Wendy and Lucy (2008)

This movie is not for everyone. Curious art-indie buffs, you know who you are. Others, look elsewhere. "Wendy and Lucy" is 'real' in such a way that it will delight a certain audience and bore the pants off everyone else.

   Drifter Wendy (Michelle Williams,) camping out in Oregon on her way to find work in Alaska, travels alone except for her beloved dog, Lucy. So when Lucy goes missing in a small podunk Oregon town, Wendy vows not to leave until she finds her best friend and traveling companion.

   Invested in her plight is a kind, otherwise unnamed Security Guard (Wally Dalton) who doesn't seem to do much work but instead gives her advice and comfort while she tries to find her dog. Wendy comes into contact with other people, some helpful, some detrimental, and in the end must make a painful and difficult choice.

Take This Waltz (2011)

"Is that that Seth Rogen guy? What's he doing?"

"I think he's... acting."

"Acting? You mean actually giving a performance without using immature fart or stoner humor as a crutch to compensate for an apparent lack of talent? Well, I'll be... Do miracles never cease?"

   Seth Rogen is, indeed, quite good in this. The scene where he expresses, in various takes, his shock and horror at his wife's infidelity is revelatory. Overall, though, "Take This Waltz" is so-so, marred by a lack of likable characters and consistent dialogue.

   I there's one thing you can say about this movie, it's that it doesn't glorify the act of adultery in any way. Bored housewife Margot (Michelle Williams, who gives a very nice performance here) engages in cutie pie antics and baby talk with her husband, Lou (Seth Rogan,) but longs for passion and intimacy.

Take This Waltz (2011)

Written and Directed By: Sarah Polley

The Bottom Line: This is an off-beat, sexy romantic drama highlighting lovely cinematography and excellent performances by Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen.

Oz the Great & Powerful and Blogger Links to Share

I'm older than most of the bloggers I follow. Hell, I seem to be older than most people these days. ;-) I grew up in an era when VCRs were not yet a twinkle in anyone's eye. We had network T.V, which meant we got three channels -- y'know, if we jiggled the rabbit ears just right. And springing for a movie theater ticket -- a whopping $3 -- was a luxury. So we kids lived for those revered television specials. Of which the best of the best was, of course, The Wizard of Oz.