by Ethan Johnson
February 16, 2004
New year, new batch of stuff you already saw on opening night:
Lost in Translation: Wow.
I suppose I'm going to have to give Sofia Coppola more credit than I am normally inclined to, as once again, she kicks out a movie that is in a nutshell, quite good. Bill Murray is unbelievably credible in his role as the world-weary waning (if not plain washed out) movie star, in Japan to film a commercial. Scarlett Johannson shows us all that her true talent is, apparently, just being.
Somebody noted that this film is essentially "about nothing", yet not in that Seinfeld kind of way. This is true, upon reflection. But it's not strikingly obvious when you're watching it. Major kudos to Coppola to steer way clear of the whole "Bill Murray is funny just because he's on camera" thing (cough...Rushmore...cough).
We're so owning it. What higher praise is there?
Mystic River: Eh.
Kevin Bacon was really great, I thought. Sean Penn will probably win the Best Actor Oscar™, however it's like giving it to Al Pacino nowadays for essentially acting the same role over and over. But Sean Penn deserves it at least once, so if it's for this movie it's not the end of the world. Feel free to dispute this and say he deserved it for whatever else. But as far as really delivering a role, I thought Kevin Bacon did the overall better job.
I wasn't expecting it to be a "mystery" or "detective" movie. We went in "cold" to the theatre armed only with the knowledge that Sean Penn won the Golden Globe™ for his performance. Same with Lost in Translation by the way, and the attendance in the theatre reflected this.
We aren't moved enough to ownership, but it was "ok". This really could have been a "catch it on cable" thing, honestly.
Calendar Girls: T'was good.
Sure, it was fluff, but it was English fluff! That's the best kind, isn't it? Much more to our liking than all that other rot, eh wot.
Helen Mirren was great, as was Julie Walters. I can't stress the "fluff" part enough, but it was a good time and we'll of course own in, because we are closet Brits. That's the ticket.
Big Fish: How did I not write a review sooner?
Well, it's mostly moot now that all of you have seen it 6 times, but if you're one of the exceptions, then yes, I highly recommend it, all except for Billy Crudup, who is largely disposable in this role. Albert Finney and Ewan MacGregor totally make the film worth watching, and it didn't completely reek of Tim Burton-ness. Unlike something like Edward Scissorhands, which I never sat through. Just sayin'.
As per usual, we will do our part to keep DVD sales brisk. It might get us through what may be a rather bleak year at the movies overall. <EM>
