grrgoyl

I had to see this if for no other reason than to try to dispel the image of James Spader on the "Boston Legal" commercials looking sadly bloated and moon-faced. I think he's on medication of some kind.

My first thought on this film was the observation that certain actors will always retain residual coolness for me based on other movies they've done. For instance, Lesley Ann Warren will always have Clue to counteract anything else inferior she might do. Maggie Gyllenhaal will always have Donnie Darko, and now, well, this movie. Sarah Michelle Gellar will always have Buffy, no matter how many Scooby Doo movies she makes. Proving that early role choices are indeed critical to some of the moviegoing public.

My second thought was, what is with James Spader and the dysfunctional, introverted, deviant, yet highly sexual characters? Aside from this I give you Sex, Lies and Videotape and don't forget Crash, David Cronenberg's classic romantic comedy. I'm not complaining; it's these off-the-wall roles that make me love him all the more. That and his voice. Mmmmm. My tattoo artist has the same silky-smooth, soft voice and it is twice as nice to listen to face-to-face.

But onto the movie. I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't this. I knew it was sexual, but not twisted sexual. Again, not really complaining. I thought Maggie did a fabulous job and revealed herself to be a very multi-faceted actress, an opportunity not really given to her in Donnie Darko. James never fails to captivate me with the subtle nuances he gives each role through facial expressions and body language. What really bothered me the first time through was the happy ending. To me it seemed very artificial and forced, and illogical. It seemed like all the people talking to her at the end were only hallucinations, and the fairytale ending was just an extension of a dream (and like I said, I really really hate movies that do that. With the exception of Brazil.) I did like the religious overtones of her fasting at the desk, and his ritualistic cleansing of her to start her new life with him. But the cheery ending just didn't sit right. So much so that I watched it again with commentary (a testament to the movie in itself, as I don't often have the time or the inclination to delve that deeply into most movies). One thing I learned from the director is that he loves the word "hysterical"....he must have used it about eight times throughout the movie. This got a little ingratiating. To me, Austin Powers is hysterical. The South Park movie (and any given episode) is hysterical. This movie was amusing at best, but there wasn't a single moment I would award the term "hysterical." But this is neither here nor there. He didn't shed light on one of my questions, which was the purpose of the repetition in decoration in Mr. Grey's environments, both at home and in the office. He alluded to the symmetry being an homage to Stanley Kubrick's framing style. The closest he came was the statement that "repetition is erotic" but didn't elaborate on it. He also didn't really go into much detail on the ending, but strangely just watching it the second time, it made more sense and seemed more fitting to me. The second viewing also cemented the film as another keeper for me, just because the story really is beautiful in a dark, edge-of-society way. For me, this is a 4 out of 5.

In unrelated news, Chris Tilley copied a CD for me, Danse Macabre by The Faint. Never heard of them, and I put off listening to it for a week because he copies lots of stuff for me that is really "eh." Not this, though. This rocked my world. Sort of old school techno 80s-ish, with an early Ministry/Orgy feel.....hard to describe, but just awesome. He was really happy I finally liked something. Poor guy.

I also plan to be at Best Buy's front door first thing in the morning for the release of Arrested Development Season One GAH. Because I can't live for one minute longer than I have to without this piece of wonderfulness in my life. And neither can you.

-=Lainey=-

update/edit: I lied. Upon opening my eyes this morning I realized I could go to Walmart that very minute and get AD instead of waiting for lazy Best Buy to finally crawl out of bed around 10 or so. I realize that Walmart is inherently evil for using child labor and discriminating against female employees, plus I heard a rumor once that they get special "cleaner" versions of some movies and I'm sorry, I don't think any store has the right to decide what I as an adult should and shouldn't watch (their shelves were conspicuously free of any copies of Secretary too). But as you will see this is all a moot point.

I didn't expect a full palette-sized display of AD. But I also didn't expect no copies whatsoever. The video guy gave me some song-and-dance about UPS making a delivery at about 11. Nice try guy, but I inventory these backrooms and I know they get titles weeks in advance, in tightly sealed boxes with dire warnings about opening them before the street release date. On my way out the door I briefly debated going to the other Walmart on my street, or waiting for Best Buy after all. I opted instead to take my business to the kindler, gentler Target. Because patience is a virtue, just not one of mine. For $2 more, the sexiness was mine. I briefly debated picking up Greg the Bunny too, but decided that was far less urgent.

The good news is a quick stop in Sporting Goods revealed that where there were three Ab Lounges, now there were ten. So I guess