Films: Laurel Canyon; What A Girl Wants; Bringing Down the House

[chicken]

Three recent rentals.

Laurel Canyon

Kind of boring, could have been so much better. But Frances McDormand is wonderful as always. Her scenes were always the most interesting. I usually love Christian Bale's work, but not as much here. Kate Beckinsale did nothing for me. Still, the best of the three.

What A Girl Wants

Probably one of the worst movies I've ever seen. I'm prepared quite often to sit down with a teenage girl comedy flick and take it for what it is and enjoy it without too much embarrassment. Usually. But not this one. Colin Firth is a wonderful actor completely wasted on this part. The script, direction, and editing, and soundtrack were absolutely abysmal. The editing was particularly non-existent, leaving in scads of scenes that were redundant and laid everything on too thick while not being funny. The soundtrack was so heavy-handed I could feel the weight of the dead horse. The saddest thing was that I sat through the whole thing. NEVER see this movie. Run away.

Bringing Down the House

Tried too hard to be funny and so wasn't. Tried to satirize racism and failed to the point of being racist. Queen Latifah is fun and I find her sexy, but what a stupid movie. Eugene Levy was a bright spot, always manages to be funny. Plus, well, this:

Comments

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Lair of the White Worm is one of those films that is so awful it is good. Very very campy.

[the-automatik.livejournal.com]

You mean awful as in ridiculous, preposterous, over the top? If so, then yes, I agree, but all of Ken Russell's films are. Have you seen The Devils? It's HIGHLY recommended. He also did The Music Lovers about Tchaichovsky (my mother loves this movie) and Listzomania. I haven't seen those last two, but have always wanted to.

IMO, he's far superior in his insane style and "message" than someone like David Lynch. Russell's more like Cronenberg, but without the straight horror aspect.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. David Lynch is an ass.

[the-automatik.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hate when people think they're edgy cos they like David Lynch. He's so bloated with self-serving coolness it makes me ill. Blue Velvet was awesome, but then he just went the Oliver Stone route and would throw in non sequitur gore, violence, and sex instead of restrained, purposeful weirdness, which is what Cronenberg or Todd Solondz both do.

I loved the first season of Twin Peaks and I am also one of the few who actually LIKED Dune. LOL! But Wild at Heart was just repugnant. Who needs to show vomiting in a movie for NO REASON? At least Pedro Almodovar's films showed vomiting for a reason, haha.

I also have to say that Requiem for a Dream is what David Lynch WISHES he could do. But since he's never heard of "editing" it would never work. Lynch should take several pages from Bunuel, Dali, Maya Deren, Cronenberg, Solondz, and Aronofsky and study well.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Todd Solondz is great, I only saw a little bit of Welcome to the Dollhouse (which was amazing, it got the pain totally right in a depressing way), but my bunny says it is a great movie and I should see the rest of it.

I love Almodovar, I have enjoyed every one of his films.

Requiem for a Dream was brilliant, I am so upset that Ellen Burstyn did not get an Oscar. Fucking Julia Roberts, or more accurately, fucking Academy.

[the-automatik.livejournal.com]

oooh, yeah Ellen Burstyn! Did you see the movie with her and Laura Dern about the prison dog program? Oh my god. Such a tearjerker. But they're both SO GOOD.

I agree about Ellen not winning. I hate Julia Roberts. Although at this point, I'd rather Julia than J.Lo. And that's just sad, innit?

I haven't seen most of the recent Almodovar films, but I saw most of the early ones years ago. I was so sad when Banderas came to the U.S., got cheesy, and married Melanie Griffith. I don't think his style translates well into English.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Yes, Banderas and Alomodovar were both at their best in "Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" (plus, gazpacho!)

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

No, I never saw that one. Sounds good. I prefer comedies (Citizen Ruth!), but still.