The Watercooler: 10/20/08
Sally Hawkins and Alexis Zegerman in Happy-Go-Lucky
It was kind of an interesting if not altogether successful movie-going weekend at LiC.
First up was Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky, a hard to categorize little number starring Sally Hawkins as Poppy, an eternally and somewhat irrationally optimistic London schoolteacher. When her bicycle is stolen, she’s forced into driving lessons with an ornery and possibly unbalanced driving instructor (Eddie Marsan) who challenges her cheery disposition. Some viewers seem threatened by Poppy’s relentlessly positive outlook, and her constant patter can be grating, but she’s also oddly appealing. She’s also not blind. She’s perfectly aware of the darkness around her, she simply has a certain way of dealing with it. The film is sort of episodic in nature and I haven’t decided yet what to take from it, but I liked it.
Next was Oliver Stone’s W. I didn’t expect a lot, but I still held out hope it would have more to offer than some reviews suggested. Josh Brolin’s performance continues to resonate a day later, but for me the film was mostly a misguided dud. You can read more specific thoughts in the LiC review below.
Last but not least was Robert De Niro in Barry Levinson’s Hollywood satire What Just Happened? This story of a Hollywood producer whose life is crumbling around him was well acted all around and often funny, but I kind of wish the satire had been more outrageous and more stinging — something more along the lines of Blake Edwards’ classic S.O.B. Nevertheless, it was pretty good. De Niro was good as the producer, Catherine Keener played nicely against type as a hard-edged studio executive and John Turturro had some of the best scenes as a nervous agent.
The most surprising moment of the weekend was the very positive reaction given the Zack and Miri Make a Porno trailer by a group of leathery, old, wealthy West Los Angelinos prior to W.
Filed under: Watercooler
Tags: Alexis Zegerman, Barry Levinson, Blake Edwards, Catherine Keener, Happy-Go-Lucky, John Turturro, Josh Brolin, Mike Leigh, Oliver Stone, Robert De Niro, S.O.B., Sally Hawkins, W., What Just Happened?, Zack and Miri Make a Porno
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- Coming Soon: Happy-Go-Lucky
Well, as I wrote as we’ve corresponded, Craig, that sounds like an interesting mixed bag of theatrical releases to see.
Late Thursday night I watched the director’s cut of Nixon again, which is in my opinion Oliver Stone’s finest hour–or 3-1/2 hours. I also watched this little B-movie The Case of the Baby-Sitter, which was entirely forgettable.
Friday, I saw W., and, I think my opinion is rather close to yours, Craig, though I haven’t found myself sufficiently inspired to write a review yet. Yours looks great and I’ll read it tomorrow–er, later today. I then saw Danger Zone, another B-movie that was entirely forgettable.
Saturday, it was High School Confidential with Russ Tamblyn–which was endlessly amusing and delectable, even with the forced hammering morality at the tail end. Then The Snorkel, which was a reasonably entertaining little psychological thriller that at 74 minutes was just about as well paced as one could hope for. After that, it was Rio Bravo again, which didn’t disappoint–never does–and then Nil by Mouth again, Gary Oldman’s highly effective take on the kind of existence he knew when he was quite young. My best friend had never seen Out of the Past before, so after many occasions of telling him he should see it, I took him from his house at which he and members of his family (mother, sister, nephew, aunt, uncle) had me over for dinner, to mine so he could finally see it–I was extraordinarily pleased to see him become enraptured by it. Thank goodness! We discussed it for hours on end afterwards.
Sunday: The Earrings of Madame de…–what a film, it only gets better… (Thanks, Sam!) Followed that up with Rachel, Rachel, Paul Newman’s superb directorial debut starring a fine Joanne Woodward. Scotland Yard Inspector with Cesar Romero and pre-Moneypenny Lois Maxwell was up next, and it was a barely okay crime comedy-drama that the DVD package called a noir for some reason (marketing, naturally). Followed up by The Big Chase, which was somewhat fun. Then a second viewing of The Kiss starring Greta Garbo, followed by, I believe, a third viewing of Queen Christina.
I’m very glad you liked Happy-Go-Lucky Craig, and it does take time to try and understand exactly what Mike Leigh was trying to convey – not that I have figured it out or anything, but it took me a while to notice the subtext and the social commentary. Only after my second viewing of it did I notice that, lol.
Didn’t have much time for movies this weekend, but I saw Eagle Eye and sort of hated it, but it’s hard to hate on such pathetic things, it seems cruel. So I’ll just say I didn’t like it. Despite the cast, and despite Shia, I can’t even pretend.
Then I saw “Brideshead Revisited” and for the first half or so, I felt the same way Miranda did about it, but the other half was so languid and tedious and heavy handed that I side with Sam and Matt on it. Overall, I guess I find myself in the middle, I didn’t like it but I didn’t hate it. It was a beautiful film though.
There were some pre-pre-release screenings of High School Musical 3 that I couldn’t attend, but I wanted to. Yep, I’m one of the few non-twelve year old girls who actually like High School Musical. And I’m proud of it.
There are a whole bunch of press screenings this week for Religulous, Synecdoche, New York, Pride and Glory and Body of Lies, but I can’t attend a single one of them. *shrugs*
Before I get down to the proper issues of The Watercooler, I would like to say first off that I am delirious with glee over the Boston Red Sox defeat at the hands of the Tampa Devil Rays. As a lifelong, diehard Yankee fan (are you there Alison and Dorothy, and maybe Ari?) This capitulation has been a long time coming after those miracle comebacks in recent years against both the Yankees and Cleveland Indians. I am pretty sure that Craig is a Los Angeles Dodger fan, so he already had his heartbreak last week.
Nick, thanks for that reference point on BRIDESHEAD, but I won’t go further with it as I know and respect just how much Miranda loves it. In any case I join with you and Craig and Matt (but not Evan, oddly) in celebrating the latest triumph from Mike Leigh, the effervescent HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, one of the very best films of 2008. How can I think otherwise? I’m a teacher.
Alexander, I salute you again for that weekend, which I’m surely won’t be matched by anyone on these threads. Those two B movies you started off with are indeed forgettable, but HIGH SCOOL CONFIDENTIAL is always fun and NIL BY MOUTH is always compelling. As for RIO BRAVO, MADAME DE…., OUT OF THE PAST (great that you turned your friend on to that seminal noir) RACHEL RACHEL, QUEEN CRISTINA and THE KISS, well all of those speak for themselves. OFTP is close, but MADAME DE is the masterpiece of them all. THE BIG CHASE and SCOTLAND YARD are engaging in a smaller way, and I have never seen THE SNORKEL.
