Hope Springs

HOPE SPRINGS

Judging by the weather in Hope Springs, Oscar season is on its way

2012: Columbia Pictures
Sorry there's no photo,
sometimes the theater doesn't display a poster :(

2012, Drama, Rated  PG-13

Distributed by Columbia Pictures

          Hope Springs is easily the best drama of the year so far. No kidding. It might seem like Meryl Streep has to do something wrong in her career, but her role in Hope Springs is definitely not that something. Tommy Lee Jones showed a lazy bit of acting earlier this summer in Men In Black 3, but he completely and totally redeems himself with his role opposite Streep. These two powerhouse actors bring a fictional marriage to life right before your eyes. I am amazed at how interesting and realistic their chemistry is in this film. If you want to get a head start on your Oscar movies, now is the time to do it.

          Hope Springs stars Streep and Jones as Kay and Arnold, a married couple celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary. Kay is unhappy in her same-thing-every-day-no-romance-or-affection marriage but Arnold seems perfectly happy with the routine. Kay looks into an intensive couples counseling program that lasts a week in Great Hope Springs, Maine. As the trailers tell us, she gets Arnold to board the plane toward therapy after much protest. Once there, the couple's marriage will never be the same.

          The most impressive part of this film is the two performances by the lead actors. Meryl Streep always delivers, but it seems these days she only plays important characters or pivotal real-life people. Her performance as Kay is so humble and restrained that you will forget you are watching the queen of thespians pretend to be sad and married. Tommy Lee Jones as Arnold is a revelation. He was my favorite of the two. He did such an incredibly convincing job as the tired old married man. The way these two acted around each other was so pitch-perfect. They really seemed like they had been married for 31 years. There were so many little details that were included in the performances that really sold the idea that these two people have been living under the same roof for three decades. Even the slightest placement of Jones' hand on the banister on his way up the stairs tells the viewer that this man has lived in this home for many, many years. Words can't really describe these two magnificent actors at the top of their game, so you simply must go see this movie. Even Steve Carrell, playing the couple's therapist, was so marvelously subdued. I forgot as soon as he was on screen that he once played Michael Scott or the 40-year-old virgin. He literally doesn't crack a single joke in the whole movie. He is so believable as a serious "I want to help you" couples therapist. Incredible performances all around. Bravo!

          Another superb aspect of this film is the screenplay. Now I've never been married but I have a feeling the scribe of this picture, Vanessa Taylor, has. The details in the marriage you see unfold before you are so perfectly suited to the situation and story. I loved how Arnold and Kay slept in different beds...in different rooms! It doesn't make any sense when you first see them go to their own rooms at bedtime, but then later you get the reason and it just makes sense. It's tough to describe a film as flawless as this. Everything happens so naturally and you're right there to experience it along with the willing or unwilling protagonists. I dislike unnecessarily long movies, so I was worried about Hope Springs's two-hour run time. Not once did I wonder how much longer until the credits would role. I completely lost track of time while watching this film. It's that captivating. I always complain in my reviews about characters that make decisions or say things simply to move the plot forward, not because the character would actually say or do something based on his development up until that point. Everything uttered by these characters feels right. Everything feels natural.

          Finally: the direction. Director David Frankel does a wonderful job steering and controlling this story from frame one until the credits. I must say that the trailers for Hope Springs were not properly representative of the picture as it is. The trailers advertised a good romantic comedy. Hope Springs is actually an excellent romantic drama. Every joke in the trailers is a lot funnier and in a totally different context than what you would expect. The pacing is great, the acting splendid, and even the music was just right. There were some scenes that had interesting contemporary music played over them that felt odd at first but morphed the scene into something stylish that was perfect for the intended emotion. Everything in this film came together for the best. All around this is a touching, emotional, funny, embarrassing, and poignant look at love.

          Side note: This is not a film for old people! Even though it is about a marriage after 31 years, it will be relevant if you've ever loved someone, no matter how old you are! Take it from all the young couples on dates surrounding me in the theater. I was shocked when I walked in and saw only couples snuggling up to enjoy a movie. I was the only one alone, but I didn't care, Hope Springs is so great! Go see it!