Flawless

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2007)

Take the perfect dysfunctional family and put them on a road trip together from Albuquerque to California. What is the result? All the characters in this outstanding film are beautifully sculpted by the hand of a master artist - and that includes everyone from writer to actor to editor.
In general, the characters have depth and three-dimensions and each undergoes a very clear and definite arc within the film. The family as a whole also undergoes a deeply comical and emotionally satisfying arc.
Michael Arndt is a hugely talented writer, and I expect that we will see more from him in the coming years (at least I hope so). He has the ability to coax story out of the most trivial situation and spellbind the audience in the process.
I also hope to see more from Abigail Breslin (Olive) who plays the charming and highly likable Little Miss Sunshine contestant. But the whole cast deserves credit for exceptional performances all around, from the suicidal Proust scholar (Uncle Frank) played by Steve Carell to the gruff but loving grandfather played by Alan Arkin.
This film should be required viewing for those hoping to enter the business and it easily takes my vote for the best film of 2006.