Once in a LIfetime Movie
Greetings, Blogulution! Well, this has been quite the week for pop culture, what with Scarlett's new album, seeing the Swell Season in concert at the Orpheum in Minneapolis (yeah, Minneapolis!) and an unforgettable Gossip Girl (I actually only caught the last five minutes of this episode, just in time to see Serena say to Blair, "I killed someone," and that's pretty much all i needed to see). And, I got to really start my week out with a pop culture bang, viewing The Life Before Her Eyes at my neighborhood indie theater.
Unlike fellow blogger, Chris, I have to say...the movie...wasn't...so...terrible....I mean, yes, it was predictable, and yes, it was just a Lifetime:Television for Women film with a higher budget and bigger stars (Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood), but it definitely was not the worst thing I've seen, not even lately. In fact, it held my attention for the entire 90 minutes or so, and was successfully suspenseful (though, I get nervous when Frasier and his brother try to throw a dinner party and have a catering mix-up, so maybe I'm not exactly the right test audience for suspense). Also, I've been a long-time, open fan of Lifetime films, so one could say that this was right up my ally.
That having been said, the film was definitely not good. Also, I have recently seen at least two Lifetime movies better than this theatrical release. The subject of school shootings is not yet totally overdone, so that gave me hope, and the idea of a future flashing before one's eyes making up most of the film was...interesting. It would have worked better as a short story, though..or a 10 minutes short film.
The movie flashes back and forth between our main character, (the blond one...let's not even pretend to care about her name) as a highschooler (Wood) and as an adult, played by Uma Thurman. Now, call me shallow, call me superficial, but I could not get over the fact that Uma Thurman was playing a character supposedly in her early 30s. I kept doing the math in my head just to be sure....the character is about 15 or 16...17 at the most...and it's been 15 years since the shooting...maybe if I add it up just once more...nope, still not believable. Sorry.In the end, I don't think I'd recommend the movie, but if you really feel like going to a show and there's nothing else you and your friends can agree upon, this film probably won't offend anyone too badly, and you can laugh together at the heavy handed and overused nature symbolism.
If it's a better show your after, then seeing Swell Season--Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of
Once fame--in concert, as I did this evening along with fellow bloggers Chris, Amy, and Qualler.Move over, Mates of State, there's a new adorable rock couple in alternative town! Though, unlike the husband/wife duo, Glen sort of...takes over when on stage. In fact, I could have done with less Glen and more Marketa overall. I also could have done without audience members shouting things at the stage in an inappropriate for a sit-down concert sort of way (what would Angry Amy have to say about that?) and I even could have done without the very, very long encore...but only because it was late and I'm an old, tired lady.
Despite the opening band who seemed a little too influenced by Bob Marley for my personal taste, and who sang songs about things little thing called "diversity" (Hey, every heard of a little concept I thought of called loving your neighbor? Let's all get together!), and despite the obnoxious audience members and the audience sing along, which I have never enjoyed, since it makes me feel like I'm at a Sharon, Louis, and Bram concert (skinnamarink a dink, a dink,
skinnamarink a do, I love you! Everybody!), and despite Glen somewhat hogging the spotlight and singing louder than Marketa seemed able, the concert was quite good. These are talented musicians writing lovely, heart-warming songs, so that overpowered the annoyance at the opening band and the crowd, and since I was seated in a comfortable theater, the length and lateness of the show wasn't so bad. So let's all let the music bring us together and ignore the little annoyances of the day to day.Marketa Irglova is also the most adorable person ever, and I have a major celebrity lady crush on her. Let her sing, Glen! Let her sing! We love you, Marketa! We love you in the morning and in the afternoon, I love you in the evening and underneath the moon!!
Labels: Brigitte, Movies, music, TV
This entry was posted by Brigitte, on
Wednesday, May 07, 2008.
You can leave your response.
Maybe I'm in a rutfunk. I could not stand a second of The Life Before Her Eyes. What possible reason do I have for watching a movie that I know exactly how it's going to end just from reading its title and watching the first scene? There was no reason for any of the other scenes other than just to expand on the "I'm an unhappy teen AND mother but nothing notable happens in my life besides this school shooting we keep flashing back to" theme - WHICH IS BORING. The only suspense I experienced was from watching the three older men sitting separately and alone in front of us, wondering if they'll do anything (noticeably) inappropriate during the umpteenth slow-motion scene of two high school girls swimming in bikinis.
