MovieChat Forums > A Life Less Ordinary (1997) Discussion > 999 Reason Why I LOVE this Movie

999 Reason Why I LOVE this Movie

posted 17 years ago by Web-Referee
51 replies | jump to latest

EVERY time I catch this movie on Starz at 2am (or some random time like that) I get sucked in, and I wind up watching it again...and each time I notice something (funny, wonderful, cool or touching) about this precious gem of a film. I don't care what they say THIS is a grrreat film in SO MANY to me, and it seems I never tire of watching it.

The timing of the film itself; Danny Boyle’s direction, the casting, the off-beat story, the wonderful music, the great comedic performances & flights of fantasy song & dance numbers, the parallel story of Jackson & O'Reilly quest to return “home”....how can anyone not LOVE this film?

999 - The opening sequence is GREAT! It's almost like a Bond movie or an old Channel ad--very cinematic.

998 - 'Tod Johnson" (Maury Chaykin) at ‘Richie Vandeloo’s’ door: “You have to understand, Mam, I watch mostly the biblical channels.”

997 - Stanley Tucci as demented dentist (Elliot Zweikel) “I’m sure you’ll probably pass out as the pain gets worse.”

996 - Tony Shalhoub as “Al” (from the diner)

Al: Nice-looking woman.

Robert: She isn't my type.

Al: What are you talking about? Look at yourself. You're nothing. You're nobody. You're wanted in connection with a violent crime. You're cleaning the floor of a diner. She is an intelligent, passionate, beautiful, rich woman. The issue of whether or not she's your type is not one that you're likely to have to resolve in this world... or, indeed, the next, since she will be going to some heaven for glamorous pussy, and you will be cleaning the floor of a diner in hell.

Robert: I guess so.

Al: So why are you even thinking about it?

LOL!

Any else?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] halle_m_w 17 years ago

994: Ewan sings

[–] themegster88 17 years ago

993: "Have you even asked for a ransom yet?"

992: The soundtrack

991: Christopher Gorham as the petrol station attendant!

"We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the One,
Now Voldy's gone mouldy, so now let's have fun!"

[–] teenwithforce4 17 years ago

990:
Jackson: What the hell did you do to her?
Robert: I punched her in the face.
Jackson: Oh, you punched her in the face. She's half your size and you punch her in the face?
Robert: She had a gun!
Jackson: Oh, she had a gun! So that makes everything all right, does it?
Robert: No, I'm not saying it makes everything all right. I'm just trying to explain to you that for all I knew, she could have been a karate expert or something.
Jackson: With a broken arm? WITH A BROKEN ARM?
Robert: O.K., I'm sorry.

989:
O'Reilly: Human *beep* beings. What do you have to do?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] angel32 17 years ago

983. Celine giving Robert pointers on how to demand a ransom in the phone booth.
982. "We can either do this with violence or without"....'uh...without please'

[–] shaimandrake 17 years ago

981: The constant references to medical costs and health insurance by the angels. I just can't get over this aspect that immortal angels are demanding *beep* health insurance! Heh.

[–] cljohnston108 17 years ago

980. Mayhew's totally calm expression as Celine shoots the apple off his head.

[–] flydea 17 years ago

979. He ACCIDENTALLY kidnapped her

[–] la-31 17 years ago

978 Holly Hunter
977 Delroy Lindo
976 Delroy Lindo & Holly Hunter TOGETHER - they should do a sequel with just O'Reilly & Jackson. I'd watch it!

[–] avinashmeetoo 17 years ago

975 When Cameron Diaz says that the ransom letter should not have been anonymous as she was kidnapped by Ewan McGregor in front of her father :-)

[–] jifeqwik 17 years ago

974: Right you *beep* I've got your daughter here, and I'm gonna send her back in pieces if... OH! I'm sorry, madam. No, I haven't got your daughter here, I've got someone else's. No, we're not married. Yes, I've read the same thing, it's very hard to find suitable young men these days. Well, I'm sure your daughter's very nice, in principle I've got no objection to meeting her...

[–] themegster88 16 years ago

973: Ewan diging his own grave and crying, its just brilliant.

972: "Do you think I would ask a dog if you were good or evil?" "Right I'm regular!"

971: "I'll send her back in boxes... SMALL BOXES"

"We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the One,
Now Voldy's gone mouldy, so now let's have fun!"

