Monday Movie Reviews: Quick hits

I may do a few of these three-at-a-time jobs until I get caught up.

The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) 7/10
Meryl Streep is a "fallen woman" in Victorian England, and Jeremy Irons is a man who becomes obsessed with her. At the same time, Streep and Irons are actors filming a movie about these Victorian characters.

To a great extent, I Don't Get It. I really don't. I didn't feel like the juxtaposition added anything to the story. I know it has Deep Meaning, but that meaning is obtuse to me.
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The Fountain (2006) 5/10
Hugh Jackman is Tomas, a conquistador serving Queen Isabella (Rachel Weisz). At the same time, he is Tommy, a research scientist, and Izzi is his dying wife. There's also a big bubble with a tree.

Speaking of I Don't Get It. This is not the same situation as The French Lieutenant's Woman; this is a purposely obtuse movie so in love with its Big Ideas that it forgets there's an audience who might like to follow along.

Hugh Jackman naked, though.

Dreamland (2006) 7/10
Audrey (Agnes Bruckner) and Callista (Kelli Garner) are best friends in a trailer park in the middle of nowhere. Audrey cares for her drunk, phobic father (John Corbett). When a cute new guy (Justin Long) moves in, the stress of longing to be more and the desire for the same boy stir things up.

This is a lovely little coming of age movie, very gentle and enjoyable. It relies a tad too much on cliché, and is perhaps not exactly fascinating, but I enjoyed it.

(Quick cross-post)