Liberal Arts

[kevinknapman]

Saw this a couple of weeks ago and thought that it was a perfectly watchable film with some excellent performances (including Efron), but boy was it marred by a level of smugness that made me want to punch everyone involved. Elizabeth Olsen is very good but also insufferably pompous at times. The hideous line about life being like improv as you also make it up as you go along. Also insisting people call her Zibby and getting arsey if anyone calls her Elizabeth. Also found it a bit rich that Radnor took two separate pops at television through two different characters. The ridiculous one about the worst book still being better than television was particularly galling. Considering Radnor probably would never have been in a position to make the film if it wasn't for his recurring role in a hit TV sitcom, I found this rather annoying.

Anyway I didn't dislike Liberal Arts overall, it does have several strong points, but I really hated certain aspects of it. Not one I'd really recommend people going to the cinema to see (other than for free).

So Martha Marcy May Marlene still hands down the best Elizabeth Olsen movie released this year.

[Beate]

Yeah, the earnest middle-class snobbery about classical music and higher literature (well, liberal arts) was quite annoying which is why Zac Efron was such a welcome relief.

[Beate]

Btw, we had a complete overkill of trailers this morning: Untouchable, Beast of the Southern Wild, Rust & Bone, On the Road, Holy Motors, Argo, Sightseers, The Great Gatsby plus Man Booker Prize on 15/10. WTF?

[jeanelle]

I just enjoyed this like she enjoyed the vampire books. I had my brain stretched yesterday at the theatre and this was just pleasant undemanding easy watching.

[bitzer]

Enjoyed this very much. Avoided some more obvious plot lines for the most part. Well acted. Whimsical, rather than credible but that was fine with me.

[EthanRunt]

the cover was clearly visible in one shot, the title was "Solar Sun"; on the back cover you could also see the title of another one of the trilogy which I remember was "something" Moon

Lunar Moon.

[Celini]

Thanks! I knew this was something as stupid as solar sun
What would have been the third? Stellar Star? Earthly Earth?

[EthanRunt]

Dusky Dawn?

[cinefila1]

It has Zac Efron in it! Did anyone actively know he was in it?? He brightened the screen up both times for the short scenes he was in and provided the only funny moments.

Yes, I noticed him straight away and he did light up the scene. Perhaps, as you suggest, they should have made more use of him!

[cinefila1]

Btw, we had a complete overkill of trailers this morning: Untouchable, Beast of the Southern Wild, Rust & Bone, On the Road, Holy Motors, Argo, Sightseers, The Great Gatsby plus Man Booker Prize on 15/10. WTF?

I looove trailers! Only problem is they make me want to see all those films. Except for Untouchable (I've seen it) and Holy Motors, what was that about!

Back to Liberal Arts, I neither liked it nor disliked it. It looked quite promising but then got lost in the way. Still, something to watch and think about on a dreary Sunday morning.