Anything

Greetings again from the darkness. If you've always wanted to see a movie about "Andy Griffith's sad brother", this is the one for you. That's actually the description one of the characters has for Early, the depressed widower we come to know. Houston-born writer/director Timothy McNeil's first feature film is adapted from his own stage production. It's surprisingly intimate and emotional while avoiding many of the clichés we might be braced for, given the subject matter.

John Carroll Lynch (FARGO, ZODIAC) plays Early as a soft-spoken, mild-mannered gentleman from Mississippi. In the immediate aftermath of the tragic death of his wife, Early is dazed. He is sleep-walking through life right up to the point of an attempted suicide. Faced with the choice of a psychiatric hospital or moving cross country to live with family, Early obviously chooses the Brentwood home of his studio executive sister Laurette (Maura Tierney). Sister Laurette means well, but her controlling persona and determination to "fix" things, leads Early to find his own place. He picks a sketchy apartment complex with 'eclectic' neighbors, one of which is Freda (Matt Bomer), a transgender sex worker. Though they appear to be from different planets, she is drawn to his inherent kindness and strength of character, while he is drawn to her vitality and courage. A bond develops.

It's fascinating to watch the friendship grow, and despite another neighbor, Brianna, (Margot Bingham) calling him "cracker" and do-gooder, it's clear there is mutual respect amongst the complex residents. When Early invites his family to a dinner party with Freda, awkward and cruel are merely the first adjectives that come to mind. It doesn't go well, and harsh judgements abound.

Early is a simple man, but Mr. Lynch's performance ensures he is never a simple character. Mr. Bomer is terrific as Freda, though some will surely protest that a transgender actor was not cast. Plenty of sharp humor accompanies the deep drama, and we are reminded that love is really about the acceptance of others, and finding meaning and connection in life. It's a small scale film that draws us into the characters, and we find ourselves grasping at hope for each of them.

First of all, you should know one thing about me: i often love movies others hate and hate movies others love. i found his movie to be sweet and tough, tender and honest. i laughed and cried, and i don't do that for the same movie often. with all the fuss and hoopla, i thought this would be a cringing, transgendered tale, but it was not. it was a great romantic drama i highly recommend. i only wish it was a little longer so we could see more of freda's life on the street and a bit of their life after commitment. that's how much i resonated with them. as for the drama surrounding this film, i think they picked the best people for ALL the roles. i've always loved matt bomer and i am now a john carroll lynch fan.

Good movie. The terrific acting made it so real! I did saw love in John Carroll Lynch's eyes. Matt Bomer surprised me. The vulnerable looks on his face (my god I nearly typed 'her' due to his convicting acting!) made me heartbroken for Freda, his character.

This movie handled the complex subject matter in a tender and loving way. The tragic loss of a spouse, the subsequent strain on family dynamics, and then an unfathomable relationship with a transgender: All of this could have been a formula for triteness, overacting and unintended humor. But the writer and the cast pulled it off beautifully and, in this process, created a heart-warming story. John Carroll Lynch was excellent --- handling a wide range of emotions in a subtle but most effective manner. A film worth watching.

You're definitely going to find Anything's strengths in its cast. Matt Bomer gives a beautiful supporting performance as the troubled transgender neighbor to Early - a character desperate to find a reason to keep living once his wife passes away.

John Carroll Lynch offers seemingly everything to this role as Early. You feel for him, and with him, through the tribulations in his life. Maura Tierney also soars as the disapproving sister.

Where the story lacks here and there, the characters make up for it - and the story is pretty moving and engaging enough anyway. I would have liked a bit more substance and finality to the ending, but I enjoyed it - and I recommend seeing Anything.