another weekend, another bunch of films
Feb. 8th, 2009 07:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
verbicideIt was another good weekend for movies.
Some spoilers, but not movie ruining ones, I don't think.
Rachel Getting Married
The performances were amazing. The storyline was completely authentic. The relationships complicated and believable and sympathetic. It was as depressing as everything else we've watched lately, but it was terrific.
On a totally shallow and peripheral note, I was obsessed with Rachel's wardrobe for the entire length of the movie. Everything she wore, I was obsessed with. The dress at the family-meet-up dinner. Especially that white blouse she wore for half the movie. And then the dress after her wedding sari and even the warm-cozy sweater at the end. I also couldn't stop staring at the actress--I thought she was too stunning to be believed.
ANYHOW. Back to the movie. It was excellent, if sad. But not relentlessly so. I think it was just a solid look at family dysfunction --elements of it should be familiar to most people.
Coraline
Brilliant. I wouldn't let myself read the book again, so it's been some time. I think it was a work of art. We're going to go see it again in 3D. I went with Sarah and Tanielle and my regular movie people, Pete and Kirsten really want to see it. And Sarah and I both want to see it again in 3D. Tanielle's vision doesn't let her see 3D, but I'm hoping she'll come, anyway.
The Reader
I think I've liked most things I've seen recently. Well, I thought Slumdog was so-so. And I suppose it self-selects because I try to see good movies, but damn this was amazing. So hard to watch in part.
Like Revolutionary Road, I spent a good chunk of it waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was undiluted heart break at times.
The acting was spot-on. It had a lot more levity than I expected. Kate Winslet earned her both of her Golden Globes awards. She was incredible.
The actor who plays young Ralph Fiennes was so doe-eyed and he played his confusion and glee and young sweet earnestness so well. I ached for him and it actively hurt to watch his entire life be scarred by this relationship. It's amazing, the things that leave permanent marks. They can be from such brief and totally accidental encounters. And Ralph Fiennes wore that damage plainly in his expressions, body language, and eyes alone
I think about this every time I see a Nazi related movie: it's so easy to think that anyone involved with the movement was a wholesale monster. Much like those in the KKK or Taliban or part of Fred Phelps group. It's hard to imagine that they're the same species as the rest of us who can't imagine that such absurdly minor differences make one type of person less entitled than the other.
Not that the move provides a defense or overtly sympathizes with Kate Winslet's character. What I found so fascinating was --at her defense, she clearly could not understand why she was on trial or why they thought what she'd done was wrong. It was so clear. The other 5 women on trial with her (for their activities as concentration camp guards) denied everything up and down. But she sat there and said, "But, of course I had to choose the ten people who were 'taken away' --more people were coming in, we had to make room." No matter how much the head judge tried to express over and over that the ten people she chose were sent to die, she kept saying, "But that's how we made room for the more people..."
There was only one scene I didn't understand. (Neither did Pete.) Hannah is at the end of her life sentence. A caseworker has asked Michael to help her. So he's gotten her a job and a place to live. He tells her he'll come for her next week and asks if she wants it to be quietly or with... and I can't remember the word here... fuss? fanfare? something that indicated celebration. And we couldn't figure out how there could possibly be any fuss. She had no friends or family. He certainly wouldn't throw a party with his family or friends. It just confused us.
It was nice to see Lena Olin--I didn't know she was in it.
I'm really glad I saw it.
Encounters at the End of the World
I'm sorry to say I was a little bored with this. There were some very charming parts and definitely amazing things to see. But partly I think I wasn't in the mood for a documentary on Antarctica. And as interesting as the stories probably were, they were all a little too long to hold my attention span.
Next up: Man on a Wire, Frozen River, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. And if I can summon the will, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Some spoilers, but not movie ruining ones, I don't think.
Rachel Getting Married
The performances were amazing. The storyline was completely authentic. The relationships complicated and believable and sympathetic. It was as depressing as everything else we've watched lately, but it was terrific.
On a totally shallow and peripheral note, I was obsessed with Rachel's wardrobe for the entire length of the movie. Everything she wore, I was obsessed with. The dress at the family-meet-up dinner. Especially that white blouse she wore for half the movie. And then the dress after her wedding sari and even the warm-cozy sweater at the end. I also couldn't stop staring at the actress--I thought she was too stunning to be believed.
ANYHOW. Back to the movie. It was excellent, if sad. But not relentlessly so. I think it was just a solid look at family dysfunction --elements of it should be familiar to most people.
Coraline
Brilliant. I wouldn't let myself read the book again, so it's been some time. I think it was a work of art. We're going to go see it again in 3D. I went with Sarah and Tanielle and my regular movie people, Pete and Kirsten really want to see it. And Sarah and I both want to see it again in 3D. Tanielle's vision doesn't let her see 3D, but I'm hoping she'll come, anyway.
The Reader
I think I've liked most things I've seen recently. Well, I thought Slumdog was so-so. And I suppose it self-selects because I try to see good movies, but damn this was amazing. So hard to watch in part.
Like Revolutionary Road, I spent a good chunk of it waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was undiluted heart break at times.
The acting was spot-on. It had a lot more levity than I expected. Kate Winslet earned her both of her Golden Globes awards. She was incredible.
