Even though Roger Ebert recommended it, I felt nervous about seeing this film, nervous enough that I nearly walked out to go see the safer "Milk" instead. I'm glad I stayed. "Milk" has had more acclaim and will be seen by far more people. Which is a shame, because "Rachel Getting Married" is an excellent film.
Ten thoughts:
1. I'm bewildered that so many commenter's were so annoyed at the camera work and editing. Frankly, I didn't think the camera work was sloppy, shaky or spontaneous at all, but rather plot-driven, flowing and really authentic. It was done that way with clear purpose: to be your eyes and ears as if you were a guest yourself, in those rooms, at those moments, with those people, even at (especially at!) the moments that made you squirm.
Do you and I glide through rooms like Peter Pan? Heck no, we bob, weave, and turn our heads like football players constantly, whether we're aware of it or not. From the moment that Kym walks up the driveway and through the back door, we have the role of eavesdroppers, seeing and hearing things we shouldn't. A conventional style would have put safe distance between ourselves and the actors, and that's clearly not what the director wanted.
Yet as Mr. Ebert himself noted, there was one pivotal scene, featuring Debra Winger, that was shot in a solid, conventional manner. Which scene? Why that one? Why her character? What psychological things would a rock-steady camera convey there that a hand-held camera wouldn't?
2. Hi, my name is Keith and I'm a recovering addict and boy, until I saw this film, I never realized how totally full of myself I was. There, I just proved it by using the pronoun "I" four times in one sentence. Anybody nodding their head out there? (wave so I can see you) Being an addict (in or out of recovery) is like living in a hall of mirrors: you can never get away from yourself.
3. That said, there were a couple of times when Kym DID manage to join the others and DID manage to enjoy herself. And I was darned proud of her. She didn't even need a cigarette. And no, I'm not talking about the sex scene.
4. Rachel is getting married, yet she didn't even get to star in her own film! No wonder she's heading to Hawaii. You've got to admit she was right in what she said to her dad. The closing scene was so telling.
5. Why is it that the other person's family (in this case the groom's) always seems so much nicer than our own? His family was adorable! No skeletons in their closets, no sir.
6. Besides the stepmother, who was the sanest character in the entire film? The poodle! She even got a credit!
7. LOVED the music! Gosh, it was like being at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Hopefully there's a CD soundtrack available.
8. The actress who played Rachel and the actor who played the best man look SO familiar! Yet I don't recognize their names at all. Awfully good though.
9. At the end of the film, is Kym leaving her home, or is she going there? Ergo, is rehab her real home now? Where can she go from here?
10. To all you Kyms out there, you have value, and you ARE worthy. Bless your every small step. Keep coming back, ye hear?
Ten thoughts:
1. I'm bewildered that so many commenter's were so annoyed at the camera work and editing. Frankly, I didn't think the camera work was sloppy, shaky or spontaneous at all, but rather plot-driven, flowing and really authentic. It was done that way with clear purpose: to be your eyes and ears as if you were a guest yourself, in those rooms, at those moments, with those people, even at (especially at!) the moments that made you squirm.
Do you and I glide through rooms like Peter Pan? Heck no, we bob, weave, and turn our heads like football players constantly, whether we're aware of it or not. From the moment that Kym walks up the driveway and through the back door, we have the role of eavesdroppers, seeing and hearing things we shouldn't. A conventional style would have put safe distance between ourselves and the actors, and that's clearly not what the director wanted.
Yet as Mr. Ebert himself noted, there was one pivotal scene, featuring Debra Winger, that was shot in a solid, conventional manner. Which scene? Why that one? Why her character? What psychological things would a rock-steady camera convey there that a hand-held camera wouldn't?
2. Hi, my name is Keith and I'm a recovering addict and boy, until I saw this film, I never realized how totally full of myself I was. There, I just proved it by using the pronoun "I" four times in one sentence. Anybody nodding their head out there? (wave so I can see you) Being an addict (in or out of recovery) is like living in a hall of mirrors: you can never get away from yourself.
3. That said, there were a couple of times when Kym DID manage to join the others and DID manage to enjoy herself. And I was darned proud of her. She didn't even need a cigarette. And no, I'm not talking about the sex scene.
4. Rachel is getting married, yet she didn't even get to star in her own film! No wonder she's heading to Hawaii. You've got to admit she was right in what she said to her dad. The closing scene was so telling.
5. Why is it that the other person's family (in this case the groom's) always seems so much nicer than our own? His family was adorable! No skeletons in their closets, no sir.
6. Besides the stepmother, who was the sanest character in the entire film? The poodle! She even got a credit!
7. LOVED the music! Gosh, it was like being at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Hopefully there's a CD soundtrack available.
8. The actress who played Rachel and the actor who played the best man look SO familiar! Yet I don't recognize their names at all. Awfully good though.
9. At the end of the film, is Kym leaving her home, or is she going there? Ergo, is rehab her real home now? Where can she go from here?
10. To all you Kyms out there, you have value, and you ARE worthy. Bless your every small step. Keep coming back, ye hear?