What’s the point of reviewing? Isn’t it enough to know that a film is 71 percent good? Maybe you look beyond numbers to inform your judgement about what to watch, or to confirm or deny what you felt on first viewing. I’m a fan of John Patrick Shanley, a playwright who scored big with his screenplay for Moonstruck back in the 80’s, and was keen to see his latest. Checking names, spellings and details is the job of the reviewer, but reading the vitriolic reaction to Wild Mountain Thyme elsewhere made me question my own sanity; did I see the same film as everyone else?
Shanley has risked being pigeonholed for whimsy, although if you’ve seen plays like The Big Funk or Doubt, filmed with Meryl Streep, you’ll know he’s got more in his locker. An Irish American, Shanley is wont to sentimentalise his homeland, and so Wild Mountain Thyme, which takes its name from a famous lament, is the tale of two lovers who can’t quite get together. Shanley wrote this as a play, called Outside Mulligar, some time ago, and has managed to attract a grade-A cast; Emily Blunt plays Rosemary, the spiky, acerbic girl who has the eye of the lumpen Anthony (Jamie Dornan). Anthony’s father Tony, played by Christopher Walken, indicates that he might pass the family farm to his other son, NYC boy Adam (Jon Hamm), forcing Anthony to plan some tentative overtures to his childhood sweetheart. Will the course of true love run true?
Wild Mountain Thyme sees Shanley return to the romantic, comic feel of Moonstruck, where lovers are bound by their difficulties in articulating their feelings, and has some of the wacky feel of his script for fondly remembered Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan vehicle Joe vs the Volcano. If the country-loving characters spoke authentically, there’d need subtitles, so it’s as well that the cast are so familiar and their elocution so clear. If you want to spend 100 minutes carping about accents, you’re missing the point; any film in which a central character confesses to his attraction to the state of being a honey bee is aiming for something other than kitchen-sink naturalism. Shanley’s pulled this off before, and he does so again; Blunt and Dornan revel in their rich, amusingly florid dialogue, and Walken is a marvel as he captures to spirit of a man on his way out, but with a few things to fix before he goes.
Wild Mountain Thyme is not for critics, awards juries or sensation seekers; this is an entertaining, deliberately funny play, thoughtfully opened out and played with spirit. For those who can dig the pawky good humour, the rough-edged characters and the surreal humour of the Irish, then Wild Mountain Thyme should come drifting down from the mountains like sweet manna from heaven or old-school Hollywood moonshine.
https://www.wildmountainthymemovie.com
Will give this a go though accents all over the place do annoy me.
I don’t even think the accents are particularly bad, I’m just reflecting the criticism I’ve seen…
After I was finished watching WMT, I still hadn’t decided what I thought about it. I certainly didn’t hate it, and I really didn’t care that the accents weren’t authentic (that’s just not the kind of thing I get twisted up about). It wasn’t at all what I was expecting (having gone into mostly cold but for the trailer.) I was expecting a much more conventional sentimental romantic comedy–something more along the lines of Crazy Rich Asian, the Irish version. This wasn’t that.
I had to sleep on it, then sleep on it again. I found parts of this film quite moving–so many poignant moments of grief for lost spouses and parents. It got me chocked up, and was quite sentimental in its way. I’ve come to the idea that this is really a film about loneliness. These two already lonely people become lonelier as the film goes on and they lose more people they love and still cannot connect to the one they love most.
The reveal of why Anthony cannot connect–which I won’t spoil–threw me. That’s what I needed to ponder and decide upon. I’ve taken it as sort of a metaphor (that might not be the right word) — but I like the idea that not every lonely eccentric is hiding some deep dark secret. We’re often simply afraid to show our vulnerable selves to another person, and why shouldn’t we be?
The whole film is worth watching for the scene when Rosemary finally drags the truth out of him.
So it’s kept me thinking for 2 days, and that’s got to count for something. Also, I appreciate that it’s something different–not another superhero movie, raunchy comedy,or action flick (all of which I like, but my biggest complaint about today’s movies is lack of variety).
