Tuesday, July 01, 2008
THE END
Today's movie was
with Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Philip Bosco.
I love Philip Bosco.
A way dysfunctional family reunites after 20 years when the Dad's sunny retirement ends precipitously.
The film teeters from funny to tragic and decides on tragic. It is then redemptive.
It is pretty good. It has its moments. I liked it.
I wouldn't want to be dragged through it again though.
That makes it a 3 out of Netflix5.
John and I think that we have seen enough of Philip Seymour Hoffman now and that he can retire. He is good but quite wearing to watch.
While I am at it, I should mention that this movie has the 'magical negro' in it.
The black man who wanders in with wisdom and a dollop of redemption.
Spike Lee invented the phrase, mockingly. This is a regular figure in film and theater but mostly film. I don't think it comes up much in literature.
Scatman Caruthers often played this role. See The Shining.
It is an interesting trope. I am not even sure that anyone thinks they are doing it until it is done.
"Hey! Let's stick in the magical negro".
But there it is.
