Junebug

Tom's Recommended Film of the Week

For those of you who like odd films with quirky, yet compelling characters I'm recommending Junebug for this weeks film. Junebug is an extremely character driven film, which offers some great humor brought on by interactions between city dwellers and rural family members, who end up together for a sort of impromptu family reunion. A side story of business negotiations with an ecclectic folk artist adds an almost surreal effect to this wonderfully compelling and bizarre story. The best thing about this film is that you actually see character development unfolding in little ways as you watch. Great performances by Celia Weston as Peg, Amy Adams as Ashley and Embeth Davidtz as Madeleine, plus wonderful support from all the rest of the cast. Phil Morrison won the New Directors award at MoMA in 2005 and Amy Adams won a Special Jury Prize for Acting at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival for their work in Junebug. I think screen writter Angus Maclachlan should have been honored as well.