28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[number8]

I love the urban legend that the story is based on the real murder of a teenage girl, and that Totoro represents the angel of death.

[Dead & Messed Up]

:|

[number8]

http://files.myopera.com/sukekomashi-gaijin/blog/tonarinototoro.jpg

[Sycophant]

My Neighbor Totoro is very nearly perfect, it seems to me. Kiki's is close behind it in terms of Miyazaki films.

[Sycophant]

Miyazaki ranked:

1. My Neighbor Totoro
2. Kiki's Delivery Service
3. Spirited Away
4. Porco Rosso
5. Ponyo
6. Castle in the Sky
7. Castle of Cagliostro
8. Nausicaa
9. Princess Mononoke

I need to revisit Nausicaa and Mononke soon. Castle in the Sky used to be tops, and I still love it, but I've come to develop a greater fondness for many of his other movies.

[Wryan]

He didn't die. He's paralyzed from the neck down.

/vaudeville piano plays him off...

[Skitch]

DaMU, I would go Howls Moving Castle then Nausica. Both are great.

[balmakboor]

Miyazaki ranked:

1. My Neighbor Totoro
2. Kiki's Delivery Service
3. Spirited Away
4. Porco Rosso
5. Ponyo
6. Castle in the Sky
7. Castle of Cagliostro
8. Nausicaa
9. Princess Mononoke

I need to revisit Nausicaa and Mononke soon. Castle in the Sky used to be tops, and I still love it, but I've come to develop a greater fondness for many of his other movies.

I'm pretty similar. My top four are:

1. My Neighbor Totoro
2. Spirited Away
3. Ponyo
4. Kiki's Delivery Service

[Grouchy]

My Neighbor Totoro is an amazing achievement. Like others, I don't mind that nothing really happens. I consider it part of its charm. It's a movie about observation and moments.

[Derek]

What'd be the next one I should check out?

Go with Nausicaa.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Nice. I've thrown Nausicaa right below The Wire: Season 1 (Disc 1), Tokyo Sonata, and Mother.

[soitgoes...]

Go with Nausicaa.

I agree. Castle in the Sky should be second.

[Ezee E]

Watched the first half of Hot Tub Time Machine. Not very impressed. But damnit, I'm searching for a song. So help me out people. It's the moment when they go into the ski lodge and realize that they are in the 80's. They ask what color is Michael Jackson, and then there's the montage cut to this particular song.

[Scar]

Watched the first half of Hot Tub Time Machine. Not very impressed. But damnit, I'm searching for a song. So help me out people. It's the moment when they go into the ski lodge and realize that they are in the 80's. They ask what color is Michael Jackson, and then there's the montage cut to this particular song.

I was very unimpressed with that movie. Laugh here, laugh there, not really all that funny.

[soitgoes...]

Watched the first half of Hot Tub Time Machine. Not very impressed. But damnit, I'm searching for a song. So help me out people. It's the moment when they go into the ski lodge and realize that they are in the 80's. They ask what color is Michael Jackson, and then there's the montage cut to this particular song.Wasn't it "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats?

[Ezee E]

I was very unimpressed with that movie. Laugh here, laugh there, not really all that funny.
Not sure if I want to watch the second half unless Crispin Glover has some amazing scenes. So far he's the only thing I like about it.

[Ezee E]

Wasn't it "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats?
That's it. I'm having a hard time finding it. Seems like there's multiple versions of it.

[soitgoes...]

That's it. I'm having a hard time finding it. Seems like there's multiple versions of it.
Go here. (http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=safety%20dance) I think the film version is the first song listed from the Greatest Hats album.

[Scar]

Not sure if I want to watch the second half unless Crispin Glover has some amazing scenes. So far he's the only thing I like about it.

I wouldn't prioritize it.

[Ivan Drago]

http://files.myopera.com/sukekomashi-gaijin/blog/tonarinototoro.jpg

That's pretty fuckin' cool.

[Mara]

Trouble in Paradise was entirely charming. I'm not sure how it got on my queue-- did one of you recommend it?

[Skitch]

Watching Kundun for the first time.

[balmakboor]

Just watched Two Lane Blacktop for the first time. I really dug it.

[megladon8]

Are there any other posters here who love Ed Wood as dearly and intensely as I?

Seriously, that film is a masterpiece. Perhaps the best movie about making movies ever made.

[Spinal]

Are there any other posters here who love Ed Wood as dearly and intensely as I?

Seriously, that film is a masterpiece. Perhaps the best movie about making movies ever made.

Tim Burton's finest hour by far.

[megladon8]

Tim Burton's finest hour by far.


Completely agreed. And one of Depp's finest, as well.

I actually would love to make an Ed Wood banner for the site...

[Derek]

Trouble in Paradise was entirely charming. I'm not sure how it got on my queue-- did one of you recommend it?

I've mentioned it as one of my favorites a few times, so I'll gladly take the blame. :)

[MacGuffin]

I always thought Sleepy Hollow was Burton's "most tolerable" for its rather impeccable art direction.

[megladon8]

I always thought Sleepy Hollow was Burton's "most tolerable" for its rather impeccable art direction.


http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/5467/hatersiz.jpg

[MacGuffin]

I should add that I've never seen Ed Wood, nor have I seen any Ed Wood movies.

[megladon8]

I should add that I've never seen Ed Wood, nor have I seen any Ed Wood movies.


The film Ed Wood is beautiful, funny, and inspirational. It's one of the most inspirational films I've ever seen, actually. It's gotten me out of creative funks more than thrice.

[Spinal]

On a related note, I have an adorable co-worker/close friend and I once observed that she wasn't really into dark films. As evidence to the contrary, she cited that she was a fan of Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton. It was amusing.

[Derek]

As evidence to the contrary, she cited that she was a fan of Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton.

And then you handed her your copies of Breaking the Waves and A Hole in My Heart.

[megladon8]

On a related note, I have an adorable co-worker/close friend and I once observed that she wasn't really into dark films. As evidence to the contrary, she cited that she was a fan of Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton. It was amusing.


I often find people get "dark" and "depressing" mixed up.

My dad says he doesn't like "dark" films, but a ratio of at least 6/10 of the films he loves are "dark". He just doesn't like when films get him down.

Which I can understand. As much as he loves movies, he is a casual movie watcher. He hates his job and deals with depression, watching movies to escape reality for a while. It makes sense that he doesn't want to watch something that makes him even sadder.

[MacGuffin]

The film Ed Wood is beautiful, funny, and inspirational. It's one of the most inspirational films I've ever seen, actually. It's gotten me out of creative funks more than thrice.

Interesting...

On an unrelated note, Armond White on /Filmcast is online. (http://castroller.com/podcasts/TheFilmcast/1740975-Ep%20109%20-%20Inception%20(GUEST%20Armond %20White%20from%20New%20York%2 0Press))

[MacGuffin]

It's funny hearing the radio interviewers try to muffle their laughter so that Armond doesn't hear on the other line. It's also funny to hear what appears to be Armond letting out a chuckle every few paragraphs.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Are there any other posters here who love Ed Wood as dearly and intensely as I?

Seriously, that film is a masterpiece. Perhaps the best movie about making movies ever made.

I love it something fierce, and my sister and I quote it to each other constantly, especially any line from Bunny Breckinridge.

"Mejico...was...a nightmare."

:lol:

I haven't seen enough movies about making movies, so I can neither confirm nor deny your second point.

[D_Davis]

The film Ed Wood is beautiful, funny, and inspirational. It's one of the most inspirational films I've ever seen, actually. It's gotten me out of creative funks more than thrice.

I love the film as well. Easily Depp's best performance, and probably Burton's 2nd best film.

[Grouchy]

I remember loving Ed Wood, but truth be told, I only watched it once so I don't really quote it or remember it all that much. Perhaps I should just buy it.

[baby doll]

I love the film as well. Easily Depp's best performance, and probably Burton's 2nd best film.It's a bit of a one-note performance, no? As a rule, I prefer his less showy work in films like What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Dead Man, and The Ninth Gate. Cry-Baby is also a bit of a one-note performance, but it's a more amusing one.

[Sven]

It's a bit of a one-note performance, no? As a rule, I prefer his less showy work in films like What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Dead Man, and The Ninth Gate. Cry-Baby is also a bit of a one-note performance, but it's a more amusing one.

You mean you like him in those movies where he delivers his lines in monotone and expresses all of his emotions with the same blank face?

[D_Davis]

It's a bit of a one-note performance, no? As a rule, I prefer his less showy work in films like What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Dead Man, and The Ninth Gate. Cry-Baby is also a bit of a one-note performance, but it's a more amusing one.

I disagree. He exhibits a great deal of passion and enthusiasm in Ed Wood, the same kind of passion and enthusiasm I imagine Mr. Wood possessing. I get the sense that Depp loved playing the part, and through his characterization of Wood, I got the sense that Wood loved making movies. I'm not sure how true to life the characterization is, but I don't really think that is the point of this biopic.

[BuffaloWilder]

Speaking of The Lover and Nagisa Ohshima and that whole previous discussion, is anyone interested in contributing to a short introspective on the possibilities of pornography (erotica, if you want to be particular) as a relevent film genre for the site?

[baby doll]

You mean you like him in those movies where he delivers his lines in monotone and expresses all of his emotions with the same blank face?In both Dead Man and The Ninth Gate, he's essentially playing the straight man, and in the former in particular, he does a good job of going from being befuddled in the early scenes to more determined in the later scenes. More acting doesn't mean better acting.

[Rowland]

I Am Love and Winter's Bone are both opening in my area this week. FINALLY. Now I just have to hope for Dogtooth, Everyone Else, and Valhalla Rising.

Seeing Cyrus tonight.

