28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Spinal]

"Ray Bradbury pointed out that Star Wars is not science fiction, it's an adventure story set in space. Singing in the Rain is a science fiction film, because you have the world as it is, then sound is introduced. What happens to people now that this new thing is there? That's all science fiction is."

- Patton Oswalt

So the science doesn't have to be speculative? It can be historical? Or am I taking this quote too seriously?

[Qrazy]

So the science doesn't have to be speculative? It can be historical? Or am I taking this quote too seriously?

History of the Arkanar Massacre will answer all your questions... and then some.

[Watashi]

The Crying Game - A good opening 20 minutes leads into a lifeless thriller that tries to commentate on the transcendental power of love. I knew the twist coming in, but it didn't matter anyway because Dil was such a dull character. Miranda Richardson as a sexually dominant assassin was the only interesting part of the latter half. Jordan provided the same material much, much better in Mona Lisa.

[Ezee E]

The Crying Game - A good opening 20 minutes leads into a lifeless thriller that tries to commentate on the transcendental power of love. I knew the twist coming in, but it didn't matter anyway because Dil was such a dull character. Miranda Richardson as a sexually dominant assassin was the only interesting part of the latter half. Jordan provided the same material much, much better in Mona Lisa.
Fully agreed. I actually didn't see Mona Lisa because of my disappointment in The Crying Game.

Was it really that large of a twist? Didn't seem like it affected the movie too much anyways.

[Spun Lepton]

Was it really that large of a twist? Didn't seem like it affected the movie too much anyways.

Uhhh, were you around when it first hit the theaters?

[Raiders]

4 stars or I negrep you every day for the rest of your posting life.

Didn't have a choice.

[Amnesiac]

I just need to watch The Sacrifice and somehow get my hands on Tarkovsky's diploma film (The Steamroller and the Violin) and I'll have seen all of his work. Then the re-watches will have to commence.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

I just need to watch The Sacrifice and somehow get my hands on Tarkovsky's diploma film (The Steamroller and the Violin) and I'll have seen all of his work. Then the re-watches will have to commence.

Have you seen the opera performance he co-directed, Boris Godunov, or his other early film There Will Be No Leave Today?

I have.

[/being a doucher]

[Amnesiac]

Have you seen the opera performance he co-directed, Boris Godunov, or his other early film There Will Be No Leave Today?

I have.

[/being a doucher]

Ah, yeah, I think I recall those being mentioned in the consensus thread but I initially forgot. Well, I need to more to watch then.

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

Saw my 30th Hitchcock last nite, Sabotage (not to be confused with Saboteur) and the infamous film canister bomb and childrens getting blowed up scene was in fact kind of drawn out and clunky (I believe they insert a shot of both the film can and a clock about 25 times each to try and build momentum), but the "Walt Disney cartoon in the theater scene" that follows it was unexpectedly profound and beautiful. The film as a whole suffered from bad pacing and underdeveloped characters due to its brisk 70 minute runtime. Am I crazy or do they never establish any reason why these villainous peoples are hell bent on sabotagery? They just start fucking doing crazy shit for no reason. Booooooo.

[Raiders]

Charley Varrick - Reportedly Don Siegel preferred the working title of "Last of the Independents," which is used in the film as Varrick's crop-dusting business' motto. Indeed, the film essentially places Walter Matthau into a sea of corruption, isolating him in a world where he is the "less of all evils" despite being a remorseless, cunning thief and accessory to multiple murders. Such is the nature of Siegel's cinema, cross-cutting noir and fatalistic westerns (the film seems an obvious precursor to the likes of No Country for Old Men) with a result that is lean and muscular, but also surprisingly sensitive and intelligent. Leaving Eastwood's Dirty Harry behind, Siegel uses Matthau's gruff everyman as a deflection of the inherent masculinity in the genre. There's a calculation behind every action; no daring and frenetic escapes after the initial robbery (until the finale, but even that ends on a ploy of wit over brawn) and at every turn the film feels like a distinct dichotomy between the deliberateness of Matthau and the recklessness of Joe Don Baker's Molly (Anton Chigurh circa-1973 with a bit more wit). There's no small commentary in Siegel's vision on the levels of corruption inherent in our society. The film never absolves Matthau of his ruthless determinism (he sets deceased friends and family on fire when necessary), but it places him in the context of a world rife with veiled corporate and systemic corruption. Varrick himself states he's in the situation because conglomerate crop dusters are driving him out of business. The opening of the film showcases the quaint little town and at the center a warm, community-based bank (the manager subsequently stresses how he has become part of the town); and even after the robbery, all they were expecting to come away with was a couple thousand dollars to make ends meat. But when they find the $750,000, Charley realizes what has happened and the film insinuates the criminal underworld and then corporate America into this little town. The grace of those opening images is never seen again.

In the end though, it is an expertly crafted and acted film. Siegel is a master of the montage, and his cross-cutting at the beginning robbery between inside and outside and the gloriously awesome car/bi-plane chase at the film's end are beautifully kinetic set pieces. The only criticism I have seen that makes sense is perhaps the film's rather poor representation of women. Indeed, there exists two particular moments of questionable motives, both involving sex. The first is Baker's Molly and the disloyal passport forger; he follows her into the bedroom, slaps her, she smiles and they close the door. The other is Varrick and the bank owner's secretary who feels, immediately and bizarrely sorry for Charley and proceeds to sleep with him. Both instances present women merely there for the man's amusement and pleasure, but I think the contrast between the two scenes is key: there's a wholesomeness to Charley's scene contrasted with the slightly twisted behavior in Molly's scene and I think Siegel is resigned to this being a man's world, admitting he doesn't understand women and moving on. It's not noble, but the film smartly uses its shortcomings.

A pretty brilliant genre exercise and one of the more damned entertaining films I have seen.

[Amnesiac]

40% off Essential Arthouse Criterions (http://www.criterion.com/library/dvd/essential/all/expanded/sort_spine_number?page=1).

[Stay Puft]

Hey Amnesiac, I just noticed premium tickets are on sale for A Serious Man, Sat. 12th @ 9pm.

[Amnesiac]

Hey Amnesiac, I just noticed premium tickets are on sale for A Serious Man, Sat. 12th @ 9pm.

Thanks for the heads up, but unfortunately it's not actually available. The scroll down menu for selecting tickets is still up but once you try and confirm your order, it gives you this message:


9:00pm Visa Screening Room – A Serious Man

(15856)
Allotment is not large enough at this time.
Please try again later or contact the box office.

Basically another way of saying it's Off Sale.

[Stay Puft]

Ah, sorry, just assumed it was on sale since others around it were clearly marked off sale. Does the amount you're ordering make a difference? Have you tried contacting the box office since earlier? Negotiating these advance ticket sales can be annoying sometimes, but it pays to be persistent.

[Stay Puft]

Oh, and I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but if you're doing rush lines, carry cash. That's the most important tip. Cash is all they'll accept, plus you never know if you'll end up buying a ticket off of someone else while waiting in line.

[Amnesiac]

Ah, sorry, just assumed it was on sale since others around it were clearly marked off sale.

Yeah, no worries. I thought the exact same thing earlier today. I was dismayed to find The White Ribbon was clearly marked as off sale so I got all excited when A Serious Man wasn't... only it turned out it actually was.



Does the amount you're ordering make a difference? Have you tried contacting the box office since earlier? Negotiating these advance ticket sales can be annoying sometimes, but it pays to be persistent.

I don't think the amount makes a difference, no. And I've called a few times throughout the day to see what type of responses they would give me. I got contradictory responses regarding how likely it is that there will be tickets available for these off sale screenings on the day of. Some emphasized the maybe while others emphasized the strong likelihood. So, in other words... we'll see.


Oh, and I don't think I mentioned this earlier, but if you're doing rush lines, carry cash. That's the most important tip. Cash is all they'll accept, plus you never know if you'll end up buying a ticket off of someone else while waiting in line.

Ah, k, good to know. When you bought tickets off of those waiting in line last year, were the prices generally reasonable?

[Stay Puft]

Ah, k, good to know. When you bought tickets off of those waiting in line last year, were the prices generally reasonable?

Yeah, $20 straight up in all cases. That seems to be the unspoken etiquette.

Also, went ahead and made a TIFF thread and promise to spare the FDT by moving all of my excitement and blabbering over there.

[chrisnu]

FWWM is one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. That final scene packed quite a wallop on the big screen. So did The Pink Room. I still think it's a fractured mess, but Laura Palmer's life became a fractured mess. I could ruminate about it all night, but need some sleep. Definitely worth seeing in a theater.

[megladon8]

Fritz Lang's Fury is without a doubt one of the best films I've seen this year. Showing a particularly balanced look at the lynch-mobs of the time, with some great performances throughout. My favorite in particular was Jonathan Hale as the defense attorney, giving a surprisingly physical performance that was a joy to watch.

There are parts of the film that are not easy to watch at all, but I couldn't tear my eyes away because it was just such an incredibly well written, acted and directed piece.

What a great film. May even be my favorite from Lang.

