Wednesday, August 4, 2010


I got through it.


But I'm not going to lie, finishing Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go was tough. But I had to read it. Because I really really really want to see the movie. And I learned my lesson with Atonement.

Do you remember Atonement? Did you see it? Did you read it? Because I saw it. And I LOVED it.


But, within the first two minutes of the movie, I was tempted to bolt from the theater and waste my $8.50. I was sitting there, totally sucked in, knowing I would love the movie, but equally certain that I would have loved the book more. And I was right. Because, even though the book was good when I read it much much later...there wasn't any mystery. I already knew what would happen. So I couldn't get swallowed up by the words. And believe me, you want to be swallowed by Atonement.


Damn. That scene with her in the dress in the driveway. Everytime. I will cry everytime.

And Keira Knightley can look forward to repeat reactions when Never Let Me Go hits theaters this Fall. It will be horrible. It will be beautiful.

Look. I'm a crier. I cry all the time. But I am NOT a public crier. You have to be in my inner sanctum to see me even tear up. I don't let that shit out in public. Because, when I cry, it is NOT cute or endearing. Waaaayyy too messy. But I'm telling you. I was sitting with Sleight at a restaurant, outside, eating, with people, and I was reading Never Let Me Go. And I had to get up and go to the bathroom to 'gather'. Then, later, after I had just finished the book, I had to go for a run. Because you can't cry while running; it's physically impossible. And that's the only way I could stop.

You throw in that kind of a story with Keira Knightley AND Carrie Mulligan (the amazing! actress from An Education) playing the characters and well...the Oscar nominations are already ready.



Yeah.


But on a happier note, in Lisa Cholodenko's new movie, the kids really are all right.

The Kids Are Alright


It was great. It was so lovable and real and smart.

A LOT of critics are loving this movie right now. It's already being touted as the "sleeper" hit of the summer. They are saying it's a triumph in it's ability to make you forget that the characters are (gasp!) gay. They're saying it's a work which captures a political/social moment in American history. And, you can say later that I told you so, Annette Benning and Julianne Moore will get Oscar nominations. Bet it.



But, if you want my condensed review of The Kids Are Alright, I would say this is the most striking feature: the film is made by what the character's DON'T say. Sure, there is talking and the dialogue is so organic and real and funny and snappy. But, the true genius of the film is what isn't being said on camera. It's all the little things left unsaid, the moments of silence, the spots where someone should speak up/jump in with "the right thing" but don't...these are the moments that convey the messages of the movie. And this isn't unintentional brilliance. A good writer knows what to write, but he/she also knows when (really) it's already there...beneath the obvious maybe, but present nonetheless. And this is, of course, helped by actors who know their shit.

Which leads me to this: Annette Benning is flawless. Her time has come. She HAS to at least get nominated for this. HAS to. If she doesn't get put on the voting ballot, I will be tempted to hunt down Sandra Bullock and her "nicey-nice" ass, forcibly take her undeserved trophy, and walk it to Benning's front door 'Hit Girl' style.

Which leads me to today's last bit: If you didn't just get the Hit Girl reference, you can fix your stupidity by going and renting Kick Ass. It's out on DVD now. Get it. You will love it. Or be punished.



Love!


2 comments:

  1. So it's time for me to start enjoying books and movies again, eh?

    ReplyDelete
  2. that's right bitch...jump on that hustle ;-)

    ReplyDelete