And mostly, I just really, really, really want that pair of brown leather lace up boots that Emily Blunt was wearing 😉
I think a film about loneliness is right. Anthony’s confession, strange as it is, reflects the kind of loopy, tortured thinking and performance that Nic Cage gives in Moonstruck. These people aren’t tied in knots, they’ve been tied in knots for ages, and there’s no immediate chance of their getting back to normal. But it’s not a twee rom-com, not a hard-sell of Ireland in the way that Crazy Rich Asians feels like a slick infomercial. It’s jagged in places, and the characters and their problems are complicated. Leaving the boots aside, I think this is a proper film, not a spin-off or an advert, but an idiosyncratic film about how complicated life and love can be.
Thanks for your thoughts, keen to hear what other people think, obviously I’m out of line with most of society!
Holy smokes Ol’10, I think we broke the 150 comment barrier! I’ve never seen that on a blog before!
#totallystoked
By the way, why is YOUR blog all wrong with the comments? They never come up in the right order whereas EVERYONE else’s does?
I think part of it is Ol’10 replies from both his computer and phone? I’ve noticed the odd comment here and there appearing at random and not sure why. For me, it’s just Ol’10’s comments though. Everyone else seems to be placed appropriately.
Is others for you as well?
My comments go all over the place on Ol’10’s blog, I can reply to one of his and it ends up under one of yours or Alex’s. I comment from phone/tablet and PC too but it only ever goes haywire on here. Other people’s blogs work fine, your included. Trust his to be awkward.
It may be the sheer number of random comments, but yes, I’m having to use several devices to keep up with the demand….
Excuses like that don’t wash Bunty! Needs a bit of order around here.
I’m not sure this blog was designed to contain 24 hour stream of consciousness improvisations from around the globe….onions for breakfast? Really?
They’re caramelised!!!
Still onions. blerk!
Nectar of the gods. And leprechauns.
Pfft! No onions for breakfast for me, and no more Lep references, Alex is having his account suspended….
Weird. It looks ok on my end. I think anyway. Do you have a concrete example?
Yes.
Would you mind sharing?
Right, I’m going to pull some horses out fo the snow and ice, and when I come back, I expect some contrite and apologetic behaviour from you guys. Or I”M CRACKING SKULLS!
to late bunty, I already put on my helmet!
Somewhere back in this thread I commented about being made a Hoserette by the guy who does the leprechaun blog. Ol’10 commented after saying Alex will love that, but it didn’t show up as a reply, it’s at the bottom of that section after several other comments and makes no sense where it ended up.
And now my reply comment is NOT under your request. This place is a shambles. I’m outta here, the bloke is cooking the hash browns and chipolattas.
Oh, that sounds nice, keep some for me but hold the onions.
No onions, but beans, bacon, hash browns, chipolattas fried egg and fried bread. The bloke does a cracking job.
No beans, please, the rest sounds great, will be back for more!
It was yum! None left.
Boo!
I see your reply under my comment. but the time stamp places it at a later level then Ol’10.
So I see:
1: Me:
A: Ol’10 replies to me
a: me replying to Ol’10
B: You replying to me
a: you replying to yourself
i: Ol’10 replying to you
ii: me currently replying to you
b: me replying to you.
So it’s the nested level thing. I never really noticed because I’m used to it from my forum days.
You know what it is? I think it’s how the blog does comment levels. It breaks them up by time and replying. When I scroll straight down, Ol’10’s comment IS a reply to yours. It is just not part of the discussion iwth Alex and diplomatic immunity. It’s the threaded comment issue. I’ve seen it on forums before.
Thanks for defending me, Booky, knew that I was being unfairly maligned by these onion-chewing malcontents!
In a serious vein, I really like figuring out how blogs work. The underpinnings interest me greatly.
I am, TBH, a bit bothered by the way that the comments work, or not, but it seems a bit tricky to work out why…
How many levels of conversation do you have it set for? I know on mine I’ve got it at the maximum of 10 that WP allows.