The actor who plays young Ralph Fiennes was so doe-eyed and he played his confusion and glee and young sweet earnestness so well. I ached for him and it actively hurt to watch his entire life be scarred by this relationship. It's amazing, the things that leave permanent marks. They can be from such brief and totally accidental encounters. And Ralph Fiennes wore that damage plainly in his expressions, body language, and eyes alone
I think about this every time I see a Nazi related movie: it's so easy to think that anyone involved with the movement was a wholesale monster. Much like those in the KKK or Taliban or part of Fred Phelps group. It's hard to imagine that they're the same species as the rest of us who can't imagine that such absurdly minor differences make one type of person less entitled than the other.
Not that the move provides a defense or overtly sympathizes with Kate Winslet's character. What I found so fascinating was --at her defense, she clearly could not understand why she was on trial or why they thought what she'd done was wrong. It was so clear. The other 5 women on trial with her (for their activities as concentration camp guards) denied everything up and down. But she sat there and said, "But, of course I had to choose the ten people who were 'taken away' --more people were coming in, we had to make room." No matter how much the head judge tried to express over and over that the ten people she chose were sent to die, she kept saying, "But that's how we made room for the more people..."
There was only one scene I didn't understand. (Neither did Pete.) Hannah is at the end of her life sentence. A caseworker has asked Michael to help her. So he's gotten her a job and a place to live. He tells her he'll come for her next week and asks if she wants it to be quietly or with... and I can't remember the word here... fuss? fanfare? something that indicated celebration. And we couldn't figure out how there could possibly be any fuss. She had no friends or family. He certainly wouldn't throw a party with his family or friends. It just confused us.
It was nice to see Lena Olin--I didn't know she was in it.
I'm really glad I saw it.
Encounters at the End of the World
I'm sorry to say I was a little bored with this. There were some very charming parts and definitely amazing things to see. But partly I think I wasn't in the mood for a documentary on Antarctica. And as interesting as the stories probably were, they were all a little too long to hold my attention span.
Next up: Man on a Wire, Frozen River, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. And if I can summon the will, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 08:25 pm (UTC)Rachel Getting Married: While I don't intend to watch it at the theatre, I'm looking forward to see it eventually. Not at least because of Hathaway's performance.
Coraline: I'm glad to hear that so many people like it. I thought the trailer(s) looked wonderful and I tried my best to promote the movie in my blog. I was a bit worried since despite the good trailer and the popularity of Gaiman not a lot of people commented on it. But judging by how many people now have to say good things about it seems to have a good chance becoming a decent success.
The Reader: I was also surprised to see Lena Olin at the beginning of the trailer. I can't say for sure but I think imdb hadn't listed her back then as a member of the cast (she's listed now, I just checked). As with Rachel, I'll pass this one at the theatre because I don't think I'll be in the mood for a drama like this but I'm looking forward to seeing it eventually.
Encounters at the End of the World: I've no idea what to make of this one but the fact that they gave Werner Herzog an Oscar nomination for it makes me smile. He's such an odd guy doing his thing and I appreciate that. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-09 09:31 pm (UTC)I hope you post your impressions of any of these that you see, because I'm curious to hear what you think of them!
In some cases, like with The Reader, I so disagree with some of the film critics (I don't think The Reader is about sympathizing with Nazis, for example. It's like I was watching a different movie altogether.)
And I really like Werner Herzog, too. He is an odd guy doing his own thing, and I rather admire that.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 12:16 pm (UTC)But if you'll watch "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" in the next week or so then I should be able to arrange a viewing of my own next weekend. :)
I read about that criticism about "The Reader". Some reviewers seem to be very serious about it. The movie currently is shown at the Berlinale Film Festival. As you can probably guess, it's a very difficult subject here. The reviews I've glanced at so far are relatively positive. One acknowledged the problem that you mention but it also pointed out that the performance of Kate Winslet makes the difference. I also got the impression that it depends on if you've read the book or not how you see the movie (which I haven't).
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:18 pm (UTC)I can imagine it's a very difficult film in Germany. And I haven't read the book either.
One other reviewer went on about the sexualization of Nazis and that having Winslet nude for so much of the movie was meant to detract from the horrors she was part of. But again, I think they're missing the point. The point isn't that "Yay, Nazis are sexy so it's okay what they did!" It was more a comment on the intimacy of this relationship which so profoundly affected this guy.
But anyhow--I hope you see it at some point and let me know what you think :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:38 pm (UTC)I hadn't heard that particular allegation. :D Even having not seen the movie and not read the book I'm fairly sure that that was not the point.
On a more non-political level, one sentence from the review at salon.com stuck in my mind: "It's beyond me how any guy who schtupped Kate Winslet as a teenager could grow up to be Ralph Fiennes, with his lipless smile and glassy-eyed gaze"
I thought she (the reviewer) has a point. ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:41 pm (UTC)But Ralph Fiennes is beautiful!! And I think it's because that the guy who schtupped Kate Winslet as a teenager and then lost her has never quite recovered!!
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:52 pm (UTC)I can relate to that explanation too. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-10 04:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-15 06:52 pm (UTC)Either way I would like to mention that I feel relatively strongly about the movie.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-15 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-15 06:55 pm (UTC)