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Post by Charles on Apr 25, 2010 22:04:55 GMT -5
Now that you've seen "Love is not Enough," what do you think?
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Post by Charles on Apr 25, 2010 22:10:59 GMT -5
I thought it was terrific! An inspirational story, well told, and with a superb performance by Winona. Its great to see her embrace such a substantive role; I suspect the movie will receive a lot of well deserved positive attention.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 23:35:28 GMT -5
It was very pleasant. I don't think I've ever seen a bad Hallmark film - they usually take good care in making quality productions. So anyhow, Winona expressed great love and empathy portraying an obviously broken-hearted Lois, while Barry Pepper done an outstanding job showing us his depressive Bill Wilson. The early scenes were very charming and sweet and then came those dastardly challenging decisions that often cause misery. And I just have to say, if I were Bill, I couldn't have left Lo behind in that stalled car at the railroad, or any other time for that matter. But, of course, we all know at that point, he had more than just one reason to leave, alone. Also, I was anxiously awaiting to see the detailed transition from Bill being always drunk to forming AA in sober mode. All in all, it seems to have been a very positive experience for our golden-age-loving heroine. Perhaps more enjoyable roles like this one are to be sought after in her new journey...we'll just have to wait and see. Yep.
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Post by imayne on Apr 26, 2010 5:36:46 GMT -5
Wow, I'm kinda laughing as I hear this, given I generally think that Hallmark telefilms are schmaltzy fluff...this actually looks like quality Americana.
I swear, Winona never fails to surprise me every time. She has had the most difficult to classify career of any actress of her generation. She's never done what is popular and never moved to doing the flavors-of-the-month, and has been staying relatively off the radar for a few years now, doing small parts in character roles here and there. We're all here wondering, "why aren't you taking up any roles or making anything people will see, dammit?" at some point or other.
And she keeps doing it. She keeps acting in whatever she wants to, whenever she wants to, even if it sucks. And she doesn't give a rat's ass about what we like or what we'll see. And now she's got the lead in a Ron Howard film...beating out Kate Beckinsale and Uma Thurman, who have had a better track record and more regular screen appearances than her in the past five years. It defies all Hollywood logic about the business being so cutthroat you're only as good as your last movie. How does she do it? I don't know and I'm sure not I ever will.
I tell you, nearly everyone I know who saw her in her prime (especially the Burton pictures and Little Women etc..)does NOT forget her. The memory of her is so strong that when I asked friend of mine, "Think Anne Hathaway's a second rate Winona Ryder?", his reply was (you'll love this): "Third or fourth." There are around six or seven younger dark-eyed brunettes now, and I think it may be a safe bet to vouch that Winona will outlast them.
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Post by ilovewinona on Apr 26, 2010 7:39:25 GMT -5
----- Is a Winona Ryder masterpiece, Winona and Barry Pepper are pure movie magic. ----- Winona narrates most of the movie like she did in so many of her other movies. (Seems like old times) ------ ----- Rusty
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Post by imayne on Apr 26, 2010 12:39:16 GMT -5
Here's a snippet of the film and Winona's performance in it, for those who have yet to see, me included. My opinion: Oh this is corn, alright. It's a little oversentimental, a little cheeseball, a little drawn out. But Winona can still act all right. She can still act. In fact, she just disappears into the role to the extent that for the moment, she's Lois Wilson. Winona has transformed into that sublime paradox: a movie star who can transform into an actress as and when you need it. And paradoxically, that she can totally disappear into a role may be what stops her from becoming a movie star. In the meantime, you can take a look at the screenwriter's official website here. www.williamborchert.com/author.html
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Post by bigdaddy on Apr 27, 2010 8:05:01 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure you may have wound up watching an Emmy award winning performance the other night. I was telling Imayne the Hallmark specials are usually award bait, and I don't think this one will be an exception. During those years in the wilderness, Ryder has learned her craft. But that's like saying MOBY DICK is about a big fish. This was more like the first time they gave Phil Spector a production that mattered and he hit back hard with the Wall of Sound. All those years of hack work and sleeping on desks were channeled back out in epic singles that still stagger. On Sunday night you saw the results of years of under-the-radar road work. Figuring out how to make the few minutes of supporting actress work noticeable. Isolating and delivering what matters to you in that indie script. Compressing or amplifying your work, and always, always that timing. Delivering the moment, they call it. I liked MY NAME IS BILL, but I always thought that Lois had the better, more interesting story...she held that guy up all those years. She had talent and drive and love. You just knew it was going to be a big juicy porterhouse steak of a role for somebody lucky when the folks behind the camera were smart enough to finally film it. And this time it was more then luck. Ryder came out with a quiet, hot intensity that must have just FREAKED people who haven't seen her since the 90's. The teenager is long gone and the lady we now see has things to teach and show you. The years of Winona being screwed over and flat out ignored were boiled down and put into an acting job of economy and strength...and dignity. The dignity is such a big thing. The autonomy. She could have gone on OPRAH and cried herself a river and gone head to head with the chicks on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. But she kept true to herself and just let the work do the talking. The ratings were blase...you had a 1.2, lower then even THE CHRISTMAS DOG from last season, with a 2.1 But I don't see that as a necessarily bad thing... First the DVD goes on sale, where they are going to make their money back...secondly a lot of people probably tuned in to see THE APPRENTICE when they heard that Bret Michaels had a brain hemorrhage. And nothing was going to unseat DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. But all over the place this morning, I can practically hear one woman calling another and asking if they saved 'the Winona Ryder t.v. movie' from the other night. They'll watch it, swap it, cry over it. Feel great after. And who couldn't use a positive message right now? They watched DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, but they are going to buy this.
