A few weeks ago I went on a bit of a movie binge, and watched a bunch of light, enjoyable films. I’ve got a huge list of movies (and shows) to watch but I haven’t had the energy/emotional-strength to watch the heavier ones. I’m fast running out of films that are fun or relaxing, especially since I just plowed through these five.
God Help the Girl
After waiting for this movie to come out for years, and then forgetting to actually watch it when it became available, I FINALLY watch this movie. I think I rented it on Amazon. I greatly enjoyed it. It is not anywhere near the most original story--- depressed British girl deals with her emotions through music, makes hipster friends, struggles with whether or not/how to pursue a career in music. It was a very hipster movie, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it! It is a musical which I really enjoyed; I liked the hipster pop music. The lead actors were good. The fashion and style of the film was fun. Despite being about a girl with emotional/mental health problems, it was a film that had a great spirit of fun and taking joy in the simple things like quirky outfits, dancing to pop music etc. It was infectious. I bought the soundtrack and danced around the house. I would definitely watch this again/host a sing-a-long.
The Holiday (Netflix btw)
This was a rom com I was always curious to watch (not sure why, because there are British people in it?) but never have. I think I was avoiding it because I was dubious that this film could convince me that there was a world in which Kate Winslet and Jack Black were a couple . . . I wouldn’t say that it convinced me, but I was ok with it the effort it made. And ok with the idea that it presented a relationship that maybe is or isn’t supposed to play out as true love after the credits roll. I got a kick out of this film. It had more to it than just ‘two beautiful women swap houses, hijinks ensue!’ I really enjoyed Iris’ story arc, and was pleasantly surprised by a lovely b-plot involving Eli Wallach. The relationship between Wallach’s character and Iris was way more beautiful than either of the romantic storylines this film was trying to cook-up. And also, why did I have a problem with Jack Black? He was a pleasure to watch in this film; he and Winslet did a great job building a relationship between their characters--- I would just say their chemistry was one more of friendship than of romance. Generally though, Diaz and Winslet’s acting was not their best in this film—Diaz because her acting was just not good (I do NOT buy this person as a successful trailer editor), Winslet because I think she was a little too good for this role; neither of their characters necessarily had that much depth but I was just hard to watch Winslet’s performance and believe that she could lack depth. Jude Law on the other had was alarmingly charming as hell in this movie. This movie was 100% a rom com, but it left me feeling warm and fuzzy and like I had seen something with a bit of meaning to it, rather than a mindless formula. I think I will make an effort to watch this at Christmastime from now on. Also, fun bonus: Rufus Sewell is in this, playing Iris’s charming, egocentric, hilariously oblivious (or is he?) ex.
For the following three films, one thing I have learned is that there is some mysterious force that takes perfectly good, little films and gives them ridiculous, cheesy titles.
