RE movies

[greenbeing]

What an RE weekend! I got to see True Love, Just a Kiss, and Sex and the Other Man. Wow, I must say. What a versatile actor, and what strange movies.

It started innocuously enough with True Love, which I never would have taken another look at based on the cover of the video, except it had Mr. Eldard in there, so I thought I'd watch it. It looks like just another romantic comedy, but it's not. It was interesting, to say the least, and seeing Ron when he was my age...

Then I watched Sex and the Other Man, which I was terribly afraid was going to be too graphic for me, but it wasn't. I think this one's adapted from a stage play, and wow. It was amazing. Thought-provoking. Most of the acting was amazing in this one (I have a little beef with the girl a couple times, but I can't say it wasn't just the lines that sounded fake, maybe not her). I never thought, based on the story line, that I would be at all intrigued, but wow. I was definitely impressed.

Last I got to see Just a Kiss, which was soooo weird. A little trippy. Okay, a lot trippy, but if you don't have to say wtf a few times per movie, what's the point, right? (Interesting side note--this one had both Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel, who were both in Rent, which I also saw this weekend, so it was Rent-y weekend, too.)

By the end of these three movies I was literally walking in circles in my bedroom and going Hmph over and over. So weird, but so good, but how bizarre. And all three impressed me in their own little ways.

I had never seen Ron Eldard in anything but B/J before, but now I'm totally impressed. Okay, I'd seen him in Scent of a Woman, but I don't actually remember him much in that one, it's been a while since I've seen it. Overall, I'd recommend these three. When you wake up the next morning and you're still going Hmph, you know it was a good movie weekend. Although I have a very dark sense of humor, so these probably aren't for everyone. But for me? Absolutely. One last "wow" before I go.

--GB

[bjobsessed]

I have to agree GB. Since BJ, I now own all of Ron's movies. Some are really wierd and ones I probably wouldn't watch if it weren't for him. But he's so good no matter what character he plays. Funny--flakey--scarey--doesn't matter. I marvel at his ability to do anything and do it well. If you haven't seen Delivered, you have to get it. He plays a serial killer in that one. It's not as strange as you might think when it first starts. In fact, it's quite funny at times.

I read that he likes to play dark characters. I forget why, but he's good at it.

[greenbeing]

He is very good at the dark characters. The way he played Bill in Sex and the Other Man was amazing--going from calm and sweet to totally scary and with a few screws loose, yet you could tell he thought he was being rational.

Delivered is on my list, along with the Last Supper. And maybe Mystery, Alaska. Oh, and the Runner didn't look so bad. But I read up on Delivered and I really did want to see that one. It's good to hear it was a good movie before I took a chance. I like dark dark comedies.

I think I'll have to skip the scary ones like Sleepers, just based on content. I'm not a big war movie fanatic, either, nor end of the world blockbusters...

--GB

[rducasey]

GB you will love Mystery Alaska. I just saw it this weekend. He is absolutely adorable in it and quite the ladies man. He plays on a pick up type hockey team in Mystery Alaska, and sort of a publicity opportunity, the NY Rangers Hockey team comes to play them on their pond. He is the local lothario, I guess you would say, and my favorite line, when he hears the Rangers will be coming to play them, and wanting to score with his latest conquest, he says to her, "Good news makes the compass point north"

[housemouse]

I would also recommend The Last Supper. But if you want to see RE at his absolute best, you MUST watch When Trumpets Fade. Oh and Bash and Bakersfield PD are amazing too.

[bjobsessed]

greenbeing said:

I'm not a big war movie fanatic, either, nor end of the world blockbusters...

--GB

I'm not a war fan either, but When Trumpets fade is a good movie with a good story. It's not all about the killing. And he is the main character.

As for Deep Impact, he dies a hero--and a blind one at that.

Even if you don't like the movie, it's worth watching just to see him.

Bakersfield is a must too. He's so annoying, but loveable, cute, and funny--a real flake.

[greenbeing]

What is Bash?

--GB

[Duchess of Lashes]

greenbeing said:

What is Bash?

--GB

Bash - Latter Day Plays. Without giving too much away, Ron Eldard does a 20 minute monologue, no supporting actors, no music, the stage setting itself is very basic. He's dressed as a businessman, maybe a travelling sales man; jacket, shirt, tie. There is nothing in the blandness of the setting to draw your attention away from him. Even if there was, he rivets that attention. He talks to someone else in the room, or directly to you and you are that other person. But he sits there, drink in hand and spins a tale about his life, his family, his job, circumstances, things that changed and how it is that he is here, talking to you. You listen to him, to the way his voice changes, he laughs, he grows quiet, he is introverted one minute and full of emotion the next, and you watch the change in his expression, the way his eyes light up and grow dark again, and he weaves you into that spell and then, in a purely calm moment, in the middle of telling you about his life, he shocks the hell out of you. While there is absolutely no question that what you learn is unforgiveable and horrific, you find yourself immersed in such a sense of sympathy for this man.

I had heard so much about Bash, had read reviews about his performance, but nothing really prepared me for how truly outstanding he really was.

LongLashes

[housemouse]

longlashes said:

greenbeing said:

What is Bash?

