Monday, June 13, 2011

Rec. #143: Me Without You



What: Anna Friel and Michelle Williams give knock-down-drag-out powerhouse performances as charming, volatile, possessive Marina (Friel) and quiet, insecure, frustrated Holly (Williams). The film follows the childhood friends through the '70s and '80s, drugs and breakups, unforgivable actions and inescapable dependencies. It's a harsh, unflinching look at the layers of support and mild sabotage that are inherent in almost any close relationship.

Comparable to: The friendship in Heavenly Creatures is only slightly more toxic. (OK, that's an exaggeration. Anna Friel and Michelle Williams don't murder anyone.)

Representative quote: "Don't ever be yourself, you've got to have a gimmick. How about 'intense and difficult'? You could manage that."

You might not like it if: You are looking for Beaches. Or maybe you're unprepared to hear Michelle Williams with a British accent. Or Anna Friel without her Pushing Daisies U.S. accent. Or maybe you're sick of seeing Kyle MacLachlan pop up in unexpected places.

How to get it: Tricky to buy, but easy enough to rent or borrow.

Connections to previous Wreckage: When the show Pushing Daisies first came out, I was already prepared to like it because I was a big fan of Anna Friel, both from this and from the miniseries adaptation of the Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend (Rec. #88). And Oliver Milburn, who plays Marina's brother, also shows up in Green Wing (Rec. #110).

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