trois films
Feb. 1st, 2009 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
verbicideIt's fairly hit or miss if I'm going to care about the Oscars on any given year. This year, I've decided to care. I think it usually ties into how many movies I've seen. And, while I've seen a chunk, Pete and I are committed to seeing as many as we can before the big day. This weekend (Thursday counts as the weekend, right?), we saw three: The Wrestler, Slumdog Millionaire, and Revolutionary Road.
I should probably wait to write about these at a time that I'm not totally wiped out, but I'm afraid the week will be too busy and I'll just lose the energy to do it all together. I know I'm already forgetting things I'd meant to write about all three of these.
Spoilers for all the movies below the cut.
I really thought this was a pretty good movie. The acting was uniformly good. And mostly what I liked was how fully fleshed out the characters were. Mickey Rourke's character is a fuckup. He's not a bad person, he's not uncaring, he's not mean. But he's thoughtless and careless and at the end of the day, he isn't able to pull out of the life he's carved for himself. No matter how much that devastates his daughter. No matter what the potential for a life of love and happiness he might have with Marissa Tomei. He can't resist the siren call of glory--and the one thing he's known himself to be good at. Even when he knows it's going to kill him--and not in a nebulous someday way, but pretty immediately.
Sometimes I think I feel worse for people who are total fuckups and who bring about their own misery. When he screws up and misses out on dinner with his daughter, as bad as I felt for her, I felt an ocean of compassion for him. There's nothing worse than knowing you've totally fucked something up and you have no one to blame except yourself.
Some of it was too grisly for me, so I just didn't watch. Kirsten was hilarious, she was looking away and kept saying "Don't look! Don't look! No, still don't look!!" No worries. I didn't really want to see someone ground up on stage.
It was a sad and depressing movie.
I was a little mixed going into this movie. Some of my friends loved it. Some thought it was sorta meh. And being desi myself, it's always a little weirder to see a film about my subcontinent home.
Ultimately, I thought the movie was okay. I thought the story concept was cute enough. I wish instead of torture, the reason we're learning about how a poor chai-walla knew things beyond more educated contestants was something like an interview.
But, good lord, I haaaaaaaaaaaaated the cinematography. Even when I could understand what was being conveyed (largely chaos), I just fucking hated the twisted camera angles, the slow motion, the repeated flashed images. I felt very bored during what felt like a lot of filler.
I didn't mind the improbable love story part of it. But I didn't find the relationship between the brothers very believable. A lack of chemistry maybe? That girl was unreasonably beautiful and I couldn't help be charmed by her smiling face. And I liked Jamal's doe-eyed personality, especially when we saw glimpses of his smart-assery. But I wish it had been filmed differently because I just wanted to fast-forward through about half of it. Blah.
I like happy endings where they're appropriate--and I thought it was appropriate to this movie. I grew up on Amitabh Bachchan movies, so that whole sequence cracked me up. I've seen the begging children who've been purposely deformed on the streets of Karachi, so that part was a little sickeningly real. And as someone who speaks the language fluently, it's always fun to understand the lines that aren't subtitled.
I'm glad I saw it because there's been so much fuss about it, but I wish I liked it more. I can't believe it's gotten such high marks over at Rotten Tomatoes. I thought there were confusing points in the story that didn't make sense and the story wasn't very cohesive.
Out of all the movies, this is the one I liked best. Though it's hard to say 'like' about any of these movies, which were all so grim and painful to watch. This one felt more like a play. Brilliant acting. I love Sam Mendes and his twisted, depressing view of the world. I thought Kate Winslet was as amazing as she always is. I think Leo did a good job. But I had a couple criticisms of it, too:
- I really hated the crazy-man-as-the-speaker-of-the-truth device. I think that's lazy. Don't just use this random guy as a plot device.
- I wish we'd had a chance to see their relationship develop more. Not just that one scene where they met. But, really see what promises were made in that relationship that ended up so badly broken.
I liked that there were obscure moments --like the neighbor/friend completely and inexplicably bawling the night the Wheelers told them they were moving to Paris. I liked that her husband was such an oddball, and that his love for her was this weight he seemed to carry around.
I thought the depictions of their fighting were exhaustingly convincing. How sometimes one person just can't let things go, and the other person just wants to stop fucking talking and get their head together.
