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At some point in our life, we all wish to make a new, fresh start. Maybe it's something as silly as a new year resolution, or something more serious, but I do know for sure that it's never easy. In movies, however, is a whole different story. It is so much easier, right? They decide to do something and accomplish that. Well, not always. Anyway, that's the theme for this week's Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves, and without further ado, here are my picks
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
This is a bit more on the silly side and it follows a 32-year-old woman, Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), who is determined to improve herself aka stop drinking smoking, losing weight and find Mr. Right. And of course none of the three will be easy to achieve, especially the latter as Bridget is torn between her charming, womanizer boss Daniel (Hugh Grant), and the rude and arrogant Mark (Colin Firth). It's a corny and clichéd click flick but Renée Zellweger makes it so funny and enjoyable. And I'm team Mark, just in case you're wondering.
Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) has a mental breakdown when she finds that an unrequited friend of hers didn't invite her to her wedding. Released from the hospital, she learns about Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen), an Instagram influencer whose life appears to be perfect, and, with the inheritance from her late mother, Ingrid moves to Los Angeles with one goal, befriend Taylor. It doesn't go exactly as Ingrid planned to but I guess that's what happens when you pretend to be someone else. Anyway, this was such a pleasant surprise. It's funny and kinda sad at some point, and it explores our obsession with social media pretty well.
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
After escaping from a cult, Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) calls her sister (Sarah Paulson) who picks her up and takes her to the lake house where she's staying with her husband (Hugh Dancy). She tries to start over but the cult fucked her up pretty bad and her past haunts her. It's pretty intense and quite disturbing, but it manages to show how hard it is to go back to normality after living in an entirely different world for some time. Olsen's performance is great.
I haven't seen Ingrid Goes West though it's on my list but I have seen the others. I'm not a Zellweger fan in the slightest and while she was passable in Bridget Jones I spent the entire time thinking how much better it would have been with Kate Winslet. I didn't like Martha Marcy....but Olsen was outstanding in it.
ReplyDeleteI went with fresh starts in both regards to moving and reinventing yourself.
My Fair Lady (1964)-Coarse cockney flower vendor Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn) goes to Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) and his friend Col. Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) after a chance meeting to teach her “how to talk genteel like” so she can get a job in a shop. On a bet with Pickering Higgins decides to remake Eliza and pass her off as royalty and she’s off to a fresh start! Harrison is inimitable and Audrey charming but you can’t help but yearn for Julie Andrews, who created the role on stage, and her bell like soprano. Sumptuous musical won Best Picture and is a treat for the eyes and ears.
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)-Recently widowed Alice Hyatt (Ellen Burstyn) and her son Tommy leave their New Mexico town so that Alice can try her luck as a singer in California. In Arizona they find themselves short on funds and she takes a job in a small diner until they build up their resources again. But when she meets handsome rancher David (Kris Kristofferson) it looks like she might be making a new start of a different kind. Directed by Martin Scorsese this won Ellen Burstyn a Best Actress Oscar.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)-Freshly divorced and in a purple funk from which she seems unable to extricate herself writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) is gifted by her newly pregnant friend Patti (Sandra Oh) with a tour of Italy that Patti can’t take. Passing through Tuscany Frances impulsively buys a somewhat distressed villa and sets about rebuilding her life with the help of the colorful locales and a new romance. Charming and well-acted with breathtaking vistas you’ll want to jump the next flight to Tuscany when it’s over.
I can't even picture Kate Winslet as Bridget Jones lol
DeleteI saw Under the Tuscan Sun a very long time ago but I remember enjoying it. I haven't seen the other two but they both are on my list.
I think everyone is team Mark! :)
ReplyDeleteI know people who are team Daniel :|
DeleteIngrid Goes West is a film I do want to see. It was at my local multiplex for a week and then, it's gone which is so typical with a lot of American indie films here.
ReplyDeleteBridget Jones' Diary is a fun film as I'm also team Mark. I also like Under the Tuscan Sun. Mostly for that tribute to La Dolce Vita.
Well, at least you get them. No chance of seeing indies in cinemas where I live.
DeleteWe matched with Ingrid! I had Martha Marcy May Marlene down originally as well, then I swapped it for Silver Linings after rewatching it recently.
ReplyDeleteSilver Linings is so good and I wanted to pick it too but I used it in the past so I went with Martha Marcy May Marlene instead.
DeleteThe only one I have seen is Bridget Jones and enjoyed the flick especially the scene with the party. I have been in that position:) I am also not a Renee Zellweger fan but she made this possible. But not sure who could have played her
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone else could have done the role like Zellweger. I just can't imagine someone else playing her.
DeleteI've only seen Bridget Jones but I love it, obviously. The other two have been on my radar for a while, I think I'd like them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'd do.
DeleteMartha Marcy May Marlene - I wished I remembered this one, fits in perfectly.
ReplyDelete