The Watercooler: Getting in touch with our inner Wild Things
It was all about kids’ movies at LiC this weekend, both in theaters and on DVD. First up was Where the Wild Things Are which sharply divided critics who showed up for a family film and got an art movie instead. Why anyone would expect (or want) anything different from Spike Jonze remains a mystery. Nevertheless, the film has its passionate fans – Metacritic shows a respectable 71 score including a healthy 8 perfect 100s – and it pulled in a solid $32.4 million (estimated) at the box office. Me? I loved it.
The real box office story however continues to be Paranormal Activity which raked in another $20 million after expanding from 160 theaters to 760. To date, the $11,000 film has earned almost $34 million.
At home I watched Disney’s Snow White and The Seven Dwarves and Pinocchio on Blu-ray. For the craftsmanship alone, Snow White deserves its status as a classic, but I have to say it’s far from my favorite. The story is wafer thin, the songs are hit and miss and Snow White herself is kind of an irritating nothing of a character. Pinocchio on the other hand is a pleasure from start to finish. Better characters, more memorable songs, richer humor and a more robust story.
That’s all from me. How about you?
Filed under: Watercooler
Well, I think I aired out my grievances on the other threads in regards to Mr. Jonze’s new film, but it’s a far better thing to love than to hate so I’ll step aside and hope the film impresses many and makes a boatload of cash. I have had a difficult week in preparing for a kidney stone procedure on Wednesday, and i have frankly pushed myself to do anything, as I’ve been most uncomfortable with all the medication.
I did see an absolutely tremendous production of Eugene O’Neil’s THE EMPEROR JONES at the Irish Repetory Theatre in Manhattan on Saturday night, with an extraordinary performance by John Douglas Thompson, who last year shined in an excellent off-Broadway production of OTHELLO at the Duke. The drama, which is currently in previews at the theatre, and officially opens today, is about Brutus Jones, a black American convicted of murder who escapes from a chain gang and becomes the despot of a tiny Caribbean island. It portrays blacks alternately as violent, superstitious and lazy, it includes symbols of primitivism like tom-toms and a witch doctor, and is written in dialect. The staging and lighting was imaginitive and the pupetry was remarkable. Of course it did bring to mind the 1933 film with Paul Robeson and Rex Ingram, directed by Dudley Murphy, which I have on an Image DVD and need to revisit.
I only saw two films in theatres this week, although I did see the Jonze film twice, as a new multiplex opened with free sdmission for a full week. I also saw an atrocious movie that I would never have bothered with if the admission wasn’t what it was.
Where the Wild Things Are ** (Friday night; Secaucus)
The Stepfather 0 stars (Saturday afternoon; Secaucus)
We found An Education entertaining – fine acting (particularly by the two leads) and accomplished direction. And for us those strengths almost glossed over the unevenness of the script. It sparkled with wit and intelligence at times and then at others seemed clunky and thin. In particular, the parents, the teachers, and the dim-witted girlfriend Helen conceived for comic relief seemed like blunt devices rather than real characters. When Jenny’s dad started spouting ‘I’ve been scared all my life…’ I thought come on, you can do better than that, surely the script is not going to serve up something so hackneyed. Carey Mulligan did everything asked of her and she has real screen charisma but even her character didn’t quite add up – it would have been more convincing for us had there been a little less self-possession and a little more self-doubt – and at times she was given dialogue that seemed improbably wise, eloquent, and insightful for a 17 year old. It sounds like we didn’t like the film, but we sat happily enough through it. The disappointment came later as we discussed and processed it.
Introduced my wife and a couple of friends to Flame & Citron on blu ray. It was a big hit with everyone and the cinematographic moments inspired by film noir looked gorgeous.
Sam, sorry to read of your health difficulties. Hope the treatment goes well and you’re soon fully recovered.
Saw WTWTA with my husband, two friends, my 25-year-old brother, my 84-year-old grandmother, and both my parents. We all loved it. Hubs has cooled on it a little since then, but it’s only gone up in my estimation. An easy 4 1/2 stars. There is so much going on in the film, layers and emotional truths and psychological studies and raw childhood emotions that I connected to my own experiences in scene after scene. My parents and grandmother particularly were laughing out loud throughout it. Loved it, and think it’ll work even better for me the next time around now that I know what to expect. A masterpiece that just floored me.
That’s all I got to see, but I relished it.
We skipped the doc fest this weekend, are going to try for next weekend when the festival’s wrapping up and the schedule is more compelling. Lots of family time this weekend. All great.
Well, most of my weekend went in trying to repair my computer. I fixed it so well that I had to take it to a technician. :)
Still, I managed to see a couple of films starting early on Thursday with a special screening of Che which is even better on second viewing. Will be watching the second part tomorrow.
