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Anise Starr's Blog: Movies, Books, & Other Musings.
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DVD: Going All The Way (1997) 
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Welcome to my LJ blog. Have a seat, make yourself comfortable, and have a look around. My blog consists of my personal reviews of movies and books. I like to share what I find interesting and moving. For the people that have not watched the movies reviewed here or read the books, I don't give away endings and surprising plot twists, I include only what I think is important to mention in my reviews. So do look around, I hope you find your stay interesting. I especially like dramas; historical films, especially pertaining to WWII; true crime; documentaries; and foreign films.

I am also a fan of Jeremy Davies and there are quite a few of his films here.





In addition to my reviews, I also include silly personal entries too.

This blog is updated regularly so do check back often to see what else has been added.




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3rd-Mar-2008 07:47 pm
Professor Faraday

Going All The Way is a film based on the book of the same title by Dan Wakefield.  Initially I had seen the vhs version because apparently the dvd is no longer being produced.  But I really wanted to see the dvd version because I heard that it included many deleted scenes.  So thanks to my stubbornness I recently tracked down and purchased a dvd of the movie.  Set in the 1950's, this movie is about an interesting friendship between two young men who seemingly are opposites in every way.  The jock - Gunnar Casselman (played by Ben Affleck) and the social outcast - Williard Burns, aka Sonny (played by Jeremy Davies).  But these characters are layered and go beyone the stereotypes that society put them into.  Both Ben Affleck and Jeremy Davies play their parts brilliantly.

Gunnar and Sonny met on a train when they were both returning to Indianapolis from military duties during the Korean war.  Sonny had desk duties in Kansas City while Gunnar saw actual combat in Asia.   Gunnar was internally transformed while he was overseas and realized how frivolous his former status as the popular jock who attracted all the ladies was.  Seeking to expand his inner self and become more intellectually aware of the world around him, he formed a friendship with the intelligent but awkward Sonny.   The opposite of Gunnar, Sonny was the friendless social misfit, the brilliant and talented school photographer that no one really paid any attention to.  His new friendship with Gunnar gave him the opportunity to experience a new and exciting side of life.  

There are interesting sub-plots especially involving Sonny.  Jeremy Davies' acting is exceptional as he takes the viewer into Sonny's mind that is fraught with fears and insecurities.  He deftly brings forth the many sides of Sonny's complex personality, ranging from nervous and bouncy to quiet, deep, and brooding.  His overbearing mother (played by Jill Clayburgh) pushes him to settle down and marry his mild mannered, tag-along girlfriend Buddy Porter (played by Amy Locane).  But a marriage and nice quiet life with a white picket fence is not what Sonny wants.  He searches for something different and exciting in his life, he wishes to get away from his domineering mother and his boring existence in Indianapolis, and his friendship with Gunnar gives him the opportunity to do just that.  The last thing he wants is to have a serious relationship with sweet, unassuming hometown girl Buddy.  But Sonny selfishly uses Buddy as his "booty call", contacting her only when he wants sex or someone to accompany him with Gunnar and his girlfriend.   He strings her along, not giving her a straight answer when she asks him what she means to him.  It should be noted that she knowingly lets him use her and allows him to belittle her in Gunnar's presence, somehow convinced that she will eventually win him over.  Sonny seems too stuck in his own world of neuroses to realize how his actions are hurting her.  Perhaps his cold treatment of her is a way to get back at his pushy, strong-willed mother.  Sonny's mother does not seem to want to accept that fact that her little boy has grown up and wants to keep him near her forever.  He is expected to marry Buddy and live a simple life in Indianapolis.  She is threatened by the outside "wild" influence of Gunnar in Sonny's life and attempts to break up their friendship.  Gunnar has his own problems with his mother (played by Leslie Ann Warren) who seems to have a rather odd relationship with him.  She also does not take well to Gunnar's relationship with a Jewish girl (played by Rachel Weisz).  

I do want to say though that there are alot of deleted scenes on the dvd, so I certainly suggest it over the vhs version.  And there is a scene involving Sonny attempting suicide by cutting his wrist.  This scene was taken out of the movie and is included in the deleted scenes.  I have to say that I get very squeamish at the sight of blood and gore.  This might sound surprising to those of you who read my LJ, considering my taste in movies and books.  I don't know, it's one of my quirks.  The cutting scene in Going All The Way is excruciatingly long and quite graphic.  So I just want to say that it's not for the sqeamish like me. 

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Comments 
4th-Mar-2008 11:12 pm (UTC)
[info]ostia2006
This arrived in the post today. I am so going to have to watch it tomorrow night. I won't read your whole review until I have watched it though!! :0)
28th-Mar-2008 03:59 am (UTC)
[info]morlockiness
I want to see this movie so badly.
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