This thing is going to have legs and will be around for a while.
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Post by Charles on Apr 27, 2010 17:33:12 GMT -5
Big D, I agree about its Emmy potential . . .
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Post by imayne on Apr 27, 2010 22:45:19 GMT -5
Another snippet.
That acting is better than this script deserves really. First trying watching it with the SOUND OFF, and second, just try LISTENING to it. BOTH instances the performance is just as effective as the other. I haven't seen this in a while, really.
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Post by Charles on Apr 28, 2010 16:02:44 GMT -5
Hi Fred,
Many points well taken . . . I particularly liked your highlighting the commercial about the taxi driver/passenger. If I had one reservation about the film it was that the creation of Al-Anon seemed too brief. Partners (and children) of alcoholics do suffer terribly (they are the true victims) and their initial coming together to rebuild their lives could have used more screentime.
But I loved it, nonetheless . . .
Charles
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Post by phil on Apr 28, 2010 21:49:21 GMT -5
The attitudes of all the Actors were correct, and all the Actors were very good in their roles, even in the "Non-Speaking Bit-Player" rolls where Actors are called to show emotions purely by expressions and body language. You hit on something there, Wolf, that I noticed too. Winona had a couple moments like that as well. So natural! And my favorite scene - when she oh so quietly and, at first, hesitantly approached the women in those darkened cars - man, she was great in that sequence as well. That was worth the wait.
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Post by ilovewinona on Apr 30, 2010 5:50:31 GMT -5
Everyone has to get the movie from Hallmark ----- Hallmark Hall of Fame - ONLINE STORE www.ifsecommerce.com/hallmark/directory.asp?LEVEL=1&GroupID=412&GroupView=3&GroupName=New ----- I did get the movie on DVD Sunday night, but after I saw the extras listed on the Hallmark website, especially the "making of" featurette. behind the scenes interviews and widescreen version I want the movie from Hallmark. So Wednesday night I drove to my nearest Hallmark store. But they haven't gotten the DVD in yet. ----- It was supposed to be in Hallmark stores Monday. ----- So the lady took my name down and told me they should get the movie in about two weeks and they will hold a copy for me. I just have to call to check when it comes in. Hallmark stores carry a lot of older Hallmark Hall of Fame movies on DVD also. ----- Rusty
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2010 9:20:10 GMT -5
I'll definetly get a copy soon. I have it on my Direct TV DVR right now. I have only viewed it once - when it was originally broadcast on CBS.
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Post by ilovewinona on Apr 30, 2010 19:28:56 GMT -5
I'll definetly get a copy soon. I have it on my Direct TV DVR right now. I have only viewed it once - when it was originally broadcast on CBS. ----- The Hallmark DVD is a must have for every Winona fan. ----- It will be great to hear what she has to say in an interview (Winona being the main star, they have to interview her). And I hope she'll be in the featurette also. ----- Rusty
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2010 20:54:08 GMT -5
----- The Hallmark DVD is a must have for every Winona fan. ----- It will be great to hear what she has to say in an interview (Winona being the main star, they have to interview her). And I hope she'll be in the featurette also. ----- Rusty Now if there is actually any new interviews and featurettes not previously released, as opposed to the already posted videos seen by many now on the internet, and being packaged with the already released DVD, then this is someth-- ( there is a sound of car keys rangling, followed by a slamming of a house door )
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