Liberal Arts

[canadian_turtle]

I have to disagree, I thought this was really charming and over far too soon. Great performances by leads Josh Radnor and Elizabeth Olsen (who I wasn't familiar with before seeing this film other than her being the sister of), but I particularly loved the the smaller characters such as Dean and Nat.

Interesting to hear at the Q/A (with Elizabeth) how Josh besides being the lead star also wrote/directed the film and as such had a clear vision of what he wanted it to look like. This left little room for improv or the actor's own interpretation but at least they knew what was expected from them.

7.5/10

[Celini]

I am rather disappointed by this, I saw the trailer and I think my hopes were quite high as it focused on Zebe (?) and Jessie's relationship. Unfortunately the film is a slightly different story, too many characters and subplots are introduced to really care for any of them.

Apart from the screenplay that would have benefited some trimming, everybody involved give very good performances (did everybody notice Zac Efron?). Overall a good first feature from actor/writer/director Josh Radnor. Looking forward to see more of him and of the young Olsen.

7.5/10

edit: actually not a first feature, as he wrote and directed another movie in 2010 according to IMDb

[EthanRunt]

Yes, happythankyoumoreplease didn't get a proper release over here, also Olsen plays "Zibby", which is definitely a usual short version of Elizabeth. (Quirk overdrive)

[Celini]

See I should have gotten with my instincts! This is how I would have written it, but I thought as in English one pronounces E as a French I or Y, so I went for Zebe. Damn you English speakers

How was happythankyoumoreplease then?

[EthanRunt]

happythankyoumoreplease is a bit more of a middling comic drama, a collection of stories about love in a group of 20-something friends in New York, it has moments, but doesn't work as a whole, and gets rather dull at times. Liberal Arts is a far superior, more focussed, film.

[Beate]

Gosh, was this yawn-inducing. OH was dropping off from the start. Everyone was just talking all the time. Blah blah blah. Boring people talking about boring things. I think, like with Michelle Williams, I have to avoid films with Elizabeth Olsen in the future as they are just too indie for me. Nothing ever happens. People just ponder and there are non-endings. And Josh Radnor was not a likeable character for me.

BUT! 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.

THIS FILM IS IN SERIOUS NEED OF MORE ZAC EFRON!

He lifts a dull film to a mediocre 5/10

P.S. Nice to talk to ZoeBanfield and cinefila1 + OH.

[ejwrank]

Yep, we spotted Zac Efron--and agree that he lifted the film when he appeared. I thought the film was disappointing. The Twilight conversation was dreadful and all this slush about classical music which they 'discovered' -- ugh. And why was there a typewriter in her room -- I mean she liked to WRITE letters (how positively retro) not type them. Still...I've seen a lot worse on a Sunday morning but that isn't much of a recommendation.

[biggins]

Stood outside the Cameo for half an hour this morning waiting on the doors opening as the Times ticket said 10am for 10.30am screening but the staff at the Cameo said it was 11am screening. Don't know what went wrong as those that arrived later said their tickets were for 11am but the few people at the front of the queue beside us had 10.30am on their tickets.

Anyway, the film was watchable but not outstanding. The only twist to it was that it didn't end the way you suspected it would. 6/10

[Beate]

I compared tickets with ZoeBanfield and while hers said 10 for 10.30am, mine said 10.30 for 11am! PH Greenwich never show a preview before 11am so it hadn't even occured to me to properly check my ticket.

Did you notice how careful they were about avoiding the word "Twilight" or even showing the book cover and always just talking about "that vampire book"? Must be a copyright issue or something.

[Celini]

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