little_green
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Posts posted by little_green
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I'm sure you will, Fleur. It's one of those movies that smells like lilacs in the springtime you in, and I get the feeling that most of the people in the theatre 'got it'. Fingers crossed for good British reviews.
Also, I forgot to mention that my mum spotted an article in The Daily Telegaph (big national broadsheet newspaper here in the UK) the day after the screening, and it was a discussion of E-town and Orlando's career (nothing new and not a review, so I didn't post it), but it contained a lot of stuff from the production notes. It's really interesting to see how much those things are used when reviewers are writing an article
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here with my review! Sorry about the delay – I had three deadlines this week, and spent the whole weekend with my head in a book. I haven’t read anyone else’s reviews, with the exception of Geri’s, Jackie’s, and one that was in the mod queue, so any repetition is unintentional.
Jackie has covered a lot of the logistics of the evening, so I’ll try not to repeat too much.
It all started at about 11am on Wednesday, with a cryptic text message left on my phone by Jaks:
Kat, please call me asap.
Those sort of messages don’t come along terribly often, so I figured that within minutes I’d either be eeping or squeeing, but I had little idea that in just over 24 hours I’d be sitting on a train heading south to London for a press screening of Elizabethtown. Both eeping and squeeing, as it happens. On hearing that Jackie had the tickets in her hands, the eeping stopped, but the squeeing continued well into the night.
My arrival at St. Pancras station was met by a smiling (and limping) Jackie, and a phone call from Jane (rebecca). Not even the abject rubbishness of King’s Cross station at rush hour could dampen my spirits (I didn’t even notice how stinky the normally very stinky people on the tube were!), and pretty soon we were at Wagamama in Covent Garden, and my life - or at least the cleanliness of my clothes - were in jeopardy as Jackie ordered noodles. Clothes in tact, we left a little under two hours later, and headed for Leicester Square, where I soaked up the Orlando-dust rich environment of a CEOK site. We stood on the hallowed spot (near the… um… bollards), and peered up at the MTV studios – the site of the famous bloomers incident.
After dithering as long as humanly possible, we finally entered the cinema, and plopped down in our very comfy seats. As Jackie has said, the place wasn’t entirely full of journalistic big-wigs, but there were plenty of them, including one redoubtable looking older gentleman complete with fabulous bushy eyebrows. Across the aisle from me was a professional-looking younger chap (I remember thinking that he looked a bit like Jorge
), who was already busily scribbling notes and reading his production notes, well before the film had started. I decided to keep my eye on him, to assess a critic’s response.I was expecting trailers. I love trailers. But the film started entirely without ceremony, the word “ELIZABETHTOWN” appearing in a simple font across the screen. I think it was only at that point that I realised that I was actually going to see the film that we’ve been waiting for since we first heard that Orlando was going to be working with Cameron Crowe. Loud internal squee from me, right about there.
First, let me say this:
I loved it.
The movie was thoroughly enjoyable, and I was blown away by its depth, emotion and detail. I need to watch it again, though, at least twice before I see every little thing that Cameron put in. The man is a genius.
Orlando was fabulous in this movie, and in my opinion it’s his best performance to date. I’m desperate to see Orlando do more low-key, character-driven work, because underneath the costumes and the swords and the bows and arrows, he really is a terrifically talented actor. It would have been easy to overplay Drew (I shudder to think of Kutcher in the role), but Orlando was subtle, and thoughtful, and totally captivating. He was Drew. At no point did any of the British boy we love so much peek through.
Kirsten Dunst was wonderful, too. This was another role that could have been overplayed with horrendous results, but Kirsten was great, and the chemistry between her and Orlando was terrific. Their relationship was utterly believable. The other performances that really impressed me were those of Alec Baldwin, who I can’t praise highly enough, and Paul Schneider, whose story I thoroughly enjoyed.
I’m somewhat with Jackie on the Sarandon speech thing. It was beautifully delivered, but for some reason it just didn’t fit in with the rest of the movie, in my opinion. I was so captivated by Drew’s story, that I felt this slightly-OTT deviation, which (I’m sorry Cameron
) included the Freebird sequence, was slightly unnecessary, and overstated. I’m going to get lynched, aren’t I ?!The only other criticism I have of the movie, is that the driving-and-crying sequence was too short. This is the emotional climax of the movie, where Drew finally lets the emotion overtake him, and I felt Orlando’s beautiful performance was drowned out by the music. We only heard one line of what he was saying (albeit a totally heatbreaking one), and I felt somewhat short-changed (although I still had a huge lump in my throat).
But don’t get me wrong – these were two minor things in a movie of so many major positives. As a career-obsessed twenty-something who perhaps doesn’t see her family quite as often as she should, this movie opened up more than a few feelings. The underlying message – the discovery of the truly important things in life, was so beautifully and un-patronisingly delivered, and I went straight home and hugged my parents and told them just how much they mean to me. Forget any bad press – I’m betting that there are thousands of people who came out of the theatres across the world and did just that, and that’s the sign of a truly great message, and a wonderful movie. I left the cinema feeling inspired. Thank you, Cameron.