My own weeks was hampered by managing a blogsite (which seemed to take its toll this week more than any other–as all of us know it’s really tough to view and write, especially with all our other responsibilities. I spent a few days this week visiting Halloween stores and buying costumes for the kids and other decorations and scare figures for the lawn.
Autumn is the most wonderful and invigiorating time of the year, especially for those in the leave-turning settings.
I did see a fabulous theatrical presentation in NYC on Saturady night of THE OEDIPUS CYCLE, which included “Oedipus The King,” “Oedipus at Colonus,” and “Antigone” at an off-Broadway Theatre.
I saw only two movies theatrically:
W ** (Friday night)
The Secret Life of Bees *** 1/2 or **** (Sat. afternoon)
W was a dire affair, but I will say more when I write my own review. Craig pretty much had it right as far as I am concerned.
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES was better than I thought it would be and I’m torn between the two star ratings at present. I will have more to say on various blogs and in a review.
On DVD I saw the full four-film Eclipse box of Mizoguchi films, which includes “Osaka Elegy,” “Sisters of the Gion,” “Women of the Night” and “Street of Shame.” I also saw Yoshida’s “Eros plus Massacre,” a Japanese new wave masterwork and a re-viewing of Schrader’s MISHIMA (Criterion) as well as the classic “Barbed Wire.”
Friday night I saw W. with a few friends. We all liked it moderately and came to the general consensus that it was all over the place. Fun to watch, but definitely a movie that didn’t need to be made.
Came back and watched Jennifer Venditti’s documentary Billy the Kid. Enjoyable, but awkward. It’s the kind of film you’d like best if you actually knew Billy … which I don’t. I read on the press release that one critic called it “the perfect antidote to Juno” (or something like that), but I think Juno paints a far more accurate picture of high school life.
The highlight of the weekend was last night’s long-awaited viewing of Carlos Reygadas Silent Light (thanks, Sam!). I’m still processing it, but I will say that I’ve never had a bigger desire start a movie over again right after the credits were over. It definitely has some of the most beautiful photography I’ve ever seen and the locations are simply divine, but I couldn’t help thinking about whether all the filmmakers that Reygadas pays homage to would feel honored or raped (specifically Carl Th. Dreyer). In any case, I need to watch it again.
Looking forward to seeing Silent Light someday, Phillip. Glad to hear you enjoyed this movie I keep hearing good things about.
Nick, I applaud your unabashed appreciation of the HSM series, even if I have no interest in it. Millions of 8-12 years old girls can’t be completely wrong.
Sam and Alexander, you two once again blow me away with your voracious appetite for film.
I saw Trouble the Water Friday, which was excellent. A fine examination of Katrina’s aftermath and the poor in American society.
Also saw Appaloosa, which I’m still processing but I enjoyed it overall. Best end credits sequence I’ve seen in some time and Viggo once again grows in my estimation as an actor. I still intend to get Alexander and Craig’s reviews of it. Haven’t gotten it all together in my mind yet…W. kinda dominated my thinking.
I’ve made my thoughts known on W., which slowly grows to irritate me more and more the further I get away from it.
And can I just say now that I’m so f’ing tired of seeing the trailer for Defiance? If the movie has indeed been delayed, I pray that they will take the trailer out of theaters for at least a couple of weeks. I think I’ve seen it 12 times now. Also tiring of the Australia trailer too, but that one isn’t being nearly as overplayed.
Alexander, I too am impressed by the number of films you take time to watch. Your interest in older films is admirable.
The only thing I saw this weekend (saw “W” early last week) was Rachel Getting Married, which I thought was very good with a couple of reservations. (Additional comments are located on Craig’s review thread of the film.)
After having seen the Happy-Go-Lucky trailer on the big screen, I’m now enthusiastic to see what Leigh is up to. Synecdoche NY still has me curious, and I’m even eager to see Almaric and Deneuve in A Christmas Tale.
Saw Max Payne. Missed opportunity. Fire the screenwriter and the casting director and you *might* have a decent film. Some nice visuals.
Watched A Tale of Two Sisters, which employs the best use of art direction in a horror film that I’ve seen since The Shining. Sadly, it relies upon some of the worst horror genre cliches and ends with a whimper.
Also watched Dexter. I love that show. ‘Nuff said.
And yeah, Defiance’s wide release date has officially changed to mid-January, although they’re doing to the standard L.A./New York Dec. 31st release to qualify for the Oscars.
Then, please, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get those trailers out of theaters until December. SO TIRED OF DEFIANCE. I think I know every line of dialogue now verbatim.
To balance the rest of you all out, I saw absolutely nothing over the weekend. Some of my intended movie-ing time got co-opted by an unexpected invitation to welcome-home celebrations for a good friend just back from a tour in Iraq. Needless to say, no complaints.
Well, Joel, at least you saw both Appaloosa AND W. I remain one of the lone fans of W., but along with Matt Lucas and Philip, I enjoyed it on entertainment value alone.
Speaking of Trouble the Water, the same person who’s supposed to give me that is also supposed to hand over Silent Light. Time to turn the heat up, I think.
Sam, I must say I was little relieved to see the Sox lose as well, if only because I’m going to be in Boston/NH Wed-Sun, and four World Series games would have completely swallowed the entire region. I left Boston before they ever made it to a WS, but I remember well many riots before, during, and after Red Sox playoff series and Patriots championships. So now I can have a peaceful weekend.
So, Craig, it turns out What Just Happened? is actually better than its initial reception? Now I think I’m kind of interested to see it.
I think I left my thoughts on HGL here last week. I land somewhere between you and Nick, which means I liked it a lot.
Hehe, Alexander, at this point I think you feel like you HAVE to report double digit movie viewings here every week. Unbelievable.
To my weekend:
Saturday I finally saw The Pool, which I’ll consider my front runner as best non-documentary film of the year so far (there hasn’t been that much to speak of yet, though). This is not going to make waves anywhere and most people will look past it, but it was another reminder for me how much I like these simple, tender films like Chop Shop and The Grocer’s Son. Great little movie.
