Movies My Husband Loves, But I Dont "Get"

[LizW]

The Big Lebowski
Lost in Translation
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Rushmore (okay, this one grew on me, but it took several viewings)

And that latest Bill Murray movie that sucked so much I went to sleep after 15 minutes and can't even remember the title. There were boats in it.

[kick-ass-bob]

1. What's wrong w/ Oh Brother?

I can see the connection between the others, but that one is different from the other 4.

:shrug:

[LizW]

7. I can't even tell you

I don't know why I don't get it. I just don't. I've tried to watch it more than once, and and there are parts that are funny, but I always end up thinking, why am I watching this?

:shrug:

[Richardo]

33. It's one of my top 10 of all time.

But Mrs. R - not so much.

[MemphisTiger]

2. Watch The Big Lebowski drunk and it will make more sense

[LizW]

8. Ah

There's my mistake. ;)

[dhinojosa]

3. Great Movies

My interpretations:

Big Lebowski - Someone stole the dude's carpet.
Lost in Translation - Actor and ignored wife just spend time together in Tokyo.
Oh Brother, where art thou - Homer's Odyssey retold with Southerners
Rushmore - just one messed up movie. One of those good movies that aggravate me.

:hi:

[Lerkfish]

4. Of those, I've only seen Lost in translation and Oh brother..

I thought lost in translation had some good and some funny moments, some excruciatingly awkward and uwatchable moments. But overall, I didn't buy into alleged chemistry between Murray and Johansen. when the chemistry fails between two lovers on screen, the movie fails, IMHO. I give a thumbs down for that reason, although it does contain one of my favorite movie scenes -- "Lip the stockings!"

Oh brother, where art thou I enjoyed more than my wife, but I think because I'm a big fan of Greek mythology and literature, so got a kick out of all the Odyssey references. If I didn't know much about the Odyssey, my enjoyment would have dwindled considerably.

However, I have to admit, I first HATED Raising Arizona and walked out of the theatre. Then later, I rewatched it on cable, and it had grown on me considerably. Now I think its pretty funny.

But let me put back on you some movies that women like that make me puke: "Life or something like it" with Angelina Jolie was the most confused and worthless piece of crap I ever witnessed. But its considered a "chick" movie. ??

My analysis of mediocre "chick" movies is this:

1. girl's real value unrealized
2. girl must choose between two or more very two dimensional male characters in direct contrast...usually the dichotomy is Rich boy brat/Hometown mensch or Bad Boy rapscallion/Altruistic humanitarian or similar.
3. girl gets to HAVE both men at one point in movie
4. BOTH men still want her/scheme to obtain her/fight over her while she exhibits amazing feats of indecision(which would not happen in real life btw...one guy would just give up or both would out of frustration.)
5. in the end, she picks the RIGHT GUY, usually telegraphed by the WRONG GUY going nuts or violent or icky in the next to last scene, making the choice easy.

there, in nutshell, is the formula for all "chick" flicks. Not that the movies for guys are any more complicated or less predictable...


for the record, I enjoy watching well-done "chick" flicks, like Sleepless in Seattle, While you were sleeping, Miss Congeniality, Legally Blonde, etc.
But usually because they have a little more to offer ON TOP OF the five steps above.

[LizW]

16. Haven't seen "Life or Something Like It"

I first saw Angelina Jolie in "Playing By Heart" (she was very good), a chick movie I own because it features Jon Stewart in an adorable romantic role.

You're right about the formula chick movies. Although my favorite movie of all time is Ang Lee's version of "Sense and Sensibility". It has the formula plot, plus so much more. I've seen it dozens of times and still cry at the end EVERY time. :cry:

[CornField]

5. That last one is The Life Aquatic

I know because Mr. CornField watched it and I slept through it this weekend. :hi:

[LizW]

18. Hee.

:hi:

[deutsey]

6. A major theme with The Big Lebowski is that we make up entire narratives

based on very few, if any, facts.

