Sunday, April 05, 2009

Seen anything this weekend...?

I haven't. Oops. Out with two blog buddies you know and love. The conversation was a fun brew of Let the Right One In, Hugh Jackman & Deborra-Lee Furness's marriage, Mamma Mia!, lack of NYC sightings of Jake Gyllenhaal (he seems to have left us for California), Kath & Kim (Australia vs. US), Broadway shows and the ease of internet searches in the movies (the information always comes instantaneously. No scrolling and excessive clicking required).

Tell us about your weekend. Which movies surfaced in your chatter?

Next up: Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole, Oscar Predictions (starting with the actresses & supporting actresses)

32 comments:

Catherine said...

Sounds like a fun meal!

There hasn't been anything of note in Irish cinemas in an age, so I've resigned myself to watching dvds at home yet again. Maybe that's a better method: this way I'm not obligated to do anything like, say, get dressed or brush my hair or anything unwieldy like that. So, yesterday I watched Days of Heaven, followed swiftly by the dvd commentary track on The Station Agent (which is the only commentary track, save maybe Mean Girls that I can watch over and over again. If anybody is a fan of this film and hasn't yet enjoyed the commentary, then clear aside an hour and a half and treat yourself. If you're already a fan of Patricia Clarkson, you will love her even more afterwards!).

Right now I'm deciding what to watch. It's a toss-up between The Innocents, Fallen Angel or something from the Barbara Stanwyck boxset I purchased a little while ago but haven't had time to watch yet. Argh!

Hayden said...

Haha. I really wish people would stop talking about Hugh Jackman until he actually delivers. It's like his onstage charisma and onscreen sexiness have distracted us from the fact that he's so middling as an actor.

I mean, I don't even take him seriously anymore. He isn't trying to be anything more than an overexposed sexpot.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. R.,

Personal Effects opened in Brazil on Friday.

It must be the worst film Pfeiffer was involved in.

In fact, the film is about Ashton Kutcher's characters. Pfeiffer's character is practically supporting.

I just do not understand why she is in the film. She and Kathy Bates have little to do and do it well, as usual. Kutcher is terrible, his lack of expressions reminded me of Keanu Reeves.

The direction pushes too hard in some moments, the editing wants to make you cry.

The ending is ludicrous (I am not going to spoil it).

Marcelo - Brazil.

Casey Fiore said...

Saw Adventureland Friday. Definitely more Daytrippers than Superbad. Either way I loved it. Kristen Stewart actually impressed the hell out of me. I had no idea she maintained any talent from her earlier years, but I really loved her performance in this film. Also loved the 20-odd uses of Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus".

John T said...

I finally got around to the Cannes double feature of last year: The Class (utterly brilliant) and Gomorrah (beautiful at times, but dreadfully confusing and convoluted).

Martin said...

Chéri opens next week in Europe, I just read two positive reviews in french, not mindblowing, but positive.

As for Pfeiffer, she appears to be a solid contender for an Oscar nom. Critics say she's perfect in it. It seems the film is lighter than expected, she might compete in the comedy category at the Globes. Either way, I think she's winning a Globe next year.

Passengers didn't stop Hathaway to get nominated, so Personal effects will do the same for Pfeiffer : it will be forgotten by Oscar Time

Unknown said...

I've been to a all-day wedding and have weatched the likes of To Kill a Mockingbird, Cache, The Love Guru and The Bank Jo. So, it's been a mixed bag.
BTW, Nathaniel, i was wondering your opinions re the Kath & Kim Argument. I've only ever seen the aussie version and that's just brilliant

Murtada said...

I saw Tell No One on dvd. Liked it very much, but the exposition went a bit too much in the end!

CaptainJack said...

Didn't talk about movies. I found out a guy has a huge crush on me and I haven't quite figured out whether I'm gay or straight, so it's all very confusing. And he's so obviously in love (or lust) with me, that I'm very confused. I just can't watch a film anymore, i'm so nervous about this whole thing. Pffff

par3182 said...

i prepared for the streepathon by watching 'heartburn' - dull film but a great support cast: stockard channing, catherine o'hara, maureen stapleton, mercedes reuhl, joanna gleason, jeff daniels, a ridiculously young kevin spacey and a scene stealing mamie gummer

Shawn said...

Saw Synecdoche, New York last night with my brother. I'm still thinking about it. Charlie Kaufman is insane.

I'm going to see Fast & Furious in a bit because I was a fan of the first one.

Joe Reid said...

Keep meaning to see Adventureland. Keep not quite seeing Adventureland

Jim T said...

I saw All About Eve. Though I watched it with English subtitles and my English are ot perfect, I liked a lot! My only problem is that Eve should have been played by someone.. better? Baxter didn't please me.

And honestly, how can an actressexual quit smoking after watching Davis idolising the habit?

Paul Outlaw said...

Adventureland: A-

Duplicity: B+ (would have been an A- if the female lead had been someone I liked...but she is good in this role)

@ CaptainJack:

Go for it!

