Movie Night

[fredericks]

I watched the recently released version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy last night. The experience was pretty hilarious. It's in a limited number of theatres, so I went down to my chosen locale during my lunch hour to buy my ticket, knowing it would be a bit of a madhouse right before the showing. My showing was at 6, but because of typical office craziness I didn't end up leaving work until around 5, rushing my ass down to the theatre by 5:30. When I got there I was told by the ticket taker that it was seating already, but the previous showing was still playing, so all of us for the 6 o'clock ended up mingling around, some more antsy than others. One guy kept pestering the poor folks waiting to clean up the theatre about the late showing, as it they had anything at all to do with it. I heard other folks grumbling and re-arranging dinner reservations. Ah, NYers. Somehow we ended up seated in the theatre by 5:50 or so, and the previews started promptly at 6. With the movie itself not starting until 6:25. So there. Funniest thing before the show? The folks in the show before us ended streaming out as we were waiting, and some of them decided to let us know what they though. One hilarious older women came out and loudly proclaimed, "It was horrible, horrible! Don't see it. It's so confusing."

My take on the movie? Totally not horrible, totally not too confusing. In love with itself and its little bits of visual foreshadowing, but still a pretty great movie. Go see it. I mean, it has Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy, and Colin Firth (or, as I've taken to calling them: Commissioner Gordon, Sherlock, Eames, and Mr. Darcy). And there is depth to what was presented. I *love* that we have an unreliable narrator steering our journey, as it leaves so much open to interpretation. I find myself wanting to go watch the movie again just to hash it out with someone. I mean, look at the end where Jim kills Bill. I was tempted to say, at first glance, that it fell into the trope of the "evil gay," yadda yadda. But maybe it's because Jim was pissed that he was tortured all those months to protect Bill, only for Bill to end up giving himself up (inadvertently, yes) Or maybe because it was the best way to put the kibosh on the whole double-agent thing without revealing the actual double-agent. Maybe it was agreed upon beforehand by the two of them. But I can tell I liked a movie when I leave pondering it instead of trying to leave it behind. Good times.

Okay, so celebrities routinely ride the subway. Where have I been? Besides zoning out and staring into the middle distance, of course. Subway etiquette dictates you never look people in the eye when riding the subway (and "riding/taking the subway" the correct term to mean "on a train" 'round these parts), unless you're agitated. It's usually why I make sure to have some reading material readily available on my person. When I ride the train with my dad it's always hilarious, because my dad refuses to follow etiquette, and he instead is constantly looking around the car at the folks sitting/standing next to him. He's curious, what can I say? It's quite child-like. But as he's not a child, people tend to avoid sitting or standing next to him, even though (IMO) my father appears quite unassuming. But, yes, I've probably been in close proximity to any number of famous folk but didn't look 'em in the face to figure it out.

Folks are working on our house. The gentlemen redid the roofing (installing skylights (!)), and are now tackling the porch and the dining nook. Things are looking surprisingly amazing, and I'm optimistic that the work will be done by Christmas proper. My plan for today was to do some shopping in the city, but seems I'm stuck housesitting while these guys do what they do. Not cool. But, oh well.

Comments

[childofmetis.livejournal.com]

Oh, your review sounds very much like what I heard about TTSS on... Fresh Air, maybe? I heard that it's slow at first, but once it gets going, it's all kinds of good.

[childofmetis.livejournal.com]

Oh, and YAY for skylights. I love the way they look. And I love natural light.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

The pace for the movie remains at an ambling pacing throughout, which is surprising when you realize how much information is being conveyed.

[emily-goddess.livejournal.com]

I especially like when skylights get covered with snow. The light is so diffuse and white and soft.

[mysticalchild_isis]

It's on my list! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Definitely good times. BENEDICT!

[cbackson.livejournal.com]

I am totally taking a date to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy on Tuesday. I am a special friend of LeCarre's novels, so I'm psyched to see it. I only hope I can keep from giggling every time Sherlock appears, because someone on my flist nicknamed him "Bandicoot Cabbagepatch," and now I can't think of him any other way.

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I only hope I can keep from giggling every time Sherlock appears, because someone on my flist nicknamed him "Bandicoot Cabbagepatch," and now I can't think of him any other way.

That is hilarious. I just refer to him as the man with the most quintessentially British name ever.

[utopiantrunks.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if it's that I was tired when I went to see it, or what, but I came out of the movie going, "*yawn*Whuh?" I'm usually pretty on the ball about plot twists, but whether it was a lack of emotional or intellectual engagement, I just didn't get involved enough to follow it properly. Way to be part of the typical American audience, UT. <_<;

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I'm usually pretty on the ball about plot twists, but whether it was a lack of emotional or intellectual engagement, I just didn't get involved enough to follow it properly.

No, I can definitely see this. There was definitely an emotional distance to the film, although I think that was calculated. There were few moments of passion that engaged both senses: Peter breaking up with his boyfriend to ensure his boyfriend's wellbeing was almost entirely muted, Ricky's retelling of his meeting with the Russian (?) woman/defector played as a bit of coercion, Bill running over to Jim's flat to supposedly do something official but actually just looking to hide any evidence of their relationship had nothing by Colin Firth's rather funny pained face in one or two shots to convey anything, and we never saw the face of George's Ann (did she actually exist?).

And, honestly IMO there wasn't so much of a plot "twist" as there was just a reveal. How were we supposed to figure out that Bill was the double agent outside of Control's code names and the one bit of recorded dialogue about "His Majesty"? I thought that to be a little lazy.

I just found myself liking the pretty, and that kept me going. After that woman's complaint that it was too complex I went in looking for a labyrinthian flick. Liked what I got, though I can see from where the detractors are coming.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

I once rode the subway with Anne Hathaway. She had very large sunglasses on and looked very uncomfortable. Not even a week later the story of her creepy ex who was impersonating priests broke. So that explained that. /cool story bro

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

What is up with celebrities wearing large glasses. There's nothing that makes me stare more at a person than humongous old lady eyewear.

[desolate03.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I wanted to see that movie, I'm going to have to have a movie marathon when I get back from Taiwan. King's Speech, 50/50, TTSS, and there is a wall street move that I want to see. Oh are you planning to go see Sherlock the weekend of the 16th? I have no one to go with and would love to have some company! I'm actually back in to the afternoon of the 16th.

Just let me know!

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

I'm working that weekend, so I might not end up seeing Sherlock (and the new Mission Impossible! Simon Pegg + Hawkeye are in it) until later on in the week. If my Sunday is going to be relatively quiet I might be inclined to do an evening showing (around 6 or 7, maybe) on Sunday. But I won't know my assignment until Friday.