Love Is Strange Stars John Lithgow and Alfred Molina Tackle Same-Sex M... Movies for Grownups

' Love Is Strange' Strikes a Familiar Chord

John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play a couple we can all relate to

Rating: R Running Time: 98 minutes Stars: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei Director: Ira Sachs Stories drawn directly from the writer's experience offer a distinct authenticity. That's just one of the reasons Love Is Strange rings so true. Inspired by his observations of and family members in deep relationships — among them his great-uncle Ben Goodman and his partner, the sculptor Ted Rust, together for 45 years — director has crafted a portrait of two men whose 39-year union will resound with any viewer who has experienced (or witnessed) such a long-term loving relationship. But Sachs doesn't stop there; he fills in the background with other players at various stages of coupledom, from first date to . Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics Alfred Molina and John Lithgow brilliantly portray a same-sex couple that cope with trials and tribulations of love, long-term relationships and the reality of life. Approaching four decades as a duo, Ben (the fabulous ) and George (the equally good ) decide to tie the knot at long last when the New York legislature legalizes marriage. Their celebration is short-lived: The Catholic school where George works as a teacher fires him, deeming the relationship immoral. Without George's income (Ben is a struggling painter), the couple must sell their apartment and find a cheaper place to live — a deft move by Sachs, as it allows the city itself to become a significant character in the film. Until the two men can find a new together, however, they must temporarily live apart. George moves one floor down, becoming a lodger in the apartment occupied by two party-hardy gay cops ( of and of ). Ben persuades his nephew Elliot (, so laconically wise as Ed in ) to let him crash at the Brooklyn home he shares with his writer wife, Kate (three-time Oscar nominee ). There Ben is relegated to sleeping in the bunk bed below their son, Joey (, recently in ). These make-do measures spark tensions within both sets of guests and hosts, while George and Ben struggle with the sadness of their separation. Sachs, who wrote the script for Love Is Strange with (also his collaborator on 2012's ), admirably avoids preaching to the audience or striking an overtly political stance. Instead he keeps the focus on the characters and their relationships. Scenes unfold organically, sometimes jumping subtly forward in time, the cityscapes made even more beautiful by the Chopin études playing beneath them. I have to say that Sachs' casting choices are brilliant here: Lithgow and Molina, social acquaintances for years in real life, display a tender — and utterly believable — on screen. Tomei is equally convincing as a working mother dealing with an inattentive husband and an often surly teen (that would be Tahan, who portrays the agony and ecstasy of adolescence to perfection). Though Love Is Strange overflows with modern-day hot buttons — equality, orientation prejudice, disparity — those issues are never allowed to crowd out the movingly genuine people at the heart of this timeless love story. Sachs has given us a delightful film that exquisitely demonstrates how, despite our differences, we are inexorably drawn to one another. is West Coast editor of AARP The Magazine.

AARP Members Save Money

Also of Interest br

Visit the for great deals and savings tips Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.