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Reviews
Alexandra's Project (2003)
Thought provoking but not very likable
It certainly is a thought provoking film, but it seems so mean spirited, and the characters so unlikeable, that it's hard to like it, even though it's undeniably interesting. Of course Steve, the husband, is a pretty clueless and clumsy character, but considering that Alexandra makes it pretty plain that she's been disgusted with their sex life and probably everything else since the honeymoon, her inability or unwillingness to articulate this, or to bring any of her real problems up until the event of the movie makes her long and carefully planned response viciously passive-aggressive, to the point of true craziness. To say that he drove her crazy, even if true in a way, doesn't make her any less crazy. To say, more or less, "I've gone through the last 14 years saying yes but meaning no, and because you didn't guess, now I'm going to ruin your life" is plum crazy even if the guy is a jerk.
I still give it a few points for good acting, a reasonable bit of tension, and for making me think a bit after it's over, even if only to reflect on why it bothers me.
Camera (2000)
Not a success
There are a couple of funny scenes in this movie - the Carol Alt scene is convincingly creepy enough to be effective (the outtake in this case proving the point rather well), and the scene on the Golden Gate Bridge is good for a laugh. But basically I don't think the whole thing worked. Among other things, it's unclear why nobody in charge of this very expensive camera seemed capable of using it well, holding it steady, framing shots or aiming it consistently. Perhaps that's characteristic of the sort of people who buy hot cameras at shady pawn shops, but you'd think that someone might have taken the time to practice. I suppose it could serve as an object lesson in the many inappropriate ways a camera can be used, but if that's the point it's a blunt one. It doesn't succeed in transcending the amateurish work it portrays and, presumably, mocks.
I liked the DVD bonus feature "Video Valentino" better.
Emma (1972)
Pretty thin gruel
I too was a bit surprised at the glowing reviews some had for this version. Not that it's really bad, but it's pretty bland, and often off key. Doran Godwin is a rather plain Emma who stuck me as having little real charm, wit or animation, and John Carson is about 10 years too old for Mr. Knightley. There seemed no real chemistry between them, and really, considering his avuncular manner and her drabness, why should there be? Robert East, as Frank Churchill, seemed ill fitted at 40 to the part of the dashing young rake, and Ania Marson, while pleasant enough looking, hardly presented the figure of the highly accomplished Jane Fairfax with her poor voice set against poorer piano playing. If that was meant as a snide commentary on what was considered accomplishment in Austen's time, it fell flat.
The whole production just seemed lacking in wit, humor and zest. It's not helped either by what seems now to be a very 1970's style in dress and makeup. I can't judge how accurate the costumes might have been, but they were almost all unremittingly ugly. For the most part, this whole production could have been a stage reading without missing much in the way of performance, with a small number of exceptions. Fiona Walker's Mrs. Elton was suitably insufferable and pushy, Debbie Bowen's dithering Harriet Smith was all right, Donald Eccles also did all right as Mr. Woodhouse, and Constance Chapman's Miss Bates was decent. I'll give the production a star for each of them. I don't think any of them surpass the performances in other versions, but they at least stand up to the comparison.
I suppose for an Austen fan, any Emma is better than none, but of the four I've seen (Beckinsale, Paltrow and Garai being the other Emmas), I'd rank this one a pretty distant fourth.