Transamerica

Them fancy talkin' professors at grad school are always saying that having a great character in your movie will cover for a multitude of sins. Felicity Huffman's "Bree" is case in point. Transamerica is engaging from beginning to end, despite the fact that it looks like it was made for about five bucks. Huffman embodies her role to it's core and makes it possible to overlook numerous plot holes, logic points, and weak episodes. Her commitment is really admirable. Perhaps here is at least one instance when a nude scene, or several nude scenes, prove that the filmmakers and actors have true conviction about their subject; the nature of sexual identity. High marks to Fionnula Flanagan as the world's scariest mom. During q&a after the movie, the director said she was the most realistic character in the movie, as she was based on a real person: his mom. In spite of this monsoon of praise, though, it's not a movie that will leave a very big mark on the world. It's truly just a so-so movie with a few great characters in it.