Lovin' Her: Oscar, Thy Name Be Maya Rudolph

Last night, I went to see Away We Go with the wife -- by which I mean mine. Following a truly mediocre crepe dinner, I walked into that theater in Burbank very much in love with one woman, and left it in very much in love with two.

Even having enjoyed Maya Rudolph for years on Saturday Night Live and the occasional film role, her work in Away We Go opposite the always-charming John Krasinsky was a complete and entirely pleasant revelation. This is one of the subtlest and most moving performances anybody has given on film in recent memory. Not just by a comedian. Not just by a woman. By anyone, full stop.

Having done quite well for herself playing a wide range of real characters from Condoleezza Rice to Donatella Versace, Rudolph does something unexpected here for such a funny person -- she gives the most naturalistic, authentic-feeling performance imaginable and somehow gets at some essential if ephemeral truths about our larger human comedy. Away We Go -- directed by Sam Mendes and written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida -- is, among other things, a lovely movie about being in love. Toward that end, it sure helps that both of the leads here are so damn loveable. As I see it, Krasinsky has been wildly bro-mance worthy since his very first boyish smirk on The Office, and there's absolutely no trouble seeing what his character sees in Rudolph's here.

In an odd way, I've actually loved Maya Rudolph most of my life. One of the first dozen albums I ever bought as a kid was by her late great mom -- Minnie Riperton's Perfect Angel, a luminous beautiful song cycle produced by Stevie Wonder and Richard Rudolph, Riperton's gifted music man husband and Maya's father. The breakout hit from "Perfect Angel" was "Lovin' You," that unique little, high-flying gem of a song apparently written by Riperton and Rudolph in part to keep their young daughter Maya entertained while spending time in the studio with her folks.

"Lovin' You" ended up being far and away Riperton's biggest hit, going all the way to #1 in 1975. Sadly, Minnie Riperton's life and brilliant career were cut brutally short when she died from breast cancer in 1979 at the age of 31. Even as a kid myself, I knew that Riperton's death was a real loss for music. Now as an adult and a parent myself, I can't even imagine what a loss it must have been for her loving family.

All these years later, it was tremendously moving to see Maya Rudolph give the performance of a lifetime -- a utterly unique gem there to be treasured by anyone with even half a heart. I don't really know how much of Rudolph's life found its way into her work here, and ultimately it does not matter. However it happened, it happened, and that performance will live for a long time. Don't take my word for it -- see the movie and fall in love with Rudolph for yourself.

So let the Academy be officially forewarned: if this woman doesn't get an Oscar nomination, then I'm not watching the show.

Comments

[thnk4selfagain]

Saw "Away We Go" last night and it is the best ilm I have seen this year. Drector Sam Mendes, Maya Rudolph, John Krasainsky and screenwriters Eggers and Vida should, and I predict will, be nominated for Oscars.

Great soundtrack too.

[thnk4selfagain]

Sorry, Krasinsky.

[quivira]

Try Krasinski.

[betsy1829]

John Gielgud from "Arthur" - winner best supporting actor 1981

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Hilarious performance too

[bugsbonzai]

Is this a "comedy"? Because even if it's an "artsy" comedy, Maya has little to no chance of being nominated, let alone winning. There are only two wins for REAL comedy performances at Oscar in the last couple decades, both for minor work. Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny, and Kevin Kline for A Fish Called Wanda. Robert Downey Jr. is the last true comedy performance to get a nomination, but he didn't come close to winning.

Since its inception, the Academy Awards have had a real stick up its posterior about comedy, and haven't treated the genre with the same affection as drama (or even action or adventure). It's truly sad, because I often peruse the "best of" lists during Oscar wrapups at the end of the year. I see middling dramas cramming critic and "expert" top ten lists, while truly stellar comedy films are left in the dust heap, ignored like they don't exist. Or they're briefly mentioned at the end as also-rans instead of given the credence they deserve. This is why I haven't used the Oscars as a barometer for cinematic achievement in years.

But I'll check Maya out and see for myself!

