I haven't seen the movie, so I can't comment on this particular movie, but I don't understand where you're coming from in general. All films use music to set moods -- there's very very few films that don't do this. And with the exception of period pieces, most of the music is modern popular music.

Let's just say, I feel Crowe writes scenes so he can insert a song in the movie, rather than writing a scene, and having a song complement the scene in tone and feel. I believe he uses songs as a crutch far more than the better filmmakers currently working nowadays.

To each their own. Music for the scenes, scenes for the music. It didn't matter because it still worked well.

This movie really did number on me. I liked it a lot and came out feeling really positive and upbeat. I liked all the characters and how things fell into place. I've always been a fan of Dunst but I think I actually fell in love with her(character).

I guess I'm out to lunch on this one because I loved it. I really connected with it, lots of laughs and some tears aswell. I think Crowe's films don't hit everyone the same way. There are small magical moments in his films that some people I know notice and love and most people don't even remember them. A great example is the Tiny Dancer scene in Almost Famous, When Russell stomps his feet. Or when Penny Lanes says "you are home". Elizabethtown has some of these aswell, but I don't want to spoil them.

Another thing I love about Crowe's films is that they are about more than one relationship. Elizabethtown works as a love story, but the family relationship, and father and son relationship is also very moving. Just like in Jerry Maguire, the relationship between Jerry and Rod, is as important as Jerry and Dorothys'.

I think people should ignore the bad reviews and give it a chance. Anyone who thought he was making fun of the south is nuts. This is a love letter to the south big time.

While I didn't think it was as strong a movie as 'Almost Famous' or 'Jerry Maguire' I really enjoyed it & will most definitely pick it up when it's out on DVD. The only complaint I had was that a few parts could have been rewrittenor edited better I think Patman is right to a degree, especially during It's like Crowe wants to tell us how we should be feeling, kind of like a TV track during some sitcoms.(laughing at something, or an awww during a cute moment or oooooooooooh during a kiss)

Not a threadcrap, I hope, but while I am a big fan of Crowe's previous work, I can't stand Kirsten Dunst or Orlando Bloom. Unless they are in a wet T-shirt or have pointy ears, respectively.

I will watch it, but with very low expectations.....

I enjoyed this one as well...Thought it could have been edited a little more, I liked the end, but certain scenes could be cut a little more. It really hit home with me a bit because it reminded me alot about how much I actually miss being back home in the south. I agree with those who said its more of a "love letter" to the South. I also thought Paula Deen from the Food Network was pretty good, eventhough she was pretty much herself in it.

I was dragged into watching this with my gf and her friend last night. All three of us ended up hating it and wanting to walk out, but felt we had already paid $9 for the ticket so we stayed. Unfortunately, the best part was when the movie ended and I saw the credits so we could all leave.

The movie was filled with cheesy lines, useless dialogue, poor acting by Orlando and Kristen and a plot line that just didn't appeal to me. It seemed like the movie was trying to be philosophical or something, but failed miserably at it.

Saw it a few days back. Upon reflection, I can say that it had its moments, but I am from Kentucky and familiar with all of the people and areas mentioned in the movie. However, that doesn't change the fact that it was overall pretentous (sp.?) and a cheap attempt by Crowe to try and re-capture what made his other movies great. The performances were good, but that doesn't change the fact that this movie is more or less comes across as someone trying to be like Cameron Crowe as opposed to Crowe himself. Everything in this movie has been done before in better Crowe efforts; the down on his luck young man who has lost his successful career, the pseudo musical bonding sequence, and while I liked her character, Kirsten Dunst was little more than a Southern Penny Lane.
In short, it was not a horrendous movie, but way too long for what it was and a rather feeble attempt by Crowe to win over the audience. I give it a C-.

Good movie I think , editing nightmare...

As much as the movie felt like a writer had written the dialogue, as opposed to it sounding natural. And as much as it had some cliche lines and editing problems and orlando bloom accent problems, I really loved this movie. It was no Almost Famous or Jerry Maguire, but I'll pick this up when it comes to DVD. It was fun and quirky and I enjoyed the heck out of it.

i saw this a while ago and really liked it. the dialogue sounds like it was written instead of natural, the muisc tells you how you should feel but i still liked it. the movie is defintely a love letter to the south, not negative at all. kirsten dunst character i thought was a typical movie character but i fell for her. loved the road map and music. I could see orlando going for her. If you work in a high stress enviroment and are around "professional women" all the time it can drive you nuts. dunst character was a person not a profession, everything in the little we see in the movie of jessica beal was not. The movie is basically saying or rather screaming, Your life is not about money it is about love, people or lovin life, seeing what is out there. if you fail pick yourself up. take that trip today. then again maybe i am reading my own thoughts into it. I need a vacation.

Great post. I agree on all points.

Was the Jessica Biel situation realistic? I.E.. if you're a highly successful person and you date a co-worker like her, will she dump you once you land in hot water around the office(not with her specifically) and/or get dismissed like Bloom? My guess is yes.

I saw this over the last weekend and it wasn't all that bad. I'll make it easy..

Pro's

Supporting cast. The people playing Bloom's distant family done great. I mean, I just wanted to see more of Ruckus!

Cameron Crowe knows how to use music to images. Scenes like 'My Father's Gun' was simply moving.

Cons -

Needed editing. Anything with Susan Sarandon's character could of been edited down. Her character was all over the place and just didn't work. Espically the dancing.

Relationships. I never felt the Bloom / Dunst relationship. It felt hollow.

All over the place? I thought her character arc was quite simple - husband dies, she learns to appreciate life through things she always wanted to do.