Away We Go
Sorry that I am not writing very much lately. It is a very busy time and I haven’t really been watching many films (am re-watching Lost in the evenings to calm down…). Hopefully I will have more time to watch and write again soon!
The new Sam Mendes film Away We Go is unlike any of his other films. It is (or seems) very low budget and also low key. It actually feels a bit like a side project that he wanted to do for himself rather than to make money.
Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) are counting on Burt’s parents help when Verona unexpectedly gets pregnant. Unfortunately, the parents decide that this would be the best time to realize their dreams and move to Belgium. With them gone, Burt and Verona have no reason to stay at their old house and now have the freedom to chose a new place to live and to raise the child. The take a trip to a few different places where they have family or friends to find their new home.
It is an unusual road trip with beautiful characters and funny and heartwarming dialogues. Away We Go really is a wonderful movie. I have never seen either of the main actors before (or at least I am not aware of it) and thought they were both great. Both of them have a certain “normal” and slightly “jaded” but nicely quirky quality to them that makes them very accessible to the audience. Most of the supporting roles are well known, such as, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeff Daniels, Melanie Lynskey and Paul Schneider. I love the mix of famous and new actors this way. Normally the lead actors are well known and the side charters are played by new actors, so this is fun.
Away We Go deserves a MovieCat award for being a truly beautiful love story.
Tags: Away We Go, Jeff Daniels, John Krasinski, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maya Rudolph, Melanie Lynskey, Paul Schneider, Sam Mendes
August 6th, 2009 at 3:50 am
This movie was just announced for DVD and Blu Ray yesterday. Which is really surprising considering it just came out awhile ago. Good review, everyone I know who has seen it said they loved it. Good to see Krasinski getting roles like this.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
You know Krasinski? I don’t think I have ever seen him in anything…
It is a really sweet movie. Not trying to be an epic, just a little love story.
August 7th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
It is a pretty sweet movie. I went into this expecting to be emotionally depressed the same way other Mendes films make me but was surprised at how much I enjoyed it (in a “I’m happy” sense).
I too enjoyed John Krasinski’s role in this (who I knew well because he plays a central character on TV’s The Office), and I was pleased with Maya Rudolph as well.
I liked how the different parenting styles were sort of exaggerated in each person they met. I think my heart gave a little cheer when Krasinski got the one boy to get into a stroller.
I also really enjoyed the music, and I’ve put the soundtrack at the top of my list for things-to-buy-when-I-have-money.
August 9th, 2009 at 3:46 am
David – You have returned from the land of the lost
That stroller scene is amazing! I also liked the soundtrack but just bought the (500) Days of Summer soundtrack, so am in no position to get this one…