The Family Stone

Townhall.com ^ | 12/21/2005 | Megan Basham

[moviewatcher]

Pot-smoking, gay adoption, and mothers gleefully discussing how their daughters lost their virginity. Ahh, just what the Christmas season is all about. What? Not in your family?

Then you must not work in the film industry. Because apparently there, like doorbells and sleighbells and schnitzel with noodle, these things add up to a heartwarming holiday.

The Family Stone is yet another case of movie marketing bait-and-switch. Playing on Christmas nostalgia, which most Americans share, the trailer promised a rollicking, good-natured comedy about family foibles and the frustrating moments that eventually become our favorite memories.

What the film delivers is a ham-fisted primer on blue-state values.

[LoneConservative]

I call Sarah Jessica PArker "Hatchet Face". Mrs. LC is not amused.

LC

[Albion Wilde]

The many closeups of Jessica were horrible to see. Put a witch hat on her head and move the mole to her sharp chin. Now that would be perfect casting for a horror movie.

I see I'm not the only one who absolutely dumbfounded as to why this woman is held up as an example of beauty and sex appeal. And her husband is an above-average looking guy. What's up with that?

[x]

I did see it with the expectation of a holiday comedy. I was really pissed at the blatant homosexual plot.

That would be pretty disappointing. The movie didn't actually get very good reviews. But plenty of people picked up on the fact that it wasn't a complete endorsement of the Stones and their attitudes, which Megan didn't seem to get.

A lot of film directors now are gay and work their own lifestyle into their films. Their movies aren't all bad, but nowadays mainstream films aren't what they once were. There are websites that can give you a heads up on this, and somebody here will probably know some of them.

[MajorityOfOne]

YES! Someone else agrees with my take on Sarah Jessica Parker! I prefer saying that she's a shoe-in for the lead if they ever make "Seabiscuit II."

[sarasota]

While You Were Sleeping is one of my all-time favorites.

[dbehsman]

"I have only been to one movie in the past seven years.
Then you've missed dozens of great films. Are we supposed to be impressed?"

I don't think there is much that will impress you. I think the poster was simply trying to make a point that movies are not worth going to lately, because they are generally of poor quality. Is that so difficult?

[Albion Wilde]

I have always been a stickler for historical accuracy in films. I used to make fun of the gladiator movies from the 50's in which all of the gladiators had crew cuts.

I, too, am a movie lover and a stickler for dialogue boo-boos -- characters set in past centuries using hipster phrases from the postmodern era of Freudian therapy and television advertising.

Other offenders are California actors who sound like surfer dudes no matter who they are playing. I'm thinking of Kevin Costner sounding exactly the same as he does in real life while appearing in Robin Hood (England in the 17th century) and Dances with Wolves (the American West in the 19th century).

[dbehsman]

"Other offenders are California actors who sound like surfer dudes no matter who they are playing. I'm thinking of Kevin Costner sounding exactly the same as he does in real life while appearing in Robin Hood (England in the 17th century) and Dances with Wolves (the American West in the 19th century)."

I know what you mean and I agree. I do have to point out however, the movie "Immortal Beloved". I don't know if you ever saw the film or not, but it's a movie about the life and multiple loves of Beethoven. Gary Oldman (I think I spelled his name correctly) played the part of Beethoven. I have NEVER in my life heard a worse German accent. It was such a bad accent (or perhaps I should use the word accident), that it was actually a distraction throughout the movie. It was a great movie and I highly recommend it, but for that dreadful accent. I really wish the director would have instructed Gary just to use his regular voice. Watch it sometime, and you can see the immediate contrast with Gary and the other actors (almost all of whom were European). I have to give the film credit though. I developed much more respect for Beethoven and his music, when I saw a little glimpse of his life.

[Left2Right]

Good for you! I first got rid of my TV about 12 years ago. My son was about 8 at the time and he hated me for it for about a year and a half, kinda off like an addict who got his drugs taken away. He finally started reading a lot more and got over it.

I tried cable TV again earlier this year (had to borrow a TV from a friend), but after 2 months got rid of it. I get most of my news & info from the Internet & the WSJ, so if I get another TV it will just be for watching DVD's, probably from NetFlix and the local library.

By the way, I thought the Narnia movie was fantastic!

[derllak]

Narnia is the only movie I have any desire to see too. And you're so right about the dialog. I can't remember a recent movie where I heard any meaningful or intelligent conversation between two characters!
Even the remakes of great old movies are so moronic.
You and I will both be cheering the implosion of Hollywood. Just a matter of time now! Yeehaw! :)

[dbehsman]

"As with rap "music", celebrating ignorance is demeaning."

Golly Hank, you're getting a little vicious this afternoon. Take a break, have a cup of coffee.

Have YOU paid money and spent a couple of hours to see "The Family Stone"?

[latina4dubya]

While You Were Sleeping is one of my all-time favorites.

yes--it was good... that family really was nice... i like when they all showed up with the son when he proposed to her at the end... so cute!

[Hank Rearden]

Can you give me a list of the "dozens of good films"? I must be missing something.

Here's some more in addition to Downfall (I have seen all of these, and bought most on DVD after seeing them in the theater, so I'm not just passing on others' lists):

March of the Penguins
Grizzly Man (just to gloat at a loopy leftist)
Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Spider-Man
Spider-Man 2
Touching the Void
Hero
Hotel Rwanda
The Incredibles
The Triplets of Belleville
De-Lovely
Winged Migration
Finding Nemo
Ed Wood
The Station Agent
American Splendor
School of Rock
Finding Nemo
The Aviator
Insomnia
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Big Night

I have left off a few, like Lord of the Rings and Sideways that I thought were good but didn't nearly live up to the hype.

Start with these; let me know if you need more. You're welcome.

[Hank Rearden]

Have YOU paid money and spent a couple of hours to see "The Family Stone"?

No I haven't. Why would I? The subtopic was avoiding all movies for years, which is silly.

[Hank Rearden]

The last time I saw Sarah Jessica Parker in a movie I was upset. After seeing her face I thought it was a remake of all of the "Francis the Talking Mule" movies. But it turned out to just be a piece of crap.

I believe Peter Griffin put it best:


"She looks like a shoe!"

[sarasota]

Thanks, Hank. Now I have my Holiday viewing list ready!

[Constantine XIII]

I call it "The Darwin Effect." :P

[Lady Heron]

Boycotts are so tiresome and lefty.

France and Disney do not think so.

[Sans-Culotte]

All Freepers should go and see Pride and Prejudice. It's a PG movie with lots of old-fashioned sexual yearning without any blatent exhibitionism. It has a lot of comedy, satire on English family life, excellent acting, and a wonderful original soundtrack renminiscent of Mozart and Beethoven. And, fellas, there are several great manly men in this film too.

Who cares about "manly men". The stunningly beautiful Keira Knightly is in it!

I've tried to get the wife to go to this one, but she is a Jane Austen freak, and if they don't do it "right", I'll hear a litany of complaints about it....

She did like Sense and Sensibilty (with some reservations).

[Constitution Day]

There are always exceptions.
I stand by my statement; your mileage may vary.