Because I'm way behind and my memory of these flicks isn't going to get any better...
A Single Man
The worst thing that could possibly happen with director Tom Ford's A Single Man happened: he made a pretty good movie. See, in case you're not privy, Ford is, or at least was, known for being a fashion designer. The critical success of this film could have a disastrous consequence: other designers thinking that they can make films, too, and ones as good or better than this. I don't know about you, but I don't think the world is prepared for an Isaac Mizrahi picture or something from the Tommy Hilfiger collection. Then again, Sean Puffy Puff Daddy Diddy Combs has dabbled in movies and he's technically a designer, too, and the world hasn't ended, so perhaps I'm overreacting.
Even moreso than with Jeff Bridges' two-tone performance in Crazy Heart, I'm a bit baffled by the showering of love for star Colin Firth. He's most certainly not bad, but I have a hard time recalling an actor having to do so little for so much praise: Firth is stuck in one emotion (wistful melancholy) for the lion's share of the run time, and though the few outbursts are good, they're not that good.
Yet despite Man's shortcomings - and there are plenty, from a horrid ending to an over-the-top Julianne Moore to a sparse story - it remains an important film, if for no other reason than for it's portrayal of homosexuality in the early 60s. It's both a blessing and a curse that this can't be just considered a love story - that it has to be a "gay love story," but that's what happens when there are so few pieces in which to compare it to.
Invictus
Speaking of important, imperfect films...
Director Clint Eastwood does himself at least one better than his previous outing, Gran Torino, by hiring two no less than professional actor for roles in this dramatization of the events that led up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Of course, he still couldn't help but cast one son in a pivotal role (with another contributing some terrible songs to the film's soundtrack) and filling out the cast with local South Africans (who are tenfold the caliber of actors that the local Minnesotans in Torino were - or maybe their exotic accents are just tricking me).
Most likely due to my own ignorance (of rugby, South African history and Mandela in general, probably in that order), I fell somewhat for Invictus. Despite its myriad shortcomings - amongst them, those aformentioned awful songs, a draaaaawwwwwnnn out third act and some slippery storytelling - it remains an inspiring story that actually inspires: if you can watch the minor miracles that Mandela is portrayed to have accomplished and not feel like a slacker, then my congratulations (or condolences) go out to you: you've either gone from prison to presidency as well or you're delusional.
And then...
A Single ManThe worst thing that could possibly happen with director Tom Ford's A Single Man happened: he made a pretty good movie. See, in case you're not privy, Ford is, or at least was, known for being a fashion designer. The critical success of this film could have a disastrous consequence: other designers thinking that they can make films, too, and ones as good or better than this. I don't know about you, but I don't think the world is prepared for an Isaac Mizrahi picture or something from the Tommy Hilfiger collection. Then again, Sean Puffy Puff Daddy Diddy Combs has dabbled in movies and he's technically a designer, too, and the world hasn't ended, so perhaps I'm overreacting.
Even moreso than with Jeff Bridges' two-tone performance in Crazy Heart, I'm a bit baffled by the showering of love for star Colin Firth. He's most certainly not bad, but I have a hard time recalling an actor having to do so little for so much praise: Firth is stuck in one emotion (wistful melancholy) for the lion's share of the run time, and though the few outbursts are good, they're not that good.
Yet despite Man's shortcomings - and there are plenty, from a horrid ending to an over-the-top Julianne Moore to a sparse story - it remains an important film, if for no other reason than for it's portrayal of homosexuality in the early 60s. It's both a blessing and a curse that this can't be just considered a love story - that it has to be a "gay love story," but that's what happens when there are so few pieces in which to compare it to.
 | "Darn tootin!" |
| Shaky Cam Rating (details): | LAMBScore: |
 |  |
InvictusSpeaking of important, imperfect films...
Director Clint Eastwood does himself at least one better than his previous outing, Gran Torino, by hiring two no less than professional actor for roles in this dramatization of the events that led up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. Of course, he still couldn't help but cast one son in a pivotal role (with another contributing some terrible songs to the film's soundtrack) and filling out the cast with local South Africans (who are tenfold the caliber of actors that the local Minnesotans in Torino were - or maybe their exotic accents are just tricking me).
Most likely due to my own ignorance (of rugby, South African history and Mandela in general, probably in that order), I fell somewhat for Invictus. Despite its myriad shortcomings - amongst them, those aformentioned awful songs, a draaaaawwwwwnnn out third act and some slippery storytelling - it remains an inspiring story that actually inspires: if you can watch the minor miracles that Mandela is portrayed to have accomplished and not feel like a slacker, then my congratulations (or condolences) go out to you: you've either gone from prison to presidency as well or you're delusional.
| "Darn tootin!" |
| Shaky Cam Rating (details): | LAMBScore: |
 | |
