Sure, it's fun to catch the latest flick at the multiplex, or grab the newest release at a video store, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Out with the new, and in with the unknown." There are plenty of older flicks out there that are worth a rental, but never registered on your radar. In Don't You Forget About, we remember the long-gone gems, so you don't have to.
Photo:impaawards.comWHAT it's about: Without giving too much away, it's the story of a seemingly unlikely affair and how adults too can be little children. (Wow, that came out a whole lot more concisely than I expected.) Let's leave it at that.
WHO'S in it: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly... all of whom need absolutely no explanation. Plus Jackie Earle Haley of Human Target and our new Freddy Krueger (who also happens to be a paedophile like his character in this film). And Noah Emmerich, the supporting guy from a bunch of really amazing stuff (Super 8, The Truman Show, The Walking Dead...).
WHEN it came out: 2006
HOW come you haven't heard of (or just seen) it before: It was nominated for 3 Academy Awards, 3 Golden Globes and 2 SAG awards. It won none. So, you've probably heard of it, but it comes with this pretty-good-but-not-good-enough vibe. Opening weekend brought in just under $100,000 (though it only opened in five theatres), and in the end, it didn't do super-well. So, considering it didn't do well at the box office and fell short of all nominated awards, despite actually being recognized, there wasn't a whole of incentive to see the film. But...
WHY you need to watch it - immediately!...
- There is one mega reason you need to see this film, if for no other reason: it's based on a book of the same name by Tom Perrotta. It's okay if you don't know who that is (or maybe you do) because all you need to know is that he also wrote Election (yes, that one). So in short, the story is beyond amazing. Complex characters; dramatic, compelling plot; and interesting ideas.
- Largely due to the above fact, watching this film is like reading book. This film is your next book club read. Really.
- Kate Winslet is impressive as usual. She does drama like no other. Seriously, why has she only taken home one Oscar?
- It will make you a Patrick Wilson fan, if you aren't already. He's so underrated. If you don't believe me, watch this film. It will make you angry that in the past five years, no other film has come even close to calling on his talent as much.
- The film looks like it was shot using the same lighting, direction and settings as a Vanity Fair photo shoot.
- A narrative that doesn't disappoint. It builds and builds then crashes (in the best of ways).
