For Better or Worse Until Death Do Us
Part? Hmmm…
There are many secrets in almost every relationship, but the
ones discovered in this movie are risky and pure comedy! In June of 2005, the
action-packed movie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
released. Doug Liman directed this romance-slash-comedy-slash-action movie starring
famous actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Written by Simon Kinberg, Mr.
& Mrs. Smith is a combination of Liman’s usual comedy, such as Swingers (1996), and thriller movies,
like The Bourne Identity (2002). In
the opening, the film portrays an ordinary couple bored with their marriage,
but with great actors, an exciting plot, and the rush of emotional impact, the
movie quickly makes a drastic turn—once they both find out they are assassins
out to kill each other—and all Hell breaks loose!
To begin, in my opinion, great actors alone can make a movie.
They have to grasp me and pull me into their world. It is all about belief. I
know they are actors but I have to be able to believe what the actor is
portraying. If within the time of the movie I feel warped into a different
dimension, taken away from all outside sources, and feel as if I am traveling
with them, believing, caring and feeling all emotions of the actor, then they
have acted well. The actor’s voice has
to flow with the character in a natural fashion. The movements and facial expressions
must seem effortless. They have to personalize every aspect of the character
well enough that the passion and drive is felt. If the actor’s heart is not in
the film, it will most likely be noticeable. The actor has to believe the story
themselves to fully make me believe. The goal is not to make people think they
are acting but to take the lines and make them their own.
In the film Mr. &
Mrs. Smith, John and Jane play their characters flawlessly to me. There was
already chemistry beginning to flow with the two behind the scenes (seeing as
they are now married) so I think that had added support to their acting skills
for this movie. At the beginning of the
movie, the couple is shown going through marriage counseling and has to answer
a series of questions. I can instantly feel some of the tension between them
when he says they have been married five years and she corrects him and says
six. The facial expressions and uncomfortable movements they make help me
understand how they are feeling towards each other. They are acting as normal
people and I am not looking at them as famous award-winning actors but simply
as a miserable couple going through a counseling treatment. Another time where
I forget they are actors and are getting into their roles is during the fight
scene. The determination in the actors faces are pulling on my insides to try
to prevent them from killing each other. They play the roles so well that I
feel like I need to jump into the screen and help them overcome their problems.
Also with each punch thrown and every bullet shot, I am anxious to see how they
are going to escape the battle. Although it is a romantic comedy and I know
they will not kill each other, the way they are expressing themselves really
gets me into the film and feel as if I am playing the role myself.
I have to say that Angelina and Brad completely met the
criteria of being great actors in this movie. I felt like they were just two
normal human beings not trying too hard to fulfill the acting role. They really
grasped my attention and had me feeling her emotions while tears dropped as
well as his emotions when he was angry. I understood every aspect of the
characters they had to embody.
Additionally, a good plot further contributes to a great
film. In movies, the actors cannot tell the audience the meaning of the story
they must explain it through their actions. The plot must be captivating
because it can attract and retain the viewers. There is always a goal or object
that has to be acquired by the end of the movie. If I feel that the objective
is pointless it may stray me away from the movie. Along with a motive, there is
also a conflict and obstacles that make it harder for the character to obtain
that goal. This is what makes it interesting and is also the main source of the
drama. A meaningful plot with a goal and obstacles together make a great
storyline that without, would be no movie.
In Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the main storyline is about a bored
unhappy couple that discovers their spouses are assassins and are on a mission
to kill each other. This sparks my interest because they are wild, adventurous,
and daring outside of their marriage, but when they come home there is not a
moment the marriage is not dull. To exemplify, Jane is found climbing a
mountain in one scene while John is getting into a full brawl but they cannot
even cuddle together in bed at night. Furthermore, once they find out, they go
through all sorts of risks and endanger themselves trying to kill each other. I
am fully engaged in this movie it just captivates me. I know the meaning of the
plot through the characters they do not have to say what is happening. The goal
is to kill each other but there is a slight twist in the end where they relight
the spark in the marriage and end up together happier than before. In romantic comedies the plot is usually
similar. Most of the time the couple gets back together before the movie ends. The
main element romantic comedies have to possess is a different way to bring the
lovers together, which the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith does. How many couples
are brought together after trying to assassinate one another?
Last, a great film that has an emotional impact can leave a
lasting effect on me. When I watch a movie, whether it is scary, action, or
comedy, the ones that draw me in emotionally are the ones I enjoy the most.
Other factors contribute to a great film, but if it steers me away from my
reality and allows me to feel for each character, then it is a job well done. After
watching the movie, if I am brought back home after such rush and express
pleasurable satisfaction, then I know it had an emotional impact on me. In this
movie, (although it is just that—a movie), I got a better insight on how
American marriages are portrayed. I see how some couples act towards each other
during bad stages of their marriage. I also got a better sense that sometimes
they just need a little liveliness to spark up the flame. I felt angry when the
characters were angry as well as sad when they expressed sad feelings. There
were plenty moment where I was full of chuckles and if I am laughing throughout
a movie then I know it had to be a great one!
Overall, movies I like have to have awesome actors, a great
plot, and have an emotional impact on me. The actors have to make me believe
the character and take the lines and make them flawless actions, the plot has
to be captivating and shown not told, and the film has to have an emotional
impact on me to where I feel all of my emotions went on a rollercoaster ride! Mr.
& Mrs. Smith completely met the criteria and I think it is an amazing film.
