Relesed in 2002, I rented it on VHS. At the time I had just started working the new midnight shift at my company and there was very little to do for at least 6 hours of the night. But I was watching at work so I didn’t really expect a whole lot, it was just to pass the time. But I was in love with Jennifer Aniston (still am), she was mostly why I ever watched Friends.
Anyway, I really like the movie and I was surprised how good she was in a mostly dramatic role. I rented it another time a few years later. Last week I happened to see a used DVD for $8 bucks so I picked it up.
It’s now one of my favorite movies.
Here is a quote from Ebert - "After languishing in a series of overlooked movies that ranged from the entertaining (“Office Space”) to the disposable (“Picture Perfect”), Jennifer Aniston has at last decisively broken with her “Friends” image in an independent film of satiric fire and emotional turmoil. It will no longer be possible to consider her in the same way."
Unfortunately our perception didn’t change much, as over the years she has only done a number of romcoms, some good, some just OK, but nothing dramatic. She did give a great performance in Cake in 2014. Hopefully there will be more.
She does a commentary track on the DVD. Not one where you see the entire movie, but commentary on 15 scenes. And she is very different from the movie/public personna we all know. Very understated, soft-spoken. Mostly when you hear commentary tracks from actors, they are the same person that they are when they are on the Tonight Show or whatever.
Now she is 50 and she’s still got it. Look forward to some dramatic roles in the future and an Oscar nomination.
LOL LOL LOL…this talented thespian might still got it? lol . … but If Joan Collins could be a Dame of the British Empire :eek: …but until she and ‘Brad’ reunite for The Wedding of the Century and she plops out several Brads…zzzzzzz…that’s all anyone wishes and hopes for. (I do think everyone in the world has a good performance in them) but her day is done. She’s famous for her rockin’ bod, her gorgeous highlights, and her ‘derp, who, Me?’ dopey face, no one wants to see her ‘serious’ - Only her slavish fan base eggs her on to do…something…to keep their hopes up… Well, could happen!
I think this movie is severely underrated (I don’t know about critical reception, I really didn’t pay attention back then, just that no one even knows this movie exists…)
It definitely captures a certain something about being bored and trapped in a life you don’t like.
I really enjoyed the first part of the movie. I portrayed an America I was familiar with and the store they worked in was Wal-Mart before it turned to the dark side and destroyed America.
I haven’t seen it since I rented it on VHS shortly after it was released but I feel it lost its way when it essentially became a Penthouse Forum letter. Also by the end everything was neatly wrapped up in a pretty bow.
Aniston was very good and it is a shame she hasn’t done more dramatic roles. I definitely need to give this movie a re-watch because overall I do think it was excellent.