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Watching time, the only true currency // A journal from John B. Roberts

Day: November 13, 2007

  • Dan in Real Life

    Last week, we saw Dan in Real Life, with Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche. Metacritic only cites a 65 — but I enjoyed this film. Family story, with humor coming from small realities and inter-family dynamics that really never change once they get set early on. People grow up, but that doesn’t mean they change. I’m not doing justice to the humor, though. See this movie. Doesn’t have to be on the big screen, though.

    Two side notes. First, the relatively short length was appreciated. Second, the music fit. From scanning the soundtrack, seems like most of it was written expressly for the film. I didn’t love every note, but enjoyed the marriage of picture and sound.

  • Movie: Michael Clayton

    We went to see Michael Clayton a few weeks ago. George Clooney does a good job. The plot is more of a foil for a character study, though. Clooney’s struggles with his role as a frustrated lawyer in a “fixer” role, and his less-than-simple family life, pluck more interest than the case at the heart of the film. (Synopsis: big agro/chem firm covering up a dangerous product. Think Constant Gardener without Africa.) An 82 is a strong Metacritic score… a touch too strong for me.