Blathering
Jun. 13th, 2004 12:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lazypadawanYesterday I went to my very last local collectors' group meeting though I'll still be officially a member after I move to the opposite coast.
Good news, my Hyperspace renewal rolled over to 2005 with nary an interruption in service. Whew!
I finally rented out this flick. Overall, I'd rate it not bad. On one level, it's as close to "normal" a film Tim Burton has made thus far. But it's still a Tim Burton movie, complete with the wacky/strange settings and freak show characters. On one level it's a kooky fantastical story, on another level, it's a serious family drama. The narrative is a little disjointed as it jumps from the present into the tall-tale past and goes off on many tangents. Basically, Albert Finney plays an old South'ner who spins all of these bizarre stories about his life and Billy Crudup plays his son, who grew up with these tales and now resents them. Ewan McGregor--the main reason why I rented this movie--plays Finney's character in flashbacks. What I liked about the film? At times it's funny, especially during Ewan's circus years. Even though I so didn't buy Ewan initially playing an 18-year-old, he's about the only actor who can bring off this sort of character in this type of movie. If you need someone irresistably charming in an odd film, he's your guy. Ewan's Southern accent was okay, particularly since he's had trouble in the past with American accents. Finney's accent was even better; he was quite good overall. Danny DeVito had an amusing small role as a circus owner. What I didn't like? At times it's a little too precious, like a syrupy David Lynch flick, and the tangental directions the narrative takes. At one point, an old friend, Steve Buscemi, convinces Ewan's character to help him rob a bank. Even though Ewan convinces Steve to try Wall Street instead of knocking off banks later on, the kind of guy Ewan played wouldn't have committed robbery in the first place. My mom couldn't stand the movie and she pointed out that Ewan had strange-looking teeth. He sorta does, but I love him anyway.
Good news, my Hyperspace renewal rolled over to 2005 with nary an interruption in service. Whew!
I finally rented out this flick. Overall, I'd rate it not bad. On one level, it's as close to "normal" a film Tim Burton has made thus far. But it's still a Tim Burton movie, complete with the wacky/strange settings and freak show characters. On one level it's a kooky fantastical story, on another level, it's a serious family drama. The narrative is a little disjointed as it jumps from the present into the tall-tale past and goes off on many tangents. Basically, Albert Finney plays an old South'ner who spins all of these bizarre stories about his life and Billy Crudup plays his son, who grew up with these tales and now resents them. Ewan McGregor--the main reason why I rented this movie--plays Finney's character in flashbacks. What I liked about the film? At times it's funny, especially during Ewan's circus years. Even though I so didn't buy Ewan initially playing an 18-year-old, he's about the only actor who can bring off this sort of character in this type of movie. If you need someone irresistably charming in an odd film, he's your guy. Ewan's Southern accent was okay, particularly since he's had trouble in the past with American accents. Finney's accent was even better; he was quite good overall. Danny DeVito had an amusing small role as a circus owner. What I didn't like? At times it's a little too precious, like a syrupy David Lynch flick, and the tangental directions the narrative takes. At one point, an old friend, Steve Buscemi, convinces Ewan's character to help him rob a bank. Even though Ewan convinces Steve to try Wall Street instead of knocking off banks later on, the kind of guy Ewan played wouldn't have committed robbery in the first place. My mom couldn't stand the movie and she pointed out that Ewan had strange-looking teeth. He sorta does, but I love him anyway.
