Rachel Getting Married (Demme, 2008)

[kaytee]

I know of Jonathan Demme from Philadelphia and Manchurian Candidate which were a hit and miss so I really didnt have any expectations from Rachel Getting Married. I went to watch this mainly because of all the Oscar buzz Anne Hathaway is generating for her role as a Kim who is back from rehab to attend her sister's wedding.

So the lowdown of this dysfunctional family is that the father is divorced and living with another woman, the mother is staying with a younger man, Kim is back from rehab and the hot sister is getting married to this dork looking African American who has thing for music and they have a wedding with an Indian theme (dresses and food) and all different kinds of music. But the reason why this family is dysfunctional and [spoiler]why Kim was in rehab is because she managed to have an accident while she was high in which their younger brother died.[/spoiler]

The movie is shot like a documentary on a handheld camera and that gives you a very personal affect and make you part of the wedding and the sibling rivalries. I can see why people are raving about Anne Hathaway's performance here because she has the acting chops and the scenes where she breaks down are really fantastic. The story is from Jenny Lumet, daughter of Sidney Lumet but she should have learned a bit more from her dad. We have seen the dysfunctional family thing a lot lot lot of times so this does not offer anything new story wise but the use of the handheld camera does give it a more personal effect.

3.5/5 coz I really liked Anne Hathaway's performance.

[X.]

Ha ha, thank you for including that dorky African American husband!

[kaytee]

A certain someone got pissed that I spoiled the movie, so I have edited my post. Sorry.

[ozzylogic]

I read the spoiler anyways

[kaytee]

Oh beware of the shaky camera, people couldnt take it and I had 7 walkouts.

[shariqq]

Well, I guess then Sulphurhead is out. He walked out of Cloverfield, and almost out of [Rec].

[sulphurhead]

I'm sorry man, it just goes against my biological threshold.

[shariqq]

Then, may I ask, how do you watch P0rn? (Doesn't it feature the same kind of camera work?)

[sulphurhead]

In p0rn its not the camera man whose shaking and moving vigorously 

[raging]

I thought the Manchurian Candidate was pretty good and, of course, he's got two good films in Philadelphia and the very good Silence of the lambs.

I must admit, I'm a bit shocked to find out he made a film like this. But it was able to suck me in after like maybe 15 minutes into the movie. What I liked about the movie was how they showed a conflict and then showed believable flawed characters trying to deal with there issues. "Deal", not "Solve", because in real life we face our problems head on if it has to be resolved.

Acting was top notch. Anne Hathaway sure has come a long way since her silly Princess movies. Although I felt a bit shorthanded by Debra Winger's role. A great actress like her could have been used more - here she was a little wasted in a role anyone could have played. Seen a good family drama after a long time; really enjoyed it .

4/5

[ozzylogic]

In p0rn its not the camera man whose shaking and moving vigorously 

Aren't you supposed to be engaged? PERV!

[shariqq]

Raging, your review made me breathless!! Didn't know where to pause or stop for breath! Don't mind that I edited it

[raging]

Raging, your review made me breathless!! Didn't know where to pause or stop for breath! Don't mind that I edited it

man this is english 101 class all over again .hehe he

[shariqq]

More than for yourself, it's good to appreciate grammar for the reader's sake! Now now, you wouldn't want to be selfish, would you?

[shariqq]

Saw it and really liked it. Anne Hathaway, and "Rachel" Rosemarie DeWitt have done a splendid job to make the whole movie feel like such a personal and intimate experience. And another movie where hand-held really works well.