Comments on: Movies You May Have Missed: Lovely by Surprise (2007) ****

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:32:58 +0000

Weird JB that they were sold out. Either their grassroots campaign really worked or there was some hiccup in the supply.

Matthew, though I might sound like it, I’m really not trying to strongarm you into liking the movie. I actually did have some problems with the screenplay, though I wouldn’t say it was very weak.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:51:10 +0000

Some other interesting titles releasing this week:

Lonely But the Brave (Kirk Douglas; Universal)
Beau Geste (Gary Cooper; Universal)
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Universal)

The John Barrymore Collection (Kino)

Lola Montes (Ophuls; Second Sight Region 2)

That last UK release of course is reason for celebration, though I have high hopes Criterion will announce this soon.

By: Matthew Lucas

Matthew Lucas — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:35:29 +0000

I wouldn’t say I had a problem with the cinematography/construction of the film. It was the acting and writing I didn’t particularly like. Especially the writing, which I thought was very weak.

By: jennybee

jennybee — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:13:23 +0000

I went to order it from Amazon, actually, and though it releases today, they and everywhere else are out of stock. I guess it makes no sense to spend money owning a movie I haven’t seen, but it’s less than two movie tickets would have been. Besides, my Netflix is suspended for the time being (while I catch up on other films) and I would like to hurry up and see it. And anyway, the column in Filmmaker Magazine made me happy and I feel like helping the little film out. I figure, even if I don’t like it, somebody I know would, and I can always pass it along. I just wonder how long before anyone has any in stock. Maybe they don’t until people start ordering them. Seems problematic to me.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:18:15 +0000

Good, your comfort is paramount.

By: Matthew Lucas

Matthew Lucas — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:30:59 +0000

It’s ok. I’m comfortable being dead wrong here.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:19:50 +0000

I totally disagree.

It was light years ahead of so much indie festival crap and far from amateur.

The cinematography and performances especially set it apart. I had some strong issues with the story I won’t get into here because they’re spoilery, but the rest was unexpectedly well done.

The quirky aspects of it are an easy target. Any film with two characters running around in their underpants with the names Mopekey and Humkin is going to face an uphill battle holding its audience, but I really didn’t think it was quirk for quirk’s sake, which is really the problem with quirk in the first place.

So, I think you’re dead wrong in your estimation of the quality, though I can’t argue with your response to the film over all. I suspect it will make the skin crawl of a lot of people who cant find their way inside its weird bubble. That’s ok. This movie is not Juno.

By: Matthew Lucas

Matthew Lucas — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:38:36 +0000

Both. The humor all seemed very forced and contrived to me. They were just trying too hard, and it had the feel of an amateur production.

It struck me as everything that is wrong with indie quirk. Real indie quirk, not mainstream JUNO indie quirk.

“Hey, if we constantly pronounce relish as “melish,” that’s funny, right?”

The whole thing just made my skin crawl.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:45:51 +0000

Would you argue Matthew that it was badly done or did it just rub you the wrong way? I can see a lot of room for the latter for a lot of people, but I’d defend it in terms of craftsmanship.

It sucked me into its weird groove and it worked for me.

JB, Carrie Preston was great!

I hope I haven’t steered you wrong Alison, but I guess that’s the chance we all take, isn’t it?

By: Alison Flynn

Alison Flynn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:35:31 +0000

Sounds interesting. I’ve added this to my Netflix queue.

The idea of the fictional character escaping into the real world reminds me of Woody Allen, who of course used that concept with comical effect in his writings (books like Without Feathers), and in movies like The Purple Rose of Cairo.

By: jennybee

jennybee — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:30:14 +0000

Well, it sounds exactly like my cup of tea and I’m looking forward to getting a chance to watch it as soon as possible. I’ve become a big fan of Carrie Preston, who is good in everything I see her in, from Wonderfalls years ago to That Evening Sun, Lost, Doubt, and most recently True Blood. My concern would likely be that the quirk was too contrived, but your review seems to indicate that it really is in service to the story and has an emotional core, so that fear is assuaged.

It’s not a movie I would have pegged for either of you two, though, from what I know of your tastes.

By: Matthew Lucas

Matthew Lucas — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:50:05 +0000

I cannot describe in words how much I hated this movie.

I avoided reviewing it out of sympathy. The people behind this seem like good, creative folks with a passion for filmmaking. I didn’t want to give them any bad press.

I totally agree with Miranda here…it’s like nails on a chalkboard.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:13:32 +0000

It’s definitely not a movie that is going to appeal to all people…which is honestly one of the things that makes it great. I’d hope that people can tell from the review whether it’s the kind of movie they’d enjoy and not just go by the star rating.

For its type of movie, I’m comfortable with the 4-star rating.

By: Miranda Wilding

Miranda Wilding — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:46:19 +0000

My darling crabcake, I guess I’m the lone holdout.

Danny, Rick Olson and Marilyn Ferdinand all gave LBS positive reviews.

We all got screeners. Marilyn went to a Chicago cinema and saw it.

The kindest thing that I can say about it was it was like nails on a blackboard (FOR ME). I would rather have done…well, just about anything else.

Four stars…???

Now that’s a lovely surprise.

Or…NOT.