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A Great Movie

 This week, I've been thinking about Jane Austen--which led me to Nicole Holofcener. It seems to me that Holofcener's career is a response to Austen. Holofcener asks, "What if I extended Austen's sympathy to include Austen's villains? What if I took a villain--e.g., Fanny, Elinor Dashwood's nemesis--and made her the center of the story?"


"Lovely and Amazing" is a tale of multiple Fanny figures. Vain, weak, childish people. It's an act of bravery to take on one of these roles. Catherine Keener ranks among the bravest actors in movie history.

Keener plays Michelle, who hasn't had the life she once dreamed of. Michelle is a recovering homecoming queen. In her mid-thirties, she finds herself floundering. Long ago, she promised her spouse she would find work as soon as her daughter entered Kindergarten. But that day has come and gone. Michelle builds tiny wooden chairs for plastic superhero figurines. But no store wishes to purchase the chairs. (Michelle vents her frustration with acts of quiet name-calling, then she denies that she has even made a sound.) 

Michelle's husband is dismayed--and he expresses his rage by stepping on, crushing, the tiny chairs. Then he says, "It was an accident!" Also, he sleeps with Michelle's listless "best friend."

A viewer would never aspire to be either one of these characters. But it's still possible to feel compassion for--to worry about--the characters. Holofcener has a special gift for stretching our empathy, stirring up suspense, making us squirm. She reminds me of Lena Dunham.

For a long time, "Lovely and Amazing" was unavailable online, and now it's a free rental on Amazon. Little things can mean a lot.
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  1. rebeccaOctober 30, 2026 at 3:58 AM

    Catherine Keener forever.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 30, 2026 at 8:35 AM

    Oscars for Catherine Keener. Nobel Prizes for Catherine Keener.

    ReplyDelete

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