 sj |
||
|
||
BS: Love, Actually...
|
|
|
Subject: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 24 Nov 03 - 03:17 PM If you haven't seen it, may I strongl;y su8ggest you make a point of it? It improves the metabolism, wiodens the heart, broadens the facial muscles, enhances your tolerance and improves your knack for foreign languages. A real heart-warmer. Especially for those too long out of love. I ain't naming names. Catch this flick. Regards, Amos |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: GUEST,pdc Date: 24 Nov 03 - 03:21 PM Unless of course, you happen to be a young woman who weighs over 110 pounds. It's very ugly regarding the female body. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: GUEST,MMario Date: 24 Nov 03 - 03:28 PM Amos - have you been spending time in Hull9 recently? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 24 Nov 03 - 03:53 PM "It's very ugly regarding the female body. " How so pdq? I didn't notice anythig like that. You surely can't mean the comments about Martine McCutcheon, the tea lady at Number Ten being chubbier than the standard screen skeleton? That was visual irony if ever there was. Pleasant enough movie, but I think it'd have been better with fewer plots, because some of them rather drifted away. I'm surprised noone's commented on one nice plot surprise, which came when the Prime Minister slags off the Special Relationship at a Press Conference, and tells the visiting President more or less to get stuffed. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Nov 03 - 04:47 PM I started reading Kevin's post then turned my eyes away--I hope you didn't give away part of the plot in your remarks, but it sure looked like you were about to! I'll wait to read more till after I've seen it (I'm coasting on fumes 'til payday, so it will be after Friday). SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: maire-aine Date: 24 Nov 03 - 04:55 PM I saw it Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Billy Bob Thornton was great as the US President. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 24 Nov 03 - 05:07 PM It is like being force fed creme brulee. What a disappointment. Notting Hill is an extraordinarily well crafted film. This one is thrown together -- watch out when the writer becomes the director!! yours, Peter T. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 24 Nov 03 - 05:22 PM Well, I certainly didn't find it ugly about the female body. I found it as described. I suppose I have a larger gueule for creme bruleee than PT! :>) As for the Hullishness -- it's just sleep deprivation. A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: GUEST,Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Nov 03 - 07:15 PM I hope it isn't like Notting Hill--I found that one shallow and saccharine. I'll cross my fingers that Emma Thompson and her friends can pull this off. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 24 Nov 03 - 07:19 PM Well, SRS, it does have a few things in common with Notting Hill -- it is sentimental. But, I say take a chance! :>) A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: GUEST,Desdemona Date: 24 Nov 03 - 07:43 PM I also disliked "NOtting Hill", but I *adore* "Four Weddings and a Funeral", and am hoping this film will be nearer to being in that category! D. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 24 Nov 03 - 08:36 PM Kevin: That was a major moment, and BBW and I both enjoyed the spontaneous national response to Sir's ballsiness... A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 24 Nov 03 - 08:37 PM I went only because my Beautiful Wife wanted to, and I expected to be put to sleep by concentrated piffle. A wonderful good time! The original feel-good movie! Dave Oesterreich |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: DougR Date: 24 Nov 03 - 09:16 PM I enjoyed the movie very much. I thought the several plots were fine because the screenwriter/director brought things together very nicely at the end. I can understand why so many Mudcaters liked the news conference scene. I didn't think it was one of the film's highlights. If the concern expressed about women's weight had anything to do with Colin Furth's final scenes and the sister of the girl he proposes too, the sister could have been slim and unattractive and the same effect would have been achieved. Actually, I didn't think the sister who won the guy was all that ravishing looking and she certainly wasn't overweight. DougR |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Alba Date: 24 Nov 03 - 09:53 PM Well I'll go and see it as I have heard a lot of good things about it. I'm quite looking forward to a feel good Movie for a change! Notting Hill, to me, was......rubbish actually, but I loved Four Weddings and a Funeral:>) Jude |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 25 Nov 03 - 09:36 AM "Notting Hill" is a very complex film -- it deals with class issues, gender reversal (the man is the waiting girl with the heart of gold in the film), and "spectating" as a theme quite deftly. It is much deeper than it looks, because it is so beautifully crafted. "Love Actually" is complete