Don't see a forum for this film, so I'll put my comment here.

It was striking that this movie had a post-racial consciousness. I picked up no evidence racial prejudice, stereotyping, or discomfort among any of the characters or situations. Is this the wave of the future? Is it realistic and true to people's experience? I found it a little self-conscious, but perhaps in the Age of Obama I expect the dialog and not the color-blind casting to be mute.

That said, I liked the film very much. Although the discussion suggested a genetic component to the prickly qualities in the mother (Annette Benning) and daughter (Naomi Watts), they shared a pivotal life moment - the 14-year-old Benning giving up the infant Watts for adoption. That in itself could be character-forming.

An excellent and thoughtful film, populated by real, complex, and maddening characters.