Monday, November 28, 2005

In the name of love, what more in the name of love?

This joint has definitely become more about what Mike's seeing and what Mike's reading and very little about what Mike's thinking. Anybody really care? I mean, my thoughts are pretty much about how I'll get through the workday, what kind of workout I'll do, how I'm not getting nearly enough cock and mentally tracking how many servings of fruits and vegetables I've eaten. OK, on to another movie review then? Besides Rent, I also checked out Pride and Prejudice this weekend. I said this last week, and I still swear I don't love everything I see, but this movie was incredibly well-written, indelibly acted and stunningly beautiful to look at. And the bonus action you don't really expect? It's funny. No, honest. You'll laugh again and again. Keira Knightley never really pinged my radar before, but she is great in this. She speaks volumes with a look, and often it's a look that flutters between surprise and amusement. Love. Her Lizzie is bright and funny and assertive and strong. I know that's how she's written, but she works this shit. Plus, she's gorgeous. Sit you down gorgeous. Matthew Macfayden, as Darcy, isn't upstaged by her, though. Dude brings it, man. You feel his discomfort from the outset. Not only is he uncomfortable with the trappings of society, he's uncomfortable in his own skin. He's prickly and awkward and he's got a huge forehead (fuck, he's me!). By the end, though, you see what lies beneath all that and the transformation is a physical one, too. Believe me when I say by the end of this movie, his fivehead is of no consequence. You'd perform whatever manner of depravity he required, fast and nasty. Finally, Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland (he made me cry and also made me wonder if his teeth are that bad or was there a prosthesis to make him more British) and Judi Dench are fucking genius in this. See it. Thank me later.

PS I mentioned the movie is beautifully shot and it opens with a minutes long panning shot following our girl Lizzie as she walks around the house and grounds. There are a lot of scenes shot like that through the movie, to cool effect. It's not cheesy. No swooping or diving. God, I wanna see this one again, too. Come with?

10 comments:

The Other Andrew said...

I hesitate on this, because I'm such a fan of the BBC mini-series and have such a boner for the Colin Firth version of Darcy. I trust your judgement though, so maybe I'll check it out.

Michael said...

I keep reading about the rabid fan base Colin Firth has for his Darcy. I haven't seen that. Loved this dude. He's all layered and nuanced and by the end, fucking smoldering hot.

The Other Andrew said...

You must see the BBC version, it's fantastic. Firth is smouldering, and just enough of an asshole to be really hot. Is that somehow masochistic, or self-hating, or something? Anyhoo, great scene where he walks out of the lake and the wet shirt is all sticking to him. He is much hotter as Darcy than any other role I've seen (exception maybe is as a young man in "Another Country").

Michael said...

I see it's on DVD and available at Amazon. Santa, are you listening?

The Other Andrew said...

Shouldn't that be Yentl-stizz:
"Santa, can you hear me?"

Michael said...

I fancy myself an acolyte of Chrismukkah, but you have just schooled me!

Santa can you find me in the niiiiiight?

The Other Andrew said...

When I saw Yentl, or as I like to think of it 'well, thanks Babs, that's a couple of hours off my life that I won't ever get back', I'm embarassed to admit that I thought Mandy Patinkin was cute. Can you imagine? I mean, for a start, "Mandy". That's fucked up right there.

Michael said...

I still find him cute.

'Yentl' was a mess, though. As was 'Prince of Tides' and I loved the book.

Why do we still heart her so much?

Michael said...

'Rain On My Parade' for one.

The Other Andrew said...

Yentl was big stinking mess. Talk about an ego vehicle.

I heart her for "What's Up Doc?" especially. "Eunice? This is a person called Eunice?"