Beginners

A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.

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The playlist Best Films of 2011 so far (in June):
”Beginners”—We’ve been waiting and waiting for years for another great Ewan McGregor performance, but after being burned time after time with disappointments, we had pretty much given up. So while we were looking the other way, McGregor perhaps found a soul mate (or at least we hope so) in director Mike Mills (“Thumbsucker”) who helped guide the actor to his best performance in over a decade. A bittersweet look at life, love and loss, Mills’ thoughtful dramedy charts McGregor reeling from the death of his dad (Christopher Plummer), who only recently came out of the closet, strengthening their relationship with a new-found openness and communication and grappling with his fears about a blossoming relationship with a French actress (Melanie Laurent). Sensitively attuned to the aching heartbeat of human condition, “Beginners” makes one swoon, cry, laugh and grieve in equal measure. This year’s “The Kids Are All Right” of the awards season circuit? We hope so.