20th Century Women (2016)

Jack and I thought we'd like it, and we loved it. Funny and touching, it's the story of a 15 year old boy and his single mother, free-spirited yet occasionally traditional, trying to relate to each other, and two other women in their lives. Annette Bening (last blogged for Rules Don't Apply) is marvelous as Dorothea, who wants to have an open mind but sometimes that's asking too much of 1979 55-year-old. Greta Gerwig (most recently in Wiener-Dog) continues her career path of outsider girls as 20-something punk feminist photographer Abbie with hair dyed the color of red bougainvillea. Elle Fanning's (after Ginger & Rosa she played the daughter in Trumbo, though I failed to mention her) Julie has a great deal of depth and, back in the day, I knew many guys like Billy Crudup's (last in Thin Ice) William--handsome, earthy, unable to commit. Lucas Jade Zumann (one other feature and three TV episodes) is terrific as Jamie, trying to cope with puberty and his mom's eccentricities.

This is the follow-up to director/writer Mike Mills' Beginners, which was about his father's coming out at age 75. 20th Century Women is semi-autobiographical, too, although Mills gave Bening a lot of freedom in her interpretation of his mother.

The Santa Barbara establishing shots are quite fun, as is the under-construction mansion in which Dorothea, Jamie, Abbie, and William live. Jack, who has owned several vintage VW Beetles, particularly enjoyed the cars.

The score is by Roger Neill (most recently in these pages for composing Don't Think Twice), and you can stream some of the tracks by playing this one and going on to others with the same picture. However, you're more likely to remember the excellent songs, both of the 70s and earlier, that you can read here or listen to a spotify playlist from here.

Planned Parenthood figures in the plot two times, providing, as they do, basic health care for women.

Starting to rack up nominations--no wins yet, but it's early--this movie is definitely worth your time. Rotten Tomatoes' critics agree, with an average of 90% and its audiences coming in at 82. Parents' advisory: there's frank talk about sex and a little nudity. Your teenagers may be embarrassed if they sit with you to watch it.