hats off to you, mr. gosling.
Oct. 21st, 2007 12:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
duchess_of_pieREVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
excellent. everyone was doubting this one on hearing the premise, but hoping it would be brilliant based on the judgment of the ever-mighty ryan gosling. and let me tell you...the gosling does not make bad decisions.
strong female characters for once. real live sentiment. the ability to be both tickling and sad at the same time. although a reason for his actions is alluded to, it is never really explained, nor do you feel the need for it.
it is as it is, and it is lovely.
the only thing i didn't like: they really over-emphasize midwest littletown dowdyness. and maybe i'm more sensitive to it here where those in the audience sniggering most likely believe that's exactly what it's like: flannel print button-ups and bad sweaters, greasy skin, unkempt hair, flaking paint, shy and quiet conservative demeanor, old ladies who do nothing but go to church and make casseroles and knit and crosstitch (the overall attitude toward craft in this city is really snobbish). just like how they believe the lie that L.A. is all shiny and fashionable...and they LIVE here. blind. blind, i tell you. at least they didn't dialect the hell out of the film. anyway. really, the story wouldn't work in a community other than it is. so i accept it. and, like i said, i probably wouldn't think twice about it if i was back home. i'm just really sensitive to the twist in world perceptions that the people in this city have.
but really. go and see it. after "once," it is the most touching story i have seen this year.
REVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: HOT FUZZ (dvd)
well done. even though i like the subject matter of "shaun of the dead" better, this one was a much superior film. hilarious. gory. amazing.
end review.
REVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: DREAMGIRLS (dvd)
the music was okay, nothing brilliant. it is pretty heartbreaking though, and i truly believe jennifer hudson deserved that oscar. great visuals. i still don't like jamie foxx. it's too bad that eddie murphy didn't get his oscar for this, because he will never have a role this good again...but really...whomever got it deserved it more than him.
end review.
REVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: BATTLE ROYALE (dvd)
this was out in the theaters when i was in korea and it was a big scandal. the koreas were in a tizzy; half of them wanted to ban any more violent japanese films, while the other half was inflamed by the violence and begging for more. (this from the society that brought you "shiri" and "old boy" and gloried at their worldwide notice.)
anyhow. the whole time all i could think was, "this would be much better as an anime." it was entertaining, which is all i really asked of it.
end review.
excellent. everyone was doubting this one on hearing the premise, but hoping it would be brilliant based on the judgment of the ever-mighty ryan gosling. and let me tell you...the gosling does not make bad decisions.
strong female characters for once. real live sentiment. the ability to be both tickling and sad at the same time. although a reason for his actions is alluded to, it is never really explained, nor do you feel the need for it.
it is as it is, and it is lovely.
the only thing i didn't like: they really over-emphasize midwest littletown dowdyness. and maybe i'm more sensitive to it here where those in the audience sniggering most likely believe that's exactly what it's like: flannel print button-ups and bad sweaters, greasy skin, unkempt hair, flaking paint, shy and quiet conservative demeanor, old ladies who do nothing but go to church and make casseroles and knit and crosstitch (the overall attitude toward craft in this city is really snobbish). just like how they believe the lie that L.A. is all shiny and fashionable...and they LIVE here. blind. blind, i tell you. at least they didn't dialect the hell out of the film. anyway. really, the story wouldn't work in a community other than it is. so i accept it. and, like i said, i probably wouldn't think twice about it if i was back home. i'm just really sensitive to the twist in world perceptions that the people in this city have.
but really. go and see it. after "once," it is the most touching story i have seen this year.
REVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: HOT FUZZ (dvd)
well done. even though i like the subject matter of "shaun of the dead" better, this one was a much superior film. hilarious. gory. amazing.
end review.
REVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: DREAMGIRLS (dvd)
the music was okay, nothing brilliant. it is pretty heartbreaking though, and i truly believe jennifer hudson deserved that oscar. great visuals. i still don't like jamie foxx. it's too bad that eddie murphy didn't get his oscar for this, because he will never have a role this good again...but really...whomever got it deserved it more than him.
end review.
REVIEWS OF THE DUCHESS: BATTLE ROYALE (dvd)
this was out in the theaters when i was in korea and it was a big scandal. the koreas were in a tizzy; half of them wanted to ban any more violent japanese films, while the other half was inflamed by the violence and begging for more. (this from the society that brought you "shiri" and "old boy" and gloried at their worldwide notice.)
anyhow. the whole time all i could think was, "this would be much better as an anime." it was entertaining, which is all i really asked of it.
end review.
