That absolutely enrages me, because I thought that was perhaps the best thing about her performance. That’s how kids talk! This guy is probably a moron who thinks Dakota Fanning is a good actor. Despite what tv and movies would have you think these days, the measuring stick of a child actor should not be their ability to act and speak like an adult. In fact, that should be a turnoff. I don’t know why it has become such a sought-after quality in child actors.
So, needless to say, I was blown away by Catinca’s performance. She gets a 10 out of 10.
The movie was good, but lacked polish and focus in a few areas. It was slightly confusing in a couple places, and I didn’t think it needed to be. I was pleasantly surprised that 1915 LA was more than just a frame for the fantasy. 8.5/10.
I’m just pissed that I missed the brief theatrical run. I missed it’s week at the semi local art house, and though it had a longer run in NYC, by the time I got there it was gone. I spotted the DVD at Best Buys this week. I should pick it up. Hopefully I can convince my friend to let me watch it on his big screen tv. Is it subtitled? He refuses to watch anything with subtitles
I adored this movie and am hoping I’ll get it for Christmas from someone. When I saw it in theaters I really wanted to give it a good write up here, but I couldn’t find the words to adequatley praise it. I’m glad you have, Equipoise.
I loved the film very very much, but I do have two gripes. First being that I wish it had gone deeper on some level. Maybe it did and I missed it. After I watched the movie I flew around the internet looking for an in depth breakdown of the movie, but found nothing. When I get a chance I’m going to read this thread in it’s entirity as I’m sure it will have some of the insight I’m looking for. My second gripe is that whenever I watch these “story within a story” movies I always wish they would just cut out the real life story and stick with the fantasy bits. The reality characters were ok, but the fantasy world drew me in so much I really wanted to stay there. I feel the same way about Big Fish.
But yeah. Loved it. It’s a must see for any fan of surrealism.
I rented this last night with two friends on Blu-Ray without knowing anything about the visuals or the plot, and as soon as we saw the slow-motion opening scene, we knew we were in for a treat! This kind of movie is what Blu-Ray was made for, even though I’m sure the impact would be even greater in the theater.
We absolutely loved it, and I ordered it before the movie was over because I knew I would have to watch it over and over again. As someone said in another thread on this movie, it can’t possibly be all non-CG, but I thought watching it that every image had been heavily manipulated, because where would you find locations like that? If even half of those shots are made traditionally, I bow to the cinematographer in wonder.
I also cannot believe that I hadn’t heard anything about this movie in the last 2 years (or even 4 years, as it was finished in 2006). Wikipedia claims it made “over $3 million”, which would have ripped quite a hole in the director’s pocket, since he financed it himself. Why has this movie not received the kind of attention its style and beauty warrant?
:Cue zombie jokes:
I saw this bump right before I have to leave for work so I can’t type much, but it it made me smile. My love for this movie hasn’t diminished a bit from that over-the-top OP. I ended up seeing it 9 times in the theater before it left. I’ve only seen it once on DVD, but if it played, say, a week at the Gene Siskel Center, I’d be there for every showing. I know most people will never get a chance to see this on a big screen, so I’m glad to hear it’s been released on BluRay. It’s also nice to hear that people are still discovering and loving the movie.
Pitchmeister, Singh found all those locations as part of his job directing high-end commercials. He’d go to shoot the ad, and in his off-time would shoot scenes for his movie. That’s one reason the movie took 4 years to make.
He also searched and searched for the perfect child to play Alexandra. He was actually looking for a boy but then a friend who’s a casting director found Catinca and the minute he saw her on video he knew she was the one. He shot all of her scenes right away because he knew that she would be different in 6 months. In fact, she is different at the end of the movie (she has teeth!) so his instincts were spot on.
