Beginners

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  • Opened June 17, 2011 (Limited 6/17)
  • 1 hr 45 min
  • R | Language and some sexual content
  • Parents: Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+. More on child suitability

  • Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Mélanie Laurent) only months after his father Hal (Christopher Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who – following 44 years of marriage – came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal’s new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they’d ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him. Full synopsis

  • Cast: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic
  • Director: Mike Mills
  • Genres: Art House/Foreign, Drama

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Fans say Go
130 fans
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Must Go!
Critics say Must Go!
81 out of 100
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Fan Reviews

Must Go!
Learning to Live 101

by BetaMike

Written from such a personal standpoint, "Beginners" has something for everyone. Christopher Plummer is, as to be expected, grand and noble in his role of the recently out dad but it is the emotion...

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Good Movie

by HairDaryl

This movie was good... the acting was very good... the content was really nice..... my only complaint is.... it was very slow. it could have had a few more funny scenes in it to keep you going........

Must Go!
Wonderful

by mitchman_la

This is a terrific movie that you may never have heard of if you didn't see that Christopher Plummer got a best supporting actor Oscar for his wonderful work. Ewan MacGregor was entirely overlooked...

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Critic Reviews

100
USA Today
| Claudia Puig

What results is a disarmingly honest tale of affection, both romantic and filial. Read full review

91
Entertainment Weekly
| Lisa Schwarzbaum

The movie darts, dreams, and sometimes seems to dance. The great Plummer, meanwhile, creates an inspiring, fully rounded man in late bloom, and McGregor responds with a performance to match. Read full review

90
The Hollywood Reporter
| Kirk Honeycutt

All the movie's playfulness rubs off on the actors. Scenes crackle with life. The chemistry among all the actors is terrific. Read full review

85
Movieline
| Stephanie Zacharek

Beginners is all about beginnings that begin with endings - the point, Mills seems to be saying, is that sometimes you need to say good-bye to make room for hello. Read full review

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Christopher Plummer as Hal and Ewan McGregor as Oliver in "Beginners.''