. . . is exactly what it’s title says it is: Margot (Nicole Kidman), an uptight, urban mother, and her son gone to the wedding of her estranged sister Pauline and fiancé Malcolm (Jack Black). Directed by Noah Baumbach, the film is noticeably similar in its dialogic style (and to a lesser degree, its characters) to that of Wes Anderson’s films. The influence of which isn’t all that surprising if you keep in mind that Anderson produced Baumbach’s previous film, The Squid and the Whale. Like Anderson’s films, the dialogue is constant and revealing; the characters, token misfits. The difference, however, lies in Baumbach’s mise-en-scene: where Anderson uses brightly coloured, elaborate sets, Baumbach’s are relatively austere and realistic; where Anderson uses a lot of highly stylized, formal camera work (like planimetric shots and recessive spaces), Baumbach’s is more subtle and utilizes a cinematography reminiscent of 80’s photography. Anderson’s use of clever, toe-tapping tunes is also absent. In fact, there is almost no music at all. I’m not trying to say that Baumbach got it wrong, nor compare him unfavourably to Anderson. What I am trying to do is send a warning. If you’re expecting a sweet tale of human absurdity (like the kind Anderson delivers), you’re going to find this film a little sour. It talks the talk, but it doesn’t walk the walk.
Ugly - c'mon. it's about a dysfunctional family.
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Starring Nicole Kidman, John Turturro, Jack Black, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Directed by Noah Baumbach
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The Good are films that I think are good.
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3 comments:
Why don't you allow anonymous comments? I saw that movie too by the way. It was AWEEEEEsome.
i enjoyed this, though not as much as The Squid and the Whale. Kidman's performance is borderline exhausting, but only because she nails it. the level of hyper-realized neurosis going on here is somehow very funny to me. Baumbach seems repeatedly interested in the possible cruelty inside too much intellectualism? and there is always something great about Jennifer Jason Leigh. a-oh!
(*i'd like to get that new criterion double set of Kicking and Screaming.)
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