Unfortunately the rest of the weekend was pretty dissapointing film-wise.
Finally saw Public Enemies… It was okay but it could have been so much more than that. The script had sharp dialogue but was too jumpy and introduced one too many characters. The acting was great. Johnny is a personal favourite of mine and Ms. Cottilard was terrific. Wish they had given her more time. However the ultra-realistic style was better suited to a Hallmark film than a 60 mil. feature, the camera work was off on some places and although I got what they were trying to do I don’t think that it worked. I had really high hopes for this one…
Saw HP6 and it was okay. I don’t think that it was something too special but they covered the basics required in the book so it was okay.
The Brothers Bloom I liked. It was funny and the story was okay. Very good performances by the actors.
Last but not least I got tricked into seeing I love you, Beth Cooper… Probably one of the worst films I’ve seen in recent history. I have a weak spot for the lovely Hayden Panettiere and so I thought “How bad can it be?”. Big mistake, I don’t think that there was even one thing worth a praise in this dare-I-call-it film…
That was my weekend and not a good one at that. I should have stayed home and watched Speed Racer and Dirty Dancing :P
Thanks very much for that Sartre, my good friend.
Meant to wish you well, Sam. That’s the danger of posting while sleepy, leaving out the most important stuff. As you know, I have no love for kidney stones. Such an awful experience. I hope the worst is over, even if Wednesday’s procedure won’t be fun.
Much sympathy. Kinda amused, though, at how much you managed to see despite pain and illness. You’re a driven cinephile, that’s for sure.
Thanks so much Jenny for that! I’m surely not looking forward to that procedure.
Saw WtWTa last night with an audience of familys and kids and hipsters, which was pretty much the target audience. I liked it and feel as though no one can honestly fault Jonze for going with practical monster effects over CGI because the film looks amazing. A truly fully realized world from beginning to end. I’m still sorting through my thoughts on it, so that’s all I got.
I, too, saw Where the Wild Things Are this weekend and will drop my comments on Craig’s review thread of that film.
Besides that I finally saw Melville’s Bob Le Flambeur for the first time. Wonder filmmaking, and I was amazed that it was made in the mid 1950s. It’s good to know that someone had their head on straight during that era.
Saw dribs and drabs of the following on TV: A Clockwork Orange (I’m so glad it’s been made available after all those years), Enchanted (say what you will, I really love this film despite a few flaws), and High Anxiety (had forgotten about all the Hitchcock references — truly enjoyable!).
Finally as I was in a Halloweeny mood, I popped Let the Right One In into my DVD player. It’s as good the second time around as it was the first.
Well it’s no wonder Wild Things won the weekend since we all saw it. I thought it was eye-poppingly beautiful, but emotionally it really didn’t resonate with me at all. I’m not sure what that says about me or my childhood, but I can’t take feelings other people have away from them. Will leave more thoughts on your review, Craig.
Other than that I didn’t see anything new, still behind on new releases and now on screener duty ahead of a film festival next weekend.
Did watch the Vikings go to 6-0, though!
Busy weekend socially, only saw “Paranormal Activity” which I think is the most frightening of those movies that pretend to be found footage. There is one moment, where a character inappropriately smiles about five or so minutes before the end, that is the stuff of authentic nightmares.
Sorry to hear Sam. I’ve never had the misfortune of a kidney stone, but I know several people who have. Suffice it to say, peeing a boulder sounds like torture. I hope you put all this behind you soon.
Sartre on An Education: “It sparkled with wit and intelligence at times and then at others seemed clunky and thin.” I was dazzled by the sparkle the first time, but was struck more by the clunky thinness the second time through. You’re right also about the supporting characters…they really did stack the deck in Jenny’s favor to make a point.
JB, I love how such a crazy cross-section of folks loved Wild Things, but I’m especially glad you yourself were floored. This makes me happy.
Having said that, I think I get where Joel and Pierre and Daniel and Sam are coming from. As I said above, this is a divisive film. To me that’s often a good sign and in this case it is.
It’s funny though. As much as I liked it, I can’t say it’s a film I want to run out and see again right away. Not because it was boring, but because it was emotionally difficult. It doesn’t shy away from how hard it is being a kid and doesn’t candy coat it. As others have said too, Max is a very hard character to like. I’m not sure the film ever asks you to. He just is what he is, but to me he felt very real.
Pierre, you continue to shame me for not being enchanted by Enchanted. Perhaps having just swallowed the saccharine of Snow White, I should give it another shot.
Chuck, I was on the verge of Paranormal Activity right after Wild Things, but opted for plan B instead. I’m afraid now that seeing it after so much hype will prove a disappointment as it was for me with Blair Witch, but I’m really trying to keep expectations in check. Just creep me out, that’s all I ask.
