The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (And Now I've Come Full Circle)....And Some Other Films
Film 380
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"
directed by: Peter Jackson
written by (book): J.R.R. Tolkien
starring: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry
The second installment in the what I deem unnecessary trilogy of "The Hobbit" story by Peter Jackson does not disappoint. It comes off as superior in every imaginable way to its predecessor "An Unexpected Journey," but then again, that's not necessarily saying much, because honestly the first "The Hobbit" film was a bit boring (especially in comparison to this one). "The Desolation of Smaug" though is a delightful surprise of a blockbuster. The story chugs along at an admirable and steady pace, given the original story is rather short. Smaug, the title dragon, the great and terrible, doesn't actually come on screen until the long-drawn out third act, but his appearance and voice (Benedict Cumberbatch, thanks a lot), is so awesome that it's well worth the wait.
It makes no sense to try to retell the story's plot, but rather I'd insist you read all of the J.R.R. Tolkien series for yourself, because you either know what's going on or you don't. Having someone give you a synopsis does not do the story justice. Read the books! Then watch all the films (by the way, I hate the fact that I have to wait another year to see the conclusion to this prequel- especially the way this film ends abruptly, even though, you know what's going to happen, you still beg to see it). There's so much going on, altogether in the entire film (much like the other films), which include Gandalf going off on his own, important nonetheless quest. There's also a lot of explanations to stories and tidbits about the characters from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy that will please the audience. It's nice to get the background stories on characters you grew to love about 10 years prior.
By the time we reach Bilbo Baggins' confrontation of Smaug, the real work has been done. The thematic elements are in place, the emotional tension is highly strung, and the action unfolds in a wave like the fire erupting from the dragon's mouth, overtaking all in its path.
Jackson and his team have a lot of fun creating these three-dimensional worlds, overwhelming us with different moods, energies, and personalities. Some of the images are breathtaking: the Long Lake swathed in mist with mysterious structures rising out of it; the misty dark wood filled with shadowy waiting creatures; the elegant vertical fortress of the elves, soothing and yet rigid, too, indicating the elves' unwillingness to get involved in the larger dark forces overtaking the outside world. The final confrontation with the dragon, when it comes, is worth the wait (although it would have been nice if the wait hadn't been quite so long). The dragon's lair is gorgeously imagined, an undulating and ever-changing landscape of coins and gold. There are lots of great moments: a gigantic tapestry falling from the wall in a rippling wave; huge collapsing columns; tiny walkways over the abyss; the dwarves' visible awe at their ancestors' ingenuity and power. Throughout, you get the sense that you really are in a lost and glorious world.
And then, there's a moment before the spider attack (oh yeah! I love Jackson's inclusion of creatures so awesome as this, thanks to the great advancement of technology) that perfectly aligns us with the overall intent of Tolkien's fiction. Bilbo is told to climb one of the trees to peek out of the top of the forest and see how much further they have to go. When he pushes his head through the top, all he can see is a carpet of autumn leaves spreading almost as far as the eye can see, with blue butterflies flitting about along the leaf-tips. The sun shines brightly, and for a moment Bilbo is awestruck. We know that what happens next is bound to be grisly and terrible. But beauty is there to be appreciated, and the hobbits, with their love of homey nature, pretty colors.
This second installment in the newer trilogy falls in line with the awesomeness of the second installment of the LOTR trilogy- The Two Towers. Lots of great action (minus battle scenes that seemed to really take up most of the original trilogy). Visual stimulation all over the place, almost all the the time (which again falls slightly short of 3 hours). And characters you really enjoy and love.
............................................................................