Watch how all the characters do that throughout the movie. They'll hear something and, while it's hearsay or facts that aren't related to each other, the characters will create all sorts of assumptions and entire narratives that become "true" to them.

The narrative of the movie itself does this with the viewer. It only gives you bits and pieces of these characters' lives along with the events (or lack of events) they're caught up in. This approach leads us to either infer things on our own based on what little is provided in the movie, or, like you, to shake our heads at the incomprehensibility of it all. Both responses, I believe, are what the Coen brothers are after.

But that's just an inference I'm making, of course.

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Your husband has good taste

The Life Aquatic was the other one. I thought it was brilliant. If you don't get them, you never will.

[LizW]

19. But I was so refreshed afterwards.

So, there's that. ;)

[On the Road]

10. I Love The Last Three

I think it depends on what you're looking for in them.

To appreciate Lost in Translation, I think you either (1) have had to experienced periods of rootlessness, purposelessness, and loss of identity, or (2) have been disoriented by a very foreign place in which you don't speak the language. If that doesn't resonate with you, then making that kind of a personal connection may not seem as magical.

Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? is very mythic, although not in a classical way (I think the comparison to The Odyssey is weak and distracting). A lot of the magic is in the folk music, the cinematography (lots of rich golden tones), and the cultural depiction of the deep South at a certain point in time. It's episodic, a narrative about a search and a journey, and you have to plunge into it along with the characters without knowing exactly what to expect. To appreciate it, it helps to view your own life that way. And the depiction is not realistic -- it's satirical and exaggerated. The humor is not found in punch lines, but in characters and situations.

[shrike]

11. I loved Oh Brother Where Art Thou

You're right, a lot of it is the music. We went out and got the soundtrack, we loved it so much. I'm not a big fan of Clooney's movies, but I sure liked this one. And the supporting cast was great.

[Lerkfish]

15. the comparison to Oddysey "weak and distracting"?

um...ok. It was the inspiration for the plot, complete with sirens, cyclops and circe's transformation of men into animals...but ok, if you think that comparison is "weak".

:crazy:

[On the Road]

30. I Realize They Used Characters Loosely Based on Characters in the Odyssey

It may have been entertaining for the scriptwriter to invent sirens and a cyclops. And the plot concerned a journey and was presented in an episodic style.

Homer's epic was about perseverance and survival in a world full of gods and wonders. And about loyalty, especially between Odysseus and Penelope. It spoke to the fears and hopes of the ancient Greeks.

Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? is a Coen Brothers movie. Nothing could be further from the world Homer wrote about. Their works are modern, satirical, a little surreal, and revel in lower class culture. It presents a strange and magical view of the South a few decades ago. It deals with fears and issues of the moment political corruption, evangelistic religion, race relations, and the prison system.

Seeing Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? in terms of The Odyssey is a sure way to miss the qualities that make it a good movie. And for that reason, I believe it's distracting to pay too much attention to that.

[Lerkfish]

35. but you called the connection "weak", which it certainly is not. n/t

[On the Road]

37. It's a Personal Judgment

The movie has a character with an eyepatch, three singing young ladies by a body of water, etc. They resemble the originals just enough so that you as the viewer can recognize them ("Oh, yeah, that's the cyclops.") Beyond that, I don't think they play the same role in the plot, and I don't believe viewing them in terms of the originals creates any new meaning, emotion or resonance. It might actually distract the viewer from absorbing what the movie is about and how it operates. That's why I saw the connection as weak.

[NV Whino]

12. Lost in Translation

Was an excuse to deduct a trip to Tokyo as far as I can see. Oh Brother at least had good music.

[XNASA]

13. I think you guys need to split up.

And your husband should move in with me. It's the only sensible thing to do now that everyone knows.

[Susang]

38. I think

I know someone who might object to that scenario. ;-)

[Jara sang]

14. The Life Aquatic is one of the most brilliant movies I've ever seen.

I loved it.

