So bad, it's unintentionally hilarious. T.U.R.K.E.Y
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ellenmeilee — 15 years ago(May 17, 2010 03:34 PM)
I am indeedy - perhaps it's only us Brits that think this film is an all-time career low for Woody? When Emily Mortimer asks 'daddy' to get JRM a job in 'one' of his companiesewww. LAZY script writing. And that awful scene where Scarlett is screaming at JRM in her flat - how false does that come across?? Jeez - and this is the man that did 'Annie Hall'.
That being said, it's strangely compelling in its awfulness, and if you watch it as a comedy, it's CLASS. -
amyp3 — 15 years ago(October 01, 2010 08:49 PM)
Maybe it's because my background is part English. Or maybe it's because I recognize bad writing, directing and acting. But I'm an American who agrees with the Brits who think this was a crappy timewaster.
A boring execution of a simple plot, with endlessly long, repetitive scenes. Bad dialog. Dreadful acting, especially in those later Johannsen scenes others have noted. But I blame her writer/ director for some of that.
And the pretentious camerwork - odd scenes where actors are strangely offscreen when they should be in the shot. Oh wait, that was probably deeply symbolic.
On the original Saturday Night Live there was a recurring sketch called something like Bad Theatre, a parody of a Masterpiece Theatre type show. When the "performers" were done with their play, it would cut back to the host, who'd enthusiastically applaud and say, "Awful, awful - couldn't be worse."
Exactly how I felt about this flick. -
richimorton — 15 years ago(February 23, 2011 01:47 PM)
I suspect (and have read!) that alot of N.Americans think this is gritty realism captured on film by the old master for the first time .
"THIS is what England is really like they squeal - deep down we always knew it - thank you for showing us Woody !"
Can you feel that you ignorant patronisers ?
That which does not Kill me makes me Stranger
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wylierichardson-966-922691 — 9 years ago(April 24, 2016 08:02 AM)
What is so objectionable about depicting a wealthy family? Not all Londoners - or Brits - are wealthy, so it's not necessarily a 'cliche' to depict any one given British family as well-off. Don't many British-made dramas depict aristocracy? Do people hate "Downton Abbey" - and almost all other shows on "Masterpiece Theater", for that matter! - on the grounds that it's about wealthy British people?
Scarjo's acting may have seemed 'over the top' at certain moments, but remember that she was trying to convey 'unhinged'; it was the set-up for a furthering of the plot, in which he realizes that not only is Scarjo is about to tell his wife about their affair, she is actually planning to keep the baby that they conceived.
That set up the plot to murder her - it was an act of panic on the guy's part.
When I saw the movie in a theater, there was virtually no snickering on the part of the audience. It also was up for a whole slew of awards, including Best Picture at the Golden Globes and 'one of the best films of the year' by The National Board of Review. -
Ilario1 — 15 years ago(April 24, 2010 11:31 AM)
This movie was not bad at all. I thought it was pretty good. Better than the last string of Woody Allen movies. I didn't really like Scarlett Johannson in this although I do like her in other movies. However, I did like JRM quite a bit as well as Emily Mortimer.
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Dungbeatle — 15 years ago(June 14, 2010 01:25 AM)
Erm, call me crazy, but I have the sneaking suspicion that this film was not meant to resemble reality.
I think it's more a reflection on life and livingthere's an awful lot of talk about meaning and luck, so the movie's rife with metaphors. -
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dombrewer — 15 years ago(February 23, 2011 05:49 PM)
Me three. Absolutely dreadful. Can't believe the high rating the acting and the writing were appalling. And couldn't they have hired an accent coach for Rhys Meyers? He couldn't even say aspirin properly.