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Pleasantville - | Year: 1998 Classification: Comedy Actors/Actresses: - Tobey Maguire - Joan Allen - Jeff Daniels An unusual 'feel good' film. I'm not really sure why I like this film....and that's one of the things I like! Weird. Background - The hit 50's television show 'Pleasantville' is having an all night marathon. David Wagner (Tobey Maguire) intends to watch every episode. His sister Jennifer Wagner (Reese Witherspoon) intends to watch a concert with a new boy-toy. The two fight and are somehow transported inside the black and white show. Story - The town of Pleasantville is a typical utopian vision from the 1950's. Everyone has a white picket fence, and the boys play basketball for the school team. When David's sister begins messing around with the balance in the town, things start to go awry. The normally black and white town begins to become 'in living color'. While many in the town fight the change to color, some accept it willingly. They want to change, and grow. The town begins to tear itself apart as the grey people and the colored people begin to fight. It harkens back to the 50's and 60's era with black and white race relations. This is a good film that unfortunately, didn't get a any decent advertising when it was released. I think it's a bit of a cult classic that way. Most of the people who've seen it did so because of word of mouth. So take it from me, you should get this one. Far more than Black and White... "Pleasantville" proved that nothing really is as simple as Black and White. A talented ensemble brought Gary Ross' words to life in a film that he himself directed. After such writing efforts as "Dave" and "Big," Ross combined his talent for smart dialogue with his creative edge to bring about a truly extraordinary film in his directorial debut. "Pleasantville" painted a stunning picture of modern day society, both figuratively and literally, and honestly illustrated the quote unquote 'corruption' that seems to plague today's youth. The story was unique and gripping, and introduced the characters to Pleasantville in a combination of witty dialogue and innovative cinematography. Tobey Maguire was perfectly cast as David (Bud Parker), the loveable 'boy next door' with something of an obsession with a television series from the late 50's. Reese Witherspoon's Jennifer (Mary-Sue Parker), David's sister, was the embodiment of everything the series frowned upon, or rather, knew nothing about. After a seemingly random accident, David and Jennifer found themselves trading their everyday lives (not to mention their skin pigmentation) for a chance to live the ideal life...in Pleasantville. David was naturally thrilled at first, while Jennifer was less than enthusiastic. While her brother knew the importance of keeping up the black and white charade, she arrived in Pleasantville with no intention of following the rules. And while once immersed in her 'new world' of black and white, Jennifer came to appreciate the simple life, the damage was done. David was left with having to try and prevent the Pleasantville universe from falling apart or risk the only chance he and his sister had of returning home. With brilliant performances from a superior cast ensemble led by Jeff Daniels and Joan Allen, the film was one of the best of 1998. The visual design and exceptional film editing only worked to contribute to a magnificent movie experience. All things considered, above all, the movie asked the ever-important question: "What's beyond Pleasantville?" Deep in the extreme! Who says Hollywood can't make a movie that is both smart and entertaining? Pleasantville is proof that it can. Here is a movie that is an enjoyable escapist entertainment. But it is also a religious allegory similar to The Truman Show, depicting the fall of man and loss of innocence in a variety of forms. I don't want to connect the dots for you because you need to watch this movie closely and think about its meanings. When is it that people begin to take on color? What causes it for some doesn't cause it for everyone. It is a commentary on everything from the Civil Rights and Women's Liberation movements to Christianity, Genesis and the fall of man. And all of it is dressed up in a clever conceit about the good old days of black and white sitcoms. Along with The Truman Show, this is one of Hollywood's greatest productions of the decade. One day people will appreciate it for the masterwork that it is. Buy Pleasantville at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Pleasantville Search with the Priority Search Engine on Pleasantville This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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