LEAVES OF GRASS
RYAN: Leaves of Grass is a new showcase film for one Edward Norton who plays twins.
CAROLINE: It’s not the first time this has been done – hello Phoebe and Ursula on Friends – but it’s a very cool premise, and Edward Norton totally has the chops to pull it off.
RYAN: He’s really one of the best actors of our generation. I seriously loved this movie.
CAROLINE: I really liked it too. It’s from writer/director Tim Blake Nelson who also has a part in the film. It’s pretty twisted though, huh?
RYAN: Well, it starts as an interesting drama and then it becomes almost Coen brothers or Tarantino-esque.
CAROLINE: That was very unexpected and I think I gasped out loud. What happens is pretty shocking and almost Shakespearean. Which is kind of the point of the movie. There are many literary and philosophical references.
RYAN: But it’s not at all preachy or snobby, which I appreciate. It’s just brilliantly written and even better performed. Susan Sarandon and Keri Russell are also fab.
CAROLINE: Keri Russell is so damn pretty. I loved her character and her relationship Edward Norton’s “smart” twin.
RYAN: We have to explore Edward Norton in this movie for a moment. He was so good and so defined in both roles, I wonder… could he get nominated for two Best Actor Oscars for this performance?
CAROLINE: [laughs’ I don’t know if the Academy allows that. But he really is phenomenal. The twin brothers are so different and well defined and he plays each so well, transitioning seamlessly between the characters. They filmed it really well too. It really looks like he’s acting opposite himself.
RYAN: I’m kind of amazed by those scenes. He was so good that you really don’t think you’re watching the same actor. And it’s not just because of wardrobe and makeup; he’s an identical twin after all.
CAROLINE: He’s truly a chameleon. I don’t know that many other actors could have done this role.
RYAN: Richard Dreyfus has some juicy scenes in it as well. It was nice to see him on the big screen again. This movie is a very interesting look at strained family relationships and opportunity vs. responsibility. It’s the kind of movie you definitely want to talk about afterward. It raises some questions about morality.
CAROLINE: I loved all the Classical Greek references since I studied that in college. The movie really makes you think and feel.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: It’s a really entertaining and cool movie. I was really surprised by it. I loved it and I highly recommend it.
CAROLINE: I don’t think I loved it quite as much as you did, but I totally enjoyed it and am amazed by Edward Norton’s talent. It’s definitely a smart movie, and it’s probably not for the masses. But those whose can appreciate it definitely will.
— RATING —
