Don't forget to check out what
Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks.
Families seem to gather for only a few reasons, funerals, weddings, births, Christmas and when someone returns home. Or in the case of one pick, all of the above.
This Is Where I Leave You
Funerals are always a place where family are together. Unfortunately I know this from personal experience. There's the joy of seeing family you don't often see but then there's the sad reason why you're together. This film had the bitter sweet effect. Similar to Parenthood, the siblings aren't estranged, but there are the typical one. Three brothers, one sister, one is responsible taking on the family business. One has just ended a marriage after his wife cheated on him. One has all the children and in an unhappy marriage. And then theres the 'black sheep' lazy one. Everyone has a part and they come together dealing with their father's death in different ways. As with death, revelations are made, truths come out and not everyone is happy in the end.
8 Women
This story is brilliant. All women, set in the 50s, Christmas time, murder mystery and theres music. Unfortunately, only half the songs are good. Of course its based on a play and it feels like it too the way the set is laid out and with the finale bow at the end. The film takes in a homecoming, the eldest daughter, Christmas time and a death. The death is unexpected but its what draws everyone in. It's a 'who done it'
with several marvelous twists. And, yes they're all family (except the maid).
Parenthood Technically this Ron Howard film is one long gathering as the siblings and their families live close by and are always gathering together. Four siblings, each with out their own issues, family, children, jobs, debt
and money problems, but as I said they always gather togteher, even for births.
