no. 62 Goya's Ghosts
Seriously, who put their money into this shit? You've got a handful of talented actors and this is Milos Forman's product? The script threw together the Spanish Inquisition and the French Revolution in the guise of being a tribute to Goya, but I learned nothing about him.
Natalie Portman's hours in the make-up trailer were worth it, but overall, it was a waste of my two hours. For all those women who think Javier Bardem is such a stud, here's another hunchback with a wispy voice. I'm not saying he's not talented, because he is.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
stardust
no. 61 Stardust
Don't care how many times I've seen it, read it, etc, gotta turn it on, even it it's only for ten minutes. I got lucky last night and turned in at the very beginning. It's said that Neil Gaiman wanted to write an adult fairytale, kinda like the Princess Bride v.2. Did it, love it, can't not watch it. On page, it's great. Even better seeing Michele Pfeiffer's tits drop, Robert De Niro's flaming pirate, Claire Daines' glow, Charlie Cox's physical transformation, a snooty Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill's turn as a toe head (like his better as a rough Brandon on the Tudors), a little giggle from Ricky Gervais, all the dead princes...I'd add more, but it will just make me run to watch it again! So little time, too many movies!
Don't care how many times I've seen it, read it, etc, gotta turn it on, even it it's only for ten minutes. I got lucky last night and turned in at the very beginning. It's said that Neil Gaiman wanted to write an adult fairytale, kinda like the Princess Bride v.2. Did it, love it, can't not watch it. On page, it's great. Even better seeing Michele Pfeiffer's tits drop, Robert De Niro's flaming pirate, Claire Daines' glow, Charlie Cox's physical transformation, a snooty Sienna Miller, Henry Cavill's turn as a toe head (like his better as a rough Brandon on the Tudors), a little giggle from Ricky Gervais, all the dead princes...I'd add more, but it will just make me run to watch it again! So little time, too many movies!
forever young
no. 60 Forever Young
Forgive me, it was 1:15, I turned something on to fall asleep to, how did I know I'd want to make it through the film?
It's not hard to see why women went crazy for Mel Gibson for so many years. He really is good looking, I guess I was just young and too into guys wearing sloppy clothes and unwashed hair. Elijah Wood steals this film, I guess this would have been his first big vehicle before The Good Son, which is the first real film I remember him in. Acting is a natural gift, handed to the gods to an infant. He's so expressive - haven't seen him in anything of late...
Mel Gibson on the aging process. It's been almost twenty years and I'll tell you, he looks a hell of a lot better than what they assumed he'd look like. I caught him on Jimmy Kimmel a bit ago and he is still one hell fire. Loved the handlebar moustache. Can you believe he's worth a BILLION? Couldn't he have kept it in his pants?
Forgive me, it was 1:15, I turned something on to fall asleep to, how did I know I'd want to make it through the film?
It's not hard to see why women went crazy for Mel Gibson for so many years. He really is good looking, I guess I was just young and too into guys wearing sloppy clothes and unwashed hair. Elijah Wood steals this film, I guess this would have been his first big vehicle before The Good Son, which is the first real film I remember him in. Acting is a natural gift, handed to the gods to an infant. He's so expressive - haven't seen him in anything of late...
Mel Gibson on the aging process. It's been almost twenty years and I'll tell you, he looks a hell of a lot better than what they assumed he'd look like. I caught him on Jimmy Kimmel a bit ago and he is still one hell fire. Loved the handlebar moustache. Can you believe he's worth a BILLION? Couldn't he have kept it in his pants?
what kind of name is garp?
no. 59 The World According to Garp
I love seeing Robin Williams in a sedate situation. The man is funny but I can only take him in small amounts. He is restrained and contained, which was the reason I could enjoy this John Irving adaptation. Feminism, lust, fatherhood, death, family, never taking themselves too seriously. I mean castration via car accident? Who can't laugh about that, especially given where they go to recoup!
One thing that I think wasn't covered so well was the topic of celebrity. The assassination would have made more sense if the concept of celebrity was fleshed out. Maybe this was in the book, dunno. There is a certain air of irony in what Jenny and Garp have - how the lack of what one has given the other is made up in their own lives. Fatherhood is a great point in case - Garp has no sense of having a father, he lives in his imagination, yet he appears to be the embodiment of fatherhood. Lust had no relevance in Jenny's life, but Garp's world tumbles due to an abundance.