[B-side]

Sure, but first I'd like to read your thoughts. :P

I showed you mine, now show me yours. You know how this game works, tiger.;)

[Dillard]

Bill Murray does an interview (http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201008/bill-murray-dan-fierman-gq-interview) with GQ.

[Sven]

More acting doesn't mean better acting.

I know. And with a character like Ed Wood, who goes from passionate to dejected to ecstatic to despairing to goofy to somber to introspective to explosive, elasticity just seems like the right choice. One note? Puh-leeze. Use a different adjective.

[Derek]

I know. And with a character like Ed Wood, who goes from passionate to dejected to ecstatic to despairing to goofy to somber to introspective to explosive, elasticity just seems like the right choice. One note? Puh-leeze. Use a different adjective.

Agreed. Just as performances where an actor doesn't express all of his emotions with the elasticity of his face can also be great.

[Sven]

Agreed. Just as performances where an actor doesn't express all of his emotions with the elasticity of his face can also be great.

Absolutely. I was commenting on the "one note" criticism in general. I have no problem with any three of the performances bd named, 'cept maybe the Gilbert Grape one, but that's just because of my near categorical dislike for that movie in general.

[MadMan]

Ed Wood is fantastic. And as far as Depp's performance goes, its definantly one of his best-although I personally prefer him as Dr. Gonzo/Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The movie itself is very engaging, especially considering how it covers the man labeled "The Worst Director of All Time," yet he clearly had a passion for movie making and he loved movies. Plan 9 From Outer Space is not a good movie, its a bad movie, but I'll be damned if I wasn't entertained and the film has a strange, odd ball charm to the whole thing. I actually am interested in seeing more of his movies, despite their quality.

[Sven]

I personally prefer him as Dr. Gonzo/Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

I guess I would call this performance "one note" since I could not discern any variation or progress in his character, really. He is frequently funny, however, so that goes a way toward my favor.

[Boner M]

Off to the Melbourne Film Fest this weekend. Viewing slate for the next week...

Boy
I Love You Phillip Morris
The Movie Orgy
Cell 211
Blank City
Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee
Matinee
Sounds & Silence
Let Each One Go Where He May
Primate (Wiseman)
Au Hasard Balthasar
Gremlins 2
The Unloved
The Juche Idea
The Messenger
Sweetgrass
Carlos
Around a Small Mountain
Villalobos
Rubber
Poetry
Beeswax
Hahaha
Airdoll
Enter the Void
Film Socialisme

[Rowland]

I showed you mine, now show me yours. You know how this game works, tiger.;)Sorry, I meant to respond and forgot, largely because I didn't think I had anything all that illuminating to say that deviates from common perceptions of the film. If I feel inspired to write something, I will. :)

[B-side]

Sorry, I meant to respond and forgot, largely because I didn't think I had anything all that illuminating to say that deviates from common perceptions of the film. If I feel inspired to write something, I will. :)

No worries. I was just bugging you.:P

[Rowland]

Surprise surprise, allegations of more excessive shakicam Ã* la the Bourne sequels in Green Zone prove largely unwarranted, as the film's technique, while compositionally bland, is reasonably coherent and unaffected, just your usual pseudo-verite handheld minus the expressiveness better filmmakers would bring to the table. So, the film proved more watchable than I anticipated, but unfortunately about as dull, formulaic, and sanctimonious as I worried it'd be. The third act drums up some modest excitement and the milieu is sometimes striking (the poolside scene is a highlight), but most of the film is a void.

[Sven]

The most impressive cinematic moment I've experienced in the past few months was the last shot from You, the Living.

[Skitch]

I found Ed Wood shockingly well made, considering how incompetent I find Tim Burton. Depp was great. I still prefer the story in Big Fish (if we're having the conversation of where it falls in Burton's library), but Ed Wood might be the best thing he's directed.

[balmakboor]

Sequel to the Last Airbender announced.

http://www.geekosystem.com/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/

Not a sequel to the movie of course.

[Skitch]

Watching a flick called Deadfall. Nic Cage's performance in this MUST BE SEEN. :lol:

[Derek]

Watching a flick called Deadfall. Nic Cage's performance in this MUST BE SEEN. :lol:

Unnecessary. Just watch the 16 minutes of clips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZhciDUvnlY&feature=related) on Youtube and save yourself some time.

[Skitch]

Unnecessary. Just watch the 16 minutes of clips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZhciDUvnlY&feature=related) on Youtube and save yourself some time.
A supreme solution. Well done.

[Qrazy]

Sequel to the Last Airbender announced.

http://www.geekosystem.com/avatar-the-legend-of-korra/

Not a sequel to the movie of course.

Hell to the YES!

[Dead & Messed Up]

Unnecessary. Just watch the 16 minutes of clips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZhciDUvnlY&feature=related) on Youtube and save yourself some time.

Michael Biehn, NOOOOOOO!

[Rowland]

Joseph H. Lewis directs the hell out of the little-seen So Dark the Night. With few resources and limited time, he delivers some arrestingly expressive cinematic imagery. The whodunit screenplay is a bit dopey, but it plays fair, and Lewis imbues the frequently silly material with genuine potency. It's no classic, but certainly a buried gem.

[megladon8]

Joseph H. Lewis directs the hell out of the little-seen So Dark the Night. With few resources and limited time, he delivers some arrestingly expressive cinematic imagery. The whodunit screenplay is a bit dopey, but it plays fair, and Lewis imbues the frequently silly material with genuine potency. It's no classic, but certainly a buried gem.


I looked this up and it sounds really interesting.

How did you come across it, Rowland? I can't even seem to find a DVD release of it.

[Rowland]

I looked this up and it sounds really interesting.

How did you come across it, Rowland? I can't even seem to find a DVD release of it.It debuted on TCM the other night as the opening film for a Joseph H. Lewis marathon. I keep my eyes open for intriguing obscurities to DVR on that channel. I also recently watched Anthony Mann's relatively obscure noir Desperate through the same method.

[Derek]

Read this in a music review, but thought it applied perfectly to MatchCut:


I joked recently that people who love the movie Speed Racer and people who hate the movie Speed Racer could both summarize their arguments by simply pointing to the screen and saying, see?

[MadMan]

Read this in a music review, but thought it applied perfectly to MatchCut:Hah, yep. And a reminder that I have not seen Speed Racer, nor am I really interested in doing so.

Weekend:

*Six Criterions I bought today
*Mysterious Skin
*Ride the High Country

[Winston*]

Off to the Melbourne Film Fest this weekend. Viewing slate for the next week...

I Love You Phillip Morris


I saw this movie today. Wouldn't really recommend it.

[Qrazy]

I saw this movie today. Wouldn't really recommend it.

It had a few laughs but the film's biggest failing for me is that it's always trying to catch up to itself. It begins at the film's end and then feels like an extended montage trying to reach that end. It never exists in the 'now' and as such nothing ever really seems of consequence. I think it's perfectly fine for a film to begin at it's end and then catch up to that, but the disparate moments which occur to reach that end must feel meaningful.

[MacGuffin]

Weekend:

Angel Face (Preminger, 1952)
Betty Blue (Beineix, 1986)
Bigger Than Life (Nicholas Ray, 1956)

[Philosophe_rouge]

Weekend
The Violent Kind
Centurion
The Last Exorcism
Deliver Us from Evil
Dream Home

[Sycophant]

Pretty sure I'm gonna finally watch Air Doll this weekend. Might get to Inception, too.

[[ETM]]

I have not seen Speed Racer, nor am I really interested in doing so.

I'm not sure if you're posting in shame or if you're proud of yourself there.

[Sycophant]

Who can ever tell?

[D_Davis]

Weekend:

*Mysterious Skin


I haven't seen this movie, but I listen to the soundtrack all the time - Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie. It's amazing.

[Sycophant]

Oh yeah. Watched The Big Sleep last night. It was pretty much incredible.

[MacGuffin]

Oh yeah. Watched The Big Sleep last night. It was pretty much incredible.

I've been meaning to see this and probably will soon, seeing as though I feel like I'm slowly switching into film noir mode.

[Dead & Messed Up]

;275172']I'm not sure if you're posting in shame or if you're proud of yourself there.

That's actually a quintessential MadMan post. Step 1: Point out your reticence to watch a movie. Step 2: Never watch the movie.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Oh yeah. Watched The Big Sleep last night. It was pretty much incredible.

Great flick.

Man, film noir is the best. I don't get why so many on here seem to not dig it.

[MacGuffin]

I don't get why so many on here seem to not dig it.

I never got that impression. In fact, I thought it was pretty widely appreciated by most of the members here.

[Sycophant]

Really, I'm inclined to agree that film noir is the best. Unfortunately, I lost all my time and most my drive to watch movies right when I seemed to be heading into a major noir phase. Kinda hoping to dig back into it in the near future. I've still only seen a handful.

[Sycophant]

I never got that impression. In fact, I thought it was pretty widely appreciated by most of the members here.

It may be appreciated, but it does seem like it's not very often discussed or celebrated. But that may be more impression than anything else; statistics might not back that up.

[Qrazy]

Check out Brighton Rock. It's a quality underseen noir. Pretty sure I got Derek to see it and that he enjoyed it.

[Derek]

Check out Brighton Rock. It's a quality underseen noir. Pretty sure I got Derek to see it and that he enjoyed it.

Yup, it's definitely worth a look. Attenborough is fantastic.

[Spinal]

I do not like The Big Sleep. It makes no sense.

[Derek]

I do not like The Big Sleep. It makes no sense.

Funny guy.

[Winston*]

It had a few laughs but the film's biggest failing for me is that it's always trying to catch up to itself. It begins at the film's end and then feels like an extended montage trying to reach that end. It never exists in the 'now' and as such nothing ever really seems of consequence. I think it's perfectly fine for a film to begin at it's end and then catch up to that, but the disparate moments which occur to reach that end must feel meaningful.
Good assessment. I think the material's there for a very good movie, these guys just don't get there. The initial courtship between MacGregor and Carrey is the films strongest part I think.

