Still Mine

If you haven't seen Michael Haneke's Amour (see blog below), then Michael McGowan's Still Mine will prove a very good film. Craig (James Cromwell) and Irene (Genevieve Bujold) are solid New Brunswick octogenarians confronting their looming senescence together. But if you have, this film will seem thinner -- in the rhythm, the performances, the harshness it confronts, the stiffness of the dialogue, the depth of the films' respective ellipses, and in its framing of the narrative in social satire -- ooh, that nasty bureaucracy -- rather than in Haneke's more sweeping depths of personal responsibility. Even allowing for her fading memory, Irene is marginalized in the film, undeveloped, especially in contrast to the Emmanuele Riva role in Amour. Irene's relations with her children are omitted altogether. Still, it's a beautiful, moving film. For more see www.yacowar.blogspot.

Octogenarian Craig Morrison (James Cromwell) sees his wife Irene (Genevieve Bujold) slipping into Dementia and decides to build a one story house to make life easier for her. He runs into building regulations that hamper his construction. This is based upon a true story What a wonderful pairing of Cromwell and Bujold. When we see Cromwell on screen we feel entirely comfortable with him (that is unless he is playing a bad guy, then look out) and his scenes with Genevieve Bujold are pure gold and much of that credit goes to Ms. Bujold. She is still a hot babe in her 80s and as we watch her we could very well see ourselves taking care of her and loving every minute of it. What we get to see are two beyond-excellence performances by both. Their banter is pure gold. We feel for Craig as he suffers silently while trying his best to make Irene comfortable. He realizes she is getting worse, but that doesn't deter him. He does try to follow the law and the building regulations imposed on all. However, he knows what he is doing exceeds many of those regulations. The problem is he doesn't stop construction to allow for inspections. In time he is taken to court. We go along and hope we see Craig be successful in court. We don't get to see much of that and this was a big let-down. Since this is a true story, the court battles should have been shown, at least the most important parts. Didn't happen. Some of the earlier scenes could have been cut down or cut out so we would have time to see the court proceeding. Didn't happen. And, we waited especially for these moments. Bummer. He has a baseball signed by Babe Ruth. My problem with this scene - as he handles the ball with his bare hands - is that the ball was not protected in one of those plastic baseball covers. Most people know not to allow greasy hands to touch such a prized and valuable baseball. Someone fell down on this job. Hey, the ball could have been wrapped in Saran Wrap or something. Didn't happen. Also one would think the Babe Ruth baseball would have more or an impact on the story. Craig does use a baseball story to tell the judge about standards then and now and relates them to building construction now. That's as far as it went. Bummer. One more thing: the title sucks. Not once in the movie does Craig bellow the words "Still Mine" referring, perhaps, to the land and the new house he owns as he knows exactly what he is doing. We waited in vain to hear these words. Didn't happen. Bummer. Despite some misgivings above, this is an excellent story and we cringe along with Craig and hope Irene fares well. This is truly a wonderful love story. (9/10) Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: Yes, partial. Language: Soft stuff only: GDIs, JCs

Somehow IMDb has calculated a score of only 7.1 for Still Mine. When I check that against Rotten Tomatoes, here is the surprising result: Professional Reviewers 93%, Audience 87%. The truth is much closer to the Rotten Tomatoes score than the IMDb score. I won't repeat all the tributes given here by other reviewers. It's such a pleasure to see a film made with grown-ups in mind, a sensitive story based on real life and everyday occurrences. And, of course, you marvel at the outstanding acting of the main players. It's hard to criticize the casting of James Cromwell in the lead role. He is magnificent. Yet in such a Canadian film--when his pride is confronted by narrow-minded bureaucrats, he never raises his voice, says "Have a good day" with just the lightest touch of sarcasm, does not burn down the house, or return to the government office with a shotgun--I had the niggling wish that the role had gone to a Canadian actor. Christopher Plummer might have been up for the job. But the thought of the job done by Cromwell makes such a reservation seem like a ridiculous, maybe narrow-minded quibble. Listen to the score, too. It is quiet and subtle, very distinctive, at times haunting, sometimes sad, always barely at the threshold of your consciousness. I seem to remember much use of horns, but they are subdued, and set off against an unusual mix of other instruments. Do see this film if you ever get the chance.

what a pleasure it was to view this movie. i picked it as the best of a bad bunch to go and see on a rainy day. what a great and pleasant surprise to sit through such a thoughtful and well made movie. a brilliant script delivered by two great lead actors who were supported by a very strong cast. it is such a long time that i have been moved to tears by a performance and an even longer time that i have found a movie to be totally believable due to the actors work. the simple plot was well developed and allowed for some unexpected twists and pleasant surprises along with some intense moments of personal angst. well done to the actors and makers of this hidden gem.

Freedom vs progressivism. Individualism vs collectivism. Common sense vs group think.

