day 11 - a movie that changed your opinion about something
This is a tough one. Changed my opinion about something? I tend to avoid documentaries with agendas. I guess Supersize Me convinced me that Morgan Spurlock was not as annoying as I feared he might be? Hm..
Oh wait, I know... I don't think it's quite what the category means, but...
Requiem for a Dream
It changed my opinions of Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto, and Marlon Wayans.
Ellen Burstyn's greatness was no surprise -- I was already a fan (from The Exorcist, among other things). She got totally ripped off at Oscar time that year when Julia Roberts beat her for goddamned Erin Brockovich. But, I won't derail this post to rant about that. (Buy me a beer and ask me again sometime. You'll hear all about it.)
Jennifer Connelly. I was a big fan after Labyrinth, but was disappointed in most of the stuff I saw her in after that, particularly Dark City and Mulholland Falls (which we refer to as Crapholland Sucks as not to confuse it with David Lynch's Mulholland Drive). After seeing her in Requiem for a Dream, I thought, "Holy shit, she can really act." She went on to pick up an Oscar herself the following season for A Beautiful Mind.
I had only known Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano, Claire Danes' love interest in My So-Called Life. I haven't watched that series in recent years, so I'm not sure about the quality of his performance. I mainly remember thinking that her character could do way better than that boy. (He was cute, but there wasn't much upstairs aside from some well-conditioned hair.) Turns out he's a fantastic actor, with much better range than I would have guessed.
The biggest surprise for me, however, was Marlon Wayans. When we were getting ready (read: bracing ourselves) to watch Requiem for the 2001 Oscar list, we were like, "a Wayans brother in a drama? Huh..." But oh my god, was he good in this film. We were stunned.
With that many excellent performances in one film, one also has to credit the director, Darren Aronofsky. I loved the way it was filmed, too -- the editing is brilliant. And the soundtrack!
But despite all this raving, I've only seen the film once, and frankly, that was enough. It's far too dark, too intense. I only need to experience those characters' downward spirals once, thanks. They were, perhaps, a bit too real.
(Don't do drugs, kids.)
Oh wait, I know... I don't think it's quite what the category means, but...
Requiem for a Dream
It changed my opinions of Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto, and Marlon Wayans.
Ellen Burstyn's greatness was no surprise -- I was already a fan (from The Exorcist, among other things). She got totally ripped off at Oscar time that year when Julia Roberts beat her for goddamned Erin Brockovich. But, I won't derail this post to rant about that. (Buy me a beer and ask me again sometime. You'll hear all about it.)
Jennifer Connelly. I was a big fan after Labyrinth, but was disappointed in most of the stuff I saw her in after that, particularly Dark City and Mulholland Falls (which we refer to as Crapholland Sucks as not to confuse it with David Lynch's Mulholland Drive). After seeing her in Requiem for a Dream, I thought, "Holy shit, she can really act." She went on to pick up an Oscar herself the following season for A Beautiful Mind.
I had only known Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano, Claire Danes' love interest in My So-Called Life. I haven't watched that series in recent years, so I'm not sure about the quality of his performance. I mainly remember thinking that her character could do way better than that boy. (He was cute, but there wasn't much upstairs aside from some well-conditioned hair.) Turns out he's a fantastic actor, with much better range than I would have guessed.
The biggest surprise for me, however, was Marlon Wayans. When we were getting ready (read: bracing ourselves) to watch Requiem for the 2001 Oscar list, we were like, "a Wayans brother in a drama? Huh..." But oh my god, was he good in this film. We were stunned.
With that many excellent performances in one film, one also has to credit the director, Darren Aronofsky. I loved the way it was filmed, too -- the editing is brilliant. And the soundtrack!
But despite all this raving, I've only seen the film once, and frankly, that was enough. It's far too dark, too intense. I only need to experience those characters' downward spirals once, thanks. They were, perhaps, a bit too real.
(Don't do drugs, kids.)