GKarsEye
Regular
There a some movies that one may not think to highly of upon first viewing, but upon reflection or repeat viewings change their mind. 2001 is a common one.
But I don't hear of a lot of movies that have the opposite effect- liked it at first, but change your mind later.
In my case, I feel that way about American Beauty. I loved it when it first came out, and I still think the dialogue is funny and the performances are highly enjoyable. So I still kind of like it, but I've also grown to hate it.
Maybe I'm getting paranoid or sensitive, but lately I have the feeling that Hollywood derives too much pleasure from insulting us commoners. In American Beauty, everyone is miserable and unhappy desptie their material posessions (typical Hollywood pop-philosophy) and the only happy people are the gays.
Other films have undercut the suburban lifestyle in clever ways (or, as in Blue Velvet, in extreme ways), but something about American Beauty comes off as mean spirited to me.
And then there's the whole plastic bag thing. I still haven't decided if the intention was to share something that the film-makers thought was truly profound, or something that looked dumb but was important only to the character of the neighbor. 'Cause I just don't buy into the dancing-with-God baggy thing. Extremely corny. If it's supposed to be corny (from our POV), then that makes the scene work. But given the way the camera focused on it with the music, I don't think it was. And that's just silly.
I think part of my resentment may unfairly stem from my profound dislike of Kevin Spacey. Like Robin Williams, he is a real talented guy who insists on making sacharine, preachy schlock. Of course I shouldn't carry that feeling over to his other movies, but maybe I can't help it. Then again, I'm able to enjoy him in Se7en and The Usual Suspects.
Anyone else have this experience with a movie?
But I don't hear of a lot of movies that have the opposite effect- liked it at first, but change your mind later.
In my case, I feel that way about American Beauty. I loved it when it first came out, and I still think the dialogue is funny and the performances are highly enjoyable. So I still kind of like it, but I've also grown to hate it.
Maybe I'm getting paranoid or sensitive, but lately I have the feeling that Hollywood derives too much pleasure from insulting us commoners. In American Beauty, everyone is miserable and unhappy desptie their material posessions (typical Hollywood pop-philosophy) and the only happy people are the gays.
Other films have undercut the suburban lifestyle in clever ways (or, as in Blue Velvet, in extreme ways), but something about American Beauty comes off as mean spirited to me.
And then there's the whole plastic bag thing. I still haven't decided if the intention was to share something that the film-makers thought was truly profound, or something that looked dumb but was important only to the character of the neighbor. 'Cause I just don't buy into the dancing-with-God baggy thing. Extremely corny. If it's supposed to be corny (from our POV), then that makes the scene work. But given the way the camera focused on it with the music, I don't think it was. And that's just silly.
I think part of my resentment may unfairly stem from my profound dislike of Kevin Spacey. Like Robin Williams, he is a real talented guy who insists on making sacharine, preachy schlock. Of course I shouldn't carry that feeling over to his other movies, but maybe I can't help it. Then again, I'm able to enjoy him in Se7en and The Usual Suspects.
Anyone else have this experience with a movie?