You would think that Ewan McGregor would really help a movie out. Sadly, with Young Adam, that’s not true.
My friend Eden and I had been thinking about seeing this for a long time, but we weren’t crazy about going to the theater to see and NC-17 film. Blockbuster always offers those R-rated versions on DVD, so the other night we decided to go for it. It can’t be that bad, right? I mean, there’s probably an objectionable scene or two, and I’m sure the acting will make it worthwhile. It’s Ewan McGregor. Tilda Swinton.
Turns out there are seven or eight of those “objectionable scenes,” maybe more, and they make you shake your head and say, “Those poor, pitiful people.” There is no opportunity in this movie for acting, not from Ewan or Tilda or anyone else. It’s just failed suspense, a lack of character development, and a really boring plot.
Two barge workers pull a dead body from the river. One of them (Ewan) has an affair with the other’s wife. Flashbacks tell the story of the dead woman. There is a trial, Ewan has a few more encounters with various women, and then he throws away his typewriter. The end. Ta-daa.
We all know that Ewan’s capable of more than this. Maybe he’s retaliating against his Star Wars days. Or maybe he’s just lost his mind and is now into making only crap movies.
Okay, so I’ll be the first to point out that there seems to be a pattern with me and watching movies lately…particularly the ones I post on this site (yes, this one and the one before both have the word “cycle” in the title but i promise that wasn’t planned). Anyways, I’ve heard about this film since spring of 2003 when Kris, our screenwriting prof told us it was one of the greatest screenplays around in film history (and i think he said one of the greatest films he’s ever seen, too). So granted, my hopes were high after finally getting around to seeing it. I mean, it won a special Oscar the year it came out, and I believe it was one of the films that made the Academy Awards consider doing a “best foreign language film” category (since this is an Italian film). But among the numerous awards, it was named best picture of the year by the National Board of Review in 1947, which is saying a lot. Since then, it’s been included in international film top ten lists around the globe, and is most likely one of the most “agreed upon cinematic masterpieces of all time.”
How can a movie live up to that? Well, you’ll have to see it, let it sit in for a few hours (or days) and then maybe, you’ll catch a bit of how a movie like that can. The plot is as simple as can be, and since it’s part of the neo-realist style of moviemaking, you can easily draw parallels to the bigger scheme of life from it’s tiny, allegorical and metaphorical moments. Although the film drags a bit in the first hour or so, the last 25 minutes (it’s short, only 88 minutes) is where it really comes full circle and where the rest of the images in the film previously slowly begin to sink back into the brain. When the film comes to end, I sensed a timeless truth that I’m sure will carry through to this generation and the next and the next. And if you’re remotely human, you will too.
Finally got to see this little gem of a flick over the weekend and I can definitely say I wasn’t disappointed. I’m sure this is one of those movies that definitely has and will offend some people, but if you can look past it’s initial shell it has a good message (sorta like Dogma). This movie takes place at a Christian high school where mostly everybody is doing the “good” thing and nobody really causes any waves in the pool with the exception of just a couple. These few are then treated kinda harshly by their legalistic friends, family and clergy. At one point a girl whips a Bible at another trying to “save” her. Jena Malone then tries to inform Mandy Moore that the Bible isn’t that kind of weapon but she doesn’t really understand.
I loved the performances by Eva Amurri, Jena Malone, Macaulay Culkin, and Patrick Fugit. I thought it was really interesting how the trouble kids were the only normal seeming ones at the school. Having gone to a Christian school for 5th-8th grade and graduating from and working at a Christian University, I saw many things in this movie I have witnessed firsthand. There were characters in this movie I have seen personified by people from my church, high school and college. I think it’s really sad how there are a lot of people out there that love Jesus but can’t stand Christians. I think that’s something a lot of us need to take to heart and try to do something about.
