1. Whoever recommended "The Ice Storm" to me has got a lot of 'splainin' to do. I don't recall anyone saying, "You should rent this movie—it's unrelentingly, crushingly depressing, and you won't like any of the characters! Plus, you'll feel it was a waste of some of your favorite actors! If you want bleak, this is the movie for you!" I normally love Ang Lee, and I read numerous rave reviews over at Netflix, but this was a huge disappointment.
2. "Facing Windows," on the other hand, was just beautiful. Almost anything I say will give away too much, but it's about a woman who feels dissatisfied with her life, a man across the way whom she watches through the window, and an old man who has lost his memory.
3. "Beautiful Girls" was a good little slice-of-life movie about a high school reunion in a cruddy small town somewhere in Massachusetts (sans the fake Boston accents, thank you very much!). Great, small performances from Matt Dillon, Timothy Hutton, Uma Thurman, Lauren Holly, and on and on. My only complaints were (1) that Natalie Portman's script was ridiculously written—no 13-year-old talks like that!—and (2) that we don't go ice-fishing here. I read somewhere that it was filmed in Minnesota, which is sure what it looked like. Andy and I both definitely got that midwestern feel from it, although Boston references abounded (Celtics, the Cape, etc.). Maybe it was meant to be southern New Hampshire. Anyhow, there was nothing too new or deep explored here, but it was worth watching.
I really liked Beautiful Girls - maybe because although the surroundings didn't feel all that New England-y - the characters did - it was like being at my high school reunion - also something I discovered here in the south, people here don't use nicknames all that much - up north everyone knows someone names "Sully" or "Smitty", when my husband and I tlak about our college friends, we realize that we NEVER called anyone by their first names - the guys at least!
I haven't seen Facing Windows - will have to check it out.
Posted by: Kathy | May 04, 2005 at 06:23 PM
Hi! I found you via Blog Explosion and am so glad I did! :) I read far more often than I can catch a flick, so thanks for the movie reviews. I'm blogmarking your site to come back when I have more time.
I was browsing blogs while printing off artwork pamphlets on my computer. (I'm an artist who is also a "wannabe" writer. Hope you come by my blog.
Creative blog. I like the "daily fixes" title for your link list. Humor is a must. ;)
Posted by: Green-Eyed Lady | May 05, 2005 at 02:24 PM