Margaret

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

This film has taken a very long time to get here. Shot in 2005 with an overly long running time, the studio refused to release Kenneth Lonergan's cut and got Martin Scorsese in to edit it down, after some big legal drama behind the scenes. So finally they have released the short edit on our screens, although it's still 150 minuets long. I'd heard some very divisive things about the film after having seen this cut I'd be very interested to see the director's cut, which should be out later, to see what is missing.

In the interim, producers Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack have sadly both passed away. But it's amazing we can still see new work they've had a hand in, along with everyone else involved. You'd think with a cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Matt Damon, Allison Janney, Jean Reno, Kieran Culkin and Matthew Broderick it'd be an easy sell. Not so though.

The film I did see was fascinating. An outstanding cast and a considerably younger Anna Paquin just rips into the material. Her character is immensely frustrating but also very sympathetic. And the people around her are equally complex, as is the situation she faces. It's certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's like a great little indie drama drawn out to almost operatic proportions. The settings are intimate but the scope of the themes are huge. I wouldn't even know where to begin trying to discuss them.

I'm definitely going to need to sit down through this one again and I'm glad to hear the even longer cut will be made available. For now though this has left me plenty to mull over. It's one that has stayed in my head these few days after. If you're prepared to go the distance it's definitely one to watch out for.