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TheCentralScrutinizer · 12 Jul 07 :: 19:59

This movie looks so wonderful. I really wanna see it. Finally got my wish for a romance without a paranormal subplot:

The Kind of Love You Remember
By Peter Clines

Introducing the Dwights

A fine import from Australia, Introducing the Dwights takes a radical new spin on young love, familial love, and overprotective mothers -- it tells the truth about them. A film about a boy, his mum, and his new girl, the story relies less on the shorthand Hollywood uses for relationships and instead shows the emotions and reactions that we see in our own lives.

Jean Dwight (two-time Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn) is the doting, somewhat overprotective mother of her two sons Tim (Khan Chittenden) and intellectually disabled Mark (Richard Wilson, in an Oscar-worthy performance). The somewhat dysfunctional family has fallen into a nice, steady routine, with Mark helping his mother practice her act as a raunchy nightclub comedienne while Tim brings in extra money driving a truck-for-hire. But when Tim meets Jill (Emma Booth) while on a job, the two fall into a happy (and extremely physical) relationship that grows stronger and deeper by the day, threatening Jean's well-established world. As days turn into weeks and Jill begins to win over Mark as well, Jean sees all her carefully formed routines crumbling around her, and Tim realizes he may have to choose between the women he loves.

The product of much thought and work by longtime screenwriter Keith Thompson (Lockie Leonard), Introducing the Dwights is another clever movie that likely never would have made it through the Hollywood machine unscathed. Part character study and part romantic comedy, all of it sprinkled with autobiography, it's a film that's very difficult to fit into an easy category. While it may be hard to classify, though, the strength of its characters allow it to find its own place.

There are some wonderful elements to the script, first among them the character of Jean as she's forced to relate to her son's new girlfriend and the changes she makes in their lives. Unlike so many over-the-top parental figures in recent cinematic history (Monster in Law or License to Wed), there isn't anything spiteful or vicious about her dislike of Jill. Jean simply sees the girl as an annoying hobby Tim has developed, one it would be best if he got bored with and forgot. "My biggest concern," admits screenwriter Thompson, "was that I wanted there to be no heroes and villains. I wanted everyone to be doing their best, as it were." Jean's actions are honest and more dismissive than vindictive. Half the time she barely even acknowledges the young woman's presence, even when she's reducing Jill to tears.

Also worth mentioning is Mark, who's much wiser and more aware than he lets most people think. Thompson's time working on the Australian show Housegang gave him a special perspective on actors with mental disabilities. "The character was an amalgam of a number of young kids that I met through the course of workshops for this sitcom," he explains, pointing out Mark's elaborate vocabulary and speech patterns. Despite his disability, Mark is a rich and active character in the film, no less detailed than any other. He's fascinated with his brother's new relationship, takes full notice of his mother's disapproval of it, and alternately plays wingman or runs interference as needed.

Last but not least is the romance between Tim and Jill. Again, going against the grain of most films, their fledgling relationship isn't smooth, perfect, or even inevitable. The young couple is constantly stumbling as they get to know one another and deal with the reactions different situations provoke. Far from the romantic-comedy template, sex for them is an awkward discovery that stretches out over several weeks, filled with just as much laughter and confusion as excitement and ecstasy. Thompson hasn't written love as it grows in the movies, but as it happens and blossoms in real life.

That's the secret of the film. We've all seen Hollywood love hundreds of times -- connections that form in hours between beautiful people as tidal waves of perfect emotion crash over them. The triangle between Jean, Tim, and Jill, many times revolving around Mark, is filled with real love, the type that we can all relate to. The kind of mere-mortal love that continues to develop, makes us into better people, and, in the end, really does conquer all.

So true that sometimes it hurts, Introducing the Dwights is a beautiful example of how honest characters and situations can lift a film above the need for household names or CGI effects. A well-told, simple story about real people, Thompson's screenplay hits the real heartstrings, not the ones so often tugged by Hollywood films.

SOURCE: Creative Screenwriting Weekly

domesticelefant · 12 Jul 07 :: 20:18

Yeah, it sounds amazing.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 12 Jul 07 :: 20:31

I forgot to mention that the guy is really cute.

domesticelefant · 12 Jul 07 :: 21:50

I guess I'll see that. LOL

Tina, one question. "Intellectually disabled", does this mean something like "geistig beeinträchtigt" in German or is it something else?

