Sunday, February 24, 2008

All about movies today

I've seen a string of movies, let me tell you how I feel about them.

Juno - This is a reader/writer's movie. You know how when you finish the last page of some books, you just sit there all still with the book before breaking that final connection in order to return to reality? I had that 'hanging onto the book' feeling when Juno was over. I had seen it by myself, so I was having a nice solitary ride home. I was tempted to skip my driveway and drive around a little longer, but it was too snowy so I didn't.

Everything you've heard about the witty dialog is true, but unlike a funny Seinfeld type character, the characters in Juno had depth and therein lies the magic of this movie. Two hours is a short amount of time to reveal character, and to do it without obvious plot twists or soap boxy dialog to tell you who these people are -- it was so naturally revealing, again I say -- like characters in a good book.

Fools Gold -- Honestly, I wasn't expecting much more than a formula romance movie -- I was just going to look at the pretty people and to eat some popcorn and have a date with my husband. This movie had gotten really bad reviews, but maybe because my expectations were so low, I was pleasantly surprised. A few minutes into the film you get Malcom Jamal Warner as a thug from the world of an island owning gangsta rapper -- right there you know this movie is not trying to take itself seriously-- Theo is going to blow someones head off, right?. There's a dingy rich girl in the movie in order to provide a little commentary on the "stupid girl" epidemic. The rap star is ruthless and his henchmen are clumsy and were just kind of there now and again -- the bad guy aspect was clunky at best.

What exactly did I like? It wasn't a good romantic comedy, so much as it was like a really good episode of Three's Company. Not that I'm a big Three's Company fan, but if they amped up the budget for a special two parter, you'd get a couple of good laughs, and I did. I love Kate Hudson and there was one reaction scene of hers that had me laughing pretty hard. I was entertained and I think others would be too.

Bucket List -- Well, again, I didn't hate it. It was very predictable and it haphazardly tried to make a couple of points. I'm a little over Jack Nicholson playing Jack Nicholson. Maybe it's the wife in me, but I don't find "asshole" to be a charming quality, no matter how many times you tell me that is what makes Jack so lovable -- no, not really. I do enjoy the sarcastic delivery of funny lines just as much as the next girl, but again, just because it's funny, doesn't make it endearing -- he's just a fucker who doesn't give a shit that he's a fucker. And while that's all a personality match for many of his movies -- it seemed a little forced in this one (ooh, look at me, I'm a cranky old cancerous codger who's alienated everyone and so I will die alone, unless Morgan Freeman can get through to me in time for me to mend fences with my estranged daughter.)

As I type, I realize this is the antithesis of the character development in Juno. This is the crap that has become typical -- one clichéd conversation after another and we are to understand the depth of these people and give a hoot about what happens to them. Unfortunately, if we've seen enough movies, we know exactly what is going to happen to them before we buy our popcorn.

I didn't hate this movie while I was watching it, it was entertaining enough. It's more upon this reflection that the irritation is setting in. This movie could have been played by any set of elder actors -- the only reason it had any draw was because of Jack and Morgan -- serious, phone it in and pick up your check type of role for their kind of chops. I feel a little bad for parting with my money and rewarding that kind of "box office draw" tactic.

Why not feel that way about Fools Gold too? Because Fool's Gold wasn't trying to be profound -- it was a treasure hunt. I saw one review which compared it to Gilligan's Island -- they said it like that was a bad thing.

U2-3D-- COOL! Have you seen the new 3d stuff? I was introduced to it via Hannah Montana -- holy, leaping Jonas Brothers, Batman! It's not the green and blue paper glasses anymore. And it's way better than a rake handle coming at you here or there (Something I remember from a Friday the 13th 3D movie from a decade or two or so ago). This is way more view master 3D quality -- maybe even a little better because everyone is moving and nobody is a cartoon.

No.

Bono totally reached out and dried my tears at one point. He may have brushed my breast too, and I'm not completely sure, but I may be carrying his baby.

The new 3D stuff is like having the best seat in the house. If they turned up the volume, got the audience to participate, added the smells of hot bodies and pot, and sold t-shirts -- it would be just like being there.

A little side observation on live concert footage I've seen lately -- apparently, Buenos Ares is the place to record a live show. Rich has a Rush concert DVD that was recorded there and it has all the backstage banter about "Wow! Argentinians love rock and roll" type stuff. Apparently that's the place to be seen and feel appreciated because now here's U2 with an insanely large and amped up crowd, and I just saw it again with Snoop Dog on his show.