Human relationships are so fucked up. All the things people don't say to each other that need to be said. All the fears that hold people back from what they want in life. The burden of following paths set by external expectations.
As Jeff had apparently predicted, it desperately makes me want to move to Paris. I wonder how many people feel trapped in joyless lives out there, unable to summon the courage and will to make dramatic changes because of the fear of failure and losing the comfort and stability of the mediocrity they're currently enjoying.
So yeah. A cheery movie this was NOT.
I knew she would try to abort, and I was pretty sure she was going to die. I spent the entire time that they were happy about Paris with a knot in my stomach because I knew everything was going to disintegrate at some point, and I kept waiting for it.
But, anyhow. I liked it. And I know some critics just hated this, but I thought it was amazing.
I should probably wait to write about these at a time that I'm not totally wiped out, but I'm afraid the week will be too busy and I'll just lose the energy to do it all together. I know I'm already forgetting things I'd meant to write about all three of these.
Spoilers for all the movies below the cut.
I really thought this was a pretty good movie. The acting was uniformly good. And mostly what I liked was how fully fleshed out the characters were. Mickey Rourke's character is a fuckup. He's not a bad person, he's not uncaring, he's not mean. But he's thoughtless and careless and at the end of the day, he isn't able to pull out of the life he's carved for himself. No matter how much that devastates his daughter. No matter what the potential for a life of love and happiness he might have with Marissa Tomei. He can't resist the siren call of glory--and the one thing he's known himself to be good at. Even when he knows it's going to kill him--and not in a nebulous someday way, but pretty immediately.
Sometimes I think I feel worse for people who are total fuckups and who bring about their own misery. When he screws up and misses out on dinner with his daughter, as bad as I felt for her, I felt an ocean of compassion for him. There's nothing worse than knowing you've totally fucked something up and you have no one to blame except yourself.
Some of it was too grisly for me, so I just didn't watch. Kirsten was hilarious, she was looking away and kept saying "Don't look! Don't look! No, still don't look!!" No worries. I didn't really want to see someone ground up on stage.
It was a sad and depressing movie.
I was a little mixed going into this movie. Some of my friends loved it. Some thought it was sorta meh. And being desi myself, it's always a little weirder to see a film about my subcontinent home.
Ultimately, I thought the movie was okay. I thought the story concept was cute enough. I wish instead of torture, the reason we're learning about how a poor chai-walla knew things beyond more educated contestants was something like an interview.
But, good lord, I haaaaaaaaaaaaated the cinematography. Even when I could understand what was being conveyed (largely chaos), I just fucking hated the twisted camera angles, the slow motion, the repeated flashed images. I felt very bored during what felt like a lot of filler.
I didn't mind the improbable love story part of it. But I didn't find the relationship between the brothers very believable. A lack of chemistry maybe? That girl was unreasonably beautiful and I couldn't help be charmed by her smiling face. And I liked Jamal's doe-eyed personality, especially when we saw glimpses of his smart-assery. But I wish it had been filmed differently because I just wanted to fast-forward through about half of it. Blah.
I like happy endings where they're appropriate--and I thought it was appropriate to this movie. I grew up on Amitabh Bachchan movies, so that whole sequence cracked me up. I've seen the begging children who've been purposely deformed on the streets of Karachi, so that part was a little sickeningly real. And as someone who speaks the language fluently, it's always fun to understand the lines that aren't subtitled.
I'm glad I saw it because there's been so much fuss about it, but I wish I liked it more. I can't believe it's gotten such high marks over at Rotten Tomatoes. I thought there were confusing points in the story that didn't make sense and the story wasn't very cohesive.
Out of all the movies, this is the one I liked best. Though it's hard to say 'like' about any of these movies, which were all so grim and painful to watch. This one felt more like a play. Brilliant acting. I love Sam Mendes and his twisted, depressing view of the world. I thought Kate Winslet was as amazing as she always is. I think Leo did a good job. But I had a couple criticisms of it, too:
- I really hated the crazy-man-as-the-speaker-of-the-truth device. I think that's lazy. Don't just use this random guy as a plot device.
- I wish we'd had a chance to see their relationship develop more. Not just that one scene where they met. But, really see what promises were made in that relationship that ended up so badly broken.
I liked that there were obscure moments --like the neighbor/friend completely and inexplicably bawling the night the Wheelers told them they were moving to Paris. I liked that her husband was such an oddball, and that his love for her was this weight he seemed to carry around.
