28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[transmogrifier]

A is **? Are you insane Davis!? The red is just a simple way to differentiate them from the plain old ordinary **** films. Red = unfuckwithable masterpiece. :)

May I suggest then a five star rating system with half stars. By adopting this, I feel that you would avoid the type of confusion we see in DD.

[MacGuffin]

A is **? Are you insane Davis!? The red is just a simple way to differentiate them from the plain old ordinary **** films. Red = unfuckwithable masterpiece. :)

I'm glad you're seemingly enjoying Costa as much as I am. Beyond his films, I've very much enjoyed reading and watching interviews with him and can't wait to delve further into the Criterion set and listen to his interactions with Jean-Pierre Gorin. I still look forward to Collosal Youth, the short films, then eventually Where Does Your Hidden Smile Lie? and Ne change rien (the former of which I'll probably watch after I take a look at some Straub/Huillet films — there's a region 2 DVD set that compiles three of their movies out right now). But to be perfectly honest, Costa's films will likely all be added into my film canon and I look forward to revisiting them all, as I'm sure flaws and all, like the works of some of the greats (Godard, Brakhage, Hitchcock, etc.) they're even more rewarding a second time around and yet constantly stay with me.

[D_Davis]

A is **? Are you insane Davis!? The red is just a simple way to differentiate them from the plain old ordinary **** films. Red = unfuckwithable masterpiece. :)


May I suggest then a five star rating system with half stars. By adopting this, I feel that you would avoid the type of confusion we see in DD.


:frustrated::frustrated::frust rated:

Is a * film trumped by a * film?

I like the idea of half stars.

But maybe you should also add some horseshoes.

[transmogrifier]

And

* > * > * > *

[transmogrifier]

:frustrated::frustrated::frust rated:


Is this more or less frustrating than:

:confused::crazy::confused::ev il:

[D_Davis]

Is this more or less frustrating than:

:confused::crazy::confused::ev il:

I can't even tell anymore. It's all just a blur.

[number8]

To go back to Nolan vs Burton's action direction in Batman films. I can accept finding the action sequences in Begins and TDK lacking and uninspiring, but they are nowhere near as bad as Burton's. Because while Nolan's biggest crime is that the action is unclear, with Burton the action look downright ridiculous. It's mostly static wide and medium shots of Keaton standing like a cardboard stiffly flailing his limbs while random henchmen jump in and out of frame like a bad Nutcracker on Ice routine.

[megladon8]

I want a Batman movie to have an action scene in the same style/spirit as the hallway hammer-smash scene in Oldboy.

That would rock.

[number8]

Also, as the originator of the M A D M A N joke, it was meant as a riff on Inception, not Batman. The intent was to highlight Madman quotes that are mindbending.

[Watashi]

I thought it was a riff on LOST.

[Sycophant]

Duke's nonsensical abuse of the Madman joke makes me sad.

[number8]

I'm explaining the joke now so that it is no longer funny once explained, and hopefully retiring it. Duke is getting trigger happy.

[megladon8]

NUMBER8


Is that how it works?

[Scar]

Also, as the originator of the M A D M A N joke, it was meant as a riff on Inception, not Batman. The intent was to highlight Madman quotes that are mindbending.

It makes me sad that it actually needs to be explained.

[Raiders]

Every single shot and scene in O Sangue is remarkably composed. Costa has not only a keen eye but a clear love of meticulous compositions. In fact, the film feels like a revolving door of gorgeous shots and sequences. Every moment kind of hangs in this purified cinematic air, each piling both on top of and adjacent to the scene before it. Costa cares not for continuity or narrative momentum. Within each narrative act, you could likely rearrange many of the scenes and I think the film would still make as much sense. The dialogue is awkward but seems intentionally so, as if the characters lack even the basic ability to express themselves emotionally; a character in need simply shouts "Save me"; characters continuously point to secrets and queries that are never answered and potentially don't even exist; the truth is often contained in letters, but even that proves unreliable. The comparisons to Bresson are apt, emotion comes almost solely from circumstance, framing and blocking, and the body-language of each character, particularly Vicente.

