Friday, November 26, 2004
More movies.
The bf and I finally rented last year's Elf, despite my Will Ferrell issues, and I'm glad we did. Directed ably by Jon Favreau, it's largely sweet and light like a '60s claymated Christmas special. I was ready to fill myself with righteous indignation if Elf sneered at the holidays, but it doesn't. And refreshingly, it's suitable for all ages. Fitting, since I think this one'll be watched by all ages for many, many years ahead. Not great, but good, and sometimes that's enough. B
Jonathan Caouette's edited-on-an-iMac-made-for-$218 Tarnation is a fascinating film, in some ways more performance art than a traditional movie. This auto/biographical documentary look at Caouette's past, and specifically his mother's history of mental illness, is a difficult film to watch, and one with images which really will linger in your head. [Much has been said about the scene in which an 11-year-old Caouette plays an abused wife, and it is a gut-puncher of a scene.] Caouette's clearly a talent to watch, but I'm glad he's not a member of my family, sticking that videocam in my face. B+
It took a lot of chutzpah to make a film like Kinsey in 2004. Already the subject of great right-wing handwringing and bemoaning (it's about sex! And nothing else!, they say), Oscar-winner (for the Gods and Monsters screenplay) Bill Condon's directorial debut is a knockout, one of the year's finest. The cast should be showered with Oscar nods: for starters, Liam Neeson gives the performance of his career as Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the famed sex researcher; if not for Jamie Foxx in another biopic you may have heard of, the Oscar would be Neeson's to lose. Laura Linney's Mrs. Kinsey is quietly stunning; she doesn't have any big, showy scenes, but just provides exactly the backup needed exactly when it's needed. As Kinsey's father, John Lithgow returns from the planet of hammy actors to remind us that, yes, he really does have chops (his last scene in the film is heartbreaking in the best way). And playing Dr. Kinsey's right-hand man Clyde Martin, Peter Sarsgaard shows not only the full monty but his heart in an emotionally taxing, oh-so-good performance. One of the best biopics, not just of this year, but ever. That's right, ever. A+
The bf and I finally rented last year's Elf, despite my Will Ferrell issues, and I'm glad we did. Directed ably by Jon Favreau, it's largely sweet and light like a '60s claymated Christmas special. I was ready to fill myself with righteous indignation if Elf sneered at the holidays, but it doesn't. And refreshingly, it's suitable for all ages. Fitting, since I think this one'll be watched by all ages for many, many years ahead. Not great, but good, and sometimes that's enough. B
Jonathan Caouette's edited-on-an-iMac-made-for-$218 Tarnation is a fascinating film, in some ways more performance art than a traditional movie. This auto/biographical documentary look at Caouette's past, and specifically his mother's history of mental illness, is a difficult film to watch, and one with images which really will linger in your head. [Much has been said about the scene in which an 11-year-old Caouette plays an abused wife, and it is a gut-puncher of a scene.] Caouette's clearly a talent to watch, but I'm glad he's not a member of my family, sticking that videocam in my face. B+
It took a lot of chutzpah to make a film like Kinsey in 2004. Already the subject of great right-wing handwringing and bemoaning (it's about sex! And nothing else!, they say), Oscar-winner (for the Gods and Monsters screenplay) Bill Condon's directorial debut is a knockout, one of the year's finest. The cast should be showered with Oscar nods: for starters, Liam Neeson gives the performance of his career as Dr. Alfred Kinsey, the famed sex researcher; if not for Jamie Foxx in another biopic you may have heard of, the Oscar would be Neeson's to lose. Laura Linney's Mrs. Kinsey is quietly stunning; she doesn't have any big, showy scenes, but just provides exactly the backup needed exactly when it's needed. As Kinsey's father, John Lithgow returns from the planet of hammy actors to remind us that, yes, he really does have chops (his last scene in the film is heartbreaking in the best way). And playing Dr. Kinsey's right-hand man Clyde Martin, Peter Sarsgaard shows not only the full monty but his heart in an emotionally taxing, oh-so-good performance. One of the best biopics, not just of this year, but ever. That's right, ever. A+
# posted by Thomas : 3:50 PM
