tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post1759390668132329888..comments2024-03-28T06:14:54.076-04:00Comments on And So It Begins...: Hope SpringsAlex Withrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-26274802792698731142012-08-17T16:45:36.641-04:002012-08-17T16:45:36.641-04:00Couldn't agree more with this comment - movies...Couldn't agree more with this comment - movies change as we change. I believe that wholeheartedly. Some get better, some become indifferent; it's all a reflection of who we are at that given time.<br /><br />Obviously, I'd recommend that you watch Shame again. But hey, if it wasn't for you, then it wasn't for you. But who knows, maybe it will be someday. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-62316139260440534952012-08-17T11:05:47.785-04:002012-08-17T11:05:47.785-04:00Yes, Jessica Lange was amazing in that movie. I mi...Yes, Jessica Lange was amazing in that movie. I might need to watch it again sometime -- it's probably been close to 20 years since I saw it. It's a real tribute to the movie that those characters still stand out clearly in my mind after all that time.<br /><br />I find that I appreciate movies for different reasons, some for the film-making, some for the acting, and some for the story it's trying to tell. It's awesome when a film has all three, but if it doesn't it can still be worthwhile. <br /><br />Along those lines, I think the reason a person enjoys a particular film (or not) is, to a large degree, a purely individual response, which -- in my experience -- can change from one viewing to the next. For example, I'm still trying to puzzle out why I didn't enjoy Shame (aside from the fact that it was depressing and sad *LOL*) and trying to decide whether I need to see it at least one more time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-21314303403712244612012-08-17T09:20:44.178-04:002012-08-17T09:20:44.178-04:00I agree that the trailer drastically misrepresente...I agree that the trailer drastically misrepresented what the final film was. Glad you git enjoyment out of it. Depressing... that's interesting. I didn't find it sad at all, just real.<br /><br />At any rate, thanks for stopping by and commenting!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-65015707790615226942012-08-17T04:58:31.306-04:002012-08-17T04:58:31.306-04:00So different from what the trailer led me to belie...So different from what the trailer led me to believe. Not a zany comedy at all, but an introspective meditation on life. I recommended the film but only because of Streep and Jones. They were incredible and I enjoyed the portrait of their life. Unfortunately the story was just too depressing to truly engage me. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-84602938060652786912012-08-15T20:38:40.317-04:002012-08-15T20:38:40.317-04:00Yes. What Alex said, Stephanie. Check it out.Yes. What Alex said, Stephanie. Check it out.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-24857526698554277882012-08-15T11:29:14.088-04:002012-08-15T11:29:14.088-04:00Thank YOU for such a kind comment! Jones is indeed...Thank YOU for such a kind comment! Jones is indeed excellent in this movie, and he singlehandedly makes it worth it, although Streep's tenderness surely helps.<br /><br />Yeah, it isn't particularly well made, but I respect that it even <i>got</i> made, you know? Blue Sky is so good, isn't it? Jessica Lange just kills it.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-84121638109974424192012-08-15T11:26:16.959-04:002012-08-15T11:26:16.959-04:00Oh it is fantastic. He received a well earned Osca...Oh it is fantastic. He received a well earned Oscar nomination for his performance, which is arguably the best of his career. Very very good film.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-61457180348216035792012-08-15T10:49:46.671-04:002012-08-15T10:49:46.671-04:00I've never heard of The Valley of Elah -- I ne...I've never heard of The Valley of Elah -- I need to look that up!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-49283224041417390022012-08-15T10:48:28.321-04:002012-08-15T10:48:28.321-04:00Thank you for your excellent, thoughtful and balan...Thank you for your excellent, thoughtful and balanced review. I am closer to the target audience for this film, being middle aged and married, and despite the mixed reviews I've been reading it sounds like the kind of movie I'd enjoy. <br /><br />I've always loved Meryl Streep, though some of her performances are definitely better than others. Your description of her character and performance are enough to convince me to see this when it comes to DVD. I also like Tommy Lee Jones a lot, and I'd love to see him in a distinctively different kind of role. I am excited to hear he's terrific in this.<br /><br />Even if the film-making isn't great, it sounds like an interesting character study and exploration of relationships later in life (which is not done nearly enough in Hollywood).<br /><br />By the way, thanks for reminding me of Tommy Lee Jones's performance in Blue Sky. I really liked that movie. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-33024911938440968982012-08-14T21:31:34.726-04:002012-08-14T21:31:34.726-04:00Thanks! Ugh, I completely agree. She is so infinit...Thanks! Ugh, I completely agree. She is so infinitely better in this than The Iron Lady. The performances really don't even compare. Oh wellll.Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-35291557580425060342012-08-14T21:29:53.040-04:002012-08-14T21:29:53.040-04:00Well then, fair enough!Well then, fair enough!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-6577192051056202742012-08-14T20:59:52.891-04:002012-08-14T20:59:52.891-04:00Ha! Don't mention it. I'd give The Bourne ...Ha! Don't mention it. I'd give The Bourne Legacy 3/4, so we flipped on these two films. :)Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-32247733764552394352012-08-14T20:44:29.643-04:002012-08-14T20:44:29.643-04:00Great review! I may catch it since its the same di...Great review! I may catch it since its the same director as The Devil Wears Prada and I adore this movie. This should have been Meryl's Oscar win not that Iron Lady crap.s.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13987831438787776712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-27997405148937730582012-08-14T18:41:14.194-04:002012-08-14T18:41:14.194-04:00Yep, completely agree with you. Glad to hear you l...Yep, completely agree with you. Glad to hear you liked it too Dan!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-69324624930830673332012-08-14T18:40:36.626-04:002012-08-14T18:40:36.626-04:00Oh yeah, Jones was miles above Streep and Carell&#...Oh yeah, Jones was miles above Streep and Carell's work here, no question. I really appreciate the restraint and humility he brought to the role. Not a movie for me at all, but I did enjoy aspects of it, certainly.<br /><br />Thanks for not ripping me a new one for this semi positive review haha!Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-7855461715305774342012-08-14T17:45:33.598-04:002012-08-14T17:45:33.598-04:00I give Jones, Streep, and even Carell an A for eff...I give Jones, Streep, and even Carell an A for effort, but there just wasn't much for them work with. In the Valley of Elah! Yes! That's Jones on top of his game. I admired his performance here (more than Streep's and Carell's), but I didn't care for the film as a whole. Glad you enjoyed it though.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784665635104956142.post-31703332307407107602012-08-14T17:43:23.582-04:002012-08-14T17:43:23.582-04:00Good review Alex. There is a lot of heart and humo...Good review Alex. There is a lot of heart and humor to this flick, which makes it stand above the rest of the other rom-coms that always come out. But what really separates this film from those other ones is the heartfelt performances from Jones and Streep. Both are always at the top of their game and they both prove that here with two very astounding performances that put you in the mindset of an old, dull relationship.Dan O.http://www.dtmmr.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com