Alyson Hannigan in Beyond the City Limits / Rip it Off

[Iamyouknowyours]

My copy is getting mailed out on Sept 20th. I can hardly wait. Aly plays the bad girl thing well

"That's right, Puppy... Willow's gonna make you bark."

-The Wish
Willow, you can make me bark anytime!

[Indygo]

OK, to try and avoid excessive spoilers (and the fact that this summary is pretty long) I've posted my detailed summary of this film on my site.



This has kinda just been cobbled together and I'm sure I've got some of the film narrative order wrong, but you'll get a pretty good idea of Aly's scenes and the plot of the film.



Detailed Plot Summary



Indygo

[Hemiola]

Thanks for the excellent plot summary, Indygo!



So, her part seems to be pretty extensive, although I certainly wouldn't look forward to seeing AH beaten up, even if it's only acting .



Once again, it seems that the only reason to see this film is because of AH. Seems to be the story of her career in films .



Edited to add: I must say, though, that I would certainly look forward to watching AH attempt to speak French again. The last time she tried a French accent was in a couple of episodes of "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd" (she was the white Pomeranian or, as another aquaintance remarked, possibly an American Eskimo--I'm not that familiar with all the breeds ) and it was, let's face it, adorably bad ("Oooo Eddie, weel you help me wis zis plan?").

Edited by: Hemiola at: 9/3/02 7:20:21 am

[Killin Joke]

Ooh, Lexi trying to learn French was supercute ! "L'amour..." Yeah, very telling

"for beauty is a witch against whose charms faith melteth into blood." (Claudio in 'Much Ado About Nothing')

[Indygo]

Yeah... there were like moments in this where you think "if only there was more like this it could've been great". I can almost see the script that Aly and Alexis must have read when they decided to do the movie. It has these really poignant moments, and then there's the crap spread sporadically throughout



Oh well.

[Killin Joke]

Exactly, Indygo ! Accurate synopsis, BTW I'll say it again: It's like B's 6th season. They aired Bargaining today, here in Belgium. And, although I've seen everything on the net, know what's to come, I tried to focus on the good points (Willow and Tara ! ) Next to the sweet stuff we obviously like, there was some amazing acting in this one. Throughout the ep all characters are surrounded by this sad atmosphere... Spot on characterization: Willow who's become sort of the leader, which means she has to take on loads of responsibilities. I mean: she's combining her wicca and computer skills and everyone's expecting so much of her (except for Tara: "sweetie" comment in kitchen).

Anyway, although everything fits, the dark tone is set. Instead of showing a motor cycle club who rides out to collect money for a good cause, we get the stereotypical Hell's Angels portrayel, bound to cause doom and destruction. The violant language and actions directed towards the Buffybot (just a pretty toy) can be compared to that in Beyond the city limits. The movie could actually contain a kind of girl power message. I mean, despite all the vile things happening in their lives, eventually they break out, and 2 out of 3 manage to get away... but at what cost.

It's like Gina Gershon said in an interview, when asked about the happy ending of the film noirish Bound. She was happy the woman could have it all: the money and the love. I guess I'm starting to miss these films. I'm not saying they have to be comedies, but I've had it with death...

"for beauty is a witch against whose charms faith melteth into blood." (Claudio in 'Much Ado About Nothing')

[Indygo]

I think I'm tired of sad endings in lesbian films in general. I mean, I'm not going to go on too much here cos then we're really getting into the "I want Tara back" thread, but I guess it really disapointed me that it was Misha who had to die here.



It could just as easily have been Helena who died, but then that wouldn't have produced the drama of the "lesbian" who loses her lover wailing her sorrow to the four winds (yeah, I guess I'm seeing the season 6 parallels here too huh?)



"Bound" is a great example. There was violence, blood, death, but the women got away, scot free. No punishment. The lesbian heroes lived.



I like to think though that at the end of this Lexi will go on and live her life better. She'll take the money Misha helped her steal and turn her life around so that Misha's death isn't in vain. Maybe that sounds naive and overly optimistic, but I need to turn these things around in my head like that to make sense of them sometimes, you know? Or else the media/film world will drive me mad.



Indygo

[kbk3022]

I agree about the sad endings thing. I guess writers feel like they have to kill someone in a movie to make them feel emotion these days. I've started to avoid certain movies because I would rather see happier films.



