Movies: Unconditional Love

[chicken]

Unconditional Love is the best film I've seen this week.

I liked Love Actually quite a bit in the theatre, then rented and enjoyed a vacuous two hours unashamedly ogling Angelina Jolie (for the second time, I actually paid to see it in the theatre as well) in the horribly badly written Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, and then slothed my way through two pointless hours watching the awful Keanu Reeves flick, Hard Ball.

Last into the DVD player was Unconditional Love, and we definitely saved the best for last.


First of all, P.J. Hogan has an amazing knack for creating a wonderfully surreal reality. I know that makes no sense, but his films "feel" quite unusual to me. Not as odd and amazing and unusual as Van Sant or Aronofsky, but still. Mind you this applies to Unconditional Love and Muriel's Wedding, but not so much to My Best Friend's Wedding, which had a more commercial feel to it (but which has more *Rupert*-ish characteristics in common with Unconditional Love).

Next, P.J. Hogan really loves Rupert Everett, to which I say, yes, yes, yes, yes, YES. (Not that anything will ever top Another Country in Rupert's body of work.)

On to the rest of the cast ... Kathy Bates never disappoints me. There are no words to describe her marvelous performance. And Hogan and Danny DeVito (in Death to Smoochy) are nearly alone in being able to write a part for a little person/"dwarf" that comes across as non-patronizing, witty, and full of acting challenges. Dan Akroyd was surprisingly good, too.

The plot itself is unconventional, hilarious, surpising, and exciting. That's enough adjectives, though. I highly recommend it.

Comments

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

enjoyed a vacuous two hours unashamedly ogling Angelina Jolie
I defiantly do the same thing.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Did you see Gia ?? Despite the drug use and other depressing stuff, still quite sexy.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to watch both of those movies, but someone haven't gotten around to it.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

And Foxfire!

[keever.livejournal.com]

And once again, you've facilitated an addition to my queue. :) I'll see anything with Kathy Bates, and my appreciation for Rupert Everett grows after every new film I see him in.

I can't wait to see Love, Actually. But it'll probaby be a renter for me. That cast is swoonworthy. All of my favorite actors are British, it seems.

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Didn't mean to overload that queue! ;-) You are right about Kathy. For example, she really made Six Feet Under even more interesting.

unconditional love

[the-automatik.livejournal.com]

I really want to see that movie. Isn't that the one with Patricia Clarkson?

God, I still have my pictures of Rupert Everett from the 80s! I too, can remember a time when every actor I liked was British. Oh, the days of young Cary Elwes and Julian Sands! Oh, and Richard E. Grant in How to Get Ahead in Advertising.

Re: unconditional love

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Nope, Patricia Clarkson is not in it, sorry. :-)

I love the fact that both Cary Elwes and Rupert Everett have played gay roles.

Re: unconditional love

[the-automatik.livejournal.com]

Okay, then I am thinking of another movie with a midget or a dwarf then.

Rupert used to call himself "ambisexual" back in the day, but I think he's fully come out now.

Re: unconditional love

[chicken-cem.livejournal.com]

Of course he is. He and Ian McKellan are the main two out British actors.

[the-automatik.livejournal.com]

I meant to add:

THE MEN ARE COMING FOR THE BOX!

LOL, most unintentionally hilarious line EVER.