I’ve never been one for romantic films. They always end up overly cheesy or one of the characters die a miserable death. But, with Denver’s 36th Annual Starz! Film Festival being almost completely sold out, I grabbed any chance I could get to see what it had to offer. At Middleton happened to be one that screened early in the morning and allowed me to get in before the rest of the press would see it on Saturday’s red carpet event. And I feel incredibly lucky to be able to have seen it, as it’s an absolute gem.
Starring Andy Garcia (When a Man Loves a Woman, Ocean 11) and Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring, Up in the Air), At Middleton begins with two parents visiting Middleton University with their children. Although they are both married, their spouses would rather sit at home than take part as their children make one of their very first adult decisions in life. We first meet George (Garcia) and his son Conrad (Spencer Lofranco) driving into Middleton and the son is not happy about this day trip. He doesn’t want to wear the tie his dad bought him, he doesn’t want to attend Middleton (although that’s the only option he really has), and spends most of his time listening to his iPhone. George is the epitome of the well put together father. From his neatly combed hair, to his bow tie, to his loafers; George has it together on the outside and, the fact that he is a cardiologist, solidifies the opinion that he has things together.
Then we meet Edith (Farmiga) and her daughter Audrey (Taissa Farmiga, Vera’s youngest sister). Edith is not ready to let her ‘baby’ go. Audrey is obviously ready to leave and is 100% dedicated to attend Middleton. Her favorite writer Dr. Roland Emerson (Tom Skerritt), whose main topic is linguistics, is apart of the staff at Middleton and all she wants is for him to be her adviser.
We have a parking incident to be our meet-cute for these two lonely parents, who leave their kids in the hands of the tour guide ‘Dingleberry’. For the next hour (or day in film time), George and Edith have, what I would say, is the typical college experience. From borrowing other people’s bicycles and riding around campus, to crashing a drama class, to ducking the cycling cops, they get to know each other. We see George and Edith lighten up when they are allowed to be who they’ve wanted to be or always thought they could be. The viewer sees the sadness in both of them; their spouses have suffocated this part of them and it’s the first time they get a glimpse of being happy in 20 years.
Edith’s daughter (who I was fuming at because she’s a spoiled, rotten brat) changes her mind about Middleton. Dr. Emerson is going on a sabbatical and she’s pissed because she wants him there. Guess what Audrey? We don’t always get what we want. Take a look at your mother, who has been lonely for 18 years JUST FOR YOU. George’s Conrad, however, has a fantastic experience, getting to know the local college radio host Boneyard Sims (the amazing Peter Riegert from Animal House). Boneyard sees something in this kid and inspires Conrad to attend Middleton.
The ending is…well, an ending. I won’t say how it ends. I can tell you that I wished for an epilogue of sorts. Something to the tune of four years later, down the road, etc. I also can tell you that Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga deserve an Oscar nomination for their performances. The depth they bring to these lost souls who find each other amazed me. I’m proud, as a woman, that I didn’t cry during the movie. But, halfway home, while driving, I found myself tearing up. And, like our main characters, I decided to take the long way home.
Rating: The script, the cast, and the cinematography being absolutely brilliant, I just wish we had a bit more back story to their sadness. (9/10)
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