Kasey

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"You should come around here on Halloween,
you'd really see something then...
we all jump off the roof and fly."

[Indygo]

You know, it used to be a big deal in films if someone died. Now it's a big deal if all the characters live.



Indygo

[kbk3022]

Yes, that's very true. Also, it's hard to find a movie without a gun in it. I mean, even movies that you would think wouldn't have guns in them, suddenly out of nowhere a person shows up with a gun and...wait, sorry, I'm thinking of something else.



Kasey

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You should come around here on Halloween,
you'd really see something then...
we all jump off the roof and fly."

Edited by: kbk3022 at: 9/3/02 10:44:31 pm

[Indygo]

*grunt* Hooh yeah... I hear ya Kasey.



People often ask me why I watch stuff like American Pie. (Besides the obvious reasons! ) I often answer that I'll take a well timed fart joke over a grisly, senseless killing any day.



This isn't always true, but I'm starting to get sensitive to such things as constant, pointless death and destruction.



Beyond the City Limits would have benefited a LOT from fewer guns, more of the women interacting, and fewer fake Russian accents. It could still have been powerful without those things.



Indygo

[Killin Joke]

I read ya, girls... Like you, I'm desperately longing for more fuzzy feeling happy ends, like Better than Chocolate. While a movie can be totally "beautiful", the last part can leave you utterly crushed (no pun intended but: Lost and delirious).

It's like: most of the times you find these strict divisions: in comedy they live, while drama has to end in death, no matter what. C'mon, even Shakespeare's plays weren't that black and white.



As far as violence is concerned: I have to admit I've always been kind of an action fan (Xenite: nuff said), but it has to be constructive (kinda contradictory: I mean for the storyline), can never be gratuituous. It's not only guns, not the weapons themselves, but the way people abuse them, it's portrayed on television. Being a bit of a shot myself (not a hot-shot, just a girl practicing with her airrifle in an indoor club, on cards, not people or animals) I hate the manner in which they cause so much pain and death. For me it's just a tool to aim, focus, concentrate on your breathing... Very relaxing sport, almost yoha-like



Anyways, next to guns, there's also the drugs that destroy so much. Not only in Beyond the city limits, but also in High Art, it's a big issue, that complicates things.



Fake accents are cool in a campy context (again: Xena !) but in BtCL it was so misplaced. It wasn't a humourous movie at all...



Now I know I'm not the only one going out to watch a movie I normally wouldn't see, if it weren't for one of my favourite actresses... The American Pie flicks are not exactly my genre, but for Aly you swim the broadest seas, right. They are pretty funny though, if you turn a switch in your head. I went to see Bring it on ! solely for Eliza Dushku... It was totally worth it (just before I had to get my exam results too: took my mind of 'm and for once I passed completely)... I'd never been interested in cheerleading in particular. It's something typical American and it's a prejudice to attach superficiality to it (see B's 1st season: Cordelia and co). Of course "But I'm a cheerleader" totally changed my views Damn, I want that one on DVD... When ? Where ? More ! We need more of those films. After all: "Les" is more

"for beauty is a witch against whose charms faith melteth into blood." (Claudio in 'Much Ado About Nothing')

[Indygo]

Quote:

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Anyways, next to guns, there's also the drugs that destroy so much. Not only in Beyond the city limits, but also in High Art, it's a big issue, that complicates things.

---

I rarely have a hard time dealing with any images from films, but seeing Alyson Hannigan sticking a needle into her arm made me flinch. I can only put it down to my respect for Aly as an actress. I think she does a wonderful job here (despite the burdens of bad scripting and directing) but I could've lived my whole life and not been unhappy that I missed seeing that particular image, y'know? It was... *shudders*



Indygo

[Killin Joke]

Yeah, as an actress you have to be willing to strip down to bare, raw emotions. Not everyone can pull it off. It must be very disturbing sometimes. Seeing Aly like that... Although you know she's just playing a part... it makes her so vulnerable. It's indeed heart-wrenching to watch...

"for beauty is a witch against whose charms faith melteth into blood." (Claudio in 'Much Ado About Nothing')

[Indygo]

Yeah... I think perhaps that's the biggest telltale sign that this film was a good performance (because it was harrowing) but not a great performance. A great performance I think should make us forget that this is "Alyson Hannigan" doing this thing, it is LEXI the drug addict doing this. I was never able to forget who the actress was and "believe" in the character.



