What was the last Good movie you saw?
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I think you all should read the plot to The Invention of Lying. Its actually a really well done film. Especially when you remember its just a film. Not an attack on christianity in any way. Especially when the world has no religious beliefs and he event sthe concept of heaven to comfort his dying mother.
The film features a high concept narrative set in an alternate reality in which there is no such thing as lying and everything said is the absolute truth. In this world people make blunt, often cruel statements, including those that people would normally keep to themselves. There is a lack of religion belief, and the absence of fiction results in a movie industry limited to lecture-style historical readings, and advertisements as bluntly truthful as the people are.
Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) is an unsuccessful lecture-film writer who is assigned to write about the 13th century, a "very boring" era. One night he goes out on a date with the beautiful, charming and wealthy Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner). She tells Mark she is not attracted to him, due to his looks and unsuccessful financial situation, but is going out with him to satisfy her extremely prejudicial mother and as a favour to Mark's friend Greg Kleinschmidt (Louis C.K.).
The next day Mark is fired from his job due to lack of interest in his films, and his landlord evicts him for not paying his rent. Depressed, he goes to the bank to close his account. The teller informs him that the computers are down, and asks him how much money he has in his account. Mark has an epiphany and tells the world's first lie, that he has $800 in his account. The computer comes back online and shows his balance is $300 but the teller gives him the full $800 anyway, assuming that the computer made a mistake.
Mark then lies in a variety of other circumstances, including telling an attractive woman that the world will end unless they have sex, preventing a police officer (Edward Norton in a cameo) from arresting his friend Greg for DUI, getting money from a casino, and stopping his neighbour Frank Fawcett (Jonah Hill) from committing suicide. He then writes a screenplay about the world being invaded by aliens in the 14th century and that the memories of all humans were erased. He becomes wealthy from the success of the film which he named "The Black Plague."
Mark convinces Anna to go out with him again hoping she will see past his looks and weight now that he is financially secure. On their date Anna congratulates Mark for his success and admits that he would be a good husband and father. She is still not attracted to him because if they ever have children Mark would contribute half of the heredity to their children, making them "fat kids with snub noses" and Anna does not want that. Mark then gets a call that his mother had a heart attack and rushes to the hospital. There, the doctor tells him that his mother is going to die. She is terrified of death, believing she will go into an eternity of nothingness. Mark tearfully makes up a comforting story about a joyful afterlife, introducing the concept of a Heaven to her, and she dies happy while the doctors and nurses appear awed by what he says.
Mark soon receives worldwide attention for his supposed new information about death. Under pressure from Anna, he tells them, through "ten rules", he talks to a "Man In The Sky" who controls everything and promises great rewards in the good place after you die so long as you do no more than three "bad things." Some time later Anna and Mark are hanging out together in a park and Anna asks him if they marry would being rich and famous make their children not fat with snub noses. Mark wants to lie but doesn't because of his feelings for Anna.
Meanwhile Mark's rival Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe) pursues Anna romantically, motivated by spite because of Mark's success. However Brad's blunt, rude manner makes Anna uncomfortable though she continues dating him; they become engaged. Anna invites Mark to the wedding. Mark tries to convince her to not marry Brad but fails. Anna goes to the park she first went to with Mark and sees a slightly overweight child with an ice cream when some thinner boys come and mush his ice cream into his shirt. She yells at them and then they run away. She runs up to the boy and wipes away his tears while asking his name. He replies 'Short Fat Brian' to which she tells him: 'you are so much more than just that.'
Before the wedding Mark's friend Greg shows up and tells him that he didn't lose her yet and Mark reluctantly attends Anna and Brad's wedding. There, he objects to the marriage, but the officiant informs him that only the Man in the Sky can stop the wedding. Brad and Anna both ask Mark to ask the Man in the Sky what Anna should do but Mark refuses to say anything and leaves, wanting Anna to choose for herself. Anna walks out and Mark confesses his ability to lie and that the Man In The Sky was made up. Anna struggles to comprehend the concept and asks why he didn't lie to convince her to marry him; Mark states that it "wouldn't count." Anna confesses that she loves him.
Some time later, the now-pregnant Anna and Mark are shown married with a son, who has inherited his father's ability to lie.
Sure lying is bad, but its just a plot.
The film features a high concept narrative set in an alternate reality in which there is no such thing as lying and everything said is the absolute truth. In this world people make blunt, often cruel statements, including those that people would normally keep to themselves. There is a lack of religion belief, and the absence of fiction results in a movie industry limited to lecture-style historical readings, and advertisements as bluntly truthful as the people are.
Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) is an unsuccessful lecture-film writer who is assigned to write about the 13th century, a "very boring" era. One night he goes out on a date with the beautiful, charming and wealthy Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner). She tells Mark she is not attracted to him, due to his looks and unsuccessful financial situation, but is going out with him to satisfy her extremely prejudicial mother and as a favour to Mark's friend Greg Kleinschmidt (Louis C.K.).