[Qrazy]

Good assessment. I think the material's there for a very good movie, these guys just don't get there. The initial courtship between MacGregor and Carrey is the films strongest part I think.

Yeah, that was good times.

[MacGuffin]

I just realized that I recorded Bonjour tristesse on the DVR. Alright!

[baby doll]

Weekend:

Europa (Lars von Trier, 1991)
Make Way for Tomorrow (Leo McCarey, 1937)
Mon oncle Antoine (Claude Jutra, 1971)
Titicut Follies (Frederick Wiseman, 1967)

[Qrazy]

Wow I did not realize until just now that Ken Watanabe played Gun in Tampopo.

[baby doll]

Wow I did not realize until just now that Ken Watanabe played Gun in Tampopo.I'll be darned. I still can't believe Itami got whacked by the Yakuza.

[Qrazy]

I'll be darned. I still can't believe Itami got whacked by the Yakuza.

I know right... that reminds me I still need to check out the latter half of his filmography...

Woman in Witness Protection (1997)
Sûpâ no onna (1996)
Shizukana seikatsu (1995)
Daibyonin (1993)
Tales of a Golden Geisha (1990)

[MacGuffin]

It's absolutely enthralling to watch American film noir classics like Angel Face gather momentum—it escalates from a harmless romantic drama to a fast-paced thriller with a bat-shit crazy ending. Mitchum is just as good as I remembered him being in The Night of the Hunter and Jean Simmons is a remarkable presence, at times letting her facial expressions say all that needs to be said.

[MadMan]

That's actually a quintessential MadMan post. Step 1: Point out your reticence to watch a movie. Step 2: Never watch the movie.Well I sometimes watch movies. I just take my sweet, sweet time...:P


I haven't seen this movie, but I listen to the soundtrack all the time - Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie. It's amazing.So the soundtrack is at least good? Cool.


;275172']I'm not sure if you're posting in shame or if you're proud of yourself there.Neither. Just noting that its not a high priority viewing.

I love film noir. Two of the Criterions I bought deal with film noir: Pickup on South Street, and Blast of Silence. And yes The Big Sleep is a great classic-the witty banter between Bogart and Bacall is its main highlight. Does the movie really make sense? Does it matter? Of course not-proof that sometimes plot is not required, or is even important.

[dreamdead]

As much as I'd love to join Raiders on the Demme and Beloved bandwagon, the film just never comes together for me. The often portentous score comes across as aggrandizing its story, and though the central conflicts between Beloved and Sethe are frequently powerful, there's something in translating the novel that just doesn't ring "true." Morrison's way of Othering Beloved, for example, through speech and movement just doesn't work on screen--she becomes little more than a familial monster, lacking in the basic humanity that she should have. Denver, and her respective actress, however, is a wonderful depiction, coming across as simultaneously the most human and humane portrayal of the time period. Hers is the only character that doesn't feel like a stock portrayal or weird eccentricity (as Baby Suggs does, alas). Some of the filmic choices to depict Sethe's male children on screen (whereas they're not in the book) are interesting, but the film doesn't quite work. Ah well.

Weekend:
The Long Goodbye
Grimm
Hamlet (with Sam Worthington and lots of leather... I expect something useful for a Film and Literature exam question and little else)

[Raiders]

As much as I'd love to join Raiders on the Demme and Beloved bandwagon, the film just never comes together for me. The often portentous score comes across as aggrandizing its story, and though the central conflicts between Beloved and Sethe are frequently powerful, there's something in translating the novel that just doesn't ring "true." Morrison's way of Othering Beloved, for example, through speech and movement just doesn't work on screen--she becomes little more than a familial monster, lacking in the basic humanity that she should have. Denver, and her respective actress, however, is a wonderful depiction, coming across as simultaneously the most human and humane portrayal of the time period. Hers is the only character that doesn't feel like a stock portrayal or weird eccentricity (as Baby Suggs does, alas). Some of the filmic choices to depict Sethe's male children on screen (whereas they're not in the book) are interesting, but the film doesn't quite work. Ah well.

Fair enough. I do agree that Denver and her portrayal are probably the film's greatest aspects. The camera-work though is equally magnificent, particularly in the way it suggests and enhances the feeling of roaming spirits and spiritual unrest and that scene with Sethe looking at the camera and telling of past events (Demme trademark) is remarkably haunting. I'll admit since I last saw it only parts, the strongest natch, remain with me so perhaps much of the in-between is indeed uneven and I'm overrating it. It should be noted I do love Morrison's novel as well.

Hamlet (with Sam Worthington and lots of leather... I expect something useful for a Film and Literature exam question and little else)You mean Macbeth?

[[ETM]]

Neither. Just noting that its not a high priority viewing.

You don't prioritize fun?

[Sycophant]

Airdoll was pretty good. I'd come to expect slightly better things thanks to appraisals by Tom Mes and some others, but I thought it was still a valuable piece, though its parts may have surpassed its whole. Bae is wonderful. Despite the fact that its first two acts feel just a mite overlong, the last few movements of the story feel disjointed and rushed. Maybe my least favorite Kore-eda, really, but there are many wonderful moments throughout.

[Ezee E]

A Single Man. Mad Men. People were apparently way cooler back in the 60's.

Pretty good movie. The movie's at its best when Falconer is lost in thought or the flashbacks themselves. Was kind of annoyed by the new kid pursuing him. Hopefully Tom Ford continues directing. He has a good eye for camera placement.

[soitgoes...]

Airdoll was pretty good. I'd come to expect slightly better things thanks to appraisals by Tom Mes and some others, but I thought it was still a valuable piece, though its parts may have surpassed its whole. Bae is wonderful. Despite the fact that its first two acts feel just a mite overlong, the last few movements of the story feel disjointed and rushed. Maybe my least favorite Kore-eda, really, but there are many wonderful moments throughout.
Ha. Yeah, Bae is the strong point, and really the only reason to watch it. The idea of the film is intriguing, but its execution is bleh. After 3 months I remember very little of any actual details. Perhaps I was wrong in thinking I might have missed the boat on this one.

[MadMan]

;275369']You don't prioritize fun?What if I don't find the movie to be fun? What if its fun, but it completely sucks? Sometimes fun is overrated.

[Spinal]

Does the movie really make sense? Does it matter? Of course not-proof that sometimes plot is not required, or is even important.

To jog your memory.

[Mara]

You know what's awesome? Water ballet. And Million Dollar Mermaid is chock full of them-- and a few were downright breathtaking. And Esther Williams has just about the most perfect body of ever. And a guy gets beat up by a kangeroo!

The other bits were only passable.

[Mara]

Esther Williams is, apparently, still alive. She's almost 89 years old. Well done, woman.




Perhaps when she dies someone will finally get around to a DVD release of Jupiter's Darling. It's one of my favorite terrible films.

[Sven]

Esther Williams is, apparently, still alive. She's almost 89 years old. Well done, woman.

My film professor has met her a couple of times because he's the kind of guy who writes books about old stars and introduces them at screenings and interviews them, etc. He said she's extremely nice and, like the also still-living Doris Day, loves her some Pres. G.W. Bush.

[megladon8]

My film professor has met her a couple of times because he's the kind of guy who writes books about old stars and introduces them at screenings and interviews them, etc. He said she's extremely nice and, like the also still-living Doris Day, loves her some Pres. G.W. Bush.


...
...

...so confused by this. :frustrated:

[baby doll]

...
...

...so confused by this. :frustrated:Well, of course Esther Williams would support waterboarding.

[Mara]

My film professor has met her a couple of times because he's the kind of guy who writes books about old stars and introduces them at screenings and interviews them, etc. He said she's extremely nice and, like the also still-living Doris Day, loves her some Pres. G.W. Bush.

Feisty old broad. I forgive her utterly because she had such great legs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/milliondollarmermaid.jpg

[megladon8]

Well, of course Esther Williams would support water-boarding.


http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/5417/surfingmaresiasricardom.jpg


??

[Mara]

Well, of course Esther Williams would support waterboarding.

She broke her neck doing a 115-foot dive during Million Dollar Mermaid, and ruptured her eardrums at least six times on different sets and nearly drowned once when a trapdoor failed to open in a tank.

...so, yes, it's possible she does.

[Mara]

They asked for an even more insane dive-- on a horse-- during Jupiter's Darling and she refused. The stuntman they had double for her broke his back.

[MadMan]

To jog your memory.I was referring to plot, not whether or not the movie made any sense.

[Winston*]

Watched the Ian McKellen Richard III. Found it a little bit stupid. If it's the 1930s what's he doing accusing people of witchcraft? Might watch the Oliver one this week to compare.

[Boner M]

Reviewed Carlos, Lee Chang-Dong's Poetry, Air Doll, Villalobos and Shane Meadows' Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee at my blog (http://bit.ly/cvbSfY).

[right_for_the_moment]

Anyone want to explain Wild Grass to me, particularly the ending where the cat talk comes into play?

[dreamdead]

You mean Macbeth?

Yep, my bad. The 2006 MacBeth will be up next.

I too enjoy Morrison's novel, and in Demme's Beloved, the best parts are indeed quite brilliant. I love everything that centers on Denver's maturation--her initial distrust of Paul D., her probing eyes that take in life around her, even the eccentric celebrations in the house when Sethe starts spending all the money she's saved up, where the community of women takes center stage. Turning Beloved into a demonic spirit, though, one that is cast away not through mere "sound," but through an invocation of "Jesus" specifically, the range of Morrison's image of Beloved as representative of all slave children disintegrates as Demme and his screenwriters localize her presence into something so specific that it also becomes banal. And the ending's hallelujah echo with Baby Suggs is nowhere near as powerful a moment as Morrison's coda, despite its attempts to wrap up everything. The camerawork is mighty fine, though.