So what did the gathered reviewers think? Well, I’m pleased to say that the reaction seemed very positive. No-one got up, in fact no-one as much as shuffled. There was a lot of laughing. The girls behind us (who weren’t reviewers) were in stitches, which to me indicates that the reaction of the moviegoing public is going to be good. Whenever I could bear to draw my eyes away from the screen, my Jorge-look-a-like reviewer had stopped writing, and was leaning back enjoying the movie. And laughing. A lot
. He did write things from time to time, but he seemed glued to the movie.When the movie finished, Jackie and I just stood up and walked, dazed, from the cinema. We didn’t speak until we were halfway down the second escalator on the way out of the cinema, and then only to whisper, “I’m trying to eavesdrop what people are saying!”. Sadly, there was a lot of ambient noise, and it was impossible to hear people’s comments, but, as Jackie has said, it seemed positive, and everyone was talking (which is always a good sign).
The journey home was bizarre. Somehow I couldn’t process the din of some over-excited teenagers on their way home from a gig, the buzz of the IPod of the tired-looking commuter next to me, or the sound of an old-enough-to-know-better couple fawning all over each other, all of which would usually have irritated the poop out of me. I just sat, attempting to peer out of the window into the night, but instead being met with my own reflection. This movie really does make you think. At 9am the next day, I was still struggling to come back to reality as the lecturer standing a few feet in front of me imparted his knowledge on the subject of synthetic medicinal chemistry (bad enough when you’re not sleep deprived and blown away by a movie, trust me!). Almost a week later, I’m still looking back at the movie with a strange, far-off look in my eyes (and no, that’s not just to do with the sight of Orlando’s abs as he sat up in the hotel room
).Again, thank you Cameron.
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Click For Spoiler
Sum, I loved that line too. I got the giggles so badly.
"...the sound of shit hitting the fan. Internationally. [Pause] Ppppttthhhwt."
I'm laughing thinking about it now.
The whole cinema was laughing out loud at the phone voodoo.
I personally also cracked up at the whole scene where Claire's trying to wake Drew up. In between Drewling at Shirtless!Drew.
"I'm leaving now."
*Crash* "Ooops. Sorry."
And,
"I'll miss your lips. And everything attached to them."
Th most heartbreaking one was in the car in the crying scene, where he's talking to Mitch. Something along the lines of:
"It's not your fault that I'm going to go home and kill myself."
There are som many more. This film was packed with great lines.
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Awwww
. Thanks, Jan.I wonder if he'd had his morning coffee yet?
I'm going to say only just - he spilled a little down his t-shirt
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Did anyone notice from that page that the tagline is different over here? How bizarre. We do understand the word 'heck', you know. They may as well have changed it to "A jolly good place to find yourself"
.I don't think I'm going to be able to make it - Leicester is closest for me, but I doubt I'd be able to make it for 6pm or before to queue.
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What a great review - this reviewer obviously gets it. I thought this remark was particularly telling:
...there are excursions into sentimentality that strike one, on first viewing at least, as unnecessarily protracted... *snip*... Still, real people have a gret capacity for sentimentality, especially when their lives are clarified by grief, and it is to Crowe's credit that he refuses to shy away from that.Exactly! That's what we've been saying! Add to this the fact that this is a British review (in my experience, the Brits tend to have a little less capacity for sentimentality - stiff upper lip n' all
), and it's a pretty big compliment!And he liked Orlando's performance
.Thanks CC!
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Wow, how cool! Thank you for sending your report, Bob (I'm only slightly green with envy!).
I love that Orlando hugged Cameron
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The great: Orlando Bloom, ...
And that came from a male reviewer!
Go Orlando :cheer: .
Thanks for all the reviews, MI.
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Beautifully put, Geri (I loved the description of Orlando recognising you). Y'know, I've been in such a tailspin recently, with so much important career stuff going on next week, and all these descriptions have shattered all that and put an uncontrollable big goofy smile on my face and a lump in my throat. Orlando, you're touching many more than the ones you met yesterday. What a remarkable person.
I'm so thrilled for everyone who had an Orlando moment yesterday. Go, ka-Bloomies, go!
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Jane!! OMG, you're famous! Is this going to be Jane's 'nihilistic state of disillusion' for the ka-Bloom Press Tour 2005, we wonder
?Go ka-Bloomies
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Just had a quick chat with rebecca - nothing much new to report (although the fact that I sound like my mum on the phone did cause some initial confusing, and mum got all the gossip instead of me!). Apparently the Crowes not only remembered the pizza, but loved it! Squeeee!
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AWESOME!!
That is so cool! Cameron! And Nancy!
(Someone stop me, I'm going to get modded for excessive exclamation marks in a minute...)
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Yyyyiiiiiiiiiieeeeee! <---Spontaneous noise of great excitement.
