7 posts tagged “movies”

Two movies I've seen lately --

Dane and I went to see Sunshine Cleaning a couple weeks ago with Susanna and some of her friends.  It was entertaining, but not really my favorite.  I have really truly loved Amy Adams in a lot of movies, she's great and can be so adorable and hilarious and just light up the screen.  There's the Drop Dead Gorgeous version, which was hilarious and genius, and the Enchanted version which is innocent and precious, and the Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day version which is sort of a mix of both of those and whom I could watch all day, and we're going to pretend the Talladega Nights version never existed, except that it was a lot like the Charlie Wilson version. 

Then there's the Junebug, Sunshine Cleaning, Doubt Amy Adams, which is kind of all quivering bottom lip and wide blue tear-filled eyes and defeated smiles and Lucille Ball hand-wringing (know what I mean?) and this mix of innocent and sweet and pitiful and desperate.  That one was just done one too many times and turned up to 11 in Sunshine Cleaning and may have ruined that whole Amy Adams for me for a while.  Probably only for a while though.

Then they had this plotline with Emily Blunt, whom I also happen to love, that was kind of awkward and never really went anywhere, and I'm not sure what the point of it was.  I mean I kind of get it, but sometimes it seems like "let's throw a few controversial-ish themes in there, even if they don't lend to story or character, just because it'll make us more Indie and will take the place of creative plot twists and if people have a problem with it we'll call them narrow-minded."

BUT THEN.

Last night we watched Let the Right One In, which I pretty much loved completely.  I've had less time to think about it, so that could be part of it, but I was just sucked in.  It was unbelievably refreshing to me how they told SO much of the story in shadows or off-screen or only showing you the few moments before something happened.  It's like they actually believed that I have my own imagination, or something.  Crazy, right? 

I wished I saw it on the big screen, because even on our teeny one in non-HD, it was just one of the most beautiful movies ever.  It opens with a kid walking through snow (or at least that's in the first couple minutes) and my immediate thought was "ew, I'm so glad we don't live where it's that cold".  20 min later I was like "I want to go to SWEDEN."  Just soooo soo pretty.  I was sold even with the screwed-up American subtitles.  I hate it when you can TELL they say this whole long sentence and you even recognize a few words or a name, and then the subtitles are all "NO, THANK YOU."  And you're like "Come on!  I know that's not all they said."  I guess I'll just have to learn Swedish. 

Anyway, worth checking out.  Kind of gory, and not really terribly cheery, but not scary like I thought it would be, not at all.  Just beautiful and sweet.  In a little bit of a murdery kind of way.  And with the second kid named Oskar that I've loved recently, the other being Oskar Schell from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.  Dane nixed it as a kid name though.  Too bad.

So I just finished that Ian McEwan book (On Chesil Beach)that I said was total poetry, and yeah, I dunno.  It's so well-written, and he gets inside people's heads so well.  But man, that guy is like an ace at frustration and hopelessness. It's all exquisitely-written, but so unsettling, ultimately.  Atonement was the same way. 

Or maybe it's way better than a happy-ending book for spurring people into action.  I don't know.  It just is one of those things that can leave me with kind of a cloud all day.  But at the same time, I kind of think that if I were the kind of person prone to inaction, this kind of book would make me want to change my ways more than one about some bold heroic type.  I mean, I might be ruining part of it for anybody that wants to read it, but honestly if you know anything about the author you probably already knew anyway.  And I'm not sure I'd recommend it.  Ok I just wanted to amend that other post where I was talking about how beautiful it is, which it is, but I don't know.

It's like this one time when I started watching Little Children with Kate Winslet, and got about halfway through and then went to small group and we were talking about the things that can make a couple have distance and have problems, and I was talking about how that movie did a really great job of kind of portraying and underlining the things couples do to themselves and each other.  Which it did.  And it sounded like I was saying (and I kind of was) that it was a great movie that was well-done and you should go see it.  Then I went later and finished it, and wow, kind of a super duper crazy messed-up movie.  I guess I'd still say that it was really well-done, but it's not one you want to be on record in small group as having recommended.  And then Jenn went and watched it and was like "uh, Abbey?  Wth?" 

