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Love, Actually
Nov. 23rd, 2003 04:12 pmRoss was out driving on Friday night, so I took the opportunity to catch Love Actually, a flick I'd considered seeing at the TIFF, but didn't.
I'm glad now that I didn't. Not because I didn't enjoy the flick, I did, and I'll probably actually get a copy of it when it comes out on DVD. But I'm glad I saw it in Florida, a day after I found out about the petition being approved, when I've been the happiest I've been in a while. Because if you're going to see this movie, you should really be both blissfully in love, and happy with the concept of love. It really is about love in all its myriad and varied forms. As Hugh Grant's PM says in the opening narration, "When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love." and "I think that love, actually, is all around". They take that, and run with it, taking on the full spectrum from the sublime to the painfully heartbreaking.
This is also a film that requires you to think, since it has a cast list as long as my arm, and about 20 of them are major characters, and they're all inter-related. Some of these relations don't become apparent until late in the film.
The main weaknesses of the film, in my opinion, was first the somewhat unrealistic handling of Liam Neeson's character, and second the somewhat out of place five minute swerve into political message partway through the film. Yes, you can justify it by the fact that love of one's country is a legitimate feeling, but it felt kind of heavy handed.
A few notes:
- For all that it was an ensemble piece, Emma Thompson owned this movie. She's funny, but she also has the single most moving moment, and the single most arresting moment. At one point, her character takes an action that I completely, totally did not expect her to take, and the way she played it completely blew me away.
- Billy Bob Thornton as the US President was momentarily amusing, but ended up kind of meh... Wooden in all the wrong places.
- I love Colin Firth. That is all.
I'm glad now that I didn't. Not because I didn't enjoy the flick, I did, and I'll probably actually get a copy of it when it comes out on DVD. But I'm glad I saw it in Florida, a day after I found out about the petition being approved, when I've been the happiest I've been in a while. Because if you're going to see this movie, you should really be both blissfully in love, and happy with the concept of love. It really is about love in all its myriad and varied forms. As Hugh Grant's PM says in the opening narration, "When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love." and "I think that love, actually, is all around". They take that, and run with it, taking on the full spectrum from the sublime to the painfully heartbreaking.
This is also a film that requires you to think, since it has a cast list as long as my arm, and about 20 of them are major characters, and they're all inter-related. Some of these relations don't become apparent until late in the film.
The main weaknesses of the film, in my opinion, was first the somewhat unrealistic handling of Liam Neeson's character, and second the somewhat out of place five minute swerve into political message partway through the film. Yes, you can justify it by the fact that love of one's country is a legitimate feeling, but it felt kind of heavy handed.
A few notes:
- For all that it was an ensemble piece, Emma Thompson owned this movie. She's funny, but she also has the single most moving moment, and the single most arresting moment. At one point, her character takes an action that I completely, totally did not expect her to take, and the way she played it completely blew me away.
- Billy Bob Thornton as the US President was momentarily amusing, but ended up kind of meh... Wooden in all the wrong places.
- I love Colin Firth. That is all.
