Boyhood
Genre: Drama
Main Players: Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette
General Gist: Following the life of a young man from 5 to 18.
Deb's Take:
This movie won several film awards, to which I'm not familiar with at all, but I think the fact that it won awards says something. So, this movie was interesting and fascinating in two particular ways for me. One, it followed the life of a family over a 12 year period, and ACTUALLY filmed over a 12 year period to allow for the actors to age with the movie. I liked this premise because I feel like it kept the characters and personalities real. Two, I am amazed that this could be pulled off. Each year a different piece of the movie was recorded to eventually follow the actors over a 12 year "true" history. That was cool and neat and impressive.
As far as the movie itself, I felt it was slow, and unclimatic. Which in a way, I think that was the point. Following a boy from age 5-18 and touching the highlights (or often in his case the low lights) of his life made me very aware, that on average, life is pretty average for many. Now, his family life was a little screwed up in a way I couldn't really relate to, but I think all our lives are on the verge of weird and his was just a different kind of weird for me. The acting wasn't outstanding, and the storyline was slow. I do feel like I walked out of the movie with this sense of "OMG, I'm 43 years old and I better get going with my life because 12 years can pass super fast and then I'm 55 and what do I have to show for it?" All in all the idea was captivating, but I think the award for this movie were for the timeline not the storyline.
Deb's Rate: Rent it
Tiff's Take:
It heard this movie was good and it seemed interesting and artsy. I usually like those. And I didn't not like it. As Deb said, the premise behind this movie was really cool. It's amazing how a 6 year old boy can turn out to be this 18 year old kid that doesn't seem like the kid you would think he would be. I guess that's the amazing thing about watching an actual boy grow up in front of you over a two hour time span. So that part of the movie was good.
But it just felt way too long. There wasn't a lot going on during a lot of the movie. Yeah, I think that was part of the point but unfortunately it didn't make for a very interesting movie. The parts where there was a little more going on felt unstable. And instabilities in movies make me feel weird. Is it weird that it makes me feel weird?! Anyway, just a so so one for me. I wanted to like it better than I did.
Tiff's Rate: Matinee
Preview: The Giver
Friday, September 5, 2014
2014: Week 32: The Hundred-Foot Journey
The Hundred-Foot Journey
Genre: Drama
Main Players: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte La Bon
General Gist: A blossoming chef and his Indian family move to France and open a restaurant across from a highly celebrated French restaurant.
Deb's Take:
First off, the above description of the movie doesn't do this movie justice, but I couldn't figure out a better way to describe this movie in a nutshell. So, don't judge the movie by it's preview. That being said, this movie was like reading an excellent novel, and I love to read a good novel. Seldom does a movie compare, but I love when I find that movie. The movie that makes me forget I am in a theatre, that I am not standing right next to the characters, that movie that plays like a book. This movie was comparable to "The Way" to me, which since we started this blog, has been my all time favorite. Also falls right along side of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", another goodie.
I have been trying to figure out why this movie was so much better than so many others. Why this one made me feel "satisfied" with the movie industry. I think the best way I can describe my feelings, is that this movie hit my soul. So many movies now a days are about the Hollywood hype, about being "showy" and entertaining without making you think or feel. This movie was the opposite to me. It allowed me to think and feel, and I love that! I liked feeling the emotion. The crazy thing to me was that the movie subject just seemed like there would be no way a deep emotional story could erupt, I was so wrong. The movie was about family, passion, love, and heart.
I enjoy watching actors who present themselves so well. Helen Mirren is amazing, the other three main players were new to me, and I was thrilled with their presentations as well. Manish Dayal played his part perfectly. I loved that there was a focus on relationships as well as personal progress and growth. I just feel this movie was so well done, I can't even put into words how much I liked it. I would just recommend you go and see it for yourself, if you are a person who likes to see a book unfold on screen and don't want the typical Hollywood Hype.
Deb's Rate: Opening Night
Tiff's Take:
Agree, agree, agree. What a wonderful movie! This was one of those refreshing movies that comes along only every once in awhile. Quite honestly I don't have much more to add then what Deb already said. And beings that I'm so behind in my reviews I think I'll just leave it at that.
Go see this movie!
Tiff's Rate: Opening Night
Preview: Boyhood
Genre: Drama
Main Players: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte La Bon
General Gist: A blossoming chef and his Indian family move to France and open a restaurant across from a highly celebrated French restaurant.
Deb's Take:
First off, the above description of the movie doesn't do this movie justice, but I couldn't figure out a better way to describe this movie in a nutshell. So, don't judge the movie by it's preview. That being said, this movie was like reading an excellent novel, and I love to read a good novel. Seldom does a movie compare, but I love when I find that movie. The movie that makes me forget I am in a theatre, that I am not standing right next to the characters, that movie that plays like a book. This movie was comparable to "The Way" to me, which since we started this blog, has been my all time favorite. Also falls right along side of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel", another goodie.
I have been trying to figure out why this movie was so much better than so many others. Why this one made me feel "satisfied" with the movie industry. I think the best way I can describe my feelings, is that this movie hit my soul. So many movies now a days are about the Hollywood hype, about being "showy" and entertaining without making you think or feel. This movie was the opposite to me. It allowed me to think and feel, and I love that! I liked feeling the emotion. The crazy thing to me was that the movie subject just seemed like there would be no way a deep emotional story could erupt, I was so wrong. The movie was about family, passion, love, and heart.
I enjoy watching actors who present themselves so well. Helen Mirren is amazing, the other three main players were new to me, and I was thrilled with their presentations as well. Manish Dayal played his part perfectly. I loved that there was a focus on relationships as well as personal progress and growth. I just feel this movie was so well done, I can't even put into words how much I liked it. I would just recommend you go and see it for yourself, if you are a person who likes to see a book unfold on screen and don't want the typical Hollywood Hype.
Deb's Rate: Opening Night
Tiff's Take:
Agree, agree, agree. What a wonderful movie! This was one of those refreshing movies that comes along only every once in awhile. Quite honestly I don't have much more to add then what Deb already said. And beings that I'm so behind in my reviews I think I'll just leave it at that.
Go see this movie!
Tiff's Rate: Opening Night
Preview: Boyhood
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)