I thought the depictions of their fighting were exhaustingly convincing. How sometimes one person just can't let things go, and the other person just wants to stop fucking talking and get their head together.
Human relationships are so fucked up. All the things people don't say to each other that need to be said. All the fears that hold people back from what they want in life. The burden of following paths set by external expectations.
As Jeff had apparently predicted, it desperately makes me want to move to Paris. I wonder how many people feel trapped in joyless lives out there, unable to summon the courage and will to make dramatic changes because of the fear of failure and losing the comfort and stability of the mediocrity they're currently enjoying.
So yeah. A cheery movie this was NOT.
I knew she would try to abort, and I was pretty sure she was going to die. I spent the entire time that they were happy about Paris with a knot in my stomach because I knew everything was going to disintegrate at some point, and I kept waiting for it.
But, anyhow. I liked it. And I know some critics just hated this, but I thought it was amazing.
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-02 02:51 pm (UTC)I thought the acting in The Wrestler was top notch all around - Marisa Tomei and Mickey Rourke owned it. And the daughter was phenomenal - in that scene after her father disappoints her - OMG, she was amazing. And the part where Tomei's character is pole dancing (and damn, she looks great - she's 44!) and she communicates her character's inner turmoil with her eyes, man. She's superb. And I totally want her haircut now (must grow it longer, first).
I liked Slumdog Millionaire - but I was already ambivalent because it was getting so much praise, and part of me hates seeing things everyone loves ('cause I'm difficult like that). I agree with all of your criticisms of it. I enjoyed the scene at the end... I heard on NPR how difficult it was to execute that scene (prepared for it in 2 hour blocks when the station was closed from 2-4 am over a period of a few days).
In general I prefer comedies, and none of these were funny... so I've kind of had to force myself to see them.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-02 05:25 pm (UTC)I know what you mean about going to a movie where your expectations are all conflated or you're annoyed to join the mass opinion. I think it's always a little weird to see your culture (or neighboring culture) displayed in film. All the stereotypes, etc.
It also felt a little brownsploitation-y to me. With the crime and the ghetto life of the Brown Man. But I think overall I would have liked it more if I didn't so totally hate the way it was filmed.
However, I totally loved the ending dance scene!
And I love comedies, too. I don't mind drama, but I like it mingled with some humor, and I think of these three, Revolutionary Road had the least. The Wrestler had a lot of very charming funny moments, and I really enjoyed that. But damn, there's so much dark out there right now in the film world! We need something light and entertaining!
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Date: 2009-02-02 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-02 05:58 pm (UTC)Michael Cera is good--but he seems to always play the same character, no? I do love the character he plays. Juno was too freaking hilarious!!
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Date: 2009-02-02 06:03 pm (UTC)I think you're right about Cera. He's always the straight man. I should watch some Arrested Development DVDs... I'm working through 30 Rock, and loving every second (though the commentaries are so dull... I had to stop after a few minutes of each one).
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Date: 2009-02-02 06:09 pm (UTC)But ooo 30 Rock. I love that! It just about kills me dead with the funny!
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Date: 2009-02-03 09:26 am (UTC)Slumdog: As I said I haven't seen it, but from what I've seen/read about it so far I'm also somewhat puzzled that it currently wins so much prizes. But I like it that the movie has chances to upset all those carefully orchestrated Oscar campaigns for "the usual" nominated movies. I also like that Danny Boyle gets rewarded for his risk of constantly making such diverse movies.
By now I'm pretty curious to see the movie myself even though I very much doubt it will be a "Best Picture" for me.
Revolutionary Road: I was quite surprised that this movie hasn't received more Oscar nominations. It seemed like the "typical" movie that the Academy tends to love.
If you're interested, an article from the New Yorker that argues that this year's nominations are hardly deserving. And while I've seen none of the movies, I can see his point.
Seems like you are well prepared now for the Oscar ceremony at the end of the month. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-03 05:54 pm (UTC)Revolutionary Road: Felt so much more like a play than a movie. A dark, sad play. I share Sam Mendes' opinion that the suburbs are where dreams go to die. Amazing performances.
Thanks for the article--I'm going to go check it out now. And yes, I feel pretty well prepped for the Oscars! :) I wish you could come to the party!
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