Tallulah

I have always been scarce to rate a movie 10/10. However I can not describe how truly deserved that number is. I stumbled upon this movie very casually and came out devastated, touched and changed quite honestly. Now this may seem extreme (and I share the passion of mocking others that take reviews to the next level), but this movie contains everything I love about movies and does so with ease. Let me start with Ellen Page. Wow. Ellen has always performed magnificently, but this movie in my humble opinion has defined her as an actress. Allison Jenny, destroyed my heart and plunged me into the character (Margo) that she took on so elegantly. Never before have I screamed, cried and laughed in a single scene, at the computer, then I did in a certain scene in 'Tallulah', thanks to Allison. I would seriously encourage any movie lover anywhere (since it seriously is a movie for all), to watch this movie if they are in the mood to smile, laugh and cry. 'Tallulah' is a masterpiece and I would define it as an experience. An experience none should live without.

'TALLULAH': Four Stars (Out of Five)

A Netflix original drama flick; about a homeless girl, that kidnaps the baby of a neglectful mother, and then bonds with the mother of her ex-boyfriend, who she turns to for help. The film stars Ellen Page, Allison Janney, Tammy Blanchard and Evan Jonigkeit (it also features a cameo by Zachary Quinto). The movie was written and directed by first time feature filmmaker Sian Heder (a veteran writer of the popular TV series 'ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK'). The film has received mostly positive reviews from critics, and Netflix viewers alike. I enjoyed it a lot more than I first thought I would.

Tallulah (Page) and her boyfriend, Nico (Jonigkeit), have been traveling, and living in their van, for years. When Nico suddenly leaves one day, and takes the couple's money with him, Tallulah goes to Nico's mother, Margo (Janney), for help. When Margo wants nothing to do with her, Tallulah begins searching a nearby hotel for food (and money). That's when a partying mother (Blanchard) hires Tallulah to babysit her young child. When the neglectful mom returns home wasted, and passes out after cursing at the child, Tallulah decides to take the baby. She turns to Margo for help, telling her it's Nico's child. The two reluctantly bond.

The film's story seems odd, and I had doubts it would be that interesting (especially after first starting the movie), but it actually turns out to be a pretty involving film. Page and Janney are both excellent in the leads, especially Page, and the characters are both extremely flawed but likable. Heder also seems to be a pretty awesome new filmmaker to watch out for; who seems to do a great job of writing women roles. After this, I'll definitely check out her next movie.

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I don't think the plot summary of this is anything truly original or unpredictable, but boy do the writers do it really well. They do a fine job of developing the central characters and do a good job of making us empathetic towards everyone, which is always important for a film like this. You have to find a certain balance where your characters' flaws come shining through very noticeably, but where their redeeming qualities also become more noticeable as the film goes on. In this case they do. The entire cast is quite strong, with Page, Janney, and Blanchard giving some really powerful work here. It's great to see them working at this capacity and all should receive at least some attention come awards season.

My wife and I both found this a small masterpiece.

The writing is enchanting.

The players are superb. Ellen Page never ceases to amaze. She is one very talented lady.

Allison Jenney's work is always worth watching, never more so than in this flick.

I found the Carolyn part played just a wee bit over the top.

At a time when far too many movies are made for a young audience devoid of aesthetic sensibility, it's movies like this that rekindle love of film in the mature movie-goer.

WOW! After a long time I saw a movie where I couldn't take my eyes or ears off a single frame.

The story as such isn't anything new. Each character is something we've seen before. The magic of this movie is in the way the story is told. The dialog, the characters, the acting, the pauses, and the music all comes together in just the right amount of drama, never going overboard in this highly emotional story.

It has brilliantly portrayed and written flawed characters. Ellen Page is simply phenomenal as Tallulah, a young woman living on the fringe with a golden heart but a messed up mind. Allison Janney as the scorned, sad, bitter wife also with a kind heart makes you feel for her. Tammy Blanchard as an unworthy mother, and a extremely flawed woman, yet with a good heart underneath manages to make you sympathetic towards her despite her apparently unforgivable flaws.

Oh and how I LOVE Uzo Aduba! She steals her scenes in a small part. She's simply amazing.

I also loved the end. It wasn't all hunky dory yet each character finds something worth fighting for and worth living for, despite their hopelessness.