and still more movies
Feb. 22nd, 2009 01:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
verbicideThe last of the movie reviews before the Oscars tonight!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I didn't mind watching it, but it seemed sort of pointless. Not to mention I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the cliche of the responsible hard-to-get principled girl totally falling into the sack with the Mr. Dramatic Painter after two days of interesting conversation. I found her insane obsession off-putting and bizarre. Scarlett Johansson's character was so tiresome. It's not that I don't have sympathy for people who aren't sure exactly what they want out of life, and maybe it's unfair of me to write off someone with perennial wanderlust as having a character flaw. But there you have it. I thought the whole relationship was odd. I don't have anything against polyamory, but I can't connect with it on a personal level at all. I think that was my issue with the movie, I couldn't connect to anyone's choices or behaviors. I do have a massive girl crush on Rebecca Hall, though, and it's always nice to see her in things. ScarJo doesn't bother me, but she doesn't excite me that much anymore. Too many monotone performances.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
So, both Pete and I reluctantly dragged ourselves to see this movie. It looked a little boring, it seemed gratuitously long, and it felt like everything about the story was revealed in the preview. That was our frame of mind going into it. And, perhaps not surprisingly, with such low expectations, the movie didn't turn out to be such an onerous experience. The pacing was great, because except for a couple of scenes that could have used some editing (like the absurd and unnecessary build-up to Daisy's accident), it swam along well enough. I agree that it has that Forrest Gump feel, though Forrest was much more endearing a character. The special effects were as mesmerizing as people have been saying. It was a fine little story. Performances were fine, but really nothing that stood out as exceptional.
On a personal note, the hardest part was seeing a movie that seemed to be entirely about dead mothers. The story is told through the device of a woman on her deathbed in the hospital, with her daughter who is devastated and fears she's disappointed her mother by not making more of her life. That hit a little too close to home. I started twitching at the start of the movie, but once they switched to Benjamin's perspective (even though his story also starts with a dead mother), it was better and I just sucked it up.
I thought I'd seen three, but maybe not. I have In Bruges, but I don't know if I'll be able to see it before tonight. Shoot, that reminds me--must go set the TiVo!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I didn't mind watching it, but it seemed sort of pointless. Not to mention I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the cliche of the responsible hard-to-get principled girl totally falling into the sack with the Mr. Dramatic Painter after two days of interesting conversation. I found her insane obsession off-putting and bizarre. Scarlett Johansson's character was so tiresome. It's not that I don't have sympathy for people who aren't sure exactly what they want out of life, and maybe it's unfair of me to write off someone with perennial wanderlust as having a character flaw. But there you have it. I thought the whole relationship was odd. I don't have anything against polyamory, but I can't connect with it on a personal level at all. I think that was my issue with the movie, I couldn't connect to anyone's choices or behaviors. I do have a massive girl crush on Rebecca Hall, though, and it's always nice to see her in things. ScarJo doesn't bother me, but she doesn't excite me that much anymore. Too many monotone performances.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
So, both Pete and I reluctantly dragged ourselves to see this movie. It looked a little boring, it seemed gratuitously long, and it felt like everything about the story was revealed in the preview. That was our frame of mind going into it. And, perhaps not surprisingly, with such low expectations, the movie didn't turn out to be such an onerous experience. The pacing was great, because except for a couple of scenes that could have used some editing (like the absurd and unnecessary build-up to Daisy's accident), it swam along well enough. I agree that it has that Forrest Gump feel, though Forrest was much more endearing a character. The special effects were as mesmerizing as people have been saying. It was a fine little story. Performances were fine, but really nothing that stood out as exceptional.
On a personal note, the hardest part was seeing a movie that seemed to be entirely about dead mothers. The story is told through the device of a woman on her deathbed in the hospital, with her daughter who is devastated and fears she's disappointed her mother by not making more of her life. That hit a little too close to home. I started twitching at the start of the movie, but once they switched to Benjamin's perspective (even though his story also starts with a dead mother), it was better and I just sucked it up.
I thought I'd seen three, but maybe not. I have In Bruges, but I don't know if I'll be able to see it before tonight. Shoot, that reminds me--must go set the TiVo!
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-22 10:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-22 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 08:42 am (UTC)Having seen largely positive reviews about the movie I was expecting finally another good movie from Allen, but I got very disappointed. It already started with the voice-over which I found for the most part pretty annoying, often telling us what we were seeing on the screen. I couldn't relate to any of the characters either. The only positive things I can think of were Bardem's initial "daring" offer and the moments when Cruz spoke Spanish. Those were ... inspiring. ;)
So initially I actually did mind watching it but now that a week has passed I don't care anymore.
I originally also was relatively close to seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button but I had the same reservations that you describe so I didn't. One day on TV.
I saw In Bruges back then when it came out. Should be fun for you to watch. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 04:25 pm (UTC)As much as I found Bardem's initial offer startlingly honest and bold, I also thought it was skeezy, so I wasn't so impressed with it. But I did think the whole thing with Cruz shouting in Spanish and being chased by Bardem, "You speak English in this house!" while eventually lapsing into angry Spanish himself funny.
Looking forward to In Bruges!
no subject
Date: 2009-02-24 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-24 04:16 pm (UTC)