Weekend Movie Review
Monday, 12. October 2009, 23:48:22
‘Amelia'
There are certain mysteries that place a stronghold on the world’s imagination. The existence (or lack thereof) of the Bermuda Triangle, Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, WTF is tipping over my garbage cans every night and UFOs are primary among these questions.
And then there is a different sort of mystery, one in which we know someone really existed and then suddenly, simply disappeared without a trace.
The famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart was one of those people. The first woman to fly across an ocean who went on to attempt being the first woman to fly all the way around the world, when her plane encountered a series of problems and likely – but not definitively – crashed, with her never to be found again.
This film covers the decade between the time she captured the world’s attention for the first female transatlantic flight in 1928 until her attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1938. Two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank tries to bring Earhart and her impressive accomplishments to life, but is hamstrung by the fact that the act of flying a plane long-distance – even if one is setting records – has a limited visual excitement.
Combined with a cliched score by Gabriel Yared that veers wildly in tone from epic to tinkling-piano tragedy (sorry, but I do hear the music in a more critical sense then most) and a script that has surprisingly limited narrative drive and dialogue that often sounds like it’s coming out of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch in which people talk in clipped, snappy tones.
And another problem for me, and the person who viewed the film with me was that Swank’s Earhart never undergoes a major dramatic arc or change in her life; she’s tough as nails from start to finish, with only occasional glimpses of vulnerability. The consistent tough gal thing just doesn't fly (pun intended)and leaves you wishing for a more human character. That combined with the fact that everyone knows she disappears in the end, there’s really nothing to hold an audience’s attention span.
I was especially disappointed because I went to see this film only because it was directed by Mira Nair who did a wonderful job with the film “The Namesake” (Indian-American college student is torn between establishing his own unique American identity and honoring the heritage of his immigrant parents.) A very good film I recommend if you have never seen it.
After spending most of the previous 60 hours in a darkened recording studio, I really wanted to be visually entertained........didn't happen! "Amelia" crashes and burns in a sea of indifference.
I give it 2 of 5 stars.
Oh...BTW, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor are in it too......
There are certain mysteries that place a stronghold on the world’s imagination. The existence (or lack thereof) of the Bermuda Triangle, Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, WTF is tipping over my garbage cans every night and UFOs are primary among these questions.
And then there is a different sort of mystery, one in which we know someone really existed and then suddenly, simply disappeared without a trace. The famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart was one of those people. The first woman to fly across an ocean who went on to attempt being the first woman to fly all the way around the world, when her plane encountered a series of problems and likely – but not definitively – crashed, with her never to be found again.
This film covers the decade between the time she captured the world’s attention for the first female transatlantic flight in 1928 until her attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1938. Two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank tries to bring Earhart and her impressive accomplishments to life, but is hamstrung by the fact that the act of flying a plane long-distance – even if one is setting records – has a limited visual excitement.
Combined with a cliched score by Gabriel Yared that veers wildly in tone from epic to tinkling-piano tragedy (sorry, but I do hear the music in a more critical sense then most) and a script that has surprisingly limited narrative drive and dialogue that often sounds like it’s coming out of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch in which people talk in clipped, snappy tones.
And another problem for me, and the person who viewed the film with me was that Swank’s Earhart never undergoes a major dramatic arc or change in her life; she’s tough as nails from start to finish, with only occasional glimpses of vulnerability. The consistent tough gal thing just doesn't fly (pun intended)and leaves you wishing for a more human character. That combined with the fact that everyone knows she disappears in the end, there’s really nothing to hold an audience’s attention span.
I was especially disappointed because I went to see this film only because it was directed by Mira Nair who did a wonderful job with the film “The Namesake” (Indian-American college student is torn between establishing his own unique American identity and honoring the heritage of his immigrant parents.) A very good film I recommend if you have never seen it.
After spending most of the previous 60 hours in a darkened recording studio, I really wanted to be visually entertained........didn't happen! "Amelia" crashes and burns in a sea of indifference.
I give it 2 of 5 stars.
Oh...BTW, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor are in it too......
(15%)
WIDGETIZE
PainterWoman # 27. October 2009, 01:14
"sorry, but I do hear the music in a more critical sense then most"
I annoy the hell out of people I'm with because I always notice the art on the walls in every scene and I'll say "Did you see that abstract?" or whatever. Of course, I'm quiet about it but they just roll their eyes at me.
Phantom2 # 27. October 2009, 01:33
Originally posted by Pam:
lollymolly # 27. October 2009, 01:46
Will take your opinion as read and state that mine wouldn't have been nearly as generous!
lollymolly # 27. October 2009, 01:48
Phantom2 # 27. October 2009, 01:51
Originally posted by L2D2:
lollymolly # 27. October 2009, 02:01
Stardancer # 27. October 2009, 02:42
Phantom2 # 27. October 2009, 02:59
Stardancer # 27. October 2009, 03:10
lollymolly # 27. October 2009, 04:05
Kitty # 27. October 2009, 06:19
And hey - I did think it looked like Richard Gere.
Deb Platt # 27. October 2009, 07:36
On DVD, the last movie I saw was "Defiance", which was very good. It was also based on a true story, but it had the advantage of being less familiar than the Earhart story. In a nutshell, some Jewish brothers decide to flee into the woods, rather than be killed outright or go to a concentration camp. Of course they have no provisions, so they are going to have to get food somehow. But then other Jews come to them seeking refuge, and now there are even more mouths to feed. Did I mention that German soldiers are scouring the woods looking for them? Or that winter is nipping at their heels?
One of the stars was the guy who played Sabertooth in the latest Wolverine movie.
Phantom2 # 29. October 2009, 22:28
Originally posted by debplatt:
I can see the consensus is he's not wildly popular round here!Thanks for the heads up on "Defiance" sounds interesting.
Mina # 30. October 2009, 02:27
r♡se # 30. October 2009, 18:14
I can't read/hear about Richard Gere without thinking gerbil!
Phantom2 # 30. October 2009, 18:34
Rose wins a Richard Gere action figure! (accessories included).
r♡se # 30. October 2009, 18:38
But... Er... I'm not in it for the prize. Feel free to give it to the next commenter!
lollymolly # 30. October 2009, 20:44
Deb Platt # 30. October 2009, 20:53
Phantom2 # 17. November 2009, 18:25
You shouldn't have said that!
Deb Platt # 17. November 2009, 18:31
Phantom2 # 17. November 2009, 18:33