Directed by
Nicole Holofcener
90 minutes
Rated M
Reviewed by
Sharon Hurst
Please Give
Synopsis: Kate (Catherine Keener) and husband Alex (Oliver Platt) make a living buying furniture from deceased estates then selling it for a hefty profit at their trendy Manhattan store. Kate struggles with feelings of guilt over this, and tries to prevent her 15-year-old daughter, Abby (Sarah Steele), from falling into the materialist trap by denying the girl expensive jeans and monetary handouts. Meanwhile Kate gives copiously to homeless people on the street. Next door cranky old neighbour Andra (Ann Guilbert) is tended by her two granddaughters Rebecca (Rebecca Hall), a gentle, caring mammographer and her self-centred beautician sister, Mary (Amanda Peet).Director Nicole Holofcener has said that with Please Give she wanted to illustrate the “contradictory moments that make us human” and indeed, her main character, Kate, is a walking contradiction. She makes a living out of ripping off people at an especially vulnerable moment in their lives but toys with volunteering and also has a collection of charity cases on the street to whom she donates excessive sums of money, much to the frustration of her daughter, Abby, who is angst-ridden about her weight, her pimples, and fuming at her mother who refuses to give her even $20.
The neighbours also embody major contradictions. Andra is a virago of an old woman, - demanding, unappreciative and hostile whilst Rebecca is a giving, ideal grandkid. Not only does she work in a caring profession, gentle and solicitous towards all her anxious patients, but she has infinite kindness for old Gran. Her sister Mary meanwhile is sexy, selfish, aggressive, bitchy, and nasty to Andra.
The connection between the two families centres around the fact that Kate and Alex have decided to buy the flat from Andra when she dies and extend their own place. When Andra has a birthday the two families “celebrate” together, and there are plenty of edgy lines, funny and nasty comments in this awkward stilted situation. Then both Abby and Alex decide to take advantage of Mary’s offer of a facial at the spa where she works. Some amusing and embarrassing outcomes ensue.
Holofcener gives us three characters who are really not takers. In addition to Rebecca there is a woman at her clinic, Mrs Portman (Louis Smith), who has generosity of spirit, an acceptance of life’s curved balls, and a real sweetness to her, along with her delightful grandson, Eugene (Thomas Ian Nicholas.)
One malaise of the modern world is often how those who have plenty are indifferent to the plight of the less fortunate. When profit is made in a non-ethical, if legal, way this is even more soul-destroying. This is certainly something Holofcener feels strongly about but essentially Please Give is a film simply about the good and bad in people, and how we cope with guilt over many things, especially when we don’t always understand why we do what we do. (In fact the film’s original title was Feeling Guilty, which I think would have worked better.)
While Oliver Platt is superb as the amiable Alex, the women really shine. Keener, Holofcener’s muse and veteran of many fine roles as always inhabits her character, Hall delights, and Peet demonstrates that she is better than the sort of roles she often gets.
Whilst not earth-shattering, Please Give is a gentle, truthful film with lots of heart, fine performances, and a good soundtrack to boot.
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