Greetings all, and welcome to another rare yet insightful look into what I'm watching. This week it's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Starring Michael Cera of Superbad and Arrested Development fame, and Kat Dennings, who is most memorable from her role as Catherine Keener's daughter Marla from The 40 Year Old Virgin. The movie follows a group of teens as they traverse the indie music scene in New York, with Cera and Dennings finding love along the way.Directed by relative unknown Peter Sollett, who drew much of the film's elements from his own childhood as a youth in New Jersey, the film tells an all too familiar story; yet it manages to present this story with characters both tangible and sincere. Nick (played by Cera) is nursing the wounds of love lost, while Nora (Dennings) unknowingly picks up the pieces of Nick's unrequited love for his now ex Tris (Alexis Dzenia in an ideal role) in the form of disposed mix CD's meant to remind Tris of her past relationship with Nick. Tris, having since moved on, finds Nick's attempts to reconnect laughable. Enter supporting cast....
Nick plays base in The Jerkoffs, a drumless gay band. His bandmates Thom and Dev, played by Aaron Yoo and Rafi Gavron respectively, drag Nick out of his depressed state and out to play a gig with the promise of possibly seeing Where's Fluffy, the film's elusive yet wildly popular indie group. Nora and her best friend Caroline, played by Ari Graynor, are at the show, as is Tris and her flavor of the month. When Tris harasses Nora about being alone, Nora quickly feigns that Nick is her boyfriend and approaches him in hopes he will reciprocate her ruse. The movie follows the teens on their overnight quest to find Fluffy, all the while exploring Nick and Nora's new friendship and coping with both Tris's mindgames and Caroline's drunken antics.This movie, in the wrong hands, could have been horrible.
It is, in fact, outstanding.
Sollett channels his own knowledge of cruising the indie music scene as a child alongside a screenplay based on a novel by Rachel Cohn. Sollett personally describes Nick as "not unlike" himself at that age, almost a bystander in the fast paced world around him. Cera's character is household by now, yet he asserts more comedic presence, confidence, and charm than in some of his previous roles. Given how popular and memorable some of those roles have been, I'm actually saying alot there. Dennings is in the limelight here, having played mostly supporting roles in the past. As Nora she handles the role well, downplaying the character's celebrity while never denying her namesake. Her sarcasm and reserved aggressivness assert her position as the girl we want Cera's Nick to end up with. Dzenia plays Tris with a bitchiness that is almost out of bounds, but stays true to the role. Had she amplified the role any more the premise that Nick would want to be with her in the first place would be less palpable. Later in the film, however, she displays her manipulative nature well, allowing us to truly believe she is both wrong for Nick and someone he would still have strong feelings for. Thom and Dev, Nick's gay bandmates, are both sincere and comedic. Not a scene is wasted with Thom and Dev, each moment with them increasing our immersion in the film and our empathy for its' characters. Ari Graynor, as Caroline, absolutely steals the show with her spot on performance of Norah's drunk friend. We immediately relate to Caroline, as each of us has had first hand experience babysitting drunk friends. Graynor is excellent in her portrayal, again serving only to further our connection with the players. Jay Baruchel as Tal, Norah's would be ex-boyfreind-slash-friend, adds an additional element to the film later on, all leading to the films climax in early morning Manhattan.
The movie does many other things very well. Thom and Dev are presented as Nick's friends, and their homosexuality is approached nonchalantly. We know they are gay, we don't care, and neither does the film. The issue of homosexuality is touched on several times throughout the film, and is done so beautifully. Truly, the world Thom touches on when he is talking to Nick is the world we want to live in.In addition, the adolescents in the film take every shape and size. There are those who drink, but many who do not. Those who are sexually active, and those who abstain. All too often a good film is ruined by the presumption that everyone is doing it. It is a breath of fresh air when a film about teenagers realizes that many lifestyle preferences can exist together in the same social situation without groupthink taking over.
Lastly, if inanimate objects could be nominated for awards. The Oscar would go to the chewing gum. Hands down.
The film does have one or two bumps in the road. Norah is fully aware of Tris' infidelity toward Nick during the time they were dating, yet she never discloses this to Nick. Perhaps to avoid hurting him, or out of loyalty to Tris. It was a bit unusual to me, as Norah is clearly not a fan of Tris from the start. Either way this point is never really developed enough in the film, and as such, its' mention early on in the film should have sufficed. Especially if it wasn't going to be influential later on.
Later in the film as well, Nick and Norah share a mildly sexual intimate moment. This is a sincerely romantic scene, but I felt it was just the tiniest bit awkward. Again this scene hints back at a conversation midway through the film between Tris and Norah in which her infidelity is brought to light once again. If and when you see the movie, maybe you can give me your take on it. Still, it's nice to see a movie present the idea that even at a young age, mature and romantic sexuality can exist ... and without intercourse.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist playfully draws you in for a night of friendship, music, laughter, and love and takes you back to late nights with friends when you loved and laughed the same. Outstanding acting by the entire cast coupled with a genuine love story surrounded by an awesome soundtrack makes for a movie that, while it may not be up for best picture, can be popped in the DVD player anytime like an old home movie. Watching the movie feels like watching ourselves, and who doesn't like remeniscing about a crazy night with their friends?
Five out of five stars.
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