You know, I just saw this over the weekend and I'm mystified as to why people like it so much. It wasn't bad so much as completely devoid of any sort of genuine emotion or purpose. The kid was cute, but there wasn't nearly enough of her. I see that this will probably get a Best Pic nod, which would seem about right. Still– huh??
Bee Boy — Tue, 1/23/07 12:41am
I don't really have an answer for you. As far as I can tell, the purpose was to tell an entertaining story about some fairly unique characters. Not as noble as the purpose of Million Dollar Baby, perhaps, but better than most. I can't really debate the emotion point, because I found plenty of emotion in it.
I think it's a fun and well plotted story, and manages to feel plausible even when it's gone pretty far off the deep end. I think the characters remain true to themselves and don't do anything purely for the purpose of being kooky, which is refreshing for an indie ensemble comedy (ahem–Napoleon Dynamite).
It's akin to a summer page-turner. Somewhat fluffy, but it keeps you moving forward, and things are fun along the way. Certainly movies can aspire to more, but so few even get this far. People like it because it's a breath of fresh air – charming, rollicking fun in a year of downers, duds, and disappointments. Best Picture of the Year? Shit, I don't know. I gave up on that category years ago. If there's one nominee that made my top 20 movies this year, I'll be shocked.
Bee Boy — Tue, 1/23/07 12:43pm
Well, fuck me, I guess. (Again! What a week!) According to the database, Little Miss Sunshine comes in at #11, and the Academy thought it would once again be funny to get my hopes up about a film I didn't hate having a shot at Best Picture.
AC — Tue, 1/23/07 6:21pm
Ha ha! They love to do that!
Seriously– I think your argument is completely valid, but what I can't understand is why it's more worthy than any–-
Oh wait. Answered my own question.
Bee Boy — Mon, 1/29/07 4:19pm
Update! KenJen hates Little Miss Sunshine more than you can possibly imagine! This throws a wrench into the already complex Best Picture math. I assumed LMS was the only nominee with no chance of winning because it was so generally well liked. There goes that theory – it's a genuine toss-up! (With the possible exception of Letters from Iwo Jima, which I can't possibly imagine winning.) (Ordinarily, that's the best sign that it will!)
AC — Mon, 1/22/07 8:16pm
You know, I just saw this over the weekend and I'm mystified as to why people like it so much. It wasn't bad so much as completely devoid of any sort of genuine emotion or purpose. The kid was cute, but there wasn't nearly enough of her. I see that this will probably get a Best Pic nod, which would seem about right. Still– huh??
Bee Boy — Tue, 1/23/07 12:41am
I don't really have an answer for you. As far as I can tell, the purpose was to tell an entertaining story about some fairly unique characters. Not as noble as the purpose of Million Dollar Baby, perhaps, but better than most. I can't really debate the emotion point, because I found plenty of emotion in it.
I think it's a fun and well plotted story, and manages to feel plausible even when it's gone pretty far off the deep end. I think the characters remain true to themselves and don't do anything purely for the purpose of being kooky, which is refreshing for an indie ensemble comedy (ahem–Napoleon Dynamite).
It's akin to a summer page-turner. Somewhat fluffy, but it keeps you moving forward, and things are fun along the way. Certainly movies can aspire to more, but so few even get this far. People like it because it's a breath of fresh air – charming, rollicking fun in a year of downers, duds, and disappointments. Best Picture of the Year? Shit, I don't know. I gave up on that category years ago. If there's one nominee that made my top 20 movies this year, I'll be shocked.
Bee Boy — Tue, 1/23/07 12:43pm
Well, fuck me, I guess. (Again! What a week!) According to the database, Little Miss Sunshine comes in at #11, and the Academy thought it would once again be funny to get my hopes up about a film I didn't hate having a shot at Best Picture.
AC — Tue, 1/23/07 6:21pm
Ha ha! They love to do that!
Seriously– I think your argument is completely valid, but what I can't understand is why it's more worthy than any–-
Oh wait. Answered my own question.
Bee Boy — Mon, 1/29/07 4:19pm
Update! KenJen hates Little Miss Sunshine more than you can possibly imagine! This throws a wrench into the already complex Best Picture math. I assumed LMS was the only nominee with no chance of winning because it was so generally well liked. There goes that theory – it's a genuine toss-up! (With the possible exception of Letters from Iwo Jima, which I can't possibly imagine winning.) (Ordinarily, that's the best sign that it will!)
AC — Mon, 1/29/07 6:03pm
OMG– He's now my new favorite person ever!