One Shots
I realize that the nature of my blogging -- lifestyle, shall we say -- this year has made it difficult to offer the same amount of full length reviews I have in years past. As a result, a few titles have slipped through the cracks and I haven't allowed some sort of space to give my thoughts on a number of the year's offerings. So I thought I'd offer up a few brief opinions to those films before plowing ahead into December.
"Atonement" (***1/2)
Strange that I've gone the whole season and not mentioned an opinion on the perceived Oscar frontrunner, despite having screened it twice and liking it very much. "Atonement" is a much smaller film than it's being depicted as, but it is very tight and a huge step up for Joe Wright, who already had fans in the wake of 2005's "Pride & Prejudice." His work here deserves every awards mention it receives, but high marks have to go to performers James McAvoy and Romola Garai, not to mention textured, beautiful cinematography from Seamus Mcgarvey and a Dario Marianelli score that raises the bar for the trade.
"Enchanted" (***)
I was with "Enchanted" until a rather creatively vacant third act took the film down the tubes. Everything leading up to that moment, however, was sheer delight as Bill Kelly's fresh screenplay was a cheeky and at times outright hilarious take on Disney's run-of-the-mill princess tales. And, of course, Amy Adams' star-making turn deserves all the praise it has received.
"Lars and the Real Girl (**)
I didn't go for this flick the way a lot of the movie-going community did. There was something incomplete about the tale and the tone, something unassured in the filmmaking, I couldn't put my finger on it. Ryan Gosling's performance is a diamond in the rough here, but I feel as though the rather intriguing Nancy Oliver story would have been better served by another, more creatively interesting director.
"Margot at the Wedding" (1/2*)
One of the worst films of the year. And beware of anyone who tells you "I know people like that." No one knows people like that.
"Persepolis" (***1/2)
Easily one of the year's best, I thank the movie gods year in and year out for films like "Persepolis." Kudos to France for entering this animated gem as their foreign film contender. Marjane Satrapi's poignant adaptation of her own graphic novel should be required viewing for anyone ignorant enough to paint an entire culture with the broad brush of prejudice.
Comments
Seriously? I thought everyone knew people like that.
Was it just the writing or did you dislike the performances as well?
Posted by: Jamie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| November 29, 2007 09:01 PM
waiting for your take on I;m Not There ( now won't I be embarased if you already commented and I am missing it !)
Posted by: cobhome![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| November 29, 2007 09:19 PM
I'm right there with you on Atonement and Persepolis! (haven't seen the others)
Persepolis is one of my favourites of the year. Was amazed by how I could get so caught up in an animated film and how it could feel so REAL, so alive!
And although Atonement was a bit of a disappointment (lacking some of the intensity of the novel), I still enjoyed it very much. Thought it a beautifully crafted film, and well acted (although not impressed with Knightley)
Posted by: crazycris![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| November 30, 2007 03:01 AM
Bingo on Enchanted -- the last third really brought the fun of the movie to a screeching halt. The film's own internal logic seemed to go right out the window, and I thought Sarandon (can't believe I'm saying this) was wrong in her role.
Newly in love with Amy Adams, though. Damn!
Posted by: Dudley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.incontention.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| November 30, 2007 03:00 PM