Monday, March 27, 2006

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.



3 comments:

Rich said...

Close enough for government work. Nice job, b.

So what jobs these days are paying $587K and $1.2M per year in the richest country in the world? I can't think of many. Maybe guys like Gates or Jobs. Famous actors and actresses. And professional athletes. But just looking at Bingley and Darcy, they didn't strike me as chaps playing for Man Red in the London Club Soccer circuit. Heck, the President doesn't make that money (until after his term).

I'm wondering in the beginning of the movie, then, why everyone didn't just know who Darcy was right off. The guy was pulling in more pounds than Beckham is, and he lived in a castle the likes of which would have made crazy King George III proud. Is it just that they didn't have TVs. They knew who Bingley was well enough. But not Darcy? Makes no sense. And knowing how wealthy he was, why would any of the "senseless" Bennetts care how aloof the dude was? They would have loved him if he spat in their face.

Suffice it to say, I've got some questions for Jane Austen when I see her.

Rich said...

No, I've read it. I think I've read four Austen novels. It has been many moons since reading any of them, though. Many thousands of moons. And my retention on such things is not good.

I'm really just joking around. If you're telling me the book would answer my hypothetical, folly-ridden questions, I believe you. You are surely far more acquainted with P&P than I am.

Maybe I'll just find some used cliff notes and study like I did in college.

Rich said...

Er, that might be more studying than I did in college.