I’ve already written twice about Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married - first pointing out that the trailer suggested a fairly cliche film and secondly to point out that the film was actually  getting stellar reviews. I am happy to report that the film is actually quite amazing.   It’s funny, a big chunk of my friends went to a wedding this past weekend (I didn’t) and that (and the fact that everyone I went to high school with seems to be married) got me to thinking about weddings (and all that jazz) and how I’ve always focused on work more than plans of that nature. So it’s kind of funny that a film about a wedding couldn’t do more to reconfirm my desire to make films and to find new ways to give people access to cinema.

The film opens with Kym (Anne Hathaway) getting out of rehab and going straight to her Dad’s home where they are getting ready for her sister Rachel’s wedding.   I almost don’t want to say anything more, as the film is best when you know very little.    What I will say is that it is filled with great actors (professional and more amateurish folk) and beautiful musical moments.   It is about family and self and how the two sometimes can’t connect.

Mostly though, what I will say is skip any reviews that go into specifics and give this film a chance.   It is raw yet graceful, quiet yet loud and I cried at both happy and sad moments.    And as we prepare to go full speed ahead into Hollywood formulaic Oscar films, this may be the most refreshing film you’ll see for quite some time.   It makes me want to make films.

Just for kicks, the trailer is after the jump - but don’t let it fool you Read the rest of this entry >>

When I posted the trailer to Jonathan Demme’s Rachel Getting Married a few weeks ago, I didn’t have very high hopes for the film.   Thankfully, the trailer may be deceiving and I may have been wrong or so I gather from Karina Longworth’ Spout review of the film:

For a film featuring not only said reality competition castoff but a tour de force performance from a two-time Teen Choice Award nominee, it’s almost unfathomably dark and emotionally tough. It’s essentially a Dogme 95 film directed by Robert Altman, which will be a frightening proposition for some, and something akin to cinematic ecstasy for others. It’s the latter for me. [Spout]

Demme’s been focusing on documenatries as of late (like Jimmy Carter Man From Plains) so I’m glad that his return to narrative work is getting some good buzz. Read the rest of this entry >>

I’ve always been a fan of Jonathan Demme (Jimmy Carter Man From Plains, The Agronomist, Philadelphia) and Man Men has cemented my love of Rosemarie DeWitt but I don’t know what to make of the trailer for Rachel Getting Married. It looks like all the elements are there for a both a movie that touches people but also manages to extend beyond cliche and expectation - but the trailer seems to suggest something a tad more traditional.

Regardless Demme is a great storyteller and that should be reason enough to check it out. Read the rest of this entry >>