So yeah.  I've learned to qualify and disclaimer my premature recommendations.

So some things I've been enjoying recently -- (because I don't know what else to talk about)...

Ok I just watched Stardust again last night, and that was a seriously fun movie.  Why wasn't it bigger than it was?  One thing I liked about it was that it was made from a book, but they like totally changed big parts of it, but in the best way.  I guess that's what happens when you include the author in the process.  But like, I'd read the book (twice?) but then seeing the movie I still didn't know what was going to happen, which is genius.  Sometimes it sucks when people change a book when translating it to film, but only if they ruin it or destroy the tone.  This was was just good fun, and I think it's my favorite Robert DeNiro role ever. 

Saw Benjamin Button, and Dane and I talked about the visual effects alone for like 45 minutes probably.  It is a beautiful movie, whatever else you think of it.  Something about the romance was kind of off, I don't know, I liked the story and I liked how it all played out, I just didn't get like ANY actual chemistry or attraction off of BP and CB.  Maybe because they're a kid and an old man and then an old lady and a kid.  But even when they're both sort of in the middle and beautiful, I don't know.  It did really well as far as that goes though portraying a couple of people that mean the world to each other but just can't get the timing right.  And I kind of loved both of their life stories even if I wasn't super invested in the part where they met in the middle.  Anyway, another one I'd totally recommend.

We also watched There Will Be Blood the other day which I realize everybody else was done talking about AGES ago but we're behind the times.  I had heard how just utterly completely bleak and depressing it was, and I think that helped set up my expectations so that it ultimately wasn't that bad.  It's just about a maniac who also happens to be a jackass.  It was so well-done and super interesting though. 

I always sort of ask myself after I see a movie why that movie was made.  Like, whoever wrote it and greenlit it and chose to direct it and all of the big steps that got it into theaters, why did they make it?  I'm sure like 99% of the people (or 100% in some cases) were involved in it for money, but somebody at some point wanted to make that movie because they wanted to say something or thought it was a new perspective or a lesson or SOMETHING.  That one was obviously pretty anti-religious, but also I guess was kind of this morality tale about greed and what it costs...  But I don't know, I feel like those stories have kind of been told before.  I guess they mostly all have though, that's why I love people like Charlie Kaufman who are coming up with truly new things. 

I got Fleet Foxes for Christmas and have been listening to it for a few days, and I think I love it more every time through.  It sounds like it should have come from like the '60s or something but it's also really new and creative.  I kind of want to give it to my dad, but I think he's the one who gave it to me.  I also got the new Mates of State Rearrange Us which I really enjoy but haven't had time to marathon-listen yet, and She & Him Volume 1 which I also really like but I think it might end up being really great like dinner party background music or for when I'm in the mood for singing along with something.  It's another total throwback and I really enjoy it but it might not be one that you like dissect and hear a new layer every time you listen to it.

I was going to talk about some books too but this is already longer than some people probably want to read so I'll do those tomorrow.

I blame you.  You people.  All of you people that didn't watch Pushing Daisies.  How dare you.

Yeah, so it's canceled.  The sweetest, cutest, most visually amazing show that's been on TV for years, and it's canceled.  I will never, in all my days, if I live to a ripe old age, understand television, and how shows like 2 1/2 Men stay on for eons and are nominated for awards, and shows like 30 Rock and Pushing Daisies and Arrested Development and Veronica Mars struggle and gasp and then die. 

That ALMOST killed my buzz from the boots I just got in the mail that are perfect and I love them, and they came in like 2 days even though I got the 7-14 day shipping.  Yay!

Oh, and also, it appears that "canceled" only has one L.  How embarrassing.  Who knows how long I've been doing that.

