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IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BEGINNING
THE FUTURE (R) There's a talking cat. If read
ing that makes your ears twitch, you might
want to pass on seeing Miranda July's The
Future, her idiosyncratic follow-up to her
highly acclaimed 2005 debut, Me and You and
Everyone We Know. Like that movie. The Future
overflows with childlike whimsy, offbeat yet
insightful observations and eccentric charac
ters that oscillate between the irritatingly coy
and the crushingly familiar. July's work—she
was a performance
artist—is not for
everyone, although
to dismiss her movies
as nothing more than
superficial experiments
in quirky style would
be sadly reckless.
The Future focuses
on a 30-something
couple, Sophie (July)
and Jason (Hamish
Linklater), who agree
to care for a sick cat,
Paw Paw (voiced by July), marked to be euth
anized. Eager to adopt the ailing kitty, they
« are nevertheless daunted by their newfound
responsibility. Life as they know it is chang
ing. In the meantime, they insist on breaking
their old routines and embrace freedom before
their new commitment consumes them; they
cancel their Internet, Jason quits his job
and becomes a door-to-door solicitor for an
environmental group, and Sophie focuses on
performing experimental dance routines for
YouTube consumption. Both are desperate for
an authentic human experience. Their prob
lems, however, run deeper than any quick fix.
In their quest to grow up, they come undone.
Sophie has an affair with a suburban business
man, and Jason literally stops time for as long
as possible to stave off the pain of dealing
with reality.
For all of July's penchant for exposing
absurdity in the mundane and how wonder can ]
be found in the most
unexpected of places.
The Future is sneakily
dark and fearless in
how it confronts the
inability of these amia- j
ble hipsters to mature.
It's an unflinching cri
tique that July dishes
out, one that is per
ceptive and ultimately
heartbreaking. Beyond
the deadpan humor
and the daring, haunt-
ingly beautiful moments of fantasy, The Future
raises some clear-eyed questions about death
and meaning in life that are rarely asked so
boldly in contemporary American movies.
July's willingness to lead us into emotionally
challenging territory is a major reason why
she has become one of the most remarkable,
humanistic American filmmaxers working
today. Nov/ about that cat...
Derek Hill
Miranda July and Hamish Linklater
AOTUAN
PRESENTED BY ATHENS FARMERS MARKET
HARVEST
a, THE CLASSIC CITY CHEFS' ASSOCIATION
BENEFITING
WHOLESOME WAVE GEORGIA
^CLASSIC CITY CHEFS ASSOC
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Conn* share a family style Sunday
dinner and silent auction with your
farmers, artisans, and friends to
celebrate the Autumn harvest.
I he Classic City Chets will prepare
locally produced ingredients sourced
from the Athens Farmers Market lor a
truly amazing meal.
All proceeds from the event will
benefit two deserving local initiatives:
W holesome Wave Georgia and the
Classic City Chefs Association.
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Tickets available at the
Athens Fanners Market or
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ATHENS
ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S
DINNER+MOVIE
SUN • MON • TUE
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$6 ADMISSION
ALL DAY!
WWW.ATHENSCINE.COM 706.353.3343
234 W. HANCOCK AYE DOWNTOWN ATHENS
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OCTOBER 19, 2011 • FLAGPOLE.COM 11
