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The Family Stone
Townhall.com ^ | 12/21/2005 | Megan Basham

Posted on 12/21/2005 8:37:47 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: familystone; hollyweird; hollywood; moralabsolutes; moviereview; movies
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To: wideawake



I must admit that I was quite livid by the time the credits scrolled. I was completely set up.



61 posted on 12/21/2005 9:46:44 AM PST by This Just In ("Those are my principles, if you don't like them, I've got others" - Groucho Marx)
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To: moviewatcher

Hollywood has been making this same movie over and over lately. The only thing missing is Ben Stiller.


62 posted on 12/21/2005 9:47:06 AM PST by GSWarrior
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To: sarasota

Agreed. Russell Crowe did a great job and I really think they captured the depression.


63 posted on 12/21/2005 9:48:59 AM PST by MattinNJ (Allen/Pawlenty in 08-play the map.)
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To: Hank Rearden

I just watch them when they are on TV if it looks interesting. Why would you think you were supposed to be impressed? I'm just not a big movie fan.


64 posted on 12/21/2005 9:50:46 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: moviewatcher

My mind was made up long ago. About the only cast member worth seeing is Rachael McAdam, but she can't make up for dealing with Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton or the "dumber" member of the Wilson clan (as opposed to his brother, "dumb").

Luckily, my wife get a call to see it with some friends this week, so I'm off the hook. That and "Bareback Mounting"! Best Christmas present I got from her friends this year, not having to deal with those two turkeys!


65 posted on 12/21/2005 9:55:07 AM PST by ssaftler (Politically Correct isn't! Progressives aren't!)
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To: mlc9852
I just watch them when they are on TV if it looks interesting.

"Edited for time" + "Edited for dialogue" + "Formatted for your screen" + commercials is almost guaranteed to make any movie uninteresting.

66 posted on 12/21/2005 9:55:30 AM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Hank Rearden

It's funny how some people take not seeing movies as some sort of badge of moral superiority. Can you imagine if someone said "I haven't read a book in years" or "I haven't listened to any music in years."


67 posted on 12/21/2005 9:56:15 AM PST by Borges
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To: moviewatcher

I REFUSE to see ANY movie with Diane Keaton. She is an awful actress. I HATED "Something's Gotta Give."


68 posted on 12/21/2005 9:57:00 AM PST by Muzzle_em ("Get busy LIVING or get busy dying")
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To: Borges
The film was about the widow of a man who was killed by a psychopath who shot up his office.

The bereaved widow is suing the firearm manufacturer in civil court.

An evil cabal of firearm manufacturers secretly meet and retain the services of Gene Hackman, a jury consultant who is willing to break dozens of federal laws for a price.

John Cusack plays a slacker who is secretly a brilliant jury manipulator. He dodges Hackman's vetting process, and therefore is risking his life as the two play cat and mouse.

It is revealed that he has done all this for a woman (Rachel Weisz) whose sister was killed in a school shooting years before, and his manipulation of the jury to force the firearm industry into bankruptcy is a social imperative reinforced by the passion of a man for the lady he loves.

Formulaic, treacly, two-dimensional, manipulative crap.

But it gave me some more ideas for my "inverse Grisham" screenplay.

69 posted on 12/21/2005 9:57:01 AM PST by wideawake
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To: Hank Rearden

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


70 posted on 12/21/2005 9:58:25 AM PST by sarasota
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To: Borges

Considering what Hollywood puts out, I would say it is a badge of moral superiority to ignore many of their movies.


71 posted on 12/21/2005 9:59:04 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: wideawake
Formulaic, treacly, two-dimensional, manipulative crap.

This should be on Grisham's head stone. 'A Time to Kill' was also genuinely hateful. This review nails it...

http://leonardo.spidernet.net/Artus/2386/time2kill.htm
72 posted on 12/21/2005 9:59:58 AM PST by Borges
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To: sarasota
Can you give me a list of the "dozens of good films"? I must be missing something.

Start with Downfall; I'll give you more later when I have time.

73 posted on 12/21/2005 10:00:15 AM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: sarasota

SNORRFLE!


74 posted on 12/21/2005 10:00:37 AM PST by Froufrou
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To: sarasota
And yes, you are missing something - you're missing a lot.
75 posted on 12/21/2005 10:00:53 AM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: mlc9852

Of course the obvious response would be "How would you know if you don't see movies" and "Not all American films are made by Hollywood"


76 posted on 12/21/2005 10:00:54 AM PST by Borges
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To: Pessimist

Ditto. The last six movies I saw in the theater include 3 LotR, 2 Star Wars, and The Passion of the Christ.

Is there anything else done by the movie industry recently that is worth seeing, even for free?


77 posted on 12/21/2005 10:01:58 AM PST by thoughtomator (Congrats Iraq!)
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To: Borges
It's funny how some people take not seeing movies as some sort of badge of moral superiority.

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

78 posted on 12/21/2005 10:02:22 AM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: dbehsman

One thing about "The Family Guy"- that show is an equal opportunity offender. It has made me LAUGH and it has made me turn off the television. I rarely watch it now.


79 posted on 12/21/2005 10:04:22 AM PST by Muzzle_em ("Get busy LIVING or get busy dying")
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To: mlc9852
You were expecting It's A Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34th Street? Not these days which is why I have only been to one movie in the past seven years.

While You Were Sleeping was a good "Christmas-time" movie... i remember it being very cute...

80 posted on 12/21/2005 10:06:19 AM PST by latina4dubya
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