Most UNDERRATED Movie of the Year: Revolutionary Road

Apparently some of us just did not like this movie. Well, I think that maybe some of us just did not get this movie. I won't lie, I like depressing films; Slumdog Millionaire really annoyed the hell out of me with its perfect happy little ending. I also like films that provide a commentary on American life (see Mendes' American Beauty), without making it super obvious or condescending. On these two points, Revolutionary Road delivers. And it doesn't hurt that your two leads are two of the best actors around right now.

Basically, the film is a story of what would've happened if poor Jack hadn't frozen to death after the Titanic sunk and everyone lived happily ever after...except the maybe the quiet married life maybe isn't so happy after all. The fact that the two of them, Leo and Kate, are both very attractive people, underscores the fact that everyone should think that their lives are very happy and fulfilling. What's not to like? They have a nice home, in a nice suburb, live comfortably with two kids, yada yada yada. The American dream, right? But the point is, being told what the American dream is by the mainstream: nuclear family, nice house, suburbs, white picket fences, is not really the American dream.

Overall I my interpretation of the film is that it is a critique on American values. We value having children, preferably a boy and a girl, getting a good job, though it may not be a job you especially enjoy, and settling down in the suburbs. But is this what we need? Trying to make a better life for your children and conforming to the standards of American family life doesn't always amount to your own happiness. Parents/grandparents always talk about the sacrifices they had to make, but those sacrifices don't necessarily have to be obvious, dramatic ones. Simply giving up your dreams, and settling for what society tells you is appropriate is sacrifice in itself. Kate and Leo's characters may be be pretty and perfect looking to the outsider, but in truth they are dead inside. Going through the motions, each makes their own attempt to feel more alive: Kate tries to get back to acting in a local play, which fails miserably, and Leo has an affair with a secretary. Both attempts leave them feeling worse off than before. The Wheelers' idea to escape to Paris is an unrealistic one, but can you blame them for wanting to try and live their life how they had always envisioned it? Most of their acquaintances find their idea preposterous, though they scoff at it in a meager attempt at hiding their own dissatisfactions.

It is a difficult concept for a movie. But I think this film had the right director and actors, Leo and Kate are both fantastic, to make it in to one of the year's best films. I give it 4 1/2 Meryls.


Oh and hilarious, yet sad at the same time: in one last attempt at feeling anything even remotely significant, Winslet gets down and dirty Titanic style with their neighbor (and good friend) in his car. How awkward do you think it was for her husband, Sam Mendes, to film that scene? And this movie getting snubbed by the Oscars for best picture????? RIDICULOUS.

Holy Shit, I Thought Julia Child Had Died!

But wait! That's not Julia Child, that's just Meryl Streep. Cannot wait to hear the accent in this upcoming film Julia and Julia! Amy Adams is also set to star in the film, which is expected to be released next winter, in time for the Oscar season. I'm expecting another full round of nominations/possible awards for Meryl in this role. Suck it Helen Mirren! Don't know why I really picked Helen Mirren...anyways you get my point.

Finally, the DOUBT Review.

Yes I have been very behind in movie reviews. Sorry. I have shit to do. BUT after Meryl won the SAG yesterday, I feel inclined to start catching up.

Regarding the film Doubt, I feel like I have to give two separate reviews, one for the movie itself, and the other for the acting performances. To start, the acting performances were superior to the movie as a whole. I have not seen the stage version of Doubt, but I can see how the transition from stage to screen could have taken away from the substance of the story. Some of the angles and scenes just seemed off, and if it wasn't for the outstanding performances, this movie could have been pretty mediocre. I think that Shanley (the director) being overlooked for an Oscar nod is fully justifiable. However, not only was Meryl fantastic (of course), Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Viola Davis, and Amy Adams were all great. Not only was each individual performance outstanding, the interactions between them had a lot of chemistry and depth.

The movie's plot centers around the workings of a Catholic parochial school in the 1960s, post Vatican II. Hoffman is the parish's priest, and appears to be fairly progressive. Streep plays Sister Aloysius, the Mother Superior of the school, who finds Hoffman's character extremely troubling, as his progressiveness, as well as other personal habits irritate her. Thus, she asks Amy Adams to keep an eye on him. One day, the school's only black student is sent to meet with Hoffman, and when he returns, he seems out of sorts, and Adams claims to smell alcohol on his breath. She reports this to Meryl, who then believes that Hoffman has taken inappropriate liberties with the boy. After Meryl hears Adam's story, the acting that ensues is the best, as Hoffman and Streep face off in a tour de force battle, Catholic style. Though Meryl strenuously accuses Hoffman of impropriety, he claims to have done nothing wrong, and since he is a priest in the extremely patriarchal Catholic Church, he is seemingly beyond reproach, especially from a subordinate nun. No where else is this more evident than in the scene where they first meet in Meryl's office. Though it is her office, it is Hoffman who sits behind the desk, in the authoritative role. A very tense, uncomfortable scene, but it says a lot about the atmosphere of the time. Eventually, Meryl is able to force Hoffman to resign his post at the parish with a little bluff, though he never admits outright that he did anything to the boy.

