Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Film: 'I Love You, Phillip Morris.'

Passable entertainment, though only just. Although supposedly 'based' on a true story, I found it completely unconvincing - but I don't suppose it was seriously aiming at veracity. Jim Carrey giving a relatively subdued performance, at least by his standards, and not without the occasional hint at subtlety. While knowing that a large number of viewers are getting fed-up with his manic gurning and high-powered histrionics, I am not one of those. In fact I generally find his antics highly amusing, though in this film he is largely, but not entirely, reined-in. The Ewan MacGregor character was unbelievably colourless and insipid - and I just found him irritating and wondered how anyone could fall for him. I didn't find anything really offensive in the film despite there being occasional glimpses of stereotypical ways of how some straight people see gays, though I did think it came close to the edge on a particularly sensitive topic towards the end of the film. But all-in-all, a film to see, maybe just the once. 5.5/10.
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4 comments:

  1. paul24 March 2010 at 06:08

    Finally, someone who has seen this film! I've been waiting well over a year for its release since it made such a big splash at Sundance. I believe that they had a problem finding someone brave enough to distribute the film and Europe is seeing it first. We in the US will be able to see it in April, but in a censored version. I am wondering what they will delete? God forbid that we offend the "moral majority!"

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  2. Raybeard24 March 2010 at 10:03

    Paul, I'd heard that it was being released in Europe before the USA - I think they were nervous about whether audiences would pay to see a film where gayness is 'in your face', though in fact it's really only incidental to the story's drift. Must say I'm surprised if it's going to be censored over there. Apart from Carrey's first sex-scene after 'realising' that he's gay, all the rest is pretty innocuous stuff - though there is quite a bit of kissing, usually in silhouette, between Carrey and McGregor - which I reckon is what 'they' are afraid of. Hope what I said above doesn't put you off from seeing it. You really must - and do let us know your thoughts.

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  3. Kyle Leach25 March 2010 at 10:00

    Ray, I have always been leery of Jim Carey. Sometimes he is just too much for me. Reined in would be good. Ewan McGregor normally catches my interest and holds it, and not just because he is handsome, though that doesn't hurt. The movie is in the "Saved" part of our Netflix queue. I didn't think we would love the film, so I'm betting I'll align with your feelings, when we finally see it on DVD.

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  4. Raybeard26 March 2010 at 01:30

    I do hope you like it, Kyle. I've a feeling that once the film gets widely known gay audiences may either hate it or, like me, quite like it but with a number of reservations. I can't imagine it having any really enthusiastic supporters, but I may be wrong. Ewan McGregor is indeed not only good-looking but a damn fine actor too. It's just that the character he plays in this film has all the personality of a rain-puddle. I've heard him say that he didn't want to play the part as a straight man 'playing gay'. I think he succeeded but it's still a colourless role. Please let us know your verdict when it comes round to you.

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