Such an odd film, with bizarre characters and stranger situations. It skirts the edge of cute and possibly even charming, but I was so put off by the unnaturalness and the innate cruelty of their existence. I literally felt uneasy and was straining to understand the “offbeat” going ons. I suppose it is a quest for self realization and actualization of love, for thyself and for others, but the quakes aren’t just in the California backdrop but in my rocky sense of admiration. It is an anomalous and adroitly crafted piece of film, but the strings holding this shaky structure together were gaunt and my amusement was abortive.
The aims and psychology behind almost every person here is strained, both in actualized interactions and in cinematic appreciation. Unique would definitely be a polite word to use for them and their kooky conduct. Such a hodge podge of individuals that have found their way to each other was also so paradoxical. That not withstanding, it was difficult to identify and internalize with this anomalous family. And their aversion to genuine affection and devotion to all but their base codified aspirations made my loathing predominant.
I did the performances righteous. Richard Jenkins and Debra Winger embody their volatile lunacy brilliantly, if not aggravatingly unhealthy. Gina Rodriguez is bubbly but shrewd in her delicately compassionate performance. They are all quite good, but it is Evan Rachel Wood’s challenging and pained Old Dolio, with her compressed & raging physicality perceptively expressing her inner turmoil, is very strong. Hers is a twisted childhood right out of Dogtooth, and you feel for her, but that is because Woods masters that empathy from her passion to our person.
This film wasn’t for me, but I do appreciate the bits and bobs, wild & callous as it might be.