I pay for a business plan that allows for up to 20 threads of nonsensical discussion at one time…
#sorted
Righty-O, this will be a cross I have to bear.
By Bookstoogeorial Fiat, ORDER IS RESTORED!
(Now give me back my box of Lucky Charms!)
Right, that’s sorted. What kind of punishment do you think Alex and Fraggle deserve for their bad behaviour?
Confiscate ALL their Lucky Charms and give the stash to me. That’ll teach’em!
Whispers: we’re meant to be playing down the whole l£&&prechaun thing, ok?
I don’t have any Lucky Charms to confiscate! They don’t sell them up here.
And that’s what the peasant told the communists right before they found his hidden stash!
‘fess up Comrade, we know you have a bunch!
Seriously Booky as far as I can tell from google LC’s are an American cereal and not sold here. Also even if they were I don’t even eat British cereal, horrible stuff like Rice Crispies and Shreddies or Weetabix. My breakfasts are either toast with Brussels pate (flavoured with caremalised onion) on school days, and bacon or sausages and eggs on off days. If I had Lucky Charms I’d willingly give them up!
Caremelised onion? I hope you brush your teeth afterwards!
Of course!!
It’s ok Comrade, we’re all friends here. You don’t have to make up elaborate fantasies just for me.
I understand, sometimes breakfast is hard. So just admit you have a stash and we can all get along in the People’s Republic of FilmAuthority.
Yeah, most “cereals” here in the US are strictly a US thing. Everyone else seems to have the good sense to not eat crap like that.
Not allowed in the UK
What’s not allowed? Comrades? Or stashes?
Both.
Man, when you can’t stash your comrades, you know something is seriously messed up in a country.
I’m moving to Kurgizstan then!
You may not be the only one contemplating that move…
I was contemplating Canada, but when I heard that Canadian Bacon wasn’t part of their socialized medicine program, I tossed that idea right into the bin!
Canadian Bacon the John Candy film?
Candied bacon? That sounds gross.
I thought you were no fan of John candy and now you’re punting Canadian bacon?
Exactly. I’m kicking it to the curb.
Great; glad we could sort this out.
Canada is going straight into the recycle bin.
#sorted
Not having this slur on Canada and Canadians.
But I’m Canadian. I can say what I want about them.
And they’ll like it, whether they like it or not!
Canadians like John Candy. Ergo you, sir, are no Canadian.
No, I AM Canadian. Canadian father and born in Canada.
And you’re infiltrating America for what purpose?
Guns. I like guns. And you can’t have them in Canada.
Hmm….no guns required in Bonnie Scotland. Peaceful people here.
Is THAT why Bravehart waggled his bum at those guys then? A gesture of peace and friendship?
Talk about a cultural misunderstanding!
I’ll culturally misunderstand you in a minute, Bunty, if you keep this up!
I’ve hit a sore spot I see.
Maybe if you made more buntcakes, instead of bum waggling, the world would be a better place.
Comments like this are nothing but bum-waggling, don’t you have a day of REST that is calling you?
I’m resting on the couch as I type 😀
Sigh. Pfft! Blerk!
Good point.
Indeed!
Thank you.
Welcome.
So you both admit to having blackmarket stashes of Lucky Charms then!
Ah ha! That’s 100 years for each of you!
Fake news! Fraggle eats raw onions, I like a bown of Frosties or maybe porridge…
My goodness, a Goldilocks Sympathizer!
What a nest of evildoers I have uncovered! Never fear Comrade, the Bookstooge Secret Police will root out all Anti-Ol’10 sentiment in a jiffy.
For the Great Unity of Our Community!
Weed them out and punish them! You are my secret police!
They’re not raw. Caramelised!!
STILL ONIONS!
And if that doesn’t work, then they have to watch Boondock Saints without laughing at any stupidity.
Right. You’re not helping much. They must be punished, and properly! What measures do you propose?
What?!? Being forced to watch BDS (not to be confused with BDSM, mind you) is a pretty rough row to hoe in my books. How much more sadistic can I get?
make them watch Lassie?
