Junebug : Disliked almost everything about it (Redux)

First, I have to point out that I really wanted to like this film and films that do well at Independent festivals are ones I usually enjoy. I was impressed by the reviews and AA's nominnation, so I had to check it out.
Major disappointment.


I have nothing against serious, depressing movies some of my all-time faves are serious and depressing but I was led to believe this was a comedy. I can probably count the number of times I laughed on one hand and still have a few fingers left over.


Now, I watched these people for 100 minutes and I still know nothing about them! Was Madeline's husband (his character was so nondescript, I can't remember his name) like his family? When we see him working at an art gallery, married to a very cultured woman in a big city, I thought he was but I still have no idea.


Why has he not seen his family in 3 years? How could his brother (who hasn't seen him in 3 years) ask him for cigarettes and walk away the minute he does see him again?


What I was totally expecting (and never saw) was a scene where Madeline says something like, "Wow! Your family is nothing like you!" or a scene where George (I remembered his name!) "warns" her that his family is quite different. Honestly, I was stunned that this never happened and after his last line in the car when they're finally driving home, I'm at a loss. Was he close to his family at all? He didn't fight w/anyone there, but it seems strange to spend 3 years away from your family. (Chicago and N.C. are not exactly worlds apart)


I might not be explaining it well but what really bugged me is that this film, which had very little plot and only 6 characters, should have developed them more. Three of these 6 characters (the males) BARELY said a word the entire time!


I thought his little brother was the biggest POS of them all and couldn't understand if he was supposed to be a sympathetic character. Just b/c something awful happens to Johnny's family, doesn't automatically make him sympathetc. When he practically shoves his pregnant wife over, so he can sit in the car, was that supposed to be funny? I wanted to punch him.


The subplot of that artist Madeline was trying to win over was just bizarre to me. When he made the anti-semitic remarks, was that supposed to be funny?

I had other gripes but this is already the longest post I've ever made. Let me know if I'm nuts or if I've totally missed the point.

Thanks.


*FYI I posted this several years ago and (what I considered) a thoughtful, lengthy, insightful thread developed, which I enjoyed reading.

However, I recently had a spat with someone (on an another board) and they apparently whined to imdb about me and got every post I've ever made deleted.

Roy_Munson2004 wrote:

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However, I recently had a spat with someone (on an another board) and they apparently whined to imdb about me and got every post I've ever made deleted.

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I certainly hope that you made every effort to complain to IMDb.

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I posted this several years ago and (what I considered) a thoughtful, lengthy, insightful thread developed, which I enjoyed reading.

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What I don't understand, is why other than being angry which I sympathize with you reposted it? I am sorry that the discussion is gone, but haven't your attitudes toward the film changed over the years? Haven't your questions been answered? Do you expect different answers this time?

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Roy_Munson2004 wrote:

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I was led to believe this was a comedy. I can probably count the number of times I laughed on one hand and still have a few fingers left over.

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If you were led to believe that it was laugh out loud comedy, you were misled. It is listed as a comedy-drama.

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Now, I watched these people for 100 minutes and I still know nothing about them!

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I feel that I know a lot about them.

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Was Madeline's husband (his character was so nondescript, I can't remember his name) like his family?

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No, and I thought his character was quite distinct.

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When we see him working at an art gallery

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He is not working in the art gallery.

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I thought he was but I still have no idea.

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I thought it was clear that he is very different from his family, and I would guess that he has known that since he was a child.

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Why has he not seen his family in 3 years?

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Did you not notice what his mother is like.

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How could his brother (who hasn't seen him in 3 years) ask him for cigarettes and walk away the minute he does see him again?

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Because Johnny hates him.

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What I was totally expecting (and never saw) was a scene where Madeline says something like, "Wow! Your family is nothing like you!" or a scene where George (I remembered his name!) "warns" her that his family is quite different.

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I am sure that rather early in their relationship Madeleine learned that George was from rural North Carolina and that his family was from there. Madeleine has lived in a variety of cultures and she deals with outsider artists. She is quite used to cultural differences and is very tolerant of them. George probably talked a little about his family, and Madeleine would not have assumed that they were like him.

Madeleine does not express any surprise at his family, and she wants to be accepted and liked by them.

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Was he close to his family at all?

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The only one that he is close to is Ashley, but if Johnny ever realized that, it would destroy him.

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He didn't fight w/anyone there,

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George learned as a child the way to deal with his mother was to not fight with her. It is the best way to deal with someone like her, but not all people are able to do it psychologically.

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but it seems strange to spend 3 years away from your family.

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Not if your mother is a horror, and your brother hates you, and you can't go anywhere near the person that you do care about.

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(Chicago and N.C. are not exactly worlds apart)

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Culturally, they are worlds apart.

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I might not be explaining it well but what really bugged me is that this film, which had very little plot

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I don't agree at all.

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and only 6 characters, should have developed them more.

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Again, I don't agree at all.

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Three of these 6 characters (the males) BARELY said a word the entire time!