Then I saw Rachel Getting Married, which I cannot deny was intelligently written and superbly acted. But I didn’t like the movie. Just didn’t like it. Either the characters grated on me or I just wasn’t moved by their emotional outbursts or I didn’t like the handheld video cinematography. I don’t know. It’s a much better film than Margot at the Wedding, but the fact that I kept thinking about the latter was not a good thing. I would say Rachel is in prime position for the Juno backlash treatment, but at this point I’m happy to leave it as a one-time viewing. Throw some awards at it, fine, but I don’t really feel like watching the whole thing again. Maybe just a few scenes. And why was Tunde Adebimpe so wasted here?
Late night Saturday I found Hard Candy on TV, On Demand for free. I had to watch it, and I couldn’t turn away. Really, really interesting film, and not at all what I expected. I had no idea it was so visually potent. I actually ended up being more impressed with Wilson than I was with Page, but together they were fantastic.
I’ll have to finish a little later…
Ugh, I love, love, LOVE Hard Candy. So freaking twisted and dark, but the sick freak in me loved every second of it.
Thank you for the exhaustive evaluation of the films I watched this weekend, Sam, haha. I love The Earrings of Madame de… but Out of the Past is still tops for me.
Thank you, Pierre.
I need to see The Pool, Daniel, and your statement has me salilvating over it now.
Off-topic a little, but did anyone else think Changeling would receive such middling reviews, from so many critics, many of whom seem to be preternaturally disposed to genuflecting before anything Eastwood makes nowadays? I tell you, my theory that he knew he had something that was no surefire led to him rushing Gran Torino out, like the Flags of Our Fathers-Letters from Iwo Jima situation, becomes stronger by the hour.
I’m with Sam on Happy-Go-Lucky, one of the best this year so far. Another great film by Mike Leigh.
And I’m with Daniel on W. I liked it. It’s not half as great as Nixon or JFK, but I was still engaged and entertained.
In light of W and the upcoming Frost/Nixon, I suppose I should sit down and watch Nixon, Alexander. Riddle me this: does Stone blur the line between fact and fiction like he always does?
Nick, coming from Mike Leigh, I don’t know why I was taken aback by the complexity of HGL…but I was. I was expecting something much lighter and fluffier, but there was a lot of darkness just under the surface and it kept bubbling up.
Sam, I can’t join you in celebrating the Deviled Eggs’ victory. I have no feeling for the Red Sox positive or negative, but for convoluted, irrational reasons I hate Tampa Bay. GO PHILLIES! (and no, I’m not a Dodger fan. I grew up with The Mariners)
Phillip, I agree W was often fun to watch. Some of my favorite bits just had Brolin interacting with one of the other characters. I kind of wish the movie had explored his relationship with Laura more. Though I don’t find the real people compelling, I liked the characters in the movie.
I believe Nick liked Silent Light too so I guess I better get serious about seeing it. http://fataculture.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/review-silent-light/
Joel, are you as tired of Defiance as I am of Joe the Plumber? Seriously, I was tired of him after the 5th mention during the debate and neither McCain nor the media will let it go.
Pierre, the Christmas Tale trailer looked fantastic. I’d sort’ve had my eye on it since Cannes but was surprised to see the comic touch for some reason.
Evan,. how was a video game turned into a movie a missed opportunity? Surely your expectations weren’t astronomical. Was it one of those situations where it showed glimmers of goodness only to be buried in the muck?
Though I had a different take on RGM, Daniel, it’s hard for me to argue with your position. There was plenty in that film that could lead a person to not liking it, on that much we agree. Ultimately it worked for me because it felt real and had a raw energy. A little pretentious, but not overly so.
I liked Hard Candy for the first half or so, but it kind of devolved into a conventional thriller after a while. Page and Wilson were great.
Add Pool to my list of movies to catch up on that includes Jellyfish.
Let me toss my hat in for Hard Candy as well. Should have netted Page a nomination then. One of the best movies of 2006.
“Riddle me this: does Stone blur the line between fact and fiction like he always does?”
A line about a leopard and his spots comes to mind.
I’m with Craig on Hard Candy, word for word, again.
No, my expectations for Max Payne were in the gutter. But when I saw some visuals on display, and the way they ratcheted up the thematic intensity in the finale, the parts that sucked seemed that much suckier in comparison. If the whole film had been terrible, I wouldn’t have had much to say, but there were parts and visuals that I loved. It’s a standard revenge story, and not a particularly original one, but it could have been fairly decent.
The casting director really needs to get their hand slapped, or whoever cast Chris Bridges, who’s handle “Ludacris” becomes revelatory in light of his acting ability.
I like Wahlberg so I was hoping it might be decent guilty pleasure type fun. I even enjoyed that sniper movie he did to a point. But the reviews looked pretty brutal.
Thanks for that Joel.
And thanks for your perceptive views on the Red Sox fever that would have stopped everything in its tracks in the New England area if they had won, Daniel. You definitely caught a break there! haha.
And I presently have THE POOL as my third-favorite movie of the year behind THE VISITOR and EDGE OF HEAVEN, so I am with you there lock, stock and barrel, and largely for the reasons you eloquently (Jeff’s not around is he?) pose.
Craig: Nick did indeed write a magnificent review of SILENT NIGHT, which I applaud you for linking. I will also acknowledge that Matthew Lucas wrote a great review and did a lot to promote the film at his site. I think he has it near the top of his 2008 list, but I wasn’t counting it as a 2008 film myself. If I did it would also be in the Top 10; I will have to re-evaluate my stance there.
I don’t really care much for Tampa either, but they are a Cinderella team and a foil to the Big, bad Bosox, who are the scourge of Yankee fans. The Devil Rays defeat of Red Sox Nation, will probably (your Phillies endorcement, notwithstanding) win them a World Series Championship.
Pierre: I am dying to compare notes with you on RACHEL.
Alexander: It’s a tough call between MADAME DE and OUT OF THE PAST. Depends on what mood we’re in I guess.
Phillip, I know you have been promoting SILENT NIGHT as well and I look forward to your inevitable review on it.
Yep Ari, I concur, HAPPY-G0-LUCKY will surely “place” among the best films of the year. Nick Plowman is (happily) a huge fan too.
You know JennyBee, your weekend was truthfully–no movies and all–the most priceless of us all.