The next day Mark is fired from his job due to lack of interest in his films, and his landlord evicts him for not paying his rent. Depressed, he goes to the bank to close his account. The teller informs him that the computers are down, and asks him how much money he has in his account. Mark has an epiphany and tells the world's first lie, that he has $800 in his account. The computer comes back online and shows his balance is $300 but the teller gives him the full $800 anyway, assuming that the computer made a mistake.
Mark then lies in a variety of other circumstances, including telling an attractive woman that the world will end unless they have sex, preventing a police officer (Edward Norton in a cameo) from arresting his friend Greg for DUI, getting money from a casino, and stopping his neighbour Frank Fawcett (Jonah Hill) from committing suicide. He then writes a screenplay about the world being invaded by aliens in the 14th century and that the memories of all humans were erased. He becomes wealthy from the success of the film which he named "The Black Plague."
Mark convinces Anna to go out with him again hoping she will see past his looks and weight now that he is financially secure. On their date Anna congratulates Mark for his success and admits that he would be a good husband and father. She is still not attracted to him because if they ever have children Mark would contribute half of the heredity to their children, making them "fat kids with snub noses" and Anna does not want that. Mark then gets a call that his mother had a heart attack and rushes to the hospital. There, the doctor tells him that his mother is going to die. She is terrified of death, believing she will go into an eternity of nothingness. Mark tearfully makes up a comforting story about a joyful afterlife, introducing the concept of a Heaven to her, and she dies happy while the doctors and nurses appear awed by what he says.
Mark soon receives worldwide attention for his supposed new information about death. Under pressure from Anna, he tells them, through "ten rules", he talks to a "Man In The Sky" who controls everything and promises great rewards in the good place after you die so long as you do no more than three "bad things." Some time later Anna and Mark are hanging out together in a park and Anna asks him if they marry would being rich and famous make their children not fat with snub noses. Mark wants to lie but doesn't because of his feelings for Anna.
Meanwhile Mark's rival Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe) pursues Anna romantically, motivated by spite because of Mark's success. However Brad's blunt, rude manner makes Anna uncomfortable though she continues dating him; they become engaged. Anna invites Mark to the wedding. Mark tries to convince her to not marry Brad but fails. Anna goes to the park she first went to with Mark and sees a slightly overweight child with an ice cream when some thinner boys come and mush his ice cream into his shirt. She yells at them and then they run away. She runs up to the boy and wipes away his tears while asking his name. He replies 'Short Fat Brian' to which she tells him: 'you are so much more than just that.'
Before the wedding Mark's friend Greg shows up and tells him that he didn't lose her yet and Mark reluctantly attends Anna and Brad's wedding. There, he objects to the marriage, but the officiant informs him that only the Man in the Sky can stop the wedding. Brad and Anna both ask Mark to ask the Man in the Sky what Anna should do but Mark refuses to say anything and leaves, wanting Anna to choose for herself. Anna walks out and Mark confesses his ability to lie and that the Man In The Sky was made up. Anna struggles to comprehend the concept and asks why he didn't lie to convince her to marry him; Mark states that it "wouldn't count." Anna confesses that she loves him.
Some time later, the now-pregnant Anna and Mark are shown married with a son, who has inherited his father's ability to lie.
Sure lying is bad, but its just a plot.
J
I saw Paul actually. 
I thought it was going to be a cute movie from the trailers. Admittedly, it was very funny in parts (I had to repent for laughing ), but I wouldn't recommend it based upon vulgarity and language alone, let alone the bashing our faith took. HOWEVER...I will say that the picture they painted of those who bash others with the Bible at every opportunity was not far from wrong in my view. But that's just me...I hate that stuff.
I thought it was going to be a cute movie from the trailers. Admittedly, it was very funny in parts (I had to repent for laughing ), but I wouldn't recommend it based upon vulgarity and language alone, let alone the bashing our faith took. HOWEVER...I will say that the picture they painted of those who bash others with the Bible at every opportunity was not far from wrong in my view. But that's just me...I hate that stuff.
G
An Affair To Remember with Deborah Kerr. "Winter must be so cold for those with no warm memories. We've already missed the Spring" Ahh classic. Romance and Romantic comedies are my fav genre of film. Though to be honest with the declining and practically non existent Hollywood morals its hard to find a movie in the present day that can hold a candle to the classics.
J
That was a great movie. Makes me think of this though, watch link:
YouTube - ‪Sleepless in Seattle - " affair to remember VS dirty dozen"‬‏
Makes me think of this though, watch link:YouTube - ‪Sleepless in Seattle - " affair to remember VS dirty dozen"‬‏
I thought Lars and the Real Girl made some interesting commentaries about human loneliness and the need to find some way, some how, to fit in... But, I was a bit disturbed that when Lars decided he was going to try focusing on his office co-worker instead of the doll he had told everyone was his girlfriend... He saw to it that his first girlfriend (the doll) "died" (supposedly got "sick" and later had an "accident" at the lake...)
Did anyone else see this movie? What did you think?
Did anyone else see this movie? What did you think?