How do you teach and educate people who watched boxed sets of L****haun movies and take photos of their cooking utensils? Some kind of short, sharp shock is required. Teach them a lesson in terms they understand !
Well, I didn’t want to bring this out of my arsenal, but while it seems only appropriate for really bad people, you “could”, theoretically, make them watch the Barney tv show and force them to sing along with it.
Not even death could be as bad as that, could it?
I’m not sure it reflects the seriousness of the offenses. Anything else in your locker?
Barney was my Nuclear Option in terms of viewable stuff. I got nothing else, sorry.
Thank you, next. I’m not wasting my time with foam dinosaurs, these people need telt!
Does the 2021-ish font add to the movie and did they eat any Burger King in it, or not? Seriously though, seems somewhat of a timeless movie, rich and lush with dialog. Would you say dialog is the main action of the movie, 10? Thanks for another heads up on these films that roll out like potatoes. 🤠
Roll out like potatoes…beautifully put! And spot on, this film is all about dialogue, quirky, fun dialogue. A good play, amusingly opened out. All about the writing and acting. Easy to mock, but well done in its genre.
Thank you, sai.
faigh fear greim 🙄
Wut?
Nooooooooo! You’re supposed to say “I dinna ken ye!”
I’m not lowering myself to this childish discussion.
Gee wilikins, yet again your knowledge or lack thereof has foiled you yet again. It’s Leprechaun for ‘get a grip man’.
The next person who uses the L word on this blog is going to be in SO much trouble. Understood?
You can’t touch me now, I’ve been made an honorary Hoserette by that guy what does the Leprechaun blog.
She’s right. Diplomatic immunity.
Nope, I don’t want to have to raise my voice, but I will if the two of you are going to disrespect me!
No such thing on this blog.
that’s true, not much thinking at all on here.
Wut? I don’t have to come here to be insulted !
you changed think to thing so my comment didn’t make any sense, but now it does. Hah!
Also, no, I’m sure. you can be insulted anywhere at all.
I’m going to wait for Bookstooge to restore order…
Yes. Bring on The Booky!
He’s mulling your punishment.
Haha, I’m sure Alex will love that…
No leprechauns = Nope.
I like the way you think.
Me too, my brain is really cool.
Right, it’s two straight red cards! You were warned! I’m not having my thoughtful analysis of modern cinema ruined by those who think it’s funny to come on here and talk about leprechauns! Immediate bans for Alex and Fraggle! You were warned, but you didn’t listen! There’s always someone who has to spoil things for everyone else! This is why we can’t have nice things!
Pfft!
That is dissent, you’re only making this worse for yourselves!
I got some red cards for Christmas.
Honest, I did.
Are you sending me a Christmas card? Ah, yer a bonnie lad.
You have been given a RED disciplinary warning! No cause for mockery! Do you behave like this at home?
I’m worse at home.
Well, you won’t behave like this on my blog! What if Emily Blunt drops in to find out about her new movie and you and fraggle are talking about leprechauns? Eh?
I think he prefers being a bunty.
I was on the fence regarding watching, having read this was the Irish version of Same Time, Next Year meshed with a Renee Zellweger movie whose name escapes me. It wasn’t that as all, as your review admirably points out. The fae Irish accents remind me of my g’dads, who arrived in US in his adolescent years and adapted a Philly’esque argot with Irish and Scottish roots. What made me give it a try was affection for Moonstruck. I wasn’t disappointed.
Yup, and this is no more a tale of everyday Irish folk than Moonstruck is about ordinary New Yorkers. These people are meant to be eccentrics, and anyone who lives in the country, old or otherwise, will recognise the truth behind them. I’m fed up with people being offended, on my behalf, by stuff that simply isn’t offensive at all. Thanks for your voice of reason, as ever.
“pawky good humor” nice! Also, lovely redheads. also nice. I don’t do my job entirely well. :p
If you like these things, you should like this!
