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.
Great soundtrack too.
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!
What is TVOne? This "Unsung" show should be more. . . sung.
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).
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.
Once spoke to Stevie Wonder about her -- and he had nothing but praise and love for her talent
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.
I look forward to coming back and telling you how right you were.
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 Wenner?
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.
By the way "I'm a Believer", in Niel Diamond, and Heart, Ronstadt, Blue Oyster Cult, Rush for the Rock Hall of fame.
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.
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).
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...
Adam.
Have you seen the movie? She's only one of the reasons I'd advise you do.
Best,
DW