rubbish: it is particularly noticeable that all the romances are middle class and male-female (the rock star-manager thing is wispy at best) -- you would think in 2003 there could be a tad more adventure in this. There is one token black man who is barely involved in the real romance story between two white people. I am not big on political correctness, but this is ridiculous!!! The only fine thing in the film is Emma Thompson, which, for those of us who have been Thonmpsonless for a couple of years, is worth the price of admission, but only just. Everyone else, many with immense talent (Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth! are wasted on second rate plots and dialogue so cliched that you cannot believe they are going the way you think they are going, but then they do! It is hard to believe that after "About A Boy" with Hugh Grant, Richard Curtis would give us another school pageant as the climax of his film! (And it is as wince making as in the other film). Stuffy figure caught dancing! Races to the airport to catch the girl! Oh my god, my god. yours, Peter T. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: GUEST,Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Nov 03 - 09:58 AM Notting Hill was a rehash of the "Poor Little Rich Girl" motif, nothing more. I liked all of the actors in it, but I found their performances in that film two-dimensional and not representative of the dynamics they were capable of. Probably a case of poor directing. And after seeing the last couple of Hugh Grant flicks, I find him a poor substitute for the Cary Grant character they apparently keep hoping he'll morph into. (I think he lost his edge when he lost Hurley.) Another one to throw in the rubbish with Notting Hill is Two Weeks Notice. I'm hoping the others in Love, Actually will be able to act around Grant and elevate his performance. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:25 AM "Love Actually" is complete rubbish: The fact that it doesn't venture into homosexual love or other varieties is no grounds for fiercely dismissing what it does do, IMHO. Perhaps it is a much simpler movie than you were expecting... A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:43 AM A film that is supposed to be about universal love popping up all over might at least take a shot at something other than middle class white heterosexual romance. I found the acting in Notting Hill to be fine -- both Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant track the changes in their relationship in very interesting ways (the scenes after she comes back into his life and home are beautifully acted by both of them, power shifts orchestrated warily). The secondary characters are uniformly excellent. The only crappy scene, which almost drags the whole thing into the rubbish bin, is the automobile chase. Someone should take the last fifteen minutes of Richard Curtis' films out of his hands -- but then one could say the same of Stephen Spielberg (who has completely ruined at least two of his best films in the last 10 minutes). yours, Peter T. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 25 Nov 03 - 12:05 PM Who says it's about universal love? No such thing. Though nine sets of live stories, and two of them involving a black person. That's in line with the actual population figures here. No gay love stories, true enough. No love stories involving people with facial hair either. Or elderly people. A film in this genre ("Hugh Grant rides again movies") which I think was much better than any of those mentioned so far was About a Boy. But this one was pretty enjoyable and at least it didn't involve video-game style action and noise sequences. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 25 Nov 03 - 03:44 PM They said it was about universal love -- the first speech of the movie, and the last sequence. I was wrong, I forgot the singing black girl -- another fine thing about the movie was that the black people all sing. Why they don't tap dance is a mystery. I suppose that having given us the earthy swearing working class woman who shows the pompous upper class man the joys of life, the author felt that even he had had enough. yours, Peter |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Hippie Chick Date: 25 Nov 03 - 03:45 PM I like Alan Rickman - listening to him and looking at him. I think Hugh Grant as PM is hilarious and ludicrous... I want to see it again. I saw 4 weddings & a funeral recently and I feel like H.Grant moves are candy shop treats. swet and fun and very colorful. IMHO of course. :D |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: JenEllen Date: 25 Nov 03 - 04:07 PM It's a toss-up. The ads here proclaim that I will 'leave the theater with my heart humming happily'. I'm sorry, but it's highly doubtful-- if not for it being pure crap, than for the simple assumption that I'll like what I'm told. But on the plus side, I'd gladly watch Colin Firth fold laundry... