Junebug

Phil Morrison, USA, 2005
3 out of 4 stars

Not perfectly transcendent, but certainly successful at reaching towards it. My favorite moment is when the Blue State protagonist is listening to her Red State-raised husband sing a hymn (very well), and her expression goes through so many contortions, leaving you really uncertain as to whether she is offended by the possibility that he might still have some religious sentiment, amazed that he has hidden his proficiency at singing from her, or something else more nebulous. Her reactions and his singing combine to produce an interesting, sublime moment. I don’t know that I would have nominated Amy Adams for an Oscar though; I think Embeth Davidtz’s work here is more nuanced.

Source: Sony DVD
23 February, 8:20 PM