I've been haunted by two movies I rented recently and I'm hoping you find them as touching and thought-provoking as I did. In both cases I got far more than what I expected when I clicked the Netflix "add to my queue" boxes.
I rented The Orphange thinking I'd humor my older son by watching a hokey scary movie with him, but it turned out to be much more than that. The woman in this film goes back to the old orphanage where she grew up as a child, to live with her husband and son. There are some decidedly creepy events regarding the son going missing during a Halloween party. The husband leaves the orphange after months of searching for the missing child, but the mother cannot leave knowing that either her child or his body is somewhere close by. You'll be drawn into this film as it changes from a scary movie into a heartbreaking exploration of the universal mother's love for her child. Enjoy your popcorn for the first forty five minutes, and have your box of tissues by your side for the latter part of the movie. This film is subtitled but if subtitles bother you I'm betting you'll soon forget them and when you recall the film later you'll hear the conversations in your memory as though the characters had spoken English.
Lars and the Real Girl was another delightful surprise. I rented it thinking it was some sort of light sex comedy and suspecting I'd probably regret wasting two hours of my life on a 2008 version of Porky's. Wrong. Ryan Gosling does an exceptional job as a single man who yearns for a life partner but finds it safer to haul around a lifelike doll than date a real flesh and blood woman (check out that Realdoll "studio" link: It's really interesting, if unsettling.) Like The Orphanage, this film explores the emotional connection between mother and child, only from the child's point of view. It also provides interesting exploration into issues like the importance of understanding and acceptance when one family member's lifestyle is different or non-traditional. As with The Orphanage, you'll be setting that bowl of popcorn aside and reaching for the Kleenex by the end of this one.
Friday, October 3, 2008
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6 comments:
I'm not familiar with either film. I was curious about Lars. This might have to go on the rental list.
I loved Lars and the Real Girl! What an excellent review! Want to be a Movie Maven?
I never heard of the Orphanage. Your review makes me want to rent it.
Hi dear Leah, They're both great but definitely see Lars for sure. I always thought Ryan Gosling was a bit of a goofball but I'll never look at him the same after viewing this film. Of course, I'll never look at blow up dolls quite the same either! :) Our fourteen year old son came in about 45 minutes into the movie and he had to watch the rest of it with me. (...and then at the end it was "Oh mom, are you crying AGAIN?" "Yes dear, now shut up and hand me that Kleenex.")
Yes Robin, I do want to be a Movie Maven, if only so I can hear what the heck you other Movie Mavens are saying! But it would have to be on rentals because most new movies don't interest me. I think The Orphanage has some nudity in the beginning but if it's there it's a brief depiction of loving sex between a married couple and I don't think it would bother you or Adam to have the boys see it. Also, because the movie is European the actress is also a real woman and not a yucky sex kitten. Your boys would also like Lars. Actually, I think your whole family would like both films, and both films could generate some good family discussions.
Wow, I was thinking of watching the Orphanage. I have to move it to the top of Netlix queue!
Yes. Lars and the Real Girl was a great movie. Very emotional. I think the world needs to learn how to embrace one another's differences in the same way they portrayed in the movie.
I always like Ryan Gosling in United States of Leland. Ever watch that? Great movie. And some other Independant Film he was in...can't remember the name of it...he was a crack addict teacher though. Brilliant performance in that one too. He's really a talented actor.
Hi and Welcome realmcovet. I always thought Ryan Gosling was a bit of a dweeb but Lars changed all that. I will definitely rent the US of Leland film and check out some other Goslings as well. Thanks for telling us about it.
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