Pro and Con

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Sometimes your opinion is in line with almost everyone else's, and sometimes you're on an island with maybe four or five others keeping you company. You have to chill down and get philosophical 'bout dat island, dawg. If you're not in with a fairly small minority at least once or twice each year, you're probably doing something wrong.

Cases in point: Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Things We Lost in the Fire.

My reaction to Elizabeth during the Toronto Film Festival ("Is it me or the movie, or should I just take the elevator up to the roof and jump off?") may have seemed extreme to some at the time, but it has a rank 25% positive on Rotten Tomatoes on this, the day it opens nationwide.

I've heard from enough people since running my review last weekend of Things We Lost tin the Fire that while nearly everyone admires Benicio del Toro's perform- ance, people are generally mixed about or cool to the film itself. A publicist (and a friend) told me today I'm the only writer she knows of who really loves it. I saw it again last night and I know what I know. I'm not Zelig.

My favorite line from Manohla Dargis's N.Y. Times pan of Elizabeth: The Golden Age: "The queenly body quakes as history and fantasy explode."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 12, 2007 at 4:00 PM

comment #1

bmcintire says ...

The Man can write, but honestly, Jeff, I've read much more virulent pans from her than this one. I'd almost say she's giving it a pass. And it sounds like an indulgent, over-the-top blast. I can't wait.

Posted by bmcintire at October 12, 2007 4:53 PM

comment #2

Zimmergirl says ...

Does it really matter what everyone else thinks ultimately? I've always wondered that. Do you feel vindicated if everyone else agrees with you or do you mind being an island?

Posted by Zimmergirl at October 12, 2007 5:05 PM

comment #3

AndrewMallet says ...

I have heard that Clive Owen will be receiving an Oscar nom for Elizabeth. This is from a trustworth A-list producer friend of mine (hint: he produced Shoot Em Up and Transformers).
Clive Owen - a LOCK for the oscar.
Don't say I didn't call it!!

Posted by AndrewMallet at October 12, 2007 5:06 PM

comment #4

actionman says ...

Unless Bier totally fucked up Allan Loeb's brilliant script, then THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE should be a small masterpiece. That script was amazing. I read so much shit and that one just blew me away. Characters you love, story points that surprise, and an uncommon maturity in the dialogue and story threads. I haven't seen any of Bier's previous movies so I have nothing to compare it to of hers. I am a big, big fan of Del Toro and Halle Berry, while not necessarily the first actress I had in mind while reading the script, should do well with the material. It's sort of an extension of her character from MONSTERS BALL (another film I loved) but is different all the same. Anyways, I await the film with great anticipation, even when I know everything that's going to happen! I am not surprised that Jeff liked it as much as he did; it's a great story. It will appeal to people who get off on strongly defined characters and realistic atmospheres (just judging from the look of the film from the trailers). I also find it interesting that Bier worked with Clint Eastwood's recent DP of choice, Tom Stern. Can't wait to see how it looks.

Posted by actionman at October 12, 2007 5:16 PM

comment #5

BurmaShave says ...

No, ELIZABETH is a disaster. But he's definetly a contender for HOME FOR PURIM.

Posted by BurmaShave at October 12, 2007 5:17 PM

comment #6

Reedyb says ...

Hey.

I've found myself loving things everyone hated and vice versa.

It comes from having an INDEPENDENT opinion.

Don't worry.

If you followed the crowd (even the crowd that doesn't follow the crowd) we wouldn't care enough to read you.

Posted by Reedyb at October 12, 2007 6:18 PM

comment #7

EDouglas says ...

Actually, I LOVED Things We Lost in the Fire... was totally blown away by it, just haven't had the chance to write my review.

Posted by EDouglas at October 12, 2007 10:21 PM

comment #8

BurmaShave says ...

MONSTER'S BALL was a childish and deeply flawed piece of work, and that didn't seem to hurt it at all with the Academy.

Posted by BurmaShave at October 12, 2007 10:26 PM

comment #9

Kristopher Tapley says ...

The Golden Age is indeed simply pompous, ra-ra, blind pride, anachronistic horseshit on the part of Kapur and Working Title. Inescapable treachery, the whole film through.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at October 12, 2007 10:43 PM

comment #10

malibugigolo says ...

Wells:

I was overtly pissy with you about Things We Lost In the Fire.

But have you not been given a screening of Ronald Harwood's Love in the Time of Cholera.

Who did you piss off at New Line?

(or better yet is everyone there know just a dumb dry cunt?)

I say it is Harwood's movie as anyone that can make Marquez's novel down to 2 hrs. Is a GOD!

Get on it dude.

