Categories: EntertainmentScreen

Bening Right on Time in 20th Century Women

Annete Bening plays Dorothea, the single mother of teenage son Jamie and the central figure of an unusual household in Santa Barbra, California circa 1979.

Photo courtesy Annapurna Pictures/A24

Independent, free-thinking chainsmoker Dorothea shares her home with an unique cast of characters: There’s Abbey, a photographer and cancer surviver who is into the punk scene. There’s Julie a pouting troubled girl who is Jamie’s best friend. And there’s William, played by Billy Crudup, a Casanova handyman with a heart of gold. Mike Mills (the writer/director of 2010’s ode to coming out late in life Beginners), offers a slice of the life of this motley family — exploring their conceptions of freedom, identity, and sexual expression. Annette Bening sparkles in this crisp, funny, introspective film that defies convention as it reaches for truth rather than tidy resolutions. THE WORD: Mills does a good job conjuring up the specificity of the film’s period setting, yet his themes remain decidedly timeless. COMING TO: Blu-ray and DVD next March 28

Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
Metrosource Editor
Tags: movies

Recent Posts

Paolo Perfección is Raising a Little Hell on Canada’s Drag Race

As I Was Slaying… These queens were *just* about to tear the house down when…

3 days ago

Horribly Funny

Does the “most wonderful time of year” have you feeling frazzled, frenzied and, okay we’ll…

5 days ago

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Presents: Holiday Legends

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) always packs in the hits, and their…

5 days ago

Gay‑larious Holiday Laugh Festival

Get ready to deck the halls with punchlines and laughter when NYC’s funniest LGBTQ+ comedians…

5 days ago

Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show

The holidays are about love, family, connection — and if we’re being real — a…

5 days ago

Up to Snow Good at the Ultimate Gay Ski Week – Elevation 2026

Drop your speedos, pull on your long johns, gay ski season is upon us!  Search…

5 days ago