The Room Next Door (2024)
December 23, 2024 8:17 AM - Subscribe
Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.
Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Stars Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, and John Turturro.
Watched it yesterday. Liked it. It's very different from Almodóvar's usual fare, but it's touching.
It has a theatrical vibe, lots of static shots and dialogue (some of which is kind of static as well), and also some 'literary' stuff like recounting past events. The acting is as great as you'd expect from Moore, Swinton and Turturro.
Watched it yesterday. Liked it. It's very different from Almodóvar's usual fare, but it's touching.
It has a theatrical vibe, lots of static shots and dialogue (some of which is kind of static as well), and also some 'literary' stuff like recounting past events. The acting is as great as you'd expect from Moore, Swinton and Turturro.
One of Almodovar's weaker showings, I thought. The dialogue seemed stilted to me. Perhaps that was intentional, like a Mamet play, but it didn't seem so. Very pretty film to watch though, like most of Almodovar.
As a meditation on mortality, I much preferred the recent Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory) which was more broody and interesting.
posted by vacapinta at 1:10 AM on January 6 [1 favorite]
As a meditation on mortality, I much preferred the recent Dolor y Gloria (Pain and Glory) which was more broody and interesting.
posted by vacapinta at 1:10 AM on January 6 [1 favorite]
Me before the movie: I can’t WAIT to see some KITCHENS.
Me during the movie: I can’t WAIT to see who’s going to show up in the third act as the estranged daughter.
Me after the movie: thank you Almodóvar for giving us [redacted] in the third act as the estranged daughter sitting in the kitchen, I never doubted you for a moment.
The dialogue seemed stilted to me.
Absolutely understand that take. But to me it seemed more like purposefully melodramatic and it just took a while to get into the rhythm and tone.
Mostly I was stunned to see that some of the outdoor scenes were shot within spitting distance of where I live and I absolutely cannot believe I didn’t even know they were filming here.
posted by bcwinters at 7:06 PM on January 11 [2 favorites]
Me during the movie: I can’t WAIT to see who’s going to show up in the third act as the estranged daughter.
Me after the movie: thank you Almodóvar for giving us [redacted] in the third act as the estranged daughter sitting in the kitchen, I never doubted you for a moment.
The dialogue seemed stilted to me.
Absolutely understand that take. But to me it seemed more like purposefully melodramatic and it just took a while to get into the rhythm and tone.
Mostly I was stunned to see that some of the outdoor scenes were shot within spitting distance of where I live and I absolutely cannot believe I didn’t even know they were filming here.
posted by bcwinters at 7:06 PM on January 11 [2 favorites]
“In Pedro Almodóvar films it’s typical for sad women, or those on the verge of death, to be dressed to the nines in luxury labels.”—Hikmat Mohammed for WWD.
posted by bcwinters at 7:12 PM on January 11
posted by bcwinters at 7:12 PM on January 11
The dialogue seemed stilted to me. I was struck by this but assumed I was adjusting to watching Almodovar in English instead of reading the subtitles. But Vacapinta correct me if I'm wrong I think you speak Spanish?
I really enjoyed it. I was a little surprised that for a movie about death it didn't go very deep. That's not a critique - not everything has to go deep - but it was a surprise. Judged on it's own terms I thought it was about perfect.
One thing I found quite beautiful was the way the camera lingered on the aging skin of the (fantastic) Julianne Moore. A gentle awareness of aging and mortality. Another thing I was so struck by was the way that the intimacy of their friendship was displayed. Almost a romantic connection - perhaps the two friends who had not been so close were freed by society's expectations, freed to have a deep intimacy, by the temporary nature of the interaction and the nearness of death. You don't see a lot of that kind of physical intimacy in films outside of the frame of romantic love or sex.
John Turturro was great - very relatable for me! And the side characters were hilarious. Loved the gym himbo.
posted by latkes at 12:03 PM on February 3
I really enjoyed it. I was a little surprised that for a movie about death it didn't go very deep. That's not a critique - not everything has to go deep - but it was a surprise. Judged on it's own terms I thought it was about perfect.
One thing I found quite beautiful was the way the camera lingered on the aging skin of the (fantastic) Julianne Moore. A gentle awareness of aging and mortality. Another thing I was so struck by was the way that the intimacy of their friendship was displayed. Almost a romantic connection - perhaps the two friends who had not been so close were freed by society's expectations, freed to have a deep intimacy, by the temporary nature of the interaction and the nearness of death. You don't see a lot of that kind of physical intimacy in films outside of the frame of romantic love or sex.
John Turturro was great - very relatable for me! And the side characters were hilarious. Loved the gym himbo.
posted by latkes at 12:03 PM on February 3
The dialogue seemed stilted to me. I was struck by this but assumed I was adjusting to watching Almodovar in English instead of reading the subtitles. But Vacapinta correct me if I'm wrong I think you speak Spanish?
I speak Spanish too and have watched most of Almodóvar's films, and I also found the dialogue stilted.
posted by signal at 12:52 PM on February 3 [2 favorites]
I speak Spanish too and have watched most of Almodóvar's films, and I also found the dialogue stilted.
posted by signal at 12:52 PM on February 3 [2 favorites]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments

posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:21 AM on December 23, 2024