Elizabethtown

[Deleted]

For me it was a toss up between the stand up schtick and the tapdancing.

[kafka]

Just rented this last night and I enjoyed it. But I had almost no expectations for it, don't particularly like Kirsten Dunst and, normally, don't think Orlando Bloom can act his way out of a lampshade. That said, I laughed out loud during several parts of the film.

I thought there were a few holes in the plot and the end wasn't very plausible in real life but I don't think movies like this are supposed to be grainy, gritty depictions of reality. Or any sort of depiction of reality for that matter. You take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the dialogue and characters. Which I did. Frequently.

Plus, I've actually done something just like Kirsten/Orlando's mega long phone call, so that part made me smile and nostalgic.

All in all, I thought Orlando was much better than he's been in recent films. Of course, that's not saying much given my general view of his acting abilities, but as a whole, this movie was very funny at times and so much better than I'd expected.

[Shanmac]

This arrived from Netflix today so I watched it ASAP so I can send it back and get "Walk the Line." I wasn't expecting much, but I really, really liked it. Orlando Bloom's American accent was really good (although I did hear a couple slips, but then again, I was listening for them because I am really picky about accents)! That surprised me. He was really cute in this movie, and I'm not even a fangirl.

You're right, Kafka, the plot wasn't very plausible -- I kept saying to the boy, "There is no way in hell she had the time to make that scrapbook and CDs for him. What, she did all that in a couple hours?" But movies are all about suspension of disbelief, so I really enjoyed it. That long phone call was adorable. I've had talks like that, but mostly just with my girlfriends.

I usually can't stand Kirsten Dunst, but she was even likable, although she wasn't very believable as the never-ending source of wisdom.

But I really liked it. Good flick. I especially loved Chuck 'n' Cindy.

just learned that Paula Deen is in this movie.

I SO just got that! My mom loves Paula Deen. I should have known, because she looked familiar, and my boyfriend commented, "Heh, that aunt is always cooking."

[kafka]

shanmac said:

He was really cute in this movie, and I'm not even a fangirl.

Ditto, to all of that.

You're right, Kafka, the plot wasn't very plausible -- I kept saying to the boy, "There is no way in hell she had the time to make that scrapbook and CDs for him. What, she did all that in a couple hours?" But movies are all about suspension of disbelief, so I really enjoyed it.

Heh, every time he turned a page, saw a gazillion maps, brochures, photos and CDs, I would mutter "That would take months to do! MONTHS!!!!"

I enjoyed it, as I wrote earlier, but one thing greatly detracted from the fun, although I didn't realise it until the film was over: when the credits rolled, I saw CTC and Paula Wagner were executive producers of the film!

I literally groaned out loud. I hate the thought that I helped put even a single penny in that awful man's pocket. Plus, it's as though my enjoyment of the film ends up being, in some indirect symbolic way, an appreciation of him. Even if he didn't do squat on the film, the fact that he was involved and I enjoyed it just leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. So I decided to focus on everything else and Orlando's cuteness, while trying to pretend I never saw that lunatic's name.

[Shanmac]

Confession: When "Pride (In the Name of Love)" -- one of my favorite songs of all time -- started up on the soundtrack and I realized he was at the Lorraine Motel, I got tears in my eyes. I know it was a heavy-handed move on the filmmakers' part, but it got me. I was verklempt. I like that he tossed some of his dad's ashes there. *Sniff*

Riddle me this, though: How did KD's character know about all those fun little out-of-the-way places? I know she traveled a lot, but it was by plane. I know, I know -- suspension of disbelief.