MovieChat Forums > My Blueberry Nights (2007) Discussion > ::Gasp:: I thought it was good...

::Gasp:: I thought it was good...

posted 16 years ago by meestro
30 replies | jump to latest

Just saw the film...I liked it. Is that wrong? I think people are looking for something in the film that isn't there, and wasn't intended to be there. This is a light-hearted, no frills type of film...Surely there are some cliche metaphors, but it still comes off deeper than most light-hearted american style romantic films.

The only thing that truly bothered me was the cinematography...It screamed 1990s Law & Order Flashback...The whole slow mo visual trails thing...Annoying

I didn't think Natalie was as bad as people are making her out to be in this film. I agree, she gets on my nerves, too...I think it's the whole talkative immature role that she seems to be typecasted in that's ruining her. I prefer her in a more womanly, mature role...She seems to thrive in that (Darjeeling Limited). Quirkiness is fine, that's who she is, but the abnoxious whiney immature thing should have been ditched 5 years ago.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] vince_cadena 16 years ago

I agree with you that it is a good film but I totally disagree with you on the cinematography. I though Kondjis work was excellent and that the film looked gorgous. Nora Jones totally caught me off guard because I thought she was great and I didn't realize she was the star of the film till I saw it. She really carried that film, her and the rest of the great cast. Once again another great soundtrack from a Wong Kar Wai film, I loved the nod to In the Mood for Love. It also featured one of Jude Laws best performances since Closer.

[–] acb 16 years ago

Also liked the film.
Felt it was amazing to see Wong Kar Wai's style applied to a non-asian cast and setting. Seemed a bit alien, almost 'fusion'. Unusual in a way.

But I can see why some people don't like it. They probably expected a story line with artistic cinematography. Yet with Wong Kar Wai it's usually the other way around! You get an art film, with some bits of story that you can string together for yourself. Think Mulholland Drive rather than Amelie.

To me Kar Wai's films always seem staged or 'fake'. But since they so far played in an Asian environment it is harder for a non-asian to detect this, things just seem 'exotic' in a cool way.
Only because for the first time we can see his style applied to characters and places we can relate to, makes their staged, fake character so obvious. But that doesn't mean this wasn't intentional. It is, that's the point.

[–] the_negotiator-1 16 years ago

brilliant film!

well said acb!

[–] lnh_boy 16 years ago

I just finished my DVD last night and I was quite happy with it. Sure, it's slow and stylized. Almost dream-like. It's very much a Wong Kar Wai film. The plot is more about Elizabeth's journey and how she's changed by the experiences. The acting isn't perfect, but effective enough. I would be happy to watch it again.

[–] alessia-4 16 years ago

I enjoyed it as well.
It's indeed a slow movie but there's something intriguing about it.
I am not a real Jude Law fan (I mean, he's a rather good actor but I don't find him extraordinary just because he's handsome) but I loved his character and his performance...the final scene of the kiss is beautiful!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] luisa_online 16 years ago

"I am not a real Jude Law fan (I mean, he's a rather good actor but I don't find him extraordinary just because he's handsome)"

If u put the handsome man aside, u can see that he can be an extraordinary actor.

[–] tigerslam18 16 years ago

For some reason, people seem to dismiss actors like Law and Brad Pitt, simply because they are good looking. Both, in my opinion, have have turned in many more solid performances than they have poor ones. Instead, people simply assume they cannot act because they are good looking. Silly to be honest. Coming from a guy who can look past the attractiveness of an actor/actress, I find Law and Pitt to be great actors.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] paradox_debaser 13 years ago

Jude Law is great in this. And the Talented Mr.Ripley. And Gattica. That's off the top of my head.

Oh, and cold mountain.

[–] noahtenzin 16 years ago

Why'd it take so long to come out, though?

[–] tomkattent-1 16 years ago

probablly editing delays or the studio.

Happens all the time.
I see it on the coming out list.
So i dont know where people have
already seen it, maybe film
fest or something.

I worked on it a little bit when it
filmed in Nevada, Ely,
then they moved on to another state.

In fact it was filming right around
after I worked on Transformers
at the Hover dam there.

So yeah it did seem
to take awhile for it to come out.

[–] dolorescraeg 16 years ago

dolores craeg
be good to one another.
tigerslam18,
i agree with you wholeheartedly about extremely beautiful actors being given the fish eye more than others. i believe when a man looks at someone who is supernaturally beautiful like jude law there is an immediate reaction of envy. the person may not even realize it but it colors their critique on that person's acting. right away they don't take them seriously. in other words the beauty gets in the way of the talent very often.it's a strange phenomina but a very real reaction.

[–] ltjourdan 16 years ago

i thought it was very good and Stratharin deserves an oscar nom.... thus far.

[–] oneseat 16 years ago

Strathairn was excellent, and so was Rachel Weisz. Elizabeth thought SHE was heartbroken, but those two conveyed their characters' real heartbreak. Natalie Portman's reaction to SPOILER*her character's father's death*SPOILER was quite moving, too.

[–] dolorescraeg 16 years ago

dolores craeg
be good to one another.

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Why'd it take so long to come out, though?

many people can't get past jude law's extraordinary beauty to realize that he is a darn good actor. they are so busy looking at his face the other escapes them. he has done 30 films many of them in england. he has done some great work...he's won the british academy award and been nominated twice for the oscar. he's got the ability...

[–] jolka777 16 years ago

I have just finishedm watching. I really like it. Lazy (it's a compliment) tasty and dreamy movie. Great final scene in the bar. It reminds of timeless ending of another Wong Kar-Wai movie - Fallen Angels. Very good acting from Jude Law, David Stratharin and Natalie Portman. Good debut for Norah Jones. She was so winderfuly neurotic. Nice cameo from Cat Power. The other case is Rachel Weisz. Simply stunning and mesmerizing. Loved her in every minut.
I feel so good after watching this movie. Don't know why...

[–] Provokateur 16 years ago

Right on, this was another beautiful Wong Kar Wai movie. It screams sensibility.

Loved it.

[–] will4636 16 years ago

I just saw this in the theater over the weekend. I'm a long-time Wong Kar Wai film - and yes I loved the nod to "In the Mood for Love" (which I think is a masterpiece) - and the continued exploration of some of Wong's themes - such as identity/time/memory.

With the whole Elizabeth/Lizzie/Betty/Beth thing - I kept half expecting to see Maggie Cheung pop up to reprise her role from the HK trilogy.

I think Wong Kar Wai uses music consistently more effectively than any other director I can think of. It was interesting to me that the snippet from the "In the Mood for Love" soundtrack became MY personal "Proustian madeleine" - while the blueberry pie served that function for the characters.

Oh, and I thought the blueberries were filmed BEAUTIFULLY!

The professional acting cast around Nora Jones was exceptional; and I felt she was exactly "right" to capture an ordinary young woman in a rather ordinary situation - on an extraordinary voyage of self discovery.

I thought the screenplay beautifully written, as well.

[–] indieoldielover 13 years ago

okay...i simply wanted to say "thank you" for this thread...I mean,really, with all that hatred towards this movie on other boards, I was beginning to think something was wrong with me for LOVING this movie..

You talkin' to me?

[–] Fallsemester 13 years ago

I know why I liked this film. But they are very personal reasons. I guess we all deep down inside sometimes wish we could runaway from the heartache.