The Way Way Back
The Way Way Back
#1The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/6/13 at 8:38pm
I saw this today and liked it a lot, though fell short of all out loving it.
Sam Rockwell was amazing and his relationship with Duncan was very believable and touching. All the scenes at the water park were great and I was sad whenever we left that set of characters.
Steve Carrell was such a douchebag and didn't have a single redeeming quality (same with his daughter). It wish the character had some stronger shadings. Same with Allison Janney, whom I normally find to be a riot, but here we saw only one side and it was difficult to become invested in her story.
Still I would strongly recommend it (there really isn't much reason to skip a Toni Collette performance anyway), and I have to admit I was cheering by the end.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#2The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/6/13 at 9:00pm
I saw this today, too, and I agree. It's a good movie, it just needed perhaps for charm for me to really fall in love with it. The final scene in the film redeemed what little I didn't like about the film (the final scene, while slight in gesture, made the film worthwhile.).
This is the first time that I have seen Steve Carell play an unlikable and nonpleasant character. He is a great actor and more than adequately played the role (really, he was fantastic!), however I personally found it a bit distracting because I am used to loving him, not hating on him.
Sam Rockwell rocked it. He was the shining performance of fhe movie. As was Allison Janney, who showed me a side of her range of acting that I have not seen.
This film was close reaching my "must-see" standards, but like JEFF IN REAL LIFE, it reaches the finishing line without crossing it.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#2The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/6/13 at 9:20pmAnd let's not forget to mention the talents of Jim Rash, who co-wrote the film. He will always be the dean to me, but it was nice to see him on the big screen and he truly is a fearless actor.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#3The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/7/13 at 9:59amI've only seen the trailer, and it looks interesting, and I have to say that Steve Carell looks smoking hot in it.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#4The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/7/13 at 5:06pm
Whizzer, I was sad that once the Sam Rockwell character was introduced, it was his humor that dominated the rest of the scenes, effectively replacing the much more funny Allison Janney.
Still, a nice way to get some air conditioning on a scorching summer afternoon.
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#5The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/7/13 at 5:26pm
Namo, I didn't mind that Rockwell took over in the humor department because I was much more involved with his character and his mentoring of Duncan than I was with Janney and her ex-husband troubles. I've never been wowed by Rockwell before (certainly wasn't in Behanding in Spokane), but here I fell in love with him, ha.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#6The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 12:51am
Whizzer, have you seen Rockwell in Lawn Dogs? He's long been a favorite actor of mine, albeit often in not great films (Moon maybe being a semi exception.)
I liked this movie, but expected to love it, so I guess my judgement of it is somewhat unfair. I thought it started to become too much of a flat out comedy (the kind I dislike) with scenes like Duncan dancing which had me rolling my eyes. But, by the end it pulled back, and I appreciated that. Toni Colette can do no wrong in my eyes, but she is starting to be cast in, what seems like the same role over and over (I almost expected her to go into some of her Tara multiple personalities.) I actually feel a bit the same about Janney. Still, I would recommend the film.
#7The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 9:08amI have not seen Lawn Dogs, but I just looked it up and saw Mischa Barton was in it, ha, so I'm down.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#8The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 9:25amIt's a very flawed film, but moving--I think. The fairy tale analogy in particular. It's one of two Naomi Wallace scripted movies that deals with issues of "being a guy" and sexuality--The War Boys being the other, though I think she loses the plot there. Anyway, I'd be interested to read what you think of it.
#9The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 9:27am(And Barton is amazing--I have no clue what happened to her as an actress, post Once and Again.)
#10The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 12:51pmReally? Barton only became famous post-Once and Again with her landmark performance as Marissa Cooper in The O.C. After that Hollywood tried to make her happen for a while; she still works, but hasn't done anything high profile for a while. Still, those three years she was on The O.C. were classic.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#11The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 12:57pm
Yes, really. I just remember the press about Evan Rachel Wood's and her having a lesbian relationship(very minor press--everyone pretty much ignored how great Once and Again was it seemed.) Some negative press was due to people thinking it implied girls with eating disorders who grow close will be gay (basically.)
I do know her from The OC but I only watched the first two years of that--and never really connected the child actress for some reason. She had a pretty thankless role, but not one I would say that showed off her skills.
#12The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 1:11pm
She was the lead of The O.C.- it wasn't really a thankless role. (She did have a lesbian phase on The O.C. as well.)
But whether or not you think it was a thankless role, that show catapulted her into stardom. Of course, once she departed at the end of season three she immediately fell back to Earth.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#13The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 4:11pmI saw this this morning and I pretty much loved it. It's one of those pure forumula coming of age movies that has so much charm, sharpness, and heart to work and still manage to make you laugh...and then get you choked up. I though Rockwell was just incredible. Definitely one of my favorites so far this year, with a very strong cast and incisive, smart writing.
#14The Way Way Back
Posted: 7/13/13 at 4:27pm
"But whether or not you think it was a thankless role, that show catapulted her into stardom. Of course, once she departed at the end of season three she immediately fell back to Earth. "
True enough--I think by thankless I meant that all the critics seemed to think she couldn't act--though IMHO she's proven she can't. I didn't think anyone even watched season 4...
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