| Author |
Message |
|
| Ghulam |
 Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:15 pm |
 |
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4742
Location: Upstate NY
|
| Gromit, Mon Oncle brings back happy memories. Thanks. |
|
|
| Back to top |
 
|
| jeremy |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:06 pm |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 6794
Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)
|
| Hugh Grant is one of those actors who people seem to dismiss as always playing himself. I think the fact that people often consider his acting looks too easy is both indicative of his skill and unfair on him. |
_________________
I am angry, I am ill, and I'm as ugly as sin.
My irritability keeps me alive and kicking.
I know the meaning of life, it doesn't help me a bit.
I know beauty and I know a good thing when I see it. |
|
| Back to top |
 
|
| Marj |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:27 pm |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
|
Befade wrote: This is for Billy, if noone else. Where the Truth Lies was mesmerizing enough for me to watch it 2 times in a row. Alison Lohman's presence and voiceover were responsible. She looks a bit like Amy Adams in Junebug and acts a bit like Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive.
This is a story of 2 comedians (somewhat Martin and Lewis) who hold polio telethons and split up when a woman is discovered dead in the bathroom of their hotel suite. Karen (Alison's character) was the star polio victim at the duo's last telethon 15 years earlier. Now she is a journalist who would like to discover why her two idols broke up and how the girl in the bathtub died.
Atom Egoyan is one of my favorite directors anyway........and you can count on Kevin Bacon's projects to be interesting (even if his naked butt wasn't......to me). Colin Firth played against type being anguished, rough, and secretive. He made me think of a distraught Nathan Lane.
Oh, and all the guys who liked the girl on girl sex scenes in Mulholland Drive will be happy to know that this film has some, too.
I happened to see Where the Truth Lies last week, and found it quite intriguing. And yes, it did make me think of David Lynch. But in the end I'd have to call it David Lynch lite, if you know what I mean. But it was a neat little mystery, and while it wasn't a great film, I would recommend it to mystery buffs like myself.
I don't know if Colin Firth was cast against type or they just couldn't get Jeremy Northam for the role. Firth looked so out of his element.
Jeremy -- WORD! |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| shannon |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:13 pm |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 1628
Location: NC
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Earl |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:05 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 09 Jun 2004
Posts: 2621
Location: Houston
|
jeremy wrote: Hugh Grant is one of those actors who people seem to dismiss as always playing himself. I think the fact that people often consider his acting looks too easy is both indicative of his skill and unfair on him.
I had a similar conversation years ago with a coworker. He had just seen Carlito's Way because I had recommended it strongly to him. He thought it only so-so and one of his complaints was, "Sean Penn wasn't acting; he was just being himself. That's how I figure he is in real life." I replied by telling him that, without even realizing he was doing it, he had just paid Penn one of the highest compliments someone in Penn's profession can receive. He grunted a "Yeah, maybe," and changed the subject. |
_________________
"I have a suspicion that you are all mad," said Dr. Renard, smiling sociably; "but God forbid that madness should in any way interrupt friendship." |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Marj |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:57 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
|
Shannon - The one thing you said about it which I agreed with the most is how much fun it is. And it really is!! |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| ehle64 |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:47 pm |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
|
gromit wrote: Now when Playtime turns up, it'll go right to the top of the Q.
The American Museum of Moving Image screened a new 35mm print of Playtime this weekend. Unfortunately, I've never seen it and have been too busy this weekend to attend. Hopefully, it means an upcoming DVD release, though. |
_________________
It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:44 pm |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
I thought Where the Truth Lies was pretty lame, though intriguing. I thought Egoyan seemed uncomfortable in the realm of "mainstream thriller," which this sort of was. And all three leads were squirm-inducing. Lohman seemed too young and not remotely jouralistic (not to mention that her character does some really dumb things). Firth appeared benumbed and Bacon just miscast (and not at all funny, for someone who was supposed to be a superstar comic).
