![]() ![]() Overall, this film is moderately enjoyable. Those films did a better job of showcasing their themes than this film, though "13 Conversations." does achieve much as a film. Like "Short Cuts", it focuses in on how single acts can change a life forever and like "Grand Canyon", it dealt with the search for meaning and happiness. While watching this flick, I was reminded of two films especially-"Short Cuts" by Robert Altman and "Grand Canyon" by Cassavettes. But, despite two good performances, the overall mediocrity of the remaining performances drags this film down into a pit, from which it just can't escape. Matthew McConaughey gives his worst performance to date, and Clea Duvall needs to go back to wherever in the hell she came from, because acting just isn't her gig. I can, without a doubt, say that there are only two worthwhile performances in this entire film, and they come from John Turturro and Alan Arkin. I could explain how they were all touched, but that would give away too much of the film. ![]() Of course, these stories weave together and every life in the film is ultimately touched by every other life in the film. This is a film about five stories: (1) a middle aged man wants to change his life, (2) an attorney is in jeopardy after a hit and run, (3) a woman faces her husbands cheating ways, (4) a businessman seeks revenge on a coworker, and (5) a cleaning woman waits on a miracle. Alas, a great director with a grand design can't make up for piss-poor performances and lackluster appeal. As I mentioned earlier, I appreciated this film for two reasons: (1) it is a wonderful tribute to two classic directors, and (2) it is skillfully crafted by the director. "How do we achieve happiness" is the question posed by this film, though it was posed much better by the stunning 1998 film "Happiness". Alas, it also stands as tribute to both of those men in that it is so skillfully tied together and directed, showing that a new crop of talented directors have found their mentors from years past. Though directed by Jill Sprecher, it is as if it was actually a joint collaboration by Allen and Altman (though, at the same time, not). ![]() There have been many films to follow in the footsteps of works by Robert Altman and Woody Allen, and "13 Conversations About One Thing" in no exception. ![]()
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