worldofgabby

I didn't like Wolf of Wall Street for a number of reasons. It was very repetitive and ultimately boring. How many times can one watch people snort coke, get drooly on Quaaludes, and have sex with prostitutes? How many smooth-skinned blondes with shaved privates are enough, and how many times do we have to watch mindless machismo and bonding? After the third or fourth scene of juvenile debauchery the excesses of the central characters become mind-numbingly dull. I recognized many attempts to inject a little of the magic of Goodfellas into the proceedings, which made me wish I was watching it instead of Wolf of Wall Street. Don't get me started on the film's attitude towards women (even aside from the aforementioned prostitutes.)The movie had a bit of humor, especially towards the end, but the characters were not developed and many chances to deepen the movie were missed. The movie came alive only in a few scenes, usually ones accompanied by music. It made me sad to see a director I admire making such a hash of it, and reputable actors trying valiantly to turn two dimensions into three.

The novel "The Shipping News" caused quite a splash when it was published. I never read it. I remember hearing about a movie being made from the book, and then not hearing much more about it. Now I know why. The film is a queasy concoction of human depravity, despair, beautiful scenery, colorful stereotypical characters, and clairvoyance. Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore, two of my favorite actors, perform as if they are on Thorazine, and Judy Dench hams it up shamelessly (to her credit, she deepens up a bit towards the end.) I began to feel displaced, as if I wound up in a cold climate when I expected to be in Macondo. Magical Realism very far afield. I suffered through the entire movie out of laziness and masochism, hoping that at least one of the characters would be put out of their misery at its end.

I watched Cookie's Fortune because of the cast and director. I've always had mixed feelings about Robert Altman but have mostly enjoyed his movies. Aside from Hitchcock, or maybe Scorsese, I tend to view each of a director's movies individually rather than judging it against his/her oeuvre. I truly enjoyed this movie and was especially happy to see (or rather hear, because she was pretty much unrecognizable)Patricia Neal, who played her role with sensitivity and believability. So did the rest of the actors with the exception of Glen Close who veered towards caricature in every scene. The minute she appeared I winced, and continued to do so throughout the movie. Aside from that and despite the confusing "revelation of secrets" at the end (which seemed rushed and forced,)I loved this movie because of the atmosphere of the town, the acting, and the writing which was often laugh-aloud funny. I would recommend this movie to anyone who needs their spirits lifted by some light entertainment with a rueful and forgiving view of community.