Netflix #5 – Saved! – Suggested by Topncal, Thom, and Maggie
I’ve wanted to see this since it was out in theaters, so when I got all three recommendations, I knew I had to see it. I liked it, but it wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be. Maybe because I had wanted to see it for so long and built it up in my head too much? Plus it’s hard not to compare it to Juno, which I thought was similar but much better. And Mandy Moore’s character really got on my nerves by the end of it. I know that was the point, but I feel like she never even learned her lesson. But don’t get wrong, I liked it. I LOLed at “I know this is wrong, but do you ever wonder if she just made the whole thing up? I mean, it’s a pretty good one. It’s not like anyone can ever use virgin birth as an excuse again.” And yes, this is where I learned to crush on Patrick Fugit.
Netflix #6 – Shortbus – Suggested by Thom again!
This one is hard to describe. I can’t say that I enjoyed it per se, but I thought it was really interesting and well made. But looking back I’m not sure it’s the kind of movie you’re supposed to “enjoy” in the traditional sense. I think you’re just supposed to take it in and digest it for a while. It did however make me long to have an emotional and physical connection with someone that I haven’t felt in a long time. If that was the purpose, then it succeeded. SIDENOTE
I agree with your review of Shortbus, but I have to admit, In some wierd way I “enjoyed” the scene with the guy uhhhhh, feeding himself.
Frankly, I loved both of these movies from the moment I first saw them. I bought each of them soon thereafter.
Shortbus wasn’t about the porn, it was about the way people relate and bond in modern day America. Or at least that’s what I took from it.
HUGS…
I loved Saved, especially the pool scene early on.
And Shortbus… was interesting. I have to say that as a gay man, I was actually more interested in the orgasm quest of the straight women than the gay love triangle. Despite the nudity (which was interesting), I actually felt more for the poor woman.
I had the same reaction to Saved! and a slew of other films. You let the hype and expectations build up in your head; so that when you actually watch the film, it can’t possibly match them and you end up disappointed.
Shortbus I haven’t seen yet, it’s slowly creeping up my Netflix queue.
awww, i’m sad you didn’t enjoy saved! as much as i did. funny thing is that i think the same thing happened to me when i went to watch juno. i thought it was good and i *herat* michael cera, but it wasn’t as amazing as people raved about.
and i definitely know what you’re talking about in regards to shortbus. when i first watched it, i thought “what the hell was that?” i had to watch it a few times (not because of the gratuitous nudity) to really appreciate the movie and think about it. it resulted a few deep talks with my friends and a light obsession with jay brannan (who sings that “soda shop” song).
i’m glad you watched some of my suggestions! i hope your thoughts of my taste aren’t completely destroyed!
thom
ps. i started a blog cause i didn’t want to be the loser who never had a link connected to his name
=)
Sorry you didn’t enjoy Saved! as much as you hoped. My personal favorite is the “I’m filled with Christ’s love!” bible toss.
If Juno is anything like it, then I defs need to see it.
I had heard almost nothing about Saved when I saw it, and I ended up being so pleasantly surprised! It was one of my favorite movies last year.
And so was Shortbus.
I thoroughly “enjoyed” “taking it in,” and you’re right, it really made me think in a way that no other movie has. I thought about it for weeks.
Juno just hasn’t appealed to me, because who needs another pregnant teenager movie? But with your recommendation, I’ll give it a try.
I hope you didnt see Shortbus before Hedwig & the Angry Inch. That would be a travesty
I remember enjoying “Saved” when it first came out but I really think it’s going to be forgotten since that “cute, quirky” indie style film is really popular nowadays. I really enjoyed “Waitress” from this year but have you ever seen “GATTACA” or “Rocky Horror Picture Show” Most people have seen Rocky Horror, so yea. But both are what I would call the greatest movies ever made.
I think I was pretty underwhelmed by Saved!, too. I rented it without having really heard much about it, and I can’t say I am inclined to ever see it again.
digkv> I’ve been telling him Waitress since the beginning…he’s ignoring us *sniff*
Nick – I’m not ignoring you! I’m adoring you!
Waitress is on my queue, you’ll just have to be surprised when I review it!
GoKitty – I haven’t seen the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but I did see the show live in New York when Michael Cerveris was doing it. It was really good!
i need to see shortbus, just to see what everyone is talking about…
Craig – I’m sure seeing it live is better but you really should see James Cameron Mitchell as Hedwig. Just the looks he gives and inflections just kill me.
Shortbus was good, but I preferred Hedwig. I would love to see JCM do another rock opera type movie. Shortbus was bold, and had some profound moments, but at times I felt like he tried too hard to inject humor.
I am a fan of Jay Brannan’s music. He has a beautiful voice. You can see him performing some of his songs here http://youtube.com/jaybrannan . I have been to a few of his concerts. He has a nice stage presence and a lot of personality. It is great to see his music career taking off.
Another bold movie that might be worth checking out is The Dreamers, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. I liked the movie and want to read the book it was based on, The Holy Innocents: A Romance by Gilbert Adair. Unfortunately the book is out of print, and used copies are a tad pricey.
How had you not seen Saved!?!
Please don’t say that you’ve never seen Mean Girls, either.
Aww ChrisNJ beat me to it! Jay Brannan is pretty much the most amazing thing since Wifi. I don’t think I know a single person who has heard his songs and not liked him. And his Youtube videos are more adorable than LOLCatz.
Shortbus was an interesting flick. It seemed like it was too formulaic of an indy film. I thought it was pretty depressing that indy films have gotten that way.
Glad you liked Saved, it does seem like waiting made the movie not as good for you. Though on the other hand maybe not. Maybe those of us who loved it were just in the right mind frame the times we saw it. I know I went and saw it opening night so I had not heard anything about it yet.
I was disappointed by Saved. I was hoping for something far more scathing. The writers could have gone waaaaaay farther with the material. It shouldn’t have been a problem for them to reach for that R rating as opposed to the PG-13.
Loved Shortbus. I was actually kind-of uncomfortable with it at first, but towards the end I started to really get into it.
I haven’t seen either of these.
And you say YOU’RE the dork.
What I find most fascinating about “Shortbus” is a line that was mentioned in the making of portion of the DVD; it was something to the effect that the sex and graphic nature was used in the film in the complete opposite of pornography because it wasn’t titillating (hehe..titillating…hehe). I don’t know if I completely agree or disagree with the statement, I felt that the movie was powerful and disturbing in the examination of these five main (?) characters. More about how disturbing their minds worked or the loss or void in their lives then for instance when I see the ever so dreamy Jay Brannan pull that crazy guy’s cock out of his mouth and utter something…. haha… I think it’s sadder the clinical “this-is-how-gay-sex-is-done” mindset. ANYWAYS…long story short I felt cheated with the nudity..like John Cameron Mitchell was like… “oh all this ‘real live sex’ is going to be so avant-garde and push the boundaries so much….we’re brilliant.’ yes i thought the movie was quite brilliant but in a wonderfully exploitive way.
just my two cents..
hehe….
you should queue my 3 fav movies of all time- Mulholland Drive, Dick Tracy, and Singin’ in the Rain.