Casual Critic Mini Reviews

Junebug (USA) (Sony Pictures Classics) (2005) ****Year: 2005iMDB

Director: Phil Morrison Cast: Amy Adams, Embeth Davidtz, Alessandro Nivola, Benjamin McKenzie

Portraying the Southern spirit and particularly contrasting it with the city-life perspective is sure to bring out laughter. Stereotyping is so easy that even those that genuinely attempt a fair depiction usually fail to understand at least one category if not both. Phil Morrison and screenwriter Angus MacLachlan however, get it all right in Junebug.

Madeleine (Davidtz) is an art gallery owner in Chicago and has lived all her life in a fast-paced, cosmopolitan world. George (Nivola), her husband is also immersed in the city life, but comes from a simple family in North Carolina. His roots however are well buried in his current personality and Madeleine knew very little of what to expect when, driven by her search for a new artist, the two end up in North Caroline, so close to George's home that they decide to pay a visit to his family.

George's parents Peg and Eugene, his younger brother Johnny and particularly his wife Ashley manage to embody, in just four characters, everything that the South (although this could apply just as well to the MidWest) stands for. Simplicity, enthusiasm, a scale of values that seems so strict and is so different from the one that Madeleine is used to, that it may seem narrow and limited at first, but you cannot help sympathizing with it in the end. Family and children are the focal point of the "simple" southern life and this message is both in your face and subtle at the same time. The details are what makes Junebug so true however: Ashley cleaning up her face after crying worrying that she doesn't look too pretty in front of her brother in law, her incessant talking and story telling and profound curiousity mixed with respect about anything related to Madeleine; Johnny's moodiness and inability to express his feelings for his wife, yet we see the most touching proof of love when he jumps and tries to record a tv show about Ashley's favorite animals; last but not least George's subtle struggle between the two worlds - his values remain the same, yet he realizes that those he left behind at home will never be able to change and see beyond the limited view they grew up with, although some, like Ashley, may fantasize all their life about the world that lies beyond their simple life.

Amy Adams who plays Ashley, Johnny's pregnant wife was recognized at Sundance for her performance and indeed gives here the most memorable female performance of the year thus far, while Benjamin McKenzie manages to successfully break out of the role that everyone identifies him with from the TV show The O.C. (Ryan).

For me, every year has one or a few small gems that not many people see, but those that do almost universally like them. In the past few years they were The Station Agent or Pieces of April. Junebug is one of the small gems of 2005.