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Segue Zagnut ponders THE STORY OF US
Hey folks, long time spy Segue Zagnut is chiming in to let us hear his thoughts on
THE STORY OF US, a film that we most recently heard praises from Moriarty on. Segue
knows his craft very well, but now I have said too much and it's Segue's turn at bat... Here
ya go my fiend..Friend...
Head Geek
This is Segue Zagnut and I've been feeling rather shy. It can be so much easier to
stand in the corner, then the blazing hot
spotlight, but the time has come to chose a few confessions. I confess to sneaking into
Rob Reiner's new movie "the Story of
Us". It stars Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer. Rita Wilson, Rob Reiner, and Paul Reiser
round out the bit part roles.
If you have seen the trailer for this movie then you have a very good idea what this
movie is about. The trailer nails it. The film
is about a couple who after years of marriage are questioning if there is anything left for
them to share. Much of the movie
consists of flashbacks through out the marriage that set up the good and the bad of
everyday life. The rest is interwoven with
the couple's present day struggle to decide where to go from there. Ultimately this is not
new territory for film, we've all seen
couple struggle with their past and future before, but this film does shed new light none
the less. This film is very real. Very
honest. Reiner did not shy away from allowing his stars to look pathetic and damaged.
And let's face it, that maybe common
in comedies about love, but not in dramas. Too often the stars are too self conscious to
deliver the real desperation and
heartbreak that can come from well.. ah... heartbreak.
Bruce Willis in particular puts in a solid subtle performance that together with Sixth
Sense should finally put him in the A list of
dramatic actors. There is a scene in which Bruce unexpectedly breaksdown with his kids
that is brilliant in it's honesty. It is as
uncomfortable as it is funny, and that is the core of 'Us'.
The movie is excellent at displaying life situations in a real way, with contradictory
emotions exposed. The hypocrisy of a long
term relationship that goes through out moments of shear bliss and unimaginable pain. A
perfect example from the movie is a
scene where Bruce and Michelle go out on a date. They have been married for 15 years
and have spent the last few weeks
apart while the kids were at summer camp. They have been missing each other like crazy
and both want it all to work out.
They go out to dinner and it is perfect. They come home together for the first time in
weeks and everything looks very good.
They eventually find the way to the bed room with the intent to spend the night together.
Out of the blue one of them says
something that is instantly misinterpreted and all the old baggage comes flying out.
Ending the night where they had begun,
frustrated, in love, confused, and very lost. We truly see the highs and lows of their
marriage and the actors make it work. The
writing makes it work. It is too real. It is a great scene.
Michelle Pfeiffer has rarely looked as beautiful as she looks here, and perhaps she will
finally be nominated for an Oscar. The
performance is flawless. I could see her struggle and feel her pain in the tougher of the
two roles because she is the one who
has called the relationship off. This is not a film where the couple broke up because one
side was wrong and be the end they
figure out their mistake and so every one gets back together happily. This film shows that
both sides are right. That both sides
are struggling to hold on to something they don't want lost, even though clearly Michelle's
character thinks it is too late.
So now you think this is a downer movie why should I see it. Because it is really
good. Rob Riener for the first time in years
gets it right. This is not a downer movie. Rob keeps it flowing. There are a lot more
laughs then there are tears. The music by
Eric Clapton does an excellent job of keeping the mood light and yet thoughtful, and I will
buy the sound track the day it comes
out.
This movie doesn't suffer from the lack of spontaneity of Rob's other recent films. A
Few Good Men, An American President,
and Ghosts of Mississippi are all too well made. You know where every punch is coming
from and it all falls together too well.
The Story of Us feels pure, almost like no one knew how it would end while making it. I
certainly didn't know while watching
and I think I would have been satisfied ending it with them together or not.
I hope people find this movie. I think it stands with Jerry Maguire or Kramer vs.
Kramer as a smart and entertaining portrayal
of the struggle of love and marriage.
I've said too much. Consider This...
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+ Expand All
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An interesting year for Bruce Willis. Three films and not an explosion in sight. Hope he keeps it up
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With this and 'Sixth Sense', Bruce Willis has a good chance of becoming a serious actor. If he doesn't make 'Die Hard 4' next he'll be in good shape.
Oh and i'm sure a lot of rude idiots are gonna be saying "Michelle Pheiffer already has been nominated for the oscar so i'll just say it here before they get a chance. -
I meant maybe this will be her first Oscar WIN. I swear. Of course everybody knows she was nominated for 'Love Field' & 'The Fabulous Baker Boys' and as supporting actress for 'Dangerous Liaisons' Please forgive my 'typographical' mistake.
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Do your research big guy, Michelle has been nominated twice for an academy award.
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Someone should do their own research before issuing corrections. My research, which matches the author's own correction, reveals that Michelle has been nominated for an Oscar three times, not twice.
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Well, information about this one has been pretty limited so far but all the buzz has been very positive. If Michelle got her 4th Oscar nomination (after Dangerous Laisions, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Love Field)for this I'd be even happier. I'm already holding thumbs for the Golden Globes. This film has the pedigree to make it...
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Wow, I can't wait for this movie to come out. Maybe it is because my girlfriend of three years and I are slowwwwly breaking up and we both know it ... and the scenes in the trailer look all the more real because of it.
But this also looks like a silly "when harry met sally" type of movie. Can't wait. I'll be there opening weekend.
On another note, what is the guitar music played over all the quick cuts in the trailer? I heard this music when I was a little kid in the mid seventies on a tv show called "Serendipity". I would love to get the music... is it by Santana? I only hear a guitar version of the song...
Let me know at frogmaniii@aol.com. Thanks. -
an old alan parker movie called 'shoot the moon' with albert finney and diane keaton. it's hard going (emotionally speaking), but covers a lot of the same territory. still, i like willis and pfeiffer, so i'll be checking this out. (god, i hope reiner does something to rein in paul reiser's mannerisms - they can get really annoying.)
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It's "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams... late 60's tune, excellent choice. Can't wait for this movie! Oh, and if anyone cares, I think Bruce should've been nominated for Supporting Actor in '94, either for "Fiction" or "Nobody's Fool"...
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Are you sure it is Classical Gas? Most of the music in the trailer is Eric Clapton. The second half sounds to me like a non-vocals version of an old Leftbank single from the 60's or 70's.
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Aug 30, 1999 10:09:41 PM CDT
HARRY UPDATES AT: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/anti-cgi.html
by harry knowles
It's True, Check It OUt!
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Bruce has been my favourite actor since Moonlighting (check my I.D.!) The press and some of his movie choices have meant that some dismiss him as another meathead action hero. Those of us who have followed his career more closely know he is a fine actor capable of getting an audience on his side without screaming Yippee Kay Ay once. Not that I *wouldn't* love to hear that Die Hard 4 was being made, you understand.
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Maybe the poster should make some investigation before delving in such serious work as writing.
Michelle Pfeiffer has three nominations to date: "Love Field", "Dangerous Liaisons" and "The Fabulous Baker Boys". Writing is not for everyone, but schools made us believe that. -
Sep 01, 1999 10:44:03 AM CDT
Cool...the trailer looked good and I was going because of Reiner
by omega
It's nice to hear the movie lives up to the trailer. It looks quite good - and I RARELY think a movie looks good from during a trailer.
My one point of contention, JERRY MAGUIRE is a good portrait of love? Yeah screwed up sicko love. JERRY MAGUIRE is the the BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S of the 90's - selfish protagonist who SETTLES on a person and the person being settled on is happy with that. Talk about screwed up.
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