And I really did not enjoy The Swell Season concert, but I should have. He talked sooo much. SO MUCH. It was endearing the first time, and then I think the bass player literally fell asleep during his "the mind and the heart do not communicate" harangue. Don't even get me started on the opener. Bad Jokes After Every Song + Lyrics That a Fourth Grader Could Write = No Fun.
Will my attitude ever change? Hopefully tonight when I write about Iron Man.
ladies and gentlemen, i give you our newest blog feature: cranky chris!!
also, i just looked up Uma's actually age, and she's only 38...still, that's not 31, but it's not as old as i would have guessed. this is probably because i've been brainwashed by watching shows like the OC where all the adults look to be about 28.
OMG, they're making an Eloise movie?? and Uma Thurman plays the nanny?? hooray!!
Loved the concert! Except that I didn't like that we were still there until 11:30. I am usually anti-choreographed sing-alongs, except that because it was Glen Hansard doing it and I kinda felt then like I was in the movie Once. I repeatedly told Brigitte I wish this were the Flight of the Conchords concert instead and going into it wanted to go to something that I could laugh with, not be pretentious-ized by the Irish with acoustic geetars, but I was pleasantly surprised. Still, c'mon!!! Cut like 8 of your songs from your setlist and let Marketa sing more. Also, do more songs like that new one that sounded like American Analog Set -- I had my best closed-eye listening session during that song I've ever had since I dreamed of the American flag waving in slow-motion while "She's Half" by AmAnSet played in the morning on Radio K while Pushkar's soothing voice woke me from my slumbers.
That song was really good, you're right. In fact, all of the songs were good except the fast-paced Irishy ones at the end. I would have liked them SO much more if there weren't epic lectures given between each one.
ANGRY AMY was mostly angry about dude behind me who was responsible for both the encore request for the first, really crappy band AND for yelling "Free Bird" at the Swell Season.
And the super long set, and not getting to hear much from Marketa, and resenting the fact that everyone around me kept laughing at the not very funny epic tales between songs.
As Brigitte pointed out, I know that's a cranky old grandma reaction to people enjoying themselves, but I kept thinking "Don't encourage him or he'll never play another song again!"
Am I the only one who enjoyed some of his stories? I liked the one about the ghosts, that was scary! The one about the heart and the brain was kind of a snoozer, though. Then again, by 10:45, Brigitte and I kept giving each other "we're tired" faces.
Aw...doesn't anybody else want to participate in our conversation besides Brigitte, Lady Amy and Chris? :(
yeah...join our conversation...Nicole, Jessica, Erin...you were there! How did you feel about the concert?
Ya Jerks!
And that ghost story was WAY too scary (5 out of 5 on the scare scale) and kind of hippie spiritual for me - though it was one of the more interesting ones.
I was so tired already, then had a glass of wine and almost passed out during the opening act (even though he yelled in every song!) I was planning on staying until 9:30, but at 9:20 the ghost story started and five minutes in I gave up. I felt really sad about missing any sing-alongs or cuteness between the couple, but it kind of sounds like I made an okay choice and didn't miss too much.
ps-I liked the opening act, even though or maybe because I was sleeping...he was SO Irish and sincere and I think that's cute. I almost bought his CD for my mom, but then I remembered I have a better one coming from Chris (who makes the best mixes) and that my mom would hate Irish yelling music.
Being in Austin, I obviously wasn't at the Swell Season show, but I have seen The Frames, and Glen is usually pretty damned engaging. Were all you naysayers unfamiliar with who Glen Hansard was before having seen Once, and accordingly before knowing who Glen Hansard was?
I don't know any of you and I wasn't at that paticular concert but I had to put my two cents in...
I also love Marketa, but the reason she doesn't sing as much or have as much of the spotlight is that she is extremely shy and would rather Glen take center stage. She is all about the piano and staying out of the way.
Also, I think Glen engaging the audience while performing, ie. sing-alongs and story-telling, is a wonderful thing to do. I love when he does that.
Now, as far as the rude audience members; I, too, would rather people not yell at the performers on stage and just allow them to do their thing. But since manners are decreasing in society today, I doubt that will ever happen.
Thanks for letting me have my say.
Leigh
leave a response