November 17, 2005
Shopgirl
Don’t bother seeing Shopgirl. Just see Me And You And Everyone We Know instead. I think that’s what Shopgirl is
aspiring to, but ends up just a flabby hollow spineless film with
absolutely zero chemistry between any of the characters. Jason
Schwartzman is trying hard to save this sinking ship, but even his
wackiness couldn’t save it. Claire Danes and Steve Martin are
incredibly boring here, and Steve Martin is boring and puffy. I hear
the novel on which it was based is a lot wackier than the movie, but
it’s unfortunate that in the translation to the screen it lost all of
the interesting stuff.
A.O. Scott seems to think
there’s more to this film…and I wish I could agree–I would like the
film he describes. But it’s not the film I saw. Maybe the novel had all
of this, but the movie is just a lifeless blob.
Filed by cynthia rockwell at 1:47 pm under Just Movies
5 Comments
And Me and You and Everyone We Know thinks it’s prettier than it is.
prettier visually?
Just in general. It thought it was a beautiful experience. And I wasn’t a fan.
Not that I’ve seen Shopgirl to compare it to.
I agree about Shopgirl. Steve Martin can be hilarious, but this was pretty mediocre. I had a friend at Disney who gave me the book, a “novella”, and it was pleasant enough but I never got all the hoopla except that maybe it was a semi-serious story coming from the very funny Steve Martin. Anyway, I hate to agree, but all throughout the film I kept trying to figure out what it was about him that looked funny? A face lift? Maybe that a good wind would expose a comb over? Botox? Not sure, but he looked preserved. Kind of like Tony Danza…have you seen him lately???
I also hated the voice overs lifed from the book. They felt awkward and poorly timed.
Anyway, I do think what you say has some truth. I was told today by a neighbor in my building that she noticed I had some gray, and that it was “distinguished”. I say good thing since I am not the type to dye my hair.
yeah i couldn’t tell if it was a bad facelift or lack of a facelift that made him look weird.