List 1- Thing 54
Oct. 11th, 2009 07:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
just_the_things54. Watch every nominated movie from the Academy Awards (excluding foreign film) from 2007-2009
Atonement- Just watched this (finished it a few seconds ago). I wasn't really expecting to like it. The commercials didn't really grip me. And the reviews seemed like so much hype. Even as it began, I wasn't really into it. I didn't really get it. But I'm completely eat my words. I thought it was brilliant. The first scene that was replayed (the fountain) caught my attention (I love when books/movies/shows play with time and points of view). And then the bit in the library made me cock my head and wonder. Then that accusation... at that point I was hooked. It was stunning and internal and thought-provoking and emotional and gorgeously done and terrifying and heartbreaking and lovely all at once. Especially as I expected not to like it one bit.
Frost/Nixon- I watched this yesterday. I would have liked it a little better, I think, if they'd made Frost a little easier to understand. I'm all for ambiguity but I couldn't figure out from the portrayal if he was leading Nixon on/lulling him into a false sense of security or if he was just an incompetant interviewer. I wanted a little more of the secondary characters, as well. I wanted more motivations and suspense. Now, the interview was supurb, don't get me wrong. it was wonderful and dramatic... but I thought the movie relied too heavily on that and on the accuracy, instead of really telling a complete story. The late night phone call and the ending really saved it for me, though. Not that I would have hated it without those; I just wouldn't have liked it as much without them. I even watched all the bonus features (well, not the commentary, but all the others). It actually made me feel quite sympathetic towards Nixon, which is an astonishing feat in and of itself. So bravo, movie.
The Changeling- Hmm. Not sure what to say about this. Lovely costumes. Good acting. Beautiful job cinematically. And I know it's based off a real story, so there was only so much that could be done, factually. But I just didn't dig this for some reason. I had a hard time believing any mother in that position would go along with the farce even for a second in confusion in front of the media. I just didn't buy it and it lost me there. And there were plenty of times after that it seemed realistic and terrible... but it had already lost me. The hanging was shocking; I don't think I'd ever seen that done so realistically and detailed. I wanted much more from the ending, but, again, I understand there were constraints. It was a good movie; I have respect for it and don't regret watching it. But I probably wouldn't recommend it as a favorite or anything.
Atonement- Just watched this (finished it a few seconds ago). I wasn't really expecting to like it. The commercials didn't really grip me. And the reviews seemed like so much hype. Even as it began, I wasn't really into it. I didn't really get it. But I'm completely eat my words. I thought it was brilliant. The first scene that was replayed (the fountain) caught my attention (I love when books/movies/shows play with time and points of view). And then the bit in the library made me cock my head and wonder. Then that accusation... at that point I was hooked. It was stunning and internal and thought-provoking and emotional and gorgeously done and terrifying and heartbreaking and lovely all at once. Especially as I expected not to like it one bit.
Frost/Nixon- I watched this yesterday. I would have liked it a little better, I think, if they'd made Frost a little easier to understand. I'm all for ambiguity but I couldn't figure out from the portrayal if he was leading Nixon on/lulling him into a false sense of security or if he was just an incompetant interviewer. I wanted a little more of the secondary characters, as well. I wanted more motivations and suspense. Now, the interview was supurb, don't get me wrong. it was wonderful and dramatic... but I thought the movie relied too heavily on that and on the accuracy, instead of really telling a complete story. The late night phone call and the ending really saved it for me, though. Not that I would have hated it without those; I just wouldn't have liked it as much without them. I even watched all the bonus features (well, not the commentary, but all the others). It actually made me feel quite sympathetic towards Nixon, which is an astonishing feat in and of itself. So bravo, movie.
The Changeling- Hmm. Not sure what to say about this. Lovely costumes. Good acting. Beautiful job cinematically. And I know it's based off a real story, so there was only so much that could be done, factually. But I just didn't dig this for some reason. I had a hard time believing any mother in that position would go along with the farce even for a second in confusion in front of the media. I just didn't buy it and it lost me there. And there were plenty of times after that it seemed realistic and terrible... but it had already lost me. The hanging was shocking; I don't think I'd ever seen that done so realistically and detailed. I wanted much more from the ending, but, again, I understand there were constraints. It was a good movie; I have respect for it and don't regret watching it. But I probably wouldn't recommend it as a favorite or anything.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 05:59 am (UTC)As for the other two...I have no need or desire to see them.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-12 05:59 am (UTC)