JACK'S BACK and this time it's personal
DATE AND STATUS: Saturday, September 1st, 2012 and I'm budgeting!
KVETCH, KVETCH, KVETCH (and I'm not even Jewish!) Some of you want more of a synopsis with the review of the movie, some of you want a more critical approach, I LOVE IT ALL, keep your comments coming!
Yes, I am in reduced circumstances, or will be soon, that is if I don't become more aware of where my money goes. In particular I need to curtail my habit of buying movies without regard. So, I'm going to pay more attention.
Every time I order a film from Amazon, it shall be logged onto a spreadsheet, and even if I never order another movie again, my collection will still leave me with about a million or so movies.
I miss Cruella, it has only been two days since my last rowing session, but when one is into the groceries every five minutes or so, one needs to try and balance that gluttony with exercise, otherwise that one will soon look like a hippopotamus! Unfortunately, for me, I will not be able to row for at least another ten days. I guess it could be worse, it can always be worse!
After reviewing yesterday's post, again, I think I need to offer a little more explanation as to why I sometimes don't watch the movies when I say I'm going to watch them. Now, it's established that eventually I will watch all the movies that I list, the only thing in question, is, when will I watch the movies listed.
You see, I think you'll agree that when viewing certain types of films, one needs to be in the right mood. For example, if you've just come back from a funeral, you're not likely to be in the mood to watch "Mary Poppins," although it could be just the right spoonful of sugar to aid you in feeling better. For me personally, with all of recent injuries to my body damaging my skin, I don't particularly want to see any movies that deal with that flesh eating disease!
The movies you watch all depend on the frame of mind that you are in, so even though I had "Rachel Getting Married" on my list to view earlier this week , I wasn't quite in the mood to go to a wedding, until today, and am I ever glad I went.
The problem in “Rachel Getting Married,” not the problem with the film, mind you, is that even though Rachel is the one getting married, it’s all about Kym, her younger sister.
Kym, played by a decidedly un-princessy Anne Hathaway is a recovering drug addict who after being in and out of rehab for ten years is now several months into a treatment that seems to be working and is given a day pass to attend her sister's wedding.
Kym's sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is more than a bit resentful of Kym's antics taking center stage. Time ticks by, long-simmering family tensions come boiling to the surface in an atmosphere strained between Kym and her family members as they struggle to reconcile themselves with her past and present.
Underlying the family's dynamic is a tragedy that occurred many years previously, which Kym retells at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. As a teenager, Kym was responsible for the death of her young brother Ethan, who was left in her care one day; driving home from a nearby park, an intoxicated Kym had lost control of the car, driving over a bridge and into a lake, where her brother drowned
.Helping give this story its essential air of reality is the decision director Jonathan Demme made to shoot the movie in "the most beautiful home movie ever made." Demme chose not to plan shots in advance, instead giving his cinematographer, Declan Quinn, the ability to respond in the moment to what was going on with the actors, and it's a tribute to his ability that his camera always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
The film received critical acclaim and, deservedly so. Kym is a major pain in the ass, and Hathaway's raw, spiky performance makes no attempt to ingratiate. Yet she makes Kym's inner torment so palpable you can't help but feel for her, however insufferable she may be.
The themes of dependency and recovery that Kym brings home in her overnight bag are familiar, even banal. Every unhappy family may be unique, but every addict is fundamentally the same, and if “Rachel Getting Married” had surrendered its story completely to Kym, it would have risked becoming as drab and familiar as a made-for-television 12-step homily.
Anne Hathaway as Kym, is cynical and solipsistic, and saves the movie from sentimentality, just as Rachel, embodied with calm intelligence by Ms. DeWitt, inoculates it against melodrama. Debra Winger, in a few quietly incandescent scenes as their mother, briefly lifts the movie onto another plane altogether, somehow combining movie-star charisma with an almost heartbreaking restraint and giving us a taste of what we’ve been missing in the years of her semi-retirement.
It would be a shame to miss “Rachel Getting Married,” which does have its flaws, but it is so persuasively forgiving of the flaws of its inhabitants that you can only respond, in like spirit, with love.
WEEKLY UPCOMING MOVIES FOR REVIEW
"Strangers on a Train." I don't know if I want to see this movie because I enjoy mysteries of if it's because I like train travel, regardless, I'll be travelling on TCM, first class of course.
"Elmer Gantry" Both Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones received academy award nominations for their work here. I want to see if they deserved them, you know how the Academy can be.
"Romance on the High Seas" This is Doris Day's first movie, which, I have to confess, I'm kinda curious as to how she'll make out, regardless of Ms. Day, I always enjoy romance, whether it's on the high sea or the low sea. And yes, I'll be watching it on TCM where I enjoy many, many great movies.
"Adam Had Four Sons." This movie stars Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward, two of my favourites, and that is reason enough for me to watch this movie. But I bet I end up liking this movie for all sorts of reasons, and not just because of Miss Bergman and Miss Hayward.
"Blow Dry." For no other reason that when I saw the title of this movie in the television guide, it intrigued me.
"The Band Wagon." This film showcases the talents of Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, and they both have been described as being brilliant in this movie, after I watch it on TCM, I'll decide.
"Thief." This film stars James Caan and is reported to be one of Mr. Caan's personal favourites. Well, now it is time for us to decide if we want this movie to make our favourites list.
FILMS COMING SOON: Exodus, The Sand Pebbles, An American in Paris, The Maltese Falcon! I really can't wait to see these movies, yea folks, I'm excited!