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Linda Kelly Date: 25 Nov 03 - 05:20 PM the links between the stories were tenuous to put it mildly-some made me cringe -but others were quite funny. There was rather too much swearing for the sake of it-but hugh was fab. Still find it strange that Richard Curtis was such a wonderful wordsmith when writing the BlackAdder scripts but is really rather remedial in his film scripts. Sorry to say it didn't gel, but I will probably get the video to drool over Hugh. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Guy Wolff Date: 25 Nov 03 - 05:48 PM Im afraid I love sakerin. Life is hard enough . I am very much looking forward to seeing this. I loved Four weddings and a Funeral. I love Notting HIll though J Roberts I think is a little inbarassed by the plot. or had a hard time with Grant.Somethings going on there. I still watch it at least twice a mounth. About a Boy realy works for Grant. I like seeing him as a cad ! Two weeks notice is lowest on my list but I have seen it three times. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: DougR Date: 25 Nov 03 - 06:49 PM Interesting how so many people can see the same film and react so differently to it. DougR |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 25 Nov 03 - 07:07 PM Kinda like real life, eh Doug??? Everyone brings their own tabus to the party.... A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 25 Nov 03 - 08:35 PM "Love Actually" has set the record for opening weekend film box-office take in Britain. A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: MAG Date: 26 Nov 03 - 12:06 AM I was going to skip it because of the universally bad reviews but am reconsidering because I value your opinion so highly, Amos! I am realizing this movie is eye candy for us female-type movie lovers -- Liam, Colin, Hugh, and Alan all in one film? I think I just decided ... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Nov 03 - 05:07 AM I can't ever see singing as being in any way a peculiar thing to do. Or swearing. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Steve-o Date: 26 Nov 03 - 12:53 PM Both funny and charming, notably lacking in inane sitcom-type dialogue, and including a few vignettes that certainly haven't been done before- like Liam Neeson's stepfather section and the porno movie stand-ins section. Why do people refer to this as a Hugh Grant movie?? His vignette was the most "contrived" and the least heartwarming of the bunch. Peter T. has that ultra-hip attitude of those who want us all to go watch movies about Serbian atrocities. And..."A film that is supposed to be about universal love popping up all over might at least take a shot at something other than middle class white heterosexual romance"???!! Shucks, I guess some of us just missed the whole point... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 26 Nov 03 - 01:18 PM MAG: Peter T has convinced me that I am a hopeless, smarmy, sentimental mollycoddle and a complete failure as an intellect for even liking this movie. So be warned, you tread in the valley of the shadow of disapprobation. But I am grateful for your kind remark, and I repeat that I found the movie heartwarming and was very glad I had seen it. A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Willie-O Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:22 PM Let me get this straight. Hugh Grant as British Prime Minister, and Billy Bob T. as U. S. President? I wouldn't have thought it possible, but that's even scarier than present-day reality. Yup, it takes all kinds. If our various in-house critics started out in agreement as to what it is supposed to be about, they might be able to come to considered conclusions that sound like they saw the same movie...I wonder where one gets this essential thematic information? W-O |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Nov 03 - 03:56 PM No way, Willie-O. Films have to stand or fall on what happens on the screen, not on written analyses of what they are about. When Blair became PM he actually wasn't that dissimilar to the Hugh Grant movie persona in his mannerisms. I thought Billy Bob looked a lot more plausable as President than Bush does. But then most people do. Incuidentally, the germ of the PM + Tea Lady plot is presumably an alleged affair between PM John Major and the lady who did catering for Number Ten - which in fact never happened, but appears to have been used as a smokescreen to cover-up the affair with MP and novelist Edwina Currie. As detailed here. Not a patch of young Martine McCutcheon - better known as Tiffany of the soap, Eastenders. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Clinton Hammond Date: 26 Nov 03 - 04:02 PM In my book... anything with Hugh Grant in it can be automatically dismissed at total cr@p! And a quick glance at his page on the IMDB remindes me why... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 26 Nov 03 - 04:50 PM Serbian atrocity films! My favourite, second only to Barbra Streisand albums..... What is a mollycoddle anyway? yours, Peter T. