Sigh... it's Happening Again

[Write-Away]

Everyone seemed to love 500 Days of Summer yet I remember being bored and somewhat irritated by Zooey Deschanel and her oh so quaint vintage style. Now everyone seems to be getting behind Up in the Air and I was excited to see it last night. Clooney is charming as always and there were some nice moments, but overall I found it slow and quite depressing. So I'm beginning to think maybe it's me. Maybe for whatever reason I'm not enjoying movies as much as I used to. Especially the ones that I hear such great word of mouth about. Up in the Air I watched at home as a screener so maybe I missed something in the movie going experience by not seeing it in the theatre. Not sure, but I want to be blown away again by something soon!

[WritersBlock2010]

I think there is something to be said about watching a movie with a full audience.

You get to experience how the emotional beats, setups and payoffs really work (or don't work) with regular people; non-industry insiders like us.

Also, I think you have to view "Up In The Air" from the perspective it is a reflection of our times. We are in an era filled with both sheer panic and optimism, right now. As the famous passage goes, it is the best of times and it is the worst of times. I think this is what "UITA", both the book and now the adaptation is saying.

[Bono]

Don't worry about it. I truly believe in the Mass Review Theory that I made up. A few people see a movie and they decide for 90% of the audience how THEY feel about it before/during/after they see it. Especially if it's an Indie movie like Juno or 500 Days of Summer.

Everyone says it's great -- so then most people see it and even if they don't like (think they should or did). Some people just think what they think. I've been that way. But I remember the first time I had that horrible feeling like "what's wrong with me?"

It was THE BIG LEBOWSKI. At film school we all went to see it, 99% of the people loved, except for me. And I'm a comedy guy. I just never really like black comedies or the Coens except for Raising Arizona. But all my film nerd friends, these are Gods to them. Even my parents like it. But F it -- it's how I feel. Can't change that. And you shouldn't.

People loved THERE WILL BE BLOOD and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN -- and I see the talent, but they do nothing for me the way they do for other people.

THE DARK KNIGHT on the other hand, hits all my buttons. UP was great. So I guess I'm just more a mainstream jerk.

Like what you want or don't. It's okay to like HAROLD AND KUMAR more than DR. STRANGLOVE. I do. By 1000%.

[Write-Away]

People loved THERE WILL BE BLOOD and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN -- and I see the talent, but they do nothing for me the way they do for other people.

Bono, I was right there with you with those two movies. "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" was robbed! Also loved "Michael Clayton" and "Into the Wild" that year. As for "Up in the Air" I guess I was really looking forward to the ride of a great movie that I'd heard such good things about. Instead I found myself picking apart poor Anna Kendrick's face trying to figure out what exactly was weird about it. Too short a chin I decided. Or rather her mouth is very low on her face. Not the kind the of thing you should be thinking about if you're fully invested in a movie!

[dog678]

If you're not liking (500) Days of Summer, then you're obviously a danger to society, ha.

Haven't seen Up in the Air yet, but I know what type of film it is and I know many who will see the film from a different angle and not just get it. Maybe I will be one of them, but (500) Days is simply a movie gift. And Zooey is a treat to behold. I kinda get her style. But the best part about her is that nobody can truly figure out her retro style and what she's about. There's something you can't pinpoint what you love about her, but you just end up LOVING her. And every girl I know is in love with her, so that's reason enough for me.

Story aside though for (500), the filmmaking is brilliant with excellent pacing.

[MacG]

I just tried watching (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and only made it to Day 28. Seriously. I hated it.

I have a bone to pick with you, Bono, over THERE WILL BE BLOOD, but I'm firmly in your camp on NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN....

[12916studios]

I just turned off the animated film "9". I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't finish it. If I stop a film more than three times while watching it, there's typically a problem with it. Maybe it's that I get bored fast. I don't know. I think I've watched too many films lately, so I've started to become jaded. I also have found that I get through Comedies more easily than any other genre. Maybe it's that they tend to be a bit more engaging due to the comedy.

It takes a lot more to make me care now. Since I started writing I've been looking at films mych more critically.

[Bono]

I just tried watching (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and only made it to Day 28. Seriously. I hated it.

I have a bone to pick with you, Bono, over THERE WILL BE BLOOD, but I'm firmly in your camp on NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN....

I thought people loved both those movies. Seriously, you're the first I heard that liked one and not the other. They are like salt and pepper.

And my main point to everyone/anyone -- who gives an F if someone else likes it or doesn't? I know that's what us film guys live for -- to argue/discuss.

But isn't that such a weird thing? We should not really care what others think -- but we do. Because we doubt ourselves I guess.

And I always love when people say I hated that movie, how dare you not like this movie. That's built in comedy!

[Humberto Hidalgo]

I have this idea that hype ruins a lot of movies for me. UITA & Juno (for example) was well recieved by critics & audiences, so when I went... I wasn't blown away. But I went to see Live Free Die Hard thinking that this was gonna be crap & came out happier with it.

Basically if my expectations are set high, I'm ruined before I sit down in the theater. If they're low, I get more enjoyment.

[nou]

Everyone seemed to love 500 Days of Summer yet I remember being bored and somewhat irritated by Zooey Deschanel and her oh so quaint vintage style. Now everyone seems to be getting behind Up in the Air and I was excited to see it last night. Clooney is charming as always and there were some nice moments, but overall I found it slow and quite depressing. So I'm beginning to think maybe it's me. Maybe for whatever reason I'm not enjoying movies as much as I used to. Especially the ones that I hear such great word of mouth about. Up in the Air I watched at home as a screener so maybe I missed something in the movie going experience by not seeing it in the theatre. Not sure, but I want to be blown away again by something soon!

