I should say that moving is what best describes the film. Ok, it may seem chaotic sometimes and it is for sure a series of different scenes, not a mastermind plot, but life is about the flow of very different and contradictory moments, happy and sad, not about a brilliant scheme, at least as far as human beings' lives are concerned.
What I loved about this film:
a) The deep humanity in all the characters
b) The mutual affection and tenderness between Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst that eventually develop into love
c) The beautiful road trip which culminates in the final embracing scene
d) The impressive soundtrack
e) The curious paradox that a dramatic fact can turn out to be a person's salvation, that is, the turning point to provide happiness. Or else, that from bad moments may come good ones. All of them unexpected. If Drew hadn't suffered that professional failure and his father hadn't died he wouldn't have met Claire and wouldn't have known real love at all. So, paradoxically, his career downfall and his father's decease led him eventually to happiness. One never knows what life has in store for each of us.
What I didn't like or felt a bit odd or else didn't undertand in the film:
a) How can a company lose almost one billion dollars just because of a pair of sport shoes?
b) Susan Sarandon's character as Drew's mother is rather preposterous
c) Drew's suicide idea is too soon, too immediate to be credible.
Apart from that, the film is so sweet that you'll feel really moved if you let yourself go wrapped by its scent.
Oh, yeah, and who risks wins, that's not controversial
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Lost its focus
Added 11/9/2009
Nice and strong for the first 10-15 minutes, but movie lost focus as soon as Bloom's character arrived in Kentucky. What was the movie trying to say? Young man who loved and thought he knew his father discovers facets he never knew, thereby gaining greater perspective and understanding to handle his own problems? Nope, that didn't happen. Young man from big city who had always thought his father's side of the family was corny and strange discovers a strong loving base from which he goes forth into the world once again? Nope, not that either. Young man putzes from scene to disjointed scene wondering why he's there? Yes, that's it!
A few things were very hard for me to get my mind around: why were there no focus groups done on that shoe? How did Susan Sarandon fit all those classes into just three days, and how did it happen that they all started in that exact week that her husband died? How did Kirsten Dunst make that incredibly complex guidebook in just one day? How come Kirsten Dunst kept coming back after she said "We peaked on the phone"??
Bloom and Dunst's hours long phone call bored me, by the way, as did Susan Sarandon's long speech/dance, as did the pointless journey across America. I very much wanted to fast forward but was afraid I'd miss the one little sentence or scene that gave meaning to the movie. Turns out there wasn't one. Go ahead and fast forward through this entire movie. You won't miss anything.
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Elizabethtown: A Great Road Trip
Added 9/12/2009
Elizabethtown is a so-so movie in many ways, a disappointment considering its knockout cast. However, the latter part of the film is much better than the early part, and the road trip dominates the last quarter of the film is wonderful!
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This movie really IS awesome!!!
Added 8/2/2009
The first time I saw it i have to admit I didn't like it that much, but I realize that's only because I have HUGE expectations whenever Cameron Crowe releases ANYTHING. Seriously, when is the last time you saw something by CC that wasn't better than the last 10 movies you saw previews for on TV? Cameron Crowe writes and directs like my boyfriend cooks. There's a ton of thought and care and heart that goes into everything he does. My guy is a kick ass cook, but every once in a great while he adds just a little too much salt to something, and it's not as good as the others, but that is just an inevitable part of being a great artist. He still cooks way better than anyone else I know, and Cameron Crowe still managed to cook up a great film with Elizabethtown.
This film just got better and better the more I saw it. I recently borrowed it from the library and it made me feel so good i actually cried a bunch of times. Crowe touches on so many points I could relate to. Losing my father, dealing with a big failure. Ultimately his films are meant to touch people and make them feel better. I felt so inspired and moved after I saw it recently. That flashback scene where his Dad and he are moving into a new house got me bawling.
In the same way my bf occasionally adds too much of something to a recipe, i think this film could have appeared a little better (the first time around anyway) with a little less of a few ingredients. Kirsten Dunst comes across as almost crazy in a few scenes. I really love it how Cameron Crow turns nutty people, who are not afraid to be who they are, into heroes. But Kirsten's character seemed just a little over the edge, the first time I saw it. If they took out the parts where she was taking imaginary pictures of Drew, maybe didn't have her call out "60B" so many times, and one or two other things, and maybe not yell into the microphone that she liked Drew, it would have been more palatable the first time around. But - I have to say, I was fine with it the next time I saw it. Her nuttiness just kind of grew on me in the same way it grew on Drew. And the bottom line is her character displayed what's admirable - a strong, positive spirit that wanted to help Drew through a tough time. Even if things like that don't happen so much in real life - well, that's why we go to see movies. To feel inspired, and feel like there is a chance and a place where these things could happen.
