20th Century Women

“20th Century Women” is a movie that spoke to me and it will to you too. I wish I could go back in time and show this movie to myself 15 years ago. What a difference it would've made in my life. I guess writer/director Mike Mills and I probably have a lot in common.

Set in 1979, single mom Dorothea (Annette Benning) feels as though something is missing in her teenage son Jamie’s life (he’s played by newcomer Lucas Jade Zumann) As moms sometimes do, she makes the questionable decision to ask her roommates for help raising him.

This movie is about a lot of things. It’s about the way friends and family shape the person you’ll become; the mistakes that teenagers make; growing up; suddenly realizing you’ve grown; finding your place in a world you don’t understand; and more. Despite what anyone might say, no one really knows what they’re doing. We all just get one shot and you have to try your best. Therefore the only real difference between parents and children is the experiences they’ve had. In a world that’s constantly changing, and quickly (even more so nowadays), it’s easy to feel lost. “20th Century Women” doesn’t have a villain to defeat, there’s no rec center to save, there’s not really even a “girl to get”. It’s just a reflection of what real-life is like. It’s sitting at a party and talking to smart people about relevant subjects and learning things as you do.

A movie that is driven not by big action, but by small changes in people’s mood and opinions may sound boring, but that’s where the screenplay and writing come in. Every word is captivating. You're anxiously waiting to see how it'll conclude but you also never want it to end. Sometimes it is sad, but it’s also funny and inspiring in the same way that real life is like that. “20th Century Women” reminded me of myself when I was younger. I wanted to impress this one girl so much that I started taking acting classes just so we’d have more things in common. It never amounted to anything and I can now look back at myself and laugh, but back in 2007, it was a different story. Regardless of who you are, you'll find yourself relating to Dorothea, Jamie, Abbie (Greta Gerwig), Julie (Elle Fanning) or William (Billy Crudup)

The biggest and only disappointment with “20th Century Women” is that we’re not going to see a sequel (I wish we could.) The people in it are so interesting, despite being normal, that I wish I could see them again. Is it the best movie of the year? I don’t know, but the writing here is so good it’s certainly a contender. (Theatrical version on the big screen, January 28, 2017)