Letters to the Editor
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Xrandadu Hutman's rundown of all the movies mentioned in this article (Part 1)
-- "Sweeney Todd": Didn't see, but most certainly will after reading Kathryn Harrison's convincing praise of it.
-- "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead": Didn't see; heard mixed reviews. Considering his age, it's cool that Sidney Lumet managed to direct a film that made it into theaters. (Other old-age directors, like Robert Wise or Blake Edwards, could barely get financing for straight-to-DVD movies.)
-- "Atonement": I agree with Anne Lamott that it's overrated. It's the "English Patient" for 2007. Ian McEwan is a fine writer, but the story construction does not lend itself well to cinema (despite pointless stunts like the long take of the war scene), and I agree about Keira Knightley: in spite of her looks, she's a bland on-screen presence.
-- "There Will Be Blood": I think it's overrated and dumb even though I liked the line about the milkshake. Farhad Manjoo's praise for Paul Dano's performance is a bit goofy. Manjoo might want to read Stephanie Zacharek's review, where she describes Dano's faith-healer scene as overacting. I have to agree....the only thing I was convinced of is that this young actor was in over his head.
-- "No Country for Old Men": I thought it was pretty good as punch-in-the-gut cinema, though the way the story unravels is unsatisfying, even as "unsatisfying for art's sake" endings go. Regarding the comments on this film, my god, is it possible for anybody to discuss it without having to prove how cool they are by making fun of Javier Bardem's haircut?
-- "Away From Her." Overrated. Sorry. Yes, Julie Christie was magnificent. Sarah Polley's direction, with its careful visual touches and resistance of formula schlock, was fine. But the story's insistence on overcomplicating a disease with the couple's past romantic issues made what should have been raw and truthful into something contrived and muted. I am glad at least one commentator gives the credit where due: Gorden Pinsent's performance, which is much more central to the film than Julie Christie's.
-- "The Savages." Planning to see soon (it's next in the queue!). From what I understand, the film is relentlessly bleak, and the preview misleadingly focuses on the film's only mirthful moments. Bring on the pain!
-- "Juno." It was great. Steve Almond's comment that it's "a 'Rushmore' for the 'Knocked Up' crowd" is lame. WTF does that even mean? "Rushmore" is non-stop irony while "Juno" is irony that veers powerfully into drama. Stop trying to be cool and write something that's reinforced with the virtue of meaning. Mary Elizabeth Williams totally nails what was great about Jennifer Garner's performance.
-- "No End in Sight." Saw this. It's a must-see for every U.S. citizen. You can watch it online at Netflix. (You can listen to it on headphones while doing something else, though the dumbfounded expressions on people's faces, as they discuss the criminally idiotic Iraq war plans, are worth seeing.)
-- "Gone Baby Gone." Didn't see but plan to. I wish somebody hadn't given away a major plot point to me though.
-- "I'm Not There." Might see. I'm not much of a Bob Dylan fan. I mean, the guy can't even sing. And what's with the "She makes love like a woman, but she breaks like a little girl" song? That's poetry? No, that's just retarded. Anyway, I am sure Cate Blanchett is superb as she always is, but I am more interested in seeing Charlotte Gainsbourg, whom I find even more diggable.
-- "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." Will see. Anne Lamott's comments about writer's block are funny.
-- "Starting Out in the Evening." Would like to see. Not in a big hurry to, and unlikely to find anybody to watch it with me, but...
-- "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days": I understand this is the sequel to "9 1/2 Weeks," and as such, I would love to see it, especially if Kim Basinger gets nekkid again.
-- "Into the Wild." Will see in my hermetically sealed living room. Gotta love a movie about somebody roaming off to Alaska and into oblivion. Sounds like it would make a terrific double-feature with "Grizzly Man."
-- "Charlie Wilson's War": I would probably see this if not for the double-annoyance factor of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. They both seem to be milking their hammiest qualities too, with Roberts doing her "big laugh" shtick -- you know, the one where she tilts her head back and blurts out a, "Whup whup womp!" laugh. God I hate that.
-- "This Is England": Never heard of it. Curtis Sittenfeld's description gives me reason to consider checking it out.