Sundance: Lily Tomlin's "Grandma" is a Sharp-Tongued Joy
Friday, January 30, 2015 at 5:35PM Nathaniel reporting from Sundance. Or, rather, from Manhattan, while still thinking of Sundance and possibly my favorite film from that trip...
The first chapter of Grandma, an ornery new female-driven comedy, is called “Endings” a counterintuitive opening title, perhaps, but appropriate. Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) doesn’t have much taste for beginnings. A year and half before our story begins, this "writer-in-residence," who had a brief period of reknown as a feminist poet, lost her life partner of nearly 40 years to cancer. She’s still bitter about it. We know that her new girlfriend of four months Olivia will soon be shown the door because she's played by Judy Greer who is contractually obliged to never have more than 3 scenes in a movie. [More...]
So 'Endings' refers to Olivia. Elle is cooly and cruelly dumping her in the opening scene as a mere "footnote" when she asked if this relationship ever meant anything at all to her. That's way harsh, Tai.
We know of course that it did. Cut to: Elle crying in the shower alone. See, Elle is one of those icy hilarious misanthropes whose heart, however small or large, is carefully obscured from view. It's an archetype that the movies have always been fond of but usually only in the form of middle-aged to senior men (think Jack Nicholson forever and Bill Murray recently). We know that Elle will have to thaw at least a little bit over the course of the movie but first we’ll vicariously thrill to her take-no-bullshit frankness and hilarious dismantling of everyone and everything that annoys her… which turns out to be quite a lot. At least what the first chapter suggests. But all credit to the magnificent Lily Tomlin because she doesn't play it quite like that. She immediately eschews "type" for three dimensions. Her heart, however self-protecting, is just as visible from the get go as her sorrow, her backstory, her anger and her intellect though the latter two get the noisiest workout. They usually bust out together in the form of verbal tirades (one riff on female "bonobos" is just magnificentally funny) Writer/director Paul Weitz, in easily his best movie since About a Boy (2002), has handed Tomlin quite the gift. It's her greatest role since Nashville (1975) which led to her sole Oscar nomination, and she seems to know it.
Not that it's a one-woman show.
Enter Sage (Julia Garner), Elle's granddaughter who is a girl in trouble (it's a temporary thing). She’s completely broke and has an appointment for an abortion late that same day. Elle is also flat broke -- in a funny aside we realize she’s chopped up all her credit cards and made them into wind chimes. If it weren’t for Lily’s expert performance, which makes the eccentric and sometimes poorly considered impulsiveness of this old warrior feminist wholly plausible, this might come across as sloppy movie-movie logic, a mere excuse to have a plot on which to hang the jokes and character arcs. Thus begins what amounts to a road trip film without much in the way of “road”. Lily & Sage jump in an old car but they’re basically just driving around short distances to visit old “friends” and acquaintances in the movie's chapter like structure to try to collect the money for the procedure. From there we get a parade of one scene cameos from the likes of Laverne Cox, Elizabeth Peña (the first of a few posthumous releases. RIP), Sam Elliott (wonderfully resonant as a charming man from Elle's long-ago past), and more. Last but absolutely not least is over-achieving Marcia Gay Harden as Judy, Elle's estranged daughter and Sage's mother. She’s a total battle-axe asshole who can’t deal with anyone else’s stupidity; Like mother, like daughter. Her line reading about condoms may be the funniest thing in the whole movie.
Lily & Paul at Sundance. Photo via Getty Images
Grandma can feel slight at time, but one gets the sense that Elle herself would be very pleased that it doesn't make much of a fuss about itself, wrapping up at a tight 78 minutes. As it turns out its bare bones single thread plot is just a line on which to hang great jokes, smart observations, progressive politics, and a couple of character arcs. But, if slight, this American comedy still feels like a life-saving gulp of ice cold water in the desert. It's not just that it's so female-centric in a movie culture that's alpha male. It's that it's genuinely funny, totally smart, and generous. Best of all it gives us the chance to watch Lily Tomlin, an American institution, showcased in a way we haven't seen in decades. Happy 75th* Lily Tomlin. What an anniversary gift.
Grade: A- ?
*Lily turned 75 this past September. Will she get an Oscar nomination for her 76th this year? Let's start the FYC right now.
