Posts by Kimberly «
Crushing Love
BLUE VALENTINE (2010/IN THEATERS) Have you ever heard that the characteristic that most draws you to a person is usually the thing that eventually makes you hate them? Derek Cianfrance made a whole movie about this concept! And man, is it depressing! Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling are just as fascinating as you’ve heard as a couple crumbling in present day, and falling in love about five years prior. You’ve overheard this couple’s tense grocery store conversation in the frozen foods aisle and tried to pretend that you didn’t. You’ve felt sorry for their cute kid and wondered what drew these two angry people together in the first place. Read more »
Why Didn’t We Spend Time Like This Before?
I KNEW IT WAS YOU: REDISCOVERING JOHN CAZALE (2009/DVD) You might not know John Cazale’s name, but you know his face—he was poor, whiney Fredo in the first two chapters of The Godfather trilogy and crazy-eyed, tragically funny Sal in Dog Day Afternoon. He starred in just five films before his death at 42, but all were nominated by the Academy for Best Picture and are generally considered to be the finest of the ‘70s (rounding out the list are The Conversation and The Deer Hunter). Though not particularly widely known until recently, Cazale is respected in thespian circles—an actor’s actor whose name is often cited for cred purposes. (Which is how Brett Ratner became involved in producing the long-overdue film—director Richard Shepard was having a terrible time finding financing and happened to read an interview in which Ratner mentioned Cazale. Shepard contacted Ratner, who made a phone call to HBO, and a release was quickly secured—almost making up for the Rush Hour trilogy!) His characters are all quite different but share a vulnerability—he’s the forgotten middle child, or the kid who was always getting picked on but also kind of asked for it. Read more »
Trailer Trash: Drug-Induced Zoot Suit Edition
Come join us for a discussion of the trailers we’ve been privileged to experience over the last month or so. Are they tantalizing nuggets of the hits of tomorrow? Or harbingers of Knight and Days to come? We do not know! But we will assume that we do, because it is our way. Have YOU seen a trailer lately? Do tell. In the Comments, please—we can’t hear you from our cubicles.
Sarah: Okay! It’s hard for me to properly introduce this trailer for Hanna. It looks so weird, and the movie’s plot is not at all clear here. What is going on with this tiny assassin girl in the Arctic? Why would Eric Bana leave his daughter alone to kill someone dangerous? What, exactly, is the deal with Cate Blanchett’s hair and accent? Can I get someone to please tell me how to pronounce Saoirse Ronan’s first name? Whatever the hell is going on, it definitely looks like it’s awesome. Count me in.
Our Best of the Year: the 2010 SMLys!
On this last week of 2010, Year of the Franco, enjoy a trip down memory lane with SML. We’ve compiled some of our favorite films and posts of the year. Remember that movie? And that festival? Oh, how we laughed/cried/rolled our eyes! Anyhoo, here they are, in alphabetical order by editor. See you in 2011, and don’t forget to shake that thing!
Brian:
Totally Bitchin’ Dead Guys: Leo McCarey & Charles Laughton
Totally Bitchin’ Dead Guys: Leo McCarey & Bing Crosby
On Location: The Music Box Theater, Chicago
Picture Books: Who the Devil Made It
Ebertfest: 12th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival series
Kimberly:
“Be Yourself” (A Woman Under the Influence)
Let’s Talk About…Jennifer’s Body
Let’s Talk About…Morning Glory
Two Oscar Contenders Are the Bread for a Delicious Despair Sandwich (Rabbit Hole, The Fighter)
Let’s Talk About…What We Do Is Secret
Wasted Weekend: Underwater Makeout Session Edition
Rebecca:
A Single Man…Beautiful, Bittersweet Gem
Broken Embraces…Penelope Cruz Will Mesmerize You
Exit Through the Gift Shop…the Title May Say It All
Oscar Buzz for The Social Network
The Beat Generation in Court (Howl)
An Evening With Sam Shepard…Fabulous
Movies Under the Stars…Great Summer Fun! (Star Trek [2009])
Sarah:
We’ll Eat You Up We Love You So (Where the Wild Things Are)
Top Ten Favorites of the Decade!
Happy Holidays from Serious Movie Lover!
Old Rumple Eyes knows how to enjoy the holidays: with an armful of carefully wrapped bottles of whiskey.
While we take a well-deserved break for the next few days, please enjoy our favorite holiday movies. Add yours in the comments!
*Rebecca’s unconventional choice, The Magic Flute
*Sarah’s high camp classic, White Christmas
*Kimberly’s highbrow selection, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
We’ll be back next week to share some of our favorite posts from 2010. Cheers!
Two Oscar Contenders Are the Bread for a Delicious Despair Sandwich
RABBIT HOLE (2010/IN THEATERS)
THE FIGHTER (2010/IN THEATERS)
Does it seem like the Oscar contenders are coming out particularly late this year? Maybe the studios have caught on that the Academy’s attention span is like that of a gnat (Winter’s who? Tilda what?). Though I am, for those most part, avoiding these last-minute releases until the AMC Best Picture Showcase in Jan/Feb, I am powerless against the siren song of 1) seeing something before everyone else (dork cache!), 2) seeing something for free. Thanks, SLIFF and Gofobo.com! Read more »
Queue Query: We Really Do Like Basketball Edition
We stole this idea from Slate because we think it’s fun. Sue us. (Please don’t sue us.) Without any advance reordering to save face, we present to you the first five entries (save for several discs of “The Tudors” and “In Treatment”) in Kimberly’s (and, to a lesser extent, Brian’s) Netflix queue, along with some brief commentary utilizing the royal “we.” Judge if you must.
