Thursday, January 29, 2009

Breakfast With... Wendy and Lucy

A donut and a cup of coffee. Some financial planning as a side dish. That's as sure a way as any to kill one's appetite.


I hope you're taking better care of yourself than Wendy does.

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I'm absolutely convinced that if I had a heart and could cry and was a dog person (I know that's a lot of "if"s), I would tear up every time I was reminded of Wendy and Lucy. It got to me. More so than I thought at the time. The movie is currently playing in Seattle, San Diego, Philly and Boston and should be hitting a few more cities tomorrow. Watch out for it or save it on your rental queue if your town never gets this kind of tiny gem.

Michelle Williams is up for Best Actress in my own awards and now the film is up for Best Ending (I've tried to keep the write ups short and semi-vague so as to not spoil). I've also announced nominations in the Opening Scene and Credit Sequence categories - Check them out.
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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

A wonderful movie and her best performance to date. Good call on her for Best Actress.

Unknown said...

I saw this movie and thought that for our current national mood this movie might pick up, if not awardage, or award traction, at least more awards chatter. A great film for living in borrowed times, and it's coming to DC soon as well, so I can see it again!

Anonymous said...

Great call on Best Credit Sequences for The Fall, Wall-E, and Slumdog Millionaire! Just wonderful choices.

And I really really need to see A Christmas Tale and Wendy & Lucy.

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who HATED Slumdog Millionaire's credit sequence?
My choices for beginning: "Waltz with Bashir" is my winner, I loved "Kung fu Panda"'s crouching tiger 2-D scene, "Tropic Thunder" trailers, "The Dark Knight" (obvious choice) and "In Bruges" (shithole).
For ending: "The Fall" (!), "Wendy and Lucy", "The Wrestler", "The Reader" and "Waltz with Bashir" (though "the best" is not the word I would call it).

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who HATED Slumdog Millionaire's credit sequence?
My choices for beginning: "Waltz with Bashir" is my winner, I loved "Kung fu Panda"'s crouching tiger 2-D scene, "Tropic Thunder" trailers, "The Dark Knight" (obvious choice) and "In Bruges" (shithole).
For ending: "The Fall" (!), "Wendy and Lucy", "The Wrestler", "The Reader" and "Waltz with Bashir" (though "the best" is not the word I would call it).

Anonymous said...

nat, please post pics of nic w/ddl on the set of nine!!

-please?

Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn said...

You know, this is one that is growing on me. When I first saw it I was like, "eh, nice, but...kinda film school." i think it suffered for having been seen on the heels of revolutionary road, quite a different cinematic kettle of fish. we just rented old joy, another reichardt film, and are loving it.

Guy Lodge said...

Well, I was unfortunate enough to see it the week after my own dog died, so you can imagine the buckets I wept.

Wonderful film, whatever your pet persuasion.

The Pretentious Know it All said...

Apropos to nothing, I thought everyone, Nathaniel in particular, would get a hoot out of this review of "The Reader" by a conservative Oscar blogger who is angry about TDK snub. It's pretty hilarious.

http://www.geocities.com/waspinatorbj/home.html

"How wrong can you be?"

Anonymous said...

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but man, I *hated* Wendy & Lucy. Michelle Williams did a nice job, but holy crap, what an annoying character - made worse by the director's willingness to treat Wendy's nonstop stupidity as if it's the highest form of human suffering. Yes, I get it, she's poor, and it sucks to be poor. But being stupid (or, to be more charitable, really really naive)? That's all on her.

Anonymous said...

This is my first year for your Film Bitch Awards and I am loving these "extras" and can't wait for more! God you make me want to see every movie you mention! That's a wonderful thing, Nate.

I am also profoundly impressed with how you encapsulate your comments on your choices in such a small space (God I hope I learn from reading you!!).

I really don't like to pick my "bests" out of nominees until I've seen every nominated option (and I often don't manage them all) but it is a pleasure to read yours.

Anonymous said...

Roark - it is not stupidity. It's extreme self-consciousness. She is afraid to ask anyone for help. She is afraid of people - that's why her best friend is her dog. How come you appreciate Williams' performance if you didn't get it?

Anonymous said...

I'm glad the ending for 'The Wrestler' is in here - I thought it was perfect. Anything else that could have been added would have taken away from the power of the movie.

Anonymous said...

Howler -

she may be self conscious. she's also stupid. or, if that's too harsh, she repeatedly exerces extremely poor judgement to the point where it bears a startling resemblance to stupidity. and i can dislike the character while appreciating williams' skill in inhabiting that character. none of these concepts are mutually exclusive.

Anonymous said...

ugh, nothing drives an argument home better than a typo or two...

Anonymous said...

I'm glad I know in advance that there is some tragedy with a dog involved, so I can avoid this film. I'm guessing it's great, but my one film block is that I can not watch movies where dogs suffers. I know it's an unfair, un-cinematic bias, but there it is. My mom wrote me a note in elementary school so I could get out of showings of "Old Yeller" on rainy days. I also got a note excusing me from "The Red Balloon." Not a dog, but still full of pathos. Ballon! Ballon!

Guy Lodge said...

"I'm glad I know in advance that there is some tragedy with a dog involved, so I can avoid this film."

**MILD SPOILER ALERT**

Christine, it's not what you think. See the film. It's lovely. You'll be fine.

Anonymous said...

Michelle Williams is building up quite a resumée...
Oh I love her so much!

NATHANIEL R said...

Christine, what Guy said.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I'm going this week. Thanks, Guy.