You know when you're talking to someone you think is like totally happening in a far out way and they ask if you've seen their favourite movie and you lie and say you seen "parts of it" because you don't want to seem like a total pop culture pariah? Yeah, we do too - and we hate ourselves for it! That's why we're vowing to watch at least one movie we've put off, ignored, rejected or just plain-out forgot about every week from now on. Join us as recount the popping of our cinematic cherries, complete with awkward, over-analytical details!
THE GOOD GIRL
DATE RELEASED: August 7, 2002
DATE ACTUALLY WATCHED: July 4, 2011
WHY NOW?: It's been on TV a lot lately (which seems to be becoming a very large factor lately in my reasoning for watching a film). Although I'd heard of the film, I decided to Google it for a bit more info. And for two main reasons, I decided to watch this film. The first, this film is supposedly the strongest point in Jennifer Aniston's career. Partly convinced by the rumoured but untraceable Empire Magazine quote: "Aniston may not have received her much-touted Oscar nomination, but this brilliantly funny and often touching film should assure her a solid post-Friends career," when I tracked down the mag's review, I couldn't find this quote but instead found: "If initially one scoffs at cute Rachel, I mean, Aniston playing a straggle-haired cashier at a tacky discount store, she brings you around smartish with her emotional but reflective performance." So rumour or no rumour, this sounds just like what I need after what I said about her in my Just Go With It review. The second reason I needed to watch this film was its connection to one of my favourite books ever, The Catcher in the Rye. Jake Gyllenhaal's character is Holden. Enough said.
WHY NOT THEN?: Well, at 13 years old, I wasn't very much into adult black-comedy indies. Nor did I have any clue who the cast was, except for Aniston who I knew as the actress from that show that was always on TV (but later, I would become a Friends fan). Also, to my young tastes, it looked boring. Does Aniston not look bored out of her mind on the poster? I rest my case.
EXPECTATIONS:
- Jennifer Aniston at the absolute best in her entire career. Yes, I know it's a lot to live up to, but this is what I've heard.
- A cute and quirky Zooey Deschanel, as usual, but even funnier this time.
- A transitional Jake Gyllenhaal on his way to hunk-dom. Not really sure what that means though. I guess I'll find out.
- Simplistic but interesting cinematography.
- Beautiful Catcher in the Rye references.
- Serious, although cliché, romantic drama.
WHAT I ACTUALLY GOT...