Film 381
"Kuffs"
starring: Christian Slater, Milla Jovovich, Ric Roman Waugh
written and directed by: Bruce A. Evans
The plot is a simple one, if not slightly unbelievable and unrealistic:
In the wake of his brother's death, 21-year-old George Kuffs (Slater) has inherited a San Francisco “Patrol Special” district. Can this really happen? Am I oblivious to reality? That's sort of a minor-league police force created to assist the actual SFPD when it comes to covering the smaller beats known as “districts.” Kuffs, who witnessed his brother's murder, immediately sets out to nail the guys responsible and win the hearts and minds of the merchants in his district, who naturally assume he's little more than a cocky punk kid with nothing on the ball (and, for most of the film, they're right). The rest of the plot carries itself out rather predictably. You know that he's getting set up to be a bit of a failure, only to prove himself to everyone and come out on top and seek vengeance against his brother's killers, of course.
This film came out in Christian Slater's heyday...When he was riding high on movie star fame and being topped bill for some decent films. Look at his earliest films:
Heathers
Pump Up the Volume
Kuffs
Untamed Heart (a guilty pleasure of mine, for sure)
True Romance (Tarantino saw something in him)
Murder in the First
Bed of Roses
Broken Arrow (John Travolta was in this too)
Very Bad Things
And then things got dismissal for him. He's never really recovered back to his stardom status. Sure, he's still been getting consist work in small films and television roles, but he hasn't been a bankable star since the mid-90s. And I remember watching "Kuffs" on Pay-Per-View back in the day when you actually had to find someone with a "little black box" which would divert your cable access, so you wouldn't have to pay for these movies. As a family, we happened to have one and I got to see a lot of movies that I probably shouldn't have as a kid/teenager. With hormones raging, I especially enjoyed the opening scene of "Kuffs" because Slater's character is dancing around the living room with his girlfriend (played by a young, attractive Milla Jovovich) who is wearing underwear and a t-shirt (and clearly no bra). I think I watched this opening scene several times over and over. She is definitely an early version/prototype of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, because she only shows up to support Kuffs when the going gets rough, which is too bad because, as we've seen with her other films, Jovovich has proven to be one of the most successful and decent models-turned-actresses. She doesn't get enough time on screen and when she does, her character's role was not written with any depth.
This was only Milla Jovovich's 2nd film (following "Return to the Blue Lagoon"). Then she went out to have great roles in:
Dazed and Confused
The Fifth Element (awesome)
The Messenger: The Joan of Arc Story
The Resident Evil franchise (5 films)-- a total guilty pleasure of mine
A Perfect Getaway
The Fourth Kind
Anyway, the film is clearly a star vehicle for Christian Slater. His character in this film (much like all his other earlier films) is exactly who and how he would play all his other roles. He was definitely typecast, and seemed to not really have a problem with that. But, it begs the question: Was Slater a decent actor if he was only, in essence, playing himself? He comes off as a young Jack Nicholson, with his shit-eating grin and eyebrow movements. He clearly has that young, heartthrob, screen magnetism that studio executives look for in order to sell a film to the right audience.
With all this being said, "Kuffs" is actually a decent, lighthearted, fluffy film that isn't too bad. It's a good way to spend a couple of hours, even if you're looking to reminisce over the early 1990s.
..............................................................................
Film 382
"Drop Dead Fred"
starring: Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, Carrie Fisher
A year before "Kuffs," there was another push to put Phoebe Cates in our lives. I really respect Cates as a person, because she basically only spent about 10 years in the entertainment industry, before getting married and focused on being a mother and a wife. She didn't need the fame, besides she really got enough of it with the few films she appeared in. I don't think there's anyone more iconic than Cates in the 1980s thanks to her fabulous and famous scene from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (I think everyone, especially guys, knows what I'm talking about- two words...red bikini).
So, here's a look at her short career:
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Gremlins
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Drop Dead Fred
among other smaller films that are not as recognizable, and then she came back for one film
The Anniversary Party (2001)
"Drop Dead Fred" is about imaginary friends, but it's about something a little deeper than that, even though the comedy is rather low-brow and slapsticky.
The heroine in the film, played by Cates, is Elizabeth. Within the first few minutes of the film, everything seems to go wrong with her. She has separated from her husband, lost her job, and as if that wasn't enough, she's moved back into her parents' house (the house she grew up in). There's clearly a few ghosts/skeletons in her closet, which this move brings to the surface. Her imaginary friend is Drop Dead Fred (played by Rik Mayall, with bright orange, stuck-up hair and a bright green suit). Fred is everything you would not want in your child's friend. He is the baddest of the bad eggs. He has a nickname for Elizabeth- Snotface- and all of his antics are very childish (re: making mudpie in the china).
