Rachel Getting Married

[Solon]

My wife and I saw Rachel Getting Married last night.

An interesting character movie. I'm not really a movie guy, but I liked it. Anne is pretty hot for a drugged out girl, and the arguments and fights are really well done. Other parts are kinda slow. No full frontal nudity or real violence, but lots of swearing.

Plus, most of the characters were really homely actors - ordinary looking. One of my biggest gripes about movies is that every actor is smoking hot, when - in real life - the guy working the gas station or the girl at McDonald's is ordinary looking (or worse). This movie (except Anne) is full of ugly people. I loved that.

Anyone else see it? Maybe you can help me figure out the ambiguous ending.

[RockyBalboa]

No full frontal nudity or real violence

Lame.

[Green Lantern]

I just finished watching this. This happened to be one of the rare occasions where my wife and I had radically different reactions to a film. She absolutely hated it, finding the filmmaking pretentious and the characters abhorrent. I actually liked the film quite a bit and found the whole thing pretty fascinating.

The best kind of ensemble films are able to throw you into a situation and then provide you enough information so that your understanding of the characters gradually comes into focus over the course of the film. That's exactly how I felt during RACHEL GETTING MARRIED. As my understanding grew, my allegiances and sympathies kept adjusting and realigning until I kind of loved the whole damn family. I also loved the way the director just let certain scenes play out in a seemingly purely organic fashion, like the rehearsal dinner and the actual wedding celebration.

Solon, what were some of your thoughts about the ending?

[MarkGrace]

I saw this so long ago I'm not even sure I remember the ending. I do recall liking just how raw the portrayal of the family dynamic was. And of course the most memorable scene for me was Tunde Adebimpe (TV On the Radio) singing Neil Young's exceptionally moving Unknown Legend as part of his wedding vows. Sorry about the sucky video, but it's the best I could find:

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[BoylenOver]

I redboxed it when it first came out on DVD, and I liked it. I may have to watch it again now.

I seem to remember really liking the portrayal of the family dynamic. And I liked seeing Anne Hathaway in a unique role.

[Fiyero]

I saw this so long ago I'm not even sure I remember the ending.

Same. I do recall enjoying the film however. Didn't Anne receive a best actress nod?

[Green Lantern]

Same. I do recall enjoying the film however. Didn't Anne receive a best actress nod?

She did. She lost to Kate Winslet.

[BoylenOver]

I rewatched this tonight. I feel like I enjoyed more a second time. To see the rehearsal dinner, and all these people expressing their affection for Rachel and Sidney, contrasted with Kym's self-absorbed and stilted speech, it's painful, but it feels authentic. And to see the individual scenes play out organically (like GL said a few posts--and a year--ago) throughout the house is exceptional.