The Family Stone

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 9:17pm

Any thoughts of this movie?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 9:24pm

The dinner table sequence, when Sarah Jessica's character tries to investigate parental feelings about a gay (and deaf) son is extraordinary -- like a highpoint in a good play. There's no sense of pandering, or to playing to predictable sentiment. The scene crackles because it's so unpredictable, and delivers a satisfying emotional crescendo when we feel for everyone. I love the scene for its honesty and immediacy in dealing with flavors of homophobia more subtle than the usual Christian right deprogramming philosophy vs. total PC adoration. That said, nothing else in the film comes close to it, moving though it is (and beautifully acted). Whenever it turns up on cable, I watch the aforementioned sequence, because it's always startling and truly dramatic.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 9:32pm

I agree, that scene feels like a brilliant moment from a play. The unstoppable tension and intensity is so palpable. I actually enjoyed the movie, I loved it. No, it never really fulfills the potential it presents at times. Some of it is very sloppily directed and the sub-plot involving Claire Danes and Sarah Jessica Parker's fiancee lacks some development (and how predictable is the bus stop scene).
But to me, Sarah Jessica Parker's performance is so nuanced and well-put together. I was expecting to see Carrie Bradshaw Part Deux, but she really surprised me. The way her character just keeps on showing new layers is fantastic. Again, the "gay" conversation at the table was a high point in her acting for me.
Great fun ensemble comedy, not a classic, but I thought it did its job very well.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 9:46pm

I just don't think that there is any woman who could be so annoying as SJP in real life, and even if someone is as annoying as her character, they'd fake being nice just to give a good impression to a family you want to impress.
She is a good actress, I don't think it was her fault at all, but the director's.

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 9:57pm

I don't see the allure in SJP. I find her acting so-so (even in Sex/City at times) and she's not all that pretty. She looks like she has smoking and drinking lines, and looks so much older than she is, IMO.

However, I love this movie. It has some really nice moments, although slightly underdeveloped at times. I cry at the end, too. I love the scene at the end when the brothers are running around and SJP spilled whatever that stuff was all over the kitchen. The Nutcracker music is perfect haha.

And I adore Ty Giordano.

I watch it every time it's on HBO, which, lucky for me, is actually quite often.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 10:25pm

I saw the film and remember nothing about it at all. Not even that dinner scene. I guess that sums up my feelings.

[polly2]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 11:45pm

I made the mistake of watching this movie while I was pregnant. Not a good thing when your hormones are already on a roller coaster. Don't get me wrong, it was a good high & low thing, but I sobbed through about half of the movie. Hubbie thought I was nuts. But, as a mom, the whole thing at the dinner table with the mom sticking up for her gay & deaf son, was right on. As a mother, you just want your kids to be happy, no matter what.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 6/9/07 at 12:51am

Cheesy classic chick flick but I enjoyed it.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/9/07 at 2:30am

Well, I remember my mom telling ME exactly what SJP said during the dinner table, but that's definitly not the time or place to talk about those issues. I'd have kicked her out of my house and tell her not to return, to be honest, and she wouldn't stop talking!

I think that Craig T. Nelseon almost stole the film as the father, he was brilliant, the most believable character in the film, Ty Giordano was great too, the entire cast was very good, I thought. But I now have a crush on Luke Wilson, he was so sexy in this movie! And the fact that all these male characters were so warm and so accepting of the gay member of the family, really moved me. The movie, I find forgettable though. SJP's character got in my nerves, because it's not realistic. NO ONE would be like that character.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 6/9/07 at 2:38am

Rachel McAdams is so, so fabulous in this movie.

The man playing he deaf son was very good, as well.

And man, I hated SJP's character so much.

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 6/9/07 at 10:46am

I can only assume the makers of the film wanted us wholeheartedly to hate her, so I guess they succeeded. Except I don't have that whole "Oh, you're right, you got me" attitude about it. I really hate that they introduced that character into film history.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/9/07 at 11:46am

love the movie, and we've added it to our holiday list of must sees.