'Please Give'

'Please Give' (R) 2 1/2 stars

Writer and Director: Nicole Holofcener
Starring: Catherine Keener, Rebecca Hall, Oliver Platt, Amanda Peet, Sarah Steele, Ann Guilbert, Lois Smith, Josh Pais

Writer and director Nicole Holofcener has written some very funny and provocative movies in the past. She is a very gifted writer who writes strong female characters that have been played by many wonderful actresses. Her most famous movie is "Friends With Money" with Jennifer Aniston and Frances McDormand. Her best movie is "Walking and Talking" and she has used the wonderful Catherine Keener in her movies. Holofcener's new movie "Please Give" has some very funny moments and a very deep message. It involves a couple played very well by Oliver Platt and Catherine Keener who buy furniture and things from dead people to resell to others. The Keener character feels guilty a lot lately as she feels sorrow for homeless, her job and for the people that live next door. Next door there are two sisters played by Amanda Peet and a wonderful new actress Rebecca Hall. They take care of their grandmother who is very old and not the nicest person. The Peet sister doesn't really help that much with caring for the grandmother but the Hall sister does a lot for her. The other couple also have a daughter and she is in pursuit of the perfect pair of jeans and she has growing pains like every teenager. The movie has a lot of great characters and there are great moments but there are also two problems. The pace of the film drags a little and there are too many characters and too many messages. The movie gets over crowded and it has a lot to say but doesn't really end with a point or a profound statement. Holofcener's other movies had more to say, were more compelling and had more focus. On the great side are the performances that are worth a rental. I especially am liking Rebecca Hall as the good sister who has been amazing in all her movies so far like "Frost/Nixon" and "Vicky Christina Barcelona". She is a talent that should have a wonderful and long career ahead of her. I also completely love Catherine Keener in every thing she is in. She has a screen presence that puts you at ease and she is always funny. She has a great way of saying things and she always makes me smile. "Please Give" is good most of the time but you should wait till it comes on DVD.