robotic, passive-aggressive, musical, interracial, ménage à trois: love in the movies

The Stepford Wives (2004)
3 Stars
Directed by Frank "Yoda" Oz
Starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken, Glenn Close
A mostly faithful update of the 70s camp-horror classic. Mildly funny at times, but neither the screenwriter nor the actors take it seriously enough to really sell the camp.

Punch-Drunk Love (2001)
3 Stars
Directed and Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman
"Quirky" doesn't capture just how edgy this movie is. It's basically a traditional embarrassment-centered romantic comedy. But, through the script and especially the score, Anderson goes the extra mile in making embarrassing situations as uncomfortable for the viewer as for the protagonist. Ultimately, though, I just don't see why Emily Watson's character would go for this maniac.

The Other Side of the Bed (El Otro lado de la cama) (2002)
2 Stars
Starring Paz Vega
Lame musical sex comedy. Lame music. Lame sex. Lame comedy.

The New World (2005)
4 Stars
Directed by Terrence Malick
Starring Colin Farrell, Christian Bale, Q'orianka Kilcher
The evolution of the Malick montage poem continues, taking up right where The Thin Red Line left off. Cutting back on the voice-over poetry, Malick presents a practically silent film. It's definitely an acquired taste, and a little strenuous even once acquired. I connected with Malick, if not on a philosophical level, then on an emotional level, acquiring a taste of not so much what it meant, but what it felt like, for an Englishman to fall in love with Pocahontas.

Georgy Girl (1966)
5 Stars
Starring Lynn Redgrave, James Mason, Charlotte Rampling
A sort of chipper cross between The Graduate and Jules and Jim. Breakthrough role for Charlotte Rampling, who looks remarkably like her contemporary, Jacqueline Bisset. But the star is undoubtedly Lynn Redgrave as the titular (god, I love that word) plump ugly duckling with a heart of gold. (In case you ever wondered why Lynn was the spokesperson for Weight Watchers, well, now you know.) Lynn was nominated for an Oscar, as was sister Vanessa that same year. Both lost to Liz Taylor for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf - as famous a performance as ever won an Oscar - but Lynn was better in Georgy Girl.