So we went to the Twilight midnight premiere last night and fought through hordes of fainting and be-glittered high school girls, and oh! it was every bit as deliciously cheesetastic as I wanted it to be.  And yes, my wee juice box of merlot was the perfect accent to the whole thing.  Thanks, Kat!  Seriously guys, it's not good.  But it's so good.  Here are a few of the thoughts that I had during the whole thing:

-Holy crap, the TRAILER for the Unborn is frikking scary.  And evidently most of the audience last night agreed with me.  I know I'm a big baby about these things but I could go the rest of my life without watching just the TRAILER again.

-Kristen Stewart talks like somebody took a pepper shaker full of periods and sprinkled them all over her script.  She's all. halted. and like. spurtsoutafewwords. and then. stops.  Oh, and also, I think her eyes are like in permanent REM sleep mode, just rapidfire back and forth and back and forth.  But honestly?  It's kind of like a real, somewhat shy and awkward 17-yr-old girl.  Like, an actual real one, not all polished up for the screen.  I believed her as somebody that high school kids would fall all over and that would really truly not like it.

-Charlie was one of my favorite characters in the movie.  I don't know why, he was too good-looking to fit the book, but I liked him.

-Jasper is by miles the cutest person in that movie.  Edward schmedward.

-Speaking of, I am by no means a fan of the body builder types, but seriously, Robert Pattinson.  Would it have KILLED you to pick up a couple weights or something?  Just to get rid of the like totally flabby kinda hairy upper arms - a wee bit of toning.  And hello, also not a fan of excessive man-grooming, but I think a chest wax wouldn't have been out of line for a supposedly 17-yr-old supposedly vampire.  He was just a bit icky in a few parts.  Does nail the "smoldering eyes" though.  I guess that was a must.

-I think I want to rent that one martial arts movie that the bad vampire guy was in and watch it with Erin.  I bet it'd also be craptastic but with awesome fight scenes, and I'm a sucker for those.  And she's a sucker for Cam Gigandet.

-That movie was the weirdest combo of really cool CGI/other effects for the vampirey stuff, and then REALLY corny ones.  They did some stuff that was so subtle or mostly off-screen or done sort of organically in some way instead of with CGI, and then the next scene would be just distractingly bad.  Ok, humiliatingly corny uniforms aside, I did think the baseball scene was one of the coolest as far as the effects and the dynamics of their group and how they'd use their 'powers' or whatever.  Bella and Edward's romp through the forest, yikes.  Not so good.

-I thought Carlisle and Esme were totally miscast from pictures, but both of them totally sold me.  Esme has about 4 seconds on screen but she NAILS it and gets across a ton of the character in so little time.  Most of it was honestly just her look, but she was just right.

Ok I think that's all I can say by way of a review.  Other than that it was SO fun just to go with all my friends!  I'm so glad everybody came!  I wish we had all been in the same theater, but it's cool I guess.  My recommendation to you is if you go see this movie, see it soon or in some way ensure that you will be in a theater packed out with teenage girls.  I feel like there are parts that might kind of (completely) fall flat if you were, say, mostly alone.  But in the right company, and having unleashed your inner dorky melodramatic 14-yr-old girl, it's totally fun.

That's the James Bond theme thing, I mean, like you couldn't tell.  We went to see the midnight show last night for some random reason, it was us and this group of like 35 college guys, mostly, I really do think they were all together and it was like somebody's birthday or something.  Anyway, I thought it was awesome. 

I can't believe how many action movies get away with being SO derivative, so much of the time.  Dane and I are not your typical boy/girl duo in picking movies, both of us like a WELL-DONE rom com or Oscar-contender or shoot-em-up, and both of us have very little use for the copycat ones.  There are a lot of action movies I'll pass on, but not for some stupid gender reason, but because there are a lot that are just the same movie over and over again. 

