This is one of those movies where you need a sense of history. I think that if you didn't have the experience of watching An American Family when it aired, this film would mean very little to you. But if you were of that age to watch that show, this movie feels as strangely interesting as that show did when we watched it.
It fascinated me that two very well known actors, Tim Robbins and Diane Lane, could be so convincing as Bill and Patricia Loud. This is always the risk when you play real-life people is how you will match up in looks and manner to public personalities. These two actors were so good at seemingly channeling these two poeple that oftentimes the film could play footage from the real show alongside the depiction they were now filming without it being dissonant or jarring. Their portrayals were so true to life that the real footage just seemed like a wink and a nod, an affirmation of the great work of these actors in these roles.
It seemed like innocent times, before reality television became the norm rather than the exception, when filmmakers hired for An American Family were genuinely offended if situations were manipulated, if they felt that they were enfringing on this family's privacy. It was a film that in the end brought us up-to-date with the latest news of what had happened to the Loud family. It was poignant and sad and funny and someting to be experienced, much like the original program so many years ago.
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