[watchandwait]

Hi David: TVOne has a show called "Unsung". It is a biographical story about African-American performers (R&B, Soul, Gospel) who never quite achieved the fame and success their talents merited before their untimely deaths (or destruction by other means). They just did an episode on Minnie Riperton last week - it is an extremely beautiful, extremely moving show. I think the episode has been uploaded to YouTube (along with others).

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for telling me about that. I will try to find it.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Wow watchandwait, I watched that show and ended in tears. Really powerful salute to Minnie.
What is TVOne? This "Unsung" show should be more. . . sung.

[watchandwait]

Hi David: Glad you got to see the program. I'm going to have to wait a while to see it again because it moves me so much. (And as a breast cancer survivor, Minnie is a particular inspiration to me - she's the first person I ever heard talk about the disease at all, let alone on TV. And, she's the first I've known to die from it.) Everything about her life - her voice, her spirit, the love she had for her family, her tenacity fighting the disease - is just so moving.

To answer your question: TVOne is a "real life and entertainment" cable channel that airs (mostly) African-American content. The "Unsung" is like a "Behind the Music" for African-American performers who had the overwhelming talent and potential for long, storied, careers in the mainstream or were unable to sustain mainstream success prior to the demise of their careers (and in many instances, their lives - e.g. Minnie, Florence Ballard of the Supremes, Donny Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman).

[Alvin4NY]

I agree David, regarding Maya's talent. She was the highpoint whenever she appeared on SNL, and I loved her in "Prairie Home Companion" - I'll see the new movie tomorrow. Nice reflections about Minnie, by the way.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks Alvin -- enjoy the movie

[MikeDu]

I saw a short TV ad for the film, and for the couple *seconds* Maya Rudolph was onscreen I was genuinely struck by her transformation. Your praise is effusive but not surprising - based on the 3 seconds screentime in the ad that caught my attention.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

MikeDu, if you liked those three seconds, you'll LOVE the movie.

[Charity]

i hope to catch the film soon.

i interviewed minnie riperton about a year or so before she died. i'd been one of the "original" (at least i like to think so) riperton fans when i first heard rotary connection getting airplay on a late night esoteric radio show in miami (where i grew up). the d.j. loved rotary - and absolutely loved minnie. once i heard them, i began to buy their albums - and was absolutely ecstatic when minnie released "come to my garden."

few years later when i went to UFlorida (as an older student) in gainesville, minnie was a local celebrity. she'd lived there - and then moved back to l.a. - right before i arrived in town. she wrote "lovin' you" while sitting out at the duck pond, near her house. after "perfect angel" was released she came back and gave two incredible performances at the great southern music hall - and i interviewed her the following day for a local magazine, the only interview richard rudolph allowed minnie to do. i had her sign my "garden" album - but she had nothing but bad things to say about stepney, the producer, and that certainly was an eye-opener for me! she didn't much care for the album, and i was crushed. it remains one of my all time favorite albums.

i miss her. she was always special to me, as a fan and as a writer.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for that -- wish I'd met her and interviewed her myself.
Once spoke to Stevie Wonder about her -- and he had nothing but praise and love for her talent

[Charity]

stevie was a great friend of the family. minnie told me during the interview that her husband richard, stevie, and bill cosby used to have frequent poker games at her house. i'm sure others were in on the game but those are the names i recall off-hand. years after the interview, when the net became popular, i found a woman who knew minnie quite well in gainesville, and she emailed me some pictures of maya and marcus as a child taken during minnie's stay in gville - and a picture of minnie and stevie out in los angeles, sitting in minnie's living room.

i truly love it when minnie riperton's name is brought up - she has influenced a lot of our current popular singers, including mariah carey - and i hope, with this wonderful career of maya's, that minnie will never be forgotten.

[rzan1]

I loved Minnie Riperton and have a video of her singing Loving You from fhe show The Midnight Special. I did not know until just a short time ago that Maya Rudolph was her daughter.