I couldn't believe how new and creative the action parts of that movie were last night -- the plot was kind of your typical Bond fare, the acting was decidedly above-par (or sub-par?  Better than average.  There.), I loved the new Bond girl, she's absolutely gorgeous and a lot more 3D than most action movie femmes, there were more genuinely funny moments than I expected, but mostly you just live for those fight/chase scenes. (**Spoiler!**  There is a car chase, foot chase, parkour chase [hee, practically], BOAT chase, and PLANE chase in this movie.  Awesome!)

Anyway, I got in the car this morning and evidently the NPR reviewer guy didn't like it but I've found that I agree with him like oh... 20%-ish of the time?  So bite me.  I wasn't looking for mind-bending, philosophical, change-my-life tear-jerker, or something, I was looking for style and creative, impeccably-executed action, not to mention a bad-A Bond, and omg I can't believe there is ANY dissension over whether or not Daniel Craig is the right choice.  He's freaking awesome.  He'd, like, eat Pierce Brosnan for breakfast. 

Speaking of which, how did people ever get sooooo behind the gadget-Bonds?  Like, how is a person this awesome hero if, when confronted by, like, a flesh-eating robot mountain lion on the edge of a cliff, they happen to have in their pocket a, like, flesh-eating-robot-mountain-lion-repelling personal helicopter device or something?  Daniel Craig has his wit and his muscles and his speed and ok, that one time, an emergency defibrillator in his car.  He doesn't even usually use GUNS.

Oh, and also, why did it take so long to make the Jack White/James Bond bridge, because that was just magic waiting to happen. 

And ok, this is way too long to have written about a movie, but just one more thing.  I don't usually get behind blanket statements or cultural non-patriotism, but English women just age SO much better than American women, on the whole.  Anybody disagree?  Judi Dench?  Helen Mirren?  Emma Thompson?  Maggie Smith?  They just are who they are and how old they are and don't feel the need to try and chemically and surgically perfect and lift and whiten everything and end up looking a bit scary.  I like my actresses human, thankyouverymuch. 

Yes!  Believe it!  Two posts in one day!  Not even about the same thing!

I saw Lars and the Real Girl the other day and I would like to recommend it to anyone.  Except That Guy.  You know, That Guy Who Probably Would Snort And Snicker Every Time The "Real Doll" Sex Doll Is On Screen.  Because that guy would be disappointed, or would ruin it for everybody else.  It's not that kind of movie.  They never go there. 

So there's this guy, Lars, played by Ryan Gosling, who is just so dadgum charismatic.  I was rooting for him as the coke-and-meth-and-whatever-else-head elementary school teacher in Half Nelson, and I was SO rooting for him as the semi-unwashed, delusional, mustachioed, loner phobic in this movie.  Anyway, he's, well, a semi-unwashed, delusional, mustachioed, loner multiphobic who lives in the garage apartment of a house that he owns with his brother, and his brother, Gus, and sister in law, Karen (Paul Scheider and Emily Mortimer) live in the main house, and are expecting a baby. 

Anyway, after a coworker shows him these Real Dolls that are incredibly lifelike and that you can order online, Lars orders one (Bianca) and introduces her to the town as his girlfriend.  A quick trip to the local doctor, and Gus and Karen learn that this delusion is there because Lars needs it, and will be gone when he stops needing it, and in the meantime they all need to play along.

It's pretty much just this love story between Lars and his community, or Lars and his brother and sister-in-law, and they are all so fantastic.  You definitely have to give a little to the imagination, there is certainly some suspension of disbelief.  I'm pretty sure that a town does not exist anywhere in this country where everyone would be that sweet about something like that, but if you let that go, it is the sweetest, funniest, most fantastically-acted movie I've seen in a long, long time. 

It might also make you glad for a community of people who love and know you well, as opposed to all of these other fiercely individualistic movies out these days, Into the Wild, etc. etc. that tend to make everybody want to travel and move all over the place and Be! Their! Own! Person! 