I can't wait to see what Aly can do with a great script and a great director behind her.



Indygo

[KISMIC]

"I can't wait to see what Aly can do with a great script and a great director behind her.":Indygo





Well 'American Pie 1 & 2' were half-decent scripts and look what Aly managed to do with the Michelle character! She went from a minor role to pretty much a lead character (in the up-coming third 'AP'). So I think she'd be pretty amazing in a good film - say a nice romantic/comedy/drama *sigh*...We can dream, anyway!

[faoite]

Appologies if this has already come up but I'm knackered and don't feel like trolling thru 9 pages of this thread right now....NEED MY BED Is there a way of getting to see BtCL without ripping it from the web. Got an EXTREMELY slow connection here and it would be xmas before I got it!

Video? DVD? selling my soul?



Help, I'm very sad

G.

[Jaguar]

I agree with you KISMIC.

Aly is great and given a chance she steals not just the scenes she is in but also the film.

BtCL is very dark for my liking and Aly is the only reason I watched it in the first place.

She was good.



Jaguar

[Indygo]

Quote:

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So I think she'd be pretty amazing in a good film - say a nice romantic/comedy/drama

---

Yeah, but... *sigh* I'm sorry she wasted what could possibly be the only lesbian part (or kinda lesbian anyway) of her film career on BtCL. I mean, after BtVS ends she'll probably avoid playing lesbians like the plague, just to avoid being typecast as one. I don't mean that I wouldn't watch something where she wasn't a lesbian, and that's so not a bad thing...but...you know?



I'm not making any sense now. *creeps away into a corner*



Indygo

[KISMIC]

Quoting Indygo: ""I'm sorry she wasted what could possibly be the only lesbian part (or kinda lesbian anyway) of her film career on BtCL. I mean, after BtVS ends she'll probably avoid playing lesbians like the plague, just to avoid being typecast as one.""





I thought the same thing with Eliza Dushku and how she played a lesbian character in a 'straight to CANADIAN DVD' movie and in the cut scenes of 'Jay and SIlent Bob'. If an actor plays the part once it's fine, twice pushing it, any more they're typecast for life.


I was actually thinking the other day about how Aly & Amber knew each other before Buffy and thought that it's a pity that, unlike Seth & Aly, they hadn't met each other through working in a movie together! Imagine 'lil Aly and 'lil Amber, acting, together and caught on camera for all Kittens to OWN! But...no!

[Mrs Vertigo]

Quote:

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So I think she'd be pretty amazing in a good film - say a nice romantic/comedy/drama

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Of all of those I can only go with drama. She's a big gun. Hate to see her wasted again on comedies. Romantic I would hardly go for because, yeah, she is treading the typcast for life lesbian, and she's probably aware of it and won't go for it again. And, as much as I hate sounding so narrowminded as I admit this, in order for a boy/girl movie to be interesting it has to be groundbraking, amazing, totaly new and different, etc. Because it's been done to death, really. And how many chances are of that?



And I hereby join the I-don't-hate-BtCL club. Ahem. Sue me.

[famer]

Kismic

what Canadian movie? I'll pick it up from the video store next time I'm there.



Also, I'm trying to dl a copy of BTCL. If successful, I would likely be able to make copies. Any Australians out there be willing to trade a copy of Don's Plum for BTCL VCD?





EDITED TO ADD: Thanks Kismic. I've seen it at Roger's Video. I'll pick it up.

Edited by: famer at: 9/19/02 8:18:20 am

[KISMIC]

Uhh no it isn't Canadian, I don't think, I just meant it's the type of film that would be realeased on DVD in Canada and ONLY Canada where no one would be able to get a copy. he The movie, with Eliza Dushku, is called 'Soul Survivors'.

[Mrs Vertigo]

Quote:

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The movie, with Eliza Dushku, is called 'Soul Survivors'.

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Bad movie! B-A-D movie! Don't watch it! Spare yourself!

Edited by: Mrs Vertigo at: 9/19/02 8:33:34 am

[KISMIC]

Mrs Vertigo, you've seen it? How, where, how? What was wrong with it, script, acting, plot or the whole trifector?

[molsongrrrl]

ok I can offer up copies of "Beyond the City Limits" for kittens who cannot get their hands on the movie. I can have it available for download or send copies. I can make the movie into a vcd and send it out. Now ... I prefer the download method, but am willing to help out those with slow connections and actually mail.