However--yes, Marj is right as usual. It was fun, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the trashy proceedings. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| lady wakasa |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:08 pm |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 5911
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
|
Earl wrote: jeremy wrote: Hugh Grant is one of those actors who people seem to dismiss as always playing himself. I think the fact that people often consider his acting looks too easy is both indicative of his skill and unfair on him.
I had a similar conversation years ago with a coworker. He had just seen Carlito's Way because I had recommended it strongly to him. He thought it only so-so and one of his complaints was, "Sean Penn wasn't acting; he was just being himself. That's how I figure he is in real life." I replied by telling him that, without even realizing he was doing it, he had just paid Penn one of the highest compliments someone in Penn's profession can receive. He grunted a "Yeah, maybe," and changed the subject.
I don't think his acting looks too easy, though - I think it looks unconvincing. He's done better in recent years (About A Boy works well), but have you seen him in, say, Lair of the White Worm? He's made some bad choices and he isn't versatile enough to play any role.
Sort of like Marion Davies being a great comedienne, but Hearst continually putting her in costume dramas. Or Robin Williams having talent, but no studio finding a role that really showcases that talent (except maybe Dead Poets Society). |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| yambu |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:28 pm |
|
|
Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 6441
Location: SF Bay Area
|
| My favorite Robin Williams film, by far, is Good Will Hunting. Hokey ending notwithstanding, I love the thrust and parry between him and Damon. I'm told by people in the psychiatry biz that it doesn't ring true, but so what. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Marj |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:40 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
|
| As an actor it should would bother me. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:57 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| Hugh Grant may not be versatile, but within limits he is extremely effective on screen. About a Boy is, for the record, not one of my favorite Grant performances. But he is excellent in Notting Hill and in Bridget Jones's Diary I thought he gave an award-worthy performance of a cad. He was so attractive that I wound up thinking Bridget made the wrong choice. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| tirebiter |
| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:18 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4011
Location: not far away
|
Looking for HELP from anybody who's seen The Clearing (2004?) with Bob Redford and Helen Mirren and Willem Dafoe. Our satellite TV conked out last night when a big storm hit, and we were more than an hour into the movie. Can someone who's seen it tell us what happens in the last 20 mins?
SPOILERS for "The Clearing" follow:
Is Bob dead? Is Willem caught? The signal was going in an out, and we clearly saw Helen dump some ransom money, but both before and after that, nada.
Help? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:18 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Gromit, I definitely liked Mon Oncle, but I found Mr. Hulot's Holiday superb. The pace and the timing of the humour was perfect. One thing that bothered me when I saw it on tape was that for some reason, either accidental or on purpose they chopped off the last scene with the woman on the train regarding a picture. That ending tied up things beautifully. I'm sure that the new tranfers have the film complete. Also I remember Mon Oncle as having very vivid colours. Either my memory is faulty or the print you watched was faded.
I like Hugh Grant. I've always liked his performances in the movies of his that I've seen. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Mr. Brownstone |
| Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:32 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 2450
|
He's really good in Extreme Measures.
It's pretty much a corny thriller, but he has this great, unshowy scene about halfway through where he's standing before the hospital board or whatever, trying to convince them that he's the victim of a conspiracy to smear and frame him.
One of his most trusted friends asks him this point blank, and there's this subtle shift in Grant, where you know he's made a decision to dive in all the way. Not in that Tom Cruise "take a big gulp of water and glance and Demi Moore before tearing into Jack Nicholson" type of decision; it's much more subtle and organic, and Grant replies after a beat, "Yeah, yeah, Greg, and I think you're behind it."
Or something to that effect.
It's a terrific moment. |
_________________
"My name is Gunnery Sergeant Major Highway. And I have drunk more beer, pissed more blood, banged more quiff and knocked more skulls than all you numbnuts put together." - Clint Eastwood, Heartbreak Ridge |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
