20th Century Women, Blu-ray (2016)

by | Apr 12, 2017 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A well-made feature with a fine achievement from actress Annette Bening.

20th Century Women, Blu-ray (2016)

Cast: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, Billy Crudup
Director & Writer: Mike Mills
Studio: A24/Lionsgate [3/28/17]
Video: 180p 2.00:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color
Audio: English, DTS-HD MA
Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH
Extras: Audio Commentary by Mike Mills, “Making 20th Century Women,” Cast of film
Length: 118 min.
Rating: ****

Writer-Director Mike Mills surprised us over six years ago with his Beginners. This one is a character study of five people in the late 1970s.  Two young people – Abbie and Jamie – are important parts of the story. Bening plays sad or lonely Dorothea in an excellent job of acting.  This film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Dorothea gets some help from the young Abbie, a punk artist boarding in her house, and the teenage neighbor Jamie, as well as from a handyman who also rooms in the house.  This makeshift family seems to inspire its members.

A thoughful script and good cast make the very realistically portrayed characters all most believable. The title hangs on its portrayal of the various women. Mostly talking heads but what they say is worth hearing.  A fine all-around film, worth seeing.

—John Sunier

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01