How cool! I know from much experience of watching footballers arrive at stadia by coach that those sort of windows are often one-way - so everyone on the coach may well have seen them (even though the ka-Bloomies couldn't see in
).I like the picture on the side of the bus
.Great banner, ladies! You're all looking great in your Ale-8 tees
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I've been meaning to reply in this thread for days. Ever since I read this:
The problem with that is that it has almost nothing to do with the characters. To put it very simply, if a contemporary 23 year old made a mix tape for her 28 year old inamorata, 51 year old me shouldn’t recognize every song on it. I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention of pop music in the last 15 years.What a load of rubbish. I'm 21 years old. Were I to make a mix tape it would without doubt include tracks by Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Elton John, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, and several more artists who had their heydays well before I was born. I was influenced by my mum's taste in music, and her record collection. This is true of many young people my age, who care enough about popular music to consider its roots. I find it unfair and deeply patronising that I would be expected only to listen to music that has been produced in my lifetime.
For someone who claims to be an intelligent reviewer, this critic has a very stereotyped view of young people
.By the way, the opposite also applies. I take my mum with me to gigs. She comes because she loves current rock music.
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Hm. There's one hell of a schism here. The reviewers either love it or hate it, which seems bizarre.
Now, I don't know much abut film, but I get the feeling that some critics may have closed their minds to this one. Convinced themselves that they're not going to like it because it's "Garden State with a budget". Because it stars Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst, rather than the trendier-in-indie-circles Zach Braff and Natalie Portman. Humph. I'll be interested to see what the mainstream press and the public think of thise one.
Also, are Variety's reviews often littered with teen slang and abbreviated sentences :oh: ?
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But it is music that really makes the film tick, as former Rolling Stones writer Crowe uses a non-stop soundtrack of modern American roots music to drive it along.
I think that mistake implies something about the critic's knowledge of both music and Mr. Crowe. Unless Cameron has been moonlighting as a songwriter for the Stones, or something
.I'm puzzled by this article. It doesn't really directly criticise anything, other than that the movie is too long. I don't think s/he got it.
Is Venice usually a snobby crowd? There seem to be a lot of critics out there who'll criticise a movie with big stars/studio/budget, in order to look clever by then heaping praise on some random indie flick that was shot entirely upside down/in Lithuanian/from the point of view of a centipede.
Hmm. Thanks for the articles, Lianna.
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:lmao:
Do we dare to hope that Hollywood Paolo has a mediterranean accent
?ETA: Whoops, forgot my manners - thanks HoneyBunny81.
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Awesome work Kathryn - thanks so much for your detective work! And awesome news, too! I can't wait for this movie, or, indeed, the reviews
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That is so sweet.
I'm wibbling right along with you CC.
I get the feeling I'll be texting the ticket number.
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Oh gawd, you guys are going to be unbearable, having seen the movie a whole month before those of us in England!
I'm happy for you, though - I'm glad some ka-Bloomies will get to see the movie early and report back. I'm not even going to pretend that I'm going to stay spoiler-free!
Kinda tempting to go to Deauville now, isn't it UKers?!
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I don't think the Garden State comparison will harm Elizabethtown. Garden State, in my uneducated opinion, was an interesting but imperfect movie, and I think Elizabethtown will possibly be compared to it in a complimentary way.
By the way, I didn't hate Garden State, I just found it to be a bit off-target and lacking in emotional clout. I get the feeling Elizabethtown will be neither of those things.
And yes, Jane, I agree that eventually, Elizabethtown will be judged on its own merit. But it's interesting to compare the two, seeing as everyone else is
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I think it's quite hard to get. I was battling the sleepy gremlin during some of the slower scenes, and awoke at one point to find that most of the cast had gone to talk to a man who lived at the bottom of a hole. I didn't quite get that bit, although I think it may have been a metaphor
. Mind you, if it's not flashing on a big neon sign these days, I'm inclined not to get it . -
I'm having some palpitations over that picture :swoon: . Orlando does jacket-over-T-shirt so well.
And the smile
.Doesn't this sound an awful lot like Garden State?I started picking at the pharmacology in Garden State :paperbag: . In all seriousness, in my opinion Elizabethtown may well be the movie Garden State should've been. I'm no movie expert (and please pick holes in my argument if you'd like to), but I found Garden State ultimately rather unsatisfying, and I think Cameron Crowe's more experienced and accomplished writing will give Elizabethtown much more oomph. Plus, once you get past the plot aspects of family death, return to home town, and quirky girl character, these movies seem to be in entirely different places. I mean, Elizabethtown is a comedy, for a start.
Am I thinking too deeply about this?
Thanks for the info, Jan.
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I definitely agree with Rona about being in the Elizabethtown mood - I'm so there! If the website is this inspiring, goodness knows what the film is going to be like.
Guh.
Thanks for the heads up, guys.
Austrian Moviemagazin -Skip
in Elizabethtown: Articles and Interviews
Posted
Hear that Orlando? That's the sound of fangirls weeping!
Actually, I'd quite like to see him with short hair again
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Thanks for taking the time to translate that, J3chen
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