Pre-Christmas Movie Wrap-up
Hey everyone! It's officially time for a pre-Christmas movie wrap-up. Because surely once Christmas hits there will be so many awesome movies out that I will implode with happiness. I feel like this has to happen because 2006 has been a hugely bad year for movies, IMHO. I can count about ten that I enjoyed. But in the past month I've seen a few worth typing about:
Marie Antoinette - I've put off this review because I saw it sans Thomas. He is still bitter and the only way I can make it up to him is to watch it again with him on netflix. When I saw the preview for MA, I thought Sophia had lost it. But the movie worked for me. This is the polar opposite of what usually happens. Usually a preview tricks me by showing only the good parts, then I go to the movie and it's five minutes of good and 2.5 hours of boredom. The main thing Sophia does that's right is that she doesn't try to do too much. She's not telling the story of the French revolution here. She's telling the story of Marie Antoinette. The film is from Marie's perspective when she arrives at Versaille as a young girl until she gets carted off to her doom. While Marie's a princess and then a queen, you're barely aware of the turmoil that's going on in France. There are a few references to it that she pretty much blows off, but that's it. MA instead shows what life was like for a spoiled young girl who could eventually do/get whatever she likes. The film excels when it focuses on the manners and mores of the royal family in the 18th century. It turns out to be a fun history lesson. As for the lead actors, Kirsten Dunst pulled off the role, even though I was really worried about her accent. But Jason Schwartzman was miscast as her husband Louis XVI. Especially for the first half of the movie I thought he was dreadful, but then he eases into the role a bit towards the end. What I liked even more than the stars though were the cinematography and the score. Sophia scored a huge coup by actually getting to film at Versailles, so of course the sets were beyond fabulous. Her unconventional choice to feature New Wave bands in the soundtrack also worked. This was a big surprise to me. I think the reason that it worked was that it helped to create a mood. MA was a leisurely paced film, a sumptuous feast for the eyes.
The Holiday - I've been waiting for a great chick flick all year. What about Devil Wears Prada, you may ask. Yes, I did enjoy that movie, but it wasn't a traditional chick flick for me because the girl started out with the guy. Not nearly as enjoyable for some reason. It looks like The Holiday has to be it since it has all of the major ingredients: the meet cute, fabulous outfits (whoever dressed these girls is a genius - I wanted every sweater that was worn), set during the holidays, etc. The Holiday focuses on two girls and at the beginning of the movie, neither of them have The Guy. Since it's near Christmas and since they're boyfriendless, they do the only practical thing and that's to switch houses for a couple of weeks. Kate Winslet moves from her English village to LA and Cameron Diaz moves from her LA mansion to Kate's whimsical cottage. I was very worried at the beginning because for some reason I've decided not to like Cameron Diaz. I think it's her face and the fact that she has to dance solo in every movie she's in (sure enough this happens in Holiday as well). However, she won me over once she encountered her guy, none other than Jude Law. He is now officially on my Top 5 list. So charming, so gorgeous and an accent to die for. Their story was well told and I rooted for them the whole way. On the other hand, my beloved Kate Winslet gets stuck with Jack Black. A mismatch in oh so many ways, not the least of which is that Kate basically acted rings around Jack. Her story was saved by the benevolent presence of Eli Wallach as a 90 year old Hollywood screenwriter. As Cyd and I were saying yesterday in our post-movie wrap-up call (she'd seen it in England - like the symmetry there, eh?), Kate had more chemistry with Wallach than she did with Jack. Nevertheless, I enjoyed her story as big chunks of it were without JB. What I also really liked about The Holiday is that it was obviously made by people who loved movies. Through Wallach's characters, many of the great ones are discussed - like The Lady Eve - and there was even a brief clip from my all-time fav romantic comedy, His Girl Friday. That's the kind of stuff I eat up.
Casino Royale - Maybe I have a short memory, but I think this was the Best Bond Movie Ever. I went to see it over Thanksgiving in Madison, MS at the Taj Mahal of movie theatres, so I'm sure that helped. It made oure stadium theatres in CO seem old school. CR got me from the beginning with an epic chase scene, most of which was done on foot. And then Bond still shoots the guy point blank at the end of the chase. Classic. Daniel Craig was not who I imagined to play Bond, but he's perfect for the new millenium. Cold as ice. My problem with the last few Bond movies was not with Pierce Brosnan. It was with the cartoony plotlines and cheesy quips. So it was more with the writing and execution. CR stays serious even though Bond isn't saving the world this time, he's just stopping a guy who funds some terrorists. I went in knowing that this movie was based on the first Bond book, so I didn't expect the consequences to be so dire. Instead this film set out to establish how Bond became a 00 and how he came to view women the way he does. The female lead is played by Eva Green, an actress with some chops. Her storyline twists and turns a bit as well, leaving me surprised at the end. So bring on more 007 films because Bond is back and better than ever.