[Boner M]

A few neanderthal-like quick shots on the last batch of films I lazily watched and made no attempt to rigorously engage with.

Follow Me Quietly - Comically terse serial killer noir with thin characters and a few ludicrous plot developments; didn't record the last five minutes but by that point it's a bit of a no-brainer. Redeemed by nice visual rhymes and generally tight direction from Fleischer; would like to see some of his more highly regarded films of this ilk (Narrow Margin esp.)

My Dinner With Andre - Didn't really care for this until the very final scene and Wallace Shawn's voiceover, upon which I reflected back on all the prior conversations and almost got choked up. It's cinema, then.

This Gun For Hire - Some really awesome moments (the opening, esp), Ladd and Lake are stellar, but I found the storytelling choppy with its changes in perspective, and the motivation for Ladd's impassivity rather trite.

Silent Running - Becomes gratifyingly more ambiguous about its eco-message near the end, but still pretty dull and one-note overall. Bruce Dern is a fascinating screen presence who I plan to see more of, but his performance is horribly mannered here. Joan Baez songs should be banned from space voyage film soundtracks. Horrible use of zooms.

Feathers - Clearly, what one of Raymond Carver's richest stories needed most was to be turned into a bland Aussie quirkfest.

Three Monkeys - Ceylan puts his characteristic formal mastery and impeccable control of mood at the service of material even more familiar and blah than Climates. Kinda feels like a sketchy transitional work; hopefully his next one will nail the balance of genre convention and emotional exploration.

In the Loop - Grossly uncinematic, not very dramatically compelling, but also the funniest film I have seen in a long time. Discourse about film is best reduced to quoting it. "It's just vowels! Subsidized foreign fuckin' vowels!"

[Yxklyx]

FWWM is one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. That final scene packed quite a wallop on the big screen. So did The Pink Room. I still think it's a fractured mess, but Laura Palmer's life became a fractured mess. I could ruminate about it all night, but need some sleep. Definitely worth seeing in a theater.

Somewhat interesting note: the version I saw in the theater when it came out has one difference from the DVD version. In the loud bar scene (the one with subtitles), you could not hear the dialogue being spoken at all. In the DVD version the dialogue is audible and the subtitles are still there. From what I've read, the subtitles were added to the original film just before release to "fix" the sound problem in that scene, which was later corrected. I actually preferred the version with the inaudible dialog and was disappointed to find it had been "corrected".

[Qrazy]

Bruce Dern is a fascinating screen presence who I plan to see more of, but his performance is horribly mannered here.


They Shoot Horses Don't They?
The King of Marvin Gardens
Coming Home
The Driver
Family Plot (I guess)

I have Smile and will be watching soon.

[chrisnu]

Somewhat interesting note: the version I saw in the theater when it came out has one difference from the DVD version. In the loud bar scene (the one with subtitles), you could not hear the dialogue being spoken at all. In the DVD version the dialogue is audible and the subtitles are still there. From what I've read, the subtitles were added to the original film just before release to "fix" the sound problem in that scene, which was later corrected. I actually preferred the version with the inaudible dialog and was disappointed to find it had been "corrected".
In the print I saw, the dialogue was nearly inaudible. It would have been impossible to decipher what they were saying without the subtitles. The music was that overpowering. The print looked great. As usual with Lynch, the sound design for this film is outstanding.

[Bosco B Thug]

Redacted gets off to a good start by not making any sense. The video diary suddenly segues into a glossy documentary. Then we have a camera inside a car it has no reason to be in. Then it segues into a news segment. It's a barrage without any throughline. When the film starts to systematically construct the moments that lead to the film's central event, the film's proud indelicateness just becomes rote and indelicate. There's worth to be had from strong and unaffected characterizations, such as the two main offending soldiers, and likewise from a strong and unsoftened plot. But De Palma's staging just gets more and more uninteresting as it goes along, culminating in a scene of atrocity that comes off more contrived than upsetting. The film regains itself a bit towards the end with more interestingly associative use of mixed media, then a final scene - the one back in the US - that I found really worked and was a perfect, expertly ambivalent way to finish the film.

I've read through all the posts the search could pull up about Redacted and it's a funny film where I agree with the negative thoughts and positive thoughts (DrewG's thread is a good read for anyone interested in this film) in pretty equal measure.


I really liked Trouble Every Day. I feel like Denis making a film here with a relatively chugging plot did her very good. The separate plot threads that give her different locations and character behaviors to work with provoked nice and varied style from her, which keeps it from achieving the certain monotony of her two other films. It's an ingeniously structured film, too. It weaves romantic-scientific waywardness not just with its two central couples but with close attention to a slew of supporting characters and even bit characters. It ends on a gentle and ambivalent note that, similar to Redacted, ends up being the perfect way to end the film and left me with a positive final impression. It's a very romantic film... even with the demented Cat People-like plot point involving Gallo's enforced onanistic lifestyle. I'm surprised no other vampire movie's had thought this element up sooner.

First Gallo film, too. Also, is there another horror film (per se) out there that makes zero attempt to scare or be horror-y like this one?

[Rowland]

Redacted really rubbed me the wrong way, from its consistently shrill tone to its smug politics and borderline hateful microcosmic portrayal of the troops as either entirely dysfunctional rednecks or gutless accessories. The first 15 minutes or so were formally interesting, but it spiraled into insight-free intolerability from there. It's easily my least favorite De Palma film.

[Bosco B Thug]

Redacted really rubbed me the wrong way, from its consistently shrill tone to its smug politics and borderline hateful microcosmic portrayal of the troops as either entirely dysfunctional rednecks or gutless accessories. The first 15 minutes or so were formally interesting, but it spiraled into insufferability from there. It's easily my least favorite De Palma film. Yeah, first 15 minutes, I was thinking, "What are all these naysayers talking about? This is pretty interesting."

I really need to get on my De Palma. Redacted was probably hardly the place to start re-getting a grasp on what he can do as a director.

[ledfloyd]

My Dinner With Andre - Didn't really care for this until the very final scene and Wallace Shawn's voiceover, upon which I reflected back on all the prior conversations and almost got choked up. It's cinema, then.
this is one of my favorite films i saw for the first time this year. i loved it. andre gregory has such charisma. and wally shawn is wally shawn.

[balmakboor]

Yeah, first 15 minutes, I was thinking, "What are all these naysayers talking about? This is pretty interesting."

I really need to get on my De Palma. Redacted was probably hardly the place to start re-getting a grasp on what he can do as a director.

I wrote something a while back about it. I liked it a lot.

http://www.cinema100.com/2008/03/redacted.html

Of course, I've been crazy about his work ever since I went to the theater to see this new movie everyone was talking about called Dressed to Kill.

[Rowland]

this new movie everyone was talking about called Dressed to Kill.One of his masterpieces, no doubt.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Redacted really rubbed me the wrong way, from its consistently shrill tone to its smug politics and borderline hateful microcosmic portrayal of the troops as either entirely dysfunctional rednecks or gutless accessories. The first 15 minutes or so were formally interesting, but it spiraled into insight-free intolerability from there. It's easily my least favorite De Palma film.

*nods*

Where were you last year when I needed some extra defense?

EDIT: Wait, I thought you were with me long ago? Wasn't that you?

[Winston*]

The Brave One probably could've been a good film if Neil Jordan himself had written the screenplay instead of whatever twat actually wrote it. That ending...fuck you movie.

[Rowland]

*nods*

Where were you last year when I needed some extra defense?

EDIT: Wait, I thought you were with me long ago? Wasn't that you?I may have repped you, but I don't recall whether or not I actively defended your position.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I may have repped you, but I don't recall whether or not I actively defended your position.

Oh, so you didn't just watch this recently?

EDIT: That's what I get for skimming. Disregard me completely.

[balmakboor]

My 13-year-old daughter asked me to Netflix Whisper of the Heart and we just watched it. Wonderful wonderful movie. She thanks me all the time for introducing her to Studio Ghibli and Totoro when she was about six. She's been hooked ever since.

[Watashi]

Call me when your daughter turns 18.

[Qrazy]

http://3.media.tumblr.com/qz9FuADeKpb0f7uqSdpCFQqPo1_400 .gif

[BuffaloWilder]

damn right

[B-side]

So... The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes...

...

http://southocrealestateresource.file s.wordpress.com/2009/06/carnival-of-souls-terrified-mary.jpg

[BuffaloWilder]

So, all you former posters from Rotten Tomatoes, I have to ask - how did you guys stand it? From my short time there, it didn't seem much better than IMDb.

[B-side]

So, all you former posters from Rotten Tomatoes, I have to ask - how did you guys stand it? From my short time there, it didn't seem much better than IMDb.

I still post there. I've planted myself, and I'm not going anywhere. Too close to too many people to up and leave. There are a lot of stupid, useless threads, but there are also a lot of laughs and genuinely cool people. It's a fun forum. Just gotta take the good with the bad.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I love RT, I'm a masochist. There are some wonderful people though, and it's fast, and I'm addicted to sugar... I have a need for speed.