[–] The_Fourth_Heather 16 years ago

970- the karoke singer: (deadpan) "Don't take your love to town.....for God's sakes....turn around."

[–] scrawnylad 16 years ago

969- "You think just because I'm a cleaner I'm disposable!"
968- I really want to read a crap novel about Marilyn and Jack's love child finding Nazi gold under the embassy.
967- "Do you think love is just an emotional adaptation to a physical necessity?"

I don't think we will get to 999.

[–] hannah-226 16 years ago

966. Favourite quote of the film-

Robert: Don't take me to hospital- I don't want to die in a hospital!
Celine: I'm not taking you to hospital.
Robert: What?!

[–] AcornicopiaOFlove 16 years ago

965. the end sequence, its a bit like camberwick green :)

964. beyond the sea. i don't need to say any more

963. ewan's shirt... someone buy me something similar, please?

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] KickNeck 16 years ago

960. as Ewan is digging his own grave at gunpoint and Delroy says "have you ever felt like you're not in control of your life???.."

959. "it isn't about the money...its the principle!"

[–] la-31 16 years ago

958: O'Reilly: "Right, I'll go get the door while you play cards with the hostage"

[–] random_6 16 years ago

957: "Two. Hundred. Thousand. Dollars..."

[–] penmora_zenith 16 years ago

956. Celine escapes from the chair only to be found sitting 20 feet away reading a book.
955. Robert faints at the side of her drawing her own blood.
954. The song "Velvet Divorce" in the pool sequence.
953. Robert tossing wine in Elliot's eyes.
952. The angels riding up on bicycles to kidnap Celine.

[–] lylesanford 16 years ago

951. Ending with the "Wallace and Grommit" type scene
950. When Robert gets shot, how perfectly the paper bag spews money into the air.
949. Elliot checking Robert's teeth before working on his gun shot.
948. Celine's zebra bag and matching gloves
947. How Celine disses on the trashy romance novel she found, but continues to read it.
946. The angels keep moving and freak Celine's father out after they've been shot.
945. The way Robert shreks when the angel lands on him in the grave.
944. Celine had to rescue Robert from the grave because he laid there screaming.

[–] VeniceQueen 16 years ago

943. The title. There's just something about "A life less ordinary" that sounds right, that sounds poetic in a way.

942. The pairing of Ewan and Cameron-so good, who would have thought it? Love the cover shot of them kissing, it's just effortlessly cool.

[–] BariSaxyDame 15 years ago

941: Robert "I need an anes-na-tisment" Elliot: "you'll probably pass out as the pain gets worse."

940: Timothy Olyphant as the hitchhiker

939: the look on Ewan's face when he thinks that he is about to be blown up

938: the bomb with carrots instead of TNT

937: Walt, the gas station attendant, painting the rocks seafoam

936: Roberts dream the game show "Perfect love"

935: Ewan in a kilt

934: "we just grew apart as people"

933: The aerobics instructor

932: "I don't eat Red meat"

931: a cop station in heaven

930: "The firm but fair debt and collection agency"

929: Celine shooting Robert in the hart

928: "He's alive Mayhew, they're all alive"

927: My first and favorite Ewan McGregor film

926: The reviving angels

925: A sharp shooting angel

924: The fact that Celine didn't know how to drive

[–] prettyzippy 15 years ago

923. Robert having many horrible things happen to him in less than 24 hours.

922. Elliot moves.

921. Ewan's hair.

920. Cameron's hair.

919. Jackson falling on Robert.

918. Roberts facial expressions when Jackson falls on him.

917. Robert is stupid and admits to not writing the poem.

916. Celine coming up with the idea of being newlyweds.

[–] prettyzippy 15 years ago

915. Richie Vanderloo

[–] DocEmmettBrown 15 years ago

914: I can't believe no one's really mentioned the kiss. One of the greatest kisses in movie history, replete with that little strand of saliva and all set to Ash's only truly great song.
(if someone has already covered this then I humbly apologise)

--------------------------------
"Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?"

[–] bworm76 15 years ago

913. I can't believe no one has mentioned Holly Hunter gripping the hood of the truck Indiana Jones style!

912. Tod Johnson: "The question is: WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU?"

[–] Captain_Creampuff 15 years ago

911. The soundtrack. One word: BECK!
910. The Robot against the window.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] jenniferwest 14 years ago

904. celine: you're the worst kidnapper i've ever met!
robert: oh and that's all i am to you. the latest kidnapper. a life style accessory. and if it doesn't work out it doesn't matter because you can always get another one.
celine: quite being so mellow dramatic
robert: well i'm trying my best here under really difficult circumstances, and it's not many easier by you criticizing everything i do!