Speaking of mighty fine, Altman's The Long Goodbye is awesome. Appropriately grungy look of the 1970s, appropriate inability to find a way to place an earlier era's mores and sense of justice/friendship onto this milieu, and just enticing through and through. Love the symbolic use of animals throughout, and the diegetic way in which the score is continually recycled and shifted into different contexts. And everything that's shot on the Malibu beach, with reflecting windows and figures walking into the ocean, is just beautiful.

[Qrazy]

A Tale of Winter (Rohmer) - This woman is insufferable and the French kiss like slugs slapping against each other.

[Bosco B Thug]

Everything before they enter the house in Monster House struck me as serious "new classic" level material. Very moody, heady, and subtle depicting of adolescence from multiple angles. I was pretty wowed. But by the end I was pretty meh, not sure what happened. The backstory of the mystery seems like it should be pretty evocative but I was ultimately left cold, same with the climax which was otherwise pretty darn cool.

[Spinal]

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is staging an adaptation of Throne of Blood. (http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2010/07/oregon_shakespeare_festival_br .html)

[RoadtoPerdition]

How has Michael Sheen not been nominated for an Oscar yet? This guy turns in amazing work every time. I just watched The Damned United and he was so excellent.

[megladon8]

How has Michael Sheen not been nominated for an Oscar yet? This guy turns in amazing work every time. I just watched The Damned United and he was so excellent.


I'm surprised he didn't even get nominated for Underworld.

[RoadtoPerdition]

I'm surprised he didn't even get nominated for Underworld.

Well, the snub for that is one of the greatest travesties in the Academy's history.

[MadMan]

Ride the High Country is interesting, because even though some of it is very much Peckinpath signaling that him and Leone's brand of western would take over the 60s, the rest is very much a homage to Ford and Hawks' classic westerns. Scott and McCrea are excellent here, and they play so well off each other its remarkable-without them, I'm not sure the movie would have been as good, seeing as the movie's plot is a tad standard, although I didn't mind. The issue of loyalty and duty is very much at work here, and the final gunfight is great simply because there's no build up, or anything flashy: it just happens. Worthy of my Top 20 Westerns List, and I can't say I blame Scott for quitting after this movie was done.

Blast of Silence is ruthless and calculating, operating as both a film noir and a gangster movie. The narration is perfect in that it explains events without being annoying or overbearing, which is usually my complaint about film narration as a whole. Style is abandoned in favor of a straightforward narrative, and the main character's loner mentality probably inspired future characters such as Travis Bickle. Although Frankie is even more of a misnthrope, really. This could be considered a hidden gem, although I'm sure others have heard of this movie and thanks to Criterion anyone can own it. A surpisingly good blind buy, and I wonder why its director never did anything afterwards.

[Sycophant]

Unfortunately, the last time I watched it was right after Kung Fu Hustle, which is the supreme achievement of the modern age in terms of comedy.

Kung Fu Hustle?

It's not even close. Quick Change after it looked like a home movie. It looked like a fucking high school film. I was like, "Oh man, I just saw this thing," and "God, that's just staggering, just staggering. That movie is just AHHHHHH!" And when I saw that, I was like: That. Just. Happened. There should have been a day of mourning for American comedy the day that movie came out.

http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201008/bill-murray-dan-fierman-gq-interview?currentPage=2#ixzz0u jWbKp6O

:cool:

[Mara]

Hmm. I wanted to like An Education more than the rest of you did, but it didn't pan out. The acting was fine and the atmosphere stylish, but halfway through it wandered from "slight" into "inconsequential." I didn't hate it, but I felt like the film had nothing to say.

A pity.

[Spinal]

Hmm. I wanted to like An Education more than the rest of you did, but it didn't pan out. The acting was fine and the atmosphere stylish, but halfway through it wandered from "slight" into "inconsequential." I didn't hate it, but I felt like the film had nothing to say.

A pity.

Yeah, I went in with similar optimism, but came away unmoved by anything other than the discovery of a quality young actress.

[Skitch]

Yep, my bad. The 2006 MacBeth will be up next.


Its horrific. Couldn't even finish it. And I've defended Ethan Hawke's very bad Hamlet on more than one occasion.

[balmakboor]

Liked Cyrus quite a bit today. I also finally watched That Obscure Object of Desire (yummy) and gave Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One a fresh look (it's still a mixture of frustration and fascination but the latter is now taking the lead).

Good weekend of movie watching.

[Grouchy]

Hmm. I wanted to like An Education more than the rest of you did, but it didn't pan out. The acting was fine and the atmosphere stylish, but halfway through it wandered from "slight" into "inconsequential." I didn't hate it, but I felt like the film had nothing to say.

A pity.
I agree with this.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Going scene-by-scene, The Kids Are All Right is a respectable dramedy with some good acting from Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore. He's the slightly nervous sperm donor who bonds with the family he "fostered." She plays a sympathetic lesbian mother who takes to him more kindly than Annette Benning's thankless shrew Nick. As a whole, the film suffers too many dead ends, too many manufactured moments of high emotion, and not nearly enough utilization of cinema. Only one moment showcases an effort to present emotion through craft instead of dialogue, and all it does is inadvertently remind me of how formally dull the rest of the film is, and how much hangs on the shoulders of the actors.

C

[Spinal]

The most impressive cinematic moment I've experienced in the past few months was the last shot from You, the Living.

Just finished this, and yes, that was extraordinary.

[Boner M]

My favorite shot of Y,tL was the guy strumming the guitar in his room... oh hey, we're on a train! Immaculate mise-en-scene.

Liked the film overall tho it's basically just a shapeless series of outtakes from Songs from the Second Floor.

[transmogrifier]

:cool:

Bill Murray has crappy taste in movies. Quick Change is way, way better than KFH.

[B-side]

"Has anyone in this family ever even seen a chicken?"

http://images.damncrows.com/img/upld/arrested-development-chicken.gif

[transmogrifier]

http://images.damncrows.com/img/upld/arrested-development-chicken.gif

You need the sound as well to complete the awesomeness.

[B-side]

You need the sound as well to complete the awesomeness.

True.:D

[Raiders]

Going scene-by-scene, The Kids Are All Right is a respectable dramedy with some good acting from Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore. He's the slightly nervous sperm donor who bonds with the family he "fostered." She plays a sympathetic lesbian mother who takes to him more kindly than Annette Benning's thankless shrew Nick. As a whole, the film suffers too many dead ends, too many manufactured moments of high emotion, and not nearly enough utilization of cinema. Only one moment showcases an effort to present emotion through craft instead of dialogue, and all it does is inadvertently remind me of how formally dull the rest of the film is, and how much hangs on the shoulders of the actors.

C

We must have seen different films. This is among the least obviously manufactured films I have ever seen. It flowed very organically from one scene to the next and almost every emotion felt very natural. I'll agree that by-and-large it is a product of dialogue, but saying so shortchanges some of the film's more subtle visual cues: the obvious with Bening at the table, singing Joni Mitchell; Ruffalo staring through the window near the end; Wasikowska's realization in the dorm room of the unease of the silence. It isn't a formally ambitious film, but it is purposefully observational. This isn't Apatow point-and-shoot, but a plaintive fluidity between scenes. The use of close-up, mainly in the second half is superb (especially Moore's confessional in front of the TV, a scene which threatens to become writerly but resolves in a beautiful moment of frustration).

[Qrazy]

My favorite shot of Y,tL was the guy strumming the guitar in his room... oh hey, we're on a train! Immaculate mise-en-scene.

Liked the film overall tho it's basically just a shapeless series of outtakes from Songs from the Second Floor.

My favorite shot was the guy pulling out the table cloth.

[Spinal]

Both of those shots were glorious.

[balmakboor]

I haven't seen it to know if it plays as cool on screen as it sounds on paper, but damn if the Machete, escaping out a window by using a guy's intestines for a rope isn't the greatest thing I've heard in a while.

[Dead & Messed Up]

We must have seen different films. This is among the least obviously manufactured films I have ever seen. It flowed very organically from one scene to the next and almost every emotion felt very natural. I'll agree that by-and-large it is a product of dialogue, but saying so shortchanges some of the film's more subtle visual cues: the obvious with Bening at the table, singing Joni Mitchell; Ruffalo staring through the window near the end; Wasikowska's realization in the dorm room of the unease of the silence. It isn't a formally ambitious film, but it is purposefully observational. This isn't Apatow point-and-shoot, but a plaintive fluidity between scenes. The use of close-up, mainly in the second half is superb (especially Moore's confessional in front of the TV, a scene which threatens to become writerly but resolves in a beautiful moment of frustration).

I agree that it flowed well from one scene to the next. As I said, on a scene-by-scene basis, I was enjoying it. But towards the end I didn't like that

Laser faded to the background about halfway through the film, Joni's problems weren't well-explored, some of the drama felt contrived (ohmiGod, did Joni's family just leave her without saying goodbye?!), some of the emotional hits didn't hit (Nic's crying during Jules's declaration in front of the TV), and Nic didn't feel rounded as a character, too rigid and unlikable to engender the sympathy late-act developments required.

I do agree that Jules's throwaway comment about Russian novels was hilarious, and I enjoyed a good amount of the comedy - I'd like to see Lisa Cholodenko let that fly a little more.

[Sven]

My favorite shot was the guy pulling out the table cloth.

I enjoyed the endless traffic hell that he was relegated to.

I also loved when the racist man whose hair is butchered by the barber tries to have him arrested. The way the barber apologizes, and the police leave, and the man's confidence of purpose is rapidly deflated.

I pretty much enjoyed every scene of the movie, actually. Made me want to watch Songs from the Second Floor again.

[Qrazy]

I enjoyed the endless traffic hell that he was relegated to.

