Reading Jeffrey Eugenides' novel I could only think that Sofia Coppola made an excellent job. The cast and characters fit so well and she was able to bring all the deep and poetry to the screen. I can't tell she gave the characters life, because they live, and always will, beyond the lines, but she gave to the story colors and sounds. The end is a bit different, but I agree with that; the original end wouldn't be good in the film. Actually the story doesn't finish with the deaths, one of the Lisbon sisters survive and... I won't tell which girl and what happens after that in case someone wants to read the book, but all Sofia did was to cut the story some pages before the last one.
Book and film are very good and my favorite character in both is Cecilia Lisbon. Therese called my attention too, but the story focus more in Cecilia and Lux. Lux is interesting in the film, but in the book she is the typical false copy of Lolita. Kirsten Dunst, in one of her best roles, played Lux so passionly and deeply that I almost preferred her than Cecilia, but Hanna Hall was excellent as well. Cecilia is intriguing, mystical and fascinating. "Obviously, doctor, you've never been a thirteen year-old girl"?
The soundtrack (Air) works prfect. Depressed, but beautiful. It's the perfect music to the perfect adaptation.
Um.. pretty interesting film, I know it was a book first and the book is probably fantastic (as this is usually the case... too bad I do not have the attention span to read for recreational purposes anymore though).
It was... a pretty damn depressing movie. Which was to be expected, hence "suicides" being within the title. I think anyone who knows what it is like to be a very young, confused teen who was raised under an overprotective, traditional/religious, oppressing family (like me) can totally relate to this film... and in such would find this kinda hard to watch and take in.
For those of you who have not been raised under these conditions, you will thank your lucky stars that you didn't. Haha. ;X
Even though the exact reason why all these suicides took place is "shrouded in mystery" to all the rest of the characters in the story (and maybe even a lot of the audience), for me personally... it was not all that hard to put together...
But I think the "ambiguity" of the real purpose of the suicides was meant to be left up to the audience. Everyone takes something different from it.
Even the coloring done in post-production gave off a very... jaded, depressing feel. But at the same time, there were SO many items and props used within this film that told you so much about the characters without them having to say anything about themselves... I found that to be very interesting....
Blah, blah, blah... I'm being a film geek now and analyzing the film. ROFL.
Um... yeah... go ahead and watch it... but be warned... depressing.
Coppola´s debut is some what different than her later movies, but also similar in many ways. It´s a darker movie, with a depressingly plot. Coppola have really catch t the atmosphere of these young teenage girls and how the live, talk about ect. ect. Or how I imagine It´s like to be a teenage girl in a strict family. Fine movie and a great movie, from a director I hope to see a lot more from.
A very pretty film that's well shot with fine performances from Woods, Turner, and Dunst. I was kind of left with a "so what?" response to the ending...the movie seemed to focus on the fact that the girls' suicides were so puzzling without offering any real explanation into the matter. It was essentially - hey look at this shit - it's confused the hell out of us. What do you think?
Not a bad movie though - touching in a beautiful, strange way.
Sofia Coppola's dreamy and disturbing nostalgic nightmare uses an enthralling (if anachronistic) soundtrack to meditate on post-war suburban paralysis, and the way in which related issues around socialization and repression are internalized and played out in the American nuclear family within the context of the military-industrial complex.
Or so runs everyone's second-year film essay... A traumatized and potentially traumatizing film, The Virgin Suicides does run the risk of being academicized to death (particularly by the psycho-analytical), but it should not be missed: it's a provocative and important experience, and even if it's not the most original of movies (in terms of technique and narrative... the story, from Jeffrey Eugenides's novel, is quite original), it captures 1975 in a way that seems to make the past incredibly present and gives us, if nothing else, a successful evil twin to That 70s Show.
Coppola's film-making is evidently immature in 2000, but its engagement with aspects of presence versus absence, and with the reconstruction of narrative based on artifacts and accounts that are incomplete and perhaps trivial, make this film a fairly intense and cerebral screening, and though it's not all that interesting to look at, you will be compelled to watch. Or so runs everyone's second-year film essay...
Can I just ask - would reading the book help me 'get' this film more? I watched it, and it's pretty good, yet I feel that the ending is just too open and vague - it feels more like laziness to not even leave some hint of explanation then as an enigma. It's a very interesting film though, shows the effects of trying to suppress something either in yourselves or in other people...