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Mudlark Date: 26 Nov 03 - 05:57 PM I lost interest in Grant after 4 Weddings...seemed like he was acting himself in later films, rather than being himself. But I did like About a Boy, and I would see any movie with any one of the other actors mentioned--Emma T., Alan Rickman, Colin F..... What's wrong with light, feel good movies anyway? An hour of listening to NPR in the morning lands me with way more angst for the day than I can easily tolerate. And Amos? Hopeless? Maybe...Mollycoddle?? Perhaps. But Smarmy??? Never, mai jamais!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: izzy Date: 26 Nov 03 - 08:23 PM I like all sorts of films, even feel-good ones as well as sad ones (only films I've never been able to appreciate are horror flicks). In my view a true film buff learns to like a variety of films on their own terms --i.e., there's a place in this world for both The Seventh Seal and romantic comedies. Speaking of which, has anyone seen Sense and Sensibility? It stars both Rickman AND Grant. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Linda Kelly Date: 27 Nov 03 - 03:53 AM Wel that's sorted then, none of you want hugh Gant- which means he's all mine. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 27 Nov 03 - 09:12 AM "Sense and Sensibility" is a great movie. Stop what you are doing and go and rent it. yours, Peter T. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Guy Wolff Date: 27 Nov 03 - 11:16 AM DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THE MOVE !!!!! Well I went last night.I loved it and will buy it when it comes out. I was very touched by Emma Tomson's situation. Shes such a class act.Her pulling herself together in the bedroom while the kids are opening the gifts had me balling . I Loved Colin Firth's story line.He was a very brave character in this one . I wish the fat jokes would go away but I can live with that . I realy liked the porn stars being polite and bussness like and how real affection changes everything. I think that was a great way of showing the difference between sex and love. A little contrived but a great message. Hugh Grant was quute again. I dont mind . The story line was great . I loved his sister saying " Youd be just his type 20 years ago. " It is amazing at funerels and hard life moments people are so good at speaking truths. The relaytionship between the boy and his step-day was just wonderful. THey were both amazing !!! THat story line was not surup at all just human nobilaty.. I loved to tention Rowen Atkinson added at his two vinyetts. THere is a reason this movey is a succsess. The human need for love and nurturing interaction is a hunger and need we all have. Its very hard for some people to come to grips with this stuff and so sarcasum prevails . As one of the rabbits in the cartoon vertion of Robin Hood said to Prince John. " You need a Mommy real bad" . No now that I think of it it was Peter Pans daughter in the move Hook talking to a very bad Dustin Haufmin . All the best to all here. Guy |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Firecat Date: 28 Nov 03 - 10:12 AM I want to go see it!! I love Hugh Grant, and I love Richard Curtis films! I want to go and see it!!!!!! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: MAG Date: 01 Dec 03 - 11:40 AM OK, I caught it at yesterday's matinee (in the enxt town over, since it is done playing here). Peter T., I don't think we saw the same movie. I loved it. thank you, Amos, for the plug which changed my mind on going. It is all about human connection and with all the acting talent in it, they brought it off. I didn't care for the section on the girl in love with Karl. *Spoiler.* They both suffered a bad case of coitus interruptus which is always tough. That vignette is supposed to be touching as she sacrifices her own joy for the sake of her mental brother. It reminded me of the story of The Taking Boy, AKA The Giving Tree. Go see it, if you are not a total Scrooge. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 01 Dec 03 - 12:11 PM Peter -- as usual I am splitting a gut at your deft repartee! A mollycoddle is one who has been mollycoddled, about which the American Heritage Usage Panel has the following offering: pamper, indulge, humor, spoil, coddle, mollycoddle, baby These verbs all mean to cater excessively to someone or to his or her desires or feelings. To pamper is to gratify appetites, tastes, or desires: "He was pampering the poor girl's lust for singularity and self-glorification" (Charles Kingsley). Indulge suggests a kindly or excessive lenience in yielding especially to wishes or impulses better left unfulfilled: "You musn't think because I indulge you in some things that you can keep everyone waiting" (Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie 1900.) Humor implies compliance with or accommodation to another's mood or idiosyncrasies: "Human life is . . . but like a froward child, that must be played with and humored a little to keep it quiet till it falls asleep" (William Temple). Spoil implies excessive indulgence that adversely affects the character, nature, or attitude: "He seems to be in no danger of being spoilt by good fortune" (George Gissing). Coddle and mollycoddle point to tender, overprotective care that often leads to weakening of character: "I would not coddle the child" (Samuel Johnson). Stop mollycoddling me; I'm a grown