Grandma 2015

This is a simple film with a short running time that is at its simplest a two-hander between long-time actor, Lily Tomlin and the younger Julia Garner. The chemistry between the two and the realistic nature of their relationship takes the story through some of the rougher waters.

Overall the story is slight, can the two women raise the money to get an abortion? Who do they visit to raise the money? In between these two plot points we see into the lives of the two women and how they affected and were affected by those around them.

Lily Tomlin plays the irascible, bad tempered, world weary Elle, to the tee. No eye-rolling, scenery chewing here, just a bad tempered older lady who misses her lover and has more or less given up. She knows her faults and knows yours too. Julia Garner is the perfect foil as the cute Sage but once again the role could definitely fall into melodrama rather and get lost in an attempt at some ‘actorly masterclass’ but to her credit Garner reels this in and plays the role naturally. The third player in the last quarter of the film is played by Marcia Gay Harden, Judy, Sage’s mum and Elle’s daughter. In another film she would be just a horrible ‘black hat’ but in the more nuanced and skilful hands here we get a more rounded character. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not that nice or sympathetic, but is clear from the storyline and acting, she has reasons for being the way she is.

Director Weitz to his credit also trims down excess fat off the story and the film runs in a miserly seventy-nine minutes and to keep the whole thing moving he greases the wheels with comedy moments.

A film about abortion could easily preach to the viewer on, either pro or con but at no point did I feel I was being lectured. Clearly Elle is full on feminist but she is not without her flaws and contradictions and the film shows these too.

As I said early the film felt ‘slight’ to me and I was not fully sure what I supposed to take away or even what I did take away from it after viewing. I certainly like Elle but I am not sure I would like to know her in real life. This not to say I did not like the film or story, because I did, I loved the acting and naturalistic style and the fact that no one was all bad or unsympathetic, except for perhaps Sage’s boyfriend be even that had the ring of truth in it.

After much thought perhaps the biggest, and simplest, message that film seems to be saying is ‘when you need help it is your family you turn to, despite everything’. All in all, not a perfect film but stacked up against most cinematic output this film shines more than it disappoints.