(no subject)
I watched My Brilliant Career today. And-Gahhhh! I have never seen a worse movie ending in my ENTIRE life. WHY? I was loving the movie right up until the last 15 minutes, and then as it slowly dawned, horrifyingly, on me that it was going to end momentarily, I was like what? WHAT? WHAT????? Noooooo! Absolutely RUINED the movie for me-I am so angry with the producers. Because this was a fabulous movie-in fact the entire time I was watching it I was wondering why it wasn't more popular and widely known(in the period drama world, of course). It's absolutely lovely-first movie that I've seen Judy Davis in, and she was brilliant. She's so incredibly fiery and brilliant and expressive. I was blown away by her performance-she's incredibly talented. And then there was Sam Neil, who is quietly but quite lovely attractive. The role he played was quite lovely too, even if he was a bit too inarticulate for me. But this was one of those movies where from the first moment, from the very moment that the menu pops up, you know that you're in good hands and you can just settle back and enjoy the ride. The brief synopsis is that it's set in Australia and Judy Davis plays a young woman from a poverty-stricken family who's taken in by wealthy relations and falls in love with a rich young landowner. But she's fiercely ambitious, desiring to become a pianist or writer, and must choose between a traditional marriage and her career. So far, so good. I could even handle it if she'd chosen her career instead of him and they'd gone on to show at least part of her success. But this movie cut off right in the middle-just stopped. Ended. Bam. No more love story, no resolution, no real progress in her life, just a hope for the future. That doesn't cut it with me-I want to KNOW. I NEED to know. If she gives up love for a career, I need to know or see that it was worth it. And if she gives up a career for love, I need to see the resolution of that, the happily-ever after. I live for resolution-in some way, some how-I must have it to be happy. How could they do this to me? I don't care if that ridiculous ending made it a better movie-it made it a much less complete and enjoyable movie. This film won two Australian Academy Awards and was apparently a worldwide hit when it was released, but I can see why it hasn't lasted. It's quite simple. The darn thing is lacking a happily-ever-after. That's all it needed. All! And I would have bought this film and rewatched it several times. I would still recommend it-it's a superb love story/costume drama unlike any other that I've ever seen, and is really epic in a lot of ways, with magnificent performances, and I really empathized with her passionate longing for wealth, beauty, fame, and fortune. Judy Davis was incredible as this brilliant, fiery creature whose every movement is a sort of contained wildness mixed with grace. And there were odd flashes of L.M. Montgomery in her writerly longings and especially in the beginning of the movie-I could almost hear Emiy and Anne speaking in Judy Davis' voice as she reads what she's written aloud. So, basically, exceptional movie with the absolutely, positively most frustrating ending I've ever encountered. GAh!
Also, question on Veronica Mars-I'm assuming some of you at least on my friends list watch it so here goes- she IS supposed to have a boyfriend right? So where the heck is he? I've seen about six episodes so far(about to watch two more momentarily) and he has appeared in one for about two minutes. Also, I'm confused-Logan is her bad-boy former boyfriend right, and Duncan is her current one who I think is cheating on her. Because if that's so I'm forced to admit that I think Logan is about 6 times as hot as Duncan, even if he is charmingly and humorously immoral, selfish, and unsrupulous. Someone please illuminate me!
Update: Guess I won't be watching it after all. It's the same episode they seem to be replaying over and over recently, just like every other show on television. By the way, I LOVE that line in which Veronica says, "You know, when they start shipping off your girlfriends to boarding school, I think you officially qualify as a bad boy." And then she sticks her hand up and they high-five each other. It's a purr-moment. I'm still having difficulty believing how witty some of the lines in this are. It's kind of frustrating actually, because it seems like every show on television has one or two of the elements that a show needs for greatness, but none has all or even most of them.