[Goblinmonger]

32. You've ruined it for me

Now, whenver I listen to the Violent Femmes, I will be visualizing your sig line during that song :)

[progmom]

17. Wow - you just named four of my favorite movies from the last decade.

Interesting. :shrug:

[LizW]

20. I know!

Lots of people love those movies, not just my hubby. It is strange.

:shrug:

[swag]

22. What are some of your favorite movies, LizW?

[LizW]

39. My favorite of all

is Sense and Sensibility (the Ang Lee version from the early 90's).

Recently, I loved "Garden State" and "Love Actually".

Older movies: I love "Rear Window" and "Casablanca".

Political movies: "Primary Colors" and "Bob Roberts".

Suspense: "Three Days of the Condor" and "Marathon Man".

Comedy: "Tootsie", "Bruce Almighty", "Young Frankenstein", "When Harry Met Sally".

Those are just off the top of my head. I've never made a real list of my favorites because I'm always adding new ones.

[Lerkfish]

23. Don't feel bad...all taste is subjective. for example, I never cared for

pulp fiction or Fargo...even though those were both highly acclaimed movies.

I just never found them that impressive. And I did take a lot of movie courses in college, thinking I might direct someday, so I'm not just a casual movie watcher.

[Taverner]

21. The Big Lebowski was GENIUS

It was a dialogue heavy movie, where every line in the flick was a gem...

[Debbi801]

24. Heavy Metal and Groundhog Day.

[kwassa]

41. "Groundhog Day " is a work of genius

[youspeakmylanguage]

25. I love Wes Anderson's movies, especially Rushmore...

Critically-acclaimed movies I didn't get, or thought were vastly over-hyped:

Dog Day Afternoon
Fargo
Titanic
Lord of the Rings Trilogy (big yawn)
Eraserhead (WTF?)
King of New York (HORRIBLE!)
Heavy Metal (more WTF?)

I watched "Sideways" last night. Amused, impressed by the acting, but not with the movie as a whole.

I could think of more, but life is short.

I would have included the Star Wars movies, but even the critics get how crappy they are. ;-)

[ghostsofgiants]

26. There is no "getting" Eraserhead

It's just a nightmare on film really. I liked Fargo too, but the others I'm with you on (especially Titanic).

[youspeakmylanguage]

27. That is what I've heard...

...that it is only a "movie" in the sense that images are moving across the screen.

[ghostsofgiants]

31. Exactly

You only "get it" in the same way you "get" a dream. You take whatever meaning you can from it, there's no real right or wrong way to look at it. Seems to be a theme with Lynch's films. He very rarely talks about them because he wants to leave the interpretation up to the viewer. Just one of the things I love about him, haha.

[gardenista]

28. You mean "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zisou"?

Wow, that's one of my faves of all time!

The thing with those movies is that the humor is really subtle, but how can you not laugh yourself silly while watching the bowling scene with John Turturo in "The Big Lubowski"?

[Goblinmonger]

34. You don't fuck with the Jesus

I heard a rumor that the Coens were going to make a movie about the Jesus character. That would be a riot. I love the Coen brothers.

[Bridget Burke]

29. Never saw "Lost in Translation" or "Rushmore"

I've only seen "The Big Lebowski" once but will see it again.

"O Brother" is one of my all-time favorites. Loving music & growing up in the South help me appreciate it. Plus it's cockeyed use of Greek legend.

Most modern "chick flicks" bore me to tears. For strong female characters, I prefer "The Philadelphia Story" or "Now, Voyager."

[NewJeffCT]

36. my wife doesn't get a lot of the movies I like

Lord of the Rings
Star Wars
well, basically anything sci-fi or fantasy related...

[lies and propaganda]

40. The Big Lebowski is the best movie ever made

Rushmore was fabulous as well. Oh Brother killllllled me though, I could spend my whole life never hearing bluegrass again.