Clearly, the point and message of this film is that Fred is the repository for all of Elizabeth's repressed aggressions. He is the rebellious child inside of her, fighting its way out. It's a parable disguised as a comedy. Unfortunately, because Fred is so obnoxious, the viewer cannot really get on board with anything he does, because even though Elizabeth needs to speak up for herself more, Fred is not really acting in her best interest. He quickly becomes annoying and you feel for Elizabeth because you wonder how much further Fred is going to take things.
Now, I had my own imaginary friend, for many years (probably way more than my entire family wanted to put up with). He came in the form of a stuffed bunny- aptly named Mr. Bun- and he went everywhere, in the house, with me. He had his own, cute (I think) voice and he said everything that I wanted to say, sardonically, but probably would've gotten in trouble for if it came from my actual voice. And like everyone, hopefully, I eventually grew up and out of the phase of hiding behind an imaginary friend. I discovered my own voice and learned to speak up for myself.
Another excellent Hollywood film about imaginary friends is "Harvey." I suggest watching that one for a more "serious" take on imaginary friends. "Drop Dead Fred" was better when I was a kid. As an adult, I found it more obnoxious than anything else.
..........................................................................................
Film 383
"Lebanon, PA"
starring: Josh Hopkins, Rachel Kitson, Ian Merrill Peakes, Samantha Mathis, Hunter Gallagher, Mary Beth Hurt, Christopher Mann,
written and directed by: Ben Hickernell
I seem to gravitate towards these kind of self-discovery/mopey, coming-of-age films, for some reason, although, I watched this on Netflix before I knew anything about it, and based my viewing solely on the suggestion of streaming.
Will (Josh Hopkins) is a Philadelphia ad executive who is at the top of his game and the envy of his colleagues with the way he comes up with ads and slogans so effortlessly. He gets a call from his mother that his father has died, which he's actually told via a note from a secretary in his office. Clearly, Will and his mother have a strained relationship, which doesn't necessarily work itself out, but by the end of the film, Will able to talk to his mother about his feelings of disappointment. As the film starts, you feel like it's going to be another male, middle-aged self-discovery vehicle (and I'm glad it wasn't because after so many others, that story can become boring, especially if the guy is mopey and a bit of a douchebag, who happens to be full of himself and doesn't understand why he doesn't fit in with the rest of the people in the rural PA town of Lebanon).
Will's story kind of takes a backseat to the deeper issue, which comes into focus soon after Will arrives in Lebanon for his father's funeral and to tie up loose ends that his father's passing created (re: cleaning and clearing the house out, and then selling it). The story shifts its focus onto Will's distant, younger cousin - a teenage girl named CJ (played by Rachel Kitson, in her first role)- who's lived across the street with her father and brother. CJ has aspirations to attend Drexel University, but there's only one problem- she's pregnant (only by a few weeks, but still, the ramifications are lifelong). Lebanon is shown as a militantly anti-woman's choice town and is instead very religious and expects any girl to go through with the birth of her baby. The characters CJ encounters as she struggles with exactly what she should and what she really wants to do with her predicament are written well enough to not come off as simply caricatures, instead they all have their reasons for their beliefs, no matter how dubious they come off, especially to CJ who is contemplating this life decision. And again, the writing of the CJ character is done well enough, as well as the acting thanks to newbie Kitson, that even though you pretty much know what her decision will ultimately be, she doesn't automatically throw her life way for fear of upsetting the adults in her life. She has a strong will to survive through this struggle. She has her own mind, too.