The second provision to this is: I am leaving on vacation until next Wednesday. I will not be able to help either way until that time. Email me at molsongrrrl16@earthlink.net and together we will figure out the best way to get you the movie.

A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants

[Hemiola]

I would once again like to put in my vote to see Aly in some kind of "period" movie, maybe...



1) a "toga-and-sandals" type flick



2) something "medieval" (Katherine Heigl was really cute in medieval togs in "Prince Valiant", and Aly could act rings around her ) or,



3) something 18th/19th century (for the clothes--can't you just see AH with a bustle ).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You'll soon get used to her looks, said he,

And a very nice girl you'll find her--

She might very well pass for forty-three

In the dusk, with the light behind her!"

W.S. Gilbert, "Trial By Jury"

[DaffyQDuck]

I read a rave review of the performance of a Dawson's Creek actress (can't remember her name) in the movie "Me Without You." She ages 20 years & wears 70s & 80s clothes & has an emotional show down w/ her best friend. I thought "Why her and not Aly?"

I'm Cletus the slack-jawed yokel - Willow

[Mrs Vertigo]

Quote:

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you've seen it? How, where, how? What was wrong with it, script, acting, plot or the whole trifector?

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I’ve seen it on DVD during last year, it’s available in Israel in region 1 (no subtitles) pretty much everywhere. What's wrong with it…

Spoiler warning:



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its basically another horror movie. I’m not sure I remember a 100% right, though, I’ve only watched it once. Ok: A couple of young people, including Eliza Dushku, get involved in a car accident on the way back from a club and one of them dies. Of the surviving ones remain Dushku, another blond girl who’s the heroine and also the girlfriend of the dead guy, and another guy. After the accident the blond girl (who’s now dating the other guy who survived the accident) starts having weird dreams about her dead boyfriend calling her to ‘join him’. Meanwhile, weird stuff start happening all around her. Weird as in I Know What You Did crossover with some haunted house classic. Very annoying. Dushku, who play Blondie's friend, starts going regularly to that club, where she meets a woman named Raven. Raven and Dushku’s character hit it off (yes, *that* way. Indeed.), yada yada yada, Blondie loses her friend to the mysterious leather-clad short-haired metal-lovin’ evil dyke. From there on the plot is pretty much blown to hell – scary stuff keep happening to Blondie, including Dushku’s character trying to seduce her boyfriend, all the people from the club turn out to be demons with funky fanged faces and Dead Boyfriend keeps popping up everywhere. Eventually everybody’s chasing the Blondie and she gets into her car, drives too fast and falls off a cliff edge. Then she wakes up at the hospital and Dead Boyfriend is beside her, explaining that he really isn’t dead and they are the soul survivors from the original car crash and that this whole time she’s been in a coma. Dushku and the other guy are the ones that really died, and everything that happened since that accident and until the moment she woke up in the hospital is just a dream she had while she was in a coma, because she had a hard time getting over the fact her friends had died.



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spoiler over.

Mostly, its just downright boring. The acting’s crap and its all really just a lot of repetition of elements from teen-horror movies. Dushku’s character doesn’t really get a lot of screen time, or a lot of good scenes. She plays the bad girl, naturally, and does it very nicely. Not anything we couldn’t imagine Faith doing. Her character and Raven get two pretty explicit scenes (or three?), but they’re pretty short. That’s kinda nice, though, if you don’t mind the only lesbian getting blamed for setting Dushku on the ‘baddie’ path. I think this movie was really aiming at the American Psycho effect at the end… but failed miserably. Script’s pure boredom. You’ve seen it all before a hundred times over and it's just a BAD movie. Dushku couldn’t have saved it by herself even if she had been given enough screen time. Which she hadn’t. Ugh. Disappointment.

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“You know, if you weren’t such a bitch-queen from hell you and I would’ve gotten along just fine” – Me making with the friendly at Glory, in a dream where I was Buffy and she was crucifying me.

Edited by: Mrs Vertigo at: 9/19/02 3:57:35 pm

[KISMIC]

You know I wondered why the numbers werethre, but I scrolled down and read anyway, when WOOPS there's the ending! Ahh well, it'll probably never come out here anyway. You know I just don't understand why they didn't make all DVD's the same region in the first place. Would make everything *that* much simpler.