4th April, 2008
MATTHEW PEJKOVIC
Lars and the Real Girl (PG)
In A Word: Wondrous
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EMERGING STAR : Ryan Gosling sars as Lars.
"Placed in the wrong hands this movie could have easily became a nasty piece of cinema about a man and his blow up doll, but Gillespie wisely never ventures into such crude territories, instead making a fantastical, Kapra-esque comedy about a man slowly coming out of his shell."
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With the past year featuring a plethora of films which displays Christians as mindless zealots prone to discrimination and violence, it was a refreshing surprise to find a positive portrayal of the Christian community in the most unlikely of films.
Lars and the Real Girl stars up-and-coming thespian Ryan Gosling as Lars, a terminally shy young man who in an attempt to subside his crippling loneliness purchases a blow up doll which he names Bianca and parades around town as his girlfriend. Urged by town psychiatrist Dr Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) to go along with Lars’ delusion, it does not take long for the Christian community to embrace Bianca as one of their own.
Written by Six Feet Under screenwriter Nancy Oliver (who earned a well deserved Oscar nomination for her work), and directed by long time commercial director Craig Gillespie, Lars and the Real Girl is an off-centred, warm and uplifting film which handles its main theme of mental illness with subtlety and sensitivity, while also drawing comedic gold from its main characters bizarre situation. Placed in the wrong hands this movie could have easily became a nasty piece of cinema about a man and his blow up doll, but Gillespie wisely never ventures into such crude territories, instead making a fantastical, Kapra-esque comedy about a man slowly coming out of his shell.
In the process lead actor Ryan Gosling dazzles with an impressive performance, inhabiting his character with meticulous precision and unflinching humility. Exceptional support is provided by Paul Schneider who plays Lars’ remorseful older brother and by Emily Mortimer who is especially good as the kind hearted, strong willed sister in-law.
The films many cringingly awkward scenes (such as when Lars introduces Bianca to his shell shocked family) is counter balanced by many touchingly sweet moments (how these people open their hearts to Lars’ dilemma is tragically beautiful). And as they feed into the delusion and embrace Lars’ new friend, so did I. Granted, a suspension of belief is needed for such a film to truly take hold (especially in the last 15 minutes). But if inhibitions are let go, then an enjoyable and moving cinematic experience will be had.
~ www.larsandtherealgirl-themovie.com
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THE SIGHT ON THE SCREEN ARCHIVES FOR MORE...
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