Last weekend I drove four hours to Dallas to spend two nights with my Sister from another Mister, Emily. The main purpose for this little excursion was for the two of us to spend 12 hours in a movie theater on Saturday watching each of the five movies nominated for Best Picture of 2007. Unless you love movies like I do, you can’t imagine how much fun I had watching and discussing movies with Emily.
Emily’s husband nailed the 12-hour movie-going demographic. The audience was made up of three kinds of people: two friends that happen to be women, older couples, or fat single men. He nailed it, I tell you. The fat single men were also those who liked to talk very loud about their ideas on LOTR and Star Wars. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Except for their weird need to be noticed for their unlimited knowledge of Hobbiton. Said men kept talking loudly, then would glance around to see if anyone were watching them with awe. Um, itweren’t awe, y’all.
The movies we saw were (in order):
- Michael Clayton: Emily summed it up best: How can you look at George Clooney in anything without thinking, "Oooooo! This is a tight spot!" Besides, I think I’ve seen this movie before with Russell Crowe and tobacco. This was my least favorite of the five.
- There Will Be Blood: I loved Daniel Day Lewis. I thought this was a phenomenal movie. Emily didn’t care for it as much. Watching a strong man break is always interesting, I think. FYI: There Will Be Blood was based on Oil! by Upton Sinclair
. I have the novel on reserve from the library and I can’t wait to see what I missed in the movie version.
- Atonement: (Also based on a novel–of the same name–by Ian McEwan
- Juno: This was one of my favorite movies, but not. It’s hysterically written and superbly acted. As a mother of a daughter, though, I was torn. This movie is ultimately a love story and our heroine just happens to be pregnant. I wanted Juno to suffer and know the consequences of her actions. As an audience we catch glimpses of her frustration (an argument in a hallway, sadness in the hospital), but really it’s about Juno’s personality and finding her way to her love. It’s mainstreaming teen pregnancy. On principle, I have a problem with that. However, I loved this movie for the one-liners (one of which provided the title for this post). I’m really torn. It’s hilarious, but why are we glorifying this with humor? I hate to admit that I loved this movie because I really didn’t want to, even though it was getting rave reviews. As a mother have I completely lost my sense of humor? I hope not.
- No Country for Old Men: Holy Canoli! Violent. Really, really, blood-gushing, cover-your-eyes, please-don’t-kill-anyone-for-five-seconds violent. Fargo was violent, but it was funny. This was violent with a little humor here and there, mostly in the form of the deputy. I was tense through most of this movie. It just doesn’t let you relax.
The thing about all the movies was that I didn’t feel like I had the entire story. I felt like the movies were abridged somehow (which is why I’ve reserved what books I can from the library–I want to see if they were, in fact, abridged or true to the novels). It was frustrating to sit through each movie and wonder if I’d really seen all there was to see.
Have you seen any of the movies? What did you think?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve seen the last three and liked them all. I understand what you’re saying about Juno, but I still love the movie. My favorite line: “I’m in high school, dude. I’m ill-equiped.”
Wow. 12 hours. In a theatre. With no children. And Popcorn. My idea of a vacation!
If you are a James McEvoy fan and haven’t yet, see “Last King of Scotland”. His piercing blue eyes and his naked BUM. Just sayin…
I like him too, very talented.
I haven’t seen any of them, and am glad to have some reviews to go on. It will be rental city for me I’m afraid.
I agree with you on the premise of Juno. Why is this just suddenly o.k.?
I’m sorry. I must have misunderstood, I thought you said you spent 12 hours in a theater. On purpose.
Oh wait, you DID say that!
Crazy girl.
Wow, five movies in one day!? That is some ambitious movie-going. I recently watched James McEvoy in ‘Becoming Jane’ and kept waiting for him to sprout horns and inquire after the location of Spare Oom. I think it would have livened up the plot, but alas, he remained completely human throughout.
I have a relative who was in No Country for Old Men, but I’m not sure what her exact role was. Kinda forgot about the movie, actually. Maybe someday we will Netflix it. Then again, I generally stick to movies that are entertaining in a relaxing sort of way, and violence doesn’t really say “kick back and enjoy.” Neither is it ideal for snacking.
Oops. That should be James McAvoy, not Evoy. Do you think he’ll hand me over to the white witch for the offense?
You put into words my exact feelings about Juno. Thank you Thank you! Can I quote you so my husband will finally understand what I have been trying to tell him?
To be honest, nary a movie made me want to see it. None of them look good, nor worth the time. And Juno, I won’t see on the principle that I don’t think anyone should be glorifying babies having babies. (I know it happens, but it shouldn’t be portrayed as a marvelous, fun-filled and easy-to-adjust-to way of life.)
Atonement was such a good book, I had a hard time believing that anyone could do it justice as a movie. I believe you just proved me right. Thanks Melanie.
However, I did watch Becoming Jane last night and I thought it was fantastic. Hathaway really nailed my idea of Austen and McAvoy was perfect for the role.
No I haven’t seen any of them and probably won’t, but, seriously? How much fun is that? 12 hours with a sister/friend in a movie theater?? You are my hero.
I wish I could say I’ve seen even one of these movies, but I haven’t. Lately I’ve had to wait until things make it to DVD before I can see them. So thanks for the reviews, and I’ll be putting some of these on my list.
I understand what you mean about Juno. I hate when I enjoy a movie, but disagree with some of the moral aspects. I don’t like being emotionally torn like that, and then I wonder if I would have enjoyed it if it was “cleaned up.” I like to think I would have, but who knows.