We saw Burn After Reading and despite finding it moderately entertaining was ultimately disappointed in the effort. Particularly in light of the talent involved. For us, it never seemed to find its rhythm and the general level of unreality combined with such exaggerated characterization made it seem more broad pantomime (in the British sense) than lightly satiric farce. With the exception of The Ladykillers I love Coen bros comedies, but the usual memorable dialogue and sight gags were absent, as was the presence of a character that touched the heart. I guess the Richard Jenkins role was written to work this way, but for us Ted was too peripheral and devoid of charisma to evoke deeper sympathy. I certainly wouldn’t rate it a bad film, more a middling one. Among its strengths were Malkovich and Swinton’s performances of the humorless and Pitt’s cartoonish wackiness. But most notable of all was the fine score.
As Craig has often noted, humor is particularly subjective. When a film like this doesn’t quite work for you the whole experience can feel flat.
Yeah, what Sam said about JB. Sometimes it’s hard to see how movies fit in at all in such times.
Sorry to hear that BAR didn’t soar for you Sartre. As you know I liked it quite a bit, but that’s how these things go I suppose.
For me it was kind of a palate cleanser after the sheer joy that was NCfOM and it got me excited for their next project.
Amen to Evan on HARD CANDY…it’s still Page’s finest hour.
Jennybee, that sounds like a much better use of your time than movies. Hope you had fun.
My weekend moviewatching consisted of the All-night horrorthon at the New Beverly here in Los Angeles, from 7:30pm Saturday night to 8am Sunday. The lineup consisted of Dario Argento’s Phenomena (in the original American shortened ‘Creepers’ version), The House on Sorority Row (post-Friday the 13th slasher, but not too stupid), Zombie (Lucio Fulci), House (William Katt), Teenage Mother (60s teen edu-sploitation), The Power (killer stone idol) and Raw Force.
Raw Force was the real find of the night, an early-80s action movie in which a group of tourists (including three guys from the ‘Burbank Karate Club’) get hijacked in the South China Sea by gangsters who kidnap women to sell to monks on an isolated island for cannibalism purposes, then who raise the dead bodies of former kung-fu and samurai masters to battle the good guys. It was amazing.
Don’t have much time — recuperating after a mammoth midterm paper — but I will add that I caught MAX PAYNE and WHAT JUST HAPPENED this weekend. Both were mediocre; the former is typical action-mold dreck and the latter I wish was funnier but spends too much time on familiar situations over biting satire. Oh well, I suppose.
This weekend I can look forward to HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and SAW, two FAR more profound cinematic endeavors, right? (Whether I’ll see CHANGELING before Monday depends entirely upon whether or not I have the will to stay awake for 2 1/2 hours for the Midnight show… will be in San Diego all weekend, and they don’t get it til the 31st).
Heading out to PRIDE AND GLORY real soon here… hopefully it’s better than the Toronto-consensus would lead me to believe.
Just finishing up my comment here…
So Hard Candy is an LiC favorite? Interesting.
I saw Superbad again and found myself chuckling. Actually I only saw the last hour - twice, but it was still pretty funny. I didn’t remember Rogen and Hader adding that much comedy to it the first time around.
I saw about half an hour of Reign of Fire and realized for the first time that it actually takes place in the future and not the past. Bale looked solid as usual, but when I saw the dragons I was reminded why I didn’t see it in the first place.
As Craig has often noted, humor is particularly subjective. When a film like this doesn’t quite work for you the whole experience can feel flat.
Sartre, I’ll never question your right to be disappointed in Burn After Reading. In fact, I share that sort of deflated feeling you seem to have had while watching the film. All I can say is that I don’t really consider it a comedy, and therefore I’m not disappointed when it seems to stumble in that regard.
The film’s deeply ominous score was the big tip-off for me. I viewed BAR as more tragic than comedic. In this context, I give it a higher rating — though I do feel, as you do, that the film’s individual components do not meld as well as one might hope.
To me, BAR represents a transition for the Coens, and I’m anxious to see whether their upcoming work can combine the ironies and contrasts of their previous original work into something deeper and truly stellar on all counts.
Jeffmcm wins the unofficial Watercooler Prize for the effort, for supporting a great local theater and for discovering some good shit.
Danny B. I had a similar reaction to WJH. Though I liked it a little better, I do wish it had been funnier. The audience I saw it with (West LA…could’ve been plenty of Hollywood types) laughed quite a bit though. I don’t know.
Hooray for me!
Pierre, I agree with you that BAR is more tragedy than comedy (although often the best way to view tragedy is as comedy) similar to an astringent Billy Wilder movie.
Pierre and jeff, I could only see farce - a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations. Those elements were so strong that I had no sense of tragedy. We’re certainly given tragic events, but the almost immediate resumption of the same comedic tone through to the end with no linked denouement meant that for me they carried no real weight. There was Osbourne’s vent to Ted about everyone being idiots - but I found that more of a device for offering the film’s machinations as a metaphor for a broader sociopolitical context.
Well, if you didn’t see it, you didn’t see it. I saw that final scene in the CIA offices more as the Coens saying to each other, ‘So how do we end this movie?’ ‘How about a guy behind a desk saying something funny, and we’re out?’ ‘Good enough!’ I don’t consider the scene to be especially meaningful beyond providing a perfunctory wrap-up to the film.
I saw the conclusion of Burn After Reading as something of a commentary on the entire laborious (for the characters–it’s not a criticism of the filmmaking) “mess,” like Ed Tom Bell’s vocalized moroseness and the confronting of reality at the end of No Country for Old Men, rendered in this instance in a kind of blackly comic pessimism, or, simply realism (as related to the nature of fallen man), a cinematic form of borderline post-narrative dyspepsia.
“a cinematic form of borderline post-narrative dyspepsia”
I can’t think of a better way to put it.
CWTY. Congratulations for making the first comment in nearly 20,000 to get thrown in the trash.
Your opinions on movies are always welcome, but random, inarticulate and unprovoked pot shots at LiC readers are not.
I loathe censorship, but not as much as anonymous Internet assholes. Screw you for forcing me to make that choice.
Count me among those who tapped into the tragedy of BAR. In many ways it feels like a slighter companion piece to Fargo. It looks into the mess of humanity and laughs but it ultimately gets caught in the throat a little bit.
