20th Century Women: Movie Review
“20th Century Women” is the latest from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Mike Mills. It also happens to be semi-autobiographical, based on his-own childhood. This is the time of year when some of the best films are being released so they can be fresh in the minds of viewers for Academy Award consideration. “20th Century Women” as well as its’ cast deserves to be included.
Set in Santa Barbara during the summer of 1979, Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening) is a single mother in her mid-50s who is determined to raising her adolescent son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) right. Despite not having a father in the picture, the Fields’ home isn’t exactly a ghost town.
Free-spirited artist Abbie (Greta Gerwig) is living in the home as a boarder and she feels like an older sister figure to young Jamie. There is also William (Billy Crudup), a handyman who is also living in the home and working on its’ renovations during his stay. Dorothea sees William as a potential father figure for Jamie, but the two boys just don’t seem to connect.
Finally, there is Jamie’s 17-year-old best friend Julie (Elle Fanning), a savvy and sexual girl that won’t have sex with Jamie even though she wants to sleep in his bed with him. This of course drives him up the wall, especially when she is having sex with other boys.
There are quite a few things that happen between the different individuals living in the home. A relationship stirs up between William and Abbie, but it’s not a very happy one. Dorothea also enlists the help of Abbie and Julie to help with Jamie’s transition into manhood. Dorothea likes to think she knows what’s best in every situation but she most definitely does not.
One thing I really loved about “20th Century Woman” was just how authentic the time-period felt. The music, cars, clothes, and even the dialogue felt so true to its’ time. The cast is also fantastic here, especially Bening who needed to be in something good after the disaster “Rules Don’t Apply” which came out a couple months ago. Newcomer Zumann delivers an outstanding sophomore feature film appearance after the forgettable “Sinister 2”.
There are honestly quite a few films in theaters this season that deserve your attention, but “20th Century Women” is one that should not be missed.
By: Marc Ferman
