Waitress

The rave reviews have been coming in fast and furious for Adrienne Shelley's final film, the screenwriter, director and cast member having been tragically murdered in her apartment last November. In Waitress, besides writing and directing, she plays the mousy, perpetually-single co-worker of Keri Russell (whom, and I checked with IMDB on this, I have NEVER actually seen in any role, having never watched "Felicity" nor Mission Impossible III) the title character, an unhappily married and even less happily pregnant waitress and pie genius.

It's a lovely little movie with wonderfully human characters, realistic dilemmas and moments of real tenderness. There are some scenes where the dialogue doesn't exactly play true-to-life but I caught myself wishing people actually talked like that - honestly, poetically, and with a twist of irony. Nathan Fillion is, as always, completely swoon-worthy as the newcomer doctor and extramarital love interest and Russell is equal parts salt-of-the-earth and sweet despair. Shelley and Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines back Russell up as the waitressing staff of Joe's Pie Place (someone correct me if I misnamed the diner) and Andy Griffith fits the role of crotchety Old Joe, owner and regular customer of said diner to a tee. The cast is small, tight and extremely talented and, given the elegant and powerful script they are given, shine in their roles whether as a nerdy but persistant Casanova or a "happy enough" line cook.
There's really nothing that I can say that hasn't been said better by the reviewers of the New York Times, USA Today, Roger Ebert, and the 90% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. What I can say that stood out for me the most is the fact that the movie doesn't toe a moral line in any way. No character is without flaw and there is no divine retribution to balance out infidelity, resentment, abusiveness, hubris or childishness. That's not to say that the characters don't have a conscience but it's up to them to deal with their indiscretions and mis-steps, not some universal watchdog. Because, as we all know, good things don't always happen to good people and the nasty folk don't always get their comeuppance. How fitting and terribly poignant that Shelley's movie should deliver that message.