I do actually like Notting Hill, mainly because Hugh Grant is so damn charming in it, but what's abundantly self-evident is that since his infamous 'run in' with the not-so-divine Ms Divine Brown, and messy divorce Grant has had a slight 'attitude adjustment'.
I can't help feeling, having watched Jon Stewart subsequently describe him as 'a dick' (Jan 15th 2010) that "Did you Hear..." is an ever so slightly twisted joke at Grant's expense. It's a sort of sick 'what-would-happen-if' type sequel to Notting Hill, with Grant's character playing a stupid, very arrogant, and frankly annoying adulterer, who totally fails to win the hearts and minds of the audience. It's a mystery why Sarah Jessica Parker actually ends up with him at the end. I think if I were SJP, I would much rather have run off with the horses.
Anyway, here I am now, educated as I can be about the emotional conundrums of 40 somethings stuck in the middle of Wyoming with their estranged spouse ("Did you hear...?"), who're eventually forced to adopt to overcome their 'differences'; (go figure) and 50 (or 60) somethings who're in a state of emotional crisis because they're having an affair with their ex-spouse (It's Complicated)."It's Complicated" is actually not a bad movie in some ways, it's charming, compelling and has great performances as well as some likably dislikable characters (Baldwin) and some really nice characters too, not least Meryl Streep's (I know, is she still making movies?) and Steve Martin's, and not least John Krasinsky's, who is no doubt a rising star, and plays the bit part of Harley - a new family attachment, brilliantly.
But there's also a tale of romance on at the cinema now which actually has something to say and is, rather miraculously, British. Although it's not technically a comedy, it has some great moments of humour, and is in sum a beautiful drama, and it's name? Of course you probably already guessed it: "An Education".
"An Education" is the story of a young girl: Jenny, (played by Carey Mulligan) who's in her last year of school and is being pushed to go to Oxford, when she is slyly and adeptly seduced by a charming (but in retrospect rather odious) middle aged 'chap'. She is forced to choose between her education and marriage to this exciting and interesting man and thereby hangs the tale...I guess watching Rom-Coms is the thing to do when you're in a state of shock as it certainly helps to illustrate and explore the finer points of emotional torment. I find myself sympathising with the characters in "It's Complicated", being almost morbidly curious about the Morgans' estrangement and feeling both viscerally and tangibly sick over the lasciviousness and deviousness of David, the seducer in "An Education", who's played by Peter Sarsgaard.
But the latter film has such marvellous pieces of acting, most notably by the absolutely charming Miss Mulligan it's been awarded 3 golden globe nominations and is going up against both "The Hurt Locker" and "Avatar" with academy award nominations.
As you may have noticed, I've posted links to all these films above, and I do recommend watching "An Education" at the very least, (and of course buying it if you like it!) and I will review "The Hurt Locker", "Avatar", "Dorian Grey" and "District 9" in my next posting.
Enjoy!
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