Bringing Up Bobby

Was quite astonished to see the low score for this here on IMDb. That's not deserved. I found the film refreshing and fun, if you're able to appreciate a film that doesn't take itself to serious.

I loved the light tone and the vibrant colorful style of the movie. It looks like Moonrise Kingdom, and I found it better. The colorful filters make this eye candy. Some scenes are like a painting.

Milla Jovovich is a easy-go-lucky mother Olive, mostly on the wrong side of the law. The adores her 11 year old son Bobby (Spencer List) but eventually her past catches up with her. Young Spencer List is impressive and charming in his role.

The film, directed by Famke Janssen, has a fairy tale touch, and even th sad parts has a light touch. Ordinarily I'm not too fond of this style, but I found this refreshing and entertaining. It's different, and it's also unpredictable, which is a good thing when you've seen a lot of movies.

I really feel the bashing of this tiny story, which is about the love between a mother and her son, is not fair. It's without real sadness, and unnecessary violence, and all Niall hopeful and quite believable. It's such a relief to watch a movie where you don't have to fear bad things happening. A feel-good gem!

(2012) Bringing Up Bobby DRAMA

Co-written and directed by actress Famke Janson, starring Milla Jovovich as single mother, Olive an Ukrainian woman who's trying to raise her 11 year old son Bobby right, who she'll probably won't get any 'mother of the year' awards, since she lies, cheats and steals during her stay as an American citizen. And because the movie is about 11 year old Bobby, it shows him to be a total douche as both their worlds come for the turn for the worst as she gets arrested. Resorting her to give up custody toward a wealthy couple of Kent (Bill Pullman) and Mary (Marcia Cross), who has coincidentally had just lost their own son. And once Olive is let out, her son, Bobby resorts back to his bad behavior again. Strictly-by-the-book plot with nothing people can't come up with by themselves. And I also have to say that it's hard to sympathize with characters who initially act like a couple of self indulgent douches.

I saw Famke Janssen on a panel with Nicole Kidman at the Nashville Film Festival. Mrs. Janssen was well spoken and impressive so I thought I would see her film. It's very strange but wonderful. The idea of it is great; a Ukrainian woman who grew up on American movies and hustles her way through Oklahoma, using those movies as the basis for her understanding of the American dream. American cinema clearly shapes foreigner's view of who we are, which was an interesting theme to see the director explore. Throughout Bringing Up Bobby, Mila Jovivich uses quotes from some of the greatest movies of all time time, movies that clearly shaped her opinion about America. I caught some references (I think) from Gone With the Wind, China Town and Bonnie and Clyde. I am sure there are others in there as well that I missed. But for movie buffs, that was a fun aspect of the film.

The reality is that Bringing Up Bobby is almost two separate movies. The first half of the film feels like a slapstick, easy going and over the top homage to the 1930s, while the second half feels like a 1970's film. The second half is very gritty and more realistic. One can argue with the outcome of such an effort, but the ambition is certainly there for this 1st time director. It's always nice to see an independent film take risks and think outside the box. Bobby tried to do that and sometimes it succeeds and sometimes it falls short. Where it falls short is really on the acting. I agree with some of the other comments about Mrs. Jovovich's performance, as it is a little uneven and I felt like in the first part of the film especially, you could see the acting. She did a much better job during the second part of the film when she had to be emotional and the action required a visceral reaction from her.

The music in this film is really fantastic, book marked on the one end by Ukrainian/Russian folk songs and on the other with real Americana music.

The movie doesn't completely succeed but I applaud the effort and look forward to seeing what Mrs. Janssen does next.

Don't get me wrong, this movie isn't horrible, it's just not excellent the way it should be. The film starts out really great, Milla is a laugh out loud funny con artist from the Ukraine who is just trying to make ends meet with her son in America, then it turns into a more dramatic film where a woman is trying to get her son back, to me it seems like both of these plots are great but together in the same film it didn't work for me, I think as individual film they would be excellent.

The saving grace is Milla Jovovich, she is terrific in absolutely everything, and she is just exceptional in this, she is funny, lovable and for most of the film you are rooting for her, I hope she continues to do funnier roles such as these as she really suits them.

Also the kid in the movie is definitely worth mentioning, child actors are really impressive these days. The opening song sung by Milla is one of the best parts of the film, so basically no highs or lows, just very one dimensional. A tad disappointing. :(

Famke Janssen has managed to put all of the elements of a great independent movie together here but somehow the chemistry never grabs you really hard. Milla Jovovich's character is somebody who thinks they understand the American Dream from watching TV and from the movies that she is often quoting. The reality in America however is that the "American Dream" is much more complicated than she ever imagined. Milla Jovovich and Spencer List are very convincing as the mother and son duo and the portrayal of their relationship is what carries the movie. Pullamn does well but is careful not to grab the attention away from the two main characters. The colours and costumes stand out against the bleak Oklahoma backdrop. It is a good movie and it is easy to watch. It is not the sort of movie that will interest people who do not regularly watch small independent movies.