Fabrizzio said...

Been reading Nick's 100 bests and 100 favorites lists and I'm going to watch I Heart Huckabees today....[safe] is coming from amazon sooon!!!!!!! I saw All That Jazz also, which I loved, but you need to work on your 100 bests/favorites more. :)

Carl said...

The wife and I are doing the mass-market thing today for our twelfth anniversary. Tossing a coin between "Monsters vs. Aliens" and "Adventureland". One of the things that makes the relationship so wonderful is how much we both enjoy discussing movies to go see as a component of pillow talk.

Brian Darr said...

My dad and I drove up to the Sonoma Film Festival where the Douglas Fairbanks version of Robin Hood screened with Donald Sosin accompanying. Talked about Fairbanks films a lot on the way (neither of us had seen this one before but I've been on a bit of a binge lately.)

Also saw Godard's Made in USA, currently in a week-long stint at the Castro Theatre.

And the weekend's not over yet!

Anonymous said...

Slumdog Millionaire. yes, it was awful. maybe even worse than crash

Dimi said...

I watched Adventureland and flat out loved it. I agree with Casey that Kristen Stewart was pleasantly surprising and I loved how layered Jesse Eisenberg made his character. And the 80s setting is hilarious!

Seeking Amy said...

I saw The Wedding Banquest last night, so now I've seen everything by Ang Lee. Love everything he's done! Except for a certain monstosity

The only thing I want to see is Adventureland, even though I really want to see Sin Nombre and Goodbye Solo. I really liked Chop Shop and thought it was a very underrated film. But since I live in a small town in Washington, and going to Seattle or Portland for a film is such a pain, I'm probably going to have to have till DVD. Sigh.

NATHANIEL R said...

nice to hear all the love for Adventureland. I have been avoiding due to Stewart (lacking in the talent dept if you ask me but I'll give her another chance or two)

Catherine -- go Stanwyck!

Hayden -- he could challenge himself more, true. But at least he's got THE FOUNTAIN!

Marcelo -- i rented Personal Effects but couldn't quite bring myself to watch it. I think i want to see Cheri first.

Dimi -- i think Eisenberg is top notch as young actors go so that doesn't surprise me.

Michael -- my opinion is that the Australian version is much better BUT the US version... as soon as it sort of let go of that and became its own thing is not at all bad. I think if people gave it a chance they would like it. Maya Rudolph and Molly Shannon are both quite funny on it. I don't always get Selma Blair though.

@ Captain Jack (via Paul Outlaw). Since you're telling all of us here my guess is that you want us to tell you to go for it ;)

Paul Outlaw said...

In praise of Hugh Jackman:
See X-Men, The Boy from Oz, The Prestige, The Fountain, the 58th Tonys, the 81st Oscars...

Nick M. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nick M. said...

I suppose I'll temper the plaudits for Adventureland, since it's not actually a very good film, despite it being tailor-made for a personal like myself. It's a decent film with very, very poor impulses; therefore, the result of its mixture of interesting elements is frustrating. As a film that aspires to depict post-collegiate ennui and uncertainty, everything is extremely too optimistic and stuck in lame romantic comedy tropes. Without going into too much detail since many have not seen it yet, its biggest flaw is that every turn in the film contributes to this blithe fantasy of life (in a shitty job and town) after college.

The film also has a terrible misunderstanding that every good film needs a rigid plot and structure. The brief glimpse into a realistic quarter life crisis, plagued by angst and loneliness, is seen within Martin Starr's performance/part. Eisenberg's character (note that I'm not criticizing the acting) just never seems unsatisfied--which is, coincidentally, the name of a Replacements song that is played as an anthem when it's essentially an anti-anthem. It could have worked as ironic if the superficially satisfying ending didn't validate the lack of delusion within James.

James Hansen said...

Adventureland made me cry. Not of laughter, but of...well...that other stuff that makes you cry in movies. I didn't know Stewart in advance, but I'm sold on her. Go see it. NOW! In fact, I'll go with you! :)

Rob said...

I saw ADVENTURELAND tonight, and too, liked it. However, while I'd been warned it wasn't "Superbad"-ish in the least, was anyone else caught off guard by how not even close to resembling "fun" this movie was? I was mordantly sad for about 90% of its running time...

Rob said...

P.S. Nat, you know I feel similarly to you about K. Stew, but she's actually pretty good in this.

kel said...

I have not seen Twilight or Adventureland yet, but I thought Stewart was great in Into the Wild. Sure it was a small role, but I though she was beautiful and had a quiet depth and melancholy to her that was very appealing.

kel said...

I have not seen Twilight or Adventureland yet, but I thought Stewart was great in Into the Wild. Sure it was a small role, but I though she was beautiful and had a quiet depth and melancholy to her that was very appealing.

Glenn said...

I am quite awesome, indeed.

Kamila said...

I have seen two great movies this weekend: "The Class" and "Milk".

NATHANIEL R said...

Kamila -- I'm so happy people are seeing THE CLASS. So so good.