So you’ve seen previews for this movie since late May I suppose and now it’s finally coming to theaters in the “Fall” as it was so advertised (my guess is they pushed it out later b/c it was their biggest hope for Oscar glory…but that’s only a feeble, unenlightened, tiny “hunch-guess”). Anyways, Liam Neeson stars in “Kinsey” and gives a performance no normal Academy Award member would dismiss as a contender for a best actor Oscar (i promise you he will be nominated…if he’s not, i will have been wrong). Even if they dislike the movie “Kinsey” as a whole, it would be hard to dismiss Neeson’s vulnerable and sensitive plunge into the character and mind and heart of Kinsey.
The movie is kind of funny b/c in parts, it feels so “back then and…that was then and this now” and yet, in much of it, it’s seductively riske and shocking…even today. So I know most Christians who see this film will probably hate it b/c they can’t discern between the good in it (and there is plenty…wow…lots of great themes running around here that we should be celebrating and rallying behind) and they hate movies when there’s any male kissing or full-frontal nudity (Peter Sarsguard…much different than it “Garden State” but still he’s great here—Liz, the nude warning is for you…I know how much you love him:) and so, you’ll be on your own if you claim to like this one. But I did. There’s some stuff in it that bothered me and parts where I felt writer/director Bill Condon (whom I met in person and talked to…golly i feel special) does a little too much proselytizing of his own ‘agenda’, but that’s minimal. The movie is entertaining, endearing and oddly moving in places it has no right to be. I was especially taken a back by the small running theme of “fathers-and-sons” and how Kinsey’s relationship to his father is not far from his own relationship with his own son. I wish the film had done more with that, but with what they did do, it is precious and tender and deeply moving, if only for a few seconds. “Kinsey” probably won’t make my 10 best movies of 2004 list but it is up there and it was an overall good movie-going experience and a movie i wish i had seen with others so I could discuss it afterwards. Probably a solid B+ from this end. But see it for yourself and tell me what you think. :)–(P.S.: Bill Condon wrote the screenplay for “Chicago,” and wrote/directed the film called “Gods and Monsters” which I happened to enjoy even though it was depressing. This movie is done with that same flare…you can tell…so that’s a good thing I guess. When a director’s direction is marked in that sort of way.)
It’s catch up time I guess. Okay, this movie called “Enduring Love,” you probably haven’t even heard of. But once I saw Samantha Morton and Rhys Ifans (from “Notting Hill”—you know, the funny roommate?) were in it, I decided to check it out. The poster and reviews talked of it as a meditation on “faith, science & love,” so how can you not be even slightly curious as to what a movie like that is really like?
The movie begins with a tragic accident, catapulting the story into a creepy and forceful story made up of regret, guilt and love. The title has two meanings, and the second one is not recognizable until you’ve seen the movie. Just don’t even try. But anyways, the movie builds around this entire opening event and it rarely stops for air once it gets going. It’s a slow, mesmerizing type of dramatic filmmaking that makes for much thinking and great performances, while at the same time, grows eerily uncomfortable with the audience. It’s not a thriller, although many critics are calling it that…even though at times, I was a little pinned to my seat. It’s more of a psychological, intellectual exercise in the unlimitedness of love and all that encompasses it. I’d recommend it for people who like hard, thinking movies that are uneasy to process and nearly impossible to dismiss or forget. “Enduring Love” is the type of movie that lingers in the head long after the movie ends, and leaves a haunting, chilling and mysterious uneasiness on the brain and heart. Definitely original and definitely worth seeing.
I’ve been wanting to see this movie for awhile and tonight, I finally got to. Directed by Alexander Payne (”Election” and “About Schmidt”), “Sideways” is a little movie about wine, friendship, divorce, depression, and tiny bit of hope. It falls somewhere between “About Schmidt” and “Election” in that it’s not as dark as “Election,” and not as quietly moving as “About Schmidt,” but in the end (similar to “About Schmidt”) “Sideways” gives the audience a small taste of hope despite its somewhat depressing, oddly funny and dismal road-flick-feel.
Now, I loved “About Schmidt,” so I was going in wanting something of that level of greatness. When I left the theater though, I felt a tad bit disappointed. Despite a wonderful, knockout, Oscar-worthy performance by Paul Giamatti (don’t remember how to spell his last name) the movie simply glides along, jumping from one scene to the next unsure of its exact destination point. The wine talk is wonderful, as there are dozens of subtextual meanings arising from them but the movie on the whole is not great, just good. I love how Payne manages to make us care about people who we really shouldn’t care for. I love how he captures (in almost every film he makes) the normal people of America and the fascinating lives they lead. However, this film was my least favorite of the “three.” I won’t be surprised if Paul earns an oscar-nod but I would be surprised if the movie wins a best picture nod b/c the movie–in its entirety–is just a little too drunk on itself to be taken extremely seriously. There’s my confused feelings and thoughts. I liked it…I just didn’t love it. I’d welcome other thoughts/comments though.
Saw this one tonight with TLoft and Morrison after getting some sweet grub at PJ’s. This movie rocks. I most definitely haven’t seen a Pixar film I haven’t liked yet. This ones’ about superheroes forced into retirement that eventually come back to save the day once again. Yes, this is a cartoon so kids would probably like it. However, there’s the more adult-oriented humor thrown in to make it cool for us old people as well. If you liked Toy Story, Monster’s Inc and Finding Nemo, you’ll probably like this one too.
Saw this one with Jamin, Emily Gilbert and Danielle something. I wasn’t quite sure if I really liked it or not. Alfie is basically a man-slut and the first half of this movie is glamorizing his lifestyle. It shows how cool, suave and sophisticated he is. It shows how he plays different women and just never quite has to grow up. That’d be great, right? Then the second half of the movie shows how it really is. Alfie is never very happy. He’s always lonely. While Alfie is always having fun and nobody gets hurt, in reality everybody is getting hurt…even Alfie. Jamin said this reminded him of Boogie Nights in that sense and I’d have to agree. Even while I think this movie has a great moral at the end I felt a little uncomfortable with all the ‘gettin-it-on’ scenes. Maybe it was because of who I was watching it with. I don’t know. It just seemed like the same message could have gotten across with a little less skin. I’d like to hear other people’s thoughts on this, as always, if you’ve seen it too.
I’ve really fallen behind in posting about movies so here I go….Saw this one with Elaine, Liz and Sarah. It was definitely the best example of existentialism I’ve ever seen. It’s one of those things I read a little bit about in a couple classes, but never really quite grasped the concept. Wonderful performances by Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore (1998)) and Mark Wahlberg. You also had Jude Law, Dustin Hoffman, Naomi Watts, and Lily Tomlin. Definitely a star-studded cast. Elaine had told me while watching this movie she was kept on the edge of her seat waiting to hear what they would say next. I’d have to say I concur. Definitely great dialog going on here. For some reason while watching it I was constantly reminded of John Cusack. One actress in here was the teacher he talked to outside the high school in Grosse Pointe Blank who he told still dresses like Mary Tyler Moore. There were also little things that reminded of some of his other movies. I thought Naomi Watts did an awesome job portraying how shallow everyone was in treating her after she quit trying to look “pretty” all the time. There were also a bunch of little things like when Jude Law threw up in the meeting and him crying at the end. I also loved when he admitted going to the existential detectives just to get Albert kicked out.
This is definitely a movie that can be appreciated on multiple levels. It’s entertaining and witty on the surface, yet is also much deeper if you want to sit and really think about what you’re watching. Definitely something to watch sometime.
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