BY MIKEY MIGO
I considered this a "task movie". As in I wanted to see it or at least was interested in seeing it once I first heard about it, but that interested quickly faded. Then upon release it felt like a "task" to actually sit down and watch it. Within a few minutes, that forced feeling goes away and is replaced by a newfound excitement for the material. What MOST people probably don't know, Anne Hathaway is NOT "Rachel", but rather Rachel's recently out of rehab sister "Kym". Rachel, played by Rosemarie DeWitt, is preparing to get married as her attention whore of a sister is being released from rehab. The movie pretty much goes as followed: Kym gets out of rehab; she's upset she's not getting all the attention and acts out over and over again as everyone around her is on egg shells not to upset her. I was actually annoyed with Hathaway for awhile during the movie and I think that was the point. By the time the real issues are revealed I really didn't care. Hathaway's performance IS good. It's like watching a good heel in wrestling that despite being a "smark" you still hate. DeWitt did great as the annoyed, but ultimately loving sister however I was most taken back by Tunde Adebimpe's performance as Rachel's soon to be husband. For those who don't recognize that name, he's the lead singer of TV ON THE RADIO! The dude can do it all. His directorial work on the "Pins" video by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, his own awesome music, and now kicking ass in Oscar nominated movies. At first I thought it was just going to "be there", but the guy really added to every scene he was in. It was well written and well acted, but the cinematography and direction is what enthralled me. The shots and view of the movie was very in your face and gritty. The camera was never flat and always had life to it giving the impression that you're actually there as opposed to just watching another story. It was like watching a Woody Allen film in fast forward, but with its own unique flavor. If you like good dramas then you for sure need to see this. If you're looking for something clean and charming then you're better off going with other Hathaway works. Overall, I give it a solid A minus.
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