The thought occurred to me right around the end credits, that I may have very well got it all wrong. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee was a film that I didn't quite get in the beginning, thought I understood after a while but then, right around the end, got confused again.
It might be my high standards or my ruthless elitism but I figured the title of the film must be kind of ironic; it is suggested that there are "private lives" within the one, dull suburban life that Pippa Lee finds herself stuck in. But it seems to me these lives aren't that private at all. Nor are they dangerous or secret. The film tells the story of how Pippa Lee - married to the book publisher Mr. Lee, 30 years older than her - recalls her youth, how she came to marry and how many possibilities really lay ahead of her. In the present, she suffers a kind of identity panic and needs to make her past worthwhile for what future she's got.
But what about the private lives? We learn that Pippa's mother was a pill addict and that she eventually ran away from home. She lived with some lesbian women with a knack for kinky photography. She was doing a lot of drugs (there's a montage) and she liked Mr. Lee for his money. He liked her for... well, who knows, he says she's special but I couldn't figure out what was so special about her. And, so, well, er, what about these private lives?
Young Pippa Lee is played by Blake Lively and middle-aged, present day Pippa by Robin Wright. Mr (Herb) Lee is played by Alan Arkin. Their adult children are played by Ryan McDonald and Zoe Kazan, two young actors I found to be great talents. There's a pretentious younger ladyfriend to the family played by Winona Ryder, there's a pretentious younger boyfriend-aspirant of Pippa's played by Keanu Reeves. Maria Bello plays Pippa's speeded-out mother Suky. Julianne Moore and Robin Weigert are in there, so are Monica Bellucci and Mike Binder. These are all if not great performances then at least greatly amusing ones to watch. Incidentally, Keanu Reeves is the only actor I know of who can say "I love you" and "fish tonight?" and make it sound equally unspectacular.
Basically, the film is an ensemble piece. These actors make the film easily watchable and the slightly soapy plot they are strung into in fact makes it a little hard to stop watching. However, as far as "reading" the film, I am at a bit of a loss still. Directed by Rebecca Miller, based on her novel which I haven't read, I can only speculate what kind of story I'm supposed to receive. As a simple, modest and self-aware telling of, quite middle class, problems it's fine and enjoyable. But I didn't really see any private lives in this film. It was all quite ordinary. Fish tonight?
It might be my high standards or my ruthless elitism but I figured the title of the film must be kind of ironic; it is suggested that there are "private lives" within the one, dull suburban life that Pippa Lee finds herself stuck in. But it seems to me these lives aren't that private at all. Nor are they dangerous or secret. The film tells the story of how Pippa Lee - married to the book publisher Mr. Lee, 30 years older than her - recalls her youth, how she came to marry and how many possibilities really lay ahead of her. In the present, she suffers a kind of identity panic and needs to make her past worthwhile for what future she's got.
But what about the private lives? We learn that Pippa's mother was a pill addict and that she eventually ran away from home. She lived with some lesbian women with a knack for kinky photography. She was doing a lot of drugs (there's a montage) and she liked Mr. Lee for his money. He liked her for... well, who knows, he says she's special but I couldn't figure out what was so special about her. And, so, well, er, what about these private lives?
Young Pippa Lee is played by Blake Lively and middle-aged, present day Pippa by Robin Wright. Mr (Herb) Lee is played by Alan Arkin. Their adult children are played by Ryan McDonald and Zoe Kazan, two young actors I found to be great talents. There's a pretentious younger ladyfriend to the family played by Winona Ryder, there's a pretentious younger boyfriend-aspirant of Pippa's played by Keanu Reeves. Maria Bello plays Pippa's speeded-out mother Suky. Julianne Moore and Robin Weigert are in there, so are Monica Bellucci and Mike Binder. These are all if not great performances then at least greatly amusing ones to watch. Incidentally, Keanu Reeves is the only actor I know of who can say "I love you" and "fish tonight?" and make it sound equally unspectacular.
Basically, the film is an ensemble piece. These actors make the film easily watchable and the slightly soapy plot they are strung into in fact makes it a little hard to stop watching. However, as far as "reading" the film, I am at a bit of a loss still. Directed by Rebecca Miller, based on her novel which I haven't read, I can only speculate what kind of story I'm supposed to receive. As a simple, modest and self-aware telling of, quite middle class, problems it's fine and enjoyable. But I didn't really see any private lives in this film. It was all quite ordinary. Fish tonight?