Without seeing a trailer, a single still, a clip or anything that would clue me into what Gloria Bell was about tonally, dramatically or emotionally, I was all in. Why? It’s simple, Julianne Moore stars as the titular character—a woman seeking life satisfaction, largely through, good music to dance to and perhaps … love.
The idea of witnessing the Oscar winning Moore in a role that screams complexity and resonance was all that was required to leap and inhale the actress’ latest character study from a thespian whose most innate of gifts over these last several decades makes taking a narrative journey with her one of life’s great joys.
Then, there’s the icing on the cake that arrives in the form of one of our more underrated actors, John Turturro. He plays a man that Gloria meets out dancing one evening. They become romantic, but things are not quite what it seems and thus, the rich drama of Gloria Bell—a film that should reverberate for anyone with a pulse… I kid, but seriously anyone who has navigated the rich landscape that can also be a painfully raw journey that is matters of the heart.
Gloria is a divorcee who spends her days working the grind at an insurance office. It’s not breaks out in song joy, but it’s not exactly the worst place to make a living for the middle-aged woman. Mirroring what so many mothers feel, Gloria believes that her children don’t communicate with her enough. What she does treasure profusely is going to a nearby nightclub where she tosses back a few and dances the night away. One gets the impression that there is nothing more gloriously blissful to this woman at this point in time than moving her body under the gorgeous lights of the club to songs that make her feel delightfully outside herself.
On one of those evenings out, she meets Arnold and sexual sparks fly immediately. Things seem to be going swimmingly well for Gloria and Arnold. She decides to take it to the next level and introduce him to her family. So, they attend her son Peter’s (Michael Cera, Superbad, Arrested Development) birthday party. Arnold is feeling neglected and unceremoniously leaves the fete. They tackle that relationship bump in due time, but when a second “weird” moment punctures their otherwise solid coupledom, it sends Gloria away from Arnold and something occurs that might be it for this couple … or it could make them stronger.
What a cast, beyond those legendary leads. It includes Brad Garrett of Everybody Loves Raymond, Jeanne Tripplehorn (who you remember from Basic Instinct, Waterworld and countless other films that have audiences saying, “I know that actress!), Rita Wilson (Sleepless in Seattle), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings and of course … Rudy!) and Holland Taylor of Legally Blonde fame. Each shines bright in their varied roles under the textured guidance of director Sebastián Lelio (the Oscar winning A Fantastic Woman and the Chilean version of this cinematic delight).
The Chilean helmer has such a gift of portraying the nuances of the human heart and the entirety that is the human existence. His eye is also sublimely beautiful as he presents hues on the color spectrum that you didn’t even know you loved until witnessing them in the hands of a film director who works like a renaissance painter with his lens. Also, by remaking his own 2013 film, there could be no one more familiar with the material and it shows on every single frame. Not only did he direct both versions, but he penned the screenplay as well. The audience is gifted a dramatic and comedic ride that is endearingly pungent in its ability to celebrate the little nuances of life that make the ride so complex and precious—something many directors gloss over.
There are merely two bonus features on the Gloria Bell Blu-Ray, and that is utterly perfect. Moore’s latest artistic masterpiece stands all on its own… those two extras are truly icing on the cake. An Extraordinary Woman: Making Gloria Bell is a triumphant look behind-the-scenes of Lelio’s moviemaking magic. Of particular fascination is the insight offered by Moore and her helmer in this featurette that highlight aspects of the script that will produce the effect of having you wanting to go back and witness the film yet again with the likelihood of utterances of “oh, yeah….” becoming quite frequent! The supporting cast also gets to chime in and speak to their characters, working with the director and of course … the star.
Lastly, when you do decide to watch Gloria Bell a subsequent viewing, turn on the audio commentary with Lelio. It is almost like a masterclass in filmmaking a modern romance with comedy (see, it’s not really a rom-com). The director is charming in his delivery, wickedly insightful about his process and above all else we get the sense that this is a soul that cherishes the medium of film and as such, don’t be surprised if his name alone gets you to watch his future work.
Film Grade: A
Bonus Features: B