In the film, “Love is Strange,” Ben (John Lithgow), an artist, and George (Alfred Molina) are a newly married couple living in New York City.

After the wedding, George is fired from his teaching post in a Catholic private school, and this life altering change causes Ben and George to sell their apartment and look for a cheaper house to live in. While looking, they have to live with friends and family but in separate places. The story may seem bland and uninteresting, but the focus of the story is on the relationship between Ben and George’s love for each other, the problems they face with being an older couple and the issues they are involved in with their extended families.

The chemistry between Lithgow and Molina is real and genuine. As you watch the film, you understand each character and feel for them as you would for a friend. Director Ira Sachs, who studied at Yale University and happens to be gay, is able to pull out the heart and soul of each of his actors, to give us a film that is one hundred percent truthful and down to earth. Other than the relationship between the two men, Lithgow’s interaction with his family is important to the story and makes the film worth watching.

According to Anthony Kaufman, from ScreenDaily, “Love is Strange” is “A Beautifully Observed Portrait of Love. Lithgow and Molina are Superb.”

“Heartbreaking… Exceptionally Beautiful. One of the best films of the year,” said Dennis Dermody from Paper Magazine.

“Love is Strange” has won the Women Film Critic Circles Award for Best Male Images in a Movie and it has also received Four Independent Spirit Award Nominations for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Male Actor (John Lithgow) and Best Supporting Actor (Alfred Molina).

According to James Rocchi from Playlist, “Love is Strange” is “A Beautifully Performed Romance. Lithgow and Molina are perfect.”

The film was featured in many festivals around the world: Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Berlin Film Festival and Los Angeles Film Festival.

I recommend this film to anyone. I say this because homosexuality is the topic of this film. That may scare people off, but I believe that in order to judge a film, one has to watch and interpret the film by their self. Although, yes, the story focuses on a gay couple, the film doesn’t push homosexuality in your face, it is smoothly fit in with the story to show another side of life that others may never understand.

Other Reviews by Critics:

“A Moving, Tender, Beautiful Film,” said Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net

“It hits you like a shot in the heart.” – Rolling Stone

“The most romantic movie of the year.” – Slate

“Love is Strange emerges as a total triumph.” – Time Out New York

“Marvelous and Moving,” said Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair.
Film available for purchase or rent on iTunes Movies and Amazon.

IMDB: 6.9/10 Stars

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Metacritic: 83%

Fandango Fan Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Rating: 4/5 Stars