Reader Comments (27)
This sounds lovely. Everyone seems to be in agreement. Any word on release dates or a distributor?
Henry -- it was bought by SONY PICTURES CLASSICS. so hopefully they won't mess up the release
This sounds fantastic! So glad someone found a good vehicle for Tomlin. Can't wait to check this out.
I'm so excited for this...SO EXCITED!
So glad you thought this was good. There was a nice interview with her on another site that I literally JUST READ before yours, so now I'm super excited. The car, apparently, is her own. And what's not to love about a movie that includes Marcia Gay Harden and Judy Greer, and Elizabeth Pena.
We love Lily Tomlin. I hope the film is a huge success.
I recently watched Men, Women & Children and Judy Greer has more than three scenes in that movie. Too bad it's just as godawful as it seemed - basically, Jason Reitman either believes or wants us to believe that cheating spouses, overprotective parents, stage moms and secretive teenagers didn't exist before The Big Bad Internet came along.
Romeo Voiid shout out! I thought I was the only one who knew that song.
This sounds terrific, and definitely Oscar worthy material for Ms. Tomlin. Keep up the FYC!
So happy to hear of this role for the legendary Tomlin. If she does win an Oscar she'll be an EGOT!
Her cheekbones are definitely 25!
Nat, you have got to watch Lily in The Late Show asap!
Wow! One of the most exciting posts you've put up in quite a while--and that's saying something, considering the season. Thanks so much for this!
it was bought by SONY PICTURES CLASSICS. so hopefully they won't mess up the release
They didn't mess up Still Alice.
I'm already pissed off at the Academy for Lily's snub next year.
3rtful- I believe that was Nathaniel's point. In another studio's hands, it might be dicey, but SPC has a proven track record.
Goodness, I would love for this Oscar nom to happen.
Paul Outlaw--ooh I forgot about that one, haven't seen it in years, so just ordered it up from the library. Something to do on a snowy day at home. Thx!
There's usually a welcome back veteran at the Oscars every year,Tomlin could be this yrs.
Because of her sketch comedy roots, people often forget that Lily Tomlin is also one of the great dramatic actresses of our time. So I'm really happy to hear she's gotten something she can really sink her teeth into. Can't wait to see this!
As the daughter of maverick filmmaker Stanley Kramer and screen icon Katharine Hepburn I am excited about this film because of the focus on women's issues and abortion. Having worked with Lily Tomlin more than once and considering her as a role model, as well as working with Paul Weitz, I am thrilled that he has tailor-made this vehicle for her . I have long been trying to support her resurgence in Cinema.
I am so excited for this. Not just Lily, but Marcia too!
I can't wait.
It's almost too much joy to speak out loud, but if we had back-to-back Oscar wins for Moore and Tomlin, I'd never ask the Academy for anything else.
yea she's def gonna get nominated, everybody can relax. she's old, WHITE, well-respected in the industry, and as it was mentioned earlier, a veteran is always welcomed into the mix so yeah, there u go.
again -- people i don't wanna overhype it it. It is kind of 'featherweight' in some ways (short, minimal plot, etcetera) but i had a ball.
martin -- plenty of white people don't get nominated each year.
Lily Hosted three socially-conscious documentaries for my screening series "Kat Kramer's Films That Change The World" including one she narrates called "Teach Your Children Well." I also performed the "first" and only musical tribute when she was honored by Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters in 2012, and a new salute I performed and had created for PAWS 30th Anniversary in her honor. She and I have spent hours talking about my desire to see her receive an Academy Award nomination -and hopefully Win for Best Actress. My Godmother/Namesake Katharine Hepburn had 4 so it has been a mission of mine to see this happen for Lily. And so glad it is Paul Weitz who wrote and directed a plum role for Lily and recognized what I have known all along. It just so happens his Grandfather agent Paul Kohner had once represented my father.So will champion this happening for both Tomlin and Weitz.
Wow, 2015 seems to be filled with lesbian love (themed) movies, and this one has even a real lesbian actress. That's amazing!
Can't wait to see this!
Going on my list for sure, I love Lily Tomlin, and Marcia Gay Harding (Whip It). Paul Weitz is responsible for one of my favourite films - "About a Boy".
This film has a lot going for it, let's hope it gets a good reception at Telluride & Tiff and then a decent release.