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Pleasantville

Pleasantville (1998)

October. 23,1998
|
7.5
|
PG-13
| Fantasy Drama Comedy

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

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Actuakers
1998/10/23

One of my all time favorites.

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Dotsthavesp
1998/10/24

I wanted to but couldn't!

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Claysaba
1998/10/25

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

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AutCuddly
1998/10/26

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

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Paul J. Nemecek
1998/10/27

If you scan the list of movies in your local paper, surrounded by all of the vampire movies, action movies, and Halloween thrillers you will find Pleasantville, a charming parable about contemporary society. Gary Ross, who wrote the screenplay for Big, has written and directed one of the more interesting films of the year. Some critics have mistaken it for a movie about the 50's. It is really about social norms, the social order, and the various forms of reality that we construct.The basic premise is simple enough. A brother and sister arguing over a remote control encounter the equivalent of a mass media black hole and wind up in an old 50's sitcom that looks suspiciously like Leave it to Beaver. They discover that they are, in fact, in Pleasantville--the 50's town where all couples have twin beds, nobody on the basketball team misses a shot, and geography lessons are limited to Main Street and Elm Street since there is no existence beyond Pleasantville. As our 90's teens try to adapt to life in Pleasantville, they discover that their awareness of life beyond has the potential to disrupt the social order. Because Pleasantville is a TV town from the fifties everyone in the town is in black and white. But as the presence of the siblings begins to change things in Pleasantville, patches of color begin to show, and other disruptions occur. The malt shop owner discovers his interest in art, people begin to change their routines, and the basketball team begins to miss shots occasionally. But the entire social order falls apart when the TV father of the siblings (wonderfully played by William H. Macy) comes through the door, and announces "honey, I'm home." But this time his wife is not there with martini and dinner waiting.As the changes begin to accelerate, some of the residents of Pleasantville change from black and white to living Technicolor, so that the town is divided between people of color and the rest. Signs that declare "no coloreds" begin to appear in the windows, and the town is clearly divided and threatened with total breakdown of the social order.Some critics have taken this as a poke at the mythical 50's, but I don't think that this is really the point of the film. The fifties did bring us McCarthyism and homogenous suburbs that were largely a result of white flight from urban areas. But the 1950's and the 1990's are just metaphors for larger forces in all societies everywhere. When our need to maintain the illusion of stability and pleasantness leads us to squelch dissent and diversity we end up living a lie. That is the primary theme of Pleasantville. The next century promises to bring even more challenges in terms of culture wars and increasing religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity. In this context, Pleasantville is definitely worth a look. This is a story worth telling and a story well told.

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John Brooks
1998/10/28

So obviously reading just the synopsis you understand the sort of film this is going to be: metaphorical, proverbial, working on two levels, that sort of thing...So the film does well jumping straight right into its plot, almost too quick perhaps but the whole first part and middle part are really well made. You're right in the thick of what the movie-makers set you up for, and you find yourself willing to play the little game to see just where exactly they're taking you. It's lots of fun, and the anticipation for answers is at a high level. The whole thing with the colors, the symbols, the 'changes'...Eventually, the last act, about the whole last third, gets increasingly disappointing as it goes. Very broadly, instead of a deeper unraveling of the concept of truth or something along those lines of philosophical nobility and wisdom and touching, we're fed a totally biased ideological realization of the plot. All of a sudden, it feels a bit like a hoax to have been sitting for two hours plus of this. It ultimately promotes chaos and going wild and doing just what you want solely because you want it at that time. Basically the whimsy responsibility-free behaviors of adults of our day. Now that can't be a good message.Some points for the intriguing, genuinely interestingly crafted first part, but it could and should've been plenty deeper in its conclusions, kept its level quality from the first to the last part, and most certainly should've had an ending at least the quality of the girth of it, rather than the girth being much better. It's wrapped up, manufactured and rushed into our faces like a mere consumable product when it's supposed to be deep and emotional and intellectual and all.6/10.

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Rafael Jaramillo
1998/10/29

It is deeply touching, undeniably funny and has a resonant message that will touch your heart. There is no denying that Pleasantville (PV) is quality in entertaining, and definitely a 90's classic. PV works perfectly in many ways, so let's go stage by stage:Smart satire: "The Perfect Family", one of the social commentaries that this movie makes is that one. The concept of how a family should work, based on strong stereotypes from the 50's, but also on all-time ones. The Parkers are presented as an always happy family with a working father, a house-made mother, and energetic teenage children. It mocks about how television can easily sell this kind of ideas to the public. On the other hand, the sitcom's universe is an absolute winning formula.Precisely funny movie: Most of the movie's humor relies on sexual gags, but that doesn't stop it from being family friendly. The rest of the jokes help to get along with the magical tone of the story. Also, works fine as a coming of age flick. I loved the transition of Jennifer and David throughout the movie. From confused and both relaxed and stressed teenagers to full-aware, independent and emotionally intelligent adults (especially David).A feast for the eyes: Excellent cinematography and visual effects give points for a dazzling experience. The "color transitions" is a beautiful characteristic from PV. The eternal reflection that PV offers (alongside its visuals) make it one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. I'll love to explain it all, but I try to spoil the less I can. What I can say is this: courage, letting flow, opening your eyes, allow your life get colored by life itself, trying new things. This and more, are some of the themes that the movie throws to the audience in a way that all can receive it smoothly. Drama enters here, both in the TV and real world, and it really reaches the soul.Last but not least, the cast and acting. Both fresh and young Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire in charming roles that steal the show. Older, mature and talented William H. Macy, Joan Allen and Jeff Daniels give the movie a sense of "it's never too late" that is refreshing. Joan Allen was the winner here, she must have been nominated for a Golden Globe at least.FINAL CONSENSUS: Family friendly humor, profound social commentary and message, marvelous performances and visuals, Pleasantville is the perfect mix for a magical and heart touching ride.

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ggitez
1998/10/30

Knowledge and liberalism are not same things. Your body is your business.Only your business and your life ; your private. If you love, show it only her or him and tell only one.If you love want their happiness , do good things and benefit. So many love, so many bodies, so many people whoseever whose loved by yours... Is it true ? You touch everybody and you say '' if i love i touch ''. I think if you really care your self-respect you never say yes to anybody touch you without promise. Old people were courteous,respectful, righteous... They created virtuous families and this families created strong society. Sorry.. so sorry for this word... But People call someone to '' bitch'' not liberal.

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