VhaugnndeixU Execution: 3/10 As we see George and Ben get married we as the audience are not given enough set up to know how exactly the two ARE together and how important their union us, so when they are separate it doesn't really matter. We are not "thinking about the other when watching George or Ben be alone" because there's no previous reference by which to do that at all. Once they're separate it's only 30 minutes away but we don't see enough of them looking for housing or anything else.Extra nonsense that could have been replaced with better conflict, George and Ben trying to be normal again with each other despite their situation, something other than stolen French literature and Kate complaining about being home all the time. Leave and do something elsewhere! I didn't know NY cops were so apt to party like frat boys every night. Why does Ben have a pension from an undisclosed source but not have SS or any type of insurance? Seems these old guys have making rookie mistakes they're too old to make.Romance: 3/10 They kiss four times and cuddle once and that's it. It's a good amount of affection but not enough to where I would call romantic. And the end is quite ridiculous and nowhere near the note it should have been. I've never seen a film that ends on the wrong people; people the narrative was NOT ABOUT!

meeza Writer-Director Ira Sachs' romantic comedy indie flick "Love is Strange" has strange highs and strange lows; StrangeLove that is how this movie goes, will you see it for me; will you take the puns I will give to you, again and again, and will you pun return it. Sorry, got a bit in a Depeched mode with that intro of "Love is Strange". OK, now I am seriously getting behind the wheel in writing my review of the film. It stars John Lithgow as Ben Hull, and Alfred Molina as George Garea; they are a longtime New York gay couple who recently married. However, turbulent times arrive when George is dismissed in his position as a Music Teacher in a Catholic School when the archdiocese finds out of his sexuality & marital status. Ben and George are forced to live apart. Ben with his nephew Elliot and his family, wife Kate and son Joey. George with his gay cop friend Roberto and Roberto's partner Ted. They both discover that living with others is strangely disconcerting and of course miss each other's constant time together. Sachs' shot most of the film in Sachs' 5th Avenue in New York; OK, maybe not but he did not exactly pace the film with an authentic continuity and pacing in his semi-mundane directorial street of "Love is Strange". However, his screenplay, co-scribed with Mauricio Zacharias had its clever verbal moments. Seasoned thespian pros Lithgow and Molina effectively delivered their performances, and there was also a fine performance from another seasoned female thespian named Marisa Tomei as Kate. "Love is Strange" is actually not too strange, but not too great, but then again no reason to hate. *** Average

Dunroman It's quite a long time since seeing a film so evidently intended for the thinking and a film so much of its age.While it might be easy to categorise this as a film about Gay Love, Marriage and the consequences, that would be a serious mistake as those themes are almost incidental, the important themes are much wider, the circularity of life and love, growing up, family and generations.What was interesting to me was what was NOT said or shown, like a good book you need to read between the lines.Finally a word about the score - sumptuous.Any lover of Chopin will feel the hair on the back of their necks, particularly at the final Berceuse with orchestral arrangement, which flows like the ripple of evening waves up and down a deserted beach - music at its most ...musical.

Brigid O Sullivan (wisewebwoman) (1) The two leads were amazing. Beautiful subtle performances with depth to the characters. Two actors in their prime (Lithgow and Molina)(2) The dialogue was well written.(3) The story itself was far too choppy with leads drifting off to nowhere (a)the kid and Vlad his friend (b) the marriage of the nephew and the wife was troubled but unexplored (c)) the stolen books, what was that about? (d) the lightening speed with which a rent controlled apartment was found.(4)Interesting characters were dropped without a second thought.(5)The juvenile atmosphere in the cops' apartment - more like a frat house.(6) Loved the music throughout.(7) the kid crying for what, two minutes?, at the end made absolutely no sense at all.(8) Got the feeling the film was chopped from a running time far, far longer where those nagging plot holes would have been filled.(9) Loved the scene of them singing at their wedding.So a 6/10 for the leads. And Marisa Tomei. Brilliant.