Easily one of favorite films of the year, Mike Mills‘ “Beginners” stars Ewan McGregor, Mélanie Laurent and Christopher Plummer, and is a winning tale of love, life and grief with sweet compassionate heart that explores the humanity that allows the heart to mend. Needless to say, we loved it. And we’re happy to share our enthusiasm about the film as we’ve got one grand prize of the book, “Drawings From the Film Beginners By Mike Mills,” and the excellent soundtrack to the film to give to one lucky reader. Three runners-up will also a receive a copy of the soundtrack.
“Beginners” imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Laurent) only months after his father Hal (Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who — following 44 years of marriage — came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal’s new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they’d ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor and hope that his father taught him.
The book “Drawings From the Film Beginners By Mike Mills” contains all the drawings which Mike Mills drew, and that Oliver (played by Ewan) works with in the film. Oliver has the unfortunate idea of creating an illustrated ‘History of Sadness’ as a record cover for the The Sads, including such episodes as: Neanderthal man realizes he’s outclassed by homo sapiens man, the pilgrims, industrialization, birth of the novel, pets in general and many more. This volume also features a new series of drawings: an illustrated History Of Love which includes such chapters as: the first butt to attract, great lovers in film, flappers, free love’s not so easy, internal V.S. external problems and many more.
Update: Contest is closed. Winners will be notified via email.
To win, email us your name, address and the name of three music videos directed by Mike Mills. Good luck!
“Beginners” is in limited release right now so check your local listings. It expands to more theaters across the country this weekend.
Contest open to residents of the U.S. only.