[kathy001]

Ok, David, if you're going so far as to put watching the Oscars on the line, this must be worth seeing. It's not the kind of film I usually see but with this kind of an endorsement, how can I not? LOL!

I look forward to coming back and telling you how right you were.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Please do -- thanks kathy

[thenextquagmire]

Hey I think Audrey Hepburn should have been nominated and won for "Two for the Road" and Barbra Streisand should have been nominated and won for "What's Up Doc" As the Rolling Stone sang "You Can't always get what you want"

By the way, I'd like to see Rolling Stone Magazine, David Wenner, Dave Marsh and Robert Christigau give more Love to Linda Ronstadt. The only female hall of famers more successful that Ronstadt are Diana Ross (Motown sound not rock) and Madonna (pop sound not rock). By the way Elvis Presley didn't write any of his songs, and neither did The Supremes or Ronettes. The List grows.

Hey, Im sure Away We Go, will be "On Demand" Cable or on DVD soon, in case I miss it at my local Arthouse Cinemas.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Love Linda R
David Wenner?

[DietrichMoody]

I am sure she is great, but she should be greatfull, there are a lot of great actors out there that do not even get screen time on SNL, movies - wasn't she in Prairie Home Companion, or a daughter of famous singers.

You say: "if Maya Rudolph doesn't get an Oscar nomination, then I'm not watching the show." Not watching the show?

I hear a lot of people say the same thing about the Rock n Roll hall of Fame,ceremony .

Hey I don't watch the Oscars, or even the Rock n Roll Hall of fame induction ceremony, anymore. Its gone from Prime Time, to MTV, to VHI, Pretty soon its going to be broadcast on Retirement Living TV.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

And Dietrich, let me add that if Neil Diamond doesn't get into the R&R Hall of Fame soon, I am going to stop voting -- or at least stop plugging my book, "He Is. . . I Say: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Neil Diamond."

[DietrichMoody]

Hey I agree "Man of God" Niel Diamond!

By the way "I'm a Believer", in Niel Diamond, and Heart, Ronstadt, Blue Oyster Cult, Rush for the Rock Hall of fame.

[brooklyncitizen]

Planning on seeing it when it opens tomorrow in NYC- she and Krasinsky are really interesting to watch and Sam Mendes is always a safe bet for a good movie.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Please let us know what you think, citizen

[lz1]

I was impressed by both Krasinski and, especially, Rudolph, but disappointed in the cartoonish supporting roles. This was mostly the fault of the writing rather than the gifted supporting cast. It was as if, in order to make us root for the lead characters, everyone around them had to be as horrid as possible. This wasn't necessary, as they were quite likable and captivating on their own.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Interesting point of view.
I didn't feel that way, especially not about the couple with all the children.
And as I think you'd agree, Rudolph for me was the opposite of a cartoon -- she was wonderfully real.

[lz1]

You're right, the couple with multiple children was much better, and so was Krasinski's brother. I'm thinking specifically of the characters played by Daniels, O'Hara, Janney and Gyllenhaal.

I agree that the main characters weren't cartoonish (I was lucky enough to attend a screening where both lead actors and Dave Eggers were present).

[getoffthecross]

All due respect to both yourself and Ms. Rudolph (of whom I am also a fan), but that's a pretty hyperbolic and empty threat, no? A popculturist claiming to boycott the Oscars some 8 months out if one particular actress from a medium-drama love story isn't recognized? I'm sure the Acedemy is sitting at attention!

While I haven't seen the film yet, I'm likely to agree with the rest of the points. Maya was a gem on SNL, and I'm sure she's going to have a fantastic career in film. But an Oscar nod for her very first starring role? I wouldn't hold my breath...

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Empty threats are my favorite kind!

[adammersel]

I agree, Uncle. Maya Rudolph is the next big thing. By the way, I am a huge fan of your blog.

Adam.

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you sir, you have just graduated to become one of my favorite readers!

[David Wild - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you for reading.
Have you seen the movie? She's only one of the reasons I'd advise you do.

Best,
DW