Watched To Die For, not too many thoughts except I liked it's quasi mockumentary format quite a bit, and was surprised at how funny it is. Buck Henry is amazing, love him screen presence, and he livens up even the most insignificant roles, and his writing talents are incomparable. I need to see The Day of the Dolphin now, and maybe catch up on some more Get Smart.

[B-side]

Yeah, I love that it's so fast. With match-cut, I gotta go do other stuff while I wait. It's less like a chat room and more like a... well, forum. RT is quick and chatty.

[ledfloyd]

so, i kinda liked the new almodovar.

also, i still post on RT. as rouge said, some wonderful people, and it's fast. of course there's alot of bad with the good. but, it's not too hard to be discerning and find some decent threads to stick to.

[Watashi]

Posting in IYPC ≠ Posting on RT

[B-side]

Posting in IYPC ≠ Posting on RT

For the record, you're not among the cool people I was referring to.

what? I'm serious

I'm not.

[Boner M]

So, why is no one talking about Revanche? Academy award nomination for best foreign film, 83/93 on MC/RT, strong festival buzz throughout last year, even Armond praised it... and yet only ledfloyd and baby doll seem to have seen it, according to a cursory search here. In any case, get on it, match-cut. Stellar flick.

[Yxklyx]

So, why is no one talking about Revanche? Academy award nomination for best foreign film, 83/93 on MC/RT, strong festival buzz throughout last year, even Armond praised it... and yet only ledfloyd and baby doll seem to have seen it, according to a cursory search here. In any case, get on it, match-cut. Stellar flick.

Waiting for it to be released on Netflix. Even D'Angelo gave it a huge 79.

[Ezee E]

What is IYPC?

And I doubt I'll see The Brave One, so someone spoil the ending for me.

[Spinal]

Yeah, definitely been interested in Revanche. Just haven't made it happen yet.

[ledfloyd]

revanche is really good. one of the best photographed films i've seen this year if nothing else.

[balmakboor]

So, all you former posters from Rotten Tomatoes, I have to ask - how did you guys stand it? From my short time there, it didn't seem much better than IMDb.

I posted there for years as altgodkub. At the time, it was essentially the same as Match Cut now only with a lot of riff-raff thrown in -- I'd use the ignore feature a fair amount. I gave it up and came over here pretty early in the life of Match Cut when the riff-raff was starting to depressingly overwhelm the good posters. This was actually why Match Cut came to be in the first place if I remember correctly.

[Philosophe_rouge]

So, why is no one talking about Revanche? Academy award nomination for best foreign film, 83/93 on MC/RT, strong festival buzz throughout last year, even Armond praised it... and yet only ledfloyd and baby doll seem to have seen it, according to a cursory search here. In any case, get on it, match-cut. Stellar flick.

I've seen it, honestly... I'd forgotten about it entirely. IT's a beautiful looking film and has some interesting elements, but when it comes down to it, didn't leave a huge impression on me.

[number8]

So, why is no one talking about Revanche? Academy award nomination for best foreign film, 83/93 on MC/RT, strong festival buzz throughout last year, even Armond praised it... and yet only ledfloyd and baby doll seem to have seen it, according to a cursory search here. In any case, get on it, match-cut. Stellar flick.

I seen it. Liked it a lot (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/movie-news/4713-berlin-a-beyond-09-review-qrevancheq.html).

[Winston*]

What is IYPC?

And I doubt I'll see The Brave One, so someone spoil the ending for me.

Jodie Foster tracks down the three dudes who attacked her, kills two of them, then when she's about to kill the third Terrence Howard's dedicated cop comes in and says "Don't do it" making it seem like he's going to stop her but then gives her his gun saying they should fabricate the scene to make it seem like the other two shot each other and he shot the third one in self defense. Jodie Foster then shoots the dude in the head and at his behest shoot Terrence Howard in the shoulder then walks off into the night while voice over blathers on about how she can't go back to the person she was before.

[Pop Trash]

Thoughts on recent movies I've seen:

The Class was quite good and thoroughly engaging even if it seemed more like a pilot for a really good French TV series, rather than a cinematic experience. I'm not sure how much I love the cinema verite non-style style, docudrama type thing, or at least I seem to like it more as a TV medium rather than a film medium. Parts of this reminded me of an unfunny version of "The Office," which is interesting since Cantet's last film Time Out, reminded me of an unfunny take on Office Space (and hence less good/more pretentious). The Class is still a solid movie, even if it seems slight in comparison to the actual French documentary and terrific To Be and To Have (if you like The Class, please see this, I'm especially looking at you Nick Glass).

Goodbye Solo could have easily fallen into cliche, cloying, sentimental cinema but luckily Ramin Bahrani is more of a student of Ozu then Paul Haggis. The guy who played Solo gives a great performance and the guy who played William was also awesomely grizzled. Bahrani never pushes the emotions and lets the audience come to the material, so consequently it feels much more affecting. I also liked how Solo isn't made into some saint, that he has his own issues with his wife and it's hinted that Solo is trying to "save" William more for his own sense of accomplishment (especially after failing the flight attendant test), rather than just trying to be sanctified. Ultimately, like Two Lovers, it never blows you away, but it becomes a good story, well told.

There really isn't much to be said that hasn't already been said for fifty plus years, but The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is an awesome masterpiece of a film. I think the only other films from the 40s that even compare (off the top of my head) are Citizen Kane and Bicycle Thieves. But there are still plenty of films from the 40s I need to see. But seriously: this is cinema.

[ledfloyd]

bahrani has a very deft touch. chop shop is another film that could've become haggisy but instead has alot more impact for its restraint.

[Winston*]

To Be and To Have



This is a great movie.

[Pop Trash]

bahrani has a very deft touch. chop shop is another film that could've become haggisy but instead has alot more impact for its restraint.

I'm going to try and see this next.

[Rowland]

Bad Lieutenant (Ferrara, 1992) 68: Best taken as intense black comedy with spikes of operatic melodrama. Keitel is fabulous when he isn't over-indulging in his end-of-Reservoir Dogs brand of anguished moaning that worked so well there but here undermines the ostensible earnestness of his bad lieutenant's minor redemption, which was only half-convincing to begin with. Points for atmospheric downtown-NYC location shooting and one provocative long take in particular of Keitel at his most strung-out that is hypnotic in its hallucinatory depiction of paranoia.

[Pop Trash]

Hey Amnesiac, I just noticed premium tickets are on sale for A Serious Man, Sat. 12th @ 9pm.

I hate to be the horse that shits on the parade, but the initial reviews I've read for this are pretty bad. Ya'll might want to wait before you dish out more than twenty bucks for this. Just sayin'.

[B-side]

Add me to the crazy few that love Margot at the Wedding. Possibly Baumbach's best film, and I really liked The Squid and the Whale.

[Sven]

I hate to be the horse that shits on the parade, but the initial reviews I've read for this are pretty bad. Ya'll might want to wait before you dish out more than twenty bucks for this. Just sayin'.

Links?

[Boner M]

Add me to the crazy few that love Margot at the Wedding.
I'm not a fan, but it's at least better than Rachel Getting Married.

[Pop Trash]

Links?

Ink and paper. The new Film Comment included it in their critical roundup and J. Hoberman and Scott Foundas both "bombed" it and Gavin Smith gave it two stars. Hoberman I would take with a grain of salt since I know he doesn't even like the "good" Coen Bros movies very much (like No Country and Barton Fink) and also he seemed to be hating on a lot of movies in general lately. But Foundas seems like a well rounded critic (he gave out many 4 star reviews -including a rave for Basterds- and this was the only movie he bombed) and I know Gavin Smith liked both No Country and Burn After Reading a lot. I'm still probably going to see it, but it's concerning.

[B-side]

I'm not a fan, but it's at least better than Rachel Getting Married.

Easily.

[Raiders]

:|:|:|:|:|

[Winston*]

I haven't seen Rachel Getting Married but I feel confident in saying it is better than Margot at the Wedding.

Margot at the Wedding makes me angry.

[Watashi]

Margot at the Wedding might be the worst film of the decade.

[Pop Trash]

:|:|:|:|:|

Exactly.

[Amnesiac]

:|:|:|:|:|

To avoid sounding more vitriolic/presumptuous than necessary, I'll keep this simpler than I had originally done pre-edit: I replied to one of your posts in the Shyamalan thread, did you see it? I asked you there, but you didn't respond to that post either.

[B-side]

Margot at the Wedding might be the worst film of the decade.

This seems like hyperbole. I really can't fathom the intense disdain for this film.

[Watashi]

This seems like hyperbole. I really can't fathom the intense disdain for this film.
It's fucking awful. I'd rather watch a stupid random Dane Cook movie than this ever again.

I ranted about it here (http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=687&highlight=margot+wedding).

To compare this filth with Demme's masterpiece is an insult to cinema lovers.

[Milky Joe]

It's fucking awful. I'd rather watch a stupid random Dane Cook movie than this ever again.

I ranted about it here (http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=687&highlight=margot+wedding).

To compare this filth with Demme's masterpiece is an insult to cinema lovers.

I haven't seen either film, but still. http://www.sinisterclub.com/images/smilies/Smiley_EyebrowRaise.png

[B-side]

It's fucking awful. I'd rather watch a stupid random Dane Cook movie than this ever again.

