Gloria Bell (2019)

Film: Gloria Bell (2019)
Stars: Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Michael Cera, Brad Garrett, Holland Taylor, Caren Pistorius
Director: Sebastian Lelio
Oscar History: No nominations
Snap Judgment Ranking: 4/5 stars

I need to make a confession-I've never seen the original Gloria starring Paulina Garcia.  This is the sort of film that I normally would see, as it's certainly a film of import, but its lack of an Oscar citation combined with year-end glut was enough for me to miss it, and I don't know that I'll necessarily get to it in the near-or-far future, since we've already profiled the 2013 Oscar race.  But I'm aware this is a problem, and something that's very curious as most of the people who will seriously consider a film like Gloria Bell, in theaters now and starring Julianne Moore in the role that Garcia originated with great kudos, will have that as an instructor and comparison.  More importantly, considering what I've read about this film, they'll have it as a blueprint of what it's going to look like, as supposedly Lelio, who directed both versions, copies scenes from that film almost shot-for-shot.  Still, as this is new to me, I must tell you I left impressed, particularly with Moore, and think that such a role may be worth revisiting and reexamining every few years as it's a great part for actresses who feel underemployed.

(Spoilers Ahead) The film follows Gloria Bell (Moore), a divorced mother-of-two who seems to genuinely enjoy her life.  She reads, has good friends, does yoga and dances, and has a job that, while mundane, she's good at and isn't what feeds her identity.  You instantly realize in the confidence we see Gloria undertake at the beginning of the film that she's a different sort of heroine-this is not someone who was lost without a man, but is instead someone who just wants romantic love in her life.  Enter Arnold (Turturro), who is a middle-aged man who probably does need romantic love in his life, and is much more recently divorced, with his daughters financially dependent on him in a way that neither of her children are.  We see their complicated love story, with Arnold seeming a good fit on paper but perhaps too immature and too unable to change to make it work with Gloria, but we also see Gloria willing to make sacrifices to see if this relationship is possible, understanding that as we get older we need to look past some of the faults in a romantic partner.

The movie's best asset is its "no villains, no heroes" policy, even with Gloria.  In literally any other film, one that had originated in the United States, Turturro would either be a massive catch or a complete jackass villain.  He's neither of those things, and is very capable of being both.  I loved that-we see why Gloria wants to be with him, why she's still willing to give him a second chance after he humiliates her at a party for her son (in front of her ex-husband, played by Garrett), but why she must ultimately cast her net elsewhere.  People have complained about Moore being too attractive for the role, which feels a bit ridiculous-love is difficult as you age, even if you look like Julianne Moore, and I think you can understand the joys of her life while still understanding how complicated it is to be single and in your fifties, particularly with dating and with societal expectations.

As a result, we get a really fresh movie here, which is odd to say about a movie that has existed for six years now, but Gloria clearly hasn't spawned enough knockoffs, movies that feature complicated women-of-a-certain-age and just watch them exist.  It's revealing, and gives Moore her best role since Still Alice.  I won't say I loved it the way that some people did six years ago, but this is a very good movie, and it's proof that if you focus the camera on a talented actress with a strong director, you don't need to stay within a formula to make a fascinating picture.