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hestia
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- Review count2
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- First reviewMay 2, 2008
- Last reviewJuly 19, 2008
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.5
hestia's Reviews
Overall rating
2
/
5
Mamma Mia, Pappa Pia.......
PostedJuly 19, 2008
hestia
from New York, NY
I've always been a big fan of ABBA, though I never forked over the dough to see the musical. And I have been accused of extreme prejudice where Meryl Streep is concerned. In her dramatic work, I just don't see it. That is, I do see it. She is all technical and I have always felt, needs a good dose of "the method" in her acting. I never have to feel anything for her characters because they appear so self-indulgent, they do all the feeling for me. My biggest pet peeve in anyone's acting is crying on a dime and Meryl gives us that in bucketloads.
However, I am a fan of her comedic work, "Defending Your Life," "Postcards From The Edge." She appears to be a genuinely funny person on talk shows, I like her.
So, it was with great anticipation and excitement that I went to see "Mamma Mia!" I wanted to love it. I wanted to want to see it over and over again. It seemed such a joyful piece of work. But I was shocked. Where was all that humor. She appears either on the brink on tears, in tears, or wiping her tears throughout the whole movie. She plays it like it's a Shakespearean tragedy. Where was the irony? Where was the wink? Thank God for Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard. They knew the type of movie they were in.
I basically blame the director who was perhaps too in awe of Ms. Streep to pull her back.
The rest of the direction was dreadful as well, but if we'd had a funny and finessed performance from Ms. Streep it would have gone a long way.
I loved the all the big musical numbers. Colin Firth's voice was lovely and Julie Walters just a joy.
Then we have poor Pierce Brosnan and I'm not even talking about his valiant attempt at singing. I'm talking about those loooong minutes that he had to stand there with absolutely nothing to do, but look uncomfortable while Meryl played Prospero or Lear singing "The Winner Takes It All." I haven't seen scene chewing like that in a while. An I had no idea what she wanted from him. A song is just a monologue to music after all.
The one number I will give her credit for is "Slipping Through My Fingers." It was lovely and appropriate and pulled back. But just once I'd like to see her do a performance in which she didn't cry.
I'm not saying I didn't laugh and enjoy some of the movie, but all added up, I couldn't ever sit through it again. I honestly have to say it was just dreadful.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
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Overall rating
5
/
5
Great Fun, Downey Jr. Terrific
PostedMay 2, 2008
hestia
I had never heard of Iron Man. I'm not a comic reader, but this film is so well written and the acting so on target, that I found it and incredibly fun ride. Downey Jr. is perfect as the wisecracking Stark, I found myself interested in everything he did. Jeff Bridges perfect as the baddy and Gwyneth a great Pepper Potts. I'm not a huge fan of CGI (most of the time it looks unrealistic and tends to take me out of the movie, since it's obvious there's not a real person there), but the CGI was so good in this movie most of the time, I forgot there was no way Robert Downey, Jr. could be flying around in that contraption.
Can't wait for the next one......
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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