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Gone Girl (2014) - Man was I ever surprised. This was not what I was expecting it all.

Based on positive reviews and ratings, I thought it would be a rather fine, tense, psychological study of relationships and crime. What I got was a pulpy, plot-driven, chock-full-of-massive-holes exercise in silliness.

I realize some movies you just need to turn your brain off - but there are limits. This was too far over the top.

And Rosamund Pike, the female lead, is a bad actress. On top of all the cockamamie contrivances, I have to be pulled out of the action over and over because I am too aware of watching an actor trying to act. I saw reviews acknowledging how bad she has been in things in the past, but asserting she has turned a corner here and may actually get an Oscar nomination. So I figure, okay that person is with me on her body of work so maybe I will have the same reaction re turning-the-corner. No. Same Rosamund Pike.

Not that she couldn't possibly get an Oscar nomination. Some of the performances they have given those things to over the years ---> ack.

And some of the supporting cast was pretty weak too.

On the positive side, if it was bad, at least it was bad on the side of being busy. It's a page turner, not boring. Stuff keeps happening. There were actually a few laughs. A supporting turn by Tyler Perry of all people was a highlight. Ben Affleck is pretty good. I always like Kim Dickens.

But definitely not what I was expecting.

4.3 out of 10.

Gone-Girl-Movie-Review-Image-7.jpg
 
On a more promising note from the trailers, I was not aware there is a P.T. Anderson film with Joaquin Phoenix soon to be released.

Inherent Vice. In 1970, drug-fueled Los Angeles detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

On my must-see list at this point.
 
Tron
Mudcat, thoughts on The Elephant Man by David Lynch?
Click to expand...


I rewatched it not too long ago. You'd think it would be fresher in my mind. Hmmm . . .

Starting with a rating ---> I have it 6 out of 10. So thumbs up but not overwhelmingly.

Obviously it is an expose of the extreme cruelty humans are capable of. That can be difficult to watch but is a worthy topic to explore.

There is balance with human kindness.

I recall there being some stylistic things I didn't like. David Lynch self-indulgences. Lookit-me directing here moments that I would have rather done without.

I realize that comes with the deal when you have David Lynch - and I don't mind it in some stuff he has done - but I would have preferred a different director for Elephant Man.

But still, pretty good. There were some philosophical angles that I don't stop to ponder all that often. What the cruel people are thinking is a pretty simple topic to me, but with the kind people, it was interesting to stop and think about their motivations and how it relates to me and people I know.

6 out of 10.

Did you know Mel Brooks was a major creative guy behind The Elephant Man? Little trivia there.



What did you think of it?
 
I heard that this upcoming season of The Newsroom will be the last. And I felt glad.

That's weird. It's a show I have watched every episode of and am generally planning to start the new season. True, it is hanging by a thread and I suspect I will ditch it soon - but I have thought that all along and I have kept watching it.

As of right now it is, plain and simple, a show I watch.

But news of it's demise made me glad.


:dunno:
 
Thanks for the Elephant Man input, Muddy?

Have never seen it. Was kind of wondering if it was worthwhile and figured you had seen it and would steer me the right way.

I hate wasting time on bad films.

I'll probably have to watch it now but was hoping you liked it more than a 6.


But 6 is not chopped liver.


Chopped liver. Something my grandmother would say.
 
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