Watching "Lars and the real girl" killed me. Seriously, it did.
Many critics called it one of the best movies of last year and rightly so. IMO, the 81% fresh rating at rotten tomatoes, is a little harsh. Ryan Gosling's brilliant performance as Lars, a recluse who falls in love with a blow up doll, is endearing. Nowhere is he loud, or over the top; yet there is always an intensity in him. He makes his "relationship" appear so beautifully convincing. One of the best scenes in the movie is where he kisses Bianca for the first time near the river and cries on her shoulder, shortly after which she dies. Emily Mortimer as his concerned sister-in-law is a revelation. Her initial, vain attempts to get Lars to open up to her were touching. I'm surprised that the Academy ignored her.
The movie is unique, as it tries to show that love can be inanimate. But more than that, what stands out is that it is devoid of any negativity, even if it is unrealistically so. The whole town loves Bianca the way Lars does. The 'demise' of their relationship is very gradual, and almost 'human'. The comedy of this movie is never lewd, such is the sensibility of it (Judd Apatow, are you listening?). If you haven't seen it already, you don't know what you're missing.
Psstt....Be ready to eke out some tears.
