Echo From Real Life

Rating: 9/10 (4 April 2007)

Another great indie-flick! If I would have a hat I would raise to the "Little Miss Sunshine" film-makers. The subject is very present. Issue of the beauty pressures is one of the most debated subject in the world. When the pressures start when you are young it is certainly alarming. Beauty pageants for young girls are touching the borders of morality.
Olive (Abigail Breslin) has won an entrance to the Little Miss Sunshine-contest finals. She takes a road trip with her family which might appear little peculiar. There is a success-obsessive father (Greg Kinnear), understanding mother (Toni Collette), strong-vacant older brother (Paul Dano), suicidal uncle (Steve Carell) and fantastically twisted grandpa (brilliant Alan Arkin). With this combination the journey can't be anything but interesting. The journey is full with drama and little twists. There is death and self-discovery. Little Miss Sunshine's message is that you can be anything you want to be but sometimes you can find happiness from things you never thought you would.
The author Michael Arndt has focused his attention to the real life's aspects. The relationships between the family members may seem a little exaggerated but it really represents the family life as it usually is.
Have to say that Abigail Breslin was impressive as a child-actress but it was good that she didn't win the Academy Award. I think the new-comer Paul Dano was more impressive. It isn't so easy to act without any words. And I was really surprised by the knowledge that comedian Steve Carell can do more serious roles also.
The ending was so brilliant I laughed and cried at the same time. You should have seen it coming...
I strongly recommend to watch Little Miss Sunshine. More independent movies, thank you!