Please Give (2010)

I remember the 1st time I saw Catherine Keener.
It was in Being John Malkovich more than 10years ago. She completely takes over every scene she's in, in that film. Over the years, she's steadily rose through to prominence- most famously in The 40 Year Old Virgin. So I look forward to her and Oliver Platt in, I expect a thoughtful character piece. I feel in very safe hands. I don't expect anything ground-breaking but maybe it could transcend it's talky New York comedy-drama vibe...


I've only just realised something. Films like It's Kind of a Funny Story and Please Give only have it's actors and writing to depend on. They'll never be lauded for technical brilliance- it's unlikely you'll feel you've watched anything hitherto unseen and yet despite that; despite the focus being on the acting and writing, it's going to make it hard for people to generally be excited to see these types of movies. 
It's sad because I think Please Give, does transcend it's 'New York comedy-drama' ghetto because it has great acting and writing in spades.
Writer/Director Nicole Holofcener, really excels in writing really great funny dialogue and she's put together this great cast to bring it to life.
Catherine Keener plays the owner of a vintage furniture store with husband Oliver Platt, that buy stuff 'from the children of dead people' and sell it for an inflated price but is overcome by her guilt about.. everything. She feels bad about the homeless, staving children, you name it. Not unusual maybe but she really is obviously encumbered by it. I knew Keener was good in this because I could empathise with her despite not being very good at feeling guilty myself. If i feel guilty about anything- it's not feeling guilty enough but then I'm feeling guilty about not being very good at feeling guilty. Then i start think about dinner time. 
The girl who plays her daughter, Sarah Steele is very good here too, standing-out in what's essentially reacting to the overbearing sympathy her mother spreads around.
And you know what, it does have something hitherto unseen - Amanda Peet really getting her teeth into a role; well at least not since Igby Goes Down. She really plays her bitchy, direct character with a poise of insecurity. I think only with Rebecca Hall's character is the characterisation a bit thin, the character doesn't really develop though Rebecca Hall is good here and Oliver Platt is doing his irrepressible Oliver Platt routine but you wouldn't want to have the film without him.
Like I said before, Please Give is no visual spectacle, not that you expect it to be. It has a very Upper-West Side aesthetic that fits the film but it's in it's exploration of trying to help others and trying to make tangible good- what the film was always going to be judged against- it really succeeds in a conclusion, not where characters have changed but have a better understanding on how to feel better. It's an incredibly enjoyable film with relatable characters.
Oh yeah- i almost forgot- Please Give has one of the most jarring cold-openings of any film... 
So now you gotta watch it.


I watched Please Give (2010) on DVD via LoveFilm.
My 2011 in Movies will return with You Can Count on Me (2000)..