When the Reluctant Subject is Your Dad..

I noticed during the screening of Tarnation that during examples of the reluctant subject (i.e. Renee, Adolph), no one viewing was slightly inclined to laugh. In Alan Berliner's Nobody's Business, the recurring and almost disabling reluctance of Oscar Berliner is basically comedic; his tone and non-compliance just really presented an older man who doesn't care.
Now, that's not to say these little "bouts" Alan and his father get into aren't to be taken serious. In one or two instances Oscars is clearly growing upset. These moments are cleverly accompanied by clips of pujilism. Middle century film of boxers runs through the duration of the short arguments.
Another small recurring theme is time. I think the metrenome-esque ticking of a timewatch, sometimes rapid, sometimes slower, can be interpreted various ways. Discussion of Oscar's grandparents goes quite quickly, maybe dictated by the metrenome? The reading and discussion of a letter from Oscar's grandfather to his father is pretty intriguing (...if I remember correctly, about ensues). But the seemingly incessant ticking would occur after Berliner enquires a question: the ticking heightens, becomes more focued, then.... BING! that little bell sounds as answers are found.
While I noticed these elements of the film, I also saw that it transitions well into different areas of interest. The accounts of a few woman who knew him well, as a handsome and desirable guy were kind of cool. Then the shots of him as a father, looking so happy and just really truly enjoying the time with the children. It's a lot of visual accolades about Oscar who is right now in the movie being a spoil-sport. But I like Oscar, I think he does a great job, and at times I am not laughing at his somewhat humourous honesty. One example where I kind of think Alan Berliner is being dumb is asking if Oscar really could relate more to his army friends than his grandparents.. Obviously! They're at war together and going through the same type of life. In the early half of the century I'm pretty sure a lot of parents/grandparents were oozing with outward affection.
I don't know. I really did like this film, I thought it was well done and profiled a family effectively, with Oscar at the centre.
I also liked, very much, Oscar's response to why he had had kids with his wife whom he knew he would not last with. He said that having kids was "trying to bring logic to an emotional situation." Oscar is a smart man, his son might be a smart-alec.