This Ensemble Cast Is The REAL Reason For Seeing "What They Had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                  Like the song says, "You Gotta Have A Gimmick," but, over time, those gimmicks have changed.

                                   When I was a child, the gimmick was that "elderly" actresses like Bette, Joan and Olivia, played psychotic women.  What fun!  Now, the level of "elderly" has been raised higher, and the gimmick now is Alzheimer's.  Both Julie Christie and Julianne Moore have had their turn.  And now--the reason I went--Blythe Danner!  Which makes me wonder, when will MERYL jump on the band wagon?  A friend of mine posed, when she gets to play Sandra Day O' Connor.  I wouldn't be at all surprised.

                                    "What They Had" is based on Elizabeth Chomko's experience of her grandmother's sixteen year battle with Alzheimer's.  She has assembled the perfect cast, who are so assured in their roles, one wonders how much direction they required.  Even Michael Shannon, who does his usual Michael Shannon thing, (and who does it better?) somehow offers another standout performance.  Hilary Swank has improved with age; a little filling out has suited her, especially about the face.  Taissa Farmiga takes a break from AHS to play the rebellious daughter, though exhibits much compassion for her grandmother's situation, sometimes when others are thinking elsewhere, and I found her performance (Taissa) here very touching.   But the two most heartbreaking performances come from Blythe and Robert Forster, who are husband and wife, but at opposite ends of the line--she is declining into Alzheimer's, while he has to watch.

                                      The work of all, especially the last two, is reason enough to see the film.  Blythe and Forster play their roles with great understatement, and the acting choices she makes are subtle enough to indicate what is being gone through, without making it unbearable by shoving it in the viewer's face.

                                        The film actually takes a hopeful approach, and ends on what, at best is as hopeful a note as can be found, but there is no escaping that this is a tale that has been told before, will be told again, and, so, has much predictability.  If the Fifties Golden Age Of Television Drama were still in vogue today, this would be the kind of material written, and product turned out.

                                          You could say this is what one gets on the Lifetime Channel.  True, but the film is way too good for that venue, and elevated by a superb cast, all of whom, especially Blythe and Robert Forster, merit Oscar nominations.

                                             I was so afraid to see this film, because of the subject, and because of my age.  Were I in my twenties, I would feel nothing to fear; now, in my sixties, it is a very different scenario.

                                             Blythe and company make it worth your while.

                                              And, damn, I still want to know who does her hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!