The Brilliant wonder of Catherine Keener Shines in this pick
E. Smith | Glen Burnie, md United States | 03/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the film that introduced me to the wonderment of Catherine Keener, Liv Schreiber and Anne Heche. Plus it has the ultra cool, funny Kevin Corrigan. A film about 20's somethings and their relationships and what happens when you feel you are losing your best friend to an impending wedding. Catherine Keener plays a neurotic woman who has no idea what she wants out of a relationship, so she relies heavily on her best friend (Heche) and her ex-boyfriend and male best friend (Schreiber). They are there to comfort her and are outlets to express her doubts on love and life. But one of her outlets is about to get married and she has a hard time adjusting to that fact. It's a good story about life in your 20's. There is a wonderful appearance by Kevin Corrigan who just steals most of the scenes he is in. It's not over the top acting (as you get in your better known dramas) and its not just caricatures... It's just a little low-budget film with some really good acting. The right amount of acting that is required for a film of this quality. And I found it rather enjoyable."
A realistic look at women's friendship...
Diane Moore | 05/27/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As you may have watched in the recent "Lovely and Amazing" movie by the same director, she chooses to focus on the truth in relationships, instead of presenting what's fake and flowery. Amelia is best friends with Laura. They grew up together, lived together, and shared a cat together. Now, Laura is getting married to her live-in boyfriend, and Amelia takes it hard. She is trying to put a handle on this, and at the same time, be single in New York. It seems that she has no other friends really, except for Andrew, a recent Amelia stalker victim, who she once dated. In fact, everyone she dates, she ends up obsessing about for a little while.This movie is not too well known or accessible, but I have always liked it for the fact that Amelia, played by Catherine Keener, is so real, with her tangly brown hair, and hilarious facial expressions. Although I haven't really been a fan of Anne Heche, she nails the part. She is interesting to watch with her cynical personality, who can be kind of abrasive, though sometimes sweet. She is trying to accept getting married, and wondering whether she wants to be there. Walking and Talking is fun, depicting a couple at night, stating, "You want to play around?" then grabbing a Boggle game from under the bed. Liev Schreiber, who has boyish charm and a machine-gun laugh, plays Andrew. He has a need for "adult videos" and stimulating phone conversations with women, he hardly knows. In addition, Todd Field, before directing, "In the Bedroom," always has that sweet, calm demeanor. The characters are hard to forget. Although the story is very simple, it still holds true with healthy and dysfunctional relationships. Anyone who wants to understand women and how they deal with each other should watch it!"
My Favorite Movie
Diane Moore | 12/28/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful movie. It's smart, funny and real. I still laugh out loud, and usually cry too, even though I've probably seen it a dozen times."
Warm funny wonderful movie
inframan | the lower depths | 11/22/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie catapulted Holofcener into the top ranks of movie directors in my book. The acting is superb all around, not show-offy or coy but real & many-layered. I've watched this movie several times & never grown tired or bored of watching Heche & Keener - they are fine musicians playing complex elegant intricate duets. The range of emotions that play over their faces is awesome. What this movie reminds me of the most is the films of Eric Rohmer (whose work I have enormous admiration for). The only other American film of recent years that came close to it was Joan Micklin Silver's Chilly Scenes of Winter (AKA Head Over Heels), another of my favorites. Curious too that Anne Heche who played Laura in this reminded me of Mary Beth Hurt who played Laura in that.
Some rare movies are a true snapshot of a certain time & a place. This movie is one of those & will be a classic in decades to come."