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Pleasantville

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Pleasantville (1998)

October. 23,1998
|
7.5
|
PG-13
| Fantasy Drama Comedy
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Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

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Reviews

BlazeLime
1998/10/23

Strong and Moving!

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VeteranLight
1998/10/24

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

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Hadrina
1998/10/25

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

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Bob
1998/10/26

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

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John Brooks
1998/10/27

So obviously reading just the synopsis you understand the sort of film this is going to be: metaphorical, proverbial, working on two levels, that sort of thing...So the film does well jumping straight right into its plot, almost too quick perhaps but the whole first part and middle part are really well made. You're right in the thick of what the movie-makers set you up for, and you find yourself willing to play the little game to see just where exactly they're taking you. It's lots of fun, and the anticipation for answers is at a high level. The whole thing with the colors, the symbols, the 'changes'...Eventually, the last act, about the whole last third, gets increasingly disappointing as it goes. Very broadly, instead of a deeper unraveling of the concept of truth or something along those lines of philosophical nobility and wisdom and touching, we're fed a totally biased ideological realization of the plot. All of a sudden, it feels a bit like a hoax to have been sitting for two hours plus of this. It ultimately promotes chaos and going wild and doing just what you want solely because you want it at that time. Basically the whimsy responsibility-free behaviors of adults of our day. Now that can't be a good message.Some points for the intriguing, genuinely interestingly crafted first part, but it could and should've been plenty deeper in its conclusions, kept its level quality from the first to the last part, and most certainly should've had an ending at least the quality of the girth of it, rather than the girth being much better. It's wrapped up, manufactured and rushed into our faces like a mere consumable product when it's supposed to be deep and emotional and intellectual and all.6/10.

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TheGDfather
1998/10/28

Well we like to think the 50's was a great time. I mean most people people weren't alive then so all they have to go off is stories post world war 2 about how the soldiers came back and housing got better, and every one moved out to the suburbs. But seriously, it wasn't like that for everyone. I'm sure you hear the stories about women who waited, and how you "court" a girl and how guys opened car doors for women and all kind of things. It never stops.One thing I liked about this movie mostly was reese witherspoons character. We got a short glimpse of her in Hollywood and frankly I was impressed with it. I'm not talking about that country movie she did where everybody loved her in it. Or legally blonde where it was borderline an insult to my intelligence. This was the kind of role she was meant to play. A mean sister who pretty much said what she wanted and did what she wanted (and who she wanted in this movie).We also get a glimpse of Paul walker. Probably before the fast and furious days. He plays a great part. Very shy and fits right in this movie. I can't really say enough about Toby McGuire. Before spider man he played this part to death. I mean who else would have sold the "fire" seen where he eventually has to yell cat better. He just gives you that vibe as a kid that you feel he knows hes smart and he has confidence to wait till people appreciate him. And he doesn't need to prove anything to anybody. Another great actor.Also another about this movie is ITS ORIGINAL. How many times do I have to say that in this year 2017 movies are not original. I've seen tons of spider mans (sorry toby), tons of batmans, and even tons of iron mans. Which all those were good. But a story about a brother and sister who get stuck in the 50's and change colors? I can barely describe this to friends without it seeming out and them trying to tell my I might need a physc evaluation if I bring it up again.One more thing about this movie, it was funny. Scene after scene after scene. How many movies had so many sexual references in it and made you laugh as well? Not many. The part about the girls tongue was color? That was extremely hilarious. And the director didn't have to get vivid with it, you either got it or you didn't. How could you not forget where the daughter talks to the mother about touching herself and then she does it and the tree catches on fire? Didn't see that coming. Every part is quite hilarious but they still have a plot and meaning.And the end of the day nothing is like it seems. Its not pleasantville. Where you live at is not that great where you can control everything around you and you are perfect. I have to show this to a lot of people now in this generation so they can get the joke when I say "i live in pleasantville" The movie did a great job with the characters and explaining the 50's weren't even the 50's so who are you guys fooling. Whats ironic about it is was watching a crime show the other day and the town was in pleasantville and I immediately thought of this movie.

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Rafael Jaramillo
1998/10/29

It is deeply touching, undeniably funny and has a resonant message that will touch your heart. There is no denying that Pleasantville (PV) is quality in entertaining, and definitely a 90's classic. PV works perfectly in many ways, so let's go stage by stage:Smart satire: "The Perfect Family", one of the social commentaries that this movie makes is that one. The concept of how a family should work, based on strong stereotypes from the 50's, but also on all-time ones. The Parkers are presented as an always happy family with a working father, a house-made mother, and energetic teenage children. It mocks about how television can easily sell this kind of ideas to the public. On the other hand, the sitcom's universe is an absolute winning formula.Precisely funny movie: Most of the movie's humor relies on sexual gags, but that doesn't stop it from being family friendly. The rest of the jokes help to get along with the magical tone of the story. Also, works fine as a coming of age flick. I loved the transition of Jennifer and David throughout the movie. From confused and both relaxed and stressed teenagers to full-aware, independent and emotionally intelligent adults (especially David).A feast for the eyes: Excellent cinematography and visual effects give points for a dazzling experience. The "color transitions" is a beautiful characteristic from PV. The eternal reflection that PV offers (alongside its visuals) make it one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. I'll love to explain it all, but I try to spoil the less I can. What I can say is this: courage, letting flow, opening your eyes, allow your life get colored by life itself, trying new things. This and more, are some of the themes that the movie throws to the audience in a way that all can receive it smoothly. Drama enters here, both in the TV and real world, and it really reaches the soul.Last but not least, the cast and acting. Both fresh and young Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire in charming roles that steal the show. Older, mature and talented William H. Macy, Joan Allen and Jeff Daniels give the movie a sense of "it's never too late" that is refreshing. Joan Allen was the winner here, she must have been nominated for a Golden Globe at least.FINAL CONSENSUS: Family friendly humor, profound social commentary and message, marvelous performances and visuals, Pleasantville is the perfect mix for a magical and heart touching ride.

