This Week's Selection: "A LIFE LESS ORDINARY"
I was going to suggest a tribute to Julia Roberts this week, but decided that would be too predictable. I'm overjoyed she won the Oscar for Best Actress, but this week's "Video Pick of the Week" doesn't include Ms. Roberts. Instead, this week's pick features great performances by Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz.
First, I have to admit that I love Ewan McGregor. I even forgive him for his part in that Star Wars movie. I believe he's a highly under-appreciated actor whose performances in Trainspotting, Velvet Goldmine and Shallow Grave should have earned him awards, or at least award nominations. In A Life Less Ordinary, Ewan's considerable talents are showcased. Co-starring with Ewan, Cameron Diaz is terrific as the hostage/spoiled brat/karaoke singer/love interest. She and Ewan have great on-screen chemistry and play well off each other. Delroy Lindo and Holly Hunter are like icing on the cake (or butter on the popcorn), adding additional reasons why this film is a must-see.
This film is a bit romance, a bit fantasy, and played with an edgy, comedic style. The story revolves around two angels (Lindo and Hunter) who must unite opposites (McGregor and Diaz) in order to fulfill the angel Gabriel's wishes. The premise sounds straightforward - and like something done a few times before - but there are interesting twists to the story that set it apart. The writing is superb; the storyline throws the audience enough curveballs to make the film unpredictable and highly entertaining. It begins with Robert (McGregor), a janitor, getting replaced by a robot. Robert confronts his boss and ends up shooting him and kidnapping his daughter, Celine (Diaz). Robert proves to be a very inept kidnapper but that turns out to be no problem as Celine ends up helping him plan/carry-out her own kidnapping. They escape to a mountain cabin and have to pretend to be newlyweds (with Robert having the added distinction of pretending to be a famous rock star). All the while, the two angels are manipulating them. There are thugs, some pretty awful poetry, a bank robbery and a love/hate relationship thrown into the mix. Oh, and there's still the kidnapping going on.
This is the third movie that teams up director Danny Boyle, producer Andrew MacDonald, writer John Hodge, and Ewan McGregor. Hodge admits he wrote the part of Robert with McGregor in mind. Finding the perfect actress to play the role of Celine wasn't quite that easy. After auditioning tons of Hollywood's hot young stars, the script was mailed to Diaz. Cameron immediately fell in love with the script and after auditioning, Boyle knew he'd found the perfect Celine. Filming began in September, 1996 and the film was released in 1997.
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Produced by: Andrew MacDonald
Screenplay by: John Hodge
Robert - Ewan McGregor
Celine - Cameron Diaz
O'Reilly - Holly Hunter
Jackson - Delroy Lindo
Naville - Ian Holm
Mayhew - Ian McNeice
Elliott - Stanley Tucci
Gabriel - Dan Hedaya
Al - Tony Shalhoub
Lily - K.K. Dodds
Tod - Maury Chaykin
Celine's Mother - Judith Ivey
Felix - David Stifel
Ted - Frank Kanig
Frank - Mel Winkler
Interested in purchasing "A Life Less Ordinary?"
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