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Zone's Eye View of "My First Mister" |
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Synopsis of movie: Jennifer (Leelee Sobieski) has just finished high school and is thriving at her new job at an expensive boutique. She becomes close friends with her much older boss Randall (Albert Brooks), but that friendship soon turns into infatuation on her part. Randall, however, has a secret that sends Jennifer on a journey to the Southwest, but it is only through this that she learns about genuine friendship and love. Christine Lahti, who won an Academy Award in 1995 for her short film Lieberman in Love, directs. Now for The Zone's Eye View By Laura Alber With “My First Mister”, Christine Lahti gives us a beautiful look at the humanity and insecurities of people. A story, which has a plot quite similar to another Independent Film, “Ghost World”, Lahti directs this story in a much different way and with much more emotion. “Ghost World” was wonderful and very humorous, as is “My First Mister”, but this one seems to have a bit more substance to the characters and much more emotion. “Ghost World” was based on a Comic Book, so that’s why there’s a difference in the actual storytelling, I’m sure. Albert Brooks brilliantly plays Randall, a 50 something clothing store salesman/owner who lives a very simple life, with no friends to speak of and is quite phobic and obsessive about, well…everything. A character we’ve seen before from this genius and it was a thrill to see him on the screen again. Brooks has always had that way of being chaotic that can just make you fall off your chair laughing. You can completely identify with him in all of his characters, and this movie is no exception. Leelee Sobieski plays Jennifer, or “J” as everyone calls her. (Leelee has definitely redeemed herself after starring in the terrible movie The Glass House!) J is a troubled, confused and rebellious teen that seems to be lacking something, like a real role model. She has massive body piercings, and tattoos, trying to find and display her individuality. Her mother (Carol Kane) is a nutcase, who thinks she is June Cleaver and Leelee is obviously embarrassed by her. Her stepfather “Bob” (Michael McKean) plays the Ward Cleaver role, making them the perfect couple. J’s real father is none other than John Goodman, who is a pot smoking shop owner who’s stuck in the 60’s. J is working to earn enough money to move out on her own. But, she is fired from her current job, and must go look for another. It is then that she sees Randall (who she calls “R”) in the window of his store. She approaches him about a job, but he tells J to go home and take the silverware out of her face and come back in a week. J immediately takes to him and his advice, as she is not used to people standing up to her and not just running away from her. She removes all but one piercing, and returns to the men’s clothing store. Randall keeps his word and hires her for the stockroom. She is still dressed in her goth clothing and wears enough makeup to scare Marilyn Manson, so he still thinks it’s best to keep her out of sight. The “hideaway” doesn’t last long for J, so Randall takes her under his wing, and buys her some descent clothes and even helps her find an apartment. There is an obvious affection between them, but it is yet to be determined if this is just a friendly affection or something more. The two become inseparable because they both seem to need the same thing, to find themselves. Brooks learns to “lighten up” and Leelee learns to be more responsible and not so angry at the world. Emotions run deep in this film, and we soon see there is more to both Randall and J than even they knew. There are plenty of Brooks’ moments of humor, and also some lump in the throat scenes near the end of the movie. Keep the tissue handy, you’ll need it. Don’t get me wrong, this is by no means a “chick flick”, both men and women will enjoy this indie and both can probably relate to the characters. Definitely catch this winner if you can! The Zone gives “My First Mister” an 8.5, just a bit above “Ghost World” because of its better characterizations and detailing the insecurities of people in a way we can all understand.
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