Last night I watched Vertigo, and it was just so different than I expected.  I saw Psycho pretty recently too, for the first time.  (I know!  I know!  Who do I think I am, reaching the ripe old age of 24 without having seen those!)  It's interesting how narrative arcs in movies have changed so much, or at least the ways in which they present them, and even though it seems like I see really different kinds of movies all the time, I still have these really deeply rooted expectations. 

Like, in Psycho, I was really surprised when they killed off Lila within the first like 40 minutes of the movie.  These days, if the movie was going to star the boyfriend and the sister all along, they would have been introduced earlier, seems like. 

I was also really surprised when the big scene with the jumping off of the roof came 45 minutes before the end of the movie, in Vertigo.  It might have been different if I didn't have the DVD counter and the length of the movie on my netflix jacket, but I was like "wow, really?  What's going to happen now?" 

We recently watched the old Ocean's Eleven, too.  The heist is over pretty quickly, and there is this whole, long, drawn out sequence of events afterwards that I just don't think modern audiences would have the patience for.  I don't think anything was wrong with the way it was made, it's just interesting how we've been trained to experience stories. 

So I've watched a few movies lately, and here are my thoughts:

You Can Count on Me -- with Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo and Rory Culkin and Ferris Beuller.  Who, by the way, is kind of great, these days.  I didn't give him enough credit, being Mr. SJP, and all, and after seeing Stepford Wives, it just made him look kind of emasculated.  Is that the word?  Anyway but then I saw Election and then this within a couple of weeks of each other, and I actually think he's found this niche that he's really good at and it fits him well, and he does it really well.  Like, he's harnessed his sort of weird not-unattractive-but-not-attractive, sort of square-ness into something really entertaining and found some movies that fit it well.  Kudos for knowing how to find parts that fit you, and not trying to hang on to some action-hero-y persona that you're not (I'm talking to you, Nicolas Cage). 

Anyway I really liked it, I thought Mark Ruffalo was awesome, as usual, and I really like Rory Culkin, even if he does the same kind of like weighted adult-stare thing in every movie so far, he's good at it.  Another well-placed actor.  And he didn't need to be any more.  I enjoyed the movie, I liked some of the writing, a lot of it actually.  And then there was this last scene where they're sitting there waiting for a bus, and omg, all the sudden the writing was like total sophomore year of high school creative writing project or something, it was so awful.  I don't think it was Mark Ruffalo's fault, the dialog was just horrible.  I don't know if he could have done better with it, but I was pretty into the movie, and then all the sudden it was just like watching this script, I could hear the writer, not the character.  And it was so cliche.  Kind of disappointing.

Last night we watched The Beauty Academy of Kabul.  I'm not sure what I thought of it.  It was good, and kind of funny, and an interesting story and everything, but I don't know.  In some ways, it's like teaching these women how to pluck their eyebrows and give perms I guess was probably very progressive and liberating, like showing them their own value and whatever, but I guess it's just my innate kind of impulse, but makeup and updos and stuff don't seem to scream women's lib to me.  It was kind of funny seeing these hippie women that had gone out there, the kind you would usually see with ZERO makeup, and unshaved legs, and totally natural hair here, and they're teaching these women there to do like ginormous perms and teensy sperm eyebrows and dye jobs.  I get the whole idea, I guess, but it just seemed kind of backwards while also being progressive.  Couldn't really decide.  I also had this impulse to kind of be turned off by the whole western idea of beauty they were teaching these women, but maybe that's just really what those women think is beautiful.  Trying to teach them what's beautiful though -- I just wasn't too sure.

We also watched Paper Moon, which was adorable, and cute and hilarious, way funnier than we thought it would be.  And a little dark, it had a lot more depth too.  Old movies always sort of surprise me that way.  I can see what all the fuss was about over Tatum O'Neal.  So cute.  And my mom is friends with the lady who played the aunt at the end.  I've met her a couple times.  So that was kind of funny.

I also recently finished (finally) season 2 of Veronica Mars.  Which was awesome.  In every way.  I tried to make it last to where I could just match it up with the beginning of season 3, but I didn't plan so well.  Oh well.