Virginia

Jennifer Connelly's performance in the title role is the best and most interesting thing about this quirky film. Dustin Lance Black's story and direction examine all kinds of things about what ticks in the great heartland of America who just inflicted Donald Trump on the world. Virginia casts Jennifer Connelly as one most disturbed mother who for almost two decades has had a clandestine relationship with the local sheriff Ed Harris who now has political aspirations. Harris is a Mormon who would not have liked to see polygamy abolished. Essentially it's a question of him being Abraham having Sarah and Hagar. And we know what kind of raw deal Hagar got. But Virginia might be cast in the role as Hagar, being given the heave ho because Harris is running for State Senator as of course a law and order conservative. Choice between Connelly and the Sarah of the story Amy Madigan it's crazy Connelly coming up short. Complicating all this is Harrison Gilbertson Connelly's son who might be Harris's also. He's gotten interested in Harris's daughter by Madigan, Emma Roberts. That could really screw up things for Mr. Law and Order/Family Values. It ends in tragedy for some, just desserts for others, and escape for some more. Writer Black has created some colorful characters for director Black to work with. Virginia starts out slow, but the characters do grab you and hold your attention. I love that scene in the end with traveling Mormon Elder Lucas Grabeel caught in the middle of some madness and Connelly getting him to surrender that enchanted Mormon underwear for her son. We need all the help we can in this life and I guess it can't hurt. If you like quirky movies don't miss Virginia.

We are supposed to believe that Virginia started the affair with Richard when she was 24 and he was 44 and it's been going on for 16 years? Hollywood BS.

This movie has good things but at the end, its defects are too important. The first thing I dislike is the photography and set design because as a 2010s movie, world has become blue / orange ! I'm fed up with those blue props, blue clothes, yellow skin, yellow light. When my mind focuses on the story, i see an jobless mother which is indeed a change from the usual upper classes but one more time, this kind of family is plagued ! In a way, it's like being jobless and poor in America is the trademark of fragile, unstable people ! The kids stories could have been interesting if the daughter wouldn't have lost her faith at once, which is not really believable ! The use of flashback at the start of the movie is useless as well as the sheriff's wife part ! On the positive side, the cast plays really well : Jennifer as a deranged mother, Harris as a pervert sheriff In conclusion, it's like Hollywood wants to do a tearing drama but as it has never experienced real life, the final release is more a collection of clichés.

Slightly disturbed Virginia (Jennifer Connelly) lives with her protective son Emmett in a Virginian town. She's in a long-term affair with Sheriff Richard Tipton (Ed Harris) who is married to Roseanna (Amy Madigan) and has daughter Jessie (Emma Roberts). Emmett is in love with Jessie. Richard uses his powers to keep them apart. Virginia tells Richard that she's pregnant. He's running for the State Senate and pays her out of the campaign funds. She's actually faking it. There is also a cross dressing Max (Toby Jones) with his pink ferris wheel. It all ends with a bank robbery. This is filled with quirky characters that aren't funny. The story meanders a lot. There are a few surprises which don't do much. It's either a comedy that fails to be funny or a drama with too much chaotic quirkiness. Connelly projects a beautiful damaged soul which could be great for a sad drama. I'm just not sure what this movie is trying to be.

I watched Virginia in three parts, because it was slow enough that I kept drifting off. Jennifer Connelly did what she could with what she had. I found the overall story unmoving. I think if the focus had been more on Virginia, and had the story generated more chemistry between her and her son, it might have seemed more redemptive at the end. As it was, the film ranged from sad to emotionless. I was told that I should see Virginia just for the shoot out alone. In fact, some of the reviews talk specifically about the amazing 'shootout', which consists of Virginia firing one shot, followed by a montage of the Sheriff's department shooting at her windows. If that's what passes for a 'shootout'...well...it left me tired. Very tired. From the time the son put on the dress, I knew exactly where it was going.

Few actors today have the breadth of Jennifer Connelly. She never shirks from difficult roles. From Mullholland Falls to Little Children or The House Of Sand and Fog and now this, she plays her characters convincingly as though she owns them in her heart. She never takes it over the top. Ed Harris' character is a cardboard cop and is well done given the parameters of the role. This movie is a brilliant portrait of a mentally challenged mom trying to make the best in this world for her son. Harrison Gilbertson is very good as her boy. Emma Roberts as his girlfriend does a great job as a dutiful Mormon 16 year old. Amy Madigan is convincing as Ed Harris' wife. See it with an open heart and this movie will transport you. Brilliant.

I was fortunate enough to attend the world premiere of Dustin Lance Black's highly personal, unique, and heartfelt new film, "What's Wrong With Virginia", in Toronto. The film owns a quirky charm that reminds me of Tony Richardson's "The Hotel New Hampshire" (1984, based on John Irving's novel), yet with its own very personal style. Jennifer Connelly, more beautiful than ever at 39, gives her best performance since 2003's "House of Sand and Fog". She plays Virginia Nicholaus, a mentally ill single mom who's had an affair with the local Mormon (and married) Sheriff Dick Tipton (Ed Harris, great as always) for 16 years. Her teenaged son, Emmett (newcomer Harrison Gilbertson, very convincing and simply adorable) is her only real love, and their relationship is the real core of the film (Black has stated the film is loosely based on his relationship with his mom). Things get complicated when Emmett - who may or may not be the Sheriff's son - starts dating Dick's daughter, Jessie Tipton (Emma Roberts), and how that and an unwelcome 'revelation' by Virginia can ruin Dick's political goals and marriage. Black, who won a much deserved Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Gus Van Sant's "Milk" (and gave a groundbreaking, already classic acceptance speech), is not just a terrific writer, but also a natural actor's director. He extracts great performances from his ensemble, and although this is clearly Connelly's show, other cast members deserve to be mentioned: Amy Madigan, married to Ed Harris in real life and in the film, gives a moving, understated performance that could've easily been overplayed/clichéd; she's one of our most underrated character actresses. Carrie Preston, of "True Blood" fame and the best thing about "Duplicity", plays Virginia's friend Betty with gusto, and Toby Jones ("Infamous") is great in a character that starts out as creepy to later become human and even endearing. Yeardley Smith, mostly known as the voice of Lisa Simpson, also has a small part and is one of the executive producers of the film (Christine Vachon and Gus Van Sant himself, who don't get involved with just any kind of material, are some of the others who helped bring this project to life). "What's Wrong With Virginia" provides lots of laughs and a considerable emotional punch that almost made me sob by the end. It's humorous and outrageous, tragic yet optimistic; it made me feel a range of emotions that most films out there fall short of. Well done, again, Mr. Black! It's comforting to know real auteurs are still blossoming in the world of cinema.

My heart breaks for Emmett, his mother Virginia, Jessie, and especially Mrs. Tipton as her tragedy is especially heartbreaking. The damage of being raised by a schizophrenic person like Virginia despite the obvious fact that she loved him dearly is also heartbreaking as is the tragedy of Virginia's life period. This one man destroyed so many peoples lives with his disgusting perversion's and narcissistic behavior! Which unfortunately is true more often than not. What is it about men like that, ones so morally bankrupt that they would carry on a 20+ year adulterous affair (which was actually pedophilic initially as he was a married adult and she was a mentally ill teenager) all while pretending to be religious? Why do they even pretend to know God or care in the least about Him when they clearly do NOT. How is it that this sort of hypocrisy by men is overlooked? Anyway good movie but be warned it is quite depressing...