Even though CJ'd story and ultimate pay-off towards the end is bit predictable, the film was an enjoyable journey. It was interesting to see CJ's connection with Will develop and maybe it was because she saw him as a successful story out of the rural town she doesn't want to find herself stuck in. Will becomes her way out of the small town. And they leave together, after they've both done and said the things that they need to. Unfortunately, CJ's dad disappears with his disappointment in his daughter, and it would have been an interesting scene towards the end of the film, to watch CJ tell her dad why she made the decision that she did. You kind of hope CJ can leave with a completely clear mind, but you can't help think she's leaving with unresolved issues with her dad.
..........................................................................................
Film 384
"Possession"
starring: Aaron Eckhart, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle, Lena Headey
directed by: Neil LaBute
"Possession" is quite a failure of a movie, even with all the effort that Neil LaBute put into it as the director. He is, of course, better known for making moralist films ("In the Company of Men" and "Your Friends and Neighbors"- both of which deal with the morality of fucking with each other in a purely delightful manner). "Possession" is quite a boring film, with an equally boring story. It's based on a 1990 novel of the same name. It's about two modern-day academics who discover the secret love letters of two Victorian poets.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays Maud Bailey who specializes in knowing everything about Victorian poet Christabel LaMotte (played by Jennifer Ehle). Aaron Eckhart (who was in both of the previously mentioned LaBute films and was amazing in them as a complete asshole) plays Roland Mitchell, who is the brash American who seems to know everything about Randolph Henry Ash (Northam)- a poet laureate to Queen Victoria. Roland discovers the mysterious love letters that seem to suggest her had an affair with Christabel, despite being married. And that Christabel may have had a love child with Randolph, despite being involved in a lesbian relationship with her friend Sabine (Elodie French).
This is supposed to become a love story between the modern day academics, but unfortunately there is absolutely no chemistry between Paltrow and Eckhart that is believable at all. You don't care about them getting together, which they do. Instead, it's the Victorians that stir up all the heat, in their side of the story. It's no secret that love and sex, especially, and seen quite differently, with a lot more freedom in Europe than here in America, and that is the messaged received with these parallel stories. I would've preferred just seeing the Victorian poets and their mixed affairs as an entire film, because with the addition of the modern day romance, it fails to reach any levels of importance for me.
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug"
directed by: Peter Jackson
written by (book): J.R.R. Tolkien
starring: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephen Fry
The second installment in the what I deem unnecessary trilogy of "The Hobbit" story by Peter Jackson does not disappoint. It comes off as superior in every imaginable way to its predecessor "An Unexpected Journey," but then again, that's not necessarily saying much, because honestly the first "The Hobbit" film was a bit boring (especially in comparison to this one). "The Desolation of Smaug" though is a delightful surprise of a blockbuster. The story chugs along at an admirable and steady pace, given the original story is rather short. Smaug, the title dragon, the great and terrible, doesn't actually come on screen until the long-drawn out third act, but his appearance and voice (Benedict Cumberbatch, thanks a lot), is so awesome that it's well worth the wait.
It makes no sense to try to retell the story's plot, but rather I'd insist you read all of the J.R.R. Tolkien series for yourself, because you either know what's going on or you don't. Having someone give you a synopsis does not do the story justice. Read the books! Then watch all the films (by the way, I hate the fact that I have to wait another year to see the conclusion to this prequel- especially the way this film ends abruptly, even though, you know what's going to happen, you still beg to see it). There's so much going on, altogether in the entire film (much like the other films), which include Gandalf going off on his own, important nonetheless quest. There's also a lot of explanations to stories and tidbits about the characters from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy that will please the audience. It's nice to get the background stories on characters you grew to love about 10 years prior.
By the time we reach Bilbo Baggins' confrontation of Smaug, the real work has been done. The thematic elements are in place, the emotional tension is highly strung, and the action unfolds in a wave like the fire erupting from the dragon's mouth, overtaking all in its path.
