I've had an amazing experience watching the movie premiere in Venice, I've been waiting for this movie for a long time and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
It's a gorgeous movie, it's disturbing but moving at the same time, violent at times, but also subtle. It's a different and fresh spin on the character and on the cinecomic genre as a whole and Phoenix delivers an amazing performance portraying a version of the Joker we've never seen before, he's not the villain of someone else's story, he is the hero and villain of HIS own story, and the audience can be orrified by him, but we can't help but feel for him at times.
Without giving anything away I would recommend to go and see the movie not expecting to go and see an action packed, but gritty cinecomic, I suggest going in and watch it pretending that it's not even about a famous comic villain, but simply a movie, I think that people will appreciate it more in that way, not comparing it to the cinecomics we've seen before, but thinking of it as a normal movie.
P.S.: People will of course compare Phoenix to Ledger, I don't think it's possible, they give a totally different percormance because they portray totally different versions of the character, and I think it's going to be hard to compare them, you either prefere Ledger's version or Phoenix's but only based on the character, the actor's performances cannot be judged by comparison, they're both great. Just enjoy the movie
Was this made by a film student? Checking on IMDB shows an estimated budget of $100,000 but that doesn't mean the story has to suck!
What this film gets right is completely negated by what it gets wrong: unanswered questions. The classic suspense build-ups are there: creaking doors, turn-around surprises, and questionable characters. I admit, I really liked the slow tension ascension - I couldn't tell if it was ghosts, or a maniac killer, or just in the mind of the main character(s). But then they pour on more slow walking to scary area gimmicks and you just want to get past it, thinking: Okay, okay....I get it!
Then, in the last 2 minutes of the movie, we find out nothing. This is one of the absolute worst things you can to your audience: leave 'em hanging with no hint of resolution. This is why they suggest in film school to tell your story orally over and over again to people. If someone told me this story the way it was reflected on screen, I would say, "You got quite a turd on your hands there, wtf happens?! Go back and think it over, there is potential there."
This movie will leave you frustrated and I wouldn't recommend it. Instead, watch The Others for a good mind-f*&$# ending!
Holy Molly! Who directed this episode? Quentin Tarantino feat George R. Martin? are you even kidding me?
However, I have to say that was the best episode in a while, probably the best episode in the whole series. So stressful and unnerving, yet amazing at the same time.
I love that the writers idea of a "Christmas" episode is literally killing everyone, putting others at risk, leaving others in the balance, hating absolute sweethearts andleaving us hanging until January. But, hey, Merry Christmas, everybody! Yeah, everybody is going to die.
I knew the episode was going to be stressful. I mean, it's entitled "Quarantine", what the hell are you expecting? But killing one patient after another like that made me think about the characters plot armor. But none of them used it. Poor Dr Lim. If she dies I'll take into consideration leaving the show. I've loved her since the first minute she appeared. I love her sassy attitude and how she puts everyone in their place. I don't believe for a second the writers would kill her off right after introducing her and Melendez. The on-off relationship could be interesting.
However, I do think one of the major characters is gonna bite the dust. My money is on Park. Something about him has been off lately.
I loved how this episode changed Morgan and I wonder (if she survives) how she's gonna use her empathy now. I loved seeing her with the ambulance guy.
Freedie Highmore is a treasure. I don't think he gets enough credit for the amazing job he does. I love how they showed that skipping lunch and the buzzing lights can drive him crazy. Autistic people are normally fixed to a particular schedule and if they miss it, well, that happens.
I was expecting some good news and then Dr Glassman had to day that the tumor is back. That news hit me like a tone of bricks.
The last 4 minutes. Shaun is unable to do anything, Glassman's tumor is back, poor Santa in the operating table, that poor guy without his donor, and Lim, I don't even know.
Well, this had everything. It had a main story focusing on the kids, a grand scheme for Louise, Gene at his most exuberant, Tina feeling morally conflicted, Linda so excited to participate in a show, Bob vaguely in disbelief but supportive through it all, the art supply folks at their ornery best, Teddy pretending to be Jewish, the Fishoeders adding their oddball flair to whatever they touch, and Henry mf'n Winkler as Santa Claus.
And if that weren't enough, you have Louise reaching the moment of truth, the moment of her purest Machiavellian excellence, and pulling back from the brink because she realizes it's too much, even for her, and hoping that her siblings can still get their due from Santa despite her. I'm not ashamed to admit I welled up a little bit when Santa came out to tell Louise that she's a leader. There's so much damn heart in the show, and yet it's never treacly, always earned.
And also always funny. Oh man I laughed every time Louise shut down Bob and told him that he knew nothing about Santa, or Teddy saying "oy gevault" or Mr. Fishoeder trying to entertain the crowd. This is a brilliant show, and it's put together yet another wonderful holiday episode.
Based On A Real Life Incident
Although there are several films that I would rank in the top ten best of all time, this is probably my favorite, and is a good past time to watch that never lets me down. As many times as I've seen this film (and it's a lot), it never fails me; with tears, laughter and excellent acting and reality. Julia Roberts, as I recall was nominated for her portrayal as a young woman with diabetes, and in my opinion, should have won for this and not for "Erin Brockovich". But, the real gem and overlooked one in the movie is Sally Field. This is by far and away, her best role and performance she ever snagged, and nailed, and I rank her performance in this as one of my top five best performances in motion picture history of all time.
All the characters and performances in this are excellent, including one such, by Daryl Hannah, who I don't care for, but love in this movie. In fact, her character Anell, is the only role I've ever liked her in, and applaud her work in it.
Among the cast there are very few men, but my favorite is Tom Skerrit, who plays Sally Field's husband, and father to Julia Robert. Shirley MaClain, Olympia Dukakis, and Dolly Parton are the other three co-stars, that follow behind the three previous, and all make their characters unique.
The basis of the film, is a beauty parlor, and although it might sound hokey, it's really not. Some might call it a chick flick, but I have to say that I know men have even gotten teary-eyed from this film. It's wonderfully directed, only in that, it makes you feel apart of the never ending friendship that's between this group of women. The experiences that they have and the trials and tribulations they go through. Although not the whole movie is set in the hair salon, a good portion of the film is, but it is done in just the right amount, and is written very well.
I recommend it for girls of all ages, and men who want to impress their girlfriends with a great flick for a Friday night. It is one of the best films of all time, and if for no other reason, you should watch this merely to see the performance Sally Field gives, because it is amazing.
