My First Mister

Customer Reviews:

mister.......2007-01-06

This movie had been recommended to me. After viewing, I can see why. Although there was no acclaim, this story is a wonderful portrayal of not fitting in and trying to find your path in life, all it takes is someone to believe in you.

I just watched this twice. I will watch it again!.......2006-12-09

I always like Leelee Sobieiski. In this she was perfection. Albert Brooks is always okay but I loved him in this. Carol Kane, Mary Kay Place, Michael McKean and John Goodman were the throw away characters. They all are wonderful in their parts but the movie is really alive when Leelee and Albert are on screen together. Great humour, great pathos, great sexual tension but no sex. What is it about? People. Think a Ghost World in which everyone is actually so much better off for having met. If you need a come on line how about this: "Is there a bathroom in this place or do you just go right on the floor."

A sweet and special film........2006-09-19

Although Albert Brooks first achieved fame as a comedian he has proven to be the most natural of actors. He's perfect for this role which is both funny and heartbreaking.

My First Mister becomes a bit of a tearjerker toward the end, but the story, of a friendship between two seemingly mismatched people is such a treasure, a little soap opera can be forgiven.

My only reservation is that while the main characters are so finely tuned, the parents are silly, over the top stereotypes. But they occupy just a small portion of the story.

Unexpected gem - real friendship explored on film.......2006-06-04

Angry and sad goth girl meets middle-aged boring guy. These lonely people seek each other out and build a real friendship.

A refreshing film without big scenes or large explosions instead just a series of little moments. Just like real life.

Surprisingly effective portrayal of a disaffected teenager, the kind who's too cool to fit in or make a connection with anybody else.

Everybody in this film is quite the character. Even the "boring" characters are interesting and lovingly portrayed.

Somewhat of a surprise ending as a tear-jerker.

I'm Uncle Fester, I'm Andy of Mayberry, I'm Mr. Roper, I'm Grandpa Munster........2006-05-04

I was not ready for such a powerful, intelligent, and intricately detailed film. I had read several glowing reviews for Christine Lahti's official directorial debut, but I had just assumed this would be another Hollywood schlock-fest featuring the dry humor of Albert Brooks (which I find grows on my with each new film) and Leelee Sobieski attempting to reconnect with a teenie-bopper audience. I was wrong. To be perfectly frank with you, I was dead wrong. This was such a strong film that dedicated itself to developing strong characters, to giving us honest emotions, and providing us a story that is not unfamiliar in the "real" world that it nearly left my jaw hanging on the ground. From the opening moments in which we are focused directly on the life of Jennifer (aka "J") to the unrecognizable change to following Randall (aka "R") My First Mister will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you realize that friendship is stronger than the clothes you wear or the amount of piercings on you face. Through the use of Brooks' "every man" persona and Sobieski's attention to detail with her character, this film gives us a rare glimpse into Lahti's near-perfect film.

What initially pulled me into this film was the untraditional Hollywood story that scribe Jill Franklyn unfolds before us. I assumed, prior to watching the film that this was going to be a sexual film mocking the taboos of age in our society. From the completely baffling byline, one could only assume that we were about to experience an early version of Thirteen, but Lahti and Franklyn do something rather unexpected. The idea of sex is placed in front of us early in the film and prior to the climax, but it isn't the central focus. By building this film around the premise of friendship instead of sex, Lahti creates a unique and poignant film about other cultural taboos in our society. She eliminates the idea of sex and gives us two strong-willed characters that, perhaps in another life, may have had a sexual relationship, but now are just seeking companionship and comfort. What brings a smile to my face with this story is the way that it is developed. Lahti nearly teases us with the idea of a sexual story several times, but instead builds a solid foundation around friendship. She makes us, the audience, feel as if we are meeting two friends for the first time. By eliminating sex, she pulls us deeper within the characters allowing us to see the true "love" that is obviously between these visual opposites. I use the word "visual" because we do not believe their connection at first because of the clothes that they wear. Lahti uses this technique to trick us. A Goth girl befriends Mr. Rogers? Society would tell us that this could never happen, but the Lahti persuades us by giving us two of the strongest characters to play against each other in modern cinematic history.

