King Kong

Wow. This was really, really good. I sort of get now why people were touting it as a possible best picture winner or nominee (and in some cases still are). The beginning was slow and sort of annoying, but it found its groove on the island and in retrospect the beginning was fine, though it could've used another pass through the editing room. The effects were truly mindboggling and I kept wondering how they possibly did all those things, what with Watts being thrown around by the ape, etc. And the score added serious soul and gravitas.

And this convinces me now more than ever that Watts' true gift as an actress is playing actresses. She has such an archetyal actress-looking beauty. I almost can't buy her as "just some person." And she seems to have some trouble not being overdramatic. Lightness is not her thing. But she was perfect here. As many pretty blondes as there are in Hollywood, I actually can't imagine anyone else in this role. And she managed to sell being a vaudevillian, which I didn't think she could. It may not have been the most demanding role in traditional terms, but the physical demands must've been extreme, and all that acting opposite nothing was impressive (or was she opposite Andy Serkis? I don't know). She sold it all. Now I may not be Watts' biggest fan overall, but if there is a movie where she plays another actress in an extreme situation, I'm there. And given the weak best actress year, I would not object to her being nominated (not that she will be).

So a little long and a little cheesy, yes, but the emotional payoff was well worth it. And something about the combo of depression-era-NY and the treacherous skull island had me thinking a lot about the chaos of nature and man's inherent drive toward violence and competition, and it got me feeling so lucky to have the life I have, and to have movies, where desperate situations, hard times, and horrifying action can be expertly dramatized for a great emotional punch with no danger.

Really, I am kind of surprised an saddened by the disappointing awards traction and box office (given the expectations) for this film. I think it deserved better. It seemed at first like the kind of good movie/blockbuster spectacle that could never be a real oscar movie, but by the end, it was something more. Despite the cheesy and fantastical nature of it all, there was real mythology and emotion here. And a real reverence of cinema.

Yay for movies. Yay for King Kong.

Grade: B+/A-