--GB

Bash - Latter Day Plays. Without giving too much away, Ron Eldard does a 20 minute monologue, no supporting actors, no music, the stage setting itself is very basic. He's dressed as a businessman, maybe a travelling sales man; jacket, shirt, tie. There is nothing in the blandness of the setting to draw your attention away from him. Even if there was, he rivets that attention. He talks to someone else in the room, or directly to you and you are that other person. But he sits there, drink in hand and spins a tale about his life, his family, his job, circumstances, things that changed and how it is that he is here, talking to you. You listen to him, to the way his voice changes, he laughs, he grows quiet, he is introverted one minute and full of emotion the next, and you watch the change in his expression, the way his eyes light up and grow dark again, and he weaves you into that spell and then, in a purely calm moment, in the middle of telling you about his life, he shocks the hell out of you. While there is absolutely no question that what you learn is unforgiveable and horrific, you find yourself immersed in such a sense of sympathy for this man.

I had heard so much about Bash, had read reviews about his performance, but nothing really prepared me for how truly outstanding he really was.

LongLashes

Beautifully put LL. Even if they have to beg, borrow or steal, every Ron Eldard fan must see Bash.

[greenbeing]

Hmm, I'm not much for stealing... Shall I beg?

I watched the Last supper last night. V. interesting. I loved the part where RE was writhing around on the floor whining about his broken arm. Wish his character would have been a bit more prominent after that.

Anna pointed me over to ron-eldard.com, and oh my gosh! I used to watch Drop Dead Fred all the time and had no idea that was RE! I thought he was very sweet and cute. I must see if I ever taped that and if my 'rents still have it if I did. Too funny.

--GB

[greenbeing]

Eeep! I hope I'm not scarred for life. My dad's a big war movie buff, so I borrowed When Trumpets Fade and Black Hawk Down and watched them last night. War movie night.

When Trumpets Fade actually was pretty interesting and brought up some intriguing points. The Christmas music at the end was... wrong. Yet poignant.

Then I put in Black Hawk Down and enjoyed the nifty little conversation about Scrabble. But after that, my gosh, how does anyone watch a war movie and say, hey, that's a good idea? I was so disturbed, honestly, I've never had a movie affect me like that. Frightening. Which means, yeah, it was a well-made movie, but my gosh. My teddy bear didn't like it either; his ears may never be the same. So freaking disturbing. People in groups scare me. Mass hysteria scares me. Fanatics scare me. Thousands of murderous people with weaponry, oh yeah, that scares me, too. I started shaking when it was all over, so I'm sticking with my "no war movie" policy. Egad, shudder! I didn't sleep well last night. So I had to put in Sex and the Other Man for a while to watch the part where he starts mocking Stanley Tucci: "Give me the key, man." That's a great part.

--GB

[greenbeing]

Okay, last night was The Runner. I think I saw parts of this one before back when my parents had HBO. The sprinkler scene is really bizarre if you don't see the beginning... But I've seen the whole thing now, and yelled No at the TV when he went ahead and placed that other bet. I guess that's the way an addiction goes.

Kathy, was it you who asked me what I thought of the first date? I think I know which part you were referring to! What was your question? Should he have been embarrassed by that scene? I know I was! And I think the writers should have been. I guess it was to show just how scared he was, but dear lord.

I kinda wondered, when I saw it a long time ago, and again last night, did he honestly think Courtney Cox was going to take him back just because he lived?

And it was kinda weird that John Goodman's evil uncaring character gave him that chance to live, but I guess when you're playing with someone... A "do you feel lucky, punk?" moment.

I must say, all these movies have certainly been thought-provoking!

--GB

[bump]

greenbeing said:

I think I know which part you were referring to! What was your question? Should he have been embarrassed by that scene? I know I was! And I think the writers should have been. I guess it was to show just how scared he was, but dear lord.

--GB

I, too, wondered about the scene that you're referring to and I was embarrassed when I saw it. Perhaps they could've made their point a different way.

Becky

[greenbeing]

rmiro13 said:

greenbeing said:

I think I know which part you were referring to! What was your question? Should he have been embarrassed by that scene? I know I was! And I think the writers should have been. I guess it was to show just how scared he was, but dear lord.

--GB

I, too, wondered about the scene that you're referring to and I was embarrassed when I saw it. Perhaps they could've made their point a different way.

Becky

I figure that being a "guy's" movie, maybe they were going for raunchy laughs, but since the situation he was so scared about wasn't funny, was deadly serious, I can't imagine this was supposed to be funny or relieve tension in any way. It probably would have made the movie better to keep the serious tone and raise the tension. I definitely think they could have done it differently, but writers are strange people.

I can't even imagine being Courtney Cox in that scene.

--GB

[Katryna]

greenbeing said:

Okay, last night was The Runner. I think I saw parts of this one before back when my parents had HBO. The sprinkler scene is really bizarre if you don't see the beginning... But I've seen the whole thing now, and yelled No at the TV when he went ahead and placed that other bet. I guess that's the way an addiction goes.

Kathy, was it you who asked me what I thought of the first date? I think I know which part you were referring to! What was your question? Should he have been embarrassed by that scene? I know I was! And I think the writers should have been. I guess it was to show just how scared he was, but dear lord.

--GB

Yes, GB, it was me asking that question last night. I thought it was totally embarassing. I was embarassed that our Ron was the one acting it out! I have seen posts on other boards from people who thought it was hilarious, but I'm with you!