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There were parts of Munich that I really liked:
- The assassination scenes are tense and enthralling. You really have the sense that these guys are scared and not experienced killers.
- There are excellent performances.
- I really like the way Spielberg frames his shots.
- The sets all have excellent details (ie. good mise-en-scene).
But there were things that impeded me from loving the movie, part of which is summed up by this exchange between my friend and I:
Friend: If Spielberg had made Brokeback Mountain, Ennis would have said to Jack 'We can't be together because the world is homophobic and won't accept us. I'm afraid that we might be killed if we're together.'
Me: Yeah, he would have had them actually spell out homophobic just to emphasize the point further.
Basically Spielberg is not very subtle, so the themes of the movie are frequently explicitly articulated. Also near the end of the film, a sex scene is intercut with scenes during the Munich hostage situation, and Eric Bana's character basically becomes a sweat waterfall. It's so over-the-top that it totally pulled me out of the movie.
After and during the movie I did reflect on terrorism, violence and vengeance. It is good that it gets you to think, although as mentioned earlier Spielberg does really guide the viewer through a thought process which is less good.
On a silly note, my friend and I both noticed how hot Eric Bana is. She noted that this is the year when the people associated with The Hulk redeem themselves.
Based on the three movies Oscar nominated films that I've seen so far, Brokeback Mountain remains the best one.
I watched the Superbowl with some friends and had a really good time. A few of my friends are big football fans and follow the CFL and NFL, so I enjoy watching football with them because they'll explain strategy, rules and other helpful info. This is the first time watching with them that the team we were rooting for won!
I suspect that our superbowl party is different than most:
Friend One: This is so exciting, I'm participating in mainstream culture! Now I'll have something to talk about with my co-workers tomorrow.
Me: I'm drinking a girly drink and watching the superbowl!
Friend Two: Oh look! That player just helped the guy on the opposing team up. Ahh.
Friend Three: Maybe I shouldn't be knitting during the superbowl. I've just added 4 stitches, and my stitches too tight.
Me: [After hearing some of the players comments on the 'mic'ed up' segment.] He just called that other guy 'baby'! I should write RPS about the football players. If, you know, I knew any of their names.
Friend One: I'd like a Zima.
Me: A cool refreshing Zima? I then giggled at my own BtVS reference.
Also I was wearing my sportiest shirt: a TWOP Veronica Mars hoodie that says 'Go Pirates' on it (yes I know neither team in the superbowl were the pirates). Friend One was wearing an extreme sport deodorant in honour of the occasion.
It should be noted that one of my friends was wearing a Steelers' jersey, and two of my friends did drink beer. We also had LOTS of junk food and pizza. I think I still have a sugar high.
hee. I just noticed I haven't actually talked about the game. I really enjoyed it, and there were a few times when I was jumping up and down in excitement. It reminded me that I must watch the women's hockey in the Olympics because it was the best when the Canadian Women's Hockey team won last time!!!
An awesome part of the evening was eating the yummy Grumblecakes my friend made. Grumblecakes are from homestarrunner (if you click on the email "stupid stuff" that's the first mention of them). According to homestar runner lore (hee), they're "like a little cake with some, like, steam and sugar" and "only liars and thieves eat them."
I also saw Grey's Anatomy which was pretty fun. I like the show because it's fun to watch - and keeps getting better and better - but it doesn't require a lot of thought. It's just good entertainment. Christina Ricci did a pretty good job guest starring. Like the Scrubs episode a few weeks ago, GA also played Joseph Arthur's "In the Sun", which is a song that I love and frequently listen to on repeat.
- Music:Joseph Arthur's In the Sun
- Mood:
content
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Comments
But your friends sound like fun.
When I told another friend that I was watching the Superbowl and she looked at me in surprise, I said: "I sense that you're surprised because I'm not a big hockey fan." Silence. "Opps, I meant football."
I think Tony Kushner's script was fairly subtle. Yes, there were a number of discussions about their positions and their lives; there was a couple of scenes about how violence perpetuates violence. And while the directing of that sex scene was way over the top, the idea behind it was great - that this guy had been totally ruined by his actions, that even making love to his wife couldn't be pleasurable anymore.
Overall, I think it was astonishing that Speilberg had such a messed-up central character who didn't redeem himself and barely ever question his own actions. In fact, the most he did was question his boss at the end - asking for more evidence. But even then he never said he regreted doing it.
There was no happy ending, which was totally the point (although, you know Speilberg... after the sex scene I thought he was going to somehow have the film end on a smiling family at breakfast or something!)
The only thing I didn't like - the final image of the film! I know the world changed after 9/11, but did this film have to end with a shot of the World Trade Centre towers? It's this film's equivalent of the full-colour scenes at the end of "Schindler's List" - Speilberg making a statement.
But I think the film is very strong. His strongest in years.
I also like the idea behind the scene, and found it effective until Eric Bana's character had the excessive sweat. I certainly think he would be sweating a lot in that scene (because of emotional and physical exertion), just not that much. It would have been better to not have the sweating so dramatic. I generally liked the film, but would find that in scenes like this Spielberg would go a little too far to make a point, instead of leaving the point in the scene and letting the audience find it. Of course, Munich is still miles better and much more subtle than most of the movies in theatre (eg. Big Momma's House, Nanny McPhee).
Overall, I think it was astonishing that Speilberg had such a messed-up central character who didn't redeem himself and barely ever question his own actions.
Oh yes, I like this as well! Eric Bana did a superb job portraying how conflicted and messed-up his character is. I really like the scene when he's carrying his daughter on the street and is worried that he's being followed.
There was no happy ending, which was totally the point (although, you know Speilberg... after the sex scene I thought he was going to somehow have the film end on a smiling family at breakfast or something!)
I was also impressed about the lack of happy ending. Because it's Speilberg I kept wondering how he would tie things up nicely, so was pleasantly surprised with the bleakness at the end. Although, yeah, the whole World Trade Centre Towers was a bit much.