I’m watching tonight, so I’m going to hold off reading your review…this is one I want to go into with a fresh mind. I’m excited to see it! I’ll be back later to read your thoughts and offer my own.
We will break the internet by debating this one!
I am watching this tonight so I’m not going to read your review until after I view it myself…very excited for this one. I’ll be back with my thoughts after viewing!
I don’t see myself ever watching this. Not out of dislike or any strong feeling, but simply because nothing here sounds attractive enough to get me to spend the time on it.
I liked Blunt in both Edge of Tomorrow and Looper (even though I didn’t like the movie Looper) so her being in this gives it a chance. But even if it showed up on Prime for free tomorrow, would I click on it? I highly doubt it.
Well, that’s your loss, Bunty!
There’s that bunty again.
I keep telling you, my name is Citizen Bookstooge!
Aye, right, Bunty!
Well, Psychic Grandma is going to hear about this, I can tell you!
Bring it!
Any leprechauns?
Figuratively, not literally, but could probably be sold as a Lep sequel to fans like yourself…
Oh good! The franchise needed an injection of romance. What was the body count in this one?
One. That’s enough, surely?
One? That doesn’t sound like much of a Leprechaun movie. I hope it was a good kill.
Offscreen, this franchise has forgotten its origins….his tongue doesn’t even come out of the phone!
You know, it’s starting to sound like I’m going to have to take a pass on this one . . .
Not with three Lep movies to watch. No, this is a good film, no rubbish…and no leprechauns!
Alex, Ol’10 just informed me (on my blog) that you are actually a leprechaun. So I wanted to give you fair warning that if you try to steal my Lucky Charms, I’ll be defending them with Maximum Force!
#stopthestealing
That’s holy ground Bookstooge! Don’t you know it’s a capital offence to speak of leprechauns and Lucky Charms in relation to that storied franchise?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb2yR9K5zYs
I just had a 26 second glimpse into your inner psyche, Alex, and I wasn’t good. But you also mentioned this particular confectionary and the Lep in the same sentence, so it’s a yellow (warning) card each and a harsh talking to for both of you. After showing great sensitivity to issues of Irish stereotyping on my blog, I DO NOT want active discussion of Leprechauns on this blog; there are other places on the dark web where such content can be found for the broad of mind, Alex’s blog for one.
Faith and Beggorrah! Just listen to himself! And here I was just thinkin’ this Wild Mountain movie was in need of a visit from the wee folk . . .
A straight red card if there’s any more of this nonsense!
I did not know that! Oh Saint Leprachanous, can you teach me the ways of the Franchise? Is there a holy book I can read to understand and become Enlightened?
ps,
I can still eat Lucky Charms though, right? Because if I have to give those up, then forget it!
It truly saddens me to link to this piece of crap, but in my way of teaching you in the ways of the franchise, I suppose I must also show the relevant scene from the end of the 2014 reboot Leprechaun: Origins. As if THAT’S a leprechaun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKzLZIbUM8o
Also, you can still eat Lucky Charms, but you have to pick out the green clovers. They’re poisonous.
But the green clovers are my favorite!
Well, no converts for you today!
This conversation was an approved informercial for Alex’s L*****rechaun blog. Sponsored by Lucky Charms.
Sadly, the Lep doesn’t drive a lot of traffic on his own.
I cannot imagine why this isn’t breaking the internet?
♪They’re ♪Magically Delicious!♪
Right, red card for you too. This concludes our discussion of Pulitzer Prize winner John Patrick Shanley.
Well, I’m giving John Patrick Shanley a red card too. It’s actually his fault all of this took place. So since he didn’t step up and take responsibility, I’m totally red carding him…
That’s not how it works. You are all in big trouble. Alex and Fraggle too. No deflections.
I don’t play soccer, so you CAN’T give me a red card. It’s in the Constitution, which you can’t re-write now, hahaha!
of course, I do play the lottery, so if you want to give me a bunch of tickets, I’ll own up and take them….
No arguments. Instant justice.
I’d like a bunty cake as a consolation prize then, if you’re not going to give me lottery tickets.