Can I just say the opening scene that introduces Streep's Sister Aloysius is freaking awesome?? No one else can purvey the full sense of this bitter old nun, smacking around small children during mass, than Meryl Streep. Going to a Catholic high school myself, I can tell you, nuns like that REALLY do exist. I really don't think anyone could have pulled this role off as well as Meryl Streep.

What I liked best about this movie (besides the acting of course), was the fact that it never does reveal whether Hoffman's Father Flynn is actually guilty of what he is accused of or not. It is left up to the viewer to form their own opinion, and they are left to their own doubts. In addition, I also enjoyed the fact how my sympathies changed during the course of the movie, based on the opinions I was forming, at first sympathizing with Hoffman, but by the end of the film with Streep's character.

Doubt the film 3 1/2 Meryls:Doubt the acting 5 Meryls:

CONGRATULATIONS MERYL!!!!!!!

Surprise, surprise. Guess who won the SAG award for best actress in a leading role?? MERYL STREEEEEEP!!!! Sorry Anne Hathaway, just not your year. And I know that Meryl is attempting to be modest, but let's admit it, she is the GREATEST living actress. Her acceptance speech was fantastic.

Here's the youtube link for her acceptance speech, though it is also the Meryl Clip of the Month.

Meryl's SAG Award Acceptance Speech

Wait, EW does suck as much as I thought it did

Why are these pieces of garbage so popular??

What the hell?? First, why are these d-bags even on this. Second, why are the rated higher than Meryl Streep, or anyone else for that matter?? I'm just waiting for them to break up with another Disney star, so they can write a song about it. I can't wait to hear that crap playing on the radio (and I wonder why I never listen to the radio??). I hope my sarcasm is coming through loud and clear.

EW doesn't suck as much as I thought it did

Meryl Streep included on countdown of year's top entertainers

I hope when I'm 59 I'm still beating down the competition. EW just released their list of the year's top entertainers, and of course Meryl is on it. Need I even mention the fact that her upcoming movie Doubt hasn't even been released, yet it is already on the top of everyone's must see list and full of Oscar buzz.

Keira Knightley in a corset, part VII.

Not to long ago I decided to go see a movie with my mother; essentially my options were limited seeing how my mom really only likes sappy movies. So we settled on The Duchess. First, let me explain the theatre situation as it was priceless. This movie had only been out about 2 weeks, so I'd still expect a decent crowd. I was wrong. There were about 12 people in the theatre, all women aside from two males, one who was a spouse and the other was the gay boyfriend. At this point I was thinking what the hell did I just get myself into 2 1/4 hours of pure chick flick. However, I must admit, this film was good. It was pretty good actually if you can get over the fact that Keira Knightly only does period films. I think she asks the casting directors if she gets to wear a corset before signing up for a film. In this film she got to wear corset galore and even giant 3 foot tall wigs; I think one even had a bird in it.

Speaking of wigs. The funniest and yet most tragic scene is when Georgina (Knightly) staggers out drunk to a party, trips and lights her wig on fire. No one comes to save her for a minute and then she is left sitting in the middle of this room of gawkers, sans wig but just her little wig cap.

In terms of plot, the movie was good. It moved well and had decent flow. Unlike a lot of period flfilms I've seen The Duchess didn't seem to get hung up on one part or drag on. The movie shows the unfortunate life of a woman who should have it all- instead she is raped by her husband (Lord Voldemort aka Ralph Fiennes), pressured to have children, and cannot love the one whom she truly loves all the while her husband has an affair with Georgina's best friend in front of her (the three at meals at the same table).

Overall, I give The Duchess 3 1/2 Meryl Streeps.

Commentator's note: I wish the movie plot would have been sent with more modern times- Keira can keep the corset wearing- I'm sure she sleeps in one at time as she loves them so- but I'd have loved to see some hood rat shenanigans when the husband tried to keep the mistress around and dare had her sit at the same table. Anyways, I can dream.