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That should tell you something.

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I thought his little brother was the biggest POS of them all and couldn't understand if he was supposed to be a sympathetic character.

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Well, he grew up always being regarded as inferior to his older brother, loved less than his older brother with whom he could not possibly compete. He married young, he has never been anywhere, he has not even been on a class trip to Washington, and now with the responsibility of a baby coming, is not going to. He can't afford a home of his own, he does not have a high school diploma, and he has no prospects. I find him sympathetic.

Look at Johnny at work. He is happy even though he has what most people would regard as a very boring job. Johnny is a completely different, and much more attractive, person when he is away from his mother. The arrival of his brother and the revival of the comparison with him that he grew up with aggravates an already difficult situation.

Looking at him at work, I can understand why Ashley was attracted to him and married him.

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When he practically shoves his pregnant wife over, so he can sit in the car, was that supposed to be funny?

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No.

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The subplot of that artist Madeline was trying to win over was just bizarre to me.

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She's an art dealer who specializes in outsider artists. It is how she makes her living.

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When he made the anti-semitic remarks, was that supposed to be funny?

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No.

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or if I've totally missed the point.

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You totally missed the point.

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Hey, this might be the last time I get to tell you this - What an unnecessarily-snooty response

roymunson-04650 wrote:

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What an unnecessarily-snooty response

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I don't agree that it was snooty, but it was certainly annoying to have to explain to you all over again what is going on in the movie. I replied to your first post in essentially the same way.

You are completely clueless about the movie. You got basically everything wrong. I answered your question: Yes, you missed the point.

You seem to be blaming the movie because you were misled into thinking that it is a comedy, and you did not figure out that it isn't.

I watched because of the independent status & critical acclaim too. Absolutely transfixed by itthe acting (except for actor playing Eugene) was phenom! Amy, Embeth, & CeliaWOW!!! JustWOW!!!

Was I stumped at certain pointsyeah. Supposing we were to use those moments to speculate & conjure up our own reasoningwhich actually does drive me nuts sometimes. That leads me to absorb all the info I can re: backstory of entire movie. Hence, message boards, eh?!

I bought several copies & gave them for Xmas gifts to sisters/friendgushing about how good it was, the great acting, etcNever once thinking to warn the ending was quite sad. My sister called to tell me it was one of the worst (saddest, depressing) movies everhow & why could I possibly think it was that great?!
Yipes!!
My love of acting, my appreciation for truly great actors & my endless curiosity about the process led me to that opinion. Once my sister pointed out the obvious (horribly sad ending) I took pause to ask myself the same ( I detest watching sad movies),Just reinforced what I said about the acting to me their performances superseded any/everything remotely negative. (Probably the only movie I've been able to say that about !?!)

zuccascatering wrote:

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Once my sister pointed out the obvious (horribly sad ending) I took pause to ask myself the same ( I detest watching sad movies),

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I would be interested in knowing what you mean by the "horribly sad ending."

This is certainly not a feel-good movie. But it is also not a tearjerker. Even the death of the baby is played for as little emotion as is possible and is followed by the very tender scene between Ashley and George.

If you mean George leaving his family for good, that has been going on since his childhood. The only thing that you can do with a mother like that is to not argue with her and, when you can, stay away from her. Peg has almost completely destroyed Johnny and has certainly destroyed George's relationship with Johnny.

If you and your sister expected a Hollywood style ending in which everything is resolved, and they all learn to love and understand each other, this isn't that sort of fantasy.

This movie is actually listed as a comedy first, drama second. Anyone who sees it because they are in the mood for a comedy is going to be quite annoyed. It is a "comedy" in the sense of a "comedy of human nature," but those tend to not be LOL.

I do not agree with you about the actor who played Eugene. I thought the portrayal was marvelous.

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Oh noI agree with your assessment of movie 100%! This is MY movie! I adore it!! "Horribly sad"that was my sisters take. I was surprised when the storyline developed that way, but didn't assuage my opinion. I WAS surprised at my sisters reactionthat being her take-away from the film was disappointing! When I enjoy a movie as thoroughly as this one, I hope everyone I share it with gleans the same affection. Oh well

And maybe I was too hard on poor ole Eugene?! His character was absolutely endearing! I s'pose my bias stems from the other actors performances. Celia (in other roles I've seen anyway) has never been this good!! I am admittedly obsessed/ enthralled by the process an actor must master to be that 'real'!

zuccascatering wrote:

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Once my sister pointed out the obvious (horribly sad ending) I took pause to ask myself the same ( I detest watching sad movies),Just reinforced what I said about the acting to me their performances superseded any/everything remotely negative. (Probably the only movie I've been able to say that about !?!)

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I seem to have misunderstood what you were saying. I thought that you were agreeing with your sister about the horribly sad ending, but saying that you like the movie for other reasons.

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Ahhhjust read my orig response it did sound that way. I get a tad wordy at times & fail to proof-read before hitting submit!