1 post tagged “short movie reviews”
As Valentine's Day approaches, I find myself recoiling at the thought of corporate-mandated reassurances of affection and thinking about some of the sweeter, more genuine love stories I've seen. So, in the spirit of sharing the love, I thought I'd pass these along for those who haven't seen them. If you have any other suggestions, please let me know.
I recently picked up Eagle v. Shark solely because it had Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords. It is a story about two social misfits who end up falling in love. It is painfully awkward in quite a few places and is definitely slow-paced, but I find myself continuing to think back on it. It is simple (relatively) and genuinely sweet and nothing at all like your standard romantic comedy fare.
For a while, it seemed like everyone I knew was encouraging me to see Once. I was initially resistant because of the hype, but am so glad I did. The movie isn't so much a boy-gets-girl movie, but there is such a sweetness between these two characters that is really endearing. I absolutely loved it, and loved the soundtrack (which I now proudly own). In all fairness, the movie does essentially seem to be a vehicle for the music, but the relative sparseness of dialogue worked well and charged their interactions in a way that you don't see in most movies.
Once actually reminded me a lot of The Girl in the Cafe. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but they have a very similar feel or quality. The Girl in the Cafe is essentially about an older man who works as an economist for the British government. He meets a much younger woman in a cafe (hence the title) and invites her to a WTO summit he has to attend for work. What happens between them is touching and beautiful. I absolutely loved this movie.
Amelie is one of my all-time favorite movies. I cannot say enough good things about it. I own very few movies and this is one of them. While most people think of this movie as chronicling her adventures, there is a very tender love story at the heart of it. Amelie creates connection with everyone around her and, eventually establishes a romantic connection for herself. If you have not seen it, you absolutely must.
I think my favorite parts of the movie are the hide-and-seek game she ends up playing with Nico and then their first meeting in person, though all of it is fantastic.
Well, I hope this provided some not-so-standard options for the upcoming "holiday."* Enjoy.
*Note: I am not bitter about Valentine's Day per se, rather I dislike the consumer pressure placed on people. You must show someone you love them and you must do it in very circumscribed ways: a purchased card, purchased flowers, purchased chocolates, dinner out, diamonds, etc. I believe love should be celebrated every day and in a way that meshes with the people involved. If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day, great, but don't let commercials dictate your expectations, create your own vision instead. *puts soapbox away*
Once actually reminded me a lot of The Girl in the Cafe. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but they have a very similar feel or quality. The Girl in the Cafe is essentially about an older man who works as an economist for the British government. He meets a much younger woman in a cafe (hence the title) and invites her to a WTO summit he has to attend for work. What happens between them is touching and beautiful. I absolutely loved this movie.
Amelie is one of my all-time favorite movies. I cannot say enough good things about it. I own very few movies and this is one of them. While most people think of this movie as chronicling her adventures, there is a very tender love story at the heart of it. Amelie creates connection with everyone around her and, eventually establishes a romantic connection for herself. If you have not seen it, you absolutely must.
I think my favorite parts of the movie are the hide-and-seek game she ends up playing with Nico and then their first meeting in person, though all of it is fantastic.
Well, I hope this provided some not-so-standard options for the upcoming "holiday."* Enjoy.
*Note: I am not bitter about Valentine's Day per se, rather I dislike the consumer pressure placed on people. You must show someone you love them and you must do it in very circumscribed ways: a purchased card, purchased flowers, purchased chocolates, dinner out, diamonds, etc. I believe love should be celebrated every day and in a way that meshes with the people involved. If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day, great, but don't let commercials dictate your expectations, create your own vision instead. *puts soapbox away*