I doubt I will remember the emotion or the characters, their names or even what order events happen. But I will never forget some of the images. An amazingly assured filmmaking debut, equally formidable in its craft as the likes of Citizen Kane, but Welles also succeeded in creating a towering work of character and emotion.

[elixir]

So I just saw Pierrot Le Fou and enjoyed it a lot. I don't know why, but I just loved the playing around with color filters at the party, and just all of the things Godard does with cinematic conventions here. I suppose some could find it too cheeky/annoying--like I did at time with A Woman is a Woman--but I just found myself laughing and smiling throughout. It's funny, because a year ago I hadn't even heard of Godard, and at first I thought he was going to be this super-serious guy who made austere films, but obviously I realize that's all wrong now, as he is quite playful and inventive. Which I love a lot. I'm starting to like him more and more with each movie from him I see. Also, Anna Karina. Man. I love her. Such an engaging screen presence. Will watch Made in U.S.A. next, but I really want to get my hands on Masculin Feminin.

[Milky Joe]

Also, as the originator of the M A D M A N joke, it was meant as a riff on Inception, not Batman. The intent was to highlight Madman quotes that are mindbending.

That same visual was used in both Nolan's Batman films, though, so it works either way in that sense of over-dramatizing something that is fundamentally absurd (Madman quotes; man dressed as bat), with no apparent irony at all.

[megladon8]

Actually it's been used in every Christopher Nolan film since Insomnia.

It's also used on all DC superhero movies since Batman Begins.

[D_Davis]

Also, as the originator of the M A D M A N joke, it was meant as a riff on Inception, not Batman. The intent was to highlight Madman quotes that are mindbending.

That's what I thought, too. It's the Match Cut extension of the I N C E P T I O N meme.

[DavidSeven]

I thought it was a riff on LOST, too. The opening credit would usually come up as some dramatically perplexing plot element was introduced. I guess it works either way, but seems funnier in the LOST context because we'd always see that credit at a moment of extreme confusion.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I thought it was a riff on LOST, too. The opening credit would usually come up as some dramatically perplexing plot element was introduced. I guess it works either way, but seems funnier in the LOST context because we'd always see that credit at a moment of extreme confusion.

Yep, that's what I thought. The mind-bending aspect was there either way, so the joke didn't need explaining, but I like it better as a LOST reference.

[MacGuffin]

Every single shot and scene in O Sangue is remarkably composed. Costa has not only a keen eye but a clear love of meticulous compositions. In fact, the film feels like a revolving door of gorgeous shots and sequences. Every moment kind of hangs in this purified cinematic air, each piling both on top of and adjacent to the scene before it. Costa cares not for continuity or narrative momentum. Within each narrative act, you could likely rearrange many of the scenes and I think the film would still make as much sense. The dialogue is awkward but seems intentionally so, as if the characters lack even the basic ability to express themselves emotionally; a character in need simply shouts "Save me"; characters continuously point to secrets and queries that are never answered and potentially don't even exist; the truth is often contained in letters, but even that proves unreliable. The comparisons to Bresson are apt, emotion comes almost solely from circumstance, framing and blocking, and the body-language of each character, particularly Vicente.

I doubt I will remember the emotion or the characters, their names or even what order events happen. But I will never forget some of the images. An amazingly assured filmmaking debut, equally formidable in its craft as the likes of Citizen Kane, but Welles also succeeded in creating a towering work of character and emotion.

So why only three stars then? If your alluding to the ambiguous characters in the second paragraph is to be taken as a complaint, I'd stay away from his Fontainhas movies.

[Raiders]

So why only three stars then? If your alluding to the ambiguous characters in the second paragraph is to be taken as a complaint, I'd stay away from his Fontainhas movies.

The film didn't build to much for me, as I alluded to. It was made of about 100 individually great scenes, but on the whole they didn't build to a cohesive greatness. Maybe as the images and those moments linger, the rating could go up.

I'm certainly going to go on to more of his work. His next film, Casa de Lava, sounds awesome.

[MacGuffin]

I'm certainly going to go on to more of his work. His next film, Casa de Lava, sounds awesome.

He's probably my greatest find in the last few years and it's so great that DVD companies are finally releasing his work (Criterion, and soon Second Run and Masters of Cinema).

