I really don't think that she will. But I just think that someone else should've been in the role. She annoyed me in there. She seems to speak with a sickening sweet, soft tone to her voice throughout every scene of hers. It is almost like a whisper, which I don't understand why. I just think she was the wrong choice.Originally Posted by *Classic*Charm*
Tell me Clive Owen wasn't a clever criminal in there?I loved him.
I finally got to see "Doubt" tonight. I loved it! Meryl Streep played a terrible person, but she played her so excellently. As always. And I loved Philip Seymour Hoffman! It's a great movie. Dark, but great.
10/10
Last night I watched the BBC film "Under the Greenwood Tree", an adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel. I love this film, even better after watching it several times. I love the way all the men revolve around the heroine, Fancy Day, trying to propose marriage to her. It is very humorous at times and very human. All the characters well played and down-to-earth, since this takes place in a small Dorset community. The tree in the beginning and the end is such a beautiful image and reminescent of the tree in the Shakespeare poem. I loved the setting for the film, which was entirely filmed (all but that tree) in a small historic village on the amazingly beautiful isle of Jersey. The guy who plays Dick Dewey is very handsome and appealing, James Murray. There's one scene, where he (being love-struck) is gazing up to Fancy's window in the cold of winter and it is snowing at night. It is such a striking image; simply beautiful (blue toned) with snow falling on his hat. He's the simplistic young man in the plot, who does not possess the social statis to seriously engage the attention of Fancy Day, who has returned from being educated elsewhere in England. She has come back to become the town's teacher and play the church organ. It's a lovely story and begins in the dead of winter, Christmas Eve with carolers immediately setting the rural atmosphere of this film. We are taken through the four seasons, much like Hardy's "Far From the Madding Crowd", and it is similar, since the plot features one attractive young woman who is surrounded by 3 adoring men. If you have not read this book by Hardy, I highly recommend it; although it is very rural and slowpaced, a little less plot driven and more character driven; Hardy originally did not consider it in the same light as his other 'major' novels. Then he took another look at it later in his life, and appreciated it's quiet charm and deeper meanings; this was stated in the biographical notes in the Extra Feature commentary, which was worthwhile viewing. This is fast becoming one of my favorite films. It looked utterly dazzling on my small portable LCD player, a recent investment with my horded Christmas money. I would give this a 10/10 if you like period pieces and Hardy's novels. It's a very sweet and enjoyable film.
Last edited by Janine; 04-08-2009 at 05:26 PM.
"It's so mysterious, the land of tears."
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Hi MissScarlett, I must see this film; especially now that you recommended it and gave it a 10/10! I love Meryl Streep; I always have. I can't think of any performance of hers that I did not consider to be fine; even the nasty roles. She is a lovely person and beautiful as well and I think such an excellent actor. Pairing her up with Philip Seymour Hoffman would be great. I think he did an amazing job in "Capote". I can't wait now to see this. Hope my library has the film in.
Last edited by Janine; 04-08-2009 at 05:21 PM.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Son of Rambow.....6. It ws cute I guess but I just couldn't get into it.
I rented and watched Doubt a few nights ago. Indeed, I agree - beautifully acted - I have always loved Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Meryl Streep and I have a bit of a love/hate relationship, but she did an absolutely fantastic job in this film, as well as the supporting cast, like Amy Adams. Also I thought it wonderfully directed, filled with metaphors, such as Streep's character's obsession with having fresh light in every room she enters, wanting to "shed light" upon everything, or Hoffman's sermons - well done.
The only thing that disappointed me - the conclusion. I suppose I have gotten awfully tired of so many contemporary films ending this way (and I will not spoil it for those who have not seen it), but it seemed so sudden, brief, overly-dramatic, and vague. My opinion: exquisitely acted, stunning directing, but the writing could have gone better.
Rating: 9/10.
I also rented a film called TransSiberian - eh, another murder-mystery, who-dun-it kind of film, further predisposing the American stereotype of the darkness and violence of Russia. It had some nice scenery of China and West Siberia, but this seemed about the only thing I enjoyed about it.
Rating: 5/10.
I own "Capote," Janine, and I adored Philip Seymour Hoffman in that one, too. I think he did an amazing job. He does an amazing job in "Doubt," too. And Meryl is just wonderful. She's so nasty and mean, but so believable. She's the greatest living actress, I think. I think she can do anything. My husband and I watched her in "The Devil Wears Prada" awhile back. I had heard that film was no good, but we laughed a lot at it, and Meryl was just wonderful. Nasty again, but funny nasty. In "Doubt" she's dead serious and perfect. Let me know what you thought when you watch it.
You know, mono, I can't quite make up my mind about that ending. It did sort of come out of the blue. There was no set up for it earlier, no reason for us to believe in it. (I don't want to spoil it for anyone else, either.) The last minute or so was overly dramatic, while the rest of the film, I think, was understated. I wish they'd left it understated, but the ending didn't ruin the film for me. I see it didn't for you, either since you gave it a nine.
