Enough Said

Enough Said, the latest film from writer/director Nicole Holofcener is a charming and delightful movie about what it's like being a middle aged, divorced parent who is trying to date again. While that may not sound like a ideal movie scenario, the writing and the performances make this little independent movie something worth seeing. That's why I give Enough Said three buckets of Killer Korn.












I am no fan of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, never have been and more than likely I never will be. Since Seinfeld she has made a living continually playing Elaine. While some may not see anything wrong with that, and may actually look forward to seeing whatever she's in because of that, I avoid whatever she's in like the plague because of that. I would have avoided Enough Said as well, a movie starring Julia,  and directed by a TV director with only four movies under her belt, and this one being written by her as well. It sounded like a recipe for disaster in my honest opinion. The only thing that made me want to see Enough was the fact that it's the penultimate film of James Gandolfini. I'm glad I saw it. Though there is one scene where he says he knows he needs to lose weight that broke my heart because that's the very thing that may have directly contributed to his death.


Julia plays Eva, a middle aged divorcee masseuse with a child that's about to head off to college. At a party she meets poet Marianne, played by Catherine Keener and eventually becomes her masseuse. At that same party she meets Albert, played by James Gandolfini and while there was no initial attraction, the two get together and begin to fall for each other. Eva discusses her ex husband with both Marianne and Albert, and they tell her all the horror stories of their past marriage. What she's not initially aware of is that Marianne's ex husband is Albert. At the start of the budding relationship between Eva and Albert, the connection is sweet, charming, and funny. He easily makes Eva laugh. Though while talking to Marianne, she explains to Eva how her ex was not funny and is basically a loser. Once Eva puts the picture together, she begins to subtly push Albert away, finding fault in everything he does.

Outside of the romance, Eva goes through losing her daughter Ellen, played my Tracy Fairaway who is going off to college while becoming a surrogate mother to Ellen's friend Fran who was played by Kathleen Rose Perkins. That prompts an angry reaction from Fran's mother that was somewhat out of place considering the vibe and feel of the movie. The look of the film was clean and bright, shot by cinematographer Xavier Perez Grobet almost makes this movie looks like something that belongs on TV. Scored sparsely by one of my favorite movie composers Marcelo Zarvos, the music is nice and light when called for and heartbreaking when there is heartbreak to be had. His talent never ceases to amaze me. I would recommend Enough Said if you're a James Gandolfini fan, you'll appreciate the way he brings Albert alive. If you're not a Gandolfini fan, you'll still enjoy the film, even if Julia Luis-Dreyfus is being Elaine in it. Check out Enough Said and I'll see you at the theater.