Go back in time and watch films by great directors. Max Ophuls or Ingmar Bergman would be a good place to start if you aren't familiar with their work.

[electricblue]

I just turned off the animated film "9". I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't finish it.

God that was like watching someone else play a video game demo sampler, just not engaging at all.

500 Days of Summer tickled my gag reflex too but I'm oddly into the objectively terrible idea of Webb doing a smuggo mctweesville Jesus Christ Superstar remake as was rumored awhile back. He is definitely a My Chemical Romance video director hit the big time in ways both good and bad.

[S.T.0]

Have not seen 500 Days,, but I seriously doubt I would like it. I LOATHED Rachel Getting Married though, and thats one everybody thought was genius. But couldve been that Demme died, I dont know.

Anyway, I agree with you Bono that certain movies are just picked to be acclaimed, like the media annoits it brilliant, and the public believes it is. Shiiiiiiiii... the media can do whatever it wants man. It can feed us dog crap and tell us its reeses pieces - oh and it does! Same with Hollywood.

[Bono]

Have not seen 500 Days,, but I seriously doubt I would like it. I LOATHED Rachel Getting Married though, and thats one everybody thought was genius. But couldve been that Demme died, I dont know.

Anyway, I agree with you Bono that certain movies are just picked to be acclaimed, like the media annoits it brilliant, and the public believes it is. Shiiiiiiiii... the media can do whatever it wants man. It can feed us dog crap and tell us its reeses pieces - oh and it does! Same with Hollywood.

It is a funny thing. Let's go back to my favorite film of 2004 -- Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. Amazing comedy in my eyes and they never get recognized. Best Picture went to Crash. I hated it. You know why? Because Crash is trying really hard to make you feel something, but a good movie does it naturally. Harold and Kumar explores the topic of racism and how we relate to each other more naturally than Crash does. Look -- the racist white cop saves that black girl's life -- wow, I guess he's not all bad. It's so in your face, it's sad to me.

My friend Dave says that people like movies that make them think they are feeling, not ones that actually make them think. So yes, when a critic says, this is a great anti-war movie, the masses know how to feel about it.

And if nothing happens in a movie, but it "seems" like things happen, holy crap, that makes critics go nuts. You went to get a gallon of milk in a small mid western town for 30 minutes -- wow -- that's amazing piece of art. And look the main chracter only eats cereal -- nice touch. Did you notice how no one smiles in this movie -- this is a serious filmmaking. It's about cancer -- get ready to cry.

I could go on and on. And I do like some of the movies I seemingly made fun of. But in general, I'm always offended that a fun comedy or action movie or horror movie can never reach the acclaim of a drama based on some odd notion that to win awards the movie must be about a certain style. Movies can be fun too.

So I did like 500 Days of Summer, but I loved Drag Me To Hell. I enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine, but it's not as funny to me as The Hangover in any way.

Everyone has different tastes and that is what makes it great. But for some reason if the movie looks at all entertaining then it's not going to get "movie of the year" praise come critic time.

[dexter]

Everyone seemed to love 500 Days of Summer yet I remember being bored and somewhat irritated by Zooey Deschanel and her oh so quaint vintage style. Now everyone seems to be getting behind Up in the Air and I was excited to see it last night. Clooney is charming as always and there were some nice moments, but overall I found it slow and quite depressing. So I'm beginning to think maybe it's me. Maybe for whatever reason I'm not enjoying movies as much as I used to. Especially the ones that I hear such great word of mouth about. Up in the Air I watched at home as a screener so maybe I missed something in the movie going experience by not seeing it in the theatre. Not sure, but I want to be blown away again by something soon!

I'm with you...think Up in the Air is the most overrated film of '09. Also watched on screener and the audience vibe might have helped but not enough to match the hype. Also agree with your subsequent comment about Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- just gorgeous and classic. I actually think Star Trek might be my pick for best movie of the past year.

[nuvuefilms]

The Hurt Locker is best movie of the year.
A bona fide tour de force.

[Gwai Lo]

I just watched (500) Days of Summer and liked it a lot. The best part is SPOILERS the ending where he meets cute with "Autumn". What a gorgeous specimen. But holy God did I roll my eyes that her name was Autumn. Yeah, lots of eye-rolling moments actually. But lots of other moments where I was like "****, I've been there man!"

[NikeeGoddess]

So I'm beginning to think maybe it's me. to assume that every movie is for every body is ridiculous. whether we like or love a flick (or actor) is all relative and shouldn't be based on what other people say about it. i'm sure we all have one or many really bad flick(s) that we love so much that they're ashamed to admit it. it goes both ways. me - i will never ever pay to watch a harry potter flick ever again.

[Write-Away]

to assume that every movie is for every body is ridiculous.

Okay, fair enough. But Harry Potter or any of its sequels (to use your example) is the kind of movie I would never go and see knowing full well up front it's not for me. Whereas "Up in the Air" and "500 Days" both seemed right up my alley based on the trailers, the reviews and in Up in the Air's case, the people involved. For me anyway, there's a level of disappointment when I don't enjoy a movie like I hoped I would, especially the ones that so many people are raving about. Part of me wonders if I missed something and maybe I need to check out those movies again and give them a second shot.

In any case, Merry Christmas everyone!

[dexter]

The Hurt Locker is best movie of the year.
A bona fide tour de force.

I do hope The Hurt Locker cleans up, on the merits & because it could use the awards love.

[Write-Away]

I do hope The Hurt Locker cleans up, on the merits & because it could use the awards love.

I totally agree. Just got the screener too so I can't wait to watch it again. Just not on Christmas!