![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
You know, years ago when I heard they were doing a modernized remake of Great Expectations I thought, how could you update that story? The whole thing, including the title, depends on a Victorian class system that's rigid, where everyone's places are set and easily recognized by everyone else, where even a tiny thing like calling "jacks" "knaves" will show your future. If you set it in late 20th century American well, not that we don't have our own haves and have-nots, but we just have never had a class system that rigid. If Ben Franklin and Roseanne can make it, so can you.
Then I heard they were making Pip (excuse me, Finn) an artist. Even stupider. An art world makes it even more possible for a person to be successful while still being lower class. You don't have to know how to imitate the social graces of the upper classes to be a successful artist. You can be a heroin addict who looks like a homeless person. Why does Finn need a mysterious patron at all? His self-taught art is enough of a ticket. It just makes him less likeable that he's relying on a patron to pull him up.
So now I'm finally watching this movie and it's just as bad as I'd thought. The scene with Joe where Pip/Finn is supposedly embarassed by him doesn't work at all. That was one of my favorite scenes in the book beacuse you know, I wanted to smack Joe myself. He's cringing and embarassing, bowing and scraping before Pip because he's quality now. In the movie it's ridiculous--why should Finn be all that embarassed by his uncle, besides that he's ruined Finn's story of coming from a background that's slightly (only slightly) more seedy than it really is? So what if the guy knocks over a drink and tells embarassing stories? It's hardly the same as Joe's incredibly painful insistance of balancing his hat on the mantle just to have it fall off again and again. It's just...it just doesn't work.
Pip/Finn has no drive of his own except to be with Estella. Maybe in Victorian times you could kind of get away with the idea that the girl's pretty to look at so we'll just assume he can't live without her because he can't touch her otherwise. But in this movie? She's just vacuous. Even worse, the movie insists on making Estella and Miss Havisham sympathetic in a ridiculous way. Enough with Gwyneth Paltrow and the sad eyes in every scene. Who cares if she marries Hank Azaria (like he's going to be as cruel to her as her husband is in the book? Yeah)? She can get divorced. Or she can sleep around. THERE'S NOTHING AT STAKE HERE. Estella's supposed to be raised to be cold and cruel, yet she's always crying: Boo-hoo. I was raised to be afraid of love so you scare me! Um, no. So all she learns at the end is that she misses Finn? That she should have married Ethan Hawke instead of Hank Azaria? Yeah, that's powerful. Totally worth sitting through a whole movie because I couldn't sleep thinking that poor Gwyneth had to be married to Hank Azaria.
So without the whole class structure thing that the whole novel turns on what's the movie about? As far as I can tell it's about how many expensive looking outfits they can hang on Gwyneth Paltrow's lanky body while still making her look almost naked. I guess there are people who are interested in this kind of experiment. I am not one of them.
In better news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FOREVERSENDED!!!!
Then I heard they were making Pip (excuse me, Finn) an artist. Even stupider. An art world makes it even more possible for a person to be successful while still being lower class. You don't have to know how to imitate the social graces of the upper classes to be a successful artist. You can be a heroin addict who looks like a homeless person. Why does Finn need a mysterious patron at all? His self-taught art is enough of a ticket. It just makes him less likeable that he's relying on a patron to pull him up.
So now I'm finally watching this movie and it's just as bad as I'd thought. The scene with Joe where Pip/Finn is supposedly embarassed by him doesn't work at all. That was one of my favorite scenes in the book beacuse you know, I wanted to smack Joe myself. He's cringing and embarassing, bowing and scraping before Pip because he's quality now. In the movie it's ridiculous--why should Finn be all that embarassed by his uncle, besides that he's ruined Finn's story of coming from a background that's slightly (only slightly) more seedy than it really is? So what if the guy knocks over a drink and tells embarassing stories? It's hardly the same as Joe's incredibly painful insistance of balancing his hat on the mantle just to have it fall off again and again. It's just...it just doesn't work.
Pip/Finn has no drive of his own except to be with Estella. Maybe in Victorian times you could kind of get away with the idea that the girl's pretty to look at so we'll just assume he can't live without her because he can't touch her otherwise. But in this movie? She's just vacuous. Even worse, the movie insists on making Estella and Miss Havisham sympathetic in a ridiculous way. Enough with Gwyneth Paltrow and the sad eyes in every scene. Who cares if she marries Hank Azaria (like he's going to be as cruel to her as her husband is in the book? Yeah)? She can get divorced. Or she can sleep around. THERE'S NOTHING AT STAKE HERE. Estella's supposed to be raised to be cold and cruel, yet she's always crying: Boo-hoo. I was raised to be afraid of love so you scare me! Um, no. So all she learns at the end is that she misses Finn? That she should have married Ethan Hawke instead of Hank Azaria? Yeah, that's powerful. Totally worth sitting through a whole movie because I couldn't sleep thinking that poor Gwyneth had to be married to Hank Azaria.
So without the whole class structure thing that the whole novel turns on what's the movie about? As far as I can tell it's about how many expensive looking outfits they can hang on Gwyneth Paltrow's lanky body while still making her look almost naked. I guess there are people who are interested in this kind of experiment. I am not one of them.
In better news, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FOREVERSENDED!!!!
Tags:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
Yup!
From:
no subject
i caught this flic when it aired on some tv channel or other. watching flics on tv is a slightly sore subject with me at this moment due to my having developed an ugly green rash having just recently been bitten by that ugly green-eyed monster aka jealous. ugh -- i can't stand it that as much as i'm happy for you {and iyam iyam i swear iyam glad for you} i'm also envious cause i didn't get picked and it's even worst cause i didn't really want to do it until i wanted the $$ to get my very own digital camera yuck! another green monster rises to the surface: greed. i haven't decided whether blame my non-choosen-ness on my skimble-scramble way of talking & writing or on my un-photogenic looks or the weird way i dressed that day -- i was going to an opening that night & was dressed for the evening from the waist down -- fancy skirt with fishnets & heels but i was wearing on a t-hirt instead of my fancy blouse --i looked undeniably weird. you'll figure my green-eyed monsterness, won't you.
well even though amc does think much of my ability to speak about movies, here i go anyway : i can't say i'm overly fond of this version of "great expectations" although i do think gwynenth makes a great ice princess {not a big acting stretch, i daresay} & i like ethan's pip {particularily the drawing scene} i heartily dislike the ending: over the top sentimental sugar.
From:
no subject
Here's the thing about the casting, I don't think it had anything to do with doing anything well or looking good because if it did I would not have gotten it. I think it was all about demographics and they probably were just looking for a good mix. I had pretty much assumed we didn't get it at all. In things like this I always figure it's best to chalk it up to hair color or something equally random.
I will accept your green-eyed monster-ness, assuming you don't come after me with a scimitar or anything like that.:-) I already have to deal with the roommate's about this, you know!
From:
no subject
i get a perverse kick out of her appearances in: talented mr. ripley & the royal tennebaums
as for amc: yup, i'm too weird no doubt {although i know my friends love me for my weird ways &, as john told susan & sean tuesday nite, my shameless-ness}
i just wanted the money so i could have my dress & my camera. btw: as soon as i realized i wanted to get the gig for that reason i *knew* i wasn't gonna get it.
i will not becoming after you, i promise -- i just needed to get those ugly feelings out in the open & now they are gone. you know me, i believe in: vent it all & promptly forget it!