Me, Myself and Mum (2013)
How to become a man when your mother and your closed circle have decided otherwise? This is the challenge Guillaume took up. The film recounts Guillaume's tragicomic battle from the young age of eight, as he adopts the role of a girl then of a homosexual... until, aged 30, he meets the woman who, after his mother, will become the other woman in his life. Beyond this story of a heterosexual coming-out, the film tells the tale of an actor who never stopped loving women, maybe even a little too much.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Reviews
All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.
After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
I found this comedy mildly amusing, with some truly vulgar scenes and dialogue - I would not have wished to watch it in the company of our children. A tour de force - yes - credible - no. Guillaume could not possibly have been happy with his final choice for long, nor could we believe that his love was really requited. As for thinking he had solved the puzzle of his relationship with Mama - HE thought he had - we didn't. My husband was - quite frankly - bored. Others have commented on the fact that there is no real plot to this movie. That need not matter, but it does need to have internal logic and honesty. Although promising till nearly the conclusion, we felt that it came to an abrupt end producing a situation that was entirely unexpected and untrue to the character of Guillaume and his situation. The entire sequence of the "cure" in Bavaria was unnecessary, not particularly funny, and seemed like padding. Time and effort could better have gone into exploring Guillaume's final relationship which was so cursory as to seem like just another of his fantasies. Finally, although his portrayal of his mother was one of the funnier components of the film it was hard to imagine him being enthralled by that spiky, bad-tempered woman.
I went to the cinema, not expecting anything that I would rate higher than 5/10. I looked through a synopsis (that, as I later realised, didn't communicate either the spirit or the idea of the movie) and decided to take my chances. "Comedy" - one of the mentioned genres - actually turned out to be a comedy (not always the case for me, as I am sure for many other people out there). Of course, there are scenes that make you smile, and there are those that don't quite reach your "amusement" nerve. Nevertheless, all in all I did find it entertaining.Secondly, I loved the atmosphere of the movie. It was as though the author lets you in his private life, thoughts - into his head. It feels like you are walking along with him throughout his life, like an imaginary friend.Finally, the idea (at least the one I've extracted for myself). It struck a nerve in me to be honest. I am thankful to this movie because it made me think about something we (at least I) ignore on the daily basis: how society shapes us according to its our own views, forcing its perception of truth on people who under so much pressure of seeming certainty of others (be it random strangers or even family) get confused and crumble, trying to become a person they are 'supposed to be'. Thus, only where you discover your own truth, you become free, and those artificial conventions no longer hold any power over you.I would definitely recommend this movie to my friends (and I have been doing it since I saw it :)). Even if my review doesn't seem extremely appealing, give Guillaume a chance.
Saw this film in Paris recently. Heard it was a huge success. I was wondering what all the hoopla was about, so saw it. Right from the start, I was glued to the screen. The acting, the direction, the plot, the dialogue, the music,-- everything was all extremely well done. The film is touching, funny, and poignant. Guillaume Gallienne is a huge talent ! He is absolutely adorable. Not only did he act in the lead part (and played the mother too!) but he also wrote the screenplay and directed! The fact that it is based upon a true story makes it all the more emotive and heart-rending. It is a delicately created work of art that is not pretentious at all. Would have loved to have seen the theatre piece as well ! BRAVO Señor Gallienne! Usted es un genio !
The trailer of the movie was very promising and the film itself delivered even more. The film achieves the tour de force of being absolutely hilarious and deeply touching at the same time. The subject of this movie would easily have lent itself to a drama, but the comedy treatment is just perfect here. You smile, you laugh, you sympathize, you cry -- there's so much emotions, sensitivity, wit in this movie! And that's what cinema is all about. In addition to being very well written and acted, I was amazed at how well directed the movie was. The music was extremely good, too. Kudos to Guillaume Gallienne for bringing us such a masterpiece!