Wendy and Lucy (2008)

I really can't believe that Michelle Williams wasn't nominated for her work in this authentic-feeling picture of a woman on the brink of homelessness.

Everything goes wrong for Wendy in a small Oregon town, which should have had no more significance for her than being one of, probably, a dozen anonymous cities in which she pulled over to grab a quick nap in her car before continuing on to her ultimate destination: Alaska. After being banged awake by the security guard of the drugstore parking lot in which she's sleeping, her car refuses to take her any further. The next morning, she runs out of food for her dog Lucy, and then gets busted for shoplifting dog food. During the hours she's detained, Lucy disappears from the bike rack to which she was tied in front of the grocery store.

I found myself wondering if anybody could REALLY be as self-righteous as the grocery store employee who forcibly dragged Wendy back into the store and then lectured his boss on pressing charges, yessiree...and then, later, also wondering if anyone could truly be as naturally kind as the security guard who becomes almost a friend. Answers: yes and yes. People are constantly surprising me: both for ill and good.

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