"Private" views

"If a more facile, stupid, condescending, predictable, smug, exploitive, corrosively despicable piece of wanna-be transgressive horseshit was ever made, then let's have it, because I really am too old to take on a new profession just to get even with this asshole." -- The Reeler's S.T. Van Airsdale expressing rage over Nothing is Private and its director-writer, Alan Ball.


Aaron Eckhart in Alan Ball's Nothing Is Private.

I've heard more than a few people express similar sentiments over the last two or three days. They don't dislike this film; they hate it. I feel very differently. I don't just respect it (as well as the book, "Towelhead," upon which it's based); I admire it.

In last Monday's review I called it "a sturdy, complex character drama that's 100% deserving of respect...it's obviously one of the most original, daring films about adolescent sexuality ever delivered by a quasi-mainstreamer...iIt's also a sharp look at racism (and not just the American-bred kind) and a sobering portrait of the rifts and tensions between American and Middle-Eastern mindsets."

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 13, 2007 at 2:35 PM

comment #1

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

Holy shit.

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 3:02 PM

comment #2

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

http://www.thereeler.com/the_blog/dear_alan_ball_fuck_you_love_the_reeler.php

there's the full review. I really have to see this movie now...

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 3:03 PM

comment #3

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

If it's as good as American Beauty, I'll hate its facile, stupid, condescending, predictable, smug, exploitive, corrosively despicable wanna-be transgressive horseshit ass too!

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 3:21 PM

comment #4

Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page says ...

I would never trust such a hyperbolic review, but my guess is that Ball is counting on them.

Posted by Craig Kennedy Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 3:23 PM

comment #5

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

"Ball makes Paul Haggis look like Robert Bresson."

That's the best line.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 3:36 PM

comment #6

dangovich Author Profile Page says ...

American Beauty is a case study on how easy it is to fool movie critics.

Posted by dangovich Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 4:08 PM

comment #7

EOTW Author Profile Page says ...

Chris Cooper's part aside, AM is a little overblown. While I do like part's of Spacey's performance, everything else is badly directed and overwrought. Sill waiting for Mendes to prove himself.

Posted by EOTW Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 4:13 PM

comment #8

Wrecktum Author Profile Page says ...

Thora Birch's underage tatas are all I can remember from American Beauty.

Posted by Wrecktum Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 4:22 PM

comment #9

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

I agree that American Beauty is overrated as a whole, but there are some great aspects to it. However, I still think Road to Perdition is his best film, and Jarhead got a bum-rap. That film was terrific. I don't get why people didn't like that one. Smart, stylish...and...dare I say it...different.

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 4:51 PM

comment #10

Ogami Itto Author Profile Page says ...

"Thora Birch's underage tatas are all I can remember from American Beauty."

I also remember that floating bag and some cgi roses covering a barely legal (and nekkid) Mena Suvari.

I think Kevin Spacey may have been in the movie too.

"I agree that American Beauty is overrated as a whole, but there are some great aspects to it. However, I still think Road to Perdition is his best film, and Jarhead got a bum-rap. That film was terrific. I don't get why people didn't like that one. Smart, stylish...and...dare I say it...different."

I liked JARHEAD as well. That makes two of us.

Posted by Ogami Itto Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 8:11 PM

comment #11

Jesse Perry Author Profile Page says ...

Jesse to Jeff: This review, and the story, remind me of the reactions to HAPPINESS. Is this movie a return to that kind of squirm inducement, minus the headache-inducing nihilism?

Posted by Jesse Perry Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 9:05 PM

comment #12

Jesse Perry Author Profile Page says ...

Damn, I posted that before reading The Reeler's review . . . I was hoping the Todd Solondz comparison would be fresh. Crap.

Posted by Jesse Perry Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 9:08 PM

comment #13

JD Author Profile Page says ...

This movie sucks, but not because it's offensive. That's just a smokescreen used to get the movie the kind of negative press that reads as positive press to gritty indie movie fans.

