When I left the theater after watching Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty” I was stunned with the triumph of beauty, even in the brutally tragic ending. I admired the skill to pull that off, while many of my family and friends didn’t get it, and didn’t like the film. How could a pool of blood blossoming like a rose under Lester Burnham’s (Kevin Spacey) head be beautiful?
When the credits rolled after “
If brilliant acting and writing didn't make me love this film with dark material, what can? The scenes of angry screaming were so realistically painful, so intimately depressing, I wanted some element of beauty to balance my heart. Beauty is sometimes painful, and I have no qualms with that assumption. So what makes dark material palatable in “Amadeus,” “
My friend who watched it with me loved “
Cringing through the yelling scenes I wanted a powerful link, a Ratso and Joe connection to get me through the pain. None of the relationships in the film provided that. Maybe it's that realism that my friend likes. As she said when I told her I didn't like it, "well, you can't say it was superficial!" No, I can't say that.
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Maybe I'm comparing apples and oranges by comparing Revolutionary Road and Midnight Cowboy. I should pick another film where the characters fight against each other, and it works for me. I'll try to think of one.
Thanks for posting your thoughts, Ruth. You suggest that what might have made me like the film was its realism. Actually, I don't think the film is all that realistic; neither in plot, nor in detail [how do YOU look after crying all night? How does YOUR husband look coming down the stairs with a hangover? (not that he would ever have that problem :-)].
What I liked about the film is that it tackles so many layers of authenticity as well as how authenticity sometimes goes out the window in the complex web of love, compromise, and responsibility that characterizes so many marriages (as well as other kinds of committed adult relationships).
I think a film that is challenging to watch has to hold some redeeming value for the viewer in the end to be able to accept all that went on before. As you and I discussed, for me, the characters in Brokeback Mountain were too raw and painful and intimate for me to deal with. I didn't feel that anyone came out for the better in that story. Everyone was damaged in some way.
On the other hand, in Midnight Cowboy, even though it was a difficult movie to watch, in the end Ratso has found the human contact and, yes, even love that he so desperately desired. And Joe Buck was changed by the relationship as well.
I probably won't see Revolutionary Road. Yours is not the only review, Ruth, from which I've gotten the same message. I don't want to feel someone else's pain that deeply. Life is too hard as it is.
You're not that much in the minority, all three reviewers at Colorado papers gave it a "C," and if I remember, the NY Times was none too impressed either. Haven't seen it yet.
Of the contendahs, we've seen "Milk," "Benjamin Button," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "The Wrestler." Probably liked "Milk" best of all, with "Benjamin" a close second. "Slumdog" was beautiful, but had too much Bollywood predictable corny stuff to be a great film. Rourke's role in "The Wrestler" was outstanding, but the film was too much of a classic has-been-fighter film to be great.
Really looking forward to seeing "Waltzing with Bashir."
I didn't see revolutionary road, butI did see American Beauty. I was not thrilled with that one either. I like dark, creative satire and really have interest in all genres of film, yet, for some reason, American Beauty did not do it for me. Maybe it's just me.
I was hot and cold on American Beauty, too, otin. Some aspects worked for me, others didn't.
last film i really wanted to go and see in the cinema was THE QUEEN starring helen mirren and do you know in the 2 weeks it took to get it together to decide to go, find out where it was on/etc etc by the time i was down there it had been yanked already from the screens!
i really wanted to see that winslett dicaprio one... last week on telly i saw winslett carrey in eternal sunshine of the spotless mind... that was really something...
oh there's English patient in Synch. No movies now Ruth, not like before when i used to watch nearly all that came to India. Midnight cowboy and its music created a lasting impact in my mind. until then i thought everybody is rich in America.
i've not seen RR yet but american beauty is one of my all-time favorite films....
i'll be back after i've seen it...
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