Location: USA
“Comedy of Life”
Directed By: James L. Brooks
Written By: James L. Brooks and Michael Arndt
Produced By: James L. Brooks
Music By: Hans Zimmer
Cinematography By: John Bailey
Costumes By: Molly Maginnis and Kristi Zea
Art/Set Direction: Polly Platt, Harold Michelson, and Anthony Mondell
Edited By: Richard Marks
Principal Cast:
Jack Nicholson: Frank Kensington
Shirley MacLaine: Ava Kensington
Alan Arkin: Art Singleton
Helen Hunt: Samantha Kensington
Abigail Breslin: Michelle Kensington
Tagline: "You want comedy? Take a look at this family”
Synopsis: The Kensington family has seen its ups and downs. Ava met and fell in love with Frank Kensington, leaving her husband of 13 years, Art Singleton, behind. Art never did get re-married, focusing on raising his daughter Samantha.
Now 30 years later all their lives are about to be changed.
Samantha has moved back in with her mother after her boyfriend leaves for another woman. With Samantha is her 12 year old daughter Michelle. Art sees this as a change to re-connect with his daughter, and his new grand-daughter who he hasn’t seen yet. To do so, though, he must go through Ava and her new husband Frank Kensington, a man he can hardly tolerate.
What results is a realization for every one. Was leaving Art the best choice for Ava and will she ever be able to really become part of her daughter’s life after abandoning her? Will Art ever be able to understand Frank? Will Michelle ever really accept all that has happened to her? Only the healing power of comedy will tell…
What the press would say:
James L. Brooks is back to the type of films he’s best at. Returning to the roots of Terms of Endearment, he crafts his best movie since 1997’s As Good As It Gets. Much like Terms and As Good As It Gets, Comedy excels due to the actors and their realistic performances.
Supporting the great directorial work is an ensemble of career best performances. The dynamic pairing of Nicholson and Brooks is once again very present in their 4th pairing together. Nicholson manages to create the quality characters he did back in the 70’s and 80’s, using the acting skills that made him a legend in the first place. Shirley MacLaine is in perfect harmony with Nicholson, in her best performance since her Academy-Award winning turn in Terms. The chemistry she manages to rekindle with Nicholson is phenomenal and that created with Arkin is as equally effective. Then there’s the greatness of Alan Arkin’s performance. Along with this performance and Oscar winning turn in Little Miss Sunshine, Arkin presents two of the most creative roles of his prolific career. His scenes with MacLaine are, at times, highly dramatic, but he balances it perfectly with his high presence of wit, humor, and humanity. Arkin’s scenes with Nicholson provide the film with its most laugh-out-loud moments. This marks the first time the two have ever shared the screen and viewers should be more than happy to see that.
Helen Hunt gives a pitch perfect performance in possibly her best role even. She manages to interact perfectly with every member of the ensemble and her character manages to connect the rest of the movie together.
Giving yet another delightful performance is young Abigail Breslin. While her scenes with Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine were very touching and loveable, she does almost the opposite in Comedy. Her character is somewhat sarcastic, clashing with her family at any moment that she can. Her scenes with Arkin are frequently tense, creating some of the best comedic moments of the whole film.
Overall, this movie is the best comedy of the year. With the tenderness of Terms and the dysfunctional humor and charm of Sunshine, Comedy of Life manages to present real life situations…well at least in a humorous manner.
Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture: James L. Brooks
Best Director: James L. Brooks
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson
Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin
Best Supporting Actress: Abigail Breslin
Best Supporting Actress: Helen Hunt
Best Original Screenplay: James L. Brooks and Michael Arndt
Best Editing: Richard Marks
Best Cinematography: John Bailey
Best Score: Hans Zimmer
Best Art/Set Direction: Polly Platt, Harold Michelson, and Anthony Mondell
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