Nurse Betty
2000 Directed by Neil LaBute
Synopsis
Betty never misses an episode of her favorite soap opera, "A Reason to Love". After a mind-altering run-in with two hit-men while watching an episode, Betty transforms into 'Nurse Betty' and embarks on a mission to find her one true love, Dr. David Ravell.
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The first half hour had me thinking Nurse Betty was going to represent the worst, most dated aspects of indie cinema circa 2000 - condescending portraits of middle-American characters with graphic violence and brutality presented with a sub-Tarantino sense of ironic detachment. Thankfully, it gets better after that. I'm not sure Neil LaBute knew exactly what kind of movie he wanted to make - the movie's failure to decide on a straight or sarcastic approach to its provocative subject matter anticipates his remake of The Wicker Man - but he was smart enough to assemble a great cast that carries the movie through some very shaky writing. Zellweger has never been more likeable, Chris Rock gets to play an actual…
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An unusual movie with an unusual concept, and one which works wonderfully in practice. The kind of movie you can't describe on a poster or in a trailer or commericial.
Nothing is trivial, nothing is wasted, in this story that explores the classic question of how people perceive reality. A rare movie where every character ends up growing, becoming more mature, and allows the viewer to never second guess the outcomes.
So, if you have a love for the black but oh-so uplifting story, see Nurse Betty. Hell, even if you're not sure this movie is for you, give it a chance. It would take an awfully sour person to not enjoy this spectacular movie experience.
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NURSE BETTY actually has a lot in common with yesterday's film, THE MEXICAN. Both are strongly influenced by Tarantino, but attempt to do very ambitious and unusual things with that influence, allowing whimsical humor and romance to rub shoulders with scalpings and shootouts. Both were released in mutiplexes to confused, indifferent audiences when their offbeat, eccentric charms would have fared much better on arthouse screens. And both are, unfortunately, pretty much forgotten nowadays.
I absolutely loved NURSE BETTY back in 2000; it even wound up in my Top 10 that year. Unlike THE MEXICAN yesterday, though, BETTY didn't hold up quite as well for me today, re-visiting it for the first time in many years.
I still like it quite…
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Renee Zellweger or Renee "the powerhouse" Zellweger as i'm now going to call her stars and I mean stars in this dark comedy.
Betty (Zellweger) witnesses her husbands murder and the fixation she had with a tv soap star (Greg Kinnear) becomes for her, her reality. So she sets of to persue her tv husband. It's got criminals Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock on her tail to add some complexity to the equation.
It's such an enjoyable watch, would recommend this to anyone.
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Dreams of Hollywood
In a candyland nightmare.
Love letter about the dreams
If only it was less self-conscious.
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I remember thinking that this movie looked like a light, funny comedy, and then it turned out to be far darker and disturbingly violent than I anticipated. I mainly remember Chris Rock scalping someone, but other than that I'm not sure. I guess I still liked it.
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NURSE BETTY actually has a lot in common with yesterday's film, THE MEXICAN. Both are strongly influenced by Tarantino, but attempt to do very ambitious and unusual things with that influence, allowing whimsical humor and romance to rub shoulders with scalpings and shootouts. Both were released in mutiplexes to confused, indifferent audiences when their offbeat, eccentric charms would have fared much better on arthouse screens. And both are, unfortunately, pretty much forgotten nowadays.
I absolutely loved NURSE BETTY back in 2000; it even wound up in my Top 10 that year. Unlike THE MEXICAN yesterday, though, BETTY didn't hold up quite as well for me today, re-visiting it for the first time in many years.
I still like it quite…
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Renee Zellweger playing amnesia comedy like a pro contrasts harshly with Chris Rock and Morgan Freeman's violent, foul-mouthed scenes. Neil LaBute loves the latter, so it's no surprise their subplot's so prevalent, but it doesn't gel whatsoever with the sweet, dopily romantic tone of the rest of the film. Fortunately, Zellweger's completely irresistible, single-handedly turning a sitcom premise into something heartfelt.
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Dreams of Hollywood
In a candyland nightmare.
Love letter about the dreams
If only it was less self-conscious. -
Renee Zwelleger brings an outstanding performance to this drama as a run down housewife, who witnessing her husbands early demise at the hands of Morgan Freeman's hitman, descends into a fantasy world from her favourite television program, where she is unable to separate reality from fantasy.
Renee Zwellegger has always been a great actress, one of these rare actors that you can actually believe what she is feeling, rather than somone acting these emotions and she's never been better here.
Alongside her, Morgan Freeman's grizzled, one last time (of course) hitman, tempered by Chris Rock playing his quite useless son he's trying to integrate into the family business that manages to stay just on the right side of annoying.
Part…
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genuinely warm and funny film
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completely lovely, as always, Reneé makes you fall in love with her (even if she's insane)
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A good premise. Some very funny parts, but one can't decide if it's a comedy because the violent parts are a bit too mean and dark.