Lovely and Amazing
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Movie Reviews of Lovely and Amazing
Movie Review: Life in La La Land
Summary: 3 Stars
There are some good things in this film. No 1 is the performance of Catherine Keener, who has the ability to make even the most odious of characters likable. ('loved her in Being John Malkovich) The next best thing is the performance of Raven Goodwin, who makes every scene she's in a delight. (Whoever did her hair in the last scenes should have won an Oscar.) Next: the always adorable Jake Gyllenhaal, playing a nerdy 17 who falls for the Keener character. (Whoever did his hair, though, should be fired...it's sooo black and shiney!) Next: a small part by Dermot Mulroney, resembling a young Sylvester Stallone--very cute.
The dialogue is smart. I found the pacing quick and it held my interest. The other actors are good enough. There are some worthy ideas introduced. I loved the scene with Gyllenhal and Keener in the car and later, the one with Keener and Goodwin in MacDonalds.
On the negative side: gee--these women are so damned spoiled, self centered and highly unrealistic! We're supposed to care about them but they make it hard! The Emiy Mortimer character is about as sexy or interesting as a dishrag, and has the same amount of presence. Who could imagine her succeeding as an actress? She should definitely get a job in an animal shelter. The Keener character has delusions of grandeur, trying to peddle off her childish crafts as "art" at ridiculous prices. When she got a job at the one-hour photo, it was the best thing she ever did, (after giving birth.) However these girls didn't stand a chance, with the mothering given them by the smart talking (supposedly) mom who doesn't have a good word to say about any men, but wants the plastic surgeon to like her. The answer to her problems is liposuction.
I suppose this will amuse or touch people who can identify with these people more than I could. It seems like there's a lot of talent here that could better be used on something a little more weighty.
Movie Review: Film that's full of humor, but no resolution
Summary: 3 Stars
There are good performances in this film and interesting subjects that are brought up, but there is a serious flaw here and that's the fact that it doesn't face up to the issues much and just presents them. The ultimate presentation of this is the mother who gets lyposuction, there are certain things in her life which she simply doesn't remedy and movie seems OK to let her not deal with them. In a way this is true to life, but if you wanted to broach certain subjects in film about people's crossroads in life than the film should have a definitive view on them. This film's view on the characters was that it liked them and so it was non-judgmental. It just doesn't seem to have a point for existing even though that existence is funny, sad,and presented with a very matter of fact, frankness, that is rare nowadays. One thing that wasn't dealt with that I liked was Dermot Mulroney's character in relationship to Emily Mortimer's character. He's completely using her and he's completely honest about that, but we don't know if she'll have another liason with him in the future, or not. I liked that particular open end.Movie Review: Bad sound, stick-figure male characters
Summary: 3 Stars
The mix and remix of sound for this DVD is so bad I suggest you turn on the subtitles so you can follow the dialog more easily. Excellent male actors are given little or nothing to do. Given these faults and the lack of any real movement in the characters, there is a lot that is excellent. There is close observation of details in how we talk to each other, much of which is very funny. Catherine Keener once again shows how excellent an actor she is, inhabiting her character so completely and naturally she saves the movie. Her examples of "fake" and real smiles are terrific to watch, as is her panic being at a party where she is a nobody. In a way this movie is part insider "Hollywood " joke and part essay on female insecurities.
The director has inserted a subplot about an adopted sister that is good by itself but not really needed as part of the flow and it detracts from the overall effect.
Rent it for Keener, otherwise as an example of a project that did not quite make it.. And also as an example of how important sound is to get right.
Movie Review: POIGNANT & WELL MADE, BUT ULTIMATELY DEPRESSING..
Summary: 3 Stars
The good things about the movie: it is very real, and captures the idiosynchrasies of the women remarkably well (a mother and her two daughters through a period of change.) The bad things about the movie: although the movie is well made, the narrative is more than a bit lacking dragging the pace beyond any trickle of entertainment (and I recognize this is subjective.)
That it is so real is also the movie's weakness. One daughter stands naked before her new lover and begs a frank assessment, good and bad, of her body. Another takes a job at the one hour photo after failing to sell her home made wrapping paper. Mommie dear thinks maybe her liposuction doctor is flirting with her.
All you are left with is the feeling of having looked through a neighbor's window. The lives of these women occupy the space between tragic and heroic, in sight of both but touching neither.
Somewhat depressing to watch but if you like "reality" this is as real as it gets.
Movie Review: Girls,Get a Life
Summary: 3 Stars
I've noticed something a trend perhaps in Indie Cinema, it's all about the Upper Middle Class. Are the writers, directors, of these pictures of this group? After all, even an Indie production costs millions to produce. Your average middle classer has a hard time comprehending his rent, forget getting a picture funded.
In Lovely and Amazing, the women seemed to live in a plush world of decorator pillows and jeans. Big houses or snazzy apartments are the norm, trendy villages to shop too. Emily the Actress, she's not waiting tables while she is in between lovers or parts. Nor is her older sister, ex-prom queen , Catherine in the work world after college and kids. Her hubby has his semi-glamorous office world and mistress, and plenty of time away from the family. The cars are smooth and leathery without pretention, the clubbiness and veranda angst is so Bloomingdale.
In the end we suggest all these ladies get a life.