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cheriberry
Reviews
Dear Frankie (2004)
Emotionally manipulative, and I DID mind!
With a good germ of an idea for a decent movie, containing an interesting little twist on a somewhat unoriginal and overused plot line, this small movie went terribly wrong with its manipulative and cloying approach to its subject matter. Too much behavior was unmotivated and thus not believable, and too many directing choices were way too emotionally obvious and thus killed any honest emotional response -- from me at least. I wanted to like this movie. Really, I did. And I was enjoying some of the acting performances. But it seemed like at every turn I felt the unwarranted manipulation until I finally started to rebel.
Too bad, because the starting point was hopeful enough. Note to all fledgling writers and directors: Don't be obvious. Emotional restraint is always preferable. Less is more.
The Notebook (2004)
Not a great film, but a good one
If you've been waiting for a well-told weepy romantic story, your prayers have been answered. As others have noted here, you will need to bring a large stack of Kleenex to this one. Which is not usually my type of film, but there is an abundance of talent on display in this one, both in front of and behind the camera, and that keeps it honest and enjoyable. Never manipulative, never cloying, it's a good old-fashioned time at the movies.
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams are both wonderful in the lead roles. Him I knew, and he is again quite fabulous. Her I was not familiar with, but she is equally fabulous here. Together they are as winning a young couple as you're likely to find on the screen these days. And of course the old pros, Gena Rowlands and James Garner, hold up their end of the bargain in fine style. And the supporting roles, in what could have been horrible caricatures, are done beautifully by some very fine actors. Both the screenplay and the direction are restrained and first-rate.
Grab your tissues along with grandma and grandpa, and go see this one.
Y tu mamá también (2001)
What an excellent roadtrip!
As mentioned by other more insightful posters below, those who grasp this film at the "vulgar, moronic schoolboys" level are shallow in the extreme. Either that or they weren't listening (or watching) very hard. This is a wonderful Mexican movie about three of its people who learn a lifetime of lessons in one brief summer adventure. On the surface level there is much to enjoy with these three free spirits who learn that they are not so free after all. But lurking just below the surface, if you stop to look and listen, is a story of Mexican politics as well as a story of three human hearts being taken to a level of understanding they had not previously known.
This is a wonderful film: unique, insightful, funny, oh so honestly human, and with three superb acting performances. As someone else pointed out, if you're put off by frank sexuality, don't go. Fair warning. Otherwise, run don't walk to the nearest showing of Y Tu Mamá.
Y tu mamá también (2001)
What an excellent roadtrip!
As mentioned by other more insightful posters below, those who grasp this film at the "vulgar, moronic schoolboys" level are shallow in the extreme. Either that or they weren't listening (or watching) very hard. This is a wonderful Mexican movie about three of its people who learn a lifetime of lessons in one brief summer adventure. On the surface level there is much to enjoy with these three free spirits who learn that they are not so free after all. But lurking just below the surface, if you stop to look and listen, is a story of Mexican politics as well as a story of three human hearts being taken to a level of understanding they had not previously known.
This is a wonderful film: unique, insightful, funny, oh so honestly human, and with three superb acting performances. As someone else pointed out, if you're put off by frank sexuality, don't go. Fair warning. Otherwise, run don't walk to the nearest showing of Y Tu Mamá.
Y tu mamá también (2001)
What an excellent roadtrip!
As mentioned by other more insightful posters below, those who grasp this film at the "vulgar, moronic schoolboys" level are shallow in the extreme. Either that or they weren't listening (or watching) very hard. This is a wonderful Mexican movie about three of its people who learn a lifetime of lessons in one brief summer adventure. On the surface level there is much to enjoy with these three free spirits who learn that they are not so free after all. But lurking just below the surface, if you stop to look and listen, is a story of Mexican politics as well as a story of three human hearts being taken to a level of understanding they had not previously known.
This is a wonderful film: unique, insightful, funny, oh so honestly human, and with three superb acting performances. As someone else pointed out, if you're put off by frank sexuality, don't go. Fair warning. Otherwise, run don't walk to the nearest showing of Y Tu Mamá.
Y tu mamá también (2001)
What an excellent roadtrip!
As mentioned by other more insightful posters below, those who grasp this film at the "vulgar, moronic schoolboys" level are shallow in the extreme. Either that or they weren't listening (or watching) very hard. This is a wonderful Mexican movie about three of its people who learn a lifetime of lessons in one brief summer adventure. On the surface level there is much to enjoy with these three free spirits who learn that they are not so free after all. But lurking just below the surface, if you stop to look and listen, is a story of Mexican politics as well as a story of three human hearts being taken to a level of understanding they had not previously known.
This is a wonderful film: unique, insightful, funny, oh so honestly human, and with three superb acting performances. As someone else pointed out, if you're put off by frank sexuality, don't go. Fair warning. Otherwise, run don't walk to the nearest showing of Y Tu Mamá.