Jackson and his team have a lot of fun creating these three-dimensional worlds, overwhelming us with different moods, energies, and personalities. Some of the images are breathtaking: the Long Lake swathed in mist with mysterious structures rising out of it; the misty dark wood filled with shadowy waiting creatures; the elegant vertical fortress of the elves, soothing and yet rigid, too, indicating the elves' unwillingness to get involved in the larger dark forces overtaking the outside world. The final confrontation with the dragon, when it comes, is worth the wait (although it would have been nice if the wait hadn't been quite so long). The dragon's lair is gorgeously imagined, an undulating and ever-changing landscape of coins and gold. There are lots of great moments: a gigantic tapestry falling from the wall in a rippling wave; huge collapsing columns; tiny walkways over the abyss; the dwarves' visible awe at their ancestors' ingenuity and power. Throughout, you get the sense that you really are in a lost and glorious world.
And then, there's a moment before the spider attack (oh yeah! I love Jackson's inclusion of creatures so awesome as this, thanks to the great advancement of technology) that perfectly aligns us with the overall intent of Tolkien's fiction. Bilbo is told to climb one of the trees to peek out of the top of the forest and see how much further they have to go. When he pushes his head through the top, all he can see is a carpet of autumn leaves spreading almost as far as the eye can see, with blue butterflies flitting about along the leaf-tips. The sun shines brightly, and for a moment Bilbo is awestruck. We know that what happens next is bound to be grisly and terrible. But beauty is there to be appreciated, and the hobbits, with their love of homey nature, pretty colors.
This second installment in the newer trilogy falls in line with the awesomeness of the second installment of the LOTR trilogy- The Two Towers. Lots of great action (minus battle scenes that seemed to really take up most of the original trilogy). Visual stimulation all over the place, almost all the the time (which again falls slightly short of 3 hours). And characters you really enjoy and love.
............................................................................
Film 381
"Kuffs"
starring: Christian Slater, Milla Jovovich, Ric Roman Waugh
written and directed by: Bruce A. Evans
The plot is a simple one, if not slightly unbelievable and unrealistic:
In the wake of his brother's death, 21-year-old George Kuffs (Slater) has inherited a San Francisco “Patrol Special” district. Can this really happen? Am I oblivious to reality? That's sort of a minor-league police force created to assist the actual SFPD when it comes to covering the smaller beats known as “districts.” Kuffs, who witnessed his brother's murder, immediately sets out to nail the guys responsible and win the hearts and minds of the merchants in his district, who naturally assume he's little more than a cocky punk kid with nothing on the ball (and, for most of the film, they're right). The rest of the plot carries itself out rather predictably. You know that he's getting set up to be a bit of a failure, only to prove himself to everyone and come out on top and seek vengeance against his brother's killers, of course.
This film came out in Christian Slater's heyday...When he was riding high on movie star fame and being topped bill for some decent films. Look at his earliest films:
Heathers
Pump Up the Volume
Kuffs
Untamed Heart (a guilty pleasure of mine, for sure)
True Romance (Tarantino saw something in him)
Murder in the First
Bed of Roses
Broken Arrow (John Travolta was in this too)
Very Bad Things
And then things got dismissal for him. He's never really recovered back to his stardom status. Sure, he's still been getting consist work in small films and television roles, but he hasn't been a bankable star since the mid-90s. And I remember watching "Kuffs" on Pay-Per-View back in the day when you actually had to find someone with a "little black box" which would divert your cable access, so you wouldn't have to pay for these movies. As a family, we happened to have one and I got to see a lot of movies that I probably shouldn't have as a kid/teenager. With hormones raging, I especially enjoyed the opening scene of "Kuffs" because Slater's character is dancing around the living room with his girlfriend (played by a young, attractive Milla Jovovich) who is wearing underwear and a t-shirt (and clearly no bra). I think I watched this opening scene several times over and over. She is definitely an early version/prototype of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, because she only shows up to support Kuffs when the going gets rough, which is too bad because, as we've seen with her other films, Jovovich has proven to be one of the most successful and decent models-turned-actresses. She doesn't get enough time on screen and when she does, her character's role was not written with any depth.
