2 posts tagged “kate winslet”

3-1/2 Stars

This is epic, as Baz Luhrman films tend to be.  It could be hokey, and has something of a false ending about 3/4 of the way through.  There are holes.  Yet...yet I liked it.  It's superficially enlightening on a number of historical points.  Wonderful cinematography and production values.  Good performances.  Wow, Hugh Jackman has some body!!  Make popcorn, keep the tissue box near, and don't think about it too much.

5 Stars

Wow.  Heavy.  Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are perfect, as is Michael Shannon as the voice of truth.   Award-worthy performances all, with Leo outdoing himself (I never thought he was that great, but he is stunning here).  I realize the direction may not have been as daunting as Danny Boyle's task, but in another time and place, Sam Mendes deserves kudos.  Textbook perfect mise-en-scene.  The language of this film is the best I've seen in a very long time (I may elaborate on that in a longer post, but first I'm compelled to buy the dvd and read the novel---by Richard Yates). It's a very American version of what seems like Europeans (or at least the French) have been doing for some time.  The commentary and deleted scenes make me think a director's cut may eventually be released.  You may need a couple of martinis while/after watching this film.

On a lighter note, I'm dying for the fashions and furniture of that period!

3-1/2 Stars

The chemistry between Sookie Stackhouse and Bill the vampire was the way it should've been in Twilight.  Among other things.  Much more interesting, if this is your kind of genre.  The first two episodes were sufficiently enchanting to catapult the next disc onto my qeueu (which says alot in the context of 291 movies vying for attention).

2-1/2 Stars

Hubster would probably watch this because it has action sequences.  Saw it at a neighbor's home.  It's ok, not really my cup of tea.  It was fine while we watched it, but I probably wouldn't see it again.  (I like action, but the story is pretty cliche.)

2008 was a tremendous year for good films, which I hope is portentous for things to come.  Is it because, or in spite, of the severe economic downturn?  I don't care, keep it coming!

Edit:  This movie is almost too incredible to put my critical thinking skills to bear on writing a review.  On a purely emotional and reactive level, I was so affected by it that I could think of nothing else while getting my teeth cleaned this morning.  I lied back in the dentist's chair, closed my eyes, and relived the movie.  It was that moving.

It is no surprise that the great Anthony Minghella bought the rights to the novel eight years ago, with the intent to write and direct it himself.  He never got around to it, but managed to produce the film, though he and Sydney Pollack (his also great production partner) both passed away during production.  The Reader resembles The English Patient in so many ways---the quality of the story, the production values, the pace, the intensity.  I was riveted, completely captivated and convinced of its reality, and astounded upon looking back that each aspect---the performances, the score, the cinematography, the writing, and of course, the directing---culminated in a work of such beauty that it won nothing but the Best Actress Oscar.  The merits of Slumdog Millionaire cannot be downplayed, but I truly feel there is something here so profound it occupies another plane entirely.  If the highest rating one can give is five stars, I'd have to give The Reader six.

It is a very demanding film, and gives no answers or even guidance as to how one might evaluate the topic.  These are often the sorts of questions we shy away from---that is, questions of morality, justice, the bounds of love and shame, the disjointedness of truth...The Reader opened a gaping intellectual hole that I fell into---not sure why---but I sort of like the way it feels, this wondering.  I suppose the logical step would be to buy the book.  I hope I can handle that.

Did I mention it has a beautiful score?