Not really sure why this movie got pretty much ignored, at the time of
its release. Not just by the movie goers, which is perhaps somewhat
understandable but more so by all of big award ceremonies. By all means
this movie should had swept a couple of them and it truly earned some
more recognition.
Drama's normally aren't even really my kind of thing but I just got
captivated by this movie and was really liking it. Guess the main
reason why I like it was because it wasn't being a pretentious or
melodramatic one and it deliberately kept things small, which gave the
overall movie also a sense of realism to it.
For me it was a movie about people in search of themselves. Basically
all of the characters are unhappy with their current situations and are
searching for ways to break out and to get more in touch with
themselves. This goes for the movie its youngster, which also makes
this a sort of coming of age movie but also for their parents. Every
character goes through some sort of inner transitions and the movie
does a great job at balancing it all out.
Basically everybody has a fair share of screen time in this movie.
There aren't really one or two main characters but more like five or
six of them. Every storyline is about as equally interesting and good
to follow as the other. At least in my opinion of course. I personally
got grabbed by it all, also since it isn't really being a standard
drama, that is being predictable to watch from start till finish.
It's also a movie that is being made great and intriguing to watch by
its cast-members. It truly has an impressive cast-list, with actors
such as Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tobey Maguire,
Christina Ricci and Elijah Wood, among many others. A cast to kill for
and everybody did a great job, playing their character.
A really overlooked Ang Lee movie, that is definitely worth checking
out!
8/10
Watch trailer
Mmm I really liked it too. Not sure I agree with it being overlooked though. I was 17 and it is a long time ago, but I remember some definite critical acclaim and it was recommended in the filmbibles I used back then, the 'videojaarboeken'....
ReplyDeleteI do agree that too little people are currently aware with it's existence and quality :-)