Lovely & Amazing | | Cast : | Brenda Blethyn, Catherine Keener | | Director : | Nicole Holofcener | | Studio : | Lions Gate Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | January 01, 2001 | | DVD Released Date : | November 26, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 02, 2005 | | Summary | Girls,Get a Life | Content
 | I've noticed something a trend perhaps in Indie Cinema, it's all about the Upper Middle Class. Are the writers, directors, of these pictures of this group? After all, even an Indie production costs millions to produce. Your average middle classer has a hard time comprehending his rent, forget getting a picture funded.
In Lovely and Amazing, the women seemed to live in a plush world of decorator pillows and jeans. Big houses or snazzy apartments are the norm, trendy villages to shop too. Emily the Actress, she's not waiting tables while she is in between lovers or parts. Nor is her older sister, ex-prom queen , Catherine in the work world after college and kids. Her hubby has his semi-glamorous office world and mistress, and plenty of time away from the family. The cars are smooth and leathery without pretention, the clubbiness and veranda angst is so Bloomingdale.
In the end we suggest all these ladies get a life.
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| Rating | | | Date | March 23, 2005 | | Summary | Plotless yet charming | Content
| I just saw this on television, and really enjoyed it. I don't want to repeat too many reviewers, so I'll keep this brief and say that most people who are accustomed to pondering their self-worth will get a lot out of this film. You'll likely see a bit of yourself in each character.
Also, the adopted daughter Annie is reason enough to give this film a shot. This overweight but darling girl really brought a lot of life to the story.
All in all, I don't think you're supposed to love all of these characters. Most everyone in the story has a significant, debilitating issue, but you've just got to experience what they go through--it can be really meaningful to your own life. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 08, 2005 | | Summary | Pathetic and Shallow | Content
| A juvenile attempt. This is a very pathetic film about shallow and empty people. Every conversation is fake and pseudo poignant. The "dilemmas" are trivial and pithy. The fact that such talented people starred in this piece of poop is mind-boggling. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 03, 2005 | | Summary | Bad sound, stick-figure male characters | Content
| The mix and remix of sound for this DVD is so bad I suggest you turn on the subtitles so you can follow the dialog more easily. Excellent male actors are given little or nothing to do. Given these faults and the lack of any real movement in the characters, there is a lot that is excellent. There is close observation of details in how we talk to each other, much of which is very funny. Catherine Keener once again shows how excellent an actor she is, inhabiting her character so completely and naturally she saves the movie. Her examples of "fake" and real smiles are terrific to watch, as is her panic being at a party where she is a nobody. In a way this movie is part insider "Hollywood " joke and part essay on female insecurities.
The director has inserted a subplot about an adopted sister that is good by itself but not really needed as part of the flow and it detracts from the overall effect.
Rent it for Keener, otherwise as an example of a project that did not quite make it.. And also as an example of how important sound is to get right. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 16, 2004 | | Summary | A Bit Dull | Content
| I'll be honest. I got this movie because I saw Jake Gyllenhaal's name on the cover and as a huge fan of his work, I thought I would give this movie a look. I'm kind of sorry I even bothered to look. This movie is drab and dull and drags along with not a whole lot happening and when something does nobody seems to make a big deal out of it, yet I get the feeling they want you to make a big deal out of it.
Michelle is a housewife, bored, and spending her time making useless miniature, ugly chairs and painting handmade wrapping paper that she wants to sell at an outrageous price. She's not a bad artist, but she should get in line-- there are lots of starving artists and you can't start out on top. Elizabeth is her sister, a neurotic actress who doesn't like herself. Michelle doesn't like herself either. And what do you know, their mother goes in for liposuction in the beginning of the movie because she doesn't like herself either. These three women manage to drag the young, adopted sister named Annie into their completely neurotic lives as well.
The dialouge is witty at times and Dermot Mulroney swooops in and saves this movie a little bit. Even Gyllenhaal (who is hardly in the movie at all) saves the flick as well, creating some necessary action. But I get the feeling I've seen this Gyllenhaal character before... (could it be a less depressing version of the kid he plays in The Good Girl??!!) Without a doubt though, the character Annie is the saving grace in this movie, providing some necessary laughs and great insight for such a young girl. Aside from Dermot and Jake, she's the real reason to watch this movie.
The film wrapped way to quickly for me without much resolution for any of the characters-- well, except for the mother. This could have been a better movie, but hey-- it is what it is. A humdrum, dull, kinda witty, kinda cute in spots, little bit weird movie. Check it out sometime when you're not sure what you want to watch. When it's over, I'm sure you'll have a whole list of excellent films in your mind that you'll want to follow this one up with.
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