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Random Movie Reviews
Jun. 29th, 2008 09:50 pmJust finished watching The Painted Veil starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, based on a W. Somerset Maugham novel of the same name. It's been sitting at home for two weeks now, figured I needed to watch it and send it back to netflix this week. Definitely a film one has to be in the mood for, which I was this weekend. Been watching lots of films and tv shows this weekend, due to the fact that I feel slightly under-the-weather. I'm like a human weather vane - thunderstorms and steamy weather gives me a sick sinus headache. Add to that persistent bowl issues and sleeplessness, and you've got one sick puppy. Oh well, at least I'm okay during the work week.
At any rate, I've been in a mood for films about women trapped in difficult situations and having to find ways to survive. Saturday morning I treated myself to Cold Mountain by Anthony Mingella starring Renee Zweillger, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Phillip Seymore Hoffman. Based on the Charles Fraiser novel of the same name. Much better film than expected and worth seeing for Renee Zweillger and Phillip Seymore Hoffman, who have great character roles. Kidman and Law are unexpectedly good as well. The story is not what you think - it's basically about how a mountain woman played by Zweillger, named Ruby, teaches Kidman's character how to work a farm and becomes her companion during the Civil War. Kidman's romance with Law is secondary. Also delves into how hard war is on everyone and how horrendously women are treated.
I liked Painted Veil better in some regards. It's about a bacteriologist who punishes his wife for having an affair by dragging her with him into Central China to aid with a Cholera epidemic, sometime in the early 20th century. I'm thinking 1920s or 30s based on the clothing and hair styles. During the film, both characters learn to care about one another. The wife from the husband's pov appears to be selfish at the beginning of the film, but we also see it from her pov, and note that in reality she's just trapped. She marries him to escape her mother and family - who are insisting that she marry someone because they refuse to continue to support her. At that period of time the options open to women were more limited than they were to men. It's an interesting movie because it shows both sides of the story, and how the two characters who are estranged at the beginning find their way towards each other at the end. It is a bit slow in places, but if you like period romances, beautiful scenery, and are at all fascinated by historicals, you'll love this film. If you are somewhat bored by such things? Don't bother. It is definitely a film, much like Cold Mountain, that you have to be in the mood for. It is however, not as violent as Cold Mountain. Although both end in a similar manner.
The other film I watched was The Tenth Circle - based on a Jodie Piccoult book, via Lifetime. Lifetime apparently has gotten tired of coming up with their own stories and is now adapting Piccoult's books, which convienently fit the subject matter Lifetime likes to showcase, just a bit better written and acted. Yes, this means exactly what you think it means, dysfunctional family or women in crisis films of the week. Piccoult excels at writing about dysfunctional families or relationships. The type of books Oprah used to showcase, until she grew bored of the subject matter. Are they any good? Eh. Entertaining. But hardly memorable. Nice way to pass a few hours though. Don't see myself reading the books any time soon however. In short, don't waste your time hunting this baby down.
At any rate, I've been in a mood for films about women trapped in difficult situations and having to find ways to survive. Saturday morning I treated myself to Cold Mountain by Anthony Mingella starring Renee Zweillger, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Phillip Seymore Hoffman. Based on the Charles Fraiser novel of the same name. Much better film than expected and worth seeing for Renee Zweillger and Phillip Seymore Hoffman, who have great character roles. Kidman and Law are unexpectedly good as well. The story is not what you think - it's basically about how a mountain woman played by Zweillger, named Ruby, teaches Kidman's character how to work a farm and becomes her companion during the Civil War. Kidman's romance with Law is secondary. Also delves into how hard war is on everyone and how horrendously women are treated.
I liked Painted Veil better in some regards. It's about a bacteriologist who punishes his wife for having an affair by dragging her with him into Central China to aid with a Cholera epidemic, sometime in the early 20th century. I'm thinking 1920s or 30s based on the clothing and hair styles. During the film, both characters learn to care about one another. The wife from the husband's pov appears to be selfish at the beginning of the film, but we also see it from her pov, and note that in reality she's just trapped. She marries him to escape her mother and family - who are insisting that she marry someone because they refuse to continue to support her. At that period of time the options open to women were more limited than they were to men. It's an interesting movie because it shows both sides of the story, and how the two characters who are estranged at the beginning find their way towards each other at the end. It is a bit slow in places, but if you like period romances, beautiful scenery, and are at all fascinated by historicals, you'll love this film. If you are somewhat bored by such things? Don't bother. It is definitely a film, much like Cold Mountain, that you have to be in the mood for. It is however, not as violent as Cold Mountain. Although both end in a similar manner.
The other film I watched was The Tenth Circle - based on a Jodie Piccoult book, via Lifetime. Lifetime apparently has gotten tired of coming up with their own stories and is now adapting Piccoult's books, which convienently fit the subject matter Lifetime likes to showcase, just a bit better written and acted. Yes, this means exactly what you think it means, dysfunctional family or women in crisis films of the week. Piccoult excels at writing about dysfunctional families or relationships. The type of books Oprah used to showcase, until she grew bored of the subject matter. Are they any good? Eh. Entertaining. But hardly memorable. Nice way to pass a few hours though. Don't see myself reading the books any time soon however. In short, don't waste your time hunting this baby down.
