In Beginners, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is submerged in a cloud of sadness after his father Hal (Christopher Plummer) dies. As he now takes care of his father’s dog named Arthur, he spends his time dwelling on the past and attempting to make sense of his life. He recalls moments with his deceased mother as a young boy, and of his father last months as Hal declared that he was gay and had been for years. Along the way Oliver meets Anna (Melanie Laurent) and they rapidly fall for each other. But is she the happiness he has been waiting for or is she just another inevitable source of sadness?

Mike Mills, who directed and wrote Beginners, has solidified his place in cinema with this film. Beginners is an unnaturally brilliant and beautiful film that will grab a hold of you with it’s quirky and thoughtful themes. Not since I saw Midnight in Paris have I been so blown away and in awe of a film’s screenplay. The dialogue in Beginners is all kinds of beautiful, sweet, sad, smart, realistic and above all else honest. Some things the characters say or think makes you re-examine your notions about love, happiness, sadness, family, etc. And while the above summary makes the film sound really sad, Beginners is actually a very funny film. When a film makes you laugh and cry in equal measure and as beautifully as this one does, you know you’re watching something special.

A lot of praise must also be given to the film’s soundtrack, which without it would result in a completely different film. Mills selection of early-jazz-blues is phenomenal, especially Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust. These songs certainly add a sense of nostalgia that fits perfectly with the character of Oliver. Equally beautiful are the instrumental tracks by Brian Reitzell, Dave Palmer & Roger Neill that add a sense of both serenity and melancholy to the film. Honestly, I am so completely in love with this soundtrack that I immediately bought it over at iTunes and been listening to it all day.

Another aspect of Beginners that Mike Mills brings out beautifully are the performances by Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent and Christopher Plummer. I haven’t seen McGregor give a  performance as magnificent, brilliant and engrossing as this one since Trainspotting. He is the heart and soul of the film, and his character is so relatable that you’ll connect with him almost immediately. You enjoy taking this self-discovery journey with him and really want him to find some semblance of happiness. Then there’s Melanie Laurent who continues to blow my mind. From the moment she’s on-screen everything lights up and you can understand why Oliver would feel immense happiness around her. Laurent exudes joy and attraction in a really enigmatic and at times contrasting way that I don’t quite understand, but even so I fell in love with her character.

A lot of praise has been given to Christopher Plummer and many people think he should be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. All these things are true. Christopher Plummer is amazing in this film and his performance becomes even greater the more you think about his character. This is a man who has spend his whole life living a lie and rejecting his homosexuality. But after his wife dies, he is finally free and decides to make up for lost time. It’s inspirational to see a man finally coming to terms with who he is, and more importantly how he decides to live life to the fullest even as it will be rapidly taken away. Christopher Plummer captures those emotions like only a brilliant actor can and he delivers what is easily one of the most bittersweet performances I have ever seen.

Beginners is the exemplification of bittersweet. This is a film that will make you question things and showcases some really heart-breaking moments that will surely make you cry. But at the same time, Beginners will make you feel such an insurmountable joy and happiness that you’ll be constantly smiling and laughing. Mike Mills has truly delivered a beautiful, sentimental and honest portrait of self-discovery, whose power is enhanced by three brilliant performances. As the film shows, life is full of sadness but when that rare moment of true happiness comes we have to do all we can to never let it go.

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