This was only Milla Jovovich's 2nd film (following "Return to the Blue Lagoon"). Then she went out to have great roles in:
Dazed and Confused
The Fifth Element (awesome)
The Messenger: The Joan of Arc Story
The Resident Evil franchise (5 films)-- a total guilty pleasure of mine
A Perfect Getaway
The Fourth Kind
Anyway, the film is clearly a star vehicle for Christian Slater. His character in this film (much like all his other earlier films) is exactly who and how he would play all his other roles. He was definitely typecast, and seemed to not really have a problem with that. But, it begs the question: Was Slater a decent actor if he was only, in essence, playing himself? He comes off as a young Jack Nicholson, with his shit-eating grin and eyebrow movements. He clearly has that young, heartthrob, screen magnetism that studio executives look for in order to sell a film to the right audience.
With all this being said, "Kuffs" is actually a decent, lighthearted, fluffy film that isn't too bad. It's a good way to spend a couple of hours, even if you're looking to reminisce over the early 1990s.
..............................................................................
Film 382
"Drop Dead Fred"
starring: Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, Carrie Fisher
A year before "Kuffs," there was another push to put Phoebe Cates in our lives. I really respect Cates as a person, because she basically only spent about 10 years in the entertainment industry, before getting married and focused on being a mother and a wife. She didn't need the fame, besides she really got enough of it with the few films she appeared in. I don't think there's anyone more iconic than Cates in the 1980s thanks to her fabulous and famous scene from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (I think everyone, especially guys, knows what I'm talking about- two words...red bikini).
So, here's a look at her short career:
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Gremlins
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Drop Dead Fred
among other smaller films that are not as recognizable, and then she came back for one film
The Anniversary Party (2001)
"Drop Dead Fred" is about imaginary friends, but it's about something a little deeper than that, even though the comedy is rather low-brow and slapsticky.
The heroine in the film, played by Cates, is Elizabeth. Within the first few minutes of the film, everything seems to go wrong with her. She has separated from her husband, lost her job, and as if that wasn't enough, she's moved back into her parents' house (the house she grew up in). There's clearly a few ghosts/skeletons in her closet, which this move brings to the surface. Her imaginary friend is Drop Dead Fred (played by Rik Mayall, with bright orange, stuck-up hair and a bright green suit). Fred is everything you would not want in your child's friend. He is the baddest of the bad eggs. He has a nickname for Elizabeth- Snotface- and all of his antics are very childish (re: making mudpie in the china).
Clearly, the point and message of this film is that Fred is the repository for all of Elizabeth's repressed aggressions. He is the rebellious child inside of her, fighting its way out. It's a parable disguised as a comedy. Unfortunately, because Fred is so obnoxious, the viewer cannot really get on board with anything he does, because even though Elizabeth needs to speak up for herself more, Fred is not really acting in her best interest. He quickly becomes annoying and you feel for Elizabeth because you wonder how much further Fred is going to take things.
Now, I had my own imaginary friend, for many years (probably way more than my entire family wanted to put up with). He came in the form of a stuffed bunny- aptly named Mr. Bun- and he went everywhere, in the house, with me. He had his own, cute (I think) voice and he said everything that I wanted to say, sardonically, but probably would've gotten in trouble for if it came from my actual voice. And like everyone, hopefully, I eventually grew up and out of the phase of hiding behind an imaginary friend. I discovered my own voice and learned to speak up for myself.
Another excellent Hollywood film about imaginary friends is "Harvey." I suggest watching that one for a more "serious" take on imaginary friends. "Drop Dead Fred" was better when I was a kid. As an adult, I found it more obnoxious than anything else.
..........................................................................................
Film 383
"Lebanon, PA"
starring: Josh Hopkins, Rachel Kitson, Ian Merrill Peakes, Samantha Mathis, Hunter Gallagher, Mary Beth Hurt, Christopher Mann,
written and directed by: Ben Hickernell
I seem to gravitate towards these kind of self-discovery/mopey, coming-of-age films, for some reason, although, I watched this on Netflix before I knew anything about it, and based my viewing solely on the suggestion of streaming.
