Junebug

Rating: 4.5/5

More poignant than anticipated, Junebug is well acted and unexpected.

Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz) is an art dealer who met her new husband George (Alessandro Nivola) at an auction. Hoping to get an unusually gifted painter under contract, Madeleine and George go North Carolina to meet him and also, to spend time with George's family who live near by.

Once in North Carolina, Madeleine is introduced to her new in-laws. Living in George's family home are his parents Peg (Celia Weston) and Eugene (Scott Wilson), and his brother Johnny (Benjamin McKenzie) and his very pregnant wife, Ashley (Amy Adams). Ashley is incredibly eager and excited to get to know Madeleine, whereas the rest of the family feels she is too modern for their simple country life. Trying hard to be unfazed by the lack of hospitality, Madeleine tries her best to make a good impression as well as pursue her new artist at the same time.

Junebug is really unlike any movie that I had ever seen before. It is almost unsettlingly quiet at times; containing scenes within the film that are simple shots of the landscape or home, without any music or actors added in. Though it appears odd at first, the silent scenes definitely help the movie with the low key southern atmosphere it is shooting for.

The only drawback I could see in this movie, was it appeared to be slightly over-sexualized in parts. I'm not saying that films shouldn't have love scenes in them, but there were certain times in Junebug that seemed to be unnecessarily graphic. I understand the importance of the scenes in the movie, as they showed the vast difference of the lifestyles between George and Madeleine compared to his family, but the extent to which the scenes went is what appeared to be out of place from the rest of the film.

Though she had done several TV and movie appearances before this, it appears that Junebug is what really brought Amy Adams into the spotlight. This film gave Adams her first Oscar Nomination, and it is incredibly clear why she was the only cast member to receive an Academy Award Nomination. Her character is borderline over the top in her enthusiasm to meet her new sister in-law, but there is a deep sadness beneath her energy, and it is her performance that really sets the emotional tone of the film.

It is plain to see why Junebug was recognized at so many film festivals. It is definitely not what would be considered a "main stream" movie, but that's part of why it is so good. It is not trying to impress any type of general audience, and is focused on remaining to true to itself; resulting in a film that is both moving and unique.