Reviews

The pros: the acting is top notch in this film. The physicality of Emma Stone's character is believable and not cartoonish. Mark Ruffalo shows his range, bouncing back and forth between a deliciously basic buffoon and a vulnerable man, who even he, has his limits. The dialogue is crisp and gets to the point and the actors are in full command of the language. You buy every word.

The cons: less is more. The movie did not need to be this long. They could have easily trimmed down the beginning- it felt a little slow and it took about 20 minutes before I could fully get on board. And the prostitute scenes felt gratuitous. We get it- leave something for the imagination.

I was already warned that the book is self indulgent and whiny and perhaps that is why I wasn't as "disappointed" as other viewers.

I thought there were very good isolated performances by Billy Cudrup, James Franco, Richard Jenkins and Javier Bardem (for the most part), but as a whole story, this movie did not work.

Because Julia Robert's character, Liz, doesn't stay in one place too long, we don't really have enough time to invest in the characters that she meets in her path. Just when we are getting to know them, she "moves on".

One of the most sympathetic characters in this story is right in the beginning. Billy Cudrup plays Julia Robert's soon to be ex husband who has every right to be upset with her when she decides she wants a divorce. I found myself rooting for him, which is not a good sign for our supposed protagonist- Liz.

So from then on, I didn't like her very much. She rebounds immediately into relationship with an actor friend played by James Franco, who is super charming. But he is not good enough for her and she becomes too needy and leaves him.

She hops on a plane to Italy and eats a lot of food and buys bigger jeans. I found that part endearing, but not compelling. Then she goes to India and tries to find peace and runs into "Richard From Texas", played by Richard Jenkins, who is a great actor and does the best he can with the script he has been given. During one of his moving monologues, I just kept thinking, "I like this as an isolated performance, but it doesn't fit the pace of the movie."

Then she saunters off to Bali and eventually meets Javier Bardem and at first I really liked him. But it doesn't take long until he starts emotionally dumping on her as well and sheds a tear.

I kept waiting for one of these characters to slap Liz in the face and tell her to go home and grow up, but there seemed to be no voice of reason. Only emotion. I think Richard from Texas attempted to be this voice in her life, but his advice feels empty.

My favorite part of the movie is when Liz finally tells Bardem's character that she "doesn't need to love him first before she can love herself." I thought, "yes, she is starting to get it!" But then what does she do? She takes off on a boat with him in the end. WHY? Her character had just said earlier in the movie that she has "been in relationships since she was 15 years old and has never really been alone". Well, honey, now is your chance and you still ended up with a man.

Liberating? Enlightening? Amazing? Not at all.

At least the acting was good.

**spoilers**

Okay- throw me a bone here. I know I am not a sleuth or anything, but the average movie goer needs some help filling in the blanks from time to time.

I think Soderbergh was just a little too close to his own project.

The first act took waaaay too long. The pace was just off. I needed to see the main characters jumping ship from their current living situations within the first 10 minutes. I don't think I needed to see Benedict visiting every thief in the beginning. We already know they are caught. The beginning could have been more creative.

The story took too long to introduce the night fox. Pacing off.

But what really killed me was the reuniting of Zeta Jones and her father. PUKE. Why did he have to pretend to be dead? That was a bit much.

Someone explain to me again what happened with Damon's MOM? I missed the "clue" beforehand.

Brad Pitt...just not doing it for me. For whatever reason, I just don't believe him.

Sorry.

This movie has so much going on and such a great cast, but it's just too much all at once. I was either laughing out loud hysterically, or rolling my eyes. The pacing was wierd and bit slow and confusing at times. The dialogue went back and forth from being very clever and smart, to being very cliche and predictable.

Less is more. I wish the screenplay would have narrowed it down to fewer characters and focused on them, rather than trying to squeeze in as many comedic character actors as possible.

The biggest laugh in the theatre was when the Pilates for Puppies receptionist told Elle and the other guy that their dogs were gay. That lady was very very funny.

Rent it.

Especially after watching THE MATRIX RELOADED!! *SPOILERS*

After seeing the Matrix with all it's ridiculous fantasy make-believe-robotic characters with their super powers, it was refreshing to see an action movie with real people in situations that involved actual risk! I cared about these people, and even though some of the stunts seemed a bit much, it still left me feeling like "it's possible" verses "what a stupid video game" (like the Matrix)

This movie isn't brain surgery, it's very straight forward. Some things are predictable- like knowing that someone is going to be a back-stabber and that someone early on is going to die. Pretty obvious, but SO WHAT? The first 15 minutes sets up our reason, our motive, our main objective.

I like that Theron and Walhberg didn't have any make-out scenes. I am glad that they didn't go there. They kept it about funny dialogue ESPECIALLY SETH GREENE. That guy IS FUNNY!

This is a movie that I would buy when it comes out on DVD. It's fun, fast and entertaining. The only thing (and I guess it's a big thing) is that we are really - rooting for the bad guys. This group of protaganists are already on the wrong side of the law. Not a good message for the kiddies - parents, please explain this to them.

*spoilers*

Talk about realism. This movie will make you think twice about having an affair. I was totally enthralled in this movie. Temptation, contemplation, resignation, sin. Sin=death. It was pretty heavy and painfully real. Although, I can't speak from experience, this portrayal of infidelity will shake you up if being unfaithful had crossed your mind. Think twice. Every actor does a great job. Especially, the young actor opposite Anniston. Wow. What a great dramatic actor. Jennifer A. stretches her wings and takes risks. You see a vulnerability in her that you only see traces of on FRIENDS. I hope she seeks out more roles that allow her to grow. She has more to her than just a sharp wit.

8/10