Image courtesy of Sony Pictures ClassicIt’s been four years since Nicole Holofcener’s last film, Friends With Money, nearly drove me insane trying to figure out why it pissed me off as much as it did. Now, she’s back with another multi-dimensional character study of the haves versus the have-nots. Only, this time Holofcener has whittled her narcissistic characters with money issues down to one instead of four in her latest film, Please Give.
Shot in a simplistic filmmaking style reminiscent of Dogma 95, the main focus of Please Give revolves around Kate (Catherine Keener) and her husband Alex (Oliver Platt) whom make their living buying furniture from the relatives of recently deceased people and selling it for profit in their trendy 10th Avenue shop in Manhattan. Consumed with guilt for profiting off other people’s loss, Kate tries to compensate by handing out cash to every homeless person she sees on the street.
Of course, this only angers Kate’s 15 year old daughter Abby (Sarah Steele) who doesn’t understand why her mother would rather give money to every needy person who crosses her path than buy Abby the $200 pair of designer jeans that she wants, especially since Kate has no problem spending that much money on jeans for herself. Alex, on the other hand, doesn’t share Kate’s guilt, and frequently sides with Abby in the ongoing jeans war.
The couple have also purchased the apartment next door for the sole purpose of expanding their own digs through renovation upon the death of its current occupant, 91 year old Andra (Ann Guilbert). Andra is looked after by her granddaughters, the shy, responsible Mary (Amanda Peet), and the blunt, self-centered Rebecca (Rebecca Hall), both of whom frequently refer to Kate and Alex as “vultures.”
Are Kate and Alex really vultures? Yes and no. Much like the narrative layers of this complex story, every character in the film has their good and their bad points. To illustrate this, Holofcener offsets the sad elements that comprise these characters’ mundane lives with everyday comedic folly. Amongst death and all its relics, you’ll find love, witty banter, teen angst, and squishy mammograms.
Holofcener based Kate and Alex’s apartment scenario on a similar incident encountered by one of her friends; and, even shot the film in the same building in which her friend currently lives. Holofcener also states that Kate’s inner turmoil mirrors her own guilty conscience for having money. Yet, after watching the film, it’s plain to see that it isn’t a matter of ethics weighing on Kate’s mind. It’s really about narcissism and the real meaning of charity.
Even though Kate spends the film's entire 90 minute run-time blindly navigating her way through this delusional soul search, she still ends up at a seemingly wrong conclusion. No, Kate doesn’t realize it’s the wrong conclusion; and, kudos to Holofcener for keeping the character true to life. Whether or not we like to admit it, most people don’t do charity work to make those in need feel better. They do it to make themselves feel better.
Kate's real agenda is most evident in the scene where she bursts into tears while watching a group of perfectly happy, content children with Down Syndrome playing basketball. She’s so wrapped up in feeling sorry for them, it’s evident she has no interest in sharing their feelings. Kate’s only concerned whether or not helping them will make her feel better. Eventually, Kate’s guilt subsides after she breaks down and buys the $200 jeans for Abby. Why? Like everyone else in the realm of charity and volunteer work, Kate only feels better when she’s personally affected by the results of her efforts.
Overall, Nicole Holofcener presents us with an honest, yet humorous, look inside the lives of her narcissistic characters in Please Give. Sometimes, it’s funny. Sometimes, it’s poignant. Sometimes you just don’t know what to feel for these mixed-up characters, masterfully played by one hell of a gifted cast. For once, it's nice to see that a Holofcener film isn’t as shallow as its characters seem.
© Left From Hollywood 6/4/2010
Shot in a simplistic filmmaking style reminiscent of Dogma 95, the main focus of Please Give revolves around Kate (Catherine Keener) and her husband Alex (Oliver Platt) whom make their living buying furniture from the relatives of recently deceased people and selling it for profit in their trendy 10th Avenue shop in Manhattan. Consumed with guilt for profiting off other people’s loss, Kate tries to compensate by handing out cash to every homeless person she sees on the street.
Of course, this only angers Kate’s 15 year old daughter Abby (Sarah Steele) who doesn’t understand why her mother would rather give money to every needy person who crosses her path than buy Abby the $200 pair of designer jeans that she wants, especially since Kate has no problem spending that much money on jeans for herself. Alex, on the other hand, doesn’t share Kate’s guilt, and frequently sides with Abby in the ongoing jeans war.
The couple have also purchased the apartment next door for the sole purpose of expanding their own digs through renovation upon the death of its current occupant, 91 year old Andra (Ann Guilbert). Andra is looked after by her granddaughters, the shy, responsible Mary (Amanda Peet), and the blunt, self-centered Rebecca (Rebecca Hall), both of whom frequently refer to Kate and Alex as “vultures.”
Are Kate and Alex really vultures? Yes and no. Much like the narrative layers of this complex story, every character in the film has their good and their bad points. To illustrate this, Holofcener offsets the sad elements that comprise these characters’ mundane lives with everyday comedic folly. Amongst death and all its relics, you’ll find love, witty banter, teen angst, and squishy mammograms.
Holofcener based Kate and Alex’s apartment scenario on a similar incident encountered by one of her friends; and, even shot the film in the same building in which her friend currently lives. Holofcener also states that Kate’s inner turmoil mirrors her own guilty conscience for having money. Yet, after watching the film, it’s plain to see that it isn’t a matter of ethics weighing on Kate’s mind. It’s really about narcissism and the real meaning of charity.
Even though Kate spends the film's entire 90 minute run-time blindly navigating her way through this delusional soul search, she still ends up at a seemingly wrong conclusion. No, Kate doesn’t realize it’s the wrong conclusion; and, kudos to Holofcener for keeping the character true to life. Whether or not we like to admit it, most people don’t do charity work to make those in need feel better. They do it to make themselves feel better.
Kate's real agenda is most evident in the scene where she bursts into tears while watching a group of perfectly happy, content children with Down Syndrome playing basketball. She’s so wrapped up in feeling sorry for them, it’s evident she has no interest in sharing their feelings. Kate’s only concerned whether or not helping them will make her feel better. Eventually, Kate’s guilt subsides after she breaks down and buys the $200 jeans for Abby. Why? Like everyone else in the realm of charity and volunteer work, Kate only feels better when she’s personally affected by the results of her efforts.
Overall, Nicole Holofcener presents us with an honest, yet humorous, look inside the lives of her narcissistic characters in Please Give. Sometimes, it’s funny. Sometimes, it’s poignant. Sometimes you just don’t know what to feel for these mixed-up characters, masterfully played by one hell of a gifted cast. For once, it's nice to see that a Holofcener film isn’t as shallow as its characters seem.
© Left From Hollywood 6/4/2010
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