I ranted about it here (http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?t=687&highlight=margot+wedding).

To compare this filth with Demme's masterpiece is an insult to cinema lovers.

Talk about reductive. Who cares whether or not you think a film is supposed to be funny? I did find it funny, though. Witty and incisive, even. I don't understand this criticism of requiring likable characters. It reeks of reduction and close-mindedness. Margot's an intensely self-loathing character. She's also certainly not without her good traits. The fact that she's as self-aware as she is was refreshing. She wasn't a 2-dimensional foil. All the characters had their problems, but they're not so easily categorized.

[Raiders]

To avoid sounding more vitriolic/presumptuous than necessary, I'll keep this simpler than I had originally done pre-edit: I replied to one of your posts in the Shyamalan thread, did you see it? I asked you there, but you didn't respond to that post either.

Uh, sorry? I never saw either. I responded.

[number8]

Worst film of the decade? I don't know. Top 5, certainly.

[Rowland]

This again?

I like Rachel Getting Married. I like Margot at the Wedding even more. Neither are great. Fin.

[B-side]

This again?

I like Rachel Getting Married. I like Margot at the Wedding even more. Neither are great. Fin.

But I didn't participate in the last one. Give me some back-up, Rowly.:lol:

[Raiders]

Wow. TCM showing both Fuller's Park Row and Shepitko's The Ascent tomorrow? The former is NOT on DVD, so I highly, highly recommend it.

[Watashi]

Wow. TCM showing both Fuller's Park Row and Shepitko's The Ascent tomorrow? The former is NOT on DVD, so I highly, highly recommend it.
Indeed.

Park Row rules so hard.

[Rowland]

I already had Park Row (and Anthony Mann's The Black Book) set on my DVR. I've never heard of The Ascent, but I suppose I'll add it to the queue.

[BuffaloWilder]

So, I'm going to try and get an interview with the director of Primer. I don't know how, but it shall be done.

[Mysterious Dude]

So, I'm going to try and get an interview with the director of Primer. I don't know how, but it shall be done.
Ask him why he hasn't made another movie yet.

[BuffaloWilder]

That's one of the questions I was planning to ask him, actually - or, something similar. He has a message board he posts at pretty often, so maybe I'll start there.

[Boner M]

5 worst films of the decade:

Hard Candy
Southland Tales
Pay it Forward
Wanted
Eagle vs. Shark

Most of the dreck from the early 00's has disappeared from my mind, though.

[Pop Trash]

Southland Tales


:evil:

[Boner M]

:evil:
OK, edited:

1. Southland Tales
=2. Hard Candy
=2. Pay it Forward
=2. Wanted
=2. Eagle vs. Shark

[Winston*]

Down to Earth with Chris Rock came out this decade, boner.

[Boner M]

Down to Earth with Chris Rock came out this decade, boner.
Lots of movies with Chris Rock also came out, but they cancelled themselves out in their vying for consideration.

[Winston*]

Bwuh?

Neil LaBute is directing a remake of Death at a Funeral with Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321509/

[Mysterious Dude]

5 worst films of the decade:
lol lists

1. Freddy Got Fingered
2. Dude, Where's My Car?
3. War of the Worlds
4. Borat
5. America's Sweethearts

At the begginning of the decade, I felt some obligation to see the worst films of the year. I don't feel that way anymore.

For some reason, I decided to count the number of movies I've seen for each year since I started keeping a log of the movies I watch (in 1998, when I became a "serious" film viewer). This is not the number of films I saw in those years, but the number of films released in those years that I've seen.

1998 - 73 movies
1999 - 76 movies
2000 - 78 movies
2001 - 94 movies
2002 - 101 movies
2003 - 73 movies
2004 - 113 movies
2005 - 78 movies
2006 - 83 movies
2007 - 54 movies
2008 - 19 movies
2009 - 8 movies

It may seem like I slipped the last few years, but I'll get around to them. A lot of the movies I'd like to see from 2008 haven't been released on DVD yet.

I thought I might notice a trend, but I don't see one, so this post was quite pointless. I apologize.

[Ivan Drago]

1. Rollerball (2002)
2. Jason X
3. Halloween: Resurrection
4. Snakes on a Plane
5. Pathfinder

[EyesWideOpen]

If I read one more review of Extract where they use the phrase it stars a "nearly unrecognizable Ben Affleck", I'm gonna hurt myself.

[Boner M]

If I read one more review of Extract where they use the phrase it stars a "nearly unrecognizable Ben Affleck", I'm gonna hurt myself.
I haven't been following the reviews of Extract, but I share your sentiment when it comes to that phrase used in most other contexts.

[EyesWideOpen]

5 Worst of the Decade:

Transformers
Joshua
The Hills Have Eyes
Nacho Libre
Ultraviolet


I'm also hated a few indie movies this decade (Film Geek, Pizza, The Puffy Chair, Farce of the Penguins, etc) but I'll give them a break.

[ledfloyd]

so. love exposure. it's something else.

[Ezee E]

I liked Margot at the Wedding.

And there are some awful, awful movies this decade. I'd rather not research that.

[BuffaloWilder]

Worst movies this decade?

There Will Be Blood
No Country For Old Men
The Hurt Locker
The Dark Knight
Every Pixar Movie


Terrible decade. Yeeeeesh.

[The Mike]

Zombies Gone Wild
When Harry Met Lloyd: Dumb and Dumberer
Alone in the Dark
Pinocchio
Captivity

And that's leaving off Son of the Mask, Down With Love, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Day of the Dead, Halloween II, Against the Ropes, In the Cut, Cold Creek Manor and so many more.

Then again, 17 of the movies mentioned so far are things I like and/or own, so maybe my choices are masterpieces to the rest of MatchCut.

Challenge issued.

[Boner M]

Worst movies this decade?

There Will Be Blood
No Country For Old Men
The Hurt Locker
The Dark Knight
Every Pixar Movie


Terrible decade. Yeeeeesh.
Lame.

[kuehnepips]

Lame.


C'mon, it's his Birthday.

[Boner M]

C'mon, it's his Birthday.
Happy Birthday, BW. Your joke was still lame.

[balmakboor]

A weird thing about the festival is that four movies have all had some type of pedophilia angle to it. An Education, Life During Wartime, The White Ribbon, and Fish Tank have all had it. Ew.

This post inspired me yesterday to go to Netflix and queue up some Todd Solondz films. Then I noticed that two were available for instant watch -- Dollhouse and Palindromes. So I watched them, in that order.

I love Welcome to the Dollhouse. I always have. I think it is near perfect. And I certainly thought so all over again yesterday. What I wasn't prepared for was my total reversal on Palindromes.

I saw it about five years ago, back in my RT days, back when Ecto Pup was bashing the movie mercilously and, because the middle sequence involving the special kids household really seemed awkward and out of place to me, I got swept up in his hating.

I had watched it with little memory of Dollhouse. But watching them back to back one immediately after the other, I saw how intricately linked they were, how much Palindromes is a creative sequel to or commentary on the earlier film. What seemed like a long awkward sequence with the Christian home for special kids now played as a natural extension of the clubhouse for special kids in Dollhouse. The elements of pedophilia that were kept just below the surface in Dollhouse became overt in Palindromes (of course they already had in Happiness. Did Storytelling contain these elements? I haven't seen it yet. Has Solondz ever made a film without pedophilia?) There were even shots in Palindromes taken straight out of Dollhouse.

I found Palindromes to be a very successful and engaging experiment this time. I even thought -- and this is probably sacriligeous -- that it worked better than that other experiment with having multiple actors play the same character -- I'm Not There.

I wonder what draws Solondz to pedophilia. It does seem to be some sort of unhealthy obsession that he's managed to turn into art.

This viewing experience has made me interested in watching Happiness and Life During Wartime back to back. (I have very mixed feelings about Happiness. I found the pedophile father storyline flat out brilliant, but much of the rest almost unwatchable.)

[Spinal]

I found Palindromes to be a very successful and engaging experiment this time. I even thought -- and this is probably sacriligeous -- that it worked better than that other experiment with having multiple actors play the same character -- I'm Not There.

Absolutely. I'm a huge fan of Palindromes. It's a daring, singular work. Ellen Barkin's work in particular was sadly ignored.

[BuffaloWilder]

Happy Birthday, BW. Your joke was still lame.

:sad:

[Spinal]

Worst of the decade:

1. A Comedy of Power
2. High Tension
3. Twentynine Palms
4. For Your Consideration
5. Battle in Heaven

[Bosco B Thug]

And that's leaving off Son of the Mask, Down With Love, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Day of the Dead, Halloween II, Against the Ropes, In the Cut, Cold Creek Manor and so many more. Ooh, I've seen Cold Creek Manor. That was bad. Maybe I just imagined that snakes scene. Howlingly bad.

Worst Theatrical Features of the Decade off the top of my head would just consists of random stupid horror movies. SAWs would probably make up the whole list if there wasn't also shite like THE AMITYVILLE HORROR and THE GRUDGE 2. Can't quite think of an inflammatory choice at the moment...