I also loved when the racist man whose hair is butchered by the barber tries to have him arrested. The way the barber apologizes, and the police leave, and the man's confidence of purpose is rapidly deflated.

I pretty much enjoyed every scene of the movie, actually. Made me want to watch Songs from the Second Floor again.

Yeah, those were gold as well.

I've been meaning to check out some of his earlier films for a while now, particularly Giliap and A Swedish Love Story (moreso the latter). World of Glory was an interesting precursor to You, the Living and Songs from the Second Floor. It had it's own fair share of memorable moments.

[soitgoes...]

Deewaar - D+I can't wait!

[Qrazy]

I can't wait!

It's actually probably a decent Bollywood as Bollywood's go... they all just happen to be terrible.

[Russ]

Strangest film you've ever seen?

Most of you know my taste in films, so for me to make the statement, you know the film in question has got to be some kind of fucked up.

To that end, it's still kinda hard for me to recommend Crispin Glover's What Is It? I mean, it does tell a "story", I suppose, and the imagery is most def one-of-a-kind (albeit a bit repetetive).

I'm thinking most folks will name a Jodorowsky or Zulawski film, or something similar.

Here's a description of a scene fairly early on in Glover's film (if you're easily offended, please don't read):

A mustachioed man with cerebal palsy lies in a lifesize clamshell. He is being masturbated by a naked young lady who wears only a hairless ape mask. Glover, wearing a floor length fur coat, watches as he sits from above in a Swastika-adorned throne. This scene is accompanied by the full recording of white supremacist/balladeer Johnny Rebel's song, "Some Niggers Never Die (They Just Smell That Way)".
I'm sure there's a point to it, but that point eludes me.

Yeah, I'm not really recommending this one, but for the curious, it is pretty fascinating and worth a watch. Oh, and most of the cast is comprised of actors with Down Syndrome.

[number8]

Well, the snub for that is one of the greatest travesties in the Academy's history.

TRON Legacy will fix that.

[RoadtoPerdition]

TRON Legacy will fix that.

One can hope, number8. One can hope.

[Bosco B Thug]

Did everyone know a widescreen Brewster McCloud's available (http://www.wbshop.com/Brewster-McCloud/1000161855,default,pd.html?cgi d=) to buy through Warner Archives? Unfortunately, that doesn't mean it becomes available on Netflix apparently... on the same note, when the hell is Netflix gonna get Cookie's Fortune? I swear that movie's near impossible to find.

[Spinal]

TRON Legacy will fix that.

I've got to rewatch the original soon. Every time I see the trailer for the sequel, I get really excited.

[balmakboor]

Strangest film you've ever seen?

Most of you know my taste in films, so for me to make the statement, you know the film in question has got to be some kind of fucked up.

To that end, it's still kinda hard for me to recommend Crispin Glover's What Is It? I mean, it does tell a "story", I suppose, and the imagery is most def one-of-a-kind (albeit a bit repetetive).

I'm thinking most folks will name a Jodorowsky or Zulawski film, or something similar.

Here's a description of a scene fairly early on in Glover's film (if you're easily offended, please don't read):

A mustachioed man with cerebal palsy lies in a lifesize clamshell. He is being masturbated by a naked young lady who wears only a hairless ape mask. Glover, wearing a floor length fur coat, watches as he sits from above in a Swastika-adorned throne. This scene is accompanied by the full recording of white supremacist/balladeer Johnny Rebel's song, "Some Niggers Never Die (They Just Smell That Way)".
I'm sure there's a point to it, but that point eludes me.

Yeah, I'm not really recommending this one, but for the curious, it is pretty fascinating and worth a watch. Oh, and most of the cast is comprised of actors with Down Syndrome.

Glover and Korine really should work together. It could be magic.

[MacGuffin]

Glover and Korine really should work together. It could be magic.

Ehhh... I haven't seen any of Glover's movies but those two brands of surrealism seem vastly different.

[megladon8]

Glover at least didn't intend What Is It to be straight-faced serious, right? I saw the trailer and it seemed obvious he was kind of poking fun at the abstract art film.

[MacGuffin]

Glover at least didn't intend What Is It to be straight-faced serious, right? I saw the trailer and it seemed obvious he was kind of poking fun at the abstract art film.

Not sure, I guess I always kind of thought that, like Korine, it's serious, but it's a very dreamlike sort of surrealism whereas Korine's work teeters on the brink of surrealist neo-realism.

[B-side]

Strangest film you've ever seen?

Hard to say, as I, like you, rather enjoy the "weird" stuff. Kurt Kren's O Tannenbaum features a man and a woman being sprayed head to toe in various spray paints and the man having egg yolks dripped on his johnson. Plenty more stuff involving a Christmas tree and decorations and such. Good little short. I guess that's probably the strangest film I've seen.

[soitgoes...]

Hard to say, as I, like you, rather enjoy the "weird" stuff. Kurt Kren's O Tannenbaum features a man and a woman being sprayed head to toe in various spray paints and the man having egg yolks dripped on his johnson. Plenty more stuff involving a Christmas tree and decorations and such. Good little short. I guess that's probably the strangest film I've seen.I've seen two of his shorts and they were both interesting enough. I need to check out his other stuff.

[soitgoes...]

It's actually probably a decent Bollywood as Bollywood's go... they all just happen to be terrible.You know, it isn't as if they are any worse than all the rest of the Hollywood musicals I've had to watch for the list. The biggest problem I have with them is that they are all 3 fucking hours long. There is no need for these films to be that long. The Big-Hearted... is a simple love story. An hour and half tops would be enough. Mother Earth has a bit more to say, but still...

[Qrazy]

You know, it isn't as if they are any worse than all the rest of the Hollywood musicals I've had to watch for the list. The biggest problem I have with them is that they are all 3 fucking hours long. There is no need for these films to be that long. The Big-Hearted... is a simple love story. An hour and half tops would be enough. Mother Earth has a bit more to say, but still...

I don't know, I've liked a lot of the musicals, particularly the Busby Berkeley ones. But yeah agreed about the length of the Bollywood films. Deewaar actually went by pretty quickly though and it has a decent story to keep pace with it's length, it just also happens to be horribly made.

[B-side]

I've seen two of his shorts and they were both interesting enough. I need to check out his other stuff.

I just find their whole philosophy fascinating. I have an immediate attraction to people who push and attempt to break taboos, so the Vienna Aktionists interesting to me, if only in theory. I've only seen 2 Kren shorts so far, but I plan on seeing much more and doing plenty more research.

[soitgoes...]

I don't know, I've liked a lot of the musicals, particularly the Busby Berkeley ones. But yeah agreed about the length of the Bollywood films. Deewaar actually went by pretty quickly though and it has a decent story to keep pace with it's length, it just also happens to be horribly made.
The Berkeley films without the hated Garland and Rooney were some of the best. There has been a smattering of other musicals that are fine. Overall though my biggest complaint is how musical heavy the list is from the 30's to the 50's. If they were striving to give a solid cross-section of film, then I think 30 some Hollywood musicals might be a smidge overkill.

The positive is I only have two Bollywood films and I think two Hollywood musicals left.

[Qrazy]

The Berkeley films without the hated Garland and Rooney were some of the best. There has been a smattering of other musicals that are fine. Overall though my biggest complaint is how musical heavy the list is from the 30's to the 50's. If they were striving to give a solid cross-section of film, then I think 30 some Hollywood musicals might be a smidge overkill.

The positive is I only have two Bollywood films and I think two Hollywood musicals left.

Yeah fair, there's definitely been a fair share of crappy musicals... and I think I still have some of the crappiest ones yet to see. I agree with you vis-a-vis Garland/Rooney. There's something quite disturbing about casually racist children singing and dancing in black face.

[soitgoes...]

There's something quite disturbing about casually racist children singing and dancing in black face.I know it is so wrong, but there's something about old time wrongness that interests me in a historical perspective of how life once was, and what was deemed as okay.

[Ivan Drago]

I don't care if this is Blu-Ray only, I'm buying this. FINALLY!!!

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/tarantino-rodriguez-grindhouse-special-edition-set-for-blu-ray-release-oct-5/7828

[Morris Schæffer]

How has Michael Sheen not been nominated for an Oscar yet? This guy turns in amazing work every time. I just watched The Damned United and he was so excellent.

I guess it's unfair, but it also depends on the competition. Still, one of my favorite actors and a nom would have been deserved. Heck, this flick deserved a best picture nom considering they gave one to fecking The Blind Side.

[Skitch]

I've got to rewatch the original soon. Every time I see the trailer for the sequel, I get really excited.
Me too, but I'm waiting for a bluray.

[balmakboor]

I don't care if this is Blu-Ray only, I'm buying this. FINALLY!!!

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/tarantino-rodriguez-grindhouse-special-edition-set-for-blu-ray-release-oct-5/7828

I've been waiting for this as well and it makes sense to time the release with the theatrical opening of Machete. It seems odd to utilize Blu-ray though. These should have been "bootlegged" from VHS tapes and stuck in cheap, lurid packaging with flipper DVDs in paper envelopes.

[B-side]

http://i31.tinypic.com/33wqszm.jpg

Budd Boetticher is known for making fairly short, succinct westerns. A Time for Dying is no exception as it clocks in at a mere 69 minutes. At times a comically over the top indictment of old west politics, at others an uppity lamentation of the old west's love of alcohol, and still at others a decent western in the vein of Ford. Naturally, any western viewed nowadays that deals with the passing of a generation seems destined to be compared to Ford, and Boetticher's amalgamated film pales in comparison to any of Ford's highly regarded works dealing with similar issues, not to mention the likes of Peckinpah.

