Olive Kitteridge (2014)

Pretty Good

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Why is the media so negative? In a typical day, I hear about death from car crashes, house fires, plane crashes, robberies, mine explosions, terrorist bombings, cancer, ALS, MS, CVAs, MIs, suicides, industrial accidents,, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, drownings, lightning, drug overdose, alcoholism....you get the picture. Do I really need to spend 4 hours watching a mini-series about dusfunctional depressing people in some remote town with no socially redeeming value? This town is worse than Cabot Cove where there was a murder every week for its 12 year run; it's a miracle there was anyone left to die in that dreadful little village. With the media scouring the world to tell me repeatedly each day the worst, most depressing news they can find, do I really have any room left in my brain for a a story combining all the possible bad things that can happen to everyone in its cast? Warning!!!! If you have experienced any tragedy in your life, are on anti-depressants, or are concerned about the daily inhumanity of man to man coming to you on a multimedia barrage, DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. Strongly suggest a Hallmark production set in a beautiful location where two good looking people fall in love and drive an expensive flashy car.

I would love to know the point of this show! Did the producers think "let's make a series where everyone is depressingly boring and twisted and nothing happens"! Olive Kitteridge is a miserable nasty person which makes for an arduous viewing experience! I like to give program's a good go but honestly, after 2 episodes I found myself dreading watching a third episode considering how depressing and slow it is! Even when I see the title while scroll through my program guide, a feeling of foreboding envelopes me! Who in their right mind would actually "enjoy" watching depressed, uneventful mind numbingly boring characters and story line! I am shocked there is a book with the same characters and story line! The only thing I liked about Olive Kitteridge were the commercials!

Olive Kitteridge is a fable regarding original people in original situations. The subtlety with which Lisa Cholodenko carries the four-hour mini-series is what emphasizes the story about a woman who is childish yet cruel, sappy yet caring, wildly honest yet deeply depressed.I like Frances McDormand very much. Her cheekbones speak more than her mouth, and in here, the air she adopts of the titular character is splendid. She makes you wanna hate her and love her at the same time. Supported by the great Richard Jenkins and amusing Bill Murray, the story of the life of Mrs. Kitteridge is what we can relate to with our own lives. Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize winning novel gleams originality and its adaptation doesn't lag any behind.The four episodes each talk about certain periods of her life and it ends with a very good moral. The characters hold truth in them and we start becoming judgmental, without even knowing it. Themes such as bereavement, depression, and paranoia is rampant in the series and you will be stunned to find connections between them.The actors have been directed and shot well. The countryside locations serve as the perfect background for the story. I must say I am impressed by the whole cast and crew for giving me a piece of pie called Olive Kitteridge.BOTTOM LINE: Not many people know about this series, and it will be my duty to recommend it to people who love original dramas that are not just crime-related a la Fargo (2014) and True Detective (2014).Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

If you liked McDormand's performance in Fargo, Olive Kitteridge will surely not disappoint. I look forward to reading the book now and only wish that perhaps I'd read it before watching the mini-series. I loved much about this mini-series but most especially the straightforward way that depression is handled. Olive is a complex character (not all bad or all good) and while her behavior might be tough to swallow, McDormand treats us to a realistic portrayal of the disease of depression and how is affects every facet of her life and those around her. Some well played foreshadowing moments and times of contradictory behavior make the plot and characters more interesting. I gave it a 10/10 because this is the kind of movie I enjoy, but know that it might not appeal to everyone, especially if you just want to watch a feel good or relaxing movie. This one will challenge you to think a bit more and examine your own dysfunctional behavior (and/or that of your family) which may not be too comfortable. Also enjoyed the other characters, especially Henry and Christopher.