Ordinary can be pretty special

Rating: Null/10 (30 July 2011)

The ordinary every day life of the almost or sometimes middle class people with no extraordinary or special event affecting others should not be a theme that garnishes the ratings and high praise this movie has. It's not an action movie, not really a comedy or an all out drama either; it has to fall in the latter genre only because it fits nowhere else. Indeed the high ratings of most of my usual sources are well deserved when it comes to this unpretentious film. The reviews by critics and others, mostly movie lovers like myself, have many good things to say; I've read more insightful reasons than I thought I could come up with.
Why is it such a good movie? It has tried and true masters of their craft in Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan leading other experienced actors like Jeffrey Tambor, Burt Young, Margo Martindale and Melanie Lynskey, while first time actor Alex Shaffer impresses as well. The script by writer/director Thomas McCarthy was his best so far and the developing talent is obvious. In my view, ordinary life alone has enough drama, is funnier than make believe comedy and it teaches us more than books and classes often have; that's why the likes of this movie and other gems like it (take "Finding Forester" for example) fare so well with audiences despite the non commercial traits of the scripts.
I loved it and it's one I'll probably watch again. Paul Giamatti has picked well as he often does and that is why he is so well respected in the acting community. I also look forward to the next Thomas McCarthy project; I've seen and liked, just not as much, his previous written/directed works. You may take a chance and watch those for artistic edification; it's as good a reason as any.