I love seeing Robin Williams in a sedate situation. The man is funny but I can only take him in small amounts. He is restrained and contained, which was the reason I could enjoy this John Irving adaptation. Feminism, lust, fatherhood, death, family, never taking themselves too seriously. I mean castration via car accident? Who can't laugh about that, especially given where they go to recoup!
One thing that I think wasn't covered so well was the topic of celebrity. The assassination would have made more sense if the concept of celebrity was fleshed out. Maybe this was in the book, dunno. There is a certain air of irony in what Jenny and Garp have - how the lack of what one has given the other is made up in their own lives. Fatherhood is a great point in case - Garp has no sense of having a father, he lives in his imagination, yet he appears to be the embodiment of fatherhood. Lust had no relevance in Jenny's life, but Garp's world tumbles due to an abundance.
grey gardens
no.58 Grey Gardens
Yes, I know I should have waited to see the gay docu classic before watching the HBO take on the Edies, but I just couldn't wait! Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore are exquisite and breathtaking. It's unbelievably sad to see how far the upper class can tumble based on their own denial and ignorance. Never a moment do they allow their destitution take control of their emotional journey or gnaw away at their vim and vigor.
Yes, I know I should have waited to see the gay docu classic before watching the HBO take on the Edies, but I just couldn't wait! Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore are exquisite and breathtaking. It's unbelievably sad to see how far the upper class can tumble based on their own denial and ignorance. Never a moment do they allow their destitution take control of their emotional journey or gnaw away at their vim and vigor.
ordinary people
no. 57 Ordinary People
Although dated, it fantastic to see a realist approach to family in crisis (they're still in crisis even though, the "crises" have past) and a decent take on modern talk therapy. This marked the directorial debut for Robert Redford and having seen so many of his movies, this definitely shows his stamp, albeit the earliest.
This really is your typical take on upper middle class guilt, blame and the effort made to make everything appear as normal as possible when in denial over death and suicide. Timothy Hutton is fabulous and fierce in his take as a younger brother who in all senses agrees he was the lesser brother, post-suicide/hospital, awkward injection of a "new" him into his "old" life. You don't go back to being the same person, he can't face his friends or really confront the issue with his family. Judd Hirsch plays a hard nosed but real therapist, who challenges Conrad to search for the answers within his feelings. He brings Conrad to the conclusion that he cannot change his mother, only accept her for the cold person she has become. Donald Sutherland really toes the line between caring family man and coping with his own neuroses.
I'm SO glad that a week on the couch offered me this gem I might not have seen.
Although dated, it fantastic to see a realist approach to family in crisis (they're still in crisis even though, the "crises" have past) and a decent take on modern talk therapy. This marked the directorial debut for Robert Redford and having seen so many of his movies, this definitely shows his stamp, albeit the earliest.
This really is your typical take on upper middle class guilt, blame and the effort made to make everything appear as normal as possible when in denial over death and suicide. Timothy Hutton is fabulous and fierce in his take as a younger brother who in all senses agrees he was the lesser brother, post-suicide/hospital, awkward injection of a "new" him into his "old" life. You don't go back to being the same person, he can't face his friends or really confront the issue with his family. Judd Hirsch plays a hard nosed but real therapist, who challenges Conrad to search for the answers within his feelings. He brings Conrad to the conclusion that he cannot change his mother, only accept her for the cold person she has become. Donald Sutherland really toes the line between caring family man and coping with his own neuroses.
I'm SO glad that a week on the couch offered me this gem I might not have seen.
passion of ayn rand
no. 56 The Passion of Ayn Rand
Yes, I am embarrassed to say that I've never read Ayn Rand. It's not that she's not on the list, it's not that I don't own The Fountainhead. I've just never gotten there.
With that being said, I'm so sure that everything went over my head in watching this film. It was well made, Helen Mirren is beautiful in all she does, Eric Stoltz is, well, Eric Stoltz. Peter Fonda is elegant, in his own sad way.
Moral of the story, pick up the god damned book (the real Rand, not the book the movie's based on.)
Yes, I am embarrassed to say that I've never read Ayn Rand. It's not that she's not on the list, it's not that I don't own The Fountainhead. I've just never gotten there.
With that being said, I'm so sure that everything went over my head in watching this film. It was well made, Helen Mirren is beautiful in all she does, Eric Stoltz is, well, Eric Stoltz. Peter Fonda is elegant, in his own sad way.
Moral of the story, pick up the god damned book (the real Rand, not the book the movie's based on.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)