Birthday Girl
Birthday Girl is an indie (independent) film [or a mainstream one that didn’t get due acclaim] that starts like many indie films start. It is quiet, stark, sober, and moderately intriguing as a heady film or thinker film. Then again, there’s not all THAT much to think about in Birthday Girl. Rather, it is a film that makes ya think for a minute not about any profound symbolism or messages but about social life in general and birthdays in particular.
First we meet John Buckingham, a sympathetic character by all rights, who is played by Ben Chaplin as a pasty (or very white), mushy-bodied, simpleton of sorts who has no luck with dating, romance, or women, so he resorts to going online and ordering a Russian bride.
By the time we meet Nadia (later a.k.a. Sophia, but that’s all I’ll tell you without spoiling too much), we are understanding of and hopeful for John and his single plight. That is, he is innocuous, sensitive, and, though he speaks little, quite likeable as the underdog/geek type. So we, too (if we have never seen Birthday Girl before), are excited then delighted to see the mail-order bride is one Nicole Kidman—sinewy and stunning and even a little mysterious.
John has made a fine choice, shopping for a stranger who turns out to be beautiful, sexually competent, and [seemingly] domestically satisfying. But then Nadia is supposedly the birthday girl, and her supposed cousins arrive without advance notice to supposedly surprise her and celebrate. The whole of John’s new life will have turned out to be a ruse—a dangerous and pitiful one more pitiful than his singledom and more dangerously exciting than, of course, he bargained for.
Birthday Girl is not a think piece in any sense. Birthday girl is more an absurdist piece, a film rooted in dark comedy that has many sick but tickly moments, and a film that even carries a message that most of us are conditioned by without having to go through what the straight-laced but lovely banker John goes through…to have his bride for real.
NB: You may have come here looking for gifts for the birthday girl and not for a film by the same title. If that’s the case, and you want a unique birthday girl gift for someone with a keen and ranging sense of humor, hey, give her Birthday Girl.
Birthday Girl related articles:
Birthday Party Checklist
Some of our fondest childhood memories center on birthday gatherings. Many adult memories are associated with the special occasion as well. Throwing a celebration like this can be a daunting task that may intimidate many who try to take on the challenge. ... Bob Marley Legend
The album Bob Marley Legend is one of the premier albums of all time, especially in the realm of pop albums. Bob Marley Legend chronicles the career of Bob Marley and the Wailers, by having such classic tracks and all time hits as Buffalo Soldier, Stir it... Body Hair Removal
If you cannot style it, color it, or decorate it, remove it. That is most women's attitude towards body hair. Unwanted body hair can be annoying and in some cases, can really put a damper on a person's personality.
Fortunately, there are many o... Body Stocking
One article of lingerie that is often neglected by the common woman is the body stocking. This wonderful accessory is a must for any adult lady’s sexy wardrobe. This garment is similar to a leotard in that it fits snugly against the skin. Some people equa... Body Wrap
The trend in fashion is to have a sleek slim look, especially in evening wear. For many people that look is not easy to achieve. One woman bought a very trendy form fitting dress to take along on a seven day cruise. The dress was a bit snug, but the cr...
more Pocket Links articles:
Rules Of Poker
With the now televised World Series of Poker, and a sudden boom in poker television shows such as Poker Superstars, and Celebrity Poker Showdown, poker has gone from a somewhat shady and smoky past to a national, and even worldwide pastime. The basic rul... Backpacking Tents
Are you a big outdoorsman? Or actually I should say outdoor person. Maybe that fresh mountain air and warm son get your heart pumping and juices flowing. If this sounds all too familiar, then you're certainly not alone. Many of us yearn for that bout with... Auto Accident Lawyer
Auto accident lawyers are pretty far down on the totem poll of the lawyer food chain. I’ve yet to meet an auto accident lawyer that didn’t immediately give me the impression of an overeducated used car salesman. With so many law schools out there and so... Acne Forum
As a long time acne sufferer in my youth, I often felt the need for relevant information and advice regarding acne. However, those were the days before the advent of the internet, and more often than not, I found myself poring over health magazines, leafl... Prevent A Cold
Oh no, is it winter time yet? You know what that means. It's probably time for that irksome, yet inevitable cold. Now, what you need to know is how to prevent a cold. Ah, the secret that somehow slipped passed the human spectrum of medicine. Okay, well th... |