Hope Springs (Frankel, 2012)

[mrazrockit]

So, of course, I saw this opening night for Mrs. Gummer and wasn't too exciting for it when I first saw the trailer, but the recent reviews and praises made me anticipate it more earlier this week.

The movie, as a whole, is surprisingly solid. I commend the script for focusing on these two characters without wasting time and energy on funny, useless supporting players, like we see most often. The kids were barely a factor, which was nice too - it didn't matter who they were or what they did. It sticks with these two from beginning to the end and I was pretty impressed how much I knew about both of them by the end of the movie. Definitely a character study of Kay and Arnold and speaks true to a lot of couples. While watching, I was wondering to myself, 'have I done all I could do in my relationship?' It's pretty telling that 60+ couples on screen are completely relevant and I could relate to them fully. I was pleasantly surprised with this film. It's smart, it's touching and uncomfortably funny.

As for the performances, I was most impressed with Tommy Lee Jones. His slight nuances and rare smiles in the film is such a treat. He's charming and believable. His particular scene in the movie theater is pure gold. His face and reactions are just priceless. His character takes a pretty great journey and at the end, I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted them to work out, but I was still rooting for his character. Jones and Streep play well together and from their uncomfortable physical scenes to their stand-offish dialogue-filled banter towards one another, they show skilled chemistry. Streep is subdued in this role, which is rare for audiences to see. Her voice is meek and I don't think I can remember a character that Streep has ever played that is this subdued. Streep does what she does best - reacting. Her smiles and facial reactions are priceless.

I think there's a chance Streep can get in with this film, especially (like has been said in the Actress thread) if it's a box office hit. Word of mouth will help this film do well. I think they'll both get in for Globes, easily.

[crazyfists3600]

Now I'll see it.

God help me.

[Moviefreak]

I'll be seeing this on Sunday with my mother.

[mrazrockit]

Yay! crazyfists - I know how you feel about Meryl, but to her credit, she didn't make this movie for an Oscar. She wanted to make this film because of the script, so all the reviews and praise is just an icing to the well-written script and Meryl's film choices.

[crazyfists3600]

Yay! crazyfists - I know how you feel about Meryl, but to her credit, she didn't make this movie for an Oscar. She wanted to make this film because of the script, so all the reviews and praise is just an icing to the well-written script and Meryl's film choices.

Oh, I love me some Meryl...I'm just tired of talking about her

My wife, on the other hand, ALWAYS talks about her, so I knew I'd have to see this movie eventually. Your review makes me feel better about it.

[dyedred19]

I loved this!

The performances from Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones are both so nuanced and controlled and beautiful. I absolutely loved their chemistry (if that's even the right word for it) and the depth they were able to bring to these characters. It's often very poignant and very honest and, at least for me, quite emotional. Moments of this felt very organic.

It's absolutely everything I wanted. It has moments of sheer hilarity, too. The emotional balance is strikes is quite nice. I would have no problem with either lead getting nominated at the Oscars, though Streep probably has a much better chance. This has Golden Globes written all over it, though.

I also thought Steve Carell was very good and subdued in kind of a thankless role.

This comes pretty highly recommended.

[Submerge]

For a mainstream comedy, this is surprisingly brave! It took a taboo subject (in many parts of the country, at least) and gave it an honest, humorous, if at times uncomfortably so, treatment. Much more provocative than I originally expected. Acting-wise, Meryl and Tommy Lee Jones are perfect. Meryl, in particular, gives her character such vulnerability. When she tells the therapist she's afraid to touch her husband, for example, it's kind of devastating.

[Moviefreak]

I'm honestly shocked by how much I like this film. I loved how small and intimate it was and I think this will resonate with a lot of people. The acting is spectacular from both Jones and Streep. I really enjoyed that this was a look at a real relationship between to regular people without any frills. And yes, for a mainstream film to handle this subject matter so candidly was really shocking. I think this will surprise a lot of people, especially because it's not really a comedy per se.

I also enjoyed that this was a departure of sorts for Streep. Here she plays a regular woman, without accents or fancy costumes or makeup or anything like that, which she hasn't done in a while. It was really refreshing to see actually and this is one of my favorite performances of hers in years.

