A Really Great Movie

Watched La La Land last week (it came out early overseas) and it has definitely stayed with me! I LOVED it. Would love to hear what you think!

I feel compelled to comment here. I saw the movie and like some others thought it was beautiful and challenging and tragic. I’m from the Boston area. Manchester by the Sea is a stunning place and I found the scenery very poignant….extremely well done in terms of propelling the story forward using the imagery. This is not even remotely a story about a white male from a tough neighborhood in Boston. I have my own feelings on the allegations against Affleck, but this film was haunting and he was remarkable in it. Whether this is right or wrong, there are times I wish we could consume art for the sake of the art and without the backlash.

On a side note, a big YES! to “The Hunt for the Wilderpeople”!

I was told I sobbed and sniffled throughout the movie…what I remember was just becoming overwhelmed with sorrow and then trying to find hope…not unlike my emotional state since November. Headed to LaLaLand this evening and hoping for a bit of joy and lightness to get ready for the holidays.

I have been appreciating the conversation in the comment section about art and the artist, particularly when the artist has been accused of sexual assault or hassarment, something that the COJ readership feels strongly about. Perhaps this complex topic could be mulled over in a COJ post or series of posts? How do we uphold our personal morals (creating violence free spaces for some, for example) and consume art and media? Maybe in the style of how you do a series of quotes and musings from women about their careers. I’d love to see something like that here! IChris Brown’s song , ‘Forever’, was my go-to pick me up, but can’t enjoy it since his domestic assault charges :(. I’d love to hear your and others take in this!

I’m from MBTS (when I was in elementary school they changed it from Manchester to MBTS–we all thought it was terribly embarrassing at the time)!!! I’m planning to see this with my high school friends next week. Good to know I should bring some tissues–I can’t wait to see people I know as extras. :)

Alright, my new favorite thing is this SNL skit. I’m a Massachusetts transplant in California and, I’ll tell ya, there’s something hilariously comforting about watching Boston based movies (nothing’s truer than the five million mentions of neighboring towns…kills me!). But Casey Affleck…my gosh is he always SO good. Can’t wait to see it; looks like a powerful one.

I haven’t seen this or any considerably great movies lately, but have you heard the new Homecoming podcast? So good! It’s fictional & with Catherine Keener, Oscar Isaac, David Schwimmer, & more.

How do people have time to see movies and read books? My kids take up all my time. Jealous!

I saw it last night! I’ve been thinking about it ever since. “I just can’t get past it.”

The past 2 movies we’ve seen have featured my forever girl crush, Amy Adams – Arrival and Nocturnal Animals. Arrival was SO well done, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing the “alien movie” but went along because my boyfriend was so into it. It was so moving and smart, we were both engrossed the entire film.
Nocturnal Animals was another beast entirely – I’ve never felt so tightly wound in a movie before. Our entire theater was silent, not a single iPhone lit up the entire time. Plus one can never see enough of Jake Gyllenhaal. It’s just a fact.

I’m a member of the Screen Actors Guild and am SO EXCITED to be getting all these movie screeners in the mail soon!! It’s my favorite time of year, haha. Can’t wait to watch this and especially La La Land.
http://www.wonderlandsam.com

I am on board with the other comments regarding Casey Affleck. It is disturbing to me that he is receiving so many accolades without any mention of the fact that he has settled 2 sexual assault allegations outside of court. It’s possible to praise a performance and also acknowledge the allegations. Nate Parker, of Birth of A Nation, had his movie torn down and the success of the film tanked because of it. He is a black man; Casey Affleck is white – something to be examined. Some can argue that art should be separated from the person who made it, but how is that any different from Roger Ailes being “successful” at running a network but being someone who sexually harasses women? If someone gives a “good” “successful” performance on screen we’re just supposed to excuse their behaviors behind closed doors? As someone who works in the industry I find this mentality very hard to swallow and it’s tough to see this posted on this blog.

Ooops forgot to share the link to the interview *slaps forehead*

http://www.cineplex.com/News/Home-is-Where-the-Heartache-Is-Casey-Affleck-and-Kenneth-Lonergan-talk-Manchester-by-the-Sea

I am soooo excited to see this! I love Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams! It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and I was so sad tickets were sold out.

Last night, I watched Gone Baby Gone on DVD. Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris is in it. I highly recommend it if you’ve never seen it.
I also recently watched and loved Brothers with Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman. The performances blew me away and Tobey Maguire deserves every single award in existence for his performance!
Also, watched Boyhood (finally!) and loved it.

I can’t wait to see La La Land as well. It won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Fest! I also really want to see Brain on Fire (I read Susannah Cahalan’s memoir last month and can’t stop recommending it!)

I agree with the commenters re: not seeing the movie. I was dying to see this movie! Although they are allegations, and the civil case was settled out of court (I believe) it is reason enough for me to forego seeing it.

Oh this movie! Incredible. I kept waking up the night after I saw it thinking about it. That has never happened to me before.

I’m “SO excited to see both ‘Manchester’ and ‘La La Land’ in the coming weeks. There’s so much buzz surrounding them both.

I’m also going to see the latest ‘Star Wars’ tomorrow night, but I’m not expecting anything too original. Did you ever seen ‘Loving’ by Mike Nichols?

I am with the other commenters about the alleged sexual harassment and assault by Casey Affleck- it ruins it for me. I have better things on which to spend my time and money.

I just saw Manchester by the Sea on Sunday and it was the most affecting, heartbreaking movie I’ve ever experienced (because it really is an EXPERIENCE). I loved how the emotions of it all sort of wash over you slowly (there are no real dramatic, tearjerker scenes that feel forced, like in most dramas) so that when that scene with Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck happens, the simplicity of it absolutely breaks your heart. It’s burrowed into my brain and my heart hurts every time I think about it. I’ve never been so affected by a movie before. I’m really hoping for some best actor/supporting actress nominations and wins, because the two of them deserve it on that scene alone.

We saw it this weekend. Though we found the acting amazing, and always like a movie set around our home city (Boston), we found the movie heartbreaking to watch. We also can’t shake it and we didn’t feel much like dinner after – we just wanted to rush home to relieve our babysitter and hug our kids. Looking forward to seeing La La Land this weekend for something lighter!!