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20 out of 26 people found the following review useful: The best type of adult film, 31 July 2009 Author: rogerdarlington from United Kingdom
This will be regarded as 'a woman's movie' since it is written and directed by a woman (Rebecca Miller) and its central character (Robin Wright Penn) and most of the support roles (Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, Blake Lively, Mario Bello, Monica Bellucci) are women too. But the male roles (Alan Arkin and Keanu Reeves) contribute to a stellar cast and the themes of self-discovery and self-expression are universal. If Pippa is angst-ridden, it's because she's had a traumatic life and the movie reveals a series of dramatic incidents, while concluding on a hopeful note. With not a car chase or a special effect in sight, this is an adult film in the proper sense of the word and as such well-worth viewing.
14 out of 18 people found the following review useful: All together one of the best films I've seen in a while, 20 September 2009 Author: sunraes from Canada
I was expecting this film to follow yet another "troubled housewife that pretends to be content" storyline, and it kind of does. But it plays it out in such an interesting and original manner. Nothing goes as expected, and all of the actors play their parts brilliantly. Blake Lively performs her part so beautifully that it is easy to see she will soon break out of the "Gossip Girl" personality that is so often pinned on her. Keanu Reeves is excellent in his role as well, and Maria Bello, Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, and Alan Arkin show that they are still excellent actors and will continue thriving. But it is really Robin Wright Penn that steals the show in Pippa Lee. She performs naturally and makes her character hold more depth and presence then was imaginable. This was altogether a fantastic film and I recommend for everyone with 93 minutes to spare to go see it immediately.
14 out of 19 people found the following review useful: Assured, intelligent domestic drama with some nice surprises, 19 July 2009 Author: stowbury from London
Robin Wright Penn is uncannily reminiscent of Julie Christie in Away From Her from a couple of years ago, while the tone, topic and structure of these two assured quiet domestic dramas also have much in common. The character changes and revelations in this film stretch credibility rather more, partly because there are more of them thrown into the melting pot and not enough time to get to know some of the characters as I would have liked to. I disagree however with the comment on Keanu Reeve's performance. I thought he was excellent, as indeed were all these quality actors, though there wasn't enough of Winona Ryder to make her role entirely convincing. In a film of this nature the dialogue is the make or break factor. What people say to each other must be interesting yet credible, and this is absolutely the case in the relationships portrayed here. Altogether an absorbing, intelligent film, with some highly satisfactory twists and surprises.
10 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Vehicle for Alan Arkin and eye candy for film students, 24 September 2009 Author: larry-411 from United States
I attended the North American Premiere of "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller from her own book, this is the complex, multi-layered life story of a woman trying to survive her checkered past. Its stellar cast makes this film a joy -- Robin Wright Penn is extraordinary as the titular character, while Keanu Reeves, Blake Lively, and Winona Ryder truly shine in supporting roles. But "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" is, most of all, a vehicle for the legendary Alan Arkin as Pippa's husband Herb Lee. He's at his best yet.The script is about 5/50 drama and comedy so it's hard to pin it down either way. But that's what real life is, isn't it? The art and costume direction are superb with great care taken to ensure that each of Pippa Lee's "lives" has its own unique color palette and sets to match. Keeping it all together is a wonderful recurring musical theme and sweet score. There are a number of clever transitions between sets and time periods which were not done with computers but "in-camera." As an aficionado of the craft of film-making, these set tricks blew me away.
17 out of 27 people found the following review useful: Great characters and performances, but slightly lacking in plot., 6 June 2009 Author: aramgutang from Australia
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a film that concerns itself with the people in it, rather than a narrative. Each character is unique and well developed, but more importantly, feels real and easy to care for. There are no cardboard cutouts or roles simply convenient to the plot. Their actions are delightfully unexpected, yet fully consistent with who they are. Even the minor roles feel like they've had 2 hours worth of backstory thought out for them.The backstory we get to see is that of Pippa Lee (Penn). She has recently moved into a suburban neighbourhood with her husband Herb (Arkin), a publisher who is at least a few decades her senior. Herb has just retired after having his third heart attack, and intends his new home to be his final resting place. The couple have two grown children and some old friends who are witnesses to what appears to be a facade of marital bliss.The story of how Pippa ended up in this arrangement, starting with her early childhood, is told concurrently with the main narrative. We learn of Pippa's pill-popping mother (Bello), her aunt's gay lover (Moore), and how she met Herb. Meanwhile, the suppressed malaise in the present time begins to make itself known through a number of events, starting with the overnight disappearance of half of a chocolate cake and the appearance of a sock in the refrigerator.What is truly remarkable about this film are the performances. Robin Wright Penn gives a stunning portrayal of a woman who seems to say more with a smile than with her words. It might be early in the year, but I would not be surprised to see an Oscar nod come voting time. She is a pleasure to watch, and really breathes air into what could've been a lifeless character.Alan Arkin is great as usual, and the blunt dialogue of his character suits him well. When Pippa's character tells us she longs to listen to him speak, we are in full agreement. Winona Ryder and Julianne Moore also make their minor characters stand out with quirky delightfulness. Even Keanu Reeves is adequate in his role.One thing this film seems to lack, however, is a strong narrative. At times, it feels like a loosely bound collection of anecdotes from Pippa's life. While each of these anecdotes have their own appeal and quite a few laughs, they don't quite manage to come together into a compelling story, without which the film is just another forgettable family drama, albeit with really interesting people.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: See it for the cast, if for no other reason, 29 November 2009 Author: dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Pippa Lee, the young wife of a much older publisher, looks over the various stages of her life and tries to come to terms with her life and unhappiness.This is a really good film with a top flight cast (Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin, Maria Bello, Winona Ryder, even Keanu Reeves) working at the top of their game. I don't think there is a bad one in the bunch. The script is literate and often hysterically funny (The material with Winonna Ryder provides some of the best laughs). Its a film that feels very real and alive, more so than many other recent ensemble pictures that Hollywood has been pumping out. I really liked this film.Recommended
2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Good actors, blah film, 11 November 2009 Author: Jim Chevallier (jimcheval@aol.com) from North Hollywood, CA
(Possible very vague spoiler) This film is way below its actors, most of whom have been superb in one or more other films, and all of whom are good here (biggest surprise may be Blake Lively, who gets to do some real range here). But the story is yet another falling-apart-to-find-yourself, self-consciously quirky sort-of-redemption tale. More than a little predictable, sometimes telegraphically so, and even the clever quips or sight-gags are a little too soft, a little too slow in coming.Not a bad film, just not one that left me feeling like I'd lived any new or meaningful bit of life. A genre piece, even if the genre in this case is an indie one.