[dyedred19]

I'm honestly shocked by how much I like this film. I loved how small and intimate it was and I think this will resonate with a lot of people. The acting is spectacular from both Jones and Streep. I really enjoyed that this was a look at a real relationship between to regular people without any frills. And yes, for a mainstream film to handle this subject matter so candidly was really shocking. I think this will surprise a lot of people, especially because it's not really a comedy per se.

I also enjoyed that this was a departure of sorts for Streep. Here she plays a regular woman, without accents or fancy costumes or makeup or anything like that, which she hasn't done in a while. It was really refreshing to see actually and this is one of my favorite performances of hers in years.

Ditto.

I thought the scene in the movie theater was particularly ballsy (for lack of a better term). There was certainly the potential for this to be very vanilla and cutesy, but it really rose above that.

[ISA]

Just came back from seeing this. I liked it a lot. A lot, a lot, a lot.

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones - great performances. At first Meryl's timid voice bugged me as I thought she was trying to be cute. But as you get to know the characters, I understood why Meryl has that timid voice. It's because Kay doesn't believe she has any voice in the marriage.... and in life. She has become someone who is afraid to voice what she wants, feels, thinks. Tommy Lee Jones - what a performance. So much range from mad, skeptical, vulnerable.

I didn't expect there would be "sex scene" in the movie, yet all sex-related scenes were done tastefully, and not in a way that made me think "Eww old people having sex". They were tasteful, tender, and funny (the movie theater scene!!).

I also respect the topic the movie discuss. We have seen movies where people have marriage crisis, but I don't remember seeing one this real in recent years. I think this movie will do v well because it is, sadly, relatable. Majority of peeps in the audience today were older couples. And there were times when the audience laughs at scenes they find familiar (especially at the beginning with Arnold falling asleep as he was watching golf on TV, their interaction in the house).

Well done!

[guany]

There was one moment as Tommy Lee Jones was fucking Meryl Streep on the carpet, that Streep's hair, with her head pressed against the floor, made her look just like Margaret Thatcher again.

I was enjoying this until then.

[Aurelius]

Finally saw this, for some reason. It did have some funny moments, and some touching moments, but basically it was... just there? Nothing here was above 'good', not even the performances, which I found in general a little one-note, and a little too affected by Streep (not anything close to her usual mimicry, but some residual from her last performances). She's good in the scene where she has packed her bag to leave TLJ, that's the kind of stuff I want to see of her. Part of the problem is that the characters were very one-note for most of the film.

And the joke with the bacon and eggs? We got it the first time, no need to repeat that three times .

[raguabros]

I'm with Au, it was a "nice" movie but that's it. I was suprised to find out it's a flat-out drama, there were very few comedic moments.

[MVP of West Hollywood]

One of the best movies of the year IMO. Really surprised at how much I liked this. Great humans/relationship study, excellently focused on two characters (doesn't try to make anything more of the Carrell character or the kids than the film needs, etc.). Can't remember the last time introversion and disconnect was played this well... Honestly one of my favorite Meryl performances. Everything is below the surface and heartbreaking.

[VSW]

LOL I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. The trailers and previews were terrible and I hadn't really paid much attention to the reviews. I was surprised to find this to be more a character study than an actual broad/mainstream comedy as the marketing made it out to be? Really liked the way they handled the whole sex theme in such a mature and intelligent way. It reminded me of The Sessions for some reason in the way it treated sex.The whole thing felt very intimate and as expected Streep and Jones were great. It was nice to see Meryl play an ordinary woman for once. Such a very subdued performance. Jones was the highlight, tho. Great performance!

[McTeague]

LOL; I love how VSW is watching like, 7 movies a day.

[crazyfists3600]

It's funny to me (or kind of sad) how this is only a comedy because those sex scenes involved old people.

[Aurelius]

I love how this is a subdued Meryl Streep performance. It was still littered with mannerisms.

[VSW]

LMAO. I'm not! I wish, tho.

I have been catching up for the past weeks since I have been so out of the loop the entire year and am now only reading the film threads to read AD's opinions. I need to watch as many as possible so I can submit my INOCA ballot!

I did watch like 5 films during the weekend, tho. lol

[VSW]

I love how this is a subdued Meryl Streep performance. It was still littered with mannerisms.

LOL Yea. It was still subdued by Meryl's standards, tho.