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An excellent, but extremely depressing film

posted 14 years ago by Gotensive
14 replies | jump to latest

I have to say that I thought this movie was excellent. The performances all-around are great, and this film is not afraid to pull any punches. I like how we get to learn a little about each character, and what their interests are, and how they are all either connected or disconnected to one another. My biggest gripe, however, was with the useless character of the Priest, as well as Weaver's character unbelievable reaction to the friends daughter showing her "privates" to her son. Those quibbles aside, I have no other qualms with the film, and I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoyed American Beauty (and this film is in fact better than AB, though I still like AB a lot). Any way, my final rating for the film is a 9/10.

Formally known as Coilector

[–] rivieran 14 years ago

You're right; I agree that this movie is excellent for the reasons you've listed.

I just wanted to say the the Preacher character is pretty realistic to me, because back then certain religions were trying so hard to "get hip" to us kids; this guy rings pretty true to me. You wouldn't believe how much pastors wanted to "rap" with us in the early '70s. Ugh. I hope that's all they wanted to do.

The fact that the preacher in The Ice Storm implies that he wants to eventually fornicate with Elena is one of the more hilarious jokes in the film. The actor perfectly walks the line between earnest naivete and creepy fallibility. And his long hair is sooo perfect for the role.

But I do agree that his role was meant to be more of a sideline joke that didn't have much relation to the main story. He did add to the sense of sexual uncertainty that well expresses the early '70s vibe. All of a sudden everything was changing exceedingly fast for everyone, even preachers. Some people just didn't know how to act, because they no longer knew how they were expected to act.

I don't remember Janey's exact reaction to the kids' experimentation. I seem to remember thinking that Janey was thinking "been there, done that", which is why she didn't really get upset. I guess I'll have watch it again.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DryToast 14 years ago

I think that Janey's reaction to the bathroom incident is also very much a reaction of its time from a certain kind of person. The anthropological explanation about "a person's body is their temple" is very much a post-hippie, thinking-outside-the-box sort of reaction. This is the same woman who urges her son to put away the explosives and "play with the whip" instead. Janey's probably the best parent in the movie, she actually gives fresh and immediate thought to parenting, rather than spouting cliches like Ben and Elena. (In the book, Elena actually washes Wendy's mouth out with soap!) On the other hand, Janey's not exactly a good wife.

"I don't seem able to strike the congenial note."

[–] rivieran 14 years ago

Nice analysis. I agree Janey seems to be the best parent in TIS. (I can't believe that I'm going to have to watch it again because I can't remember her exact reaction!)

One thing I noticed is that "a person's body is their temple" is also a Biblical platitude that has been repeated ad nauseum to many of us since toddlerhood. So it too is a cliche. I kind of got the feeling that she didn't know what to say, so she fell back on the old reliable that she had been told millions of times.

I also felt that the expressions on Janey's face in a few scenes told me that she sometimes (often?) didn't really know why she was doing or saying things, but she still did and said them nonetheless.

I'm looking forward to reading the book!

[–] St_Anus 14 years ago

really? i thought she was the coldest bitch in the film.

[–] stevenackerman69 14 years ago

No good film is depressing, okay? I think the idea of the Priest was to show that they aren't all dried up old beans.

[–] Stukach 14 years ago

I did not find it depressing, just a bit sad.

_______________________
"They're crabs, they're eating him... nature sucks."

[–] butaneggbert 9 years ago

Oh, I wouldn't say "No good film is depressing". Too broad a brush.

"Prick Up Your Ears" was a brilliant, devastatingly depressing film that I could never sit through again.

[–] LifesWonderful 14 years ago

I wouldn't say the overall movie is extremely depressing, but the ending was.

I saw blood and I saw stars all in the backseat of your car.
http://weheartit.com/LifesWonderful

[–] theoretical 14 years ago

I found the film interesting as well with very good performances, very direct, though very depressing as you mention.

I gave it 8/10 and would recommend it to others but would advise watching a good comedy right after if depressing movies can effect your mood.

[–] TwoThousandOneMark 9 years ago

Seeing Sigourney's character curled up fetal on top of her bed at the end was depressing for her. She probably shouldn't have married in the first place, she seems more alone in that family than without.

[–] rc-108 9 years ago

good thoughts.

very interesting look at life in the 70's.

[–] DreamsAgain 9 years ago

True. Not exactly a "happy" movie. I liked it though, as much as Lymelife (2008)---another not so happy movie.

I guess I liked both because both movies were set in the 1970s, and it was fun to see how each movie portrayed that Era.

[–] Yorke71 8 years ago

That's exactly how I felt. It's a powerful film with impressive acting, but despite the character's affluent lifestyle, all I could think while watching it is I'm so glad I'm not them. That's especially true of the kids, who's lives seem even more depressed (and depressing) than their parents.

As for the priest (I think he was actually some sort of Protestant minister), he was a strange character, but his appearing at the key party is appropriate, since it shows that even someone as supposedly grounded as a minister is struggling to find purpose in their "liberated" world.