And that's all I've seen lately. Only one nominated movie in my rep. Everything just seemed so bloody this year -- I'm not in the mood for disturbing, so this is what you get from me.

14 Comments:

Blogger KATE said...

Oh my word, thanks so much for the commentary on the flicks! I've been dying to know exactly how some of these movies are. I have come to realize that I can't rely on the "ratings". Thanks so much!
I've been DYING to see Juno, I have a question for you. I gave a baby up for adoption when I was 16, will this movie kill me, or will I make it thru it & be glad I did?
Thanks!!

4:26 PM  
Blogger kim said...

You will be glad you saw this movie. It doesn't pretend that any decision was easy --- it's sooo good, I'm a little choked up thinking about it.

4:48 PM  
Blogger Matchbox Mom said...

hahaha!!! I love that you might be having Bono's child now. I hope he pays good child support! I'm seriously dying over here...hehehe
I definately need to see juno and the u2 3d! Maybe we'll have half sisters/brothers, who knows.

Tam

12:56 PM  
Blogger blog author said...

great reviews! i want to see Fool's Gold bc i loved them so much in "10 days to lose a man", but it looked a little too goofy. but, if you know that going in, it's not as hard to swallow.

can i add my own review? i saw Gone Baby Gone the other night and it was AWESOME. i loved the book (that one and anything else by Dennis Lehane) and it followed the book really well. i think you get more out of the characters if you read the book first tho; you get more back story that way. but the acting and story line was really good. and, if you didnt read the book, unexpected ending. good stuff.

10:03 AM  
Blogger KATE said...

Thanks Kim! I had kind of thought that just because of the type of movie it was. It wasn't an easy decision & I'm glad that they make sure you know that! Definitely going to see it as soon as I can! Thanks so so much!!

12:28 PM  
Blogger TTQ said...

You have kids and you get to see grown up movies? We don't even watch our netflix..it sits there like our gym membership..leeches I tell you blood hungry leeches.

But really I'm posting to encourage you to come out to bloggerland and play today. Silly would be good. I got a freaking monkey on my back. Need diversion, need junk food. Missed my lunch "date" and I needed it BAD!!!!

2:55 PM  
Blogger Cecily R said...

Can you do this more often? I totally trust your reviews more than some of those professionals. And the Bono/boob/baby line? HILARIOUS! Still giggling.

6:11 PM  
Blogger kay said...

have you seen Enchanted? i loved it so much i saw it twice!

oh and Elizabeth the Golden Age. i love love love Tudor history so this one was a no-brainer for me. and it was really good. even hubby liked it.

i so totally agree with you about jack. i would not like to know him in person. but i can enjoy (some of) his movies.

11:45 AM  
Blogger kim said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:52 AM  
Blogger blog author said...

as for Gone Baby Gone **spoiler alert** i wanted the people who GOT the baby to keep it...not to go back to the people who lost her. was so sad at the end.... or maybe the Private Eyes could have kept her. they were cute together

9:18 AM  
Blogger Liane Spicer said...

Thanks for the heads up. I'll look out for Juno.

Ditto on the Jack Nicholson comments. Not in the least endearing - and this is the woman in me coming to the fore, but didn't the a**hole do a stinker on Anjelica Houston? She lived with that !@% for 16 years then found out through the tabloids that he was seeing a co-star and that the woman was pregnant for him? Jeez. Stinker.

I'll second Kay and recommend Elizabeth the Golden Age. Plus, Clive Owen is in it!

9:23 PM  
Blogger KATE said...

Hey Kim I just wanted to let you know that I changed my blog address
now it's:
ourcrazylifewithkids.blogspot.com

and my recipe blog is:

bigfatmommyrecipes.blogspot.com

11:29 PM  
Blogger crystal said...

You've gotta see "Lars & the Real Girl."

Did you like "Dan in Real Life?"

2:34 AM  
Blogger kim said...

crystal- I did see Dan IRL. I love steeve carell and dane cook -- it was a cute enough movie, but i could have waited for the dvd.

Lars and the real girl looks good -- I'm glad you reminded me -- I'll put it on my "to see" list. what did you think of it?

10:11 AM  

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