| The Family Addiction | ||
| Rachel Getting Married | ||
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| Review by Ross Anthony | ||
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The first 20 minutes of this film annoyed me greatly. Perhaps I just wasn't ready to see the light bubbly Anne Hathaway play a dark, ornery, recovering addict. I'm glad that she was nominated by the academy, but I simply wasn't blown out of the water by her performance here. Clearly stronger acting was done by Rosemary Dewitt, Tunde Adembimpe and Bill Irwin. Hathaway is a good actress, but I really don't understand the fuss over her in this role. Nonetheless, good thing I stuck around, because I was blown out of water by the direction. There are a few scenes in this picture that drew me in like a crystal blue ocean on a hot humid day. Director Jonathan Demme gives us two or three family gathering scenes that make us feel like one of the family. I swear, I think he snuck a camera into a real reception and then cut away to his actors. I really think he did that. Further, lush, rich, cultural music is interwoven into those already fresh and alive scenes. These moments are treasures -- emotive, moving, engulfing. Nor are they truncated, despite a bit of favorable imbalance, the filmmakers let these moments ride -- and thankfully so! (Reminded me of the European film Celebration.) The rest of the film isn't too bad either. |
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Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4) |
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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186.
Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow. |
