Nobody Chronicles the Upper Middle Class Better

If Ken Loach is the auteur of the working class then Nicole Holofcener holds the same spot for the upper middle class. Both directors create characters that aren't always likable but are always interesting to watch--their fights and foibles always draw me in. Holofcener's films aren't perfect, but they're never boring which is more than you can say for most modern movies.

All three lead actresses give excellent performances but Catherine Keener as Michelle is the most watchable as a 36-year-old wife and mother who's still mentally stuck in high school and seems intent on blowing up her life. Her little asides and the faces she pulls perfectly capture Michelle's petulance.

Food in Films: Annie and Michelle's accidental late night dinner at McDonald's is both sweetly emotional and a feast of McNuggets, Big Macs, and fries.