Okay, so I watched Little Miss Sunshine (2006, dir. Dayton & Faris) again tonight. I'm still at two minds about it. Yes, the first hour and ten minutes or so are really quite great and lovely, but... that ending. It frustrates me. Two many questions raised unanswered. The very ending (with them driving off into the sunset) is a big disappointment. It just ends it. As if they ran out of a way to finish it properly without leaving a smidge of bitterness in the viewer's mind (the special features on the DVD, quite humourously, point this out).But, still, god I was even more impressed with Steve Carell. I couldn't even believe it. I didn't think I could like him anymore in this film, but it appears I could. Why didn't he get any awards traction? So bizarre. I was also impressed by Paul Dano much more this time (who now with The King and Fast Food Nation moves into my UMA Supporting Actor lineup). I was less impressed this time with Alan Arkin. I had forgotten how he soon he exits the film. I'd be more than happy for him to win the Oscar though. He's still ace. Collette and Breslin were still lovely and I picked up some things I hadn't the first time. Just some of the looks that Breslin gives. Kinnear...? I dunno. I'm not a fan of him and his everyman thing, but he's fine I suppose.
This film, for me, is a perfectly nice film - never entirely outstanding outside of Carell's performance - but even the negatives I have towards the film don't ever really allow it to dip into truly bad territory. I just wish the last 20 minutes or so were done a bit differently. I'm not sure how, but I just have too many issues with it. Still, it could've been worse. It could've descending into revolting and insulting absurdity like The Last King of Scotland (sorry fans of that film, I'll be digging my claws into that piece of roadkill garbage for a long time). I am literally on the border of a B and B+, so I will not give it a difinitive grade. I'll just let it hang in the limbo inbetween.RIP Steve Carell's awards campaign.
edit: So the mother likes watching the Oscars, but I have no idea why because she rarely gets to see any of the movies nominated! So I made her watch Little Miss Sunshine and she really liked it. I wonder which she liked more: Little Miss Sunshine or Hard Candy. That was a strange moment. Anyway. I've got Monster House in the player right now and after that Friends with Money. And they're due back at Blockbuster by tomorrow night. eep.