Susan Sarandon's eulogy bit could have also been cut back a little - it seemed a little drawn out. But overall it was still great, and that scene where she's dancing through the light was just amazing.
This still has to be the best film ever made about someone dealing with the loss of their father. The family all getting together and the love that's shown to the kids after it happens - I've felt that. And the awkwardness about meeting all these people you never even knew your Dad knew. The awkwardness of having to choose burial arrangements. And the beauty of suddenly getting to talk to your Dad whenever you like because now he's in an urn right next to you, instead of halfway across the country. Crowe captured all of that, so beautifully. I realized when I watched it last night, I am so grateful that he made this film. I cried several times. I realized it doesn't matter if it all seems realistic or not. There were just so many parts I could relate to, i didn't care if it was 100% perfect or not. At WORST this film is a B+, but the more I see it, the more it's an A.
The scene at the end where Drew realizes it's better to choose life is maybe the most beautifully filmed ending scenes i've ever seen in a movie. And the soundtracks he and Nancy Wilson come up with are always top notch.
Really, this is an awesome film in so many ways. Definitely worth a second or third viewing. Thank you Cameron Crowe for making another great film that inspired me and made my heart feel really big. I am so glad you are a filmmaker.
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This movie grows on you
Added 7/26/2009
The more I see this movie the more I like it. Not your typical romantic comedy. It has some dark humor but at the same time is sweet and fun.
It make take time to get to like this movie and some of the character's in it, but give it a change and it/they will grow on you.
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I should say that moving is what best describes the film. Ok, it may seem chaotic sometimes and it is for sure a series of different scenes, not a mastermind plot, but life is about the flow of very different and contradictory moments, happy and sad, not about a brilliant scheme, at least as far as human beings' lives are concerned.
What I loved about this film:
a) The deep humanity in all the characters
b) The mutual affection and tenderness between Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst that eventually develop into love
c) The beautiful road trip which culminates in the final embracing scene
d) The impressive soundtrack
e) The curious paradox that a dramatic fact can turn out to be a person's salvation, that is, the turning point to provide happiness. Or else, that from bad moments may come good ones. All of them unexpected. If Drew hadn't suffered that professional failure and his father hadn't died he wouldn't have met Claire and wouldn't have known real love at all. So, paradoxically, his career downfall and his father's decease led him eventually to happiness. One never knows what life has in store for each of us.
What I didn't like or felt a bit odd or else didn't undertand in the film:
a) How can a company lose almost one billion dollars just because of a pair of sport shoes?
b) Susan Sarandon's character as Drew's mother is rather preposterous
c) Drew's suicide idea is too soon, too immediate to be credible.
Apart from that, the film is so sweet that you'll feel really moved if you let yourself go wrapped by its scent.
Oh, yeah, and who risks wins, that's not controversial
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Lost its focus
Added 11/9/2009
Nice and strong for the first 10-15 minutes, but movie lost focus as soon as Bloom's character arrived in Kentucky. What was the movie trying to say? Young man who loved and thought he knew his father discovers facets he never knew, thereby gaining greater perspective and understanding to handle his own problems? Nope, that didn't happen. Young man from big city who had always thought his father's side of the family was corny and strange discovers a strong loving base from which he goes forth into the world once again? Nope, not that either. Young man putzes from scene to disjointed scene wondering why he's there? Yes, that's it!
A few things were very hard for me to get my mind around: why were there no focus groups done on that shoe? How did Susan Sarandon fit all those classes into just three days, and how did it happen that they all started in that exact week that her husband died? How did Kirsten Dunst make that incredibly complex guidebook in just one day? How come Kirsten Dunst kept coming back after she said "We peaked on the phone"??
Bloom and Dunst's hours long phone call bored me, by the way, as did Susan Sarandon's long speech/dance, as did the pointless journey across America. I very much wanted to fast forward but was afraid I'd miss the one little sentence or scene that gave meaning to the movie. Turns out there wasn't one. Go ahead and fast forward through this entire movie. You won't miss anything.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Elizabethtown: A Great Road Trip
Added 9/12/2009
Elizabethtown is a so-so movie in many ways, a disappointment considering its knockout cast. However, the latter part of the film is much better than the early part, and the road trip dominates the last quarter of the film is wonderful!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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