It was ages since I last saw this movie, but it came in on my Netflix this past weekend. I forgot how truly poignant this film is. It resonates in deep within you and two days later you can't remember why you are feeling so blue until you retrace your steps and remember that you watched this movie. Sofia Coppola's best film, in my perspective.
Great direction. Sofia Coppola creates a great drama alongside with terrific psychological profiles of typical and interesing characters and good acting and storytelling. Very recommended, since it treats an common issue of modern era. Depressing.
I original saw this because it has Hayden Christensan in it...for 2 seconds >_> but either way...I couldn't relate to the characters in NAY way and found them boring....not the best movie out.
The Virgin Suicides is a rather nostalgic, slightly surreal look back at the loss of innocence. Its plot centers around the repression and eventual suicides of five beautiful young sisters. The five Lisbon sisters are 17-year-old Therese (Leslie Hayman), sweet sixteener Mary (AJ Cook), Bonnie (Chelse Swain), aged 15, precocious 14-year-old Lux (Kirsten Dunst), and the youngest, Cecilia (Hanna R Hall), a somber 13-year-old. Their mother (Kathleen Turner) is a domineering Bible-thumping freak who has succeeded in emasculating her own husband (James Woods) and turning her daughters into captives who'd rather lobotomize themselves with a tapeworm infested skateblade than live under her tyrranical rule. A group of neighborhood boys, including Tim (Jonathan Tucker), enter the girls' lives, and become completely enamored of the sisters. Unfortunately, Cecilia succeeds at a suicide attempt, which sends her family reeling back into their shell. The Virgin Suicides is shot by cinematographer Edward Lachman in a style reminiscent of those sunshine-filled catalogue shots from the early 1970s. This, combined with the mournful voiceover narration (by Giovanni Ribisi, as an adult Tim), creates a feeling of nostalgia one feels for the lost days of innocence. The girls, though young, already know their power over the boys, although they may not completely understand it. The boys are clueless as to how girls function, but will do their damndest to find out. It's nothing we haven't seen in movies before, but thanks to director Sofia Coppola's deft touch, it comes across as more powerful than it has any right to be.
Excellent directional debut, Sofia Coppola shows all her talent, the photograpy and the direction is great and the preformance was so credible and the ending was excellent.
I remembering reading this before the movie came out, and the movie was ok. Although, when it did come out on DVD a while ago, my friends and I would repeat the part when Josh Hartnett first came onto the screen. I have a thing for rebels. =)
An incredibly sad story of 5 sisters. A story of love, youth and tragedy. Taking place somewhere in Michigan in the 70's. The style, and feel of the era were very well conveyed. The soundtrack is stellar. Josh Hartnett, one of my least favorites, really did some good acting, and filled his role well. AGH.. but how the story changes from love and happiness to tragedy so fast, as it often does in real life. I still cant wipe the frown off my face. Soffia Copolla does a fine job directing, with her daddy co-producing. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who wants to feel sad and nostalgic.
The Virgin Suicides stars Kirsten Dunst, James Woods and Kathleen Turner. It about a family of five sisters during the 1970s with Woods and Turner playing the parents. This is a very depressing movie. But it is well done, and has a great cast. Josh Hartnett plays the boyfriend of one of the sisters and was so good in his part that it reminded me very much of boys that went to my school. Very haunting movie.
So weird and twisted. Coppola's directing was very interesting, and in the end I decided I liked it and bought the DVD. I also read the book and I recommend it.
This is one of the most weirdest and most depressing movie I have ever seen! Kinda boring the first time I watched it (maybe cause I saw it on one of those portable DVD-thing), but definitely a lot better the second time I saw it. The movie can be very dark and very depressing (hence the title). After viewing this movie it will definitely leave you with a lot questions and no answers. I think this movie is great but I'm not sure I would recommend this to just anyone. It might give some people ideas... you know what I mean?
One of my favorite movies. Something about the ending haunts me and makes me want to keep watching to try and figure out why they did it. It also has beautiful, simple yet captivating imagery.
MCT:August 17, 2008
MCT:August 10, 2008
MCT:August 8, 2008
MCT:July 17, 2008
MCT:July 4, 2008
MCT:June 22, 2008
MCT:May 27, 2008
MCT:May 21, 2008