The film opens to a coiled snake ready to strike at a baby rabbit, a pretty potent metaphor for the dog eat dog nature of the old west, but just as the snake is about to strike, our boyish protagonist blows the snake's head off, only to encounter a band of outlaws ready to question his decision to subvert nature's will. Of course, this theme is quickly abandoned in favor of Boetticher's aforementioned more amalgamated microcosmic approach. Issues of drunken town folk ready to assault young potential prostitutes is seen less through the lens of the predatory nature of men and more along the lines of how bad alcohol is. Jesse James and his infamous gang makes an appearance, but for seemingly no reason other than to give the film a toe in history.

A few decent shots, a somewhat bizarre gunfight in which the protagonist drags behind his horse a burning tree, and the final 10 minutes or so give the film redeeming value, so overall it's a fairly entertaining time, even if Boetticher's humor doesn't really do anything for me.

[number8]

Glover at least didn't intend What Is It to be straight-faced serious, right? I saw the trailer and it seemed obvious he was kind of poking fun at the abstract art film.

No, he's sincere about it.

[Russ]

No, he's sincere about it.
Yup. Which makes it all the more perplexing.

[D_Davis]

Glover at least didn't intend What Is It to be straight-faced serious, right? I saw the trailer and it seemed obvious he was kind of poking fun at the abstract art film.


No, he's sincere about it.


He is very serious and sincere about it. This is why he insists of being present at every screening, so that he can field questions from the audience about some of the more disturbing elements of the film. When I saw it, he said he was concerned about people accusing him of exploiting the people in the film, and that he thought it was very important to openly discuss the sexual needs of the mentally retarded and physically handicapped. It was refreshing to see an artist stand behind his art and message in such a frank and sincere manner.

[D_Davis]

Strangest film you've ever seen?

Most of you know my taste in films, so for me to make the statement, you know the film in question has got to be some kind of fucked up.

To that end, it's still kinda hard for me to recommend Crispin Glover's What Is It? I mean, it does tell a "story", I suppose, and the imagery is most def one-of-a-kind (albeit a bit repetetive).

I'm thinking most folks will name a Jodorowsky or Zulawski film, or something similar.

Here's a description of a scene fairly early on in Glover's film (if you're easily offended, please don't read):

A mustachioed man with cerebal palsy lies in a lifesize clamshell. He is being masturbated by a naked young lady who wears only a hairless ape mask. Glover, wearing a floor length fur coat, watches as he sits from above in a Swastika-adorned throne. This scene is accompanied by the full recording of white supremacist/balladeer Johnny Rebel's song, "Some Niggers Never Die (They Just Smell That Way)".
I'm sure there's a point to it, but that point eludes me.

Yeah, I'm not really recommending this one, but for the curious, it is pretty fascinating and worth a watch. Oh, and most of the cast is comprised of actors with Down Syndrome.

I really liked the the experience of seeing it with Glover in person, far more than I enjoyed the film as a film ( :) - thanks, 8). He talked with us after the film for about 2 hours.

My review:

It is interesting to think about how an artist's work can sometimes lead to the wrong assumptions about the artist. What is It?, is a perfect example of this phenomenon, and this is probably why the film's creator and director, Crispen Hellion Glover, refuses to show the film without being present. This act is one of great responsibility on behalf of Mr. Glover, and I respect him greatly for encouraging discussion about, and taking the time to present his work in the proper context. I think this says more about the kind of person Mr. Glover is than his art does.

If the film had just been unleashed on the general population, without warning, or context, there are many things many people might think about the filmmaker – assumptions that could, in fact, tarnish his career. I am sure he would be accused of exploiting the mentally retarded, of being a racist, and a sexist, and of unhinged animal cruelty, if only against snails. I remember reading that Glover wanted to make people feel uncomfortable while watching this film, and based upon the nervous laughter from the audience at the Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle, he accomplished this task. But he also did a lot more, and it became apparent that mere shock value was not his goal, or, at least, not his only goal.

Before the presentation of the film, Glover first read segments from eight different books he has written, accompanied by slides depicting drawings, pictures and text. I have read a few of his books, and while I admire them as works of art, they always left me feeling disturbed. I also found it strange that this dark, and grotesque, art was coming from a man who played one of the all time great goofy characters, George McFly, in Back to the Future. His books made me wonder just how strange and messed up Glover was in real life – and I think he enjoys this cult-like quality and enigmatic air surrounding him and his work. As he read from his books, I began to see beneath the veneer, and rather than a disturbed individual, I saw a performer, and an artist, who relished in mystery and manipulation – Crispin Hellion Glover knows how to make people pay attention.

After the reading, Glover presented the film, and then left the stage. I had no idea what to expect, and even after it was done, I didn't really know what I had just seen. The film features a cast made up almost entirely by actors with Downs Syndrome, and the "narrative" follows one male in particular. This man's mind is full of complex entities, and we see how he struggles with racism, sexual desires (and the taboo of the handicapped and explicit sexuality), as well as his somewhat strange feelings towards snails. We also see glimpses of this man's past, a dark place where he was abused and tortured by an elderly, mother-like figure. But, what does this all mean – if it means anything at all? To tell you the truth I don't know, nor do I think knowing is the point.

I do know one thing for sure though – I didn't care for the film at all. I knew it was going to be strange, it has been compared to El Topo and Holy Mountain, but where Jodorowsky's films contain a strong narrative amidst the surreal and disturbing imagery, the narrative in Glover's film was too aloof, and the subtext too convoluted for my liking. This is not to say, however, that the film, and its creator, didn't fascinate me, because they did. I do think it is possible to appreciate the art contained in a film without having to like the film itself, and this is an exemplary case.

Ultimately what I liked was the presence of Glover, and the Q and A session after the film. I love hearing filmmakers talk about their craft, especially a filmmaker as mysterious as Mr. Glover. After fielding a dozen or so questions, two from myself, I began to see that the art on screen was more of an exercise in cathartic therapy for the artist. The film represents a way for him to present ideas and thematic elements absent from so many films being made today, while taking jabs at the nature of the film industry itself. One topic that Mr. Glover brought up was the issue of film ratings, and how the rating system itself, coupled with the distribution of films, prevents movies being made strictly for adults, from ever reaching an audience in a theatre.

I looked at Was It It? more as a statement made by Glover about the film industry, and its practices, than anything else, and, in this context, I enjoyed it. As a film, I think Glover's latest leaves too much on the table, and is far too esoteric, at least for me, to fully enjoy. However, as an experience to see an artist discuss his art, and the work of art in question, I had a wonderful time, and I now appreciate Crispin Hellion Glover as something more than just a curiosity.

[number8]

I really liked the film...

...

I do know one thing for sure though – I didn't care for the film at all. I knew it was going to be strange, it has been compared to El Topo and Holy Mountain, but where Jodorowsky's films contain a strong narrative amidst the surreal and disturbing imagery, the narrative in Glover's film was too aloof, and the subtext too convoluted for my liking. This is not to say, however, that the film, and its creator, didn't fascinate me, because they did. I do think it is possible to appreciate the art contained in a film without having to like the film itself, and this is an exemplary case.

...

As a film, I think Glover's latest leaves too much on the table, and is far too esoteric, at least for me, to fully enjoy.

What are you, a mad man?

[D_Davis]

What are you, a mad man?

:D

When something is far too esoteric for me to fully enjoy, you can be sure that it's really, really esoteric! But even with esoteric cinema, I still need a strong narrative, as in something like Holy Mountain, Mind Game, or The Boxer's Omen. There just wasn't much beyond the symbolism of What is It? for me to embrace.

I didn't really care for the film as a film, but I loved the experience of seeing it and being able to talk with Glover about it. I should have said I really liked the experience of having seen it, rather than saying I liked the film.

:)

[Sycophant]

This will probably mean nothing to anyone unfamiliar with Rich Christiano's awful American Christian-scifi film, Time Changer, but it arose out of an email conversation I was having with some friends last night. (Spoilered for lengthiness.)

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

[number8]

One of the most offensive movies ever made.

[Sycophant]

One of the most offensive movies ever made.

If you're talking about Time Changer, yes, it really is.

[number8]

If you're talking about Time Changer, yes, it really is.

Yes. I find it absolutely amazing that someone made a movie specifically to insult people for being moral.

[Sycophant]

Yeah, it's depraved. So many times watching it, we were all "Holy fuck! I can't believe they just said that!"

[Mara]

Ha! I just wiki'd the premise. Charming.

[D_Davis]

Wait a minute...

2 people here have seen that movie?

[Sycophant]

Maybe more? I'm hoping they come forward if they have.

I remember working at Hollywood Video, I heard stories about people all pissed because it got put in the regular sci-fi section and they rented it to find it was this wretched, preachy, offensive Christian screed.

[Sycophant]

Meanwhile, Way of the Dragon is pretty neat.

[Mara]

People on Netflix have seen it too!


****

This movie is one which everyone should see. Gavin Macleod is wonderful, Paul Rodriquez is good. The script presents many interesting thoguhts not only in the context of this movies, but in our own everyday lives. Many things in this movie happen to us daily ("Oh yea, who says?" says the little boy, etc). But we have become so numb to many things that the message of this movie is something we all need to consider. It won't win best actor, etc but has a real message we all can learn - again.

I have been searching and searching for a film that accurately shows the things that happen to me daily, like that little boy who always walks up and is like, "Oh, yea, who says?"

[number8]

To be clear, I've never seen the entire film to finish, but they state the big lesson in the beginning of the film anyway, so...

Now that I think about it, what shitty writing that is. Imagine if Citizen Kane went like this:

"You know, Mr. Kane always lost whatever he pursued. As successful as he was, he's only ever truly happy in his life when he's playing with his sled Rosebud as a kid."
"What? I don't believe you."
"Oh yeah? Talk to these people."
*90 minutes later*
"Oh. You were right."

