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raindroprhythm
Reviews
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
I thought it was perfect.
Our school did The Importance of Being Earnest for our fall play and I was Cecily Cardew. I think Reese Witherspoon was a great Ceciley, as she pulled off the naive, playful, slightly insane girl very well. Gwendolyn was perfect in the movie (however I don't know about that tat...). Colin Firth was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT as Uncle Jack, and Rupert Everette was a very good Algernon (although I always pictured Kevin Kline). I was EXCEEDINGLY happy when they sang 'Lady Come Down', an original poem by Oscar Wilde. I did like the few changes they made from what our script was- for instance, Algernon wasn't really having money troubles- and if he was I don't remember them. I liked that the movie kept the same script but changed the scenery a little, as many Americans have difficultly paying attention when there aren't changes in the background (watch 'No Exit'. I played Inez and half hour into the play nobody understood what was going on as it's all one scene.) I saw BBC also do this, and it was funny- but I like this version better. It also began my love for Colin Firth (even though a lot of his movies aren't too spiffy).
Surviving Desire (1992)
Deep? I. Am trying.
As I watched this, I thought it was funny, kind of. Strong hint on the kind of. Oh my god, the acting was terrible. It was so bad...which disappointed me, as Hal Hartley is big on the whole condition acting- using physical ailments to change how one acts. I've used his method while doing a monologue from Schindler's List and my teacher said it was one of the most powerful monologues done by a student that he's seen- and that was the first time he suggested a Hal Hartley method. So I was expecting Surviving Desire to have exquisite acting. And when Martin Donovan opened his mouth, and twisted his face into what was supposed to be a pained or deep or spaced out expression, I laughed out loud and my teacher glared at me. But man, he was absolutely Oscar winning compared to everybody else (save the woman who kept asking everyone to marry her- she wasn't too bad). While he and the girl had a lot of chemistry, it just didn't...work. I don't know what was missing. I think she was just too much of a hot shot for him.
And I know the story was trying to be deep but it just didn't get there for me. It seemed to be forcing it on me.
Going Greek (2001)
It would have been better...
Had the more of the actors been under 29 and not over 30. It's fun if you're bored with nothing else to do, but Jake Taylor and Paige 1) Had no chemistry 2) She should've apologized to him...eehf. That and Jake Taylor was one of the nastiest actors I've ever laid eyes on. He didn't speak up, was not flamboyant enough to appear like he had a brain. He was very mechanical and not camera friendly at all- the whole thing of him caring about Gil wasn't pulled off because of his detachment. I loved the Gil and Sully characters- in fact, the movie had a lot of potentially good actors. I suppose if you're a 15 year old boy this movie kicks a lot of butt.
The African Queen (1951)
BLAH.
This film was unrealistic, especially the relationship between Charlie and Rose. No bible-belt Christian lady who fall in love with a man like that over a period of one or two days. He was gross, I think. And while a relationship could've developed, the way it did would never actually happen. As far as an adventure film goes, I'll say it was decent. In fact it's better than a many few I've seen. But I am stuck on the relationship. It just seemed wrong and, well, gross. I was told it was because they were unlikely- they weren't attractive or anything. I'll say. Humphrey Bogart's front teeth made me want to grab his neck and file them down.