Movie Meme, Day 11: A Movie That Disappointed

One good thing about the meme is how cathartic it is. I’ve been wanting to write about some films for some time, but I’m not sure how to get the ball rolling. Biting the bullet; for today: Rachel Getting Married. I never reviewed Rachel Getting Married, since I wasn’t blogging around the time of its release. It’s often touted as one of the strongest independent flicks of 2008 and Anne Hathaway’s performance continues to be hailed as a tour-de-force. I saw it in the wake of the buzz it was getting. While recapping 2008 I mentioned that I was no fan of the film (my initial grade was a C+) and last week when I caught it on I decided to watch (E/N: this post was written weeks ago). I hadn’t seen it since 2008 and I wanted to see how it aged.

I know I praised Rosemarie DeWitt in my Encore Awards, but I was unprepared for how excellent she was here. I know that lovers of the film applaud her performance but there’s a reason that the film is called Rachel Getting Married and it’s just not because of her wedding. I’ve never liked Anne Hathaway, from her days of being a Disney princess to her newfound status as a rising star I still don’t like her. If pushed I’d identify her performance in The Devil Wears Prada as my favourite, and that doesn’t say much when I think she’s the weakest of the film’s four stars (Blunt, Streep, Tucci in that order). Hathaway grates on me so much I’m unsure if her acting is the issue or her natural personality and my unprofessionalism. Kym, the recovering addict, is the perfect type of role for an actress trying to break out of a rut but Demme’s Rachel Getting Married biggest problem is that it already thinks it doing something seismic. I recall someone saying that if some new director had helmed this, whose name was not Demme, the response would have been muted. I believe that. The film is not a bad one by any stretch of the imagination, but despite all the rote examples of honesty it’s not as sincere as it’s pretending which is the feeling I get from Hathaway. Yes, Kym is just a large mix of neuroses and Hathaway is obviously trying hard, but she strikes me as a young actress trying to act than a real character which is the opposite feeling I get from DeWitt. It’s no surprise, then, that Hathaway does best when paired with DeWitt. It’s almost as if the older sister is willing the younger one to step up to the plate, and it’s the dynamic of the film that rings out as most sincere.

Bill Irwin, I admit, puts up a valiant effort and his response to a certain dishwasher scene is well played. But I can’t take it at face value because it seems oddly truncated, not as truncated as Debra Winger who does well with a nothing role, but truncated nonetheless. I can’t be expected to value these characters because there’s little there that urges me to get invested in them. Yet, I admire Rachel Getting Married for its good intentions. Demme falters, oh yes I believe he does, but his attempt to craft an adult drama that’s not overly adult or that has too much “drama” is impressive. I laud its ability to have an interracial marriage without turning it into something of huge proportions. I laud the fact that it doesn’t try to play for sympathy too much, though it does aim for empathy that I can’t always give. Despite its best intentions Rachel Getting Married does little to move. I’ll show up for the bride, but I’m neither here nor there on the rest of the bridal party. (Upgraded to a B-).

What do you think of Rachel Getting Married?

     

All for the MEME.           

In the Mood For Love: Three Classics

People are always lamenting the state of romantic films – the romantic comedy in particular. Has it really gotten that bad? I can’t be sure. Perhaps, but isn’t the consensus that film isn’t as provocative. Still, I won’t lament on that situation. Instead I’m looking back to three oldies of sorts – two comedies, and a drama each centring on romance in some strange places. What makes these films important is the success each found with Oscars and other award bodies. Each won an acting Oscar in fact, not too shabby for a romance, eh?

              

My mother was a huge fan of An Officer & A Gentleman and I saw it when I was very young. Who can forget that memorable ending where Richard Gere – in one of his few performances I like – picked Debra Winger up and walked her out of that horrible place? Not me. And speaking of endings, who didn’t feel just a little misty eyed when The Goodbye Girl ended and we saw that Dreyfuss had left his guitar behind? Not me. And say what you want about Jessica Lange in Tootsie but who wasn’t cheering when she and Dustin finally hooked up? Not me. Each takes a different perspective on love, and each succeeds.

I often wonder why Marsha Mason doesn’t get more work, and then I remember than Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange aren’t getting much work either, but I digress. Mason is a talented actress and was on quite a streak back in her day but she really shines in The Goodbye Girl. There’s a moment in the film when she buys her groceries only to have them all fall down on the sidewalk. Marsha’s reaction is always realistic and never forced. The romance between her and the wandering Dreyfuss is excellent. The premise is so simple and it never goes for the loud and obvious, but it’s the little things that make this so special. It’s the same in some ways with An Officer & A Gentleman. I always lament the fact that Debra doesn’t have an Oscar and then I always marvel that she was nominated for this. Not that the nomination wasn’t deserved. It was. But the performance is so atypical of Oscar. Debra has never been a showy actress and An Officer & A Gentleman is a film that focuses on so much more than the romance between her and Gere. The film examines so much and yet it never loses its touch as one of the better romances of the 80s. sometimes I wonder if Top Gun wasn’t trying to take a page out of their book, but let’s not go there….

Let’s go instead to Tootise. Dustin Hoffman in drag doesn’t seem like the ideal premise for a romance and this VERY light comedy doesn’t seem like an ideal Best Picture nominee. But I’d probably have given it the Oscar. Why does Tootsie work so well? I never can underestimate Jessica Lange. Her Oscar win has become hated. But I don’t care. People undervalue the difficulty of playing a romantic lead. It isn’t easier because it’s less baity and it’s more than her beauty. In a film filled with so much of the ridiculous she manages to keep the film from becoming over the top. Even if Tootsie wasn’t winning Picture I wish they’d have given Hoffman the Oscar to prevent Rain Man from getting than honour – but I digress. It’s not as excellent as his performance in The Graduate (few are) but it’s exceptional nonetheless. His comedic timing is impressive – and speaking of impressive, what of Teri Garr? Perfect in everyway in her small role I always smile to remember that she too was Oscar nominated.

 I suppose the consensus is true. Films like these aren’t made any more, but the thing is if they are made they aren’t as esteemed. Why didn’t Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind get more recognition? Why did The Upside of Anger and Bandits get none? But I won’t go there. I’ll revel in the past, each of the three is on my list of favourites.. An Officer & A Gentleman appears at #56, The Goodbye Girl appears at #50 and Tootise appears at #44. But each are extra special in their own way, it’s unfair to pit them against each other. Bu I’ll ask you to, anyway. Pick a favourite? Which do you like the most?