Octogenarian Craig Morrison (James Cromwell) sees his wife Irene (Genevieve Bujold) slipping into Dementia and decides to build a one story house to make life easier for her. He runs into building regulations that hamper his construction. This is based upon a true story What a wonderful pairing of Cromwell and Bujold. When we see Cromwell on screen we feel entirely comfortable with him (that is unless he is playing a bad guy, then look out) and his scenes with Genevieve Bujold are pure gold and much of that credit goes to Ms. Bujold. She is still a hot babe in her 80s and as we watch her we could very well see ourselves taking care of her and loving every minute of it. What we get to see are two beyond-excellence performances by both. Their banter is pure gold. We feel for Craig as he suffers silently while trying his best to make Irene comfortable. He realizes she is getting worse, but that doesn't deter him. He does try to follow the law and the building regulations imposed on all. However, he knows what he is doing exceeds many of those regulations. The problem is he doesn't stop construction to allow for inspections. In time he is taken to court. We go along and hope we see Craig be successful in court. We don't get to see much of that and this was a big let-down. Since this is a true story, the court battles should have been shown, at least the most important parts. Didn't happen. Some of the earlier scenes could have been cut down or cut out so we would have time to see the court proceeding. Didn't happen. And, we waited especially for these moments. Bummer. He has a baseball signed by Babe Ruth. My problem with this scene - as he handles the ball with his bare hands - is that the ball was not protected in one of those plastic baseball covers. Most people know not to allow greasy hands to touch such a prized and valuable baseball. Someone fell down on this job. Hey, the ball could have been wrapped in Saran Wrap or something. Didn't happen. Also one would think the Babe Ruth baseball would have more or an impact on the story. Craig does use a baseball story to tell the judge about standards then and now and relates them to building construction now. That's as far as it went. Bummer. One more thing: the title sucks. Not once in the movie does Craig bellow the words "Still Mine" referring, perhaps, to the land and the new house he owns as he knows exactly what he is doing. We waited in vain to hear these words. Didn't happen. Bummer. Despite some misgivings above, this is an excellent story and we cringe along with Craig and hope Irene fares well. This is truly a wonderful love story. (9/10) Violence: No. Sex: No. Nudity: Yes, partial. Language: Soft stuff only: GDIs, JCs

If you haven't seen Michael Haneke's Amour (see blog below), then Michael McGowan's Still Mine will prove a very good film. Craig (James Cromwell) and Irene (Genevieve Bujold) are solid New Brunswick octogenarians confronting their looming senescence together. But if you have, this film will seem thinner -- in the rhythm, the performances, the harshness it confronts, the stiffness of the dialogue, the depth of the films' respective ellipses, and in its framing of the narrative in social satire -- ooh, that nasty bureaucracy -- rather than in Haneke's more sweeping depths of personal responsibility. Even allowing for her fading memory, Irene is marginalized in the film, undeveloped, especially in contrast to the Emmanuele Riva role in Amour. Irene's relations with her children are omitted altogether. Still, it's a beautiful, moving film. For more see www.yacowar.blogspot.

Somehow IMDb has calculated a score of only 7.1 for Still Mine. When I check that against Rotten Tomatoes, here is the surprising result: Professional Reviewers 93%, Audience 87%. The truth is much closer to the Rotten Tomatoes score than the IMDb score. I won't repeat all the tributes given here by other reviewers. It's such a pleasure to see a film made with grown-ups in mind, a sensitive story based on real life and everyday occurrences. And, of course, you marvel at the outstanding acting of the main players. It's hard to criticize the casting of James Cromwell in the lead role. He is magnificent. Yet in such a Canadian film--when his pride is confronted by narrow-minded bureaucrats, he never raises his voice, says "Have a good day" with just the lightest touch of sarcasm, does not burn down the house, or return to the government office with a shotgun--I had the niggling wish that the role had gone to a Canadian actor. Christopher Plummer might have been up for the job. But the thought of the job done by Cromwell makes such a reservation seem like a ridiculous, maybe narrow-minded quibble. Listen to the score, too. It is quiet and subtle, very distinctive, at times haunting, sometimes sad, always barely at the threshold of your consciousness. I seem to remember much use of horns, but they are subdued, and set off against an unusual mix of other instruments. Do see this film if you ever get the chance.

After getting by the confusion of the poster "Still" and the fact that the movie is now called "Still Mine" everything about this movie is wonderful. Cromwell and Bujold are magical together and the supporting cast are all naturals. My Dad died at 71 from lung cancer in 1995, and one of my regrets, which I shared with him a few days before he passed, was that I was hoping that I could learn from him how to grow old with dignity. Cromwell has given me a large part of that lesson, not perfect, just human, but always true to himself and his true love. Thank you sir. While this film is "Canadian" it's story is universal. The acting is mostly underplayed and the director appreciates the intelligence and sensibilities of the audience. My wife and I laughed out loud and sobbed openly and came away feeling good about our prospects of growing much older together.

Watch this and find out! The lead actors playing the elderly couple are extraordinary. Not only about what marriage used to mean, commitment and deep intimacy and complimentary gender roles, And how well so many men and women used to work together on their own for survival. But also a profound and clear picture of what we are losing in society, independence, personal responsibility, self growth, creativity and the satisfaction of knowing yourself and doing things on your own. And how it is nearly impossible or even illegal to live that way today. A journey back when D.I.Y a necessity not a luxury. And all of it without some need to believe some hocus pocus Love commitment and personal self security based on your ability to actually do things for yourself. Almost lost nowadays.