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GusF
1998/10/30

The first film directed by Gary Ross, this is an absolutely wonderful and thought-provoking parable on society. It concerns a pair of teenage twins who are transported into the universe of a 1950s sitcom "Pleasantville", a seemingly idyllic place where firemen only save cats from trees because there are no fires, everyone is terribly wholesome and sweet and the closest thing to dramatic conflict is a date being cancelled because of an unfortunate case of the measles. However, it soon becomes clear that there is a dark underbelly to this world as conformity is stressed above all else and people, women in particular, are expected to know their place.The first rate script by Ross, whose previous credits include classic films such as "Big" and "Dave", is a powerful statement on the problems which existed in 1950s America but are certainly not exclusive to that time or place. It nicely deconstructs the dippy world inhabited by characters of that era's sitcoms such as "Leave It to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best", which (almost) completely ignored the social issues of the time as well as the existence of people who weren't white and middle class. In 234 episodes of the former, only one black character appeared and she was a maid. The special effects were innovative for their time and never look less than brilliant. It was shot entirely in colour and decolourised where appropriate, in stark contrast to the events of the film itself. The black and white scenes look beautiful and really help to sell the idea that this is an initially black and white world as opposed to merely a partially black and white film.Tobey Maguire gives a great performance as David, a pretty nerdy high school boy who has encyclopedic knowledge of "Pleasantville". Prior to entering it, he loves the world of "Pleasantville" as nothing bad ever happens there and wishes that real life was like that. After he is transported there and assumes the identity of Bud Parker, he discovers that it is essentially a gilded cage where any form of individuality or artistic expression is discouraged. He becomes the champion of colour over black and white in Pleasantville and, in the process, learns to appreciate the real world. This is best illustrated when he returns to it at the end of the film and comforts his distraught mother, played very well in a great cameo by Jane Kaczmarek, instead of simply ignoring her as he did earlier.Reese Witherspoon is excellent as his twin sister Jennifer, a liberated girl of the 1990s who finds the sweaters and poodle skirts - and what they represent - to be more than a little oppressive. Rather than merely holding hands with Skip Martin, she introduces him and Pleasantville to sex, something which starts the ball rolling on the colour conversion. Over the course of the film, Jennifer grows significantly as a character and abandons her wild lifestyle in favour of her education. She takes the decision to remain in Pleasantville's universe to go to college but, considering that time seemingly moves at a different rate, she presumably won't be gone too long, comparatively speaking.The best performance in the film comes from Joan Allen as Betty Parker. She is introduced as the perfect 1950s sitcom wife and mother who is always impeccably dressed and has dinner on the table every night at six without fail. As the changes caused by David and Jennifer begin to ripple through Pleasantville, however, she realises that there is nothing more to her life than that. Like many real women in the 1950s, she wants something more. As such, she develops a sweet relationship with the soda shop owner Bill Johnson, who is played very effectively by Jeff Daniels. Bill is likewise faced with an existential crisis when it occurs to him that his sole function in life is to make hamburgers and serve sodas. Encouraged by David, he pursues his interest in art and paints a surrealist mural in full colour in defiance of the oppressive Chamber of Commerce. When Betty becomes "coloured," this is a great scene in which David helps her to use her make-up to "pass" as black and white, a wonderful allegory for the practice of light skinned African-Americans attempting to pass for white. The scene in which she is harassed by several black and white boys for being "coloured" is an even more effective allegory.J.T. Walsh, who sadly died before the film was released, was very well cast as the McCarthy-esque Pleasantville mayor Big Bob, who wants everything to remain the same. He claims that it is a "question of values," the excuse typically used by "traditionalists" who find themselves on the wrong side of progress and, eventually, history. In a very strong performance by William H. Macy, George Parker represents the more benign face of conformity who realises the error of his ways in the end. It also features great supporting performances by Marley Shelton as Margaret Henderson, Don Knotts as the mysterious TV repairman and Paul Walker as Skip Martin, who is not as nice as he first appears.Overall, this is an absolutely brilliant film which has some very interesting things to say about the danger of idealising the past. If the entire film had been a parody of the unreality of saccharine sweet sitcom conventions in the style of the "Brady Bunch" films, it would have still been a great film as the comic writing in these scenes is very sharp but, to his credit, Ross took it to the next level. This is one of my favourite films of the 1990s. Just sublime.

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