Watched Eduardo Sanchez’s ALTERED which I highly recommend. Saw INGLORIOUS BASTERDS a second time and enjoyed it all over.
Waiting for PARANORMAL ACTIVITY…So many movies to see…
Hang in there Sam!
Thanks Christian, I have now had the procedure moved to next week.
Craig, methinks everything you’ve said here is excellent. I hear ya Pierre.
Originally I was planning to go out and see 35 Shots of Rum this weekend – a movie I’m really interested in, which has received much high praise from LiC-ers. Unfortunately I had to undergo a procedure today and was too nervous to do anything on the weekend but hide in my apartment and watch TV. Thanks to TCM I revisited Passage to Marseilles, Torn Curtain, The Misfits and Mutiny on the Bounty.
Although it’s not Hitchcock’s best Torn Curtain has its moments. The murder scene at the farmhouse is one of the most compelling ever in a movie. Paul Newman’s presence alone makes the whole thing worthwhile, of course. And the bus-ride scenes in the movie are among the best of movie bus-rides.
I’ve always loved The Misfits. I’m touched by it every time I see it.
Passage to Marseilles is another outing with Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, directed by Michael Curtiz. Casablanca and other Curtiz-directed films are superior to this but it’s still a solid and entertaining enough film, especiallly with the strong supporting cast (particularly Claude Rains, who I just love in anything).
The version of Mutiny on the Bounty that TCM showed was the 1935 with Charles Laughton and Clark Gable. Excellent movie all around and one that stays with you.
First Sam and now you, Alison. I don’t like the need for my good LiC friends to undergo procedures :-(
Hope it goes well Alison and you recover from it or whatever necessitated it soon.
You should be on the TCM payroll, you regularly provide such economical yet wonderfully astute reviews of their films.
Alison! Mutiny on the Bounty! I just now saw it too on TCM — for the first time. Shameful, really, to have waited so long. It was an interesting, well-done piece, and Gable’s long hair suited him.
Torn Curtain does have its moments. I think by that time, Julie Andrews was experiencing a backlash in the wake of her some-say “sympathy” win for Mary Poppins — not to mention how difficult it must’ve been to segue from sugar & spice to adulty Hitchcock
Jeez Alison, sorry to hear you’re also having issues.
Is LiC toxic or something??
Anyway, hope you’re bounce back soon and I hope you get a chance to see 35 Shots of Rum a film I think you’ll like.
Craig, have you seen 35 Shots of Rum? I know Sam loved it. I’ve ordered it on DVD via UK Amazon based on universally adoring reviews, along with blu rays of Let the Right One In (theatrical subtitles) and Withnail & I.
Our good friend Pierre is also presently out of sorts on the healthfront. Can I somehow outrun the curse of LiC?!
Yes I did. It’s hard to rave about it because it’s such a subtle character/mood/culture piece, but it really is lovely.
I saw it at LAFF amid dozens of other things and it kind of got drowned out by movies that worked harder to grab your attention.
Also, following up on An Education…though I generally agree with you about the supporting characters, I should’ve added that I really loved Rosamund Pike. She as funny but also kind of sympathetic. There was a real depth to a character that otherwise could’ve been a broad stereotype.
I also think it’s a little less thin thematically than it seems underneath its bubbly surface. I loved Jenny’s quandary. The fact she was drawn to Oxford in order to get her out of her dull suburban life, but also knowing that could be its own dead end. At the same time, giving that up to be with a man also felt like she was giving something important up. The point being it wasn’t a typical good or bad choice she was left to make.
I don’t disagree with your praise of the exploration of Jenny’s quandary and the commentary it provided on choices for women at the time. I just wish An Education’s strengths hadn’t been coupled quite so much with what seemed more thinly sketched and over-familiar elements. I liked the work of the supporting actors and think they did all that was possible to breathe life into their underwritten or stereotypical characters. I thought Pike brought shadings to her character but the broader elements (not of her performance but the writing of her character) kept reminding me she was a story device.
I’m loving French art house cinema this year and so I feel pretty excited about seeing 35 Shots of Rum.
Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. Everything went fairly smoothly and I’m feeling fine today. I actually went out tonight to hear Gore Vidal speak at the 92nd Street Y. It was great.
Sam, I’m sorry to hear you’re having health issues as well. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Sartre, I think we’re both on a similar page with An Education, though you might be onto a later paragaph. I was just thinking about the things I did like about it. I’m not Wells or Tapley or any of the others who can’t see beyond their crush on Carey Mulligan, but I did like it.
Glad to hear everything went OK Alison. Now stop being sick please. :)