(no subject)

[rm]

- We saw Duplicity last night. Very much like the remake of The Thomas Crowne Affair. Sexy grownups are sexy. And plot is clever, clever, clever. Ultimately, I like Thomas Crowne more, and felt that this script was trying to do a bit too much, but it was super enjoyable.

- Still have a cold, but feel less like crap than yesterday.

- Passover dinner with parents tonight.

- It snowed this morning. Hi, it's April 8th!

Comments

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

I loved Duplicity! My movie buddy and I went twice, just to try figure out when the final scheme started.

And sexy grownups are very sexy, especially when they're Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Oh, I get the timey wimey reference now!
Yes, I am totally glad that I did go see the The Thomas Crowne Affair remake in the theatre. Sexiness for the rest of us!

[kel-reiley.livejournal.com]

it finally stopped snowing here and is sunny out :D

[argentla.livejournal.com]

Here's a question. Did you see Michael Clayton? If so, what did you think of it?

Duplicity is the sort of film I find interesting, and it's gotten rave reviews. The problem is that the rave reviews also rave about Gilroy's Michael Clayton, the 2007 thriller with George Clooney and Tilda Swinton. I strenuously disliked Michael Clayton, which managed to be simultaneously claustrophobic and ineffectual as a thriller, had a clumsily structured plot, and contained several moments of upsetting violence I really want to un-see. It made me extremely wary of seeing a new movie from the same director, even if it's supposed to be more lighthearted.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I did see Michael Clayton and mostly loved it, but I had some problems with the ultimate ethical quandry getting lost under all the intrigue and not really having any punch.

This is pretty much not violent and not nearly as claustrophobic. This is structurally more ambitious and less successful at the same time, but I'm more forgiving of it because it tries to do something really complicated.

While it's highly amusing (I laughed outloud a lot), I think it's pretty dark in certain ways and as much as I could watch Clive Owen read the phone book and Julia Roberts character is just as much of a conniving asshole (possibly moreso) than his is, "smug dude as sexy" is definitely a feature of the film that can be a bit wearing.

The performances really, really are delightful though, and not just from the two leads.

[argentla.livejournal.com]

I felt Michael Clayton had good acting, but was a rather lackluster plot that it tried to dress up with atmosphere and structural tricks. The only point where it finally felt like it was going to come alive was when Clooney confronted Tilda Swinton, and at that point, it was over. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth, of a flavor not dissimilar to the lackluster The Constant Gardener.

When you say dark, what are we talking? Coen brothers nihilistic dark?

[rm.livejournal.com]

It has a very dim view of human nature and romance, which I think we're also supposed to find funny, but I was like "woah!"