Movie Breakdown: Gloria Bell

Pre-Screening Stance:

It’s always strange to me when a director remakes his own film (Sebastian Lelio did Gloria back in 2013), but I’m in on Gloria Bell since it stars Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Michael Cera and other folks that I like.  Plus, the trailers have been pretty good.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Gloria Bell surprised me.  Not because it turned out to be good, but more that it wasn’t what I expected, which is another “romantic” movie about two middle-aged, semi-lost people who meet up and rediscover the joys of life.  Instead it follows a very content woman named Gloria (Julianne Moore).  She’s got a good job and is comfortable going out and doing things on her own.  Even the stuff in her life that seems negative – like her kids being too busy for her or the possibly-insane neighbor that she lives beneath – none of it really seem to faze her.  She is, for all intents and purposes, a mature, comfortable adult.  So, it’s really interesting when Arnold (John Turturro) pops into the picture.  As a recent divorcee and with a slew of people who are very dependent on him, he’s a real mess, and it doesn’t take long for Gloria to realize that every passionate, happy moment with him is followed by a litany of unhinged, unhappy ones.  Arnold doesn’t fit in the balanced life that Gloria has built for herself, and that’s really what makes the film shine.  Again, it’s not about two people meeting and riding off into the sunset together, it’s actually about a strong, independent woman realizing that she’s been a strong, independent woman all along.  Well done, Sebastian Lelio.

I don’t know how Lelio’s Gloria Bell compares to Lelio’s Gloria, but I can note that it’s worth your time.  Seek it out.

One Last Thought:

Michael Cera has always been a likeable dude, but after seeing him in Gloria Bell, I’ve come to realize that it’s very difficult to take him seriously when he portrays an actual, real world adult.  I have no idea how he will ever move past this, and my guess is that he’ll just be forever weird (like Haley Joel Osment).