Monday Movies You Aught to See: Puccini for Beginners

Regardless of whether the decade ended already ended in 2009 or will end at the close of the current year, the 2000s were a wonderful period of cinema with many treasures that deserve to be remembered. Check in at Movies with Abe on Mondays for Movies You Aught to See, a look back at memorable movies from the aughts. They are posted in no particular order, and if you have a great film from the 2000s that you think merits consideration, leave a note in the comments!

Puccini for Beginners
Directed by Maria Maggenti
Released February 2, 2007



This surprising gem is a wonderful tale of a lesbian named Allegra who meets both a man and a woman in New York City and begins dating both of them at the same time, unaware that they have both just recently broken up after having dated each other for years. The film is entirely enjoyable and showcases magnificent performances from Elizabeth Reaser (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Gretchen Mol (“The Notorious Bettie Page”), and Justin Kirk (“Weeds”) as the members of the love triangle, and also from supporting players Julianne Nicholson (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”) and Tina Benko (“Brotherhood”). This is a fresh, delightful, funny story which weaves the remarkable coincidences possible in New York City into its plot and does a terrific job of crafting a memorable and magnetic film.

Second Time Around: Puccini for Beginners

Puccini for Beginners
Directed by Maria Maggenti
Released February 2, 2007

I saw this film in theatres back on opening day, and it occupied my number one film of the year slot since that point. My initial take is below, back from when I was writing for Joe Critic:

Following a predictable break-up with her more stable girlfriend Samantha, New York-based writer Allegra prepares to obsess over Samantha and give up all hope for her romantic life. She is surprised to meet not one but two new acquaintances: Philip, an intelligent professor at Columbia, and Grace, an excitable hopeful glassblower. Allegra enters into a relationship with each of them, all the while unaware that Philip and Grace have just broken up after six years of dating each other.

“Puccini for Beginners” is a pleasantly and surprisingly fun and original comedy. The opening scene sets up the action with a flash forward to close to the end of the film. From that first moment, it is clear that it will be an amusing ride. The story is not anything ground-breaking in terms of originality, but the new spin on sexuality and sexual orientation is clever and works very well. The idea of such coincidence in New York City is fascinating, and while seemingly improbable, does not detract from the feeling of reality in the film.

The great screenplay is complimented very nicely by uniformly excellent performances. Each and every character is written so well, and all the actors even go above and beyond the roles written for them. It is difficult to pinpoint just a few examples for each performer. Elizabeth Reaser is fantastically oblivious and flirtatious as the “conflicted” Allegra. Justin Kirk is charming yet serious as Philip, and in a refreshing change, not overeager about the chance to sleep with a lesbian. Gretchen Mol, as Grace, is so naïve and excited by the possibility of experimenting by sleeping with a woman. Jennifer Dundas and Tina Benko as Allegra’s friends Molly and Nell, make their otherwise forgettable characters worth watching. And Julianne Nicholson, in a small role as Samantha, is intimidating yet vulnerable, and improves upon her already great work in last year’s “Flannel Pajamas.”

A-

Second time around: It is still very funny, and the performances are great, but it ultimately is just very light and does not hold up quite as well. Definitely a worthwhile comedy that deserves to be seen, but unfortunately not the stunning and amazing film I thought I saw the first time. As a result, my top ten of the year has once again been reordered, and "Puccini for Beginners" is now a close runner-up but no longer occupies a spot.

B+