Director Phil Morrison — whose previous efforts include several films of which I've never heard — did great job with what he was given, and in fact, surpassed the sum of the parts with some really wonderful touches.

When the movie first began, I couldn't imagine why anyone had suggested I see it. Within 15 minutes, I had a pretty good idea. And by the end, I found myself inclined to offer some strong recommendations in Junebug's favor myself.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Junebug is rated R for "sexual content and language." I'd agree that neither the subject nor the presentation are suitable for children. I'd say that mature teens age 15 or so and up would be fine seeing Junebug, and in fact it might actually offer them a few life lessons in the process. Meanwhile, movie fans will appreciate this great script and the good acting, while almost anyone will find somebody in Junebug that they themselves know — or perhaps even someone very much like they themselves are. It's sneaky, but Junebug will work its way into your head where it won't let go anytime soon!