Posted by JD Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 9:30 PM

comment #14

source188 Author Profile Page says ...

American Beauty is a great film to people who don't watch films....like Crash.

Posted by source188 Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 9:46 PM

comment #15

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

Amercan Beauty is an Adam Sandler comedy about a guy who reverts to being a smartass teenager making cracks about all the grownups, dressed up for the Oscars.

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at September 13, 2007 9:59 PM

comment #16

Nicanor Author Profile Page says ...

Wells,

Have you addressed your e-mail about production stills of an actress here? I haven't seen it, if you have. If you have I would love to see your response to this allegation.

This seemed to be a good place to ask the question with Thora Birch and Mena Suvari both topless in ;American Beauty.'

Posted by Nicanor Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 2:09 AM

comment #17

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

Jesus, fuck, where have you been?

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 2:13 AM

comment #18

Griff Author Profile Page says ...

Anything that is lauded for throwing a light on the hypocrisies of suburbia is automatically suspect(oooh, how daring and edgy...see Sinclair Lewis spinning in his grave to reach for another bottle of whiskey.

Posted by Griff Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 6:54 AM

comment #19

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

Dear CNN,

Princess Diana has died, but I haven't heard one thing about it on your network!

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 7:36 AM

comment #20

christian Author Profile Page says ...

i revist AMERICAN BEAUTY like a dear sick friend. i have fond memories of watching it for the first time in austin at a melancholic point in my life.
and it helped.

it's got a definitive spacey role, some great dialogue, beautiful conrad hall imagery, wonderful music and one of the best getting high scenes (outside the party). so there.

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 10:03 AM

comment #21

Arizona Joe Author Profile Page says ...

The reports of this movie do not motivate me to see it. I don't want to be scolded. And although I don't listen to Toby Keith or watch Fox News, I am sick of middle eastern mindsets impinging on our freedom and way of life where church and state are separate. (By the way, my sister in law is a Saudi, and that certainly has not made me biased.)

Having said that, I thought "American Beauty" was a very good film. I thought the characters were very credible and drawn from real life Americans. I notice woman like Annette Bening's character all the time, as well as the teenage tarts. I could empathize with the Kevin Spacey's character, even his lack of good judgment.

Chris Cooper's character was over the top, but it is a dramatic movie.

Alas, there are a lot of atypical, dysfunctional families in Reagan's America. A materialist ethos, job dislocation, homophobia, teenage neoteny, I don't think there is anything smug or exploitative about that. It's the way things are.

Posted by Arizona Joe Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 10:07 AM

comment #22

robbiefantastic Author Profile Page says ...

with all this talk me thinks i have to go rewatch american beauty.....and i thought jarhead sucked......

Posted by robbiefantastic Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 11:26 AM

comment #23

Hopscotch Author Profile Page says ...

American Beauty is an amazing movie. And frankly I think there's only hate for it because it's been SO praised for so long. Yeah, the film's metaphor hits on the head many times. The Annente Benning character is a little thin. Some convenient plotting towards the end.

But I'll be honest...I was on the verge of tears in a movie theater because a misplaced teen who films people is showing his next door neighbor a floating plastic bag. Now THAT's directing.

Really liked Road to Perdition.

Couldn't stand Jarhead.

Posted by Hopscotch Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 4:52 PM

comment #24

Hopscotch Author Profile Page says ...

Oh, and there's been rumors for years that the AB script was rewritten all over the place before it got shot.

Posted by Hopscotch Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 4:53 PM

comment #25

Hopscotch Author Profile Page says ...

christian, were you a UT student when you first saw it. I was a freshman there. It was the first movie I saw as a film student. Which probably has a certain impact on me as well.

Oh, and that score is amazing. The fact that it lost Best Music that year is a travesty.

Posted by Hopscotch Author Profile Page at September 14, 2007 4:54 PM

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