The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right starring Annette Bening (American Beauty), Julianne Moore (30 Rock, Children of Men), and Mark Ruffalo (Shutter Island, Just Like Heaven) is nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mark Ruffalo), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Annette Bening), Best Picture, and Best Writing (Original Screenplay).  This dramedy, directed and written by Lisa Cholodenko, (who also directed The L Word and Six Feet Under) lives up to its expectations.  It's simple yet heartwarming.  Laser (Josh Hutcherson; Bridge to Terabithia, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant) and Jonie (Mia Wasikowska;Alice in Wonderland) , the children of two lesbians, decided they want to meet their sperm donor (Ruffalo).  The rest of the story unfolds as everyone, but Nic (Bening) accepts Paul into their life.  However, when she decides to finally be friends with him, a scandal is discovered , tearing the whole family apart.
Julianne Moore is quoted as saying, "We’re all pretty much alike. Speak to anybody...about a long-term relationship and you’re going to hear the same kind of stories."  The film shows the truth in this as the realism between the two moms.  Because the children were raised by the two of them, they're familiar with it and the term "moms" comes off their tongue naturally.  This causes the audience to have a familiarity with it as well and not be "wierded out" by the two women being in love and having a family together.  I thought the love between the two characters, Nic and Jules, was genuine and realistic.  They've probably have had the best chemistry between any on screen couple I've seen.  It wasn't a movie about two hot lesbians that just happen to have kids.  It was a movie about a family where the parents just happen to be two women.  Their marriage was nothing special, just like any other marriage.  One worked long hours, the other struggled to keep a job.  They argued over regular things, like how to raise the children.  It could have been the same movie with a straight couple that couldn't have kids so they needed a donor, which in a way shows that gay parents can be just as good parents as straight parents.
There was a bit of unnecessary nudity that I could have done without, however.  Don't get me wrong, it's nice to know that Mark Ruffalo's ass is not hairy, despite the rest of his body, but I thought it took away from the film.  There were so many parts that were so believable that I forgive the sex scenes.
I enjoyed the awkwardness of the first meeting between the sperm donor father, Paul, and the two kids.  Most movies have too much or too little awkwardness, almost like they have to fill the silence with something.  This scene had just enough awkward silence that I felt as if I was there. 
Another scene I enjoyed is when Paul when to the house to have dinner with the family.  Nic, who happens to be a doctor, was asking him questions about himself and his career, and he got a little defensive.  Now I think owning a restaurant and an organic farm is impressive, but there are some people that don't.  I empathized with him during this scene because I've been on the receiving end of the grilling constantly, and  I know what its like to feel like you're not meeting someone's expectations.  I believe that this is what he felt, and to be able to feel what the character is feeling is definitely something.  It is always good to have characters an audience can relate to.  As a screenwriter, this is something with which I struggle.
For that reason, I think The Kids Are All Right should win the Oscar Writing (Original Screenplay).  I think it should have even got a nomination for Best Director because Lisa really pushed her actors to bring the audience into the story.  I think Annette Bening deserves her nomination for Best Actress, but I feel as if Mark Ruffalo is always playing the same roles.  Although this was a good character, I don't think it was challenging enough for him.  He needs to step it up, take some bigger roles, then he'll deserve an Oscar nomination.  No offense Mark, I love you, that's why I know you can do better.  As for Best Picture, well it was good, but I have yet to decide if it was the best.  I think, however, out of all the films released this year, it definitely deserves that nomination.  Lisa showed the world something, not many people want to touch yet, and she did it in a tasteful way.  This is definitely a must see movie, and I knew that the second I read the description for it in the newspaper.