[Kurosawa Fan]

Holy shit. G-Force is up there with Bee Movie as the worst kids film I've seen. Less shrill than the latter, but just as obnoxious and brainless. What a tiresome 90 minutes that was. My son laughed a grand total of once. Said he liked it, but he doesn't criticize anything, and he hasn't mentioned it once since.

[Grouchy]

1. Pay it Forward
2. Meet the Spartans
3. The Spirit
4. The Happening
5. Margot at the Wedding

So, yes. Margot is truly a crap film - it's not even shot properly. A huge waste of acting talent. Comparing it to Rachael Getting Married really kills it even more in my eyes.

[chrisnu]

You all are seriously making me want to see Margot at the Wedding. I held off on it due to the intense backlash.

My top 5 worst movies of the decade:

Ghost Rider
High Tension
Bobby
Alien vs. Predator
Ken Park

[BuffaloWilder]

High Tension was okay until that ending. I mean, come on, Mr. Director.

My mother seems to love it, for some reason. But, Gothika is also one of her favorite films. So, take that as you will.

[Spinal]

High Tension was okay until that ending. I mean, come on, Mr. Director.


The ending is probably the single dumbest thing I've seen comitted to celluloid this decade. But I thought it was a pretty idiotic film long before that.

[Watashi]

Top 5 Worst:

Margot at the Wedding
Waking Life
Running With Scissors
Ken Park
Smokin' Aces

[Sycophant]

Margot at the Wedding and Rachel Getting Married are both movies I'd consider to be among probably the 20 or 30 best of the decade.

Worst of the decade, hastily composed:

Enchanted
Black Sheep
Mamma Mia!
Love Actually
Pearl Harbor

[Watashi]

Love Actually


I like this one. :sad:

[Kurosawa Fan]

Love Actually


This one is only saved from this distinction by Bill Nighy. Otherwise I'd be in complete agreement.

[Sycophant]

I like this one. :sad:

It felt like getting the worst bits of a dozen bad romantic comedies in one film. Nearly killed me.

[megladon8]

Top 5 Worst:

Waking Life



No.

[Sycophant]

Last night I watched Pootie Tang with some friends. It's got its flaws, but Lord, how I laughed. Its biggest problem is a general lack of pacing--as a whole, and within scenes. But then it can just show me Wanda Sykes as Biggie Shorty dancing for 30 seconds and I'm pretty happy.

[Winston*]

Enchanted
Black Sheep


I like these.

[Sycophant]

I also watched Frivolous Lola. I like this Tinto Brass guy. This one wasn't quite as fun as Cheeky!, but it was overall a joy to watch, and had some delightfully sensuous scenes.

[Sycophant]

I like these.

I suspect Black Sheep was a decent enough screenplay, but a pretty godawful movie. Special effects were pretty tight. The acting and (especially) the direction seemed to miss every mark by about a mile.

In truth, I may have hated Severance more, actually.

[Ivan Drago]

This one is only saved from this distinction by Bill Nighy. Otherwise I'd be in complete agreement.

I liked it a lot when I first saw it, but the more I thought about it the less I liked it, despite the cast.

[Sycophant]

1. Southland Tales
=2. Hard Candy
=2. Pay it Forward
=2. Wanted
=2. Eagle vs. Shark

Southland Tales, Pay It Forward, Wanted, and the trailer for Eagle vs. Shark could well have been on my list. (I pretty much have no doubt that Eagle vs. Shark would end up right near the worst films I've ever seen.)

[Sycophant]

This one is only saved from this distinction by Bill Nighy. Otherwise I'd be in complete agreement.

I suppose the Bill Nighy segments were pretty decent. And I actually thought the Martin Freeman porn stand-in segments weren't entirely without charm. But the rest was just That. Bad.

[Philosophe_rouge]

The worst of the decade for me

Bangkok Dangerous (Oxide Pang Chun & Danny Pang)
Arsene Lupin (Jean Paul Salomé)
Brothers (Susanne Bier)
Rambo (Sylvester Stallone)
Holiday in the Sun (Steve Purcell)

[Winston*]

Winter Light was pretty great. Atheism ftw. I think Haneke was heavily influenced by this film when making The White Ribbon, he basically redid one scene from this movie except making it even nastier.

[Watashi]

Winter Light was pretty great. Atheism ftw.

Hmmm... I found it a very pro-faith film. What made you think this?

[Boner M]

I think Haneke was heavily influenced by this film when making The White Ribbon, he basically redid one scene from this movie except making it even nastier.
Wait... which scene(s) are you talking about? My memory of both films is strangely dim, despite being very positive on them.

[Boner M]

'Worst' films that I'm quite fond of:

Twentynine Palms
For Your Consideration
Ken Park
Love Actually
Waking Life
War of the Worlds
Borat
Dude, Where's My Car?

[Winston*]

Wait... which scene(s) are you talking about? My memory of both films is strangely dim, despite being very positive on them.

The scene where the reverend gives a monologue admonishes the woman who loves him is very similar to the scene in The White Ribbon where the doctor admonishes his mistress.

[Spinal]

'Worst' films that I'm quite fond of:


For Your Consideration


Why? There is zero funny in that film.

[Boner M]

The scene where the reverend gives a monologue admonishes the woman who loves him is very similar to the scene in The White Ribbon where the doctor admonishes his mistress.
Oh, yes. That scene in TWR was brutal.

[Silencio]

Brothers (Susanne Bier)Really? I'm not a huge fan or anything, but worst of the decade seems a little extreme.

[Winston*]

Hmmm... I found it a very pro-faith film. What made you think this?

Really? It's about a reverend who stops believing in God and ends up miserable. Am I interpreting this movie wrong?

[Boner M]

Why? There is zero funny in that film.
"I like that one because it has balloons with faces on them. That's a party I'd like to go to."

Maybe it's a big wasted opportunity as a satire, being based on a thin sliver of reality, but I found the tone of the film was thoroughly likeable and every cast member was on top form (O'Hara, esp). Sure it's only a barely-good film; I'm just surprised at how much hate it gets around these parts.

[Spinal]

Really? It's about a reverend who stops believing in God and ends up miserable. Am I interpreting this movie wrong?

No, you're not.

[Watashi]

Really? It's about a reverend who stops believing in God and ends up miserable. Am I interpreting this movie wrong?
He doesn't stop believing. He just has doubt which makes him miserable until the very end when he talks to the hunchback at the end who describes his pain to Christ's emotional pain. It's such a crucial scene because it puts the priest's doubt on such a small scale that he should continue to preach his sermons even if only Marta shows up. I compared it to The Last Temptation of Christ which I find both very pro-faith films.

[Winston*]

But the final line is delivered so coldly and passionlessly. I see the ending as a man who has lost his faith but carries on with the service because that is all there is in his life.

[Rowland]

Transformers
Joshua
The Hills Have Eyes
UltravioletI liked Joshua a lot, and while I was initially negative towards Transformers and The Hills Have Eyes, I've grown to enjoy them both. As for Ultraviolet, I wouldn't go so far as to give it a positive score, but its camp value, goofy aesthetic, and Jovovich factors are too tremendous to deem it worst-of-the-decade material. Something that perversely amusing can't merit such a dishonor.

[Watashi]

But the final line is delivered so coldly and passionlessly. I see the ending as a man who has lost his faith but carries on with the service because that is all there is in his life.
The film doesn't have a happy ending, but Bergman isn't stating "atheism ftw" in that final scene. It's sort of a double-edged sword where the preist is filled with doubt (which is nothing unusual in Bergman's films), but he continues his sermon because there are people who are willing to listen and to understand. Bergman makes it seem that the priest admires the hunchback that he is willing to keep his faith strong despite his physical disability.

[Rowland]

Captivity
Alone in the Dark
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
In the CutCaptivity is another I wouldn't quite give a positive score, but it has a great deal more merit than its reputation suggests. In truth, the ending is all that kept me from giving it a slight nudge onto the positive end of the scale.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while nowhere near as effective as the original, works for me on its own shiny, borderline-action movie terms.

In the Cut is damn good, don't get the hate for it at all.

Alone in the Dark I can get behind as a worst of the decade contender. At least House of the Dead was exuberantly retarded; this one was just fucking boring in its senseless incompetence.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I can't formulate a top five, but I will say that Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem was one of the worst things I've ever experienced in my life. It's right below getting beat up in the locker room in middle school.

[BuffaloWilder]

You got beat up in the locker room in middle school?

[Rowland]

One movie comes to mind that I found absolutely excruciating, being Chris Rock's Head of State. I usually manage to avoid watching films that I outright hate, but that one slipped through the cracks.

[BuffaloWilder]

He needs to be in better movies.

[Watashi]

Woah Derek. What's with the low rating for Ordinary People?

[Rowland]

He needs to be in better movies.His standup can be very funny, but he is obviously not a filmmaker if that dire movie is anything to go by. My god, it was painful to sit through that thing.

[Ezee E]

The scene where the reverend gives a monologue admonishes the woman who loves him is very similar to the scene in The White Ribbon where the doctor admonishes his mistress.
Probably the best scene of the movie. Or the one where the young boy finds out what death is.

