Ammanda McCabe and I went to see ELIZABETHTOWN tonight. Now, because Orlando Bloom is in this film, it is worth going to see. ;-) However, I was really overwhelmed by Orlando's acting in this movie. His movies to date have been light on dialogue or even range of emotion. Yet in this film, he runs the emotional gamut, and does so convincingly. This was a fantastic film. Mandy called it when she said it could have used better editing. I agree. The first part of the movie is long, and does drag in places as we go through various subplots. Still, those moments do not majorly detract from the overall film. There's one long phone scene between Drew (Orlando) and Claire (Kirsten Dunst) that is reminiscent of THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS (except no masturbation). And the scenes with Chuck and Cindy, the couple getting married who are staying at Drew's hotel, are marvelous.

Anyone from a small southern town, with lots of family, will find the scenes about family so familiar and honest. My dad has 6 brothers, so when we get together, it's a madhouse. And the mixture of tears and laughter in the midst of grieving the loss of family reminded me of those same moments in my family.

Go see this film. You'll leave the theatre with a lighter heart. (And more Orlando Bloom fantasies if you are of that persuasion. He was actually HERE in OKLAHOMA and I DIDN'T KNOW!!!!! Oh, the agony!)