[Sycophant]

D. David Morin's performance in Time Changer is something special, though. It is a mostly one-note, wide-eyed performance of extreme puzzlement with no contractions!

The lack of emotion he puts into the line "One in two? This is 50 per cent" (about modern American divorce rate) is astounding.

[Mara]

Okay, I for real caught it that time. There is something very strange about your avatar, Mr. phant. It's been driving me crazy out of the corner of my eye.

[NickGlass]

He is very serious and sincere about it. This is why he insists of being present at every screening, so that he can field questions from the audience about some of the more disturbing elements of the film. When I saw it, he said he was concerned about people accusing him of exploiting the people in the film, and that he thought it was very important to openly discuss the sexual needs of the mentally retarded and physically handicapped. It was refreshing to see an artist stand behind his art and message in such a frank and sincere manner.

I haven't seen What is It, but I did see, and enjoy, the creatively rendered, if depraved, POV filmmaking of It is Fine. Everything is Fine!. I thought the music selections (mostly Bach) were used really well, too. And, yes, it was fascinating to witness how genuinely committed Crispin Glover was to the sexual psyche of a man with cerebral palsy.

[Sycophant]

Okay, I for real caught it that time. There is something very strange about your avatar, Mr. phant. It's been driving me crazy out of the corner of my eye.

;)

[Wryan]

Okay, I for real caught it that time. There is something very strange about your avatar, Mr. phant. It's been driving me crazy out of the corner of my eye.

I've been wondering if I was alone. I can't place it though, can barely catch it.

EDIT: Got it! This is like Pokemon.

[Winston*]

Think I got it too! There's an owl in the picture, right?

[number8]

Subliminal gifs are so 1999.

[Mara]

Subliminal gifs are so 1999.

Green is an ugly color, 8.

EDIT: Wait, did that make any sense at all? Because I was trying to imply that 8 was just jealous, but not really imply it because I know it's not true. But now it just feels like I'm insulting the color green, which is the color of many nice things, like basil and pistachio ice cream and Kermit the frog. This is why I shouldn't reread my posts, because then I figure out how nonsensical most of them are. BAH.

[Skitch]

Watching the always awkward Auto Focus. :)

[Sycophant]

I got it, Mara.

[number8]

I got it too. You countess.

[Mara]

*tries to resist urge to clarify that she meant "basil, and pistachio ice cream" not ice cream that is both basil and pistachio, because yuck*

[balmakboor]

Watching the always awkward Auto Focus. :)

You talking the Paul Schrader movie? I kind of liked it, but there's one scene I really liked. The guys get two hot girls over for sex one evening and one of the girls -- the one more in the background -- is one of my wife's cousins. She was actually the only reason I watched it a number of years ago.

Just had a nice talk with her recently about vampire movies -- she's a big fan -- and how damn hard it's getting to find work in the business these days -- she's a dancer by profession.

[Skitch]

You talking the Paul Schrader movie? I kind of liked it, but there's one scene I really liked. The guys get two hot girls over for sex one evening and one of the girls -- the one more in the background -- is one of my wife's cousins. She was actually the only reason I watched it a number of years ago.

Just had a nice talk with her recently about vampire movies -- she's a big fan -- and how damn hard it's getting to find work in the business these days -- she's a dancer by profession.
Yep! Interesting flick. Hard to call it "good", but its just...interesting. So many deliciously awkward moments. Especially when they're having a conversation and both start masterbating while just chatting. :lol:

BIZARRO!

[Qrazy]

Wait a minute...

2 people here have seen that movie?

D what was the name of and/or the link to that Ninja TV series opening?

[Spinal]

A Town Called Panic is pretty hilarious. The characters are little plastic toys and it's animated in a stop-motion style, so it has kind of a Robot Chicken feel. But it's family friendly and the plot centers on a rural village in which a Cowboy, Indian and Horse live together in a home and share a bathroom. The animals are able to talk and, in fact, the Horse seems to be the head of this particular household. The Cowboy and the Indian want to build Horse a barbecue for his birthday, but accidentally order 50 million bricks instead of the 50 that are required. Bizarre adventures and lots of laughs ensue.

My son says that it is now his favorite movie, but I also think it would have appeal to a lot of folks here. It's ok for kids, but the humor is really sharp and largely unpredictable. It's on Instant Watch. Check it out.

[Sven]

A Town Called Panic is pretty hilarious.

Saw this in the theaters. Very crazy. Unique filmgoing experience.


My son says that it is now his favorite movie

I told Kristen this and she said "His son is a pretty good kid."

[MadMan]

Pickup on South Street was very good, and a classic film noir. I want to see more from Richard Widemark-he's got charisma in spades, and he spews the film's tense, tough dialogue quite well. There's something fascinating and gripping about well made crime movies to me, and this one is no exception. Even though the whole Commie film plot was one big McGuffin, obviously, I didn't really mind.

Heaven Can Wait (1943) is a movie made with grace, wit, humor and class. Reading the synopsis convinced me to give it a chance, and I'm really glad I did, as this is a humorous and delightful film, complete with Don Amache's sharp turn as a likable lover of women, and the gorgeous visuals. Great movie, really, and one that as much a dramatic mediation upon one man's life as it is a comedy.

[Spinal]

I told Kristen this and she said "His son is a pretty good kid."

When people ask my eight-year old's favorite movie, I will say Panique au village.

[Sven]

When people ask my eight-year old's favorite movie, I will say Panique au village.

K says that she now wants to get matching Cheval tattoos with him.

[B-side]

http://i29.tinypic.com/dddkec.jpg

Jean Renoir and I -- we're on good terms lately. A Day in the Country went down nicely, but French Cancan went down ever nicer. Essentially an ode to art forms long since passed, and in this case I'm assuming it's more about theater than the cancan, French Cancan is a technicolor wonder. Bright, vivid colors accentuate the joie de vivre and combat the more sorrowful moments of bitter romantics. Jean Gabin purveys a certain aged sorrow underneath his strained smile, resigned to his role as theater director, never lover. The French aristocracy are clearly to blame for this game of funding and the death of the cancan. The oh so suggestively sexual cancan. Sitting, making their snide remarks! Françoise Arnoul looked a lot like Leslie Caron. Jean Renoir knows how to corral some beautiful women. The finale is a bittersweet celebration of the resurrection of the form as Gabin sits in his throne backstage, smiling and satisfied, yet probably filled with regret. He kicks out his leg in synchronization with the ladies, only to get a dirty look from a passerby. Mm. This is a pretty great film.

[balmakboor]

Just curious if anyone else participated in the youtube/Ridley Scott/Kevin MacDonald "Day in a Life" project. My younger daughter got into it and shot about 20 minutes of footage at her swim meet. We submitted it to the project last night.

[Ivan Drago]

Didn't know whether to post this in this thread or the Random Thoughts thread, but have any of you guys ever dozed off while watching a movie, even though you enjoy it?

I ask because I've had problems with that recently. Yesterday I started to watch Manderlay after I got out of class, and even though I was liking it I started to doze off, and ended up shutting it off because I probably missed something. Later that night I watched Rashomon for the first time and had no problems (I liked the film a lot, too).

But today, two hours ago, I got out of work and put on The Machinist and, like Manderlay, even though I was liking it, I dozed off and was frustrated that this happened again. Has anyone else had this problem?

[number8]

Tired, heat, inactive body, etc. Happens all the time.

[Mara]

Sometimes I doze off and I continue the movie in my dream, incorporating elements of what I'm hearing into a new and different story. Sometimes the end result is better than the original film. Corrina, Corrina is a notable example.

[number8]

The problem is going to be when you fall asleep during Inception and dream the rest of the movie all the way to the credits, only to wake up and realize that you've only missed 3 minutes of the actual movie. Disturbed, you shut off the movie and try to get some sun, only to bump into Leonardo Di Caprio and realize that not only are you still dreaming, but you are now part of the movie.

[Rowland]

Didn't know whether to post this in this thread or the Random Thoughts thread, but have any of you guys ever dozed off while watching a movie, even though you enjoy it?
I fell asleep halfway through Joseph H. Lewis' Gun Crazy the other day, and I really enjoyed what I saw. It was my fault for trying to watch it after a ten hour shift and being up for 18 straight hours, and that I had a drink while watching didn't help. I'll probably wait a bit and just start again from the beginning so it's fresh in my mind.

[Pop Trash]

I fell asleep halfway through Joseph H. Lewis' Gun Crazy the other day, and I really enjoyed what I saw. It was my fault for trying to watch it after a ten hour shift and being up for 18 straight hours, and that I had a drink while watching didn't help. I'll probably wait a bit and just start again from the beginning so it's fresh in my mind.

It's a great movie. Total precursor to Breathless/Bonnie & Clyde/Badlands.

[Ivan Drago]

Tired, heat, inactive body, etc. Happens all the time.

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense considering it's been 100+ degrees almost every day and I haven't done too much all summer.

[Sycophant]

Sometimes I doze off and I continue the movie in my dream, incorporating elements of what I'm hearing into a new and different story. Sometimes the end result is better than the original film. Corrina, Corrina is a notable example.

I used to do this all the time! I still do sometimes! It's kind of awesome! And terrible!

Especially seems to happen with non-English language films.

[Derek]

The problem is going to be when you fall asleep during Inception and dream the rest of the movie all the way to the credits, only to wake up and realize that you've only missed 3 minutes of the actual movie. Disturbed, you shut off the movie and try to get some sun, only to bump into Leonardo Di Caprio and realize that not only are you still dreaming, but you are now part of the movie.

I see you've already started your fiction set in the Inception universe. :)

I want to write myself into limbo with Marion Cotillard and then pop a bunch of Tylenol PMs.


I fell asleep halfway through Joseph H. Lewis' Gun Crazy the other day, and I really enjoyed what I saw. It was my fault for trying to watch it after a ten hour shift and being up for 18 straight hours, and that I had a drink while watching didn't help. I'll probably wait a bit and just start again from the beginning so it's fresh in my mind.