Someone shoot Poppy for me. Thank you.
would you guys/gals please shut up about happy go lucky (*sorry nick*) *please*
i saw this last night for free (that good or whomver) and her or on nick’s page one of the refs to this was these years ‘juno’.
as far as your love hate towards the lead chraacter. nah it’s this years ‘juno’ in that it’s insanely over rated film that way to talked about yeah…so what’s your excuse indie for making the same mistakes.. ;)
*ha ha ha* soeey yes i’m seriously laughing at you.
this film what’s it called happy go lucky was at what 96 % at rottent t. now it’s at 94 % and it has what an 84 % at the immortal meta critic.
oh the pain won’t end.
really i didn’t hate this film. yep at laughed at parts. but i laughed at parts of ‘juno’ (not that i remember what those parts are. )
really despite whatever points while watching ‘happy go lucky’ i just keep saying could it please end. will it end. ??
i didn’t hate it. but do i care about it/no and no…but i chase you believers in the film out of town ??
i now hate it. just based on ther ultra postive drooling over it. what is this ???
another film i thought was just ok/throw away/forget it. has the blog nation in whirl of postive energy.
i have one word for you… *jellyfish*
happy go lucky isn’t even the thing i hate. because i don;t think there’s anything there. oh will this years mediocracy please end. and will *you* stop raving about it/lapping every bit.
thank god or whomever i didn’t see wall-e/dark knight or else i’d still be raving in the ‘hell no’ fasjion abouthat. (and you think my jokes/jabs at no country for sick of guy movies man and juno were/stall)
‘i look around and all i see are waves and waves of mediocrity’
hmm no i wasn’t annoyed at the poopy character. no hate towards her but the film /*blah*
and yes i’m maybe the least realistic adult ever.(and yes i get headaches if i have to make a ‘real’ decision.i hate loud notices. i don’t have an mp3 player.what sort of an aduly am i ?? the one that wish people would shut up the dark knight and happy go lucky.yeah i’m the one….and don’t forget ‘the music was crap/expect one…and i can *always* count on the blog nation to make what i feel are the same mistakes. and yes it’s soooooooooooooo constant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
just a passbale diversion. i not getting the raving and i didn
t like it much. which of course expalins whay it’s gonna be one years better hyped/drooled on/ making essentail lsit indie films of the year and through in potential oscar dreams for your cd bonus points.
and you’ve got something i’d pick up in the used bins for $2 and the purchase depends on my mood and what i had for breakfast..
notice i really said nothing about the film.i have nothing to say about about it. which is how i often feel circa now when leaving or at the cinema.(yeah i feel that way even if i like stuff nowdays. i’ve died )
come on happpy fo lucky fans. give me one good reason. to rave about your ‘feel good film of the year’ or give me none/i really don’t care.
and i got to love the rash of ‘feel good films’ that make me feel even stupider/even worse for going.(why is this stuff going to the top ??)
*yay* some accomplishment.
you never flip kisses on the comments you send/misery…is your only friend.
thanks happy go lucky…
and do films play entirely different if your not on the east caost/west coast or write a blog. because so often repeat i have no idea why you’re all raving. yes i said that……
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY is “overated” to YOU glimmer, not to many of us and certainly not to me and 95% of the critical establishment!!! Everyone I have spoken too–educators–intellectuals–huge lovers of quality cinema have praised this film with vigour.
I think you are one of LIC’s most endearing human beings, and I love all your e mails, but sad to say I rarely agree with you on films. It seems to me like you almost deliberately dislike all the films with the highest praise.
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY is one of the best films of 2008. If you want me to be specific, I’ll be glad to send you my review as soon as I’m finished. But until then go to MC and RT and read terrific review after terrific review of it.
You threw down the gauntlet and I called you on it.
Peace.
“a cinematic form of borderline post-narrative dyspepsia”
Thank you Alexander, that’s a welcome mouthful . . . errr . . . gutful.
And I’m still giddy that jeffmcm and I are on the same page in having copied/pasted the same line. Sartre, n’er you mind. Our divergence of opinion on BAR revolves around a tipping point that can easily go either way.
glimmer, I think I get where you’re coming from about mediocre films. So far this year, I feel — once again — that we have to grade on the curve to find enough films to truly, unreservedly praise.
I haven’t seen Happy-Go-Lucky, so what I’m about to say was pulled out of my nether regions. I have this image of someone saying to Mike Leigh, “Why are your films so depressing and gutwrenchingly ‘organic’”? I further imagine Leigh mulling over this reaction and coming up with an answer: “OK — I’ll make a film about someone who ignores all that muck and make a statement out of that.” So, I dunno whether this relates to the film, but I’m still interested to see it.
Glimmer, what’s the last movie you really liked besides Lars?
Pierre, I think youre on the right page with regard to Leigh’s intentions for HGL, but the intersting thing to me about Poppy is that she doesn’t completely ignore the muck. She’s very aware of it, but mostly she does her best not to let it drag her down. Otherwise she’d just be blindly chipper and it would be….well…irritating.
On the other hand, I see KB and others found her annoying anyway. I can see that…I really can. At times she irritated me too, but in the big picture I found her rather endearing.
I agree with Pierre’s position here, which rightly laments the sorry state of affairs at the cinema, what will a number of overated films crowding our screens.
But I confidently and without second-thought issue strong praise to Mike Leigh for his newest effort.
I am and happy and lucky enough to say that I have a copy of the DVD, which was sent to me from the UK., so anyone and everyone is welcome to it. It will play on your Region 1 machines.
My e mail address is……TheFountain26@aol.com
“At times she irritated me too”
Again, I’m shooting in the dark, but I’m guessing that Leigh wants viewers to be a little irritated with the character.
Indeed Pierre and I suspect Leigh himself is/was.
Personally, I believe that Leigh was not irritated by her, but rather fascinated with how his intentions with Poppy as a character would be taken, even if throughout many interviews he constantly fights with the interviewees, lol. If he is irritated with anything, it’s the sad state of our world where a positive thinker is perceived as a kooky flake of a woman that some have described as “borderline retarded.” I think Leigh wants us to question our personal, and obviously varied, reactions to Poppy, and how our reactions are sort of statements about how comfortable we feel in the presence of someone who can remain optimistic (not blindly) even through hardship (albeit slight hardships, but that is subjective). Instead of just moaning about all our troubles in life, there are people in this world who can laugh through all the shit they have to go through – because getting down about everything doesn’t help one little bit.
