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JudyObscure
Reviews
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006)
Women can be politicians? Amazing!
Hasn't this been done a hundred times? You'd think after Margaret Thatcher this wouldn't be such a shocking premise. I found the whole thing silly and irritating.
I dislike prejudice in any form so it offends me to hear statements like, "Women are better at politics because they can admit when they've made a mistake." I don't think work has a gender, I don't think women are better at politics any more than men are better at engineering. I also dislike seeing women treat their husbands like children and their children like adults.
This might make a nice "follow your dream" film for school girls except for the fact that the film teaches that self-esteem is a more useful career preparation than education or experience.
Far from Heaven (2002)
Perfect period portrayal.
This is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. I rank it with the Merchant Ivory films for authentic period detail.
I've watched it many times now, sometimes for the beautiful sets, sometimes for the tragic drama but always for Julianne Moore's mesmerizing performance. I disagree with some people here, that Cathy's life was superficial and shallow. On the contrary, I think this character epitomizes an entirely valid life choice of that era. Cathy channeled all the intelligence, creativity, and energy that a contemporary woman would give to her job and put it all, without selfishness or reservation, into managing a smooth, beautiful environment for her family. I see nothing wrong, more superficial or less worthwhile, with that sort of life's work, than running a bank or marketing TV's.
The tragedy for Cathy was simply that she had devoted these energies toward a man who was not really capable of appreciating her. The amazing thing is that Julianne Moore did not bow to the temptation to make Cathy a Stepford wife. Such a caricature would have been easily understood by today's audience but it would have turned the movie into something else, not half as truthful.
Bubble (2005)
Not as "real" as it tries to be.
This film was recommended to me by a friend who lives in California. She thought it was wonderful because it was so real, "Just the way people in the Ohio Valley are!" I'm from the area and I experienced the film as "Just the way people in California think we are!" I've lived in Marietta and Parkersburg and worked minimum wage jobs there. We laughed a lot, we bonded with and took breaks with people our own age; the young people went out together at night. The older people had little free time after work because they were taking care of their families. The area is beautiful in the summer and no gloomier in the winter rain than anywhere else.
Aside from the "if you live in a manufactured home you must be depressed" condescension, the story lacked any elements of charm, mystery or even a sense of dread.
Martha's character was the worst drawn. It's doubtful that anyone so repressed would have belonged to a church, but if she had, she probably would have made friends there. I've read reviews that seem to assume Martha was jealous of Rose because Rose was "younger, prettier and thinner" but if this is the case it isn't shown. All we actually see is Martha learning to dislike Rose for reasons that would apply just as much if the three friends had been the same age and gender. We see Martha feeling left out during smoking sessions, left out of the loop when social plans are made, used but not appreciated, and finally disrespected and hurt.
Just one more thing: Are we supposed to suspect Kyle of murder because he had once had a few panic attacks? Please. This takes stigma against mental illness to a new level.