20th Century Women

Name: 20th Century Women
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: December 28, 2016
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Alison Elliott, Annette Bening, Billy Crudup, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig

2016

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 159 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 159 Ratings

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20th Century Women

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: December 28, 2016 | R

Starring: Alison Elliott, Annette Bening, Billy Crudup, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, Thea Gill, Vitaly Andrew LeBeau

Summary: Set in Santa Barbara, 20th Century Women follows Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women in Jamie’s upbringing — via Abbie (Greta Gerwig),Set in Santa Barbara, 20th Century Women follows Dorothea Fields (Annette Bening), a determined single mother in her mid-50s who is raising her adolescent son, Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) at a moment brimming with cultural change and rebellion. Dorothea enlists the help of two younger women in Jamie’s upbringing — via Abbie (Greta Gerwig), a free-spirited punk artist living as a boarder in the Fields’ home, and Julie (Elle Fanning), a savvy and provocative teenage neighbor. 20th Century Women is a poignant love letter to the people who raise us – and the times that form us – as this makeshift family forges fragile connections that will mystify and inspire them through their lives. [A24]… Expand

Director: Mike Mills

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 119 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Maximilian Von Thun

Feb 9, 2017

Bright light and dazzling colour dominate, as befits the Santa Barbara setting, while every scene is packed with moments that are in turn engaging, amusing, poignant, awkward, heart-warming, heart-breaking and profound. Read full review

100

Nico Lang

Oct 17, 2016

Despite the gender gap between the film’s creator and his subjects, the film is beautifully perceptive and, at times, deeply poignant. Mills has created the kind of comedy in which you laugh with recognition because its dilemmas feel so familiar. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Dec 27, 2016

What makes this droll, darting story about a loose group of family and friends so moving? The answer lies partly in its tone. Mr. Mills seems to have thrown everything he could think of into the mix, dramatic unities be damned, but suffused it all with a poetic sense of life’s goofiness, solemnity and evanescence. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Dec 12, 2016

The movie belongs wholeheartedly to Bening, and to the age, come and gone, that she enshrines. Read full review

Empire Will Lawrence

Feb 9, 2017

An insightful and, on occasion, laugh-out-loud piece of filmmaking. Artfully shot and structured, while its warmth and wit shine as brightly as the Californian sun. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Jan 12, 2017

There’s not a single false, “actor-y” note in Bening’s work. It is a master class in nuanced acting, and it is deserving of an Academy Award. Read full review

Melissa Anderson

Dec 27, 2016

Despite the movie's title and Bening's central role, women are oddly peripheral. Read full review

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User Reviews

fra92

Aug 4, 2021

Such a marvelous movie. Full of heart, thought-provoking and a wonderful and stellar cast. I just loved it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

section20mi6

Feb 12, 2018

Mills' 70s drama underscores feminism in an artistic way from the perspectives of 5 different women and men. The combination of narrations from characters and scenes of "enjoying living in the moment" suggest the confusion the characters all felt living in a period of time where freedom isMills' 70s drama underscores feminism in an artistic way from the perspectives of 5 different women and men. The combination of narrations from characters and scenes of "enjoying living in the moment" suggest the confusion the characters all felt living in a period of time where freedom is there but none of them can seem to be enjoying it. From the film, Mills develops his characters through humor and curiosity, unveiling a heartwarming yet compelling story about humans searching for the meaning in life without realizing the fact that living in the moment is the most important part of life.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

cnakhla

Feb 3, 2017

This film leaves so much un-said yet still perfectly conveys the complex and nuanced nature of each character. The mystery that Mills still feels around his mother is very present and we are allowed to understand her only as much as he does. The women portrayed are real and complex, and weThis film leaves so much un-said yet still perfectly conveys the complex and nuanced nature of each character. The mystery that Mills still feels around his mother is very present and we are allowed to understand her only as much as he does. The women portrayed are real and complex, and we see how powerful and consequential they (figuratively) were in Mills' upbringing. The editing is original and refreshing but subtle enough to not be pretentious. The script seems so thoughtful that every other line becomes quotable and a consistent dry wit helps the film to stay above the surface of slightly too sad.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Spangle

Jan 24, 2017

A step back from Mike Mills' terrific 2011 film Beginners, 20th Century Women is another somewhat autobiographical film from the writer/director. Yet, this one feels decidedly less assured. Embracing formalistic indulgences along the way that clash with the realistic and natural tone of theA step back from Mike Mills' terrific 2011 film Beginners, 20th Century Women is another somewhat autobiographical film from the writer/director. Yet, this one feels decidedly less assured. Embracing formalistic indulgences along the way that clash with the realistic and natural tone of the film, the film lacks cohesion at times and feels overly ambitious for its story. Fortunately, there is so much to enjoy about this film. From the style and general aesthetic feeling given by the film, as well as great characters and acting, 20th Century Women is an often moving and funny film about Mills' childhood surrounded by women in Santa Barbara. In many ways, it is a film about how people do not understand one another, in spite of all of our efforts to figure out what makes those around us, and ourselves, tick. In this endeavor, 20th Century Women is incredibly successful and finds a lot of resonance. Unfortunately, unnecessary style distracts from the film and feels more indulgent than anything.