Smallville is very good but let's face it, it's had a lot of stupidity and melodrama in it too. Smallville has drama, the CSI's have mystery, the Stargates have almost all likable characters, consistent plot, and the escapist factor, Veronica Mars has a good premise, a great leading lady, and great dialogue, Kyle XY has a great family dynamic, Grey's Anatomy has a good juxtaposition of charismatic actors(and a mingling of doctoring, love,and sex) and Alias had three incredible actors playing three incredible characters, plus fabulous warmth and character development. But they're all lacking something-other pieces. Some shows are better(like Veronica Mars)because they have more of the pieces. But none really have enough to be brilliant. Smallville lacks mostly restraint(i.e. ditch the melodrama) and likeable/charismatic characters. Clark, his mother, Chloe, and especially Lex are all great. Every one else, particularly Lana and Lois, could be likeable but aren't particularly because they're fairly lousy actresses. This show has a dearth of good and/or fun characters, even supporting ones. The CSI's lack character development and a personal story, and Stargate lacks a personal story(Sam and the Colonel! Hello! Story there, please? Like, actually GET THEM TOGETHER?? Imagine that) and a plot that moves forward. Veronica Mars lacks, well, first and most importantly a good love interest(I'm pretty sure I'm in love with Logan, but he's the bad guy, so not an official love interest) and secondly good supporting characters(Veronica, Logan, her father and the sheriff are all good). Everyone else could be worse but also could be better-Veronica' friends just seem a lot less intelligent and a lot more shallow than she is. Grey's Anatomy, like Stargate, lacks a plot that moves forward-it's just more of the same every episode it seems like. they're just dragging all the love affairs and relationships out instead of letting them happen. It also doesn't help that the all three members of the love triangle are easy to despise-Meredith, Derek, and Kate. So far Kristina and Isobel are the only characters I can love with Preston and George my second favorites and Alex and Richard being in my 'I have yet to decide' category. Alias lacked a coherent, easy-to-grab plot, and Kyle XY lacks intensity. So, essentially, they're all lacking in at least one of the following categories; character development, coherence, plot continuation, plot intensity, plot clarity and focus, personal stories, good supporting characters/actors, good love interests, and charismatic main characters/good leading actors. I suppose I really should stop rambling now. ^_^
Also, question on Veronica Mars-I'm assuming some of you at least on my friends list watch it so here goes- she IS supposed to have a boyfriend right? So where the heck is he? I've seen about six episodes so far(about to watch two more momentarily) and he has appeared in one for about two minutes. Also, I'm confused-Logan is her bad-boy former boyfriend right, and Duncan is her current one who I think is cheating on her. Because if that's so I'm forced to admit that I think Logan is about 6 times as hot as Duncan, even if he is charmingly and humorously immoral, selfish, and unsrupulous. Someone please illuminate me!
Update: Guess I won't be watching it after all. It's the same episode they seem to be replaying over and over recently, just like every other show on television. By the way, I LOVE that line in which Veronica says, "You know, when they start shipping off your girlfriends to boarding school, I think you officially qualify as a bad boy." And then she sticks her hand up and they high-five each other. It's a purr-moment. I'm still having difficulty believing how witty some of the lines in this are. It's kind of frustrating actually, because it seems like every show on television has one or two of the elements that a show needs for greatness, but none has all or even most of them.
Smallville is very good but let's face it, it's had a lot of stupidity and melodrama in it too. Smallville has drama, the CSI's have mystery, the Stargates have almost all likable characters, consistent plot, and the escapist factor, Veronica Mars has a good premise, a great leading lady, and great dialogue, Kyle XY has a great family dynamic, Grey's Anatomy has a good juxtaposition of charismatic actors(and a mingling of doctoring, love,and sex) and Alias had three incredible actors playing three incredible characters, plus fabulous warmth and character development. But they're all lacking something-other pieces. Some shows are better(like Veronica Mars)because they have more of the pieces. But none really have enough to be brilliant. Smallville lacks mostly restraint(i.e. ditch the melodrama) and likeable/charismatic characters. Clark, his mother, Chloe, and especially Lex are all great. Every one else, particularly Lana and Lois, could be likeable but aren't particularly because they're fairly lousy actresses. This show has a dearth of good and/or fun characters, even supporting ones. The CSI's lack character development and a personal story, and Stargate lacks a personal story(Sam and the Colonel! Hello! Story there, please? Like, actually GET THEM TOGETHER?? Imagine that) and a plot that moves forward. Veronica Mars lacks, well, first and most importantly a good love interest(I'm pretty sure I'm in love with Logan, but he's the bad guy, so not an official love interest) and secondly good supporting characters(Veronica, Logan, her father and the sheriff are all good). Everyone else could be worse but also could be better-Veronica' friends just seem a lot less intelligent and a lot more shallow than she is. Grey's Anatomy, like Stargate, lacks a plot that moves forward-it's just more of the same every episode it seems like. they're just dragging all the love affairs and relationships out instead of letting them happen. It also doesn't help that the all three members of the love triangle are easy to despise-Meredith, Derek, and Kate. So far Kristina and Isobel are the only characters I can love with Preston and George my second favorites and Alex and Richard being in my 'I have yet to decide' category. Alias lacked a coherent, easy-to-grab plot, and Kyle XY lacks intensity. So, essentially, they're all lacking in at least one of the following categories; character development, coherence, plot continuation, plot intensity, plot clarity and focus, personal stories, good supporting characters/actors, good love interests, and charismatic main characters/good leading actors. I suppose I really should stop rambling now. ^_^