I also think Leigh created Poppy in such a way that perhaps we can learn something about ourselves, and perhaps try to deal with the tough times in a more productive, healthy way than Poppy’s driving instructor for example. A lot of people have said that Eddie Marsan’s character was the “most realistic” aspect of “Happy-Go-Lucky” and the most Mike Leigh-esque character in the film, but I honestly believe people only feel that way because they can relate to Scott more than they can Poppy, which is terribly sad. Poppy has a sense of humour, and for those who were irritated by her for the entirety of the films running time; the joke’s on you I think.
Essentially Poppy is an educator – shaping the minds of future generations in this world filled with heinous amounts of negativity as well as far too much focus placed on that very negativity, teaching those kids that no matter what, staying positive isn’t that hard and it is in fact the best way to deal when things go wrong. She has a paying job, friends, lives a modest life without conforming to society’s ideal of the “correct” way of living like an adult. She’s content, and passionate for life, she is deeply caring and considerate, she’s smart, mature (yes, being happy, chirpy and optimistic can be mature as well, perhaps more so than anything else in this life) and she is affected by everything going on around her but it is her response to them that separates her from other characters that Leigh has created in the past.
sam ‘can’t you see me calling you out.’ *ha ha*
no i’m not doing this on purpose it just works out that way.
maybe i honesty didn’t care for the pixar films i’ve seen. maybe i really don’t give a danm enough about superhero movies to care if the dark knight is the best of this sort ever. and even if ir was good. matbe i’m just beyond sick of this stuff going to top.always…
it’s crushing out everything…
really sam after the screening last night there was guy that was with his girlfriend/wife whatever and he was saying something similar to how he thought the acting was good etc. but he didn’t like the film…
weird i felt the same. and we talked for a second before the film. (hey he was seating two seats away from me.and i got to seat next to girlfriend/wife hey that’s not bad a for geek)
and he/ we/were both exicted and we both knew of this films high r.t. rating. we were both excited/buzzed and ready to ride to happy go lucky wave to bliss.
and tehn we say the film and my views were pretty similair to this this stranger…
and you know what sam/ we’re not on the east coast/west coast of part of the blog ‘mafia’ nor are we mid brow critics… so maybe we’re seeing this a bit differently…
really i’m not being purposely difficult.and i still don’t know what sort of movie fan i am. (weird i tend to like smaller talkish films.so happy go lucky should have been up my alley. oh wait correction i seem to like smaller films that have no chance of being a big deal in blogland/and have no chance of breaking the stratosphere finically/or review wise.sorry… but can you see me ?? *ha ha*)
and now it’s fall/but it always seems the same.
the same as last year same as always.
i don’t know what sort of movie fan i am. but i’m not a generalist (and yeah that how i label everyone here/and the reviews at meta etc. you’re open to everything. but i’m not… so if i’m not a generalist whay should i drool over the most movies you guys/gals do ????
yep happy go lucky is over rated to me. and yes sam it is all about it. what i’m supposed to do perceive things through your vision ??? *ha ha ha*
and yep sam i have read some of those reviews. i caught a free screening of this. but would have paid (it opens ‘in my area’ friday) based on the words in blogs lic/fataculture and the insane raving at meta/rotten critics. i read those reviews and i gave it chance.
and i didn’t like it. so now i question more why are people raving. fair enough ???
and meta critics. critics. well hey maybe they do get alot of stuff wrong. they would shut up about the ‘no country for movies unless you’re a’ for the guys’ movie fan last year’ thing when it coame out. so in my eyes plenty of mistakes have been made. if that makes me a miniroity. we’ll fine maybe i shouls speak more since no else is gonna do it. *ha ha*
take that film generalist… :)
hey sam remeber last year. there was this big ‘juno’ wave.and i never went along even 3% but juno was supposedly so cllo/good whatever. but i said no…
and at whatever point after it all. this juno/d.c. backlash came in. and i was doing before it was ‘cool’/ok do so.
so do i get my cool points for not going and being *me* where are my net visionary points damn it.!!!
and if a backlash for happy go lucky starts next year sam/you can say you read it *first* ha ha…
i’m sorry that all these ‘great’; films can’t survive the harshness of being exposed to the geek light.i just wish that when i exposed a film to this it’s director or whatever would retire. ;)
sam i’ll read your review and it could be a great one too.but i’m not gonna like this film. and i’m not gonna root for it/it’s award chances either.
because yep when this raises the chance i have of anything i like or hope for getting even 3% of it’s due is none. you just close your eyes and it happens all the time.
yeah sam i wish ‘i could save this anger for my bed/and rest my stupid head. i wish only to have some fun be a part of everyone.’
but if ‘everyone’ equals happy go lucky. f*** it. i don’t want in…i’ll cross the street etc. i don ‘t want to see the light.
i’ll stick with films that have no chance of being the indie hype film of the moment/has no award chances. and not too much chance of making 10’s (but as long as pixar/talking animals/super hero get ’s in *that’s* what counts…)
and 95% of the critical establishment!!! Everyone I have spoken too–educators–intellectuals–huge lovers of quality cinema have praised this film with vigour.
and you know what sam i really don’t care. i somehow bet if i compared fave books/cds with them i would mesh with even less. so forget about them (in a i should take their word as the word/it must be good since…) ok…
get it sam it’s about me.my visions perceptions and how *i* perceive a film. if it meshes well with the lic ‘masses’ i’ll chime in with *yeah*. hey wasn’t i in that my blueberry nights discussion giving hi-fives. *yes*
and i’f i’m the only human that has no interest in the dark knight/wall-e nor thoughtb happy go lucky id worth even a percetage of the drooling praise it’s getting/well maybe i should say something. since no one else is/ and repeat as always it’s only just me…
‘this world is so cold /and i want to go home’ *ha ha ha ha*
i want to go home like all those talking animals do in those lame cartoon flicks. but i know there is no home and i know no has made it safe for sexless wimp geek view…
i’m sorry i’ve tried. i know some of the fuses are unscrewed.but i’ve tried to recreate the view(world view) slighly.