[Ezee E]

Since Bahrani is getting noticed more around here, I wanted to repost this here:



Ramin Bahrani also had a great short before Herzog's movie that was called, Plastic Bag, which was about the life of a plastic bag narrated by Herzog.

Doesn't that already sound awesome?

It pretty much was.

[Dead & Messed Up]

You got beat up in the locker room in middle school?

Yeah. Isn't that a rite of passage for nerds?

[Dead & Messed Up]

One movie comes to mind that I found absolutely excruciating, being Chris Rock's Head of State. I usually manage to avoid watching films that I outright hate, but that one slipped through the cracks.

I only saw one scene in the film - the debate sequence - and it filled me with complete hatred.

Once the hate subsided, I realized that the ninety-minute length of a traditional presidential debate could actually be perfect for a real-time film. Watching the candidates spar and gradually become more truthful and complex. Like something Lumet might've tackled in the late sixties.

[balmakboor]

Yeah. Isn't that a rite of passage for nerds?

I had a secret weapon and wasn't afraid to use it. I was an ace in math and the bullies were decidedly not. I got on their good side by "helping" them pass math. Other nerds got beat up. I always got the pass.

[Eleven]

I had a secret weapon and wasn't afraid to use it. I was an ace in math and the bullies were decidedly not. I got on their good side by "helping" them pass math. Other nerds got beat up. I always got the pass.

The nerd collaborator. For shame.

[Sycophant]

My 13-year-old daughter asked me to Netflix Whisper of the Heart and we just watched it. Wonderful wonderful movie.

Yes!, by the way. One of my absolute favorite films. I was just thinking about this one the other day.

[Sycophant]

I never got beat up in high school, even though I suspect I was probably one of the most punchable 16-year-olds ever.

[Eleven]

I was a total nerd, but none of my schools had a bullies v. nerds dynamic. It also helped that I was funny; not class-clown kind of funny, but made-the-class-clown-laugh kind of funny.

[Raiders]

One from the Heart (Coppola, 1982) 37
Family Viewing (Egoyan, 1987) 52

My opinion of you is falling by the minute.

[Grouchy]

Haute Tension is not that bad - only the twist ending is completely retarded. It's at least better than Lost in Translation.

Heh.

Silent Running is a curious movie that takes plenty of advantage of its simple storyline and narrow focus and point of view. Bruce Dern is a very charismatic actor and he plays an intense, difficult role (carrying at least 80% of the movie on his shoulders) with ease. I loved the production design (not surprising since Douglas Trumbull directs) which looks somehow more pro and realistic than most sci-fi spaceships. A lot of attention was paid to how things would probably work on a place like that. Joan Baez singing her heart out sort of made me chuckle, but it's all good and it goes with the '70s territory.

Overall, I think this is the unusual sci-fi film that really banks on the audience caring about the story and paying attention. The theme of a man running (silently, though space) from his own planet's inhabitants is quite poetic and the final minutes of the film are a joy to watch. Very recommended.

[Derek]

My opinion of you is falling by the minute.

That's okay. You don't give me rep when I do agree with you anyway. ;)

[Dead & Messed Up]

Silent Running ... is the unusual sci-fi film that really banks on the audience caring about the story and paying attention. The theme of a man running (silently, though space) from his own planet's inhabitants is quite poetic and the final minutes of the film are a joy to watch. Very recommended.

Ooh, I'm glad you liked this one. I found it very involving, especially with the drama concerning the robots. I think it's one of the few films to really appreciate how huge and humbling space is. There's something deeply moving to me about

That little robot tending that garden by itself. How long can he keep it going? When will the last of the plants die? It's bound to happen.

:sad:

[Pop Trash]

I'm more concerned that Derek seems to think The Wackness is a better movie than Ordinary People. Your cinephile card has been revoked dude.

[Grouchy]

Ooh, I'm glad you liked this one. I found it very involving, especially with the drama concerning the robots. I think it's one of the few films to really appreciate how huge and humbling space is. There's something deeply moving to me about

That little robot tending that garden by itself. How long can he keep it going? When will the last of the plants die? It's bound to happen.

:sad:
There's this Ray Bradbury short story that's featured on Martian Chronicles, "There Will Come Soft Rains". It's about a mechanical household on abandoned Mars which continues to function serving breakfast and preparing baths while the family that inhabited has been away for years.

It mirrors the kind of feeling you speak about in the Silent Running scene.

[Derek]

I'm more concerned that Derek seems to think The Wackness is a better movie than Ordinary People. Your cinephile card has been revoked dude.

And significantly better to boot. Ordinary People is a plodding, psychologically blunt and self-aggrandizing bore that masks its simplistic view of familial dysfunction and depression with supposedly revelatory flashbacks that hit the nail so directly on the head every time that they could only be conceived by a screenwriter interested in exactitude as opposed to the sprawling messiness of life. The only difference between it and an after-school special is a top-notch cast and cinematographer. The Wackness may be a bit awkward in its various post-Giuliani NYC signposts, but the central relationships are developed in far more interesting ways and its examination of depression is written with enigmatic flair that suggests someone who's lived through it wielding the pen as opposed to someone who has studiously read through Psychology textbooks.

[MadMan]

There's this Ray Bradbury short story that's featured on Martian Chronicles, "There Will Come Soft Rains". It's about a mechanical household on abandoned Mars which continues to function serving breakfast and preparing baths while the family that inhabited has been away for years.

It mirrors the kind of feeling you speak about in the Silent Running scene.That part of the story is truly great, and quite tragic as well. Makes me want to revisit that grand novel all over again, as it has been years since I last read it.

[Qrazy]

And significantly better to boot. Ordinary People is a plodding, psychologically blunt and self-aggrandizing bore that masks its simplistic view of familial dysfunction and depression with supposedly revelatory flashbacks that hit the nail so directly on the head every time that they could only be conceived by a screenwriter interested in exactitude as opposed to the sprawling messiness of life. The only difference between it and an after-school special is a top-notch cast and cinematographer. The Wackness may be a bit awkward in its various post-Giuliani NYC signposts, but the central relationships are developed in far more interesting ways and its examination of depression is written with enigmatic flair that suggests someone who's lived through it wielding the pen as opposed to someone who has studiously read through Psychology textbooks.

I didn't find Ordinary People to be very well shot, but I did find it to be a powerful drama. The cast really made that film work.

[Raiders]

Yeah, a broad statement on Redford's film will unfoubtedly make it sound rather rote and lame, but I think many of the film's individual moments and performances make it work pretty well overall. I'm not a big fan, but it certainly has more merit I think than Derek's dismissal would indicate.

[Qrazy]

I have to say though, I was very disappointed with A River Runs Through It. Aside from one or two solid fly fishing shots I found nothing to care about in that film.

[BuffaloWilder]

So, aside from trying to get an interview with the Primer guy, I also want to try and submit a piece to Senses of Cinema - either a Great Directors profile, or just an extended review/critical piece.

Alternately, if I wanted to be really, really brash, I'd submit the George Miller round-table Sven and I did, and see what they'd make of that.

[balmakboor]

So, aside from trying to get an interview with the Primer guy, I also want to try and submit a piece to Senses of Cinema - either a Great Directors profile, or just an extended review/critical piece.

Alternately, if I wanted to be really, really brash, I'd submit the George Miller round-table Sven and I did, and see what they'd make of that.

Go for it.

[MadMan]

I have to say though, I was very disappointed with A River Runs Through It. Aside from one or two solid fly fishing shots I found nothing to care about in that film.I unabashedly love it, but then again I'm a big fan of both Brad Pitt and fishing in general. There's something gentle, and understated running throughout the whole movie. The fishing scenes especially seem to be speaking to the beauty and wonder of the outdoors, and hey I'm a huge outdoor kind of guy. Well that and the fact that thanks to the movie I've always had a huge desire to visit Montana. When it comes down to it, "River" is a rather simplistic movie, but that seems to work in its case.

[Sycophant]

I unabashedly love it, but then again I'm a big fan of both Brad Pitt and fishing in general.

I like how this is phrased. Brad Pitt is a subset of fishing, isn't he?

[ledfloyd]

I like how this is phrased. Brad Pitt is a subset of fishing, isn't he?
this is the best thing i've read in a week.

[Dukefrukem]

Bundy [15]
Sling Blade [84]
Gamer [79]
The Final Destination [20]
The Proposal [50]
Night at the Museum 2 [45]

Bundy is based off the serial killer Ted Bundy and its just a dumb interperation of his murders, even if it depicts him doing something he never did in real life.

What a crazy awesome performance by Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade. It was a bit slow and a bit predictable but an overall solid film.

The Proposal didn't make sense to me. I don't know how a weekend that they spend together would cause them to fall in love. I didn't see too much of an intimate connection whereas more things went bad than good.

Night at the Museum 2 wasn't funny and way over the top. Too over the top for me. I enjoyed the scene with Jonah Hill; was funny for a few seconds.