903. robert: i'm dying celine, i'm dying. i don't want to die.
celine: you're not going to die
robert: are you taking me to a hospital, because i don't want to die in a hospital
celine: i'm not going to take you to a hospital
robert: what? what do you mean you're taking me to a hospital? i demand to be taken to a hospital. where are you taking me?
*close up on teeth*

902. Tod: Do you think that I'd talk to a dog? Do you think I'd ask a dog whether you're good or evil? What do you think I am? Some kind of crazy backwoods lunatic with a barn full of human skulls and a scythe that I sharpen every day in readiness for Armageddon?

901. the fact that todd basically multiplies the amount of "Richie's" gold/platinum albums and hit singles by 5

900. Robert: Mr Neville I presume? You think you can replace me with a robot? Well get this! *throws robot at window, and bounces back* *beep*

[–] krazykatz999 14 years ago

899. Robert's cooking. I get hungry every time I see it.

898. Police cowering on the floor when one guy has a gun on their boss.

897. Elliot's estimate for fixing Robert's teeth going up and up - $2000 of work, "fix your teeth for $12000", wait a year and it'll be $50000

[–] Guillotine39 14 years ago

896. Right daughter I've got your ass hole here

[–] angelfire6736 14 years ago

1 Reason I didn't like it... GOD influences all people in terms of who they love?

I might be an agnostic, but I extremely doubt God has a role in all relationships enough to not let Robert get killed by a bullet through the heart. If that was the case in reality, then spousal abuse wouldn't exist.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] thisonegirl 14 years ago

Do we have to have numerous reasons, other than, it's just a great film?

Oh, he's into musicals, huh? Should've known. . .

[–] Sunflower64 14 years ago

894. O'Reilly: "It's his handwriting. Tell him it's his handwriting!"

893. O'Reilly reading (and really enjoying) the dirty paperback novel while Jackson laments the state of modern romance...while also making a bomb.

892. Gabriel (to God): "With all due respect, sir, how can ANYTHING be beyond Your control?"

891. Mr. Neville: "That's A LOT of money."

890. How unapologetically, wonderfully weird it is.

889. Robert: "I thought we agreed no cliches."

A young girl passes / in a hurry. Hair uncombed. / Full of black devils. --Kelly Link

[–] graewil 14 years ago

888. Celine winning a hand of blackjack while bound and gagged, and while Jackson is deliberately trying to cheat her. I just love Cameron Diaz's reactions all the way through that scene.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] deadbunny28 13 years ago

881 when cameron walks up the stairs, the way both robert and tod johnson are in awe of her
880 the overly gregarious gas pumper
879 cameron teaching robert how to make the ransom call
878 cameron crying hysterically on the phone then hanging up all happy
877 robert getting punched in the face while trying to take control of the situation with the gun
876 robert's co-workers telling him his "trash" novel is bad

[–] FrmSyriaWithLuv 13 years ago

875: The way Robert looked when he was enjoying the food he made. (I would had to try it if I was Celine)
874: Robert's cute smile after asking her out on a date. (Who could say no?)
873: The fact that Felix was really a man because he was barking in the bar scene. lol
872: Celine punching O'Reilly.

That price on my head, was that dead or alive?
Don't remember. See if he starts shooting.

[–] bah_humbug 13 years ago

871 "look daughter, I've got your a***hole!" I almost choked on my coffee!
870 half a million dollars? I couldnt show my face in polite society again.
869 Its got Timothy Olyphant in it. That was Timothy Olyphant!
868 Tony Shalhoub's deadpan "you're a nothing" delivery.

[–] ruinunotuner 13 years ago

867 - "With a broken arm? WITH A BROKEN ARM?"

THEY'RE EATING HER AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO EAT ME! OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

[–] frogca 12 years ago

866 lugging a huge blue rope to retrieve the case of money

[–] ex-pfc-wintergreen 12 years ago

865. I am sorry that I am so shallow, but Cameron Diaz' legs in the scene where Robert realizes they have spent the night together. Very hot.

864. The scene in Naville's office where CD surreptitiously kicks the gun back over to EM.

My other favorite has already been mentioned: the hand of blackjack. CD is a much underrated comic actress.