-sunday
Marie Antoinette - I've put off this review because I saw it sans Thomas. He is still bitter and the only way I can make it up to him is to watch it again with him on netflix. When I saw the preview for MA, I thought Sophia had lost it. But the movie worked for me. This is the polar opposite of what usually happens. Usually a preview tricks me by showing only the good parts, then I go to the movie and it's five minutes of good and 2.5 hours of boredom. The main thing Sophia does that's right is that she doesn't try to do too much. She's not telling the story of the French revolution here. She's telling the story of Marie Antoinette. The film is from Marie's perspective when she arrives at Versaille as a young girl until she gets carted off to her doom. While Marie's a princess and then a queen, you're barely aware of the turmoil that's going on in France. There are a few references to it that she pretty much blows off, but that's it. MA instead shows what life was like for a spoiled young girl who could eventually do/get whatever she likes. The film excels when it focuses on the manners and mores of the royal family in the 18th century. It turns out to be a fun history lesson. As for the lead actors, Kirsten Dunst pulled off the role, even though I was really worried about her accent. But Jason Schwartzman was miscast as her husband Louis XVI. Especially for the first half of the movie I thought he was dreadful, but then he eases into the role a bit towards the end. What I liked even more than the stars though were the cinematography and the score. Sophia scored a huge coup by actually getting to film at Versailles, so of course the sets were beyond fabulous. Her unconventional choice to feature New Wave bands in the soundtrack also worked. This was a big surprise to me. I think the reason that it worked was that it helped to create a mood. MA was a leisurely paced film, a sumptuous feast for the eyes.
The Holiday - I've been waiting for a great chick flick all year. What about Devil Wears Prada, you may ask. Yes, I did enjoy that movie, but it wasn't a traditional chick flick for me because the girl started out with the guy. Not nearly as enjoyable for some reason. It looks like The Holiday has to be it since it has all of the major ingredients: the meet cute, fabulous outfits (whoever dressed these girls is a genius - I wanted every sweater that was worn), set during the holidays, etc. The Holiday focuses on two girls and at the beginning of the movie, neither of them have The Guy. Since it's near Christmas and since they're boyfriendless, they do the only practical thing and that's to switch houses for a couple of weeks. Kate Winslet moves from her English village to LA and Cameron Diaz moves from her LA mansion to Kate's whimsical cottage. I was very worried at the beginning because for some reason I've decided not to like Cameron Diaz. I think it's her face and the fact that she has to dance solo in every movie she's in (sure enough this happens in Holiday as well). However, she won me over once she encountered her guy, none other than Jude Law. He is now officially on my Top 5 list. So charming, so gorgeous and an accent to die for. Their story was well told and I rooted for them the whole way. On the other hand, my beloved Kate Winslet gets stuck with Jack Black. A mismatch in oh so many ways, not the least of which is that Kate basically acted rings around Jack. Her story was saved by the benevolent presence of Eli Wallach as a 90 year old Hollywood screenwriter. As Cyd and I were saying yesterday in our post-movie wrap-up call (she'd seen it in England - like the symmetry there, eh?), Kate had more chemistry with Wallach than she did with Jack. Nevertheless, I enjoyed her story as big chunks of it were without JB. What I also really liked about The Holiday is that it was obviously made by people who loved movies. Through Wallach's characters, many of the great ones are discussed - like The Lady Eve - and there was even a brief clip from my all-time fav romantic comedy, His Girl Friday. That's the kind of stuff I eat up.
Casino Royale - Maybe I have a short memory, but I think this was the Best Bond Movie Ever. I went to see it over Thanksgiving in Madison, MS at the Taj Mahal of movie theatres, so I'm sure that helped. It made oure stadium theatres in CO seem old school. CR got me from the beginning with an epic chase scene, most of which was done on foot. And then Bond still shoots the guy point blank at the end of the chase. Classic. Daniel Craig was not who I imagined to play Bond, but he's perfect for the new millenium. Cold as ice. My problem with the last few Bond movies was not with Pierce Brosnan. It was with the cartoony plotlines and cheesy quips. So it was more with the writing and execution. CR stays serious even though Bond isn't saving the world this time, he's just stopping a guy who funds some terrorists. I went in knowing that this movie was based on the first Bond book, so I didn't expect the consequences to be so dire. Instead this film set out to establish how Bond became a 00 and how he came to view women the way he does. The female lead is played by Eva Green, an actress with some chops. Her storyline twists and turns a bit as well, leaving me surprised at the end. So bring on more 007 films because Bond is back and better than ever.
-sunday
posted by Sunday at
2:57 PM
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