The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

I was expecting this film to follow yet another "troubled housewife that pretends to be content" storyline, and it kind of does. But it plays it out in such an interesting and original manner. Nothing goes as expected, and all of the actors play their parts brilliantly. Blake Lively performs her part so beautifully that it is easy to see she will soon break out of the "Gossip Girl" personality that is so often pinned on her. Keanu Reeves is excellent in his role as well, and Maria Bello, Julianne Moore, Winona Ryder, and Alan Arkin show that they are still excellent actors and will continue thriving. But it is really Robin Wright Penn that steals the show in Pippa Lee. She performs naturally and makes her character hold more depth and presence then was imaginable. Only problem I found was the transition between the young Pippa Lee and the older one. I never quite understood how the young became the old, because of the huge differences between the actresses' roles. How did the young Pippa really become the older Pippa? No explanations offered were quite satisfying.

But altogether, this was a fantastic film and I recommend it for everyone with 93 minutes to spare to go see it immediately.

Remember Lucy Jordan? The tragic heroine of Shel Silverstein's 1975 ballad immortalized by Marianne Faithful? Think of this fabulous movie as of Lucy Jordan's life set in an alternate universe, a universe in which she doesn't kill herself at 37. Rather, she rides out her life as a radiant wife and a loving mother of two. Pippa Lee (Robin Wright Penn) is about ten years older than Lucy Jordan at her time of dying. But her father-figure husband (Alan Arkin), many years her senior, isn't getting any younger, her kids are distant both physically and emotionally, and her friends are really not much help at all. As Pippa starts to lose it, a stranger (Keanu Reeves) comes to town. Writer-director Rebecca Miller, who is also an actress of some distinction, has composed an engaging tale that is touching, but never cheesy. There's a moment in one of the flashbacks when the story is about to take a Charlie Kaufman turn, but it doesn't. No regrets though. Outstanding performances by Robin Wright Penn as Pippa Lee, Blake Lively as her younger self, and Maria Bello as her mother. Guest appearance by Winona Ryder as Pippa's best friend Sandra. Stay for Lucinda Williams, whose 1978 classic "I lost it" is playing over the credits.

I attended the North American Premiere of "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller from her own book, this is the complex, multi-layered life story of a woman trying to survive her checkered past. Its stellar cast makes this film a joy -- Robin Wright Penn is extraordinary as the titular character, while Keanu Reeves, Blake Lively, and Winona Ryder truly shine in supporting roles. But "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" is, most of all, a vehicle for the legendary Alan Arkin as Pippa's husband Herb Lee. He's at his best yet.

The script is about 5/50 drama and comedy so it's hard to pin it down either way. But that's what real life is, isn't it? The art and costume direction are superb with great care taken to ensure that each of Pippa Lee's "lives" has its own unique color palette and sets to match. Keeping it all together is a wonderful recurring musical theme and sweet score. There are a number of clever transitions between sets and time periods which were not done with computers but "in-camera." As an aficionado of the craft of film-making, these set tricks blew me away.

"The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" is an independent, character drama, with an all star cast, and written by Rebecca Miller, the daughter of playwright Arthur Miller - so what's not to like? Well, Pippa Lee, for one thing.

I found that they gave us no reason to really like or care for Pippa Lee. And the so called private lives seem to be non-existent. Sure, Pippa was a child, then a teenager, then a young adult, now middle-aged and she will grow old - but I failed to see how this was different from everybody else on the planet.

For character drama enthusiasts you will probably need to see this because I'm sure all the buzz it got piqued your interest like mine, but for everybody else there are plenty of other independent dramas out there with actual characters that will pique your interest.

I'm one of the millions who fell in love with these actors years ago, and it was especially wonderful to see Robin Wright and Winona Ryder. LOVE the climactic scene between those two - when Pippa is speaking with her son and Sandra is there and - well, I won't spoil it! Very funny. Great to see Keanu again in an ordinary role, I got so used to Neo/Matrix Keanu, this was a treat for him to play just an average messed up person. I've loved Alan Arkin since WAIT UNTIL DARK - you scared the crap outta me as a child!! Funny thing was, I thought you were Jerry Lewis back then, I was so young, and you looked similar, and it creeped me out, and for a long long time, I couldn't like Jerry Lewis because he was such a bad guy in my mind...grew up and found out it was YOU!! By then, I was mature enough to understand acting. I'll have you know that WAIT UNTIL DARK is in my Top 5 movies of all time, probably #2, and also in my Top 5 is THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE has some memorable lines of dialogue! I won't spoil that experience either - it's a treat to hear them in context for the first time. Great work, Rebecca Miller! The mother of Pippa and how she affected her daughter makes Pippa a fascinating protagonist. I love her struggle, it's such a non-struggle and yet so real and painful a conflict.

Great work, all of you! APPLAUSE!!