Ceremony
2010 Directed by Max Winkler
Synopsis
Sam Davis (Michael Angarano) convinces his former best friend to spend a weekend with him to rekindle their friendship at an elegant beachside estate owned by a famous documentary filmmaker (Lee Pace). However, it soon becomes clear that Sam is secretly infatuated with his ex, Zoe (Uma Thurman), who is now the filmmaker’s fiancée, and that his true intention is to thwart their impending nuptials. As Sam’s plan begins to unravel, he is forced to realize how complicated love and friendship can be.
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I think I understand what the film was going for but it didn't quite make it there for me. Lovely cast and some clever moments but I just didn't connect with it. But I liked it enough that I look forward to seeing how Max Winkler's next feature turns out.
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A fun look at how to ruin a weekend and still have fun on the way. Lots of devious planning by Michael Angarano annd a completely gullible best friend. Urma Thurman is always a pleasure to watch in her role as an insecure lost waif and I immediately liked her brother, Teddy, who although he was a basket case, was a really cool guy. Love these kind of dysfunctional films.
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Mundane rom-com that takes boredom to new levels.
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An obvious homage to Wes Anderson, but well done and beautiful to watch. I was not bothered by the similarities in style because this film was so thoughtfully crafted when it easily could have been too heavy-handed.
The characters are wild exaggerations and yet somehow, oddly identifiable. The set, costume, music, etc. are quite lovely and I was easily lost in them. Strange film. Worth watching, especially if you liked Bottle Rocket or Rushmore.
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A young man tries to stop the oncoming wedding of an older woman whom he had previous relations with.
This is a very charming little film. Very straight to the point, but very whimsical. Quite fast too, it'll be over before you know it. Yet there's something in it's approach, and style, and pacing that's interesting. Interesting in a way that's not exactly stimulating, but also not exactly a bore. I wouldn't be surprised if many hipsters of the world have this in their collection, or have blogged about it at some point.
I will say that Michael Angarano (the protagonist) delivers a very solid performance. I really hope he'll continue to blossom in cinema with age in the same manner Joseph Gordon-Levitt has. He's one to watch for. -
I was really enjoying this to begin with, but it lost momentum in the middle. It did regain some of that momentum towards the end, but didn't really deliver the goods based on the earlier portion of the film.
The performances were really good all around, which helped keep the film watchable, but it just seemed to sag on a few occasions.
I really liked how well the soundtrack worked with the film. It really gave the edge to some scenes.
The storyline was ok, and had a nice feel to it. You sympathised with the lead actor and hoped for a positive outcome for him, but at points it felt more like a lesson of how not to go… -
polu vareto
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I would say watch it for Lee Pace, but he's actually kind of awful in this. The movie is passable, but nothing I would recommend. It is dull and incredibly awkward at points, with many of the jokes falling flat and none of the performances standing out.
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Like a rookie bartender mixing together Noah Baumbach's "Margot at the Wedding" and Efram Potelle's "The Battle of Shaker Heights". Sometimes being sleepy and sardonic doesn't mean whimsical and enchanting. It means boring and pretentious. Pass.