[Derek]

:frustrated::frustrated::frust rated:

Is a * film trumped by a * film?

A * is reserved for a self-distributed film because everyone knows that self-distributed art is automatically lesser.

[Spinal]

Lost people, get your damn dirty paws off the Inception jokes.

[Kurosawa Fan]

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/8674/lostlocke.jpg

[Derek]

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lccy90OWmi1qeiy6jo1_500 .jpg

[Skitch]

Ya'll are very curious to me on the Batman discussion. Batman and Robin better than anything? Lunacy. I mean, someone got Arnold into a bat-film WITH the Bane character, but decided he would be better as Mr. Freeze? What the fucking hell?

Batman Forever is pretty freakin horrible. I really want to know how he got the Batmobile off that building.

Nolans bat-films aren't perfect, but they are so far above and beyond Burton's nonsense...watching Burton's always leave me with a red spot on my forehead from facepalming.

[megladon8]

Batman & Robin is, quite simply, more entertaining than Batman Forever IMO.

It's bottom-of-the-barrel, crap-infested shit, but I can watch it and the time passes. Batman Forever is not only terrible, I find it boring.


Once again - animated Batman > all.

[Derek]

Batman & Robin is unspeakably awful. It's the kind of awful that makes me yearn for the quiet respite of boredom.

[megladon8]

Batman & Robin is unspeakably awful. It's the kind of awful that makes me yearn for the quiet respite of boredom.


They crafted a full-length film script entirely out of one-liners.

That's got to be worth something.

[baby doll]

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that all the Batman movies are mediocre or worse, and choosing between Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan is the quintessential turd sandwich/giant douche dilemma.

[Derek]

They crafted a full-length film script entirely out of one-liners.

That's got to be worth something.

http://images.dailyfill.com/46ef68e8cbf64e61_9d2be06973396 6ef/o/11.jpg

[D_Davis]

A * is reserved for a self-distributed film because everyone knows that self-distributed art is automatically lesser.

Fuckin-A, man.

[balmakboor]

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that all the Batman movies are mediocre or worse, and choosing between Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan is the quintessential turd sandwich/giant douche dilemma.

Yeah, but the television episode where Batman goes surfing is pure gold.

[megladon8]

Silent film fans may get a kick out of tomorrow's TeeFury (on sale tonight at midnight)...

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8265/teeq.jpg

[megladon8]

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that all the Batman movies are mediocre or worse, and choosing between Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan is the quintessential turd sandwich/giant douche dilemma.



Hmmmm...

Nah.

[Skitch]

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that all the Batman movies are mediocre or worse, and choosing between Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan is the quintessential turd sandwich/giant douche dilemma.

Negative. I don't even put the two in the same ballpark, or league, or sport.

[MadMan]

The whole MadMan joke was funny once, but its not funny anymore. Of course Duke, being Duke, has failed to realize this.

Also only a crazy person would think that the Nolan Batmans are as bad as Batman and Robin. That shitty movie has few equals, but its watchable in terms of "Goddamn this is hilarious but completely terrible. Look at how they are wasting a decent cast. Who the hell thought this was a good idea?" Those kind of movies should be taught in film courses because it appears that maybe film students need to be shown what not to do when making a movie.

[Boner M]

Weekend

The Whole Shootin' Match (anyone seen this? Blind-bought at a sale cos I lurve low-budget 70's deadbeat cinema)
Colossal Youth
Black God White Devil
Underworld & The Last Command
True Grit (Coens)

[B-side]

I really want to get my hands on Masculin Feminin.

My favorite Godard.

[endingcredits]

Weekend:

Dogtooth (Lanthimos, 2009)
Paper Soldier (German, 2008)
The Public Woman (Zulawski, 1984)

[number8]

I unabashedly love Batman & Robin. My favorite of the non-Nolan Batman films.

[number8]

1. The Dark Knight
2. Batman Begins
3. Batman & Robin
4. Batman: The Movie
5. Batman
6. Batman Returns
7. Batman Forever

[Sven]

1 Batman Returns
2 Batman
--------------------------
3 Batman: the Movie
4 Batman Forever
5 Batman and Robin
6 Batman Begins
7 The Dark Knight

[Spaceman Spiff]

7 The Dark Knight

There's no way you actually think this is worse than Batman and Robin.

