Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Rebecca - I like this movie - I think it's a very solid 3 star film, but I think expectations were just very high, and people had a lot of preconceived notions of what this movie should be, hence the mostly mediocre reviews. I'm also in love with Lily James, so that obviously makes me a little biased. I also think people are getting way too hyped up about people categorizing it as a "remake". It technically IS a remake. I'm reminded of the time I called the 2013 Carrie movie a "remake" and I was "corrected" - "it's a reimagining of the novel!" (LOL Whatever, dude). I just feel like if a story is already told in a certain medium then it's a remake - even if it goes back to the original source. Chances are the creator, and everyone involved in the movie has seen the previous version and will be influenced by it to make "their" version - even if it's simply to avoid things from the previous version or to specifically do things different. You can't deny that you will have the previous version in your mind. And if you pretend like you don't, then you're lying to yourself. The only way this theory doesn't work is if NOBODY working on the new version has seen the previous version - and if anyone working in the film industry hasn't seen Hitchcock's version, then they should all be shunned altogether from this industry (harsh, but fair I think). Anyway, obviously I appreciate when someone takes a story and refers to the original source. I just don't really feel like Ben Wheatley does anything special with this. It's all very straight-forward and it doesn't feel like Wheatley's style at all, but it's still very well made. It also becomes quite boring about an hour again, instead of building suspense, I was sort of over it. I think Lily does a great job. I can take or leave Armie Hammer - he's a little dull in this, instead of charming. I'm also not really a fan of the ending - I think we are supposed to see this as a "happy" conclusion, but I would have preferred a more dubious ending.

2. The Addams Family (2019) - I was honestly a little disappointed with this because I thought it would be much better. It's really...blah. And completely forgettable. There's a few very funny lines, though (like the woman who sits on the toilet backwards. What the F? I couldn't stop laughing), but the best gag happens within the first 5 minutes of the movie (the perfectly timed "Welcome to NJ" sign). Also, Chloe Grace Moretz does a fabulous job voicing Wednesday. Just the perfect amount of sarcasm and boredom in her voice. Everyone else is...fine? Nobody else really stands out. But, I do wish Charlize would stop doing voice-work. I love her, but her voice is so monotonous - it works for Morticia, but I hated it in Kubo. I'm surprised this is getting a sequel because I don't really remember anyone talking about it. 

3. Inherit the Viper - Oh hey, this is the first opportunity I have to tell my Josh Hartnett story! I can't believe that I've been writing on this blog for over 10 years, and Josh Hartnett hasn't come up - where the fuck has he been?? So, Josh went to the same college as me, just three years before (in fact, he is exactly three years older than me, as we share the same birthday. And you better believe that 17 year old me thought for sure that was a sign that we were meant to be together or something). It's a very small state school, so it was a super big deal when people became famous (like Edie Falco, Stanley Tucci, Melissa Leo), but Josh Hartnett was a Drama Studies major (again, same as me) who realized after a year that the whole thing was bullshit, and he dropped out. Within a YEAR of him dropping out, he became a super famous heartthrob starring in some of the biggest blockbuster movies of the summer, and our professors HATED him for it (there were also rumors that he actually tried out for the super exclusive Acting Conservatory and didn't get in, which is hilarious, if true). So, by the time I got there, he was like this myth that nobody was supposed to talk about. Sometimes I would sit in class, listening to people analyze Othello for the billionth time and think "maybe I should just drop out - things worked out for Josh Hartnett, they could work out for me too" (I picked Othello for this example for a reason - remember the movie O with Hartnett? I LOVED IT!). Unfortunately, I stuck it out, but it was all complete and utter bullshit, and I have so much respect for Hartnett for following his gut. Anyway, back on track, Michelle. I like this movie - the cast is really strong (the girl who played Amanda Clarke on Revenge is SO GOOD - I don't think I've ever seen her in anything else), the pace accelerates quicker than I was expecting, and the ending is really dark, which I wasn't expecting. It felt Shakespearian (which is fitting!). I didn't like that a lot of it is filmed in the dark - I don't know why anyone thinks this is a good idea. I can never see ANYTHING. 

4. Over the Moon - I appreciate Netflix's attempt to compete with Pixar and other animation studios, but this is...not good. The beginning starts off cute (and in a very typical kids fairytale way), but once she goes to the moon it just takes a deep dive into shockingly terrible territory. The animation gets super trippy (and cheap looking), to the point where I felt like I needed to be on drugs to understand what was happening. One of the characters is literally unidentifiable - is Gobi supposed to be a hedgehog? The internet is calling him a "space puppy" whatever that means, but he has spikes and curls into a ball for no reason. The songs are not good, even the one featuring Chang'e because it is a clear nod to Hamilton (and NO THANK YOU!). And there is a scene with rabbits that is super confusing - the moon rabbit transferred his powers to the Earth rabbit, I think? Although I'm not sure how or why. I do like that it's centered around Chinese culture and mythology, featuring an all Asian cast of voice actors. However, I'm guessing that it is very Americanized. 

5. Emma. - I can't say that I remember the one with Gwyneth Paltrow, but for some reason I think that I liked it? But my favorite Emma rendition is definitely Clueless (OBVI). I enjoyed this version - I was hoping that it had more of a modern Romeo + Juliet ala Baz Luhrmann sort of vibe to it, and it doesn't. It's extremely straightforward and typical, but it still has this spark that makes it entertaining. Mostly because Anya Taylor-Joy is an absolute joy to watch. She's incredible in everything I've seen her in, even movies that I don't like such as The VVitch. She has some really great energy and facial expressions in this that are just absolute perfection. There are also a few other aspects that I really like - like the scene with the man getting fully dressed. They always show this scene with women - with the assistant tightening the corset, etc., so it is really refreshing to see a male character shown in this way. It's also quite funny in some parts, like when Jane starts playing the piano. Bill Nighy is probably the comedic highlight, though. Also, the costume design is stunning. I have to find that pink bolero jacket Emma wears to the wedding in the beginning (apparently it's called a "spenser" jacket. Learn something new everyday!). I've had no luck finding it or anything similar in a reasonable price range, but I am determined. I NEED IT. I think the weakest link is definitely Mia Goth. I usually like her, but she doesn't fit the role at all and she over-acts in this. I also did get very bored because the whole story is just uninteresting to me - matchmaking, catty friendships...ugh, as if!