i don’t care if i fail/i don’t care to be in sync/i don’t care to be you/i don’t care for happy go lucky. and since i really have nothing/i guess i can say this… :)
you got something to say/i know how it is to feel that way/you can join in my hate song/we can make it long and long/ it can say all things i can’t say/ it can right the *wrongs* i can’t right/it can pay all the *debts* i can’t pay/i t can turn my weakness to might/i’ve got a 100 hates in me/gonna put them in my hate song…
sam the this geek view. yep happy go lucky is over rated. ghost town was rather under rated.
hey way can’t a ghost town even get 15% of the hype of happy go lucky ??? thank you indie’ and f**k you. it’s not like this film is too esoteric or something and sure was alot funnier than happy go lucky.
fuuny ghost town is probaly more of throw away film but i thought it was funnier and had a bigger heart than happy go lucky too.
eat that indie. so nope sam it’s not just ahhpy go lucky i’m just more annoyed that stuff i liek can’r fet even 15% of the hype of whatever this weeks movie sensation blogs are putting to the top. always….
it’s always for last place and whatever i like is always outshined/out cooled and have no chance at well anything…..
and yep i saw this happy go lucky thing and was pretty underwhelmed.
i specifically mention ghost town.because well i like it sam. also because you said you don’t think this movie is really top whatever lsit movie. well why not.
i mean it’s not like when i see best of list i’m not gonna see super hero stuff/cartons/summer blockbuster. so why can’r ghort town have a chance.
oh wait because i like is some how factoring in. i feel sorry for whomever that worked on even 3 seconnds of a movie i liked. i’m sorry i’ve cursed you. you’re bound to fail in ‘indies’ eyes always.
sam you mean to tell me even a kung fu panda’s is seen as *so much better* than a ghost town ?? *arrrgh*
yep that how it seems and it’s always that way. and you know it. so don’t even mock question me sam.ask some questions of your beloved ‘indie’.
they know all the answers and theye give the good reveiws. they control the hype wagon.everyone can just nod along/since you’re usually in sync. glad it makes you smile….
sam…*answer* do you think happy go lucky would have such a high rating if it wasn’t from a name director ?? let’s go. take out the ball and let’s roll…
I have to agree a little with Glimmer that the amount of critical support HGL has received is interesting only as a statistic - it doesn’t suffice as a critical argument for the movie in and of itself.
“I honestly believe people only feel that way because they can relate to Scott more than they can Poppy, which is terribly sad.” Well said Nick, and I agree.
Interesting that you see her as kind of Leigh’s litmus test. People’s reactions to the character really does say a lot about them.
Ultimately I found her endearing. She talked to much, which is a problem for me being generally a misanthropic sort, but I admired her.
nick awesome words. and i still think this film is beyond/beyond/over rated. when i a film is as over arted as this one. hell it’s beraly ok. ok it’s barely ok im my eyes. happy ??
i’m not gonna give it additional points for uh let’s say the type of things nick mention/which yes other people have said similiar stuff too.
with and oscar run possibly happening and one of the highest r.t rating of the year. i actually think my liking a movie is what put it over in my books not giving points for being the ‘right’ side of things or whatever. or did you notice this about the chracter type stuff…(and yes nick i did notice some of this. i just didn’t care.maybe in a differnt film)
it takes a film like happy go lucky to ruin my day. some accomplsihment. get it away.
my top 10 list for this year will not include the dark knight/wall-e /happy go lucky or a summer blockbuster. yes i’m worse than a pedophile.
*thank you*
HGL is one of those films I have a hard time entering into long and thoughtful discussion over. Poppy didn’t irritate me, per se, but she didn’t fascinate me either. Other than the scenes with Marsen (brilliant, by the way), I was somewhat bored. But I think that mostly comes down to my ambivalence towards Poppy herself. She IS the movie, for better or for worse, and your appreciation of the film is directly tied to your appreciation of her.
In other HGL news, I accidentally ran my review early for my region (misread the release date) and almost got my head handed to me on a platter. Thankfully, HGL is a smaller film. If I had made the same mistake for, say, Quantum of Solace, I would be kissing press screenings goodbye.
I’m extremely happy Glim, whatever you think about the film, it’s your opinion, I don’t mind. I’ve had my say, everyone knows where I stand on the film, and I have no problem with people simply not liking the film anymore. Personally, I’m glad critics like the movie, If they didn’t like it….I don’t care either. Good for them. I couldn’t give a crap what they think, honestly. But I still am totally okay with you not liking it Glim. In fact, after Juno last year, my skin is thicker than ever. I like a lot of the same stuff you like Glim, so hey, we have some stuff in common at least :) The fact that you think you are worse than a paedophile scares me a little [jokes]
I love that I can publish my reviews months early and I never get told shit by the powers that be, I guess I am *that* small that I can do whatever I like and not get noticed! I doubt I have ever actually posted a review of a film specifically for its release in my country anyway, lol, if I ever do post early its for the sake of trying to stay current in terms of the US release schedule. I love being invisible sometimes. Just sometimes.
Hey Jeff, please explain to me further why you have an unwritten rule that just about every film that gets high praise from professional critics is “automatically” disqualified for such consideration from you???
Why are the opinions of these great critics only “statistics” and why is YOUR opinion that the film’s excessive praise unwarranted?
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY deserves every bit of the praise it is getting!
Sam, I haven’t seen Happy-Go-Lucky. My point is that to use ‘all critics like movie X’ as an argument for why some particular person should also like it is invalid as an argument in and of itself. It’s suggestive but not sufficient.
Hey glimmer, get your facts straight!
GHOST TOWN, which I liked too, received a fantastic 85% rating at RT (107 favorable and 19 negative) and it received a sterling 72% at the most difficult MC site. You call that BAD? What is this 15% you are talking about and why are you used a completely false argument to back up your unrelated comparison to HAPPY-GO-LUCKY?
That name director argument, I’m afraid is lame. Not all of Leigh’s films received great reviews at all.
And what about “name director” Spike Lee???
Why did he get clobbered over the head with the reviews on nis newest film? There are many other instances, but I’ll let it be.
I agree with what you are saying Jeff.
However at this site some have always taken devil’s advocate positions against prohibitively praised films. If this site were in existence several years ago, it’s a given many would have turned against Alexander Payne’s SIDEWAYS.