Last edited by MissScarlett; 04-10-2009 at 11:06 PM.
Henry Poole Was Here-9/10
I really enjoyed this film. It revolves somewhat around faith, but the real reason I enjoyed it was because of watching the character, Henry Poole, develop and his interactions with the other characters. I think Luke Wilson did an outstanding job. The quips between Wilson's character and Ezperanza were HILARIOUS. Oh, George Lopez is in the film, but...he isn't the usual G.LO.
I just saw Mister Lonely with my sister. What a bizarre film... about as relevant all together as cucumbers are to goats. The film weaves many deranged look-a-likes together: Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplain (and Hitler), Madonna, Dean Martin, Abe Lincoln, Shirley Temple, and some others; then it punctures this narrative cloth with a tale of flying nuns (get the reference?) led by a priest, played by Werner Herzog (oh, aren't we witty here?), to add some allusive flair.
It takes a bit of mitigation to understand, but it's ostensibly about following gut-instinctual dreams and the pathways to impossible achievements, though through a bleeding-heart liberal perspective that's often too humanistic for its own good.
I am, however, very happy that it didn't fall prey to predictable, feel-good structure commonly seen in movies of this type. I won't ruin it for anyone who actually reads my review, but it goes on an anti-Dante path, moving from the innocent and gay to the more profane and tragic until the bright ending.
Some of the things the director did seemed annoying and unfit for the big screen until I realized their meaning. For instance, the look-a-likes look nothing like their idols unless far away, save the clothing and hair; most of the actors are rather ugly; the Michael Jackson look-a-like fails miserably at dancing; the beginning of the story portrays unrealistic financial situations (how the hell do you afford to maintain a castle when you can barely get an impersonation job?), then moves to the tragically realistic at the end, seeming like you went from nowhere to nowhere you can breath.
It takes a little getting used to. And even then, it's a one-night stand; I still wouldn't take it back home and introduce it to my mother.
I give it a 7/10
"For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories." - Plato
"Out of damp and gloomy days, out of solitude, out of loveless words directed at us, conclusions grow up in us like fungus: one morning they are there, we know not how, and they gaze upon us, morose and gray. Woe to the thinker who is not the gardener but only the soil of the plants that grow in him."- Friedrich Nietzsche
I watched Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" with Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, and Patrick Wilson again. I love the romance and tragedy of this film as well as the elaborately beautiful sets and the glorious music. This is my favorite musical.
10/10
Oh, I have felt impressed by anything with Philip Seymour Hoffman - one of the greatest actors of our time, in my opinion; he does well in such a variety of films! Has anyone else seen Before the Devil Knows You're Dead? It seems like one of his less-recognized films, despite having come out within the past few years, but one of my personal favorites among recent films.
I think I would have given it a solid 10, if the ending had gone a bit better. I did not care a lot for the context of the conclusion (it seems difficult to phrase this without spoiling it), but its out-of-nowhere and brief nature really bugged me, too. The same guy, John Patrick Shanley, wrote and directed the film; he did an amazing job at directing the film, yet I almost feel as if he wrote the ending in a huge hurry, as if he had to meet a deadline - swift judgment, I know, but it left me a bit disappointed.
I saw this when it was out last summer. I think I gave it the same rating as you did. I really liked this one. It was #2 on my list of summer films last year.
Stand By Me
10/10
Simply one of my all-time favorite films. I hadn't seen it in years. I always felt it was very depressing, but for some odd reason, it really affected me this time when I watched it. The movie had never done that before. I can't figure why it put me into such a funk afterwards. Still, great movie.
My son, Sean, loved that film when he was young. What year did that come out? I recall watching it with him in his room. He had good taste in films, don't you think? I haven't seen it in years. I think it might depress me some now too. I don't recall it being a very cheery ending.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
It is from 1986. Yes, it seems that your son has very good taste in films.
Just got back from seeing Monsters Vs. Aliens in 3D with the fam -- it was really fun! The 3D effect was pretty cool, and half the entertainment was seeing everyone in a darkened theater wearing tinted, horn-rim glasses! =D
Even though it is a 'kid's film,' there were things in it that an adult would enjoy, which is nice for all the parents who go with their children. =) It was dramatic, with scary moments, but not too scary for most kids. Mainly there were lots of cool action sequences, which looked great in 3D. =) A fun time; maybe a 'moral' is that you have to believe in yourself, and do your own thing -- one of the characters was going to marry an ambitious, selfish partner, but learns to be independent over the course of the film. I'd say 9/10 for effects, good, clean, exploding fun, and the slightest dash of a moral. =)
A bit that I wrote: Vanilla Ice Cream. Comments and critique welcomed! :-)
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