[MadMan]

I like how this is phrased. Brad Pitt is a subset of fishing, isn't he?Hah, maybe.

Gonna finally watch Videodrome today. And maybe write a review. Which I will post in oh, never :P

[Dukefrukem]

Videodrome rules.

[NickGlass]

Lazy afternoon dilemma! What to see, what to see?

Herb and Dorothy (http://www.moviefone.com/movie/herb-and-dorothy/34318/main)

or

The Headless Women (http://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-headless-woman-la-mujer-sin-cabeza/35434/main)

?

Help, please.

[Grouchy]

I've only seen The Headless Woman. I didn't like it as much as The Holy Girl, one of my favorite recent Argentine films, but it's not technically a BAD movie. Slow as all fuck, to tell you the truth.

I almost forgot I saw Thirst. Not the Park Chan-Wok but an Ingmar Bergman film from 1949. Not very good. It tells three stories about dysfunctional couples (an army man who constantly cheats on his wife, a ballet dancer who has suffered an abortion and constantly torments her husband and a widow woman who's just plain fucking crazy), but the bulk of the film, and Bergman's interest, are so strongly focused on the second couple and flashbacks relating to them that the film should really be about them. There's also a theatrical feeling to this film that sometimes makes the drama unintentionally hilarious.

The reason I saw this was that I'd taken it out of the school's library years ago and never returned it. But it does make me realize that I need to see more of Bergman's really celebrated work. I've only seen Seventh Seal, Persona and Serpent's Egg.

[NickGlass]

I've only seen The Headless Woman. I didn't like it as much as The Holy Girl, one of my favorite recent Argentine films, but it's not technically a BAD movie. Slow as all fuck, to tell you the truth.

Hm, I love The Holy Girl as well. I fear the idea behind The Headless Woman, as potent as it is, may wear down over 87 minutes, though. You, of course, address this potential flaw, but I'm still terribly divided on what to see. I mean: arty atmospheric, first-person anxiety OR a kooky old couple interested in art...so, so difficult to choose.

I might just leave it to the rain to decide (one screening is 15 blocks away while the other is down the street from my office).

[B-side]

But it does make me realize that I need to see more of Bergman's really celebrated work. I've only seen Seventh Seal, Persona and Serpent's Egg.

:eek:

[megladon8]

Grouchy, get your hands on a copy of the full TV version of Fanny & Alexander.

[Spun Lepton]

Hah, maybe.

Gonna finally watch Videodrome today. And maybe write a review. Which I will post in oh, never :P

Hope you like it, MadMan. It's one of my all-time favorites.

[Qrazy]

The reason I saw this was that I'd taken it out of the school's library years ago and never returned it. But it does make me realize that I need to see more of Bergman's really celebrated work. I've only seen Seventh Seal, Persona and Serpent's Egg.

I'll second the full TV version of Fanny and Alexander and rec The Virgin Spring, Through a Glass Darkly, Smiles of a Summer Night and Hour of the Wolf.

[megladon8]

The Royal Tenenbaums is still one of the best movies I've ever seen.

That line by Ben Stiller near the end, "it's been a rough year, dad", is quite a tear-jerker.

[chrisnu]

But it does make me realize that I need to see more of Bergman's really celebrated work. I've only seen Seventh Seal, Persona and Serpent's Egg.
The TV version of Scenes From A Marriage is an absolute must.

[MadMan]

The Royal Tenenbaums is still one of the best movies I've ever seen.

That line by Ben Stiller near the end, "it's been a rough year, dad", is quite a tear-jerker.Easily Top 10 of the 2000s as far as I'm concerned. Hackman was robbed for an Oscar nom. Hell the movie deserved a Best Picture nomination, too. Bastards.

And Videodrome was one hellava a movie. I'm still collecting my thoughts, but I want to see more of Cronenberg's work. The body horror elements are excellent (and downright disturbing/creepy), and the thoughts on media apparently inspired by a couple of heavy hitters on the subject that I actually had to read in my college comp class during my freshmen year of high school. My public library has a couple more of his movies, so I'll be trying to view those by next month.

[Boner M]

Weak N'd.

The Holy Girl
Memories of Underdevelopment
The Roaring Twenties
Pusher 3: I am the Angel of Death
(500) Days of Summer
Pink Flamingos (theatre viewing, with scratch'n'sniff Odorama cards!)

[Qrazy]

Pink Flamingos[/b] (theatre viewing, with scratch'n'sniff Odorama cards!)

Have you seen this before?

[balmakboor]

Have you seen this before?

Either not or he meant Polyester.

[balmakboor]

Btw, I once saw Polyester with the original Scratch 'n' Sniff cards. It wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be. The scratch and sniff smell areas are so close together that by halfway through the movie everything smells like a conglomeration of everything you've so far scratched.

[balmakboor]

http://runpee.com

Hmm, I don't know if I should be upset or thankful. A website that tells me the best times to go pee during a movie.

[Derek]

Btw, I once saw Polyester with the original Scratch 'n' Sniff cards. It wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be. The scratch and sniff smell areas are so close together that by halfway through the movie everything smells like a conglomeration of everything you've so far scratched.

Hopefully they'll fix this for boner's Pink Flamingos screening. I'd hate for him to miss out on the unique, individual smells of asshole, post-coital chicken and dog shit.

[Qrazy]

Hopefully they'll fix this for boner's Pink Flamingos screening. I'd hate for him to miss out on the unique, individual smells of asshole, post-coital chicken and dog shit.

Exactly.

[Boner M]

Either not or he meant Polyester.
Nope; it's a world first, as part of the Sydney Underground Film Fest. Pink Flamingos in Odorama.

I cant wait to find out if a man's anus smells any different to dogshit. :pritch:

[Derek]

Nope; it's a world first, as part of the Sydney Underground Film Fest. Pink Flamingos in Odorama.

I cant wait to find out if a man's anus smells any different to dogshit. :pritch:

And either egg lady gets her own scent square or GTFO.

[Boner M]

Derek, your sig quote made me laugh for 30 seconds straight.

Sorry Sven.

[Sycophant]

Odorama sounds just awful.

[Spun Lepton]

Odorama sounds just awful.

:|

So, you haven't seen Pink Flamingos, I take it.

[Sycophant]

I haven't, it's true. But even if it was in conjunction with a Strawberry Shortcake (which had a line of wonderful-smelling dolls) movie, I'd still hate Odorama.

[Spun Lepton]

I haven't, it's true. But even if it was in conjunction with a Strawberry Shortcake (which had a line of wonderful-smelling dolls) movie, I'd still hate Odorama.

Syc, the term "odorama" was chosen because the movie is disgusting. It's supposed to sound unappealing.

[Sycophant]

Oh, my bad. Still. Scratch & sniff cards just sound terrible, always, in general.

[B-side]

Derek, your sig quote made me laugh for 30 seconds straight.

Sorry Sven.

It is funny.

[Watashi]

So I met a girl at school who loves Brad Bird and A Goofy Movie even more than I do (which I thought was impossible). I'm like.... jackpot.

Turns out she's a lesbian.

I'm starting to question God's existence.

[Ezee E]

Kind of disappointed in Man Push Cart. He improved greatly in Chop Shop, although they're very similar. Maybe it was just the main character.

[ledfloyd]

Kind of disappointed in Man Push Cart. He improved greatly in Chop Shop, although they're very similar. Maybe it was just the main character.
i haven't seen it since it came out, but i agree. man push cart made me aware of him, but chop shop is when he became a director i really admire.

in other news i just watched the mysteries of pittsburgh. i watched it cause i'm from the titular city and i love the book. don't make the same mistake i did. it's painfully bad, and blending a gay character and a straight character into a bisexual character works about as well as i'd imagine blending an infant and an elderly person into a middle aged person would.

[Grouchy]

Why don't we make a banner with that iosos quote on Crank in some very literate font, followed by: MatchCut?

A cookie to whoever does it first.

[ledfloyd]

Why don't we make a banner with that iosos quote on Crank in some very literate font, followed by: MatchCut?

A cookie to whoever does it first.


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f331/ledfloyd18/matchcut.png

[Watashi]

There's no space between randomness and of.

Fail.

[ledfloyd]

There's no space between randomness and of.

Fail.
oops. yeah, that was an... artistic decision.

[Watashi]

I still love you, led.

[Grouchy]

Your cookie has been mailed to you. Hope it doesn't rot away.

I say we put it up there when we get tired of this (admittedly great) one.

[BuffaloWilder]

Starting around the beginning of October, I'll be doing a Ten-Best-of-the-Decade Joint Discussion with Glenn Heath of MatchCuts (http://www.matchcuts.wordpress.com). We'll romp it up. As of right now, the sure things on my list are:

Children of Men
There Will Be Blood
Happy Feet
The Fall
(possibly) A.I., Artificial Intelligence

Other possibilities include Malick's The New World, and maybe Ratatouille, or WALL-E.

[balmakboor]

Nope; it's a world first, as part of the Sydney Underground Film Fest. Pink Flamingos in Odorama.