DATE AND STATUS: Saturday, September 1st, 2012 and I'm budgeting!
KVETCH, KVETCH, KVETCH (and I'm not even Jewish!) Some of you want more of a synopsis with the review of the movie, some of you want a more critical approach, I LOVE IT ALL, keep your comments coming!
Yes, I am in reduced circumstances, or will be soon, that is if I don't become more aware of where my money goes. In particular I need to curtail my habit of buying movies without regard. So, I'm going to pay more attention.
Every time I order a film from Amazon, it shall be logged onto a spreadsheet, and even if I never order another movie again, my collection will still leave me with about a million or so movies.
I miss Cruella, it has only been two days since my last rowing session, but when one is into the groceries every five minutes or so, one needs to try and balance that gluttony with exercise, otherwise that one will soon look like a hippopotamus! Unfortunately, for me, I will not be able to row for at least another ten days. I guess it could be worse, it can always be worse!
After reviewing yesterday's post, again, I think I need to offer a little more explanation as to why I sometimes don't watch the movies when I say I'm going to watch them. Now, it's established that eventually I will watch all the movies that I list, the only thing in question, is, when will I watch the movies listed.
You see, I think you'll agree that when viewing certain types of films, one needs to be in the right mood. For example, if you've just come back from a funeral, you're not likely to be in the mood to watch "Mary Poppins," although it could be just the right spoonful of sugar to aid you in feeling better. For me personally, with all of recent injuries to my body damaging my skin, I don't particularly want to see any movies that deal with that flesh eating disease!
The movies you watch all depend on the frame of mind that you are in, so even though I had "Rachel Getting Married" on my list to view earlier this week , I wasn't quite in the mood to go to a wedding, until today, and am I ever glad I went.
The problem in “Rachel Getting Married,” not the problem with the film, mind you, is that even though Rachel is the one getting married, it’s all about Kym, her younger sister.
Kym, played by a decidedly un-princessy Anne Hathaway is a recovering drug addict who after being in and out of rehab for ten years is now several months into a treatment that seems to be working and is given a day pass to attend her sister's wedding.
Kym's sister Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt) is more than a bit resentful of Kym's antics taking center stage. Time ticks by, long-simmering family tensions come boiling to the surface in an atmosphere strained between Kym and her family members as they struggle to reconcile themselves with her past and present.
Underlying the family's dynamic is a tragedy that occurred many years previously, which Kym retells at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. As a teenager, Kym was responsible for the death of her young brother Ethan, who was left in her care one day; driving home from a nearby park, an intoxicated Kym had lost control of the car, driving over a bridge and into a lake, where her brother drowned
.Helping give this story its essential air of reality is the decision director Jonathan Demme made to shoot the movie in "the most beautiful home movie ever made." Demme chose not to plan shots in advance, instead giving his cinematographer, Declan Quinn, the ability to respond in the moment to what was going on with the actors, and it's a tribute to his ability that his camera always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
The film received critical acclaim and, deservedly so. Kym is a major pain in the ass, and Hathaway's raw, spiky performance makes no attempt to ingratiate. Yet she makes Kym's inner torment so palpable you can't help but feel for her, however insufferable she may be.
The themes of dependency and recovery that Kym brings home in her overnight bag are familiar, even banal. Every unhappy family may be unique, but every addict is fundamentally the same, and if “Rachel Getting Married” had surrendered its story completely to Kym, it would have risked becoming as drab and familiar as a made-for-television 12-step homily.
Anne Hathaway as Kym, is cynical and solipsistic, and saves the movie from sentimentality, just as Rachel, embodied with calm intelligence by Ms. DeWitt, inoculates it against melodrama. Debra Winger, in a few quietly incandescent scenes as their mother, briefly lifts the movie onto another plane altogether, somehow combining movie-star charisma with an almost heartbreaking restraint and giving us a taste of what we’ve been missing in the years of her semi-retirement.
It would be a shame to miss “Rachel Getting Married,” which does have its flaws, but it is so persuasively forgiving of the flaws of its inhabitants that you can only respond, in like spirit, with love.
WEEKLY UPCOMING MOVIES FOR REVIEW
"Strangers on a Train." I don't know if I want to see this movie because I enjoy mysteries of if it's because I like train travel, regardless, I'll be travelling on TCM, first class of course.
"Elmer Gantry" Both Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones received academy award nominations for their work here. I want to see if they deserved them, you know how the Academy can be.
"Romance on the High Seas" This is Doris Day's first movie, which, I have to confess, I'm kinda curious as to how she'll make out, regardless of Ms. Day, I always enjoy romance, whether it's on the high sea or the low sea. And yes, I'll be watching it on TCM where I enjoy many, many great movies.
"Adam Had Four Sons." This movie stars Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward, two of my favourites, and that is reason enough for me to watch this movie. But I bet I end up liking this movie for all sorts of reasons, and not just because of Miss Bergman and Miss Hayward.
"Blow Dry." For no other reason that when I saw the title of this movie in the television guide, it intrigued me.
"The Band Wagon." This film showcases the talents of Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, and they both have been described as being brilliant in this movie, after I watch it on TCM, I'll decide.
"Thief." This film stars James Caan and is reported to be one of Mr. Caan's personal favourites. Well, now it is time for us to decide if we want this movie to make our favourites list.
FILMS COMING SOON: Exodus, The Sand Pebbles, An American in Paris, The Maltese Falcon! I really can't wait to see these movies, yea folks, I'm excited!
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