2 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Not as good as the book, 18 November 2009 Author: maenad83 from United Kingdom
I was looking forward to seeing this as I really enjoyed reading the book, however, it didn't capture my attention the way the book did. It was a faithful re-telling of the story as the author also directed the film but the main reason why I liked the book was the insight into Pippa's thoughts and the writing style, both of which could not be carried across to the big screen. The book also analysed her relationship with her mother more whereas the film does not go into as much detail.The book is pretty short so personally, I would recommend reading the book rather than watching the film.
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful: A Nutshell Review: The Private LIves of Pippa Lee, 14 December 2009 Author: DICK STEEL from Singapore
Similar to Evening, this film examines the life and times of Pippa Lee, played by Robin Wright Penn in her current, older age, happily married to Herb (Alan Arkin) and spending their twilight years in a retirement village, where everything seems perfect with friends and family, but with a series of events that threaten to tear at the fabric of their relationship, one fearful of dying, while the other discovering that her sleepwalking may prove to actually be the least of her worries.I suppose when one's retire, one will look back and reflect on the life that has so far past by, assessing if it was a life well led, or if there's any last ditch attempt to rectify and address issues before the time is up. For about half the film, the narrative takes a walk down memory lane, and as we know how a woman's heart holds plenty of secrets, so does Pippa's, now played by Blake Lively, watching her lead a life that's aimless, and how she finally found an avenue of attachment to someone older, who provided her with that rudder in life.The film also touches for the large part on the role of mothers, with Pippa's tumultuous relationship with her mother, a woman reliant on a cocktail of drugs to get through life, and presented an entire series of bewildering emotions and mood swings through which Pippa grew up under. Maria Bello aces this role as the mother, who one minute can be laughing out loud, and the next could be crying her heart out. You can imagine the kind of negative influence she has on the impressionable Pippa, who ultimately in desperation, does what her mother does, only to find herself wanting out, and from there spiraling her life out of control. In the current narrative, it shifts from Pippa's relationship with her own children, how they brought her peace, though still not without the reconciliation that she seeks with her daughter (Zoe Kazan).Written and directed by Rebecca Miller, part of the draw here is the ensemble casting, from the leads in Alan Arkin (again given some of the best lines here, with hair too to boot), and the bit roles played by Julianne Moore, Monica Bellucci, Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves, a thirty-something ex-priest in the making now turned divorcée and working in a convenience store, with whom Pippa forms a strong, inexplicable bond with. While they may be bit roles, each play an important part in the formation of the Pippa character, especially Monica Bellucci as Herb's ex-wife, in a sequence that's quite shocking and unexpected, contributing to the key guilt factor that Pippa finds herself shouldering. Fans of Robin Wright Penn will undoubtedly applaud her turn in this dramatic role.Then there's the mantra of how we think we know somebody, only for that someone to turn out to be not the person we thought they were. This proved to be a mold that's easily applied to each and every character here, where somewhat negative experiences transforms into one becoming jaded, or be filled with mistrust with people who we think are our friends, only to have betrayal stare right back in our faces.The Private Lives of Pippa Lee turned out to be less than the chick flick I thought it would be, and was quite the powerful drama it was, although I felt that it had room to flesh out more of Pippa's past, which seem to be rather quickly glossed over since it's a steep decline into a drug infused lifestyle. Still it's a decent dramatic film, so while awaiting the loud action blockbusters to reach our shores later this week, you might just want to bask in the calmness of this film instead.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Pippa Passes, 17 July 2009 Author: writers_reign from London, England
This is top-of-the-line Art House with a superb performance from Robin Penn Wright as the eponymous Pippa and solid support throughout. In terms of acting chops on view Keanu Reeves is a feather-merchant and doesn't really belong in the same movie as Julianne Moore, Alan Arkin and the rest but Miller's skillful direction carries him and makes it appear that he's actually giving a performance. If it has a fault it's the episodic feel that doesn't really cohere into a regular storyline but on the other hand the title does say many LIVES and this is what we get as we flit between Pippa's young self, her wild child period and evolvement into the stately matron to whom we are introduced at the outset. Not for everyone but those it is for have no kicks coming.
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