Will (Josh Hopkins) is a Philadelphia ad executive who is at the top of his game and the envy of his colleagues with the way he comes up with ads and slogans so effortlessly. He gets a call from his mother that his father has died, which he's actually told via a note from a secretary in his office. Clearly, Will and his mother have a strained relationship, which doesn't necessarily work itself out, but by the end of the film, Will able to talk to his mother about his feelings of disappointment. As the film starts, you feel like it's going to be another male, middle-aged self-discovery vehicle (and I'm glad it wasn't because after so many others, that story can become boring, especially if the guy is mopey and a bit of a douchebag, who happens to be full of himself and doesn't understand why he doesn't fit in with the rest of the people in the rural PA town of Lebanon).
Will's story kind of takes a backseat to the deeper issue, which comes into focus soon after Will arrives in Lebanon for his father's funeral and to tie up loose ends that his father's passing created (re: cleaning and clearing the house out, and then selling it). The story shifts its focus onto Will's distant, younger cousin - a teenage girl named CJ (played by Rachel Kitson, in her first role)- who's lived across the street with her father and brother. CJ has aspirations to attend Drexel University, but there's only one problem- she's pregnant (only by a few weeks, but still, the ramifications are lifelong). Lebanon is shown as a militantly anti-woman's choice town and is instead very religious and expects any girl to go through with the birth of her baby. The characters CJ encounters as she struggles with exactly what she should and what she really wants to do with her predicament are written well enough to not come off as simply caricatures, instead they all have their reasons for their beliefs, no matter how dubious they come off, especially to CJ who is contemplating this life decision. And again, the writing of the CJ character is done well enough, as well as the acting thanks to newbie Kitson, that even though you pretty much know what her decision will ultimately be, she doesn't automatically throw her life way for fear of upsetting the adults in her life. She has a strong will to survive through this struggle. She has her own mind, too.
Even though CJ'd story and ultimate pay-off towards the end is bit predictable, the film was an enjoyable journey. It was interesting to see CJ's connection with Will develop and maybe it was because she saw him as a successful story out of the rural town she doesn't want to find herself stuck in. Will becomes her way out of the small town. And they leave together, after they've both done and said the things that they need to. Unfortunately, CJ's dad disappears with his disappointment in his daughter, and it would have been an interesting scene towards the end of the film, to watch CJ tell her dad why she made the decision that she did. You kind of hope CJ can leave with a completely clear mind, but you can't help think she's leaving with unresolved issues with her dad.
..........................................................................................
Film 384
"Possession"
starring: Aaron Eckhart, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer Ehle, Lena Headey
directed by: Neil LaBute
"Possession" is quite a failure of a movie, even with all the effort that Neil LaBute put into it as the director. He is, of course, better known for making moralist films ("In the Company of Men" and "Your Friends and Neighbors"- both of which deal with the morality of fucking with each other in a purely delightful manner). "Possession" is quite a boring film, with an equally boring story. It's based on a 1990 novel of the same name. It's about two modern-day academics who discover the secret love letters of two Victorian poets.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays Maud Bailey who specializes in knowing everything about Victorian poet Christabel LaMotte (played by Jennifer Ehle). Aaron Eckhart (who was in both of the previously mentioned LaBute films and was amazing in them as a complete asshole) plays Roland Mitchell, who is the brash American who seems to know everything about Randolph Henry Ash (Northam)- a poet laureate to Queen Victoria. Roland discovers the mysterious love letters that seem to suggest her had an affair with Christabel, despite being married. And that Christabel may have had a love child with Randolph, despite being involved in a lesbian relationship with her friend Sabine (Elodie French).
This is supposed to become a love story between the modern day academics, but unfortunately there is absolutely no chemistry between Paltrow and Eckhart that is believable at all. You don't care about them getting together, which they do. Instead, it's the Victorians that stir up all the heat, in their side of the story. It's no secret that love and sex, especially, and seen quite differently, with a lot more freedom in Europe than here in America, and that is the messaged received with these parallel stories. I would've preferred just seeing the Victorian poets and their mixed affairs as an entire film, because with the addition of the modern day romance, it fails to reach any levels of importance for me.
Comments
Post a Comment