The Gist:
Directed and written by Nicole Holofcener ‘Enough Said’ centers around divorced masseuse Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) who struggles through her mundane job while preparing for the fact that her daughter Tess (Eve Hewson) is about to leave home and head to college.
Her life however becomes a little better when she attends a party with her best friend Sarah (Toni Collette) and firstly meets an exciting new client, a poet named Marianne (Catherine Keener) and then the intriguing Albert (James Gandolfini).
While Albert is not the kind of guy that Eva would date in a million years he fascinates her and despite some warning signs she decides to take a chance for once in her life and start a relationship with him.
The Review:
Enough Said is guaranteed to have film lovers going to have a look at it. After all, it is the final film for the talented James Gandolfini, although this is a film that deserves an audience for an entirely different reason. So often romance films hit the cinema and then are quickly criticised for their poor scripts and woeful acting. This isn’t the case for Enough Said that overcomes a couple of low patches with some strong acting performances and a script that is guaranteed to engage.
A few things will hit you about Enough Said, beginning with the sensational script. Holofcener throws everything out the window when it comes to scripts for romantic films. There are a couple of clichés in the third act but aside from that, the script is almost as alternative as last year’s Take This Waltz. The film contains so much really natural dialogue which makes the characters endearing and just when it feels like Holofcener has put the film into cruise control the film hits hard with a twist that no one sees coming. It’s a twist that sets up a sensational second half of the film.
The script also throws in a few curveballs along the way. At time it does feel like the screenplay is man-slapping with characters such as Will (Ben Falcone”) but that evens out with some of the nasty, bitchy comments that are made about Albert throughout the film, which highlights a rarely explored topic in cinema – that sometimes it can be females that are all about body image.
Holofcener’s screenplay is manipulating in a good way. It draws the audience in and makes you like both Albert and Eva, meaning that real suspense builds around the relationship. The script also allows for the right mix of drama and comedy (yes this a comedy that you will actually laugh at), while it expertly uses its peripheral characters such Will and Chloe (Tavi Gevinson) to full comedic and dramatic effect.
The second big thing that hits you about “Enough Said” are the quality of the acting performances of the cast. James Gandolfini overcomes an awkward opening few minutes and delivers a performance that is heartfelt. He is well supported by Julia Louis-Dreyfus who seems to brush aside the myth that Seinfeld actors haven’t had success in movies with a brilliant performance that will hopefully see her appear in more films in the future.
Also good in her smaller role is Toni Collette who does enough to make film lovers forget all about her woeful work on Mental. Also really announcing herself in Enough Said is young Tavi Gevinson who excels as the lost Chloe and often steals the spotlight away from her more esteemed cast mates.
Enough Said is surprisingly good and is a great reminder that there can be some classy well-written and engaging romantic films still made in Hollywood.
Certificate: PG-13
Directors: Nicole Holofcener
Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Ben Falcone, Tavi Gevinson, Toni Collette
Release Date: 18th October, 2013
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