If Wendy Allen was born instead of Woody Allen, Please Give would be a result. All the characteristics of a Woody Allen film are present including the indecisive characters prone to guilt trips and monologuing, intellectual dialogue, setting in New York, and dry humor, but with the spotlight on female characters instead of men.
Subtle, slow paced, character driven, estrogen fueled and cerebral, Please Give follows a set of New York neighbors. One set is a couple with a cranky teenage daughter and the other is two sisters with a cranky grandmother. Characters are basically divided between the guilted and the grumpy. Those who are giving feel guilty about it (they want more FOR others), and those who are not giving feel grumpy about it (they want more FROM others). Triggers for their rants include serious things as well as inconsequential stuff; being nice versus telling the truth, a $250 pair of jeans, furniture bought from the clueless and sold for exorbitant profits, an affair between two of the film characters, the plight of the homeless, and more.
While Nicole Holofcener doesn't have the whole Woody Allen shtick nailed down quite yet, it is refreshing to experience a female perspective with his style of filmmaking. Another enjoyable aspect of Please Give is in picking sides with the characters and their viewpoints and seeing how they fare along the way. The main thing that everyone needs to give and receive is love and attention. Faults of the film include a lack of chemistry, depth (cinematography) and consequential scenes (scenes that stay with you). Catherine Keener, Rebecca Hall and Oliver Platt shine (as much as Oliver Platt can shine) and provide mooring points that the other less vibrant/experienced actors latch onto.
Subtle, slow paced, character driven, estrogen fueled and cerebral, Please Give follows a set of New York neighbors. One set is a couple with a cranky teenage daughter and the other is two sisters with a cranky grandmother. Characters are basically divided between the guilted and the grumpy. Those who are giving feel guilty about it (they want more FOR others), and those who are not giving feel grumpy about it (they want more FROM others). Triggers for their rants include serious things as well as inconsequential stuff; being nice versus telling the truth, a $250 pair of jeans, furniture bought from the clueless and sold for exorbitant profits, an affair between two of the film characters, the plight of the homeless, and more.
While Nicole Holofcener doesn't have the whole Woody Allen shtick nailed down quite yet, it is refreshing to experience a female perspective with his style of filmmaking. Another enjoyable aspect of Please Give is in picking sides with the characters and their viewpoints and seeing how they fare along the way. The main thing that everyone needs to give and receive is love and attention. Faults of the film include a lack of chemistry, depth (cinematography) and consequential scenes (scenes that stay with you). Catherine Keener, Rebecca Hall and Oliver Platt shine (as much as Oliver Platt can shine) and provide mooring points that the other less vibrant/experienced actors latch onto.