[Derek]

There's no way you actually think this is worse than Batman and Robin.

You underestimate Sven's ability to believe unbelievable things.

[D_Davis]

There's no way you actually think this is worse than Batman and Robin.

I like Batman and Robin and Batman Forever more than The Dark Knight.

[Sven]

It's pretty annoying when people tell me what I think.

[Dead & Messed Up]

(0. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm)
1. Batman Begins
2. Batman Returns
3. The Dark Knight
4. Batman
5. Batman Forever
6. Batman & Robin

Returns proves more intriguing every time I rewatch it.

[Watashi]

It's pretty annoying when people tell me what I think.
Not when what you think is just plain bonkers.

[Sven]

Not when what you think is just plain bonkers.

*yaaaawn*

No. No, it still is.

[Watashi]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfuHpGlXsi5 In86gIx2DODCVYAfGKWNrc1JMvg_J2 M2b0QYJZeyQ&t=1

Please defend the "Bat Credit Card".

[Sven]

Please defend the "Bat Credit Card".

I assume you're still talking to me: where does it say that I think B&R is a good movie?

[number8]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfuHpGlXsi5 In86gIx2DODCVYAfGKWNrc1JMvg_J2 M2b0QYJZeyQ&t=1

Please defend the "Bat Credit Card".

It says it's valid "Forever."

It defends itself.

[baby doll]

Negative. I don't even put the two in the same ballpark, or league, or sport.Sure, and a giant douche is way better than a turd sandwich (at least it's sanitary). I'm just saying that neither one is anything worth celebrating. It's been too long since I've seen Batman and Robin to say whether it's better or worse than The Dark Knight (if nothing else, at least the former doesn't take itself so bloody seriously), but it's not like either one represents the pinnacle of cinema as a popular art form. And while I would never want to defend Batman and Robin per se, I don't recall it being so much worse than the three preceding Batman films as to deserve the drubbing it got from the press (where as The Dark Knight, which is only minimally accomplished as storytelling and not at all stylistically, was heralded by most mainstream reviewers as the zenith of world cinema in 2008, which to me illustrates the extent to which most reviewers live only to validate industry hype--hence, all the internet fanboy rage directed at Armond White for not liking certain costly investments).

[D_Davis]

My mind has never been blown more so than it was after watching this:

svOlz2ei4Yk

[Skitch]

Sure, and a giant douche is way better than a turd sandwich (at least it's sanitary). I'm just saying that neither one is anything worth celebrating. It's been too long since I've seen Batman and Robin to say whether it's better or worse than The Dark Knight (if nothing else, at least the former doesn't take itself so bloody seriously), but it's not like either one represents the pinnacle of cinema as a popular art form. And while I would never want to defend Batman and Robin per se, I don't recall it being so much worse than the three preceding Batman films as to deserve the drubbing it got from the press (where as The Dark Knight, which is only minimally accomplished as storytelling and not at all stylistically, was heralded by most mainstream reviewers as the zenith of world cinema in 2008, which to me illustrates the extent to which most reviewers live only to validate industry hype--hence, all the internet fanboy rage directed at Armond White for not liking certain costly investments).

I understand what you're saying, I just plain don't agree. I'm not heralding the Dark Knight as a monument to cinema, but saying its on the same plane as Batman and Robin is just insane. Batman and Robin is mystery science theater horrible filmmaking, by any standard. Dislike TDK all you want, but its not that bad.

[DavidSeven]

Do people forget that the precedent for Batman & Robin's infamous one-liners was set in Burton's films? All Schumacher did was ratchet up what sucked about those movies to another degree.

Catwoman: Somebody say fish? I haven't been fed all day!
Batman: Eat floor.
[throws Catwoman down]
Batman: High fiber.

:|

[Grouchy]

Jack Nicholson's one-liners were great, though. "Never rub another man's rhubarb!"

1. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
2. The Dark Knight
3. Batman Begins
4. Batman Returns
5. Batman
6. Batman: The Movie
7. Batman Forever
8. Batman & Robin

[DavidSeven]

Michael Keaton's reading of "You wanna get nuts? Come on! Let's get nuts!" is still the best thing to result