Critics did not like Elizabethtown, but I knew I wanted to see it from the first trailer I saw. That was probably close to a year ago. Maybe a trailer before "War of the Worlds." As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm a big fan of Cameron Crowe's work. Yes, even maybe especially, Jerry Maguire. So last night I finally watched Elizabethtown to complete the Cameron Crowe library. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it on so many levels. You may have seen it and not liked it, but here I give you 10 reasons to like it.
10. Orlando Bloom plays a floppy haired kid from Oregon. Great helicopter shots of Portland.
9. Cousin Jesse - "I teach my kids about the things that really matter. I will teach them about Abraham Lincoln and Ronnie Van Zandt, because they are equally important in my house."
8. The Soundtrack is fantastic. Ryan Adams at the right times, My Morning Jacket as Ruckus, Tom Petty, Elton John and some original songs to the film also. TMF said it was, "only a extended mix tape with moving pictures." He used it as a derogatory comment, but I think it's a well made music video.7. "Rusty's Learning to Listen" video tape.
6. Ashton Kutcher who was originally cast as Drew dropped out early in filming.
5. Susan Sarandon. I've had a long term problem with Susan Sarandon and haven't liked her in movies with few exceptions (Moonlight Mile and Bull Durham), but in this movie I liked her character and I think she did a good job being uncomfortable and in grief.
4. Chuck Hasboro or Chuck and Cindy.
3. Cameron Crowe must have infiltrated my hard drive before it fried last week because I think he stole some of my ideas. At least now I don't have to re-write a couple of my stories.
2. The Ultimate Road Trip.
1. Claire Colburn. Kirsten Dunst's character is a quirky southern girl that has great conversation and makes the ultimate road trip compilation. You're forced to fall in love with her.
So it's just your basic Oregon boy meets southern girl in random serendipitous circumstances surrounded by great scenery, characters and music. Nothing I can relate to at all. I highly recommend this movie. If you've seen it already, isn't it time to give it another chance?
4 comments:
How about Claire ushering the crowd out of the ballroom saying I'm a liscensed flight attendant. Very funny.
I also love the Crow and I liked the soundtrack and have it on iTunes. I thought the movie was "ok" but was ultimately disappointed in it. It needed some serious editing...IMHO they lose focus on the storyline with the whole ballroom scene at the end. Completely un-necessary.
I loved that scene. I didn't think I would...with the Sarandon bias. But I loved Ruckus (err My Morning Jacket in disguise) playing Freebird and the flaming bird that set off the sprinklers and Cousin Jesse saying "keep playing" and Claire playing flight attendant out the door.
I recently purchase Almost Famous because of my love for the Crow man. And soon I will be adding Elizabethtown to my Crow collection.
I enjoyed this movie more than I expected to or thought I would. Not a Bloom or Dunst fan, but for some reason they worked well together for this flick.
Good movie. Ultimate road trip soundtrack! And some great writing moments.
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