Yesterday was the day we had four movies in a row, all at the same theatre. We left the house around 11:15 am and got home just before midnight. We never went back outside after we got there and meals consisted of trail mix, oranges, protein bars and one overpriced slice of pizza. Now that's a vacation!
Three of the four movies we saw were excellent, but we should have sold our tickets to Brief Interviews with Hideous Men and walked across the street for burritos. This is the film I wanted to see because it was directed by and starred John Krasinski (that's him in the photo -- he's just a cute in real life as he is on The Office.) While it was great to see him in person, the movie was so bad (sorry John) that I would have preferred a burrito. We all agreed that we had to have one clunker in the bunch. It's all part of the "Sundance Experience."
Here's a brief synopsis of the good, the really good and the not-so-good:
Adam
This was a sweetly told love story of a young man living with Asperger's Syndrome and his relationship with his school teacher neighbor. Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne play those characters with authenticity and compassion. An intelligent script, a strong supporting cast and thoughtful visual design all contribute to the simple beauty of this film. Yes, it sheds light on Asperger's, but it goes deeper than that -- speaking to tolerance, understanding and honesty. This was the first movie this year to make me cry.
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
Based on the novel by David Foster Wallace, this was an exploration of the male psyche done under the guise of a doctoral candidate conducting research by interviewing a variety of men about their relationships. What that translates to is a bunch of talking heads. A stellar cast of talking heads, but talking heads nonetheless. Unfortunately, the script felt like someone reading aloud from Wallace's book. There was no action, and the film was sprinkled with frequent and abrupt scene changes. I found it boring and tedious. It may make a great stage production, but it didn't work well on the big screen.
Adventureland
Set in 1987 in a cheesy amusement park, this is a fun story about young love, figuring out what really matters in life and having a miserable job. It doesn't break much new ground, but it has an amazing cast, fun characters and many relatable moments for those of us over the age of 40. It also had a great 80's soundtrack! Due to be released nationwide in March it is coming soon to a theatre near you.
The Messenger
Starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson, this moving story shows a side of the military and war that is not often seen -- the process of notifying a family that their son or daughter has died. Foster and Harrelson are remarkable as two damaged soldiers who have returned to the U.S. and been given this assignment. By showing a seldom seen side of the military, it also illuminates the grief, loneliness and unique male relationships of soldiers. Timely, thoughtful, intense and real; this movie delivers on all fronts (no pun intended.)
I'm home now -- tired from the journey and elated that Obama has been sworn in. Tomorrow I hope to find time to share some of our "It could Only Happen at Sundance" moments.
No comments:
Post a Comment