Ok, where to begin. Can't say that I liked it. A for effort? This once book turned screenplay about, well, how to even begin to describe this. I believe it to be a multiple lives endeavor of sorts. Maybe. I was left so confused I had to discuss this with a friend of mine who actually read the book and then said she liked the movie better so I am still left with questions. Now granted I am all for movies that make you think, and especially sci-fi futuristic films at that. This one just really dropped the ball for me. At least 5 different time periods, with reoccurring actors playing different parts and different languages. All over the place! Very long and could have been edited to a much shorter version. Should the story have been changed just a little it could have been amazing. Could have.
Finally! I can say I have watched a GOOD movie! Do no be confused by the slow buildup at the beginning, it is worth it. Rooney Mara, this girl, ( Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) gives an amazing performance once again as a severely depressed young wife upset about her husband having to go to jail. (Channing Tatum, no need to discuss him any further.) Jude Law playing her psychiatrist with nothing but the best intentions gets pulled into a twisting turning unpredictable round of events. Catherine Zeta Jones, where has she been all this time? Maybe getting more plastic surgery because something happened to her once beautiful face! Regardless, love watching her play the villain. Have I said too much? It is a thriller none the less, and a well done one at that. Pay attention to the up close shots of small items, it adds much more to the storyline. A dark mystery well worth the watch. Soderbergh, well done.
Ok who doesn't love this once no namer Melissa McCarthy? (Bridesmaids) Really she should just have her own show, oh wait she does (Mike & Molly)! The movie is lightly entertaining with some so so funny parts. Really it could have just been a movie about her stealing everyone's identities and that would have been funnier! Jason Bateman as always seems to play the same character in every movie, but for some reason that's why we love him and he can get away with it. It started out decent with a slow build up, then nothing. Very predictable with some horrible acting by the "bad guys". Kind of wanted to turn it off and go to sleep at one point.
For me this was a huge disappointment and I emphasize HUGE considering all of the buildup before the release. Let's break this down shall we.....the concept was not as creative as I wanted but that could just be me. I was wanting something deeper and perhaps more relative to The Wizard of OZ. Here we take an ordinary man who wants to be a great wizard, who gets trapped in a tornado via hot air balloon, lands in a magical land and I use magical lightly because the landscape was very Alice in Wonderland Tim Burton Style (only lacking the detail), meets a lovely witch, bla bla bla, she falls in love with him, bla bla bla, sigh, the story is almost too boring to discuss. Moving On! James Franco, love the guy but not the perfect role for him. Mila Kunis, I expect bigger and better things from her especially after her role in The Book of Eli. However I will add, so not believable as the wicked witch. Oh Michelle Williams, eh. Even as Glinda The Good she lacks the true backbone of a powerful witch. The movie is very long, too long, so sit tight if you plan to make it through the whole thing.
