The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Director Rebecca Miller’s first film since 2005’s The Ballad of Jack and Rose, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee essentially explores the ins and outs of the title character’s existence – with her move from New York City into Connecticut triggering an identity crisis that dates back to her childhood. There’s little doubt that The Private Lives of Pippa Lee takes an awfully long time to get going, as Miller bogs the early part of the proceedings down with a theatrical, overtly quirky sensibility, as well as an almost oppressive amount of flashbacks, that prevents the viewer from wholeheartedly connecting with the material. As the movie unfolds, however, Pippa, as well as the various figures in her life, becomes a fully-fleshed out character that one can’t help but sympathize with, although the exact nature of her connection to several supporting characters remains muddled far longer than one might’ve liked (ie is Winona Ryder’s Sandra her sister or just a close friend?) Robin Wright Penn’s expectedly phenomenal turn as the central character certainly plays a significant role in the movie’s success, yet it’s impossible to discount the efforts of a uniformly impressive supporting cast (which includes Julianne Moore, Alan Arkin, and Keanu Reeves). And although the emotional climax doesn’t quite possess the impact that Miller is clearly striving for, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee primarily comes off as a solid drama that’s consistently elevated by the efforts of the various performers.

*** out of ****