I’m gonna find it hard to give this movie less than 5 stars because for all its minor failings, though it’s very much a movie about someone with autism, most of all it is as much about the problems of its other characters, and ultimately about everyone who is different; indeed that everyone is different; that nobody should be frowned upon for finding their own thing in life that they perceive as the most precious thing and to what extent they celebrate that preciousness. It just politely and simply asks people to see things differently.

There’s a really interesting exchange towards the end between Carrie-Anne Moss and the neighbourhood cop. She asks him, “Who ever told you you were so special?” and he replies, “Who ever told you you weren’t?” and it’s like, okay, end of conversation. This is an incredibly delicate movie where conflict is everywhere but it’s practically imperceptible – kind of a live and let live thing. It does drag a little in its middle section, and at times the comedy drifts a bit in the wrong direction for me. I’d call them National Lottery funded moments – yes, this movie like so many cock-ups has that little hand symbol at the beginning and there are parts in this movie which reminded me horribly of Driving Lessons. In those moments, even Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman’s fantastic performances seem to lose focus in favour of a little scheduled comic relief, and these moments made me feel a little like Weaver and her immaculate kitchen in the movie – like someone just traipsed in with their muddy boots and imposed their social nonsense on my perfect surroundings. It must be said, though, these moments are fleeting.

So yes, like all of its characters, the movie is not without its flaws. But when it’s precious, it sparkles, and all in all, it left an impression on me just as indelible as Weaver’s daughter (played amazingly – and, critically, unforgettably – for the shortness of screentime by Emily Hampshire) does on Rickman at the beginning.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 4th, 2007 at 12:51 pm in 4 hearts, Movie Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.