Three Flicks, Two Pics

Over the last couple of weekends, my wife and I have seen these three movies: Walk the Line, Flightplan, and Pride & Prejudice. That's right! I finally saw P&P. Brief thoughts:

Walk the Line: Good movie. I'm still amazed that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did all their own singing in the movie, and both lead actor and actress did fabulous jobs. Also, since I wasn't aware of a lot the Cash music history, it was fun to see Elvis and The Killer alive and doing well in the movie. Would have been nice to see a bit more of God's influence in Johnny's turnaround, which I think is accurate, but I still really liked the movie. The big bonus is now I can walk around the house and annoy my wife and kids rasping in my best bass voice, "Hi. I'm Johnny Cash." So that's priceless.

Flightplan: I didn't go into this movie expecting very much except a good performance from Jodie Foster, but I was pleasantly surprised. While I thought there were a few plot quirks, the movie had enough to keep you going -- and another plus for the movie was, really, I can't remember much bad language or anything gratuitous, just a couple of semi-violent scenes with Foster throwing punches around. I have no idea what it was rated, but I'd be surprised if it was over PG. My wife and I both gave it a thumb's up, for what it's worth.

Pride & Prejudice: We've had some discussion on this blog before regarding this movie, so I'll tread with caution. Nah, just kidding. I enjoyed the movie a lot, although it seemed to wrap up a little quicker than the A&E version I watched some years ago. I guess I wish it would have drawn out a bit longer. If nothing else, Keira Knightly was fantastic as Elizabeth Bennett. I've pretty much enjoyed all the Jane Austen movies that have come to the cinematic theater: Sense & Sensibility and Emma, and this one fell in line with the quality of those. I've gotta say, though, after about half the movie, I'd had enough of the mother's cackling. I know that's one of the points of the movie, but man oh man. Also, I thought Donald Sutherland did a fine job as Mr. Bennett. Not too sure on the casting of Darcy and Bingley, but they were adequate. Also, I'm ignorant, I know, but what the heck is 5,000 a year and 10,000 a year? I've always heard you don't get rich by your income, it's usually by investments, saving, etc., but apparently, 10,000 a year gets your ceiling painted like the Sistine Chapel, gives you a museum of Bernini and Michaelangelo-like sculptures, and a castle that competes with Arthur's Camelot. Can somebody please translate 10,000 a year to American dollars for me? Thanks.

In the end, I'd probably put P&P and Walk the Line as equals and a notch above Flightplan, but I would have thought going in that it wouldn't have been close to the other two. However, no matter what else I've said, it was really a pretty darned good movie watching week at the Pearce household.

Pride & Prejudice
Walk The Line
Flightplan