It's taken me a while to compose this review. There's a lot of good stuff going on in the film. I've talked to both Troy and Jason about the film this week, and everytime I talked to someone, I was afraid that my review would look like it was just ripping off their impressions on the film, despite the fact that I looked at it much the same way as my friends.
I really, really, really liked the film. I enjoy films that take place in one day/night - such as "Clerks" or "Superbad". I like seeing just an interesting slice of a person's life. Now, I've had some wild nights in my life, and I've ended up in bizarre places with random people, and asked myself "How did this happen?". But, none of my experiences have come close to the fun and wild night experienced by Nick and Nora and their friends.
I like the music. It's lots of bands that I don't typically listen to, but one day would like to buy the soundtrack, because I really enjoyed the music in the film. I think its along the lines of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" or "Singles" with its soundtrack. The music from various scenes fitting so perfectly with the actions on screen.
The acting was pretty good, and the character development was really well done. Starting witht he introduction to Nick's character, and then crossing into Norah's world, where we learn how she's been connected to Nick through the mix CDs he makes for his ex-girlfriend - which Norah ends up with. When they randomly run into each other at a club, and find out who each other is - it's the catalyst for two various intentions to run with each other. At first, Nick wants to use Norah to find out how to get back with his ex. And Norah wants to get to know her musical soul-mate better. Over time, its amazing to watch how the night plays out, and how their mixed feelings and emotions juxtapose and collide while two scared people learn to open up to someone new.
But, the storyline involves so much more than just two, new, random people spending the night getting to know each other. They both love an indie band named Find Fluffy - a band who performs secrets shows and leaves clues all over New York City to the location of the show, causing their fans to run amuck throughout the entire city while communicating with their friends to find the secret show. After Norah's friend (Caroline) gets too drunk to continue the night, Nick's gay bandmates offer to take her home, until they get side-tracked and Caroline escapes from the Gays. Thus begins a double-searching night, while everyone is trying to find Caroline and Find Fluffy at the same time. Thus begins the Journey of the Bubble Gum, as it makes its way all over New York City, finds various homes in various mouths while it makes its way from location to location. While its often sick, its sometimes funny, but by the end of the time morning comes, its interesting to reflect on everywhere this one piece of gum travelled over the course of less than 12 hours.
The film reminded me how much I love New York City. I've never had any "adventures" like this there, but the film just reminded me of all the good times I've had in the City with Jason and Letha, McNear and Noah. Walking around, going to random bars in the middle of the night, walking all over downtown and finding holes-in-the-wall where Letha knows. Nothing bizzare, no missing people, just good times in a really fun city. Like the Karaoke Night. Or the All-Day Football Day. Or my first night ever in NYC and the late-night dinner at Dallas B-B-Q. New York City is one of those places that some many amazing things can happen to you, and I'm glad I've always been there with friends.
I love movies I can relate to - on any level. Or, I love movies that just remind me how good and simple life should be. Life moves way too fast these days, there's so much going on and becoming an adult really limits the amounts of irrational decisions we are allowed to make. Everything begins to be planned out, everything becomes a cycle, there are daily things that can't be ignored and have to happen. Places we have to be, pets to take care of, chores that have to be accomplished. It's always fun to be removed from the reality of life, and taken to a place where life is simple and easy, and it reminds me of how I felt life once was. "Nick and Norah" did that for me. It reminded me of all the wild times and fun nights I've had with my friends. And luckily, I'll always have those memories to hold on to.
"Nick and Norah's Inifinate Playlist" is a fun, cute, and enjoyable film. It's a self-discovery film. It's a film about relationships and break-ups. It's a film about perspectives and expectations. And most importantly, it's a film about friends. It's not the most well-crafted storyline, but it's not crap. It's fun. And it's worth watching, just for enjoyment - and to watch the Journey of the Travelling Bubble Gum...
3 comments:
Hey Shane... how about you just tell the entire plot in your blog? That would be awesome.
Is there a movie about relationships you don't like?
PS - movie looks dumb
michael, i hate it when people put me in a position where i feel i need to defend shane...but here goes(not that you will listen anyway)
shane's review doesn't give away anything that the trailer and the audience's previous experience with films like these do not. if you don't already know the plot of this film, i would encourage you to see more movies. in fact, the only thing shane gives away is the thing about the bubble gum and that is more of a continuous motif than a plot point. the plot synopsis of this film could easily be turned into a mad lib by inserting any title from a film of this ilk, as this film is not really about the originality of its plot but more about its tone.
don't blame shane for relating what should already be obvious from viewing the trailer,as he actually writes a fairly interesting, personal review of the film.
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