Semesters are wonderful, but the relaxed pace is about to run pall-mall into the abyss in these last two weeks. I'm trying to stay on track but, of course, I'm on break, so I'm going to movies:
Lars and the Real Girl ****
The best movie I've seen in a long time. Don't let the plot description turn you away: a quiet, nerdy, lonely young man who lives in the garage of his brother's house, decides to send away for an anatomically correct life-size female doll. The young man, Lars, introduces Bianca from Brazil, the doll, to his brother and his wife. Bianca, it seems, is a missionary who loves children. Lars asks if she can stay in the house with them because it just wouldn't be proper to have her in the garage with him. Recognizing Lar's fragile hold on reality, the brother agrees to Lars' request. His pregnant wife, a wise young woman, suggests they bring Bianca to their family practice physician the next day just to make sure she's OK. And therein begins the real story -- how an entire town, out of deep affection for Lars, comes together to support him and see him through a difficult time in his life. The cast is Midwestern-real. Especially effective are Ryan Gosling as Lars, Paul Schneider as his brother, and the always compelling Patricia Clarkson as the doctor of all our dreams: patient, kind, and insightful. The film testifies to the prodigious power of community.
Dan in Real Life **
How do you make a film about a depressed, emotionally paralyzed man without making it incredibly boring? You make Lars and the Real Girl, that's what you do. Unfortunately, Dan in Real Life just remains a really slow-moving film about a very depressed guy who spends most of his time looking soulfully out into space.
Dan in real life has many of the right ingredients for a fine film, especially its excellent cast. I must admit I have a real soft spot for Steve Carrell. He transcended the silliness of The 40 Year Old Virgin and emerged an appealing, sensitive guy you'd like to take home to Mom. In fact, that sweet appeal of Mr Carrell is what will prevent the American version of The Office from surpassing the satire of the English version, which features the wonderfully vile Ricky Gervais. But I digress.
What is wrong with Dan in Real Life? 1) Zero chemistry between Carrell and his love interest, Juliette Binoche, who phones in her performance. 2) Also no chemistry between Diane Wiest and John Mahoney. Are they a long-married couple or did they just meet before filming? 3) A dreadfully slow pace. It's only about 90 minutes long, but I thought it was more like Return of the King with the extra scenes. Bottom line: rent it some winter night when you're really bored.
The Bee Movie **1/2
I wanted so much to like this movie. After all, Jerry Seinfield wrote it and is the lead bee. I really wish I hadn't read a recent article in the New York Times which detailed how erroneous Hollywood's view of bee life actually is. Reality is actually much more exciting. Here's the article. It's a great read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/science/13angi.html?ex=1195621200&en=fed2706bf65cfe12&ei=5070&emc=eta1.
And here's my big confession. I fell asleep about a half hour into the movie, right after the homage to The Graduate, which was witty in a Seinfeld sort of way. So, I asked Max, my grandson, what rating he would give it: his answer -- 6 on a 10 point scale. It's a good movie to take kids to -- nothing more.
Lars and the Real Girl ****
The best movie I've seen in a long time. Don't let the plot description turn you away: a quiet, nerdy, lonely young man who lives in the garage of his brother's house, decides to send away for an anatomically correct life-size female doll. The young man, Lars, introduces Bianca from Brazil, the doll, to his brother and his wife. Bianca, it seems, is a missionary who loves children. Lars asks if she can stay in the house with them because it just wouldn't be proper to have her in the garage with him. Recognizing Lar's fragile hold on reality, the brother agrees to Lars' request. His pregnant wife, a wise young woman, suggests they bring Bianca to their family practice physician the next day just to make sure she's OK. And therein begins the real story -- how an entire town, out of deep affection for Lars, comes together to support him and see him through a difficult time in his life. The cast is Midwestern-real. Especially effective are Ryan Gosling as Lars, Paul Schneider as his brother, and the always compelling Patricia Clarkson as the doctor of all our dreams: patient, kind, and insightful. The film testifies to the prodigious power of community.
Dan in Real Life **
How do you make a film about a depressed, emotionally paralyzed man without making it incredibly boring? You make Lars and the Real Girl, that's what you do. Unfortunately, Dan in Real Life just remains a really slow-moving film about a very depressed guy who spends most of his time looking soulfully out into space.
Dan in real life has many of the right ingredients for a fine film, especially its excellent cast. I must admit I have a real soft spot for Steve Carrell. He transcended the silliness of The 40 Year Old Virgin and emerged an appealing, sensitive guy you'd like to take home to Mom. In fact, that sweet appeal of Mr Carrell is what will prevent the American version of The Office from surpassing the satire of the English version, which features the wonderfully vile Ricky Gervais. But I digress.
What is wrong with Dan in Real Life? 1) Zero chemistry between Carrell and his love interest, Juliette Binoche, who phones in her performance. 2) Also no chemistry between Diane Wiest and John Mahoney. Are they a long-married couple or did they just meet before filming? 3) A dreadfully slow pace. It's only about 90 minutes long, but I thought it was more like Return of the King with the extra scenes. Bottom line: rent it some winter night when you're really bored.
The Bee Movie **1/2
I wanted so much to like this movie. After all, Jerry Seinfield wrote it and is the lead bee. I really wish I hadn't read a recent article in the New York Times which detailed how erroneous Hollywood's view of bee life actually is. Reality is actually much more exciting. Here's the article. It's a great read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/13/science/13angi.html?ex=1195621200&en=fed2706bf65cfe12&ei=5070&emc=eta1.
And here's my big confession. I fell asleep about a half hour into the movie, right after the homage to The Graduate, which was witty in a Seinfeld sort of way. So, I asked Max, my grandson, what rating he would give it: his answer -- 6 on a 10 point scale. It's a good movie to take kids to -- nothing more.
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