movie redux

Hi all. As always, I have been hitting the movies hard....it is totally my drug of choice. Here are thoughts about my recent outings!

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

You know how sometimes there are these really fun, trashy movies, that are well-made and smart, and you just enjoy them so much? And, you know how sometimes there are these really fun, trashy movies, that are really just bad, and you enjoy them so much? THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL falls into the trashy, bad movie category, but still manages to be fun to watch. The disappointing thing is that this movie SHOULD be fabulous. With a cast led by Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana, this movie should just rock. Plus, the novel it's based on is a fabulously trashy romance novel. Something got lost in the translation. I guess what it comes down to is that this is the movie of pouters. Portman is Anne Boleyn, scheming uber-b*tch who wants to be the queen. Johansson is Mary, the sweet innocent who is betrayed by her sister, whines about it, then mopes, then leaves, them comes back, and is a good person = kind of boring. Bana plays Henry who wants to get laid and have a son and heir. There just isn't anyone to root for. The other thing really working against the film is the fact that they try to include all of the stories in the book...but don't necessarily return to resolve them. You meet someone who seems to be an important character, and then either don't see them again, or they pass a star in the hallway of the palace with a significant look...and are gone. Huh?
All that being said, I had fun watching the movie. To be honest, there were parts that I just laughed at, as they were awkward or just goofy. The actors are first-rate, and manage to have some great moments, even though the materials is not quite perfect.

Final thoughts: If you like romance novels, this is the kind of movie you will enjoy...guilty pleasure. Grab some chocolate, ogle the costumes, and watch to enjoy......don't over think it.

PENELOPE

As you might recall, I have been looking forward to seeing this movie for several months, having first seen the preview last summer. I was somewhat devastated when it finally came out to mostly terrible reviews. However, I decided to go and check and out, and can say with pride, it's not as bad as you think it will be! Ricci plays Penelope, a girl who is cursed with the nose and ears of a pig, and the spell can only be broken when she is loved by one of her own kind. (aka....rich person) So, her parents hire a dating service to bring in rich boys to meet her, fall in love with her and break the spell. A lot more happens, and in comes James McAvoy, hired by someone to get a picture of the freaky-pig girl. Chaos ensues. It is a modern-day fairy-tale, and is a lot of fun. I sat there smiling through it, and overall, had a lovely time. McAvoy gives a great performance in what could be a throw-away role, and Ricci is likable as Penelope. Reese Witherspoon, producer of the film, has a small part, and in some ways, I wish I could have seen her in the lead part.

Final thoughts: Grab a girlfriend, some popcorn, and enjoy a simple love story.

BE KIND, REWIND

I love Mos Def. I don't know what it is about him, but I find him hilarious and likable. In Michel Gondry's new film (he also directed ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND - yeah, Kate Winslet!), Jack Black is Mos Def's best friend. Mos Def works at a VHS rental store, and Jack Black accidentally becomes magnetic and erases all of the films. Oops. So, they set about remaking them. They do GHOSTBUSTERS and DRIVING MISS DAISY amongst others, and are hilarious doing it. There is a lot more to the movie than that, but the movie-making is the comedy center of the film. There are themes of community and stuff, but if you are anything like me, you would rather just laugh at the fun stuff anyway.

Final thoughts: Bizarre, funny and interesting, one to check out when you have the time.

FOOL'S GOLD

When will Kate Hudson get a fabulous movie to really shine in? Once again, she does a good job in a so-so movie, and I so just want her to get the perfect romantic comedy party. (I am still holding out hope that "Can You Keep a Secret?" by Sophie Kinsella will be made with her in the lead.) FOOL'S GOLD is a fun, silly movie, that you watch, and laugh at, and then forget on your way out the door. Truth be told, I am not the biggest Matthew McConaughey fan, so for me, this was about Kate Hudson. The two got married for the sex, and to scuba for treasure. So, eight years later, without treasure, Hudson is divorcing Matthew, and going back to school. To make ends meet she works on the yacht of a wealthy guy (Donald Sutherland...who I assume made a TON of money with this), which her ex-husband happens to get on and convinces the owner to go after the ultimate sunken treasure. With some surprisingly violent violence, the movie takes itself a bit more seriously than it needs to. However, at the end of it all, it was a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

Final thoughts: Not as bad as it might have been, but certainly not very good. If you like adventure movies, maybe check it out. If not, save your dough.

SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES - will do on my next posting.

photo credits: http://www.movieweb.com/