person. "... Regards, A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: MAG Date: 01 Dec 03 - 12:31 PM And, I am happy to say, the theater was packed -- so the public is ignoring the critics and voting by word of mouth. Speaking as an overweight woman myself, the fact that Hugh Grant goes for the very attractive and very slightly plump Natalie who suffers an overabundance of slurs on her weight is a plus. I rejoice that skinny is out. Aurelia's sister is genuinely obese and we obese ladies get a lot of shit about it. My sister the doctor works in a weight loss clinic and harps on my weight. It is because she loves me and truly doesn't understand. Aurelia's father points out the obvious fact that his obese daughter will have trouble attracting men. It's an unfortunate fact. On the whole the movie is more seamlessly PC than overt movies on PC-ness. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peg Date: 01 Dec 03 - 02:25 PM I liked it all right. maybe a bit corny at times, and maybe a bit predictable and maybe a few too many storylines. But some wonderful acting! Emma T, Alan R, Colin F, and Hugh G especially. I also loved the boy who played Liam N's son: what a face! Some complex emotional moments, and some silly ones. I think Hugh Grant has shown himself to be a very fine actor, dating all the way back to Maurice. he is inhabiting his aging but still handsome face with the sort of grace and charm not often seen in the beauty-conscious world of film. He has been in some silly movies, but that can be said of many, many actors whose work is also very fine (including some of those appearing in this movie). re: prejudice against overweight women, I thought the girl who everyone said was "chubby" was probably about a size 7, maybe weighing all of 120 pounds...give me a break. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 01 Dec 03 - 02:28 PM I'd give my eyeteeth to weigh 120 pounds!! A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Steve-o Date: 01 Dec 03 - 06:06 PM Peter T. may of course be forgiven for liking Serbian atrocity films, but Barbra Streisand albums??....Never! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peter T. Date: 02 Dec 03 - 08:16 AM Yes, but where does mollycoddle come from etymologically (you are slipping, Amos)? (joke) I understand that Barbra is up before the international court at the Hague for crimes against humanity. yours, Peter T. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 02 Dec 03 - 08:21 AM From coddle, to indulge excessively, and molly, a feminine intensifier meaning "girly" or "wussy". Little Lord Fauntleroy was a mollycoddle. A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 02 Dec 03 - 08:45 AM Actually, it derives from the Celtic word mael'kheidel which refers to the ancient practice of torture practiced on enemies captured in battle, of forcing them to eat creme brulee until they confessed to everything. A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Peg Date: 02 Dec 03 - 09:51 AM I agree, Sense and Sensibility directed by Ang Lee is one of the finest of the newly-remade Jane Austen stories (also do catch Persuasion if you can, wonderful PBS/BBC version with Ciaran Hinds). Ang Lee's version stars not only Thompson, Rickman, and Grant, but also Kate Winslet! How the bloody hell can you go wrong?!? They are all superb. Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow is also very good, and what's the one with the man named D'arcy? Pride and Prejudice? Well if that is the title, there is another PBS/BBC one with Colin Firth and the lovely Jennifer Ehle (she is wonderful also in Bedrooms and Hallways, a hysterically funny comedy with Hugo Weaving, Tom Hollander, Simon Callow, Harriet Walter and Kevin McKidd), and as the "fictional' Victorian poet in Possession. okay, now I am in the mood to watch all of these movies again, and to throw in Bridget Jones' Diary and The Shooting Party for good measure! |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: SueB Date: 02 Dec 03 - 12:21 PM How about the soundtrack? Any good? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Amos Date: 02 Dec 03 - 01:15 PM MAG: I am really glad you liked the fillum! :>)) A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: MAG Date: 04 Dec 03 - 12:30 AM Should I follow it up this weekend with "The Human Stain"? MA, wishing it weren't too late to go visit the tavern again. MA, who should be practicing for tomorrow's get-together. MA, who could probably afford to replace the TV (gone 5 yrs now) if she didn't have this movie addiction |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: Steve-o Date: 04 Dec 03 - 12:36 PM Sure, check out the "Human Stain" if you want the exact opposite experience. Superb acting, great direction, and an excruciatingly depressing and pitiful story. Bound to get some awards. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: Love, Actually... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 04 Dec 03 - 01:48 PM "Molly" meaning effeminate - as in Molly Dancers or Molly Maguires, on the rather spurious grounds that blokes dressing up as women are soft. Not a very wise assumption to make. |