TeeJay · 12 Jul 07 :: 22:55

No, you translated it perfectly. Literally it would say intellektuell ausgeschaltet... Guess you can figure that it means something more like geistig beinträchtigt.

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 13 Jul 07 :: 17:36

Okay, cool. Thanks.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 13 Jul 07 :: 23:01

This is just about what I expected to hear about this piece of garbage. Hopefully, it'll fail miserably and continue to extinguish the torture-porn trend...

Movie Reviews: 'Captivity'
When Captivity was screened for critics in London last month, it received the kind of sneering reviews that producers probably expected would be repeated in the U.S. For example, Rocco Landesman wrote in the Sunday Times: "If you want to see the sexy blonde from 24 (Elisha Cuthbert) held captive in a dungeon by a psycho and subjected to various disgusting torments, then rush to see Captivity. Alternately, seek psychiatric help." (The review was reprinted today -- Friday -- in the New York Post.) Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian newspaper called the film "nauseating" and suggested that every theater showing it "should have little bottles of Listerine on sale along with the nachos and popcorn to get rid of the dodgy taste." David Edwards in the Daily Mirror rated Captivity "one of the worst films of the year, or possibly any year."

SOURCE: Studio Briefing Today

domesticelefant · 13 Jul 07 :: 23:18

Sounds like a waste of money and time.

deedee · 14 Jul 07 :: 05:06

blurgh like

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Jul 07 :: 05:22

I am embarrassed and sad for Elisha Cuthbert. She's better than this crap.

deedee · 14 Jul 07 :: 08:16

yah i saw a episode of 24 i dont usually watch it but wow she looked really amazing and did a good job i think in the episode i saw

domesticelefant · 14 Jul 07 :: 10:49

Sisterdebmac wrote:

I am embarrassed and sad for Elisha Cuthbert. She's better than this crap.

I second that. I was actually wondering why she was in that movie at all.

deedee · 14 Jul 07 :: 17:04

maybe shes desperate for work?

domesticelefant · 14 Jul 07 :: 17:39

I don't know. Maybe she needed the money so bad? But I don't think so actually. I thought she had a good job with 24.

deedee · 14 Jul 07 :: 17:59

maybe she wants to broaden her actin horizon i ono. haha i def wouldnt want to be in that kinda movie.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Jul 07 :: 19:16

She's not really in 24 anymore. I don't think she was in a single ep this past season.

deedee · 14 Jul 07 :: 19:28

yah thats what i thought. maybe she took a breather.. but still this kinda looks sketchy why would u want to do that.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Jul 07 :: 20:11

Actually, if you watch the trailer, it looks way worse than kinda sketchy. I have no idea why she would stoop to this.

deedee · 14 Jul 07 :: 20:28

shes making us canadian actresses look odd haha

domesticelefant · 15 Jul 07 :: 01:02

Sisterdebmac wrote:

She's not really in 24 anymore. I don't think she was in a single ep this past season.

Oh. Didn't know that. I don't watch the show that often. Besides, Germany is way behind with the episodes, I think.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 15 Jul 07 :: 09:11

Just saw a TV ad for Charlie Bartlett with Anton. It looks hilarious and kinda sweet. Comes out 8/3. Can't wait!

TeeJay · 15 Jul 07 :: 10:42

Anja and I watched the online trailer yesterday. It looks so interesting. Wonder if it's coming over here, but it might. I think Larry said one of Anton's other movies was coming to Germany in October. Can't remember which one. Oh, it was "All The Boys Love Mandy Lane", I think. Hope either shows in OV.

Anja and I also looked at the trailer for Emile's new movie: Into The Wild. The landscape looks very intense, but I can't say it really interests me that much. Ooooh, shhh, don't tell Abbie! LOL

-TeeJay

domesticelefant · 15 Jul 07 :: 12:52

Michael's and Aaron's movie is coming here? Cooooool!!! I am SO going to watch it!

deedee · 15 Jul 07 :: 16:46

i saw the movie trailer for charlie barlet i belive in theaters.. yep was it looks halarious!! i also saw a movie he did way back when, Anton that is. it was called HOUSE OF D. was writen and directed by david duchuvny. it was a good movie id recommend seeing it.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 15 Jul 07 :: 19:36

Yeah, House Of D is a good movie, if you can get past the awful wig Anton has to wear.

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