Advantages: Good acting. Ellen Page Disadvantages: Boring plot
_(Film only review)_
On our weekly trip to the cinema, we chose to see _Smart People_, although not really knowing much about it, thought we'd give it a go. After seeing _Juno_ and enjoying it hugely, primarily due to the superb acting of Ellen Page, I thought this has to be just as good…surely. I had seen snippets of trailers and quite liked the look of it, the quirky use of Scrabble tiles in the poster made me smile…I mean they use Scrabble letters ... ...a good question, because something was lacking, that I can't quite put my finger on. As the film starts, we are introduced to Laurence Wetherfold, played by Dennis Quaid _(Vantage Point)_ who is a university lecturer of literature, recent widower and father of two teenagers, each at different stages of education. As you might expect, his life has taken a downward spiral of depression and grief. He is also not the nicest man. His arrogance and aloofness ...
MarcoG 18.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Smart People (DVD)
Advantages: A good cast. Disadvantages: The actors are wasted on poor writing and generic direction.
...that is nowhere near as smart as it thinks it is.
The screenplay by Mark Poirier perpetuates the myth that all clever people are emotionally retarded, socially dysfunctional monsters with superiority complexes. It seems an odd prejudice to hold as without the titular smart people we would have died out as a species long ago. Nonetheless this has become a handy stereotype in recent years as the phenomenon of "dumbing down" has taken hold. As Lawrence ... ...it virtually impossible to care about them. But the same can also be said of his adopted brother Chuck who is nothing more than the slacker stereotype turned middle-aged. Janet is a handy example of how intellect and people skills can mesh. But the problem is that the characters aren't fleshed out beyond the clichés so they have no distinct personalities or idiosyncrasies that allow you to identify with them. And the suggestion that the intelligentsia ...
afy9mab 26.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Smart People (DVD)
Production Year: 2002 - Drama - Director: Todd Haynes - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Viola Davis, James Rebhorn, Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
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