I say this Harwood's adaptation is equal Eleanor Perry's take on THE SWIMMER...and while we are at it check out

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400053148&view=excerpt

Have a great weekend.

Posted by malibugigolo at October 13, 2007 12:03 AM

comment #11

Ian Sinclair says ...

Absolutely loved THE GOLDEN AGE, which I saw tonight in a sold out thater in Manhattan. The speech Blanchett gives to the troops is getting her an Oscar nod. Can't wait to see it again.

Posted by Ian Sinclair at October 13, 2007 12:43 AM

comment #12

Kristopher Tapley says ...

...

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at October 13, 2007 12:59 AM

comment #13

Geoff says ...

"Absolutely loved THE GOLDEN AGE, which I saw tonight in a sold out thater in Manhattan. The speech Blanchett gives to the troops is getting her an Oscar nod. Can't wait to see it again."

Ian Sinclair, you worship The Lord of The Rings, right? Makes sense.

Posted by Geoff at October 13, 2007 1:05 AM

comment #14

Ian Sinclair says ...

Worship? That's silly; they are merely terrific pictures. I think the reason I liked THE GOLDEN AGE so much is because I am English. I can quite see why an American would not be as moved as much as I was, but for me it was stirring stuff.

Posted by Ian Sinclair at October 13, 2007 1:20 AM

comment #15

malibugigolo says ...

"I am English"

Ian,

Trying to explain yourself makes you sound like a Brit. Stop. Ignore them.

Posted by malibugigolo at October 13, 2007 1:48 AM

comment #16

Ian Sinclair says ...

Quite right. Nearly 5 am here. Not on form. Night all.

Posted by Ian Sinclair at October 13, 2007 1:53 AM

comment #17

malibugigolo says ...

Ian,

You have got to have a listen to Sir Neville's take on Vivaldi (this one):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000040XJ/102-5599324-9900102

life is good...

Posted by malibugigolo at October 13, 2007 1:53 AM

comment #18

malibugigolo says ...

I was going to say it is best to watch the sun rise...

Posted by malibugigolo at October 13, 2007 2:00 AM

comment #19

frankbooth says ...

"...chill down and get philosophical 'bout dat island, dawg."

You can turn a mean phrase, Wells, but you should never, never, ever try to write like this again.

Actionman: it should look like the production was trying to save money on lights.

Malibu: does anyone believe for a moment that Ian is English? Do Brits go around constantly telling everyone how veddy, veddy British they are?

Posted by frankbooth at October 13, 2007 2:07 AM

comment #20

jeffmcm says ...

I've been suspicious for a long time. I actually think Ian is doing his own very subtle version of the Monty Python 'Upper-Class Twit of the Year' sequence.

Posted by jeffmcm at October 13, 2007 2:21 AM

comment #21

malibugigolo says ...

Ian isn't below or above, he is.

Posted by malibugigolo at October 13, 2007 4:33 AM

comment #22

Rob says ...

Speaking of Monty Python, that's what kept coming to mind as I watched the queen's absurd Braveheart speech in Golden Age.

And then the movie went and topped it with that ridiculous Spanish Armada battle sequence, for which they clearly had half the budget they needed.

As for Blanchett, the good news is that her performance reminded me of another Oscar-winning turn. The bad news is that it was Dianne Wiest's in Bullets Over Broadway.

Posted by Rob at October 13, 2007 6:55 AM

comment #23

EDouglas says ...

Totally agree about Harwood's adaptation of Cholera... the script really is exceptional and between that and his script of Diving Bell, he's a shoe-in for at least one adaptated screenplay nomination.

Posted by EDouglas at October 13, 2007 7:24 AM

comment #24

aatx1228 says ...

I don't why jeff wells is so hard on Elizabeth: The Golden Age. If one has seen the first Elizabeth alot of the same themes and visual styles are carried over into the sequel. The people behind this film were never going for historical accuracy. It seemed like they wanted a bomabastic, commercial movie with good acting. In my opinion they succeeded.

Posted by aatx1228 at October 13, 2007 8:07 AM

comment #25

T. Holly says ...

Dang, you guys stay up late. Ed, you liked Heartbreak Kid, but I'm going to be open to Fire. Love the Diving Bell script, hope the editing gets recognized for getting all that interior voice to work, but it probably won't.

Posted by T. Holly at October 13, 2007 9:19 AM

comment #26

K. Bowen says ...

I love Domino. I think it's a great tall tale film about surviving in an age of exploitation. I think The Invasion is a pretty successful dark comic ode to Stanley Kubrick.

Posted by K. Bowen at October 13, 2007 9:20 AM

comment #27