Unfaithful

When this movie was originally released, I was going through a phase where I didn't like movies that would scare me. I'm not sure what I was afraid of, because it definitely wasn't scary. I wouldn't even classify this as a thriller (although IMDb feels differently). It was pure drama.

Watching Diane Lane's character get sucked into her affair was mesmorizing, even though you knew it was going to happen. The tension in the scenes with Olivier Martinez before she sleeps with him was palpable and they both played it beautifully.

Two other scenes stand out:

When Richard Gere is at Martinez's apartment. The back-and-forth between the two characters in that scene was fantastic.

The scene at Diane and Richard's house when the snowglobe is discovered... there is that moment when he knows that she knows... and she knows that he knows. Very, very well done. When you can convey something so big without saying a single word, it's brilliant movie-making.

I don't know that I'm thrilled with the ending. But I'm quite glad I got out of that fear phase. LOL.

The Way We Were

I love Family Video. It's not too close to my house, so I don't go there very often but I always pick up something fun when I do go.

What I wanted was either The Big Lebowski or Jurassic Park, so I'm not sure how I wound up with Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand. I'm not even close to being a fan of hers. But my first two choices weren't available, so somehow I stumbled onto this.

I recently read a book that took place in the McCarthy era, and I've gotta say that I'm fascinated with that time period. So I think reading the little blurb on the back of the movie box that mentioned that time is what prompted me to pick it up. (I also rented The American President, so at some point I'll be reviewing that as well. Assuming that I get around to watching it.)

Barbra's character in the movie reminded me a lot of what I expect her to be like in real life. Which I'm sure isn't an entirely fair assessment, but what can I say. She's always come across to me as being incredibly political and I have a feeling that Barbra's views are pretty in line with Katie's.

It was mentioned more than once during the movie that her character ironed her hair. And I must admit that I liked it much better in those scenes. (Not sure why "hair" is such a sticking point for me lately!)

I much preferred Robert's character (although I think "Hubbell" has got to be one of the worst character names EVER.) He was a lot more fun, and a lot easier to watch.

Barbra's singing usually doesn't excite me, but I do like her song of the same name. So dramatic.

All in all, it was an interesting depiction of how differing viewpoints and, more importantly, how you deal with those differences can work against a relationship. Makes me wonder how James Carville and Mary Matalin make things work. I guess they must be a lot better at the "dealing" part of it than Katie and Hubbell were.

Blue Valentine

Ugh.

I saw this last night and it just depressed me. I came out of it feeling the same way I did when i saw Revolutionary Road: great acting, miserable movie. It wasn't miserable in the sense that the movie itself was bad. But, there was nothing likable about the storyline. Does that make any sense?

Neither of the characters were very cheer-worthy to me, although Ryan Gosling's character was slightly easier to like than Michelle Williams.

Oh well. Honestly, I think what annoys me the most is that Ryan Gosling didn't get nominated for it. He was amazing in this movie.

I'll be watching something happier next time!