1. Cannibal! The Musical (1993). Pardon me for a moment, everyone…uh, Brian? What the hell is this? Explain yourself in the comments, please.
2. Just Wright (2010). Scotlips were all over the one when it came out in May–admittedly because they were desperate for a smart romantic comedy worth even a “Rent It.” Common and the Queen are both so very pretty (she’s really pulling off that Juicy hoodie in the poster! Kahdooz!), plus, there’s basketball, the only sport that holds our attention for more than a few minutes. We plan on comparing/contrasting with 2000′s Love & Basketball because we are sooo creative. Read more »
Let’s Talk About…Our Oscar Hosts
James Franco and Anne Hathaway: your 2011 Oscar hosts (artist’s rendering)
Sarah: So Kimberly, what do we make of yesterday’s announcement that Anne Hathaway and James Franco will be hosting the Oscars this February? I think it’s weird. Do you think they’re just calling everyone in Hollywood until someone says yes, or what? I guess Hathaway sang a song with Hugh Jackman a couple of years back when they had that “salute to Broadway” theme (UGH), and I heard she was a decent SNL host last weekend. But does that qualify her to run the show, really? And is it some sort of conflict that they’re both in movies that are being talked up for nominations this year (Franco more so than Hathaway, but still)? I say we nominate these dudes instead.
Kimberly: Yet another reason why you should be our Oscar producer. Truly, I am baffled by this choice. Pretty people get everything in this crazy world—the biggest houses, the shiniest cars, the hottest drug dealers, the finest meats and cheeses—now they get to host the Oscars too? Are these two even popular enough to increase the numbers for the usually low-rated telecast? Are they going to do a dance number? You know Hathaway wouldn’t sign on until they agreed to give her a Judy Judy Judy moment. And I guess Franco can add this to his overachieving, manic resume—he is officially qualified for all the jobs now. I hope Twitter is still around in February, because this will be fun.
Sarah: The New York Times seems to think it’s a bid to lure younger viewers, I guess? But does that even make sense? Hey kids, tune in to watch the stars of The Princess Diaries and Pineapple Express make jokes about The King’s Speech! We know just what you like! Perhaps it’s time for producers to accept the Oscar telecast for what it is: a low-rated celebration for movie and fashion nerds (this is us, Kimberly) that most people don’t care too much about. Own it!
Wigs for All, Pants for None
Warning: Photo may cause epileptic seizures.
BURLESQUE (2010/IN THEATERS) The siren song of a potential camp classic compelled me to make the trek out west to Chesterfield (home of a mile-long strip mall of horrors) for a preview screening of this somewhat mysterious Christina Aguilera/Cher musical.
I don’t think I was disappointed? It’s certainly not bad–the plot was thin (we have to band together to save the old burlesque house from evil developers!), but moved quickly and there were enough strobe lights, high kicks, and scenes of Aguilera strutting down the street practicing dance moves while fellow pedestrians looked on admiringly to keep the audience happy. But where was the camp? The only Showgirls worthy line came about 3/4 of the way through when Cher reminded Kristen Bell (really sweating it here to play a humorless, self-destructive bitch [and, well, to dance], with a chirpy delivery that gives away the Doris Day within) about “How many times I held your hair back while you threw up everything but your memories!” Now that’s what I’m talking about. More please. Read more »
Let’s Talk About…Morning Glory
MORNING GLORY (2010/IN THEATERS)
From: Rebecca
To: Kimberly
I predict a darn good box office for this movie. At last night’s screening here in Denver (thanks to GOFOBO for those free tickets—see Brian’s write-up just below), we had a BIG line to get in and lots of laughing out loud from the audience. I think the movie is fine—funny, well written and with some really good performances. I always love Jeff Goldblum and he’s wonderful here as the cynical boss of IBS—the 4th ranked network– with its failing morning show “Daybreak.” Also really enjoyed Diane Keaton in her pitch-perfect spot as the morning anchor—particularly when things got nasty on-air. Rachel McAdams does a fine job with her incredibly perky main character, Becky, and Harrison Ford is appropriately grumpy (maybe even a little over the top) in his portrayal of the “3rd worst man on earth” former news anchor from hell Mike Pomeroy. People in my audience were roaring at the montage of scenes about 2/3 of the way through the picture when Becky has transformed her weather man into her “live action” reporter (bringing to mind Bridget Jones sliding down that fire pole in Bridget Jones Diary).
Many others writing about this movie have mentioned Broadcast News, but seriously, this one is not in the same league. It is fun, however, in a light-hearted, skim the surface kind of way. Would I recommend this movie to others? Definitely.
My Grade: B
P.S. I’m sure you noticed how Becky’s hair cleverly mirrors her rising self-confidence in the film…heck, Harrison Ford’s Mike Pomeroy even calls out her poor bangs. Nothing like beating the audience over the head with symbolism.