Nick:
That was a fabulous essay you wrote (above) on the film! Terrific insights there!
and glimmer, I admit I was engaged in all you said there. I didn’t agree with everything but I have to hand it to you–you did make a number of valid points. And thanks for saying you wanted to read my review, much appreciated.
sam… haven’t i said similiar times here at the lic about films i like not being able to get more than 72% meta. yes i’ve joked about that alot.because it’s mostly true.and i’ve said about eight other tilmes (at least) on this site.
the only film i’m liked this year that gone over 72% was paranoid park (unless there’s been some new reviews of films i’ve liked.this still true…i haven’t checked on this for awhile. but i think it’s still true…)
my 15 % think was more a joke/over exaggeration. my point being and i thought would be obvious to those that have seen my words sprayed here. is that i feel stuff i like as i’ve stated over 3000 times seems to have no chance of being the indie hype senastion.
hence forth my 15 % comment. now i like ghost town is it considred anyway near as good/nor as hyped as happy go lucky ??. the films aren’t related nor really similair.
but i guess you could label them both as a ‘comedies’
but really sam i was just playing with your statement about ghost town
uh this statement
Sam Juliano - Sep 24 ‘08, 10:02 am
I agree. It won’t come within hailing distance of any ten-best lists here, despite an unexpectedly impressive 87% at RT, yet in a summer of awful commercial films, it sticks out like a sore thumb in a very good sense.
see sam even you made a statement about ghost town being unlikely to make lists.
but considering all the stuff i expect to make list that will surely have me eyes rolling. i really don’t see why it shouldn’t. but could lack of hype being considred important/figure in. maybe.
and if there’s gonna be room on list for ‘lighter’ thinkgs like happy go lucky. why doesn’t ghost town have a chance…… ??? could the question i asked/factor in.maybe and that was the question. or a question and i think it’s damn good one too….
re the director thing. not as lame as you think. maybe not clear but my slant was….
here we go…. yes i know not all leigh films are viewed the same. but he ahs a reveiwer fan base. and i think they may have given it/this film extra points because they like it. (next your gonna tell me that people don’t give additional points to things/directors/musican that that like. )
and i think that’s also a legit questuion since i’ve read reveiws that try to place happy go lucky with the context of other leigh fims. or how poppy ’s contrast with characters from leighs past film. or how happy go lucky has some simliar to his supposedly funnier earlier frilms or how it contrast tone wise with whatever films he’s done.
so yes reveiwers are aware that they’re seeing a mike leigh film. and who doesn’t want to see an old fave do well ?? so if the fave as done a good film maybe it get get’s a few additional points ??
i can’t prove this and it really doesn’t matter.
my comment as you know was meant to be taking in a comedic type fashion (maybe i’ll get a ghost writer so i can say something funny) to express my bafflement about this film high ratings.
but like most comedic statements the person saying/writing it. feels there’s some truth behind it. sorry sam.
and i’ll play it again and so own.i’m not singing the happy go lucky praise theme song. *la la la*
sam re this thread. couldn’t you learn something from the lead character from a fave film of you’s this year.poppy… and smile. *ha ha ha*
So, at around midnight last night I’m watching Antonioni’s Cronaca di un amore, and I’m thinking: this man was able to symmetrically structure his venturous filmic disquisitions in a consistently pervasive manner while displaying and maintaining a pertinaciously multifarious canvas. The doomed past lovers, the class configuration described by Paola’s relative poverty intruding upon the haughty environs of the upper class (an artistic bridging of the neorealism with Antonioni’s more particular elliptical interests of Antonioni) and the cyclical nature of the romantic relationship, keenly conveyed and communicated by the characters themselves.
The elusiveness is already there, but Antonioni is more doggedly insular in his perspective than in, say, the more external (and by extention, political) Zabriskie Point or even The Passener. The moodiness of say, the wandering L’Eclisse is foreshadowed here, and also the resuscitation of such primal concerns, like in Identificazione di una donna.
My mind just could not stop doing backflips over this.
Until I watched The Narrow Margin.
“hmmm…no i wasn’t annoyed at the poopy character.”
glim, you are TRULY a treasure.
“I haven’t seen HAPPY GO LUCKY, so what I’m about to say has been pulled out of my nether regions.”
Pierre, you’re right up there in the same category as glim.
Incidentally, I adore Sam as well. DEEPLY.
But I think glim does have a point.
This cinematic year has been a huge letdown compared to the enormous riches of 2007. Whether you’ve enjoyed the films you’ve seen the last few months or not, I think we’re pretty much all on that particular page.
For the record (in case anyone’s forgotten - hah hah), I thought NO COUNTRY was highly overrated, I loved JUNO (much more than I ever expected to) and (with the exception of several things like HEATH’S performance) loathed THE DARK KNIGHT unreservedly. Considering I’m one of the biggest female BATMAN fans on the planet, it was a terrible disappointment…
People either think alike or disagree all the time. No big deal. But I did adore some of the films that glim has championed this year - like PRICELESS, MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS etc.
HAPPY GO LUCKY arrives here Friday. I’m not impressed with MIKE LEIGH’S methods of shaping character and story (no actual script, just tons of improvisation and rehearsal that gradually fleshes things out - I have too much reverence for the written word, thank you very much) but I must admit that he does get results.
However, the Academy should refrain from nominating him for screenplay awards. WTH is that?
I liked NAKED, worshipped VERA DRAKE and really enjoyed SECRETS & LIES. (Despite the fact that much of it was fairly overwrought.)
I don’t generally dig these perky upbeat little Mary Sunshine types of women in real life. So I have no idea how I’ll react to HGL.
But, however it shakes out, I doubt that there will be any middle ground where I’m concerned….
Come on. He still has ’screenplays’ but he just arrives at them in a different manner - and with more collaborators.
Well, jeff, like most people here I write - and I did long before I had the site.
So I actually understand the process - whatever form that takes.
I read an interview with SALLY HAWKINS where she described MIKE LEIGH’S method in detail. It was exactly what I suspected all along.
Call me a purist. (I’m generally not in most cases.) It’s not like me to herald the conventional route.
But it’s not “screenwriting” to me in any respect.
That’s my opinion. You’re entitled to yours.
That’s all I have to say….
Thanks for the blithe condescension.
*sigh*
That was genuinely NOT my intention…
Miranda, being an actor as well as a writer, I think both methods have merit, especially from an actor’s standpoint. Working with Mike Leigh must be an exhilarating experience, and extremely challenging.
(walking into the room, noticing it’s all quiet) So, who farted?
I did!