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lauraredcloud at 08:08pm on 25/07/2010 under movies
lauraredcloud at 08:08pm on 25/07/2010 under moviesThe Kids Are All Right: The performances were all great (it turns out Julianne Moore seems like a real person when not tied down by the anchor of a comic Boston accent), but the plot was both boring and cringeworthy (every conversation made me SO NERVOUS.) The character sketches felt fairly realistic for the most part, and there were a few funny moments (notably Julianne Moore's cheery, "I shall return!"), but overall I wish I could have watched it from beneath a blanket. C-
Inception: The lucid dreaming plot is an oldie but a goodie, and the movie does a good job of setting out the rules such that you're pleasantly confused at first but know them well enough by the endgame that they can be twisted. It's not perfect--there were a few rules and consequences that I felt could have been introduced sooner--but they mostly did a good job of juggling the ideas so that they felt natural (often relying on mechanics which the audience would find natural from their own experience of dreaming, ie. you start falling and wake up). A combination of stilted dialogue and fresh-faced actors that I mostly know from juvenile roles left the odd impression of watching an undergrad play--like, "These people are doing a good job pretending to be grown-ups!" Some of the incidental character stuff about the non-central teammates was the best, such as the random affectionate animosity between Arthur and Eames. My Cillian was beautiful as always. B+
Previews: Both movies featured the same preview for It's Kind Of A Funny Story, of the mental institution teen indie-comic-inspirational-growing-up-story genre, which feels like such a complete encapsulated version of the movie--kid stutters that he has problems! Zach Galifianakis makes quips! various other inmates have comic tics! kid awkwardly stutters next to hard-as-nails teen girl inmate with dyed hair! Zack Galifianakis looks at a picture of his daughter as kid voiceovers that she needs him! kid runs through ward holding hands with dyed hair girl!--that I don't think I need to see it.
Each movie had a preview for a different movie depicting the "behind the scenes" story of a website (Middlemen and The Social Network). Something about seeing actors deliver lines about e-commerce and friending makes me sure I'm watching a joke preview.
If I had to see one of the movies previewed: Probably The Town, in which Ben Affleck will be taking up the mantle of Julianne Moore's fake accent as a bank robber from Charlestown.
Inception: The lucid dreaming plot is an oldie but a goodie, and the movie does a good job of setting out the rules such that you're pleasantly confused at first but know them well enough by the endgame that they can be twisted. It's not perfect--there were a few rules and consequences that I felt could have been introduced sooner--but they mostly did a good job of juggling the ideas so that they felt natural (often relying on mechanics which the audience would find natural from their own experience of dreaming, ie. you start falling and wake up). A combination of stilted dialogue and fresh-faced actors that I mostly know from juvenile roles left the odd impression of watching an undergrad play--like, "These people are doing a good job pretending to be grown-ups!" Some of the incidental character stuff about the non-central teammates was the best, such as the random affectionate animosity between Arthur and Eames. My Cillian was beautiful as always. B+
Previews: Both movies featured the same preview for It's Kind Of A Funny Story, of the mental institution teen indie-comic-inspirational-growing-up-story genre, which feels like such a complete encapsulated version of the movie--kid stutters that he has problems! Zach Galifianakis makes quips! various other inmates have comic tics! kid awkwardly stutters next to hard-as-nails teen girl inmate with dyed hair! Zack Galifianakis looks at a picture of his daughter as kid voiceovers that she needs him! kid runs through ward holding hands with dyed hair girl!--that I don't think I need to see it.
Each movie had a preview for a different movie depicting the "behind the scenes" story of a website (Middlemen and The Social Network). Something about seeing actors deliver lines about e-commerce and friending makes me sure I'm watching a joke preview.
If I had to see one of the movies previewed: Probably The Town, in which Ben Affleck will be taking up the mantle of Julianne Moore's fake accent as a bank robber from Charlestown.