In a couple of words, I could describe this movie as really very good. I definitely have to commend director/writer Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire) for a beautifully written script. The perfect mixture of comedy, drama, and romance made this movie worth sitting down and watching (twice, for me). The story was wonderfully original (or it sure seemed like it if it wasn't), and the moments between Drew and his father at the end were mostly perfect, though some little bits were drawn out.
I'm not an Orlando Bloom fan, and as far as I was concerned, I had never seen a good Orlando Bloom movie until now. Lord of the Rings' success wasn't because of Captain Obvious Bloom (I swear, Peter Jackson forgot about Legolas and gave him some lines last minute). Pirates of the Caribbean was all Johnny Depp. Troy, well, that one belonged to Brad Pitt. Kingdom of Heaven eh, no comment. Finally, Orlando Bloom has finally found his calling in romantic-comedies. I would rather see one hundred romantic-comedies that're all the same then sit through five of his "epic" war movies.
As the lovable, semi-suicidal shoe designer Drew Baylor, Bloom does really well for most of the movie. Sometimes in scenes where Bloom has the chance to be really passionate and full of emotion, he kind of tones it down. But he's got potential to do better next time. Just step up the romance and he'll do just fine. Bad things aside, he was funny! The writing was great and he did the scenes wonderfully.
I will, however, have to subtract points for the casting of Kirsten Dunst, who played a flight attendant and Drew's new (possibly only) friend named Claire Colburn. She had no emotion and no chemistry with Bloom. She couldn't decide whether to be Southern or just normal. The only things that saved her were the incredibly long phone call between her and Bloom that was really about nothing in general, which she executed well, and her contribution to the road trip at the end. Luckily, she wasn't bad enough to sink the movie.
Susan Sarandon sparkled as Bloom's mother. I was a bit disappointed when, during most of the movie, Sarandon was hardly there, but a nice little surprise came near the end of the movie in which she gave a very funny speech that lit the place on fire. Her impulsive "no looking back" projects were funny. But there was a mystery shrouding Sarandon's family. Where did they go? Wouldn't they be comforting her? Were they dead? Who knows? It was all Drew's dad's family. They never really said.
Alec Baldwin was very funny, yet short-lived, as Drew's boss. His part was really well played. Jessica Biel played Drew's girlfriend Ellen. Who cares about her? The movie would be fine without her, oh, three scenes. If she was going to have a part, it might as well be somewhat significant. After all, she was his girlfriend, very possibly his only one since high school. If she's trying to get a reprieve from the Stealth "fiasco," sorry, thanks for playing, but try again.
The movie may not be Oscar-worthy to some (but I think it deserves at least a nomination for Crowe), but it still warrants a watch. The movie was carried by Orlando Bloom, who maybe for the first time in his life did a great job all on his own. Here it is the long-expected performance we've all been waiting for. Elizabethtown is a "Do Not Miss."
I'm not an Orlando Bloom fan, and as far as I was concerned, I had never seen a good Orlando Bloom movie until now. Lord of the Rings' success wasn't because of Captain Obvious Bloom (I swear, Peter Jackson forgot about Legolas and gave him some lines last minute). Pirates of the Caribbean was all Johnny Depp. Troy, well, that one belonged to Brad Pitt. Kingdom of Heaven eh, no comment. Finally, Orlando Bloom has finally found his calling in romantic-comedies. I would rather see one hundred romantic-comedies that're all the same then sit through five of his "epic" war movies.
As the lovable, semi-suicidal shoe designer Drew Baylor, Bloom does really well for most of the movie. Sometimes in scenes where Bloom has the chance to be really passionate and full of emotion, he kind of tones it down. But he's got potential to do better next time. Just step up the romance and he'll do just fine. Bad things aside, he was funny! The writing was great and he did the scenes wonderfully.
I will, however, have to subtract points for the casting of Kirsten Dunst, who played a flight attendant and Drew's new (possibly only) friend named Claire Colburn. She had no emotion and no chemistry with Bloom. She couldn't decide whether to be Southern or just normal. The only things that saved her were the incredibly long phone call between her and Bloom that was really about nothing in general, which she executed well, and her contribution to the road trip at the end. Luckily, she wasn't bad enough to sink the movie.
Susan Sarandon sparkled as Bloom's mother. I was a bit disappointed when, during most of the movie, Sarandon was hardly there, but a nice little surprise came near the end of the movie in which she gave a very funny speech that lit the place on fire. Her impulsive "no looking back" projects were funny. But there was a mystery shrouding Sarandon's family. Where did they go? Wouldn't they be comforting her? Were they dead? Who knows? It was all Drew's dad's family. They never really said.
Alec Baldwin was very funny, yet short-lived, as Drew's boss. His part was really well played. Jessica Biel played Drew's girlfriend Ellen. Who cares about her? The movie would be fine without her, oh, three scenes. If she was going to have a part, it might as well be somewhat significant. After all, she was his girlfriend, very possibly his only one since high school. If she's trying to get a reprieve from the Stealth "fiasco," sorry, thanks for playing, but try again.
The movie may not be Oscar-worthy to some (but I think it deserves at least a nomination for Crowe), but it still warrants a watch. The movie was carried by Orlando Bloom, who maybe for the first time in his life did a great job all on his own. Here it is the long-expected performance we've all been waiting for. Elizabethtown is a "Do Not Miss."