Great movie, seems right up your alley too. It's pretty short, so you might as well start from the beginning.

[Russ]

Great movie, seems right up your alley too. It's pretty short, so you might as well start from the beginning.
And also because the opening sequence is pretty sweet..

[Dead & Messed Up]

Neil Blomkamp's District 9 strikes a hazy middle between mockumentary aesthetics and traditional sci-fi action, and its jumps between the two frequently distract, but the story's a corker, and Sharlto Copley is terrific fun as Van der Merwe. He's an awful person, unaware of how complicit he is in the horrible treatment of the alien "prawns," and it's nice to see him witness the awful fruits of his labor. The beginning's more interesting than the ending, as the examination of the alien culture has a freshness lacking in the stand-off between a mech and guys with guns.

B

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Doppelganger aspires to subvert its horror-show opening with later plot points that hinge on pitch-black comedy. Koji Yakusho (the De Niro to Kurosawa's Scorsese) gives a strong performance as Hayasaki, whose doppelganger proves to be more verbose than frightening, more eager than evil. The film's supernatural weirdness eventually transforms into a look at the way people frequently divide their thoughts, judge things in binaries, and differentiate between id and ego. Intriguing subtexts, as Hayasaki and his twin take on each other's traits, but the film's too slow, with too many scenes of people standing up, crossing, and sitting down, and the "comedy" is hardly funny. More likely to make one wince than chuckle.

B-

[megladon8]

Neil Blomkamp's District 9 strikes a hazy middle between mockumentary aesthetics and traditional sci-fi action, and its jumps between the two frequently distract, but the story's a corker, and Sharlto Copley is terrific fun as Van der Merwe. He's an awful person, unaware of how complicit he is in the horrible treatment of the alien "prawns," and it's nice to see him witness the awful fruits of his labor. The beginning's more interesting than the ending, as the examination of the alien culture has a freshness lacking in the stand-off between a mech and guys with guns.

B


Wati...why do you think Van Der Merwe is an awful person?

He's just incompetent and naiive. I don't think he was a bad person.

[Mara]

Wati...why do you think Van Der Merwe is an awful person?

He's just incompetent and naiive. I don't think he was a bad person.

He's thoughtlessly cruel. His cheery abortion of the alien eggs was downright disturbing.

I just saw this myself for the first time about a week ago. I give it points for being quite original-- I've never seen anything like it-- but there were some odd plot holes and I felt like it ran out of story two-thirds of the way through.

[Derek]

I felt like it ran out of story two-thirds of the way through.

Exactly. Once it became ridiculous and he went all mega-mech, I checked out. To its credit, the first two-thirds were interesting.

Thoughtlessly cruel is a good way of describing Van Der Merwe.

[megladon8]

So is it just me or is Out of the Past really one of the all-time greats?

What a fantastic movie that is.

[soitgoes...]

So is it just me or is Out of the Past really one of the all-time greats?

What a fantastic movie that is.It's on a bunch of lists as a top film, so no I don't think it's just you.

[Dead & Messed Up]

He's thoughtlessly cruel. His cheery abortion of the alien eggs was downright disturbing.

This was a huge one. Also, it took a long, long time for him to overcome his cowardice and do the right thing.

Not that I didn't like that - I kinda love it when heroism forces itself upon someone who wants no part of it. Much more rewarding that way.

[RoadtoPerdition]

The Cake Eaters never seemed to come together for me. It's one of those movies where they throw you into the middle of these peoples' lives and just expect you to automatically care about them, but I really never connected with any of the characters. There was some good talent in the movie, but it just all felt kind of pointless; they go from point A to point B without any real emotion behind anything that happened. Come to think of it, I'm not sure there really was a point B. Disappointing.

[megladon8]

Can someone please explain to me the point and purpose of "machinima", and why anyone would want to make a film this way?

[number8]

Can someone please explain to me the point and purpose of "machinima", and why anyone would want to make a film this way?

Well, I'd like an explanation why anyone would object to someone making a film this way.

[Mara]

For a film that seems willing to ask some hard questions and has some genuinely poignant moments, the ending of The Invention of Lying was so tidy and facile I kind of want to punch it in the face.

[megladon8]

Well, I'd like an explanation why anyone would object to someone making a film this way.


I'm not objecting, I'm just asking what benefits it could possibly have over more traditional 2D or 3D animation techniques.

These video game graphics engines provide very clunky looking characters with little to no expression.

I can see its attraction for small fan-fic videos like what "Red vs Blue" began as, but there are now actual movies coming out with studio budgets. When they have some money to spend, I would think they would go for a much better looking product.

[balmakboor]

For a film that seems willing to ask some hard questions and has some genuinely poignant moments, the ending of The Invention of Lying was so tidy and facile I kind of want to punch it in the face.

I could've written the exact same thing about Winter's Bone. In fact I will:

For a film that seems willing to ask some hard questions and has some genuinely poignant moments, the ending of Winter's Bone was so tidy and facile I kind of want to punch it in the face.

[Mara]

I could've written the exact same thing about Winter's Bone. In fact I will:

For a film that seems willing to ask some hard questions and has some genuinely poignant moments, the ending of Winter's Bone was so tidy and facile I kind of want to punch it in the face.

Aw, man. I had high hopes for Winter's Bone.

[Spinal]

Hands are not for hurting.

Which is why when a film disappoints you, you should kick it in the junk instead.

[Mara]

Hands are not for hurting.

I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you!

[Spinal]

We're watching A Town Called Panic again. This film is too funny. Gonna raise my initial rating half a star.

[Derek]

Spinal's new avatar makes him irresistible. I don't think I can keep my hands off him.

[Spinal]

Spinal's new avatar makes him irresistible. I don't think I can keep my hands off him.

I'm having trouble myself not being attracted to my own avatar. Not sure how I feel about this. I've created a monster. A gorgeous monster that I want to take to the beach and build sand castles with.

[Mara]

We're watching A Town Called Panic again. This film is too funny. Gonna raise my initial rating half a star.

Holy cats. Just watched the first five minutes on Netflix Instant and it might be brilliant. Why wasn't I permitted to watch subversive Belgian television as a child? I was just forced to watch the crap Canadian Téléfrançais about a pyschotic pineapple.

[balmakboor]

Aw, man. I had high hopes for Winter's Bone.

Don't get me wrong. You can keep them high. But the ending was contrived and way too neat and tidy.

[MacGuffin]

Don't get me wrong. You can keep them high. But the ending was contrived and way too neat and tidy.

What else could have happened? It seemed to be the most natural way to end the story to me.

[MacGuffin]

Weekend:

Anatomy of a Murder (Preminger, 1959)
Border Incident (Anthony Mann, 1949)
To Catch a Thief (Hitchcock, 1955)

[Raiders]

Weekend:

Anatomy of a Murder (Preminger, 1959)
Border Incident (Anthony Mann, 1949)
To Catch a Thief (Hitchcock, 1955)

What happened to Bonjour tristesse? In any case, those first two are masterpieces and the third ain't shabby.

[MacGuffin]

What happened to Bonjour tristesse? In any case, those first two are masterpieces and the third ain't shabby.

Will watch it soon, might try to throw it in this weekend. I just get so many movies, it's hard to pick what to watch at any given time.

[Ezee E]

Watching The Runaways. Not very good. But Michael Shannon makes his scenes watchable.

Michael Shannon might be one of those actors that elevates anything he's in.

[balmakboor]

What else could have happened? It seemed to be the most natural way to end the story to me.

I didn't have a problem with the concept so much as the execution. It felt posed and too self conciously "the final scene" of the movie. It was just about the only scene in the movie that didn't feel authentic.

[MacGuffin]

I didn't have a problem with the concept so much as the execution. It felt posed and too self conciously "the final scene" of the movie. It was just about the only scene in the movie that didn't feel authentic.

I guess I just don't really see what you take issue with, but to each his own.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I just watched David Fincher's The Game for the first time, and it's one of those films I want to immediately watch again. Expertly done, great central performance.

Even if things seemed ridiculously convoluted at the end, not only with how he suicidally dove right where he needed to, but how absolutely nobody had any moral qualms about what was being done to him.

What I got into at the end was how it seemed a movie about movies. The nature of the Game, if it's real, suggests that you're surrounded by surveillance (cameras), manipulated by people lying to you (actors), pursued by people trained to pursue you (stuntmen), and that's without getting into the nature of special effects, narrative ellipses, character arcs...

I don't know if it's brilliant, but it's goddamned smart.

[Raiders]

I just watched David Fincher's The Game for the first time, and it's one of those films I want to immediately watch again. Expertly done, great central performance.

Even if things seemed ridiculously convoluted at the end, not only with how he suicidally dove right where he needed to, but how absolutely nobody had any moral qualms about what was being done to him.

What I got into at the end was how it seemed a movie about movies. The nature of the Game, if it's real, suggests that you're surrounded by surveillance (cameras), manipulated by people lying to you (actors), pursued by people trained to pursue you (stuntmen), and that's without getting into the nature of special effects, narrative ellipses, character arcs...

I don't know if it's brilliant, but it's goddamned smart.

Rep. The meta-ness of the film was something I immediately noticed. I had a write up I was very proud of discussing this aspect on the old site. It's been four years now since I've seen the film so a lot of specifics escape me. I didn't care at all for the ending though (I remember so much of the film being haunted by Douglas' father's fate and that the point seemed to be to drive him away from that downfall only to have the resolution be the same--only here with a more pleasing coda, stupidly and callously resolving the emotional center of the film), but up until then it was just about Fincher's best work (save for Zodiac which I saw subsequent).

[D_Davis]

I, too, love The Game. Probably my favorite Fincher film.