The Final Straw

Authors: Jeremy
Location: London, England

"The Final Straw"

Directed by: Paul-Thomas Anderson
Written by: Paul-Thomas Anderson

Principal Cast:

Natalie Portman - Amie
Peter Sarsgaard - Mitchell
Scarlett Johansson - Diane
Don Cheadle - Chuck
Mary Louise-Parker - Evelyn
Liam Neeson - Mark
Frances McDormand - Marjorie
William H. Macy - Allan

Tagline: "How far love can go?"

Synopsis: The film follows the relationship of 4 couples, all connected in a small diner in Seattle. Marjorie (Frances McDormand) and Allan (William H. Macy) owns the diner. Married for 30 years with 3 children, it seems that they're marriage has reached the end of the road. Their relationship has suffered numerous events: Marjorie's alcoholism, money problems, the disapproval of their parents when they first started going out and the constant fighting. Will their marriage survive the final straw? Mary Louis-Parker plays the devoted wife of Liam Neeson. Parker and Neeson are both successful businessman/woman and they have been cohabitating for 5 years. They had they're first date in the diner as struggling college graduates trying to find work. Evelyn (Parker) pressured by the society, is eager to get married and have children with Mark (Neeson). Mark however prioritizes his career before his family life. Mark is often away on business trip to Europe and Evelyn found out his extra marital affairs with a young Parisian woman. Will this be the final straw of their relationship of will they be able to survive this bumpy event?

Diane (Scarlett Johansson) works at the diner. She came from a rural family in Texas. She served Chuck (Don Cheadle) with a coffee and it was love at first sight. Chuck however is older than Diane and this has put a strain into their relationship. Diane is self-conscious about what the society thinks of their relationship and the fact that her family has frowned upon this inter-racial relationship. Will Diane's insecurity will be put aside in order for their relationship to survive?

Last but not the least is Amie's (Portman) relationship with Mitchell (Sarsgaard). Amie is an unemployed crack addict who attracted Mitchell's attention while he was having a coffee in the diner. Mitchell has fallen in love head over heels to Amie. However, Amie is a complicated person who deals not only with his abusive father, but as well as her addiction and her bipolarity. Will Amie be able to pull herself together and start a relationship with Mitchell?

What the press would say:

The Final Straw is a masterpiece which discusses the "final straw" in relationships. Everyone who has fallen in love and has their heart broken will be able to relate themselves to the film. The Multi-layered story is woven perfectly as the editing was superbly done. The film also discusses the issues in our society as the story is told in different time frames i.e. when Mcdormand first met Macy (the 70's), parker's first date with Neeson (the 80's), when Johansson first met Cheadle (90's) and when Portman first met Sarsgaard in the present time. The story not only discusses love but as well as political ideas from the 70's, 80's carefree attitude, the 90's MTV generation and the present Ipod generation.

Portman was successful in portraying the complex Amie. Her character is so alluring that the audience can't help to sympathize her. Her portrayal is somewhat a cocktail of Leon's Mathilda and Closer's Alice. Sarsgaard certainly played the naive lawyer who fell head over heels to Portman. His naivety is somewhat charming and makes us believe in the knight in shining armor. Johansson stood out as the confused insecure woman. She's lost in a world full of pressure from the society. Cheadle played the faithful fiancé well. McDormand played the alcoholic Marjorie particularly well. Macy's character, though somewhat less complex stood out because of Macy's performance. However, Parker stood out as Evelyn. She nailed it as the broken woman who found her boyfriend cheating.
Anderson did a great film from a very complicated story line. The audience are left thinking in the end which relationships are going to survive and which is going to fail .The audience are left with a great big shock in the end which makes the film even better.

Best Picture
Best Actress: Mary Louise-Parker
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Supporting Actress: Frances McDormand
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson
Best Supporting Actor: WIlliam H. Macy
Best Supporting Actor: Mitchell
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Cinematographer