I cant wait to find out if a man's anus smells any different to dogshit. :pritch:

That's cool. I (obviously) hadn't heard about Pink Flamingos with odorama. Any idea how it will tell you when and what to scratch and sniff? Polyester has numbers that flash in the corner of the screen. It's pretty funny too because you just know when a number is about to flash. People are laughing and holding up their cards well ahead of the movie.

[MadMan]

Sven's quote actually makes me want to see Crank 2.

Oh and I rented Donny Darko, just to see what all of the fuss has been about all these years. I expect at the very least weirdness, and for the crazy bunny creature to be cool, I guess.

My laptop contains my current Top 20 for the 2000s. All that's left is to write commentary. List putting together is easier than actually writing something meaningful.

[Sycophant]

http://www.whatnotstudios.com/shit/matchcutbible.jpg

[transmogrifier]

Gotta love Svensos. Let's hope he never changes.

[ledfloyd]

well, syc just owned me. that's amazing.

[balmakboor]

http://www.whatnotstudios.com/shit/matchcutbible.jpg

That's simply awesome.

[Yxklyx]

Turns out she's a lesbian.
,,,.

Then change.

[Dukefrukem]

http://www.whatnotstudios.com/shit/matchcutbible.jpg

such a good photoshop

[Grouchy]

Hahah that's just rockin'.

http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=tbn&q=http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/051027/113544__3kings_l.jpg&usg=AFQjCNFCMYuOf02hZQa3bOY4q-hSvWJ2cQ

Where has a movie like Three Kings been all my life? It's a masterpiece if I've ever seen one. Superbly acted, shot with a distinct style that made me wonder if I had to adjust the TV settings a couple of times, and carrying a potent message without coming off as preaching. This is the rare war drama (or dramedy) that risks a clear political stance and yet still remains, at heart, a superbly told story. George Clooney was just born for the role, and Mark Whalberg continues to grow on me - that torture scene was nothing short of mindblowing. For once, I agree with Fatso Ebert on his review where he compares the film to early Scorsese. It has the same enthusiasm for cinema combined with a desire to provoke and cause thought. It's a Hollywood movie that could have been made in the '70s!

I also think of this film as a milestone of mainstream violence. It's not only gruesomely realistic, it's ahead of its time in the way it depicts the chaos of a war zone by getting the audience inside the action with cinematic trickery. The finale is nothing short of amazing. Usually a film about characters that start ruthlessly fighting for their own benefit and end up becoming saviors runs the risk of being unconvincing. But the script for this one is so strong that we're on the protagonist's side all the time. Simply excellent. This is the first David O. Russell I've seen, and I wonder if he has ever lived up to the promise he showed here - haven't seen I Heart Huckabees yet.

My Top10 for 1999 is fucking ridiculous:

1. Eyes Wide Shut
2. The Insider
3. Fight Club
4. Audition
5. Magnolia
6. The Straight Story
7. Three Kings
8. The Limey
9. Muertos de Risa [Dying of Laughter]
10. Any Given Sunday

[Ezee E]

Love Three Kings Grouchy. One of my favs. Russell goes down a bit with I Heart Huckabees but it remains pretty enjoyable. Flirting With Disaster is a great comedy though, and probably one of Stiller's best period.

It's a neat commentary to listen to as well. Russell and Clooney seemed to get into it a ton.

[Derek]

It's a neat commentary to listen to as well. Russell and Clooney seemed to get into it a ton.

Considering Clooney punched him in the face during production, this is not a surprise. I really do need to check out that commentary.

[Sycophant]

well, syc just owned me.

Yeah, but I spent way too much time on mine.

EDIT: Also, I'd like to point out that I don't think Sven's quote is as plainly ridiculous as everyone seems to think it is. Also, note that Sven is in all caps and red, suggesting equality with the Lord.

[MadMan]

Aye, Three Kings is easily one of the best movies of 1999. Great film, and one of my favorites-plus it has the distinction of being the first rated R movie I saw in theaters. Watched it in some crappy cheap theater that ended up getting torn down and turned into a Planet X.

Oh and I Heart Huckabees is the second best movie I've seen from 2004. Even though I'm not sure I fully understand it, and I guess a second viewing is in order.

[megladon8]

David O. Russell seems like one of the most unlikable people in all of Hollywood history.

From everything I've seen and read, George Clooney is not a hard guy to get along with at all. And if he punches you in the face, that says a lot.

[Grouchy]

David O. Russell seems like one of the most unlikable people in all of Hollywood history.

From everything I've seen and read, George Clooney is not a hard guy to get along with at all. And if he punches you in the face, that says a lot.
Personally, though, I couldn't give any less of a flying fuck about any of this since Three Kings is -again- a great movie.

[Sycophant]

Personally, though, I couldn't give any less of a flying fuck about any of this since Three Kings is -again- a great movie.

So, so very much agreed.

[megladon8]

Yeah it's a good movie.

I Heart Huckabees was not. At all.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Yeah it's a good movie.

I Heart Huckabees was not. At all.

Crazy talk. That movie gets better every time I watch it.

[Eleven]

Yeah it's a good movie.

I Heart Huckabees was not. At all.

Even the biggest I H8 Huckabees proponent thought Wahlberg was pretty awesome.

[Derek]

I Heart Huckabees was not. At all.

You found it pretentious?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Even the biggest I H8 Huckabees proponent thought Wahlberg was pretty awesome.

This is true.


You found it pretentious?

It insists upon itself.

[megladon8]

You found it pretentious?


No, just bad.

Didn't enjoy it at all. Didn't find it funny, clever, anything.

[The Mike]

Just once, I'd like to see someone give a flying fuck. It'd be quite something.

If it's not too much trouble, I'd prefer if it were Charlize Theron.

[Spun Lepton]

Three Kings is a masterwork. I bought the DVD the day it became available.

I Heart Huckabees is not a masterwork. Seemed that Russel wanted to say something (else?) profound, but it got lost in all the "quirkiness." Probably doesn't help that he appears to be an abusive prick to his cast.

[Dukefrukem]

For the record I also love THree Kings and consider it to def be in the top 10 in 1999. I remember seeing it twice at the movies

[Qrazy]

I remember Three Kings being pretty good but nothing amazing.

[Spun Lepton]

Not a single thread for Whiteout? I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

Who doesn't want to see a movie whose trailer is basically ...

"It's Kate Beckinsale ... AGAINST SNOW!!! Oh, and a plane crashes, too."

[Ezee E]

Not a single thread for Whiteout? I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

Who doesn't want to see a movie whose trailer is basically ...

"It's Kate Beckinsale ... AGAINST SNOW!!! Oh, and a plane crashes, too."
Thing is... you had me at Kate Beckinsale

[Spun Lepton]

Thing is... you had me at Kate Beckinsale

Oof, currently getting a whopping 6% on RT. Given that they seemed to be trying to hide what the movie was actually about ... this doesn't surprise me.

[chrisnu]

Crazy talk. That movie gets better every time I watch it.
Yes. Wahlberg is amazing. I'm still waiting for Watts to do more comedy.

[Pop Trash]

I like I Heart Huckabees more than Three Kings. So there.

[transmogrifier]

Yes. Wahlberg is amazing. I'm still waiting for Watts to do more comedy.

She's in Woody Allen's next, so we'll see....

[balmakboor]

It's almost too wonderful and happy for it's own good, not Totoro level happiness but up there. I'm happy my sister made me watch it.

I'm happy my daughter made me watch it. I too loved it. In fact, I think I'm finally coming around to anime in general. My daughter has made me watch Castle in the Sky and Grave of the Fireflies recently -- two of her other favorites -- and both are quite exceptional. I actually think Grave is one of the finest anti-war films of all time.

We'll see. She wants me to get Porco Rosso and Tokyo Godfathers next.

Wow. I just realized I accidently replied to a post from the very first page of this thread. Oh well, Whisper of the Heart is great any time.

[Qrazy]

I'm happy my daughter made me watch it. I too loved it. In fact, I think I'm finally coming around to anime in general. My daughter has made me watch Castle in the Sky and Grave of the Fireflies recently -- two of her other favorites -- and both are quite exceptional. I actually think Grave is one of the finest anti-war films of all time.

We'll see. She wants me to get Porco Rosso and Tokyo Godfathers next.

Wow. I just realized I accidently replied to a post from the very first page of this thread. Oh well, Whisper of the Heart is great any time.

Watch the animated Metropolis with her.

[MadMan]

I Heart Huckabees is funny, touching, wonderful, thought provoking, and in the end quite awesome. And I just recalled that I actually have a great quote from it in my sig, which is from Wahlberg-who is indeed the best thing about the entire movie. I love his obession over gasoline and the environment, and the scene where he ends up sparring verbally with that Christian family is nothing short of gut busting hilarity. I still can't find the exact quote where he says something about Jesus being in our hearts, and how he's mad at us, as IMDB.com doesn't seem to have it in their quotes section.

[Qrazy]

Thieves Like Us - Shelley Duvall is about as expressive as a wet towel here.

[transmogrifier]

Thieves Like Us - Shelley Duvall is about as expressive as a wet towel here.

I like that movie. I like Shelley Duval. I like wet towels. What's the problem here exactly?