Last night I picked up Ned Kelly, previously viewed, at Blockbuster and then watched it with some guys on the deuce. This movie is about an Irish guy, Ned, who becomes an outlaw while trying to stick up for his family. The movie takes place in Australia in the 1870’s or 1880’s. The cops basically rule the land and do whatever they want…so if you get on their bad side you’re screwed. Eventually Ned, his brother, and a couple friends start robbing banks to give the money back to their friends and family so they can pay bills, mortgages, etc and basically survive. Pretty soon a bounty is put on their heads, they are declared outlaws, and the crown sends a big bad lawman, played by Geoffrey Rush, to bring the men to justice. Towards the end of the movie there’s an interesting shootout where the 4 outlaws have created steel plating so deflect the police’ bullets. Reminded me a lot of when those guys had flack jackets and AK-47’s and robbed a bank out in CA. They walk out of a building, the cops open fire. They just stand there. The cops get confused. They open fire and start taking them out left and right til they have to reload and then go back inside. Besides the whole pseudo modern Robin Hood theme going on, there is the issue of unjust imprisonment and unchecked governmental authority. Definitely something worth checking out.
This newly released foreign film starring Gael Garcia Bernal (from “Y Tu Mama Tambien” and “The Crime of Father Amarro”) is one that reminded me of the photography of David Dobson. Director Walter Salles takes part of the life story of Che Guavara (a leader of the Cuban revolution) and tells not of his revolutionary days but rather (more importantly I might add), tells us his story before his revolutionary days begin. What lead up to his strong beliefs in social injustice and his love for the poor, and physically wounded members can be found like a beautiful photograph of early 1950’s Peru.
The film begins with two guys—one a doctor and the other a biochemist—on a journey across South America in hopes of seeing the bigger world outside of their hometown. Bernal plays Ernesto (Che) with such conviction and commitment, I’d be surprised if Oscar voters didn’t at least consider him for a Best Actor contender. This is the breakthrough performance of his career that could make him the American movie star icon he so desperately deserves to be. Nonetheless, Ernesto is one of those rare movie characters (yes, he’s based on a real person but still, the fact that a movie portrays a man with such personal convictions is admirable) who believes honesty, compassion, honor and human touch (love?) are the things the world is missing. Pretty noble for a 23-year-old aspiring physician wouldn’t you say?
The two friend’s motorcycle adventures are at first, seemingly harmless, as one-after-another-breakdown keeps preventing them from their final destination. But in this slowing down of their trip, they’re forced to see the world, for the first time. As the movie progresses, you can see and feel Ernesto’s heart expanding, as injustice after injustice stares him straight in the face town after town. But thankfully, the movie doesn’t fall into propaganda and cries of idealist thoughts but rather, takes these images and uses them to help change the actions of Ernesto (what better thing could one ask for?).
Without saying anything more about the plot, the movie felt like a mission trip to me in a way…where the age-old truth of ‘learning more from the poor than you’re able to help the poor on your mission’ stood out. By the time the movie ended, the audience was cheering and I at the same time was shocked to see a movie playing on a random Tuesday night in Pasadena could stir up so much emotion and move so many watchers and listeners. Enough said, go see the movie! You won’t regret it. (Especially Liz! You like David Dobson’s photography right??)
Saved!
Finally got to see this little gem of a flick over the weekend and I can definitely say I wasn’t disappointed. I’m sure this is one of those movies that definitely has and will offend some people, but if you can look past it’s initial shell it has a good message (sorta like Dogma). This movie takes place at a Christian high school where mostly everybody is doing the “good” thing and nobody really causes any waves in the pool with the exception of just a couple. These few are then treated kinda harshly by their legalistic friends, family and clergy. At one point a girl whips a Bible at another trying to “save” her. Jena Malone then tries to inform Mandy Moore that the Bible isn’t that kind of weapon but she doesn’t really understand.
I loved the performances by Eva Amurri, Jena Malone, Macaulay Culkin, and Patrick Fugit. I thought it was really interesting how the trouble kids were the only normal seeming ones at the school. Having gone to a Christian school for 5th-8th grade and graduating from and working at a Christian University, I saw many things in this movie I have witnessed firsthand. There were characters in this movie I have seen personified by people from my church, high school and college. I think it’s really sad how there are a lot of people out there that love Jesus but can’t stand Christians. I think that’s something a lot of us need to take to heart and try to do something about.