These stylistic indulgences include montages of old pictures of historical events, the rainbow streaks following the cars as they drive on the highway, and giving the future of the characters after 1979. Of these, the rainbow streaks seems to be the one that I have the most trouble with. It helps to create the drug induced, dream-like atmosphere of Santa Barbara, yes. Santa Barbara and 1979 are very much characters in this film themselves with the city coming to represent the loose, free thinking nature of the characters, and being just as influenced by drugs as they are. 1979 comes into play with the time, Jimmy Carter's speeches, and how it is a point of change and a turning point in their respective lives for a variety of reasons as shown in the film. Yet, the rainbow streaks feel indulgent. The film's character are supposed to reflect real people and its situations are somewhat real occurrences. Yet, the style hints at Mills indulging too much in artist tendencies. The out of place montages of old pictures that do not have much to do with the plot suffer from the same indulgence. It feels wholly misplaced in a film of this type and is not something I remember Beginners suffering from. If memory serves, that was a very grounded film, set in the real world and rarely diverting from that world. Instead, Mills attempts to create the same psychedelic and 1970s trip created in films such as Inherent Vice or The Nice Guys. The film is stepped with nostalgia and these glory days of 1979, but the film suffers from this style. The trippy atmosphere is interesting, but is ill-fitting for a story of this ilk. In the aforementioned films, it works because the films are clearly going for a certain aesthetic and very formalistic in its story. But, Mills' story here is very real, authentic, and raw. These nostalgic indulgences for a film as real as Manchester by the Sea feel more like something out of La La Land, which leaves it feeling incredibly jumbled in regards to its style and intent.

The film also suffers from its dialogue. Once more, it attempts to create great characters and it succeeds. The writing is glorious when it comes to these characters, but the dialogue lacks the punch of realism. It feels written and, again, feels ill-fitted for a story of this nature. Honestly, I may need a rewatch of this, but conversations often fall awkwardly flat. Such as:

"I like the way your hair smells."
"I make my own shampoo."
"Of course you do."

This dialogue feels more like Wes Anderson dialogue in a very formalistic setting. Instead, Mills tries to strike a balance between the two styles, but these lines just feel too quirky and purposefully odd to really resonate. Much of this film is like this and some of the dialogue does work quite well comedically, but feels as though it contributes to the tonal awkwardness of the film. Is it a realistic with real worlds, as the premise, characters, and situations would have you believe? It would also be in line with being semi-autobiographical. Or, is it an aesthetic filled joy ride through Santa Barbara's free thinking community with quirky dialogue? It is here where I struggle to rationalize why I still like 20th Century Women, even in spite of this tonal awkwardness.

The brilliance of 20th Century Women may reveal itself to me upon rewatches, but for now, it largely lies within its themes. Early in the film, Dorothea (Annette Bening) asks her son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) to be there for Abbie (Greta Gerwig). Abbie rents a room from Dorothea and lives upstairs, but had been diagnosed with cervical cancer in the year prior and was going to see if the surgery had removed the cancer or not. Dorothea, knowing she would not be able to be there, wants Jamie to offer Abbie emotional support, regardless of whether the news is good or bad. In asking, she comments on how "men always want to fix problems for women", in order to steer him away from his male tendency to "fix things".… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

BHBarry

Dec 31, 2016

“20th Century Women” was written and directed by Mike Mills, It boasts a fine ensemble cast led by Annette Benning with Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning and Lucas Jede Zumann who each give gifted and meaningful performances. Unfortunately, the star value and the once good idea behind“20th Century Women” was written and directed by Mike Mills, It boasts a fine ensemble cast led by Annette Benning with Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning and Lucas Jede Zumann who each give gifted and meaningful performances. Unfortunately, the star value and the once good idea behind the screenplay fail to save this film from being slow and discombobulated as it strives to reach its unattainable goal. This, once again, is the classic case of the writer and director being one in the same person with no 3rd party filter to help cut, edit and alter the film into something cohesive and easy to watch. Mr. Mills, like most who assume these dual roles, becomes married to his own material, is afraid to alter it and never really allows the audience to properly see, forgive the pun, the “big picture”. I give the film a 6.0 because yawning 3 times during the film and checking my watch 4 is testament enough to why it deserves such a low rating.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

netflic

Jan 30, 2017

It is a time period movie, set in 1979 in Santa Barbara where a single mom in her mid 50th is raising her only teenage son.

There are good performances in this movie, particularly from Annette Bening playing the mom. The movie is rich with interesting situations and funny remarks. AbsenceIt is a time period movie, set in 1979 in Santa Barbara where a single mom in her mid 50th is raising her only teenage son.

There are good performances in this movie, particularly from Annette Bening playing the mom.
The movie is rich with interesting situations and funny remarks.

Absence of a plot does not help making the movie stand out. The film is a collection of episodes that makes a whole object if you look at it from a distance, similar to a painting by an impressionist.

In short, the film is atmospheric but boring at times. Worth seeing although not remarkable or memorable.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

TheDavo

Jan 27, 2017

DO NOT GO TO THIS MOVIE. Extraordinarily bad. Whoever imagined that having Annette Bening scowl at people from the screen for 90 minutes would be entertaining needs to be fired. Pretentious, boring and extremely dumb. Can't imagine that the critics actually saw this film. So bad.

4 of 20 users found this helpful416

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