Working my way through the backlog!
Screened: In the theater
As I'm sure is fairly obvious, a lot of my enthusiasm for the Twilight phenomenon has waned, but I can still recognize that this was by far the best film overall and the best adaptation of the three released so far. There's a lot going on in Eclipse, but David Slade and Melissa Rosenberg did a great job of condensing the book, especially the flashbacks focused on Rosalie, Jasper and the Quileutes. It was also Taylor Lautner's best outing so far as Jacob; I'm still skeptical about his chances as far as successfully communicating the whole teenager-in-non-pedophiliac-love-with-a-baby deal, but he does seem to be growing as an actor.
July 6: Remember Me
Screened: At home, DVD from Netflix
I was spoiled on the "big twist" of Remember Me back when it was out in theaters, so I was anticipating the film's dramatic trump card. I think there's probably a good film to be made around everyday lives interrupted by tragedy, but Remember Me piled so much moody drama on its protagonists prior to the climax that it was hard to appreciate the things that it did well.
July 10: When in Rome
Screened: At home, DVD from Netflix
There has to be a resurgence on the horizon for romantic comedies, right? Where the powers that be decide to trust the chemistry between a given pair of actors rather than strained contrivances? It would just be too grim if this was a portent of things to come.
July 15: Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Screened: At home, on TCM
July 18: Inception
Screened: In the theater
There's no question that Christopher Nolan is one of the best directors working today at executing intricately designed set pieces. At its best, watching Inception was like watching a complex puzzle putting itself together. It was a nail-biter - I literally chewed off one of my fingernails while the film made its way through the tense segment of layered dreaming. I can't help but wonder whether Inception might have been even better as a second film - I keep wishing that we could have seen more of "extraction" before we got to "inception." A film focused solely on extraction could have established all the exposition that Inception's universe needed and given more depth to the characters, while the themes that shape the idea of inception could have more room to breathe, and the ultimate ending to Inception wouldn't need to be different. This is all purely speculative, of course, just sort of thinking "aloud."
July 22: The Runaways
Screened: At home, DVD from Netflix
A good movie, but trying to do too much with too little time kept it from being great. The film had a sense of not knowing which of its interesting subjects to follow, which wouldn't have happened if whoever was in charge had decided to focus the film specifically on Cherie Currie rather than "The Runaways." Still, solid performances from Dakota Fanning and Michael Shannon, and probably the one role in her filmography that's best-suited to Kristen Stewart's particular persona.
July 22: The Prestige
Screened: At home, DVD from Netflix
July 24: I Capture the Castle
Screened: At home, Netflix Instant Watch
I started watching Memento, but found myself dozing off about 45 minutes in, and that's really not the kind of movie that forgives a brief nap in the middle. So I switched to that old reliable standby of drowsy weekend nights, the Brit-lit adaptation. A lovely little movie that shows economy in adaptive storytelling and gets at the heart of Dodie Smith's wonderful novel.
July 27: Good News, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Big Chill
Screened: At home, personal collection
A trio of rewatches perfect for puttering around the apartment, crossing items off my to-do list and knitting gauge swatches. Good News is climbing up my list of favorite musicals - the "jock falls for smart girl" story is one of Hollywood's favorite tropes, but I love that Good News gets resolved without the heroine having to change anything about herself. It's probably as feminist as 1940s MGM musicals ever got.
July 29: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Screened: At home, on HBO
My thoughts haven't changed much since my initial impression, but I will say that Emma Watson's performance improves upon repeat viewing. Hopefully, the degree to which she's tapped into the emotional core of Hermione's relationships with both Ron and Harry will enhance the Deathly Hallows detour into Melodrama In The Woods.
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