The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
- johncarvill
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:05 am
- Location: Manchester, UK
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- James Mills
- Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:12 pm
- Location: el ciudad del angeles
Re: The Kids Are All Right
My friend saw The Kids Are Alright up in Vancouver a few weeks ago and has been raving about it non-stop. He particularly favored Benings' performance, saying it (like the film itself) might have been the best of the year.
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- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:13 am
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
It's not really a new film, this has played everywhere already. It's the best movie ever, it was a great success everywhere, phenomenal acting, great plot, really original.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
1. Don't complain about newness. As someone who's been here a year you should know that something ten years old let alone a couple of months isn't all that old by the standards of topic on this board.
2. I hope you are joking about this being the best film ever otherwise watch a hell of a lot more movies with a hell of a lot more variety. Even if this was good by some standard the generic nature and basic goals would keep it grounded to an average entertainment. It doesn't even contain the accidental greatness of a Glen or Glenda? nor Incubus.
2. I hope you are joking about this being the best film ever otherwise watch a hell of a lot more movies with a hell of a lot more variety. Even if this was good by some standard the generic nature and basic goals would keep it grounded to an average entertainment. It doesn't even contain the accidental greatness of a Glen or Glenda? nor Incubus.
- Tom Hagen
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:35 pm
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
I think the "newness" thing is a jab in relation to the first post's mention of a "first look" review of a film that played in American theaters last summer.
- johncarvill
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:05 am
- Location: Manchester, UK
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Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
If so, it was a pretty feeble jab. By 'first look', I meant that the review had been published under a 'Passing Judgement' rubric, i.e. it was intended to represent the writer's 'first impressions', rather than aiming to be an in-depth assessment.Tom Hagen wrote:I think the "newness" thing is a jab in relation to the first post's mention of a "first look" review of a film that played in American theaters last summer.
By 'first look', did you think I meant that this reviewer was the only person on the planet who had henceforth seen the film?
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
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- johncarvill
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:05 am
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Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
Oh.domino harvey wrote:Yes
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
This is a clumsily-directed, poorly written film that is barely salvaged by most of the actors, with one exception. In true Oscar fashion, it appears the worst performance is nominated and primed to potentially win. Annette Bening is handily the weakest link here-- I am quite agog at the praise she's received for doing nothing. Moore's complimentary role isn't written much better but she's at least given more to do and is better at that sort of thing. The two bright spots here are really Mark Ruffalo and Mia Wasikowska. Praising Ruffalo seems redundant, as isn't he great in everything? Nevertheless, despite the film's odd tonal shift against the most likable character in the movie as it drew to a close, he's the best thing here. Right behind him is Wasikowska, who I'm glad is taking off, as I think she's part of the refreshing class of new talent infiltrating cinema after a long period of few breakout starlets. Too bad they're not in another movie.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
I actually found Ruffalo totally miscast in the film. He just seems to be trying to hard to be a character that he isn't. He's too nice of a guy and it becomes obvious that he is attempting to show his version of aloof asshole rather than becoming one. If I can give this pos one compliment it is that it shows how horrendous a mistake Ruffalo as Greenberg would have been.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
If he's supposed to be an asshole, that only speaks to how badly written this movie is, because I definitely liked him more than any other adult hanging around. Speaking of writing, there is some horrible dialog in this movie (Top prize goes to the skater wanting to pee on a dog's head, with runner up definitely "I need parenting advice from you like I need a dick in my ass"). And is it not a little weird that the plot of a movie which flaunts its lesbian bonafides hinges on a heterosexual sexual coupling, and doesn't do the couple at the center of the film any favors by making them husband/wife stereotypes only transplanted to a gay relationship? Progressive
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
You're right 100%. I was down right offended at the Apatow like flaunting of progressive values only to wind up in a regressive idiotic film where the villain is the only character of interest. Though I have to say the film leaves it's lowest point for the end. I hate it so.
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- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:49 pm
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
Just saw this and I mostly agree with domino's take on this. Yes, Ruffalo is almost always good, but this role taps right into his sort of blissed-out, new-agey persona, which is unique; and he creates a nuanced version of a pretty specific L.A. type of person (the laid-back, affably self-absorbed hipster/East Sider). I think he's actually better than the writing: Cholodenko pretty much throws him under the bus at the end of the movie, which turns out to be a real miscalculation, since Ruffalo has quietly made his character more sympathetic than the shrill lesbian couple.
I didn't hate Annette Bening or Julianne Moore, but I also didn't think they managed to transcend the middlebrow safeness of the whole project, either.
I didn't hate Annette Bening or Julianne Moore, but I also didn't think they managed to transcend the middlebrow safeness of the whole project, either.
- jbeall
- Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:22 am
- Location: Atlanta-ish
Re: The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010)
I'm interested in seeing this primarily b/c I like Ruffalo, Moore, and Bening, but this thread has tempered my expectations a great deal.
The NY Times has a short interview with Lisa Cholodenko.
The NY Times has a short interview with Lisa Cholodenko.