Bringing Up Bobby

source: Bringing Up Bobby

Olive (Milla Jovovich) is of European descent living as a scam artist in America. Her accents vary as she both scams and raises her 10 year old son Bobby (Spencer List). Olive coddles her son and indulges his bad behavior which she seems to enjoy. The film is divided into two parts. The first part is all fun and games. The second half is after Olive gets caught and is released from jail. During the interim, Bobby was adopted by a rich real estate man (Bill Pullman) and his wife (Marcia Cross). When Bobby is around his mom, he acts up. Oh yes, they both like to act out and quote films which didn't figure into the script like it should. Written and directed by Famke Janssen, she appeared to have written the lead role for herself. While this was designed to be a quirky film, it tries too hard with stereotyped characters that it fails. Bobby is a complex character who exhibits both independence and insecurity. He is the forgotten son we needed to get to know, but didn't because the film was all about her. So in the end, I felt nothing when I should of had a Puffs moment. Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.

I saw this film in Italy at the Busto Arsizio festival in March. For a first-time director of a small-budget film (made in 11 days in 100+ degree heat), I thought it was excellent. It is a quirky, dark comedy with a world seen through the eyes of a foreigner who has images of the U.S. shaped by vintage American films and T.V. This is not your typical Milla Jovovich/Marcia Cross product, so if you are thinking "Resident Evil" or "Desperate Housewives," you might want to pass or open up to something totally different. If you can get over the two leading women's most famous parts and see them anew, you will likely enjoy this film. The excellent: 1) The setting. It was filmed in Oklahoma and captures so much of the U.S. that films often don't. It is full of another kind of culture: one that is slower, bleaker, and more religious than is typical in American films. Having grown up in a vowel state, I thought it captured the culture well and it was shot really interestingly. 2) Rory Cochrane and Bill Pullman. Cochrane is very funny and Pullman gives a particularly convincing and sympathetic performance. The so-so: 1) Milla Jovovich. Jovovich's performance is up and down. When it is down it is because she is too over the top; when it is up it is because she has toned it down and bit and connects with the audience as opposed to being some kind of caricature. 2) Child actor Spencer List. List is a bit too annoying too often. Like many child actors, he simply overacts pretty much all the time. As far as film festival fare, I would rate this in the top 10%. It is well directed, well shot, well edited, and although the acting is mixed, it is a fun, dark, poignant film.

Sick. Puke still warm. Bringing Up Bobby. Bringing up puke. Giggling Milla Jovovich can't save film. Stay away at all costs or risk immediate health consequences. Need to hurl again because of this film. Got to go. Can't write anymore but have to submit the 10-line minimum for review. Writing 5 lines was too much for this movie. Stay away. Run quickly. Run in another direction. Don't even answer if "helpful." No time get out quickly. Need to find DVD of "Fifth Element." Might make me feel better. Can't write. Vision blurring. Ten lines yet? Not sure.Hands cramping. Repeat previews. Still not enough lines.

I couldn't believe it, so I eat it all up till the end and yes, that's the message. So, the story go something like this: If you're a single, poor mother with problems and a kid, your only choice, the only thing that can fix your life and your son's life is to find a marriage of rich people who want to take it out from you, because, you know, the only thing that matters is money, so, as the real value of the people is about how rich they are -because, remember, the only thing that matters is money and the life that money can buy you-, no low-social-economical-extraction people can fight or find any solution, that means, if you're poor, you lose, and the rich people are the best, because -please don't forget this-, money is the only issue that matters. C'mon! What's the problem with you, Famke! Better keep acting -or whatever. Gee!

At the video store, this DVD caught my eye immediately because of my longtime girl crush Milla Jovovich on the front cover. I grabbed it straight off the shelf, without hesitation. I knew it would more than likely be a dud film, but I just love to watch Milla and was excited that this film could possibly, maybe, turn out to be an 'okay' film. Well, this film is a complete dud. I cringed the whole way through. The mundane story line had potential, but the script and direction was just terrible. I did not know if this was supposed to be a comedy film or a drama. Either way, it failed in every possible category. The character of Olive (Milla Jovovich), was so over the top and one dimensional. Olive, the stereotypical beautiful Russian single mother con, was a character that was over exaggerated and incredibly annoying. It is not even worth going into any more detail about the characters in this film because it all just sucked. It would be as pointless as analyzing your own vomit after vomiting. The only emotion that this film evoked for me, was sadness over why Milla Jovovich played such a crap character in such a crap film. Milla completely over acted in this film, but that was really the only thing that added slight intrigue. Along with her wardrobe. If you like Milla, then watch it for the sake of seeing Millas beauty on screen. Otherwise, do not bother with this film ... unless you want to spend an hour or so baffled at how anyone could write such a terrible script. Bringing up Bobby - The kind of film that my thirteen year old self would have written back in the day. Pretty clothes, pretty leading lady and pretty ridiculous.

I actually co-wrote and recorded a couple of original tunes that were in the background of this film. Cool to see locations I pass regularly. Good times in OKC.

I liked Famke Janssen's directorial debut, which was made on an austere budget and shot in Oklahoma in just 20 days, well enough to want to see her next film, which I hope there will be, as it is difficult to make this kind of independent film and release it. In this film, Milla Jovovich is what she excels in being, which is enchanting and mesmerizing on several levels, as she portrays a loving but dysfunctional mother in a way that draws you in and makes you empathize as well as sympathize. Famke Janssen's story is original, the locations are great, as is the cinematography, and the scenes are cut together flawlessly, building a sensible arch of narrative and emotion to a worthy conclusion. In other words, a very good job from writer Famke Janssen, director Famke Janssen, cinematographer Guido van Gennep, producers, cast and crew.

A stab at a comedy mingled with drama. It doesn't entirely work, even if the actors at work do try their best (even if it doesn't feel like that at times). The story being told from the point of view of Milla is interesting. It might have been more interesting, if we'd seen the whole thing through the eyes of the son. There are times when you wonder what is going on there. Apart from that you have a stellar cast together. Which of course might have to do with the fact, that Famke Jansen is directing. Not a bad try for a movie and I'm sure the script did sound great too. The making it into a movie process, is entirely different of course and there are quite a lot of flaws to be found here (character but also plot wise). A nice little movie then