MovieChat Forums > The Sleeping Dictionary (2003) Discussion > This movie sucked

This movie sucked

posted 19 years ago by kpn3
6 replies | jump to latest

I only watched this movie because I like Hugh Dancy, however by the end of the film I hated both him and Jessica Alba. Jessica Alba sucked, her expression never changes, it's either a sad pout, semi-sad pout, or a happy pout. Quite annoying.

The only one I somewhat sympathised with throughout the movie was Cecil, who was really screwed by the whole thing. Hugh Dancy's character was a selfish prick who only seemed interested in Alba because she was a good lay. Also I was disturbed by the exploitation of the native peoples.

The most unromantic movie I've seen in a long time.

This it how I feel at least, and I might add that I watched this movie at 3AM during one of my insomnia bouts.

[–] shodan-4 19 years ago

I agree, but for different reasons. I was just so bothered by how stupid that main character was. I mean he just *beep* everything up. Not only did he almost get himself executed, he got others (almost?) executed, abused and cast out because of his STUPID contrived and unconvincong romance. The dialogue was incredibly dull. The only vaguely interesting and sensible character was Henry (Bob Hoskins), and he was also the best actor in the film. Bleeh. What a drag.

[–] tjb286 19 years ago

dear god this movie was awful. However I did watch it in the dead of night on IFC (funnily enough). Since when do straight-to-video movies qualify as artful independent cinema? Usually when I hear "straight-to-video" I think: That movie must've really sucked, and "The Sleeping Dictionary" is a great example of this. Jessica Alba's delivery is tragic. Her performance never goes deeper than the appropriate facial expression. And Hugh Dancy's character is really just a poorly concieved movie hero. Why would his character ever marry that other girl, especially if he was trying to forget his sleeping dictionary? Bob Hoskins just kind of stands around looking for his paycheck with this kind of existential self-questioning look on his face as if to say, "How the hell did I get here?!?"

[–] kpn3 19 years ago

Well, we possibly caught the movie at the same time, because I saw it on IFC in the dead of night also. The romance was completely non-romantic - the whole tired story of some white guy falling in love with this exotic native woman is so incredibly old and contrived that it renders no emotional response from me whatsoever. And the ending was just lame.

Ah well, it's a shame, since I like Hugh Dancy, but in this movie he was just a wanker, and Jessica Alba sucked.

"I swear in the days still left we'll walk in fields of gold.."

[–] witchkingfan2 18 years ago

It took me a while to find this movie, but after a year of looking, i just happen to find one single copy in a hole-in-the-wall-video department in a run down supermarket in New York. Since i'm a huge Jessica Alba fan i decided to buy it since i probably wouldn't see it again anywhere.

It was mediocre, not Jessica Alba's most terrific performence and definetly not her worst,but she looked gorgeous in it though and it was better than "Honey" I felt and the scenery was great and good cinematography. She was the only decent actor in the film besides Bob Hoskins. I also have to feel sorry for her because I read in a interview that they(the British actors) treated her like crap during the making of ths movie, and they were not even as talented as she is...or famous and beautiful. All around, decent movie and good for any Alba fan to rent.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] anonmuss 17 years ago

Glad to hear your views! Because I absolutely couldn't stand this movie... there was absolutely no chemistry between the lead pair and was alba supposed to represent an extremely dumb and annoying young woman with no self respect and brain???