I realize that others would argue that there have been stronger matching in Hollywood long before Brooks and Sobieski, which I would agree of classic Hollywood, but recently (basically 80s to present) it is hard to find two actors that seem to compliment each other like a great cheese and aged red wine. Brooks and Sobieski took me away from them, as the actors, and gave me a whole new viewing experience. Sobieski dove, head first, into her character giving "J" mannerisms and characteristics that seemed pure and researched. I felt as if Sobieski was one of those misunderstood Goths that I had class with in school. From the poetry, the eye movements when speaking, and the overall self-abusive negativity that she has against herself as well as those around her. She patiently waits for the right person to enter her insane life and finds that with Brooks. For those seeking his typical sarcasm and wry attitude, My First Mister may disappoint. Albert Brooks contains himself in this film. He does so to the point that midway through the feature I forgot that it was funnyman Brooks. He amazingly transforms himself into an older version, in a khaki color, of "J". Odd to say, but that is why these two "opposites" attracted so well. The two play so well off each other that as an audience member you have the chance to enjoy both the acting as well as a very strongly developed story about family and friendship.

I have talked about the story, I have talked about the characters, but none of this would have been possible if it were not for the brilliant direction behind the camera and the talented eye of minimal director Christine Lahti. At first I was unsure of how well she would be able to handle such a deeply emotional topic, if she would clich? the characters and fill their mouths with remedial dialogue that would be painful to both the eyes and ears, but instead she remained calm, cool, and completely collective throughout the entire film. It was obvious that she had done her homework prior to each scene and before each take. She had the control of her actors, which developed into some great on-screen chemistry, as well as she knew how to tactfully take us to the next emotional level. Sure, it wasn't perfect (the ending seemed a bit tattered), but Lahti remained focused and even cleverly changed the focus throughout the film with the greatest of ease. We began with "J", moved to "R", and went back to "J" for the final tearful moments. Other directors would have had our minds in a fix, but Lahti was delicate and truthful to the foundation that she had just set. I was surprised to see that Lahti has not directed more after this project, because it was obvious that her talent was behind the camera (as well as in front).

Overall, I thought My First Mister was a sensational film. This was the epitome of the "diamond in the rough" cinema. We had a superb cast that complimented each other so well that we could easily forget that we were watching a film. We had a story that spoke emotionally and socially about friendship and family on more than just a "June Cleaver" level. Finally, we had a director that was not afraid to take risks and do her homework. This story works on so many levels that to begin to unravel it would take more time than allowed. I suggest this film strongly because it will make you think twice about passing judgment on someone due to their clothes or piercing habits, who knows where friendship could erupt!

Grade: **** out of *****

My First Mister [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

Average customer rating:

My First Mister [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]
Director: Christine Lahti
Manufacturer: S.A.V.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Subtitles), Spanish (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: A remarkable film that works its emotional hooks into an audience with a gradual, assured patience that is astonishing coming from a debut feature filmmaker, this comedy drama is smart, truthful, and (most importantly) genuinely funny. Despite material that is likely to be considered "slight" in the era of commonplace 100-million-dollar-plus productions, director Christine Lahti's film, particularly coming on the heels of her Oscar win for the short subject Lieberman in Love (1995), places her in the ranks of such other performers-turned-directors as Woody Allen and Clint Eastwood. The script, by former Seinfeld writer Jill Franklyn, is a sharp, sympathetic examination of two people smart enough to immediately have each other's number, as well as to know that their reclusive tendencies are unhealthy, even in the face of a mutual unwillingness to change. In that sense, the film bears similarities to As Good As It Gets (1997), a project sure to exceed this one in terms of awards, critical acclaim, and audience attention. That's because, in place of a romantic pas de deux between Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, the filmmakers offer up a wistful, didactic friendship between a 49-year-old man and a 17-year-old goth chick. That those roles are filled by actors as iconoclastic as Albert Brooks, who rarely acts in anything stupid and so rarely acts, and Leelee Sobieski, a teen who must turn down scores of teen films but has played Joan of Arc, is further indication that mainstream audiences won't find much paint-by-numbers emotional clarity here.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Scene Access, Interactive Menu, Filmographies, Commentary,

Average customer rating:

mister
I just watched this twice. I will watch it again!
A sweet and special film.
Unexpected gem - real friendship explored on film
I'm Uncle Fester, I'm Andy of Mayberry, I'm Mr. Roper, I'm Grandpa Munster.

My First Mister [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000DZRI8