Good Posture

I had no prior knowledge of this film when I started watching it so I became incredibly bored after 15 minutes and turned it off. I started it again a few weeks later., and watched another 15 minutes before becoming bored again. A month later I watched the rest of it and could not help thinking: Emily Mortimer must have been desperate to put her name to this; John Early made the 'most irritating man in the world' seem really easy; Grace van Patten shines as she always does despite being in a very unshiny film; and I feel nothing, absolutely nothing at all, nothing whatsoever having watched the credits roll up, except a faint tinge of 'what else could I have done with my time tonight?' Those who like self congratulatory, pretentious, pseudo art films will love it.

Yes it's a little odd at times, but well written, directed and produced. Actors all add their own 'something' to this movie. Really enjoyed the storyline, really enjoyed it. Loved the characters - it felt real.

It always fascinates me when there is a discrepancy between 'user' ratings and the critics. I don't know why people are unimpressed by this film. It is an original and surprising sort of urban New York 'coming of age' story, with very good performances, subtle humour and Austen like irony. The plotting is brilliant, but above all else it is kind and humane; kind to its characters and really quite profound in its humanity, without ever once losing its indie lightness of touch.

Good acting, acceptable production values on par with a low budget - I guess (a real aestheticist-entrepreneur the one who decided to throw his money here...).

Unfortunately despite 2-3 nice scenes, the insipide writing, pointless story and basic direction don't justify the view.

Mortimer's Julia and Grace Van Patten's Lilian are at daggers drawn the second they set eyes on each other, an antipathy that only heightens once Julia insists that her houseguest should start earning her keep. Gradually, though, their frosty relationship, largely conducted through notes penned in Lilian's private diary, begins to thaw, a softening that happens in tandem with Lilian's own stumbling towards maturity. Written and directed by Mortimer's friend and Doll & Em collaborator, Dolly Wells, Good Posture is a slight but affecting yarn that cleverly makes you root for outwardly unsympathetic antagonists. Along the way it amusingly punctures the publishing world's precocity, Lilian's self-serving decision to make a documentary about Mortimer's "Miss Havisham" prompting hilariously po-faced contributions from Martin Amis and Zadie Smith, as well as a downright dotty one from a dancing Jonathan Ames. The insularity and selfabsorption of the drama's upscale milieu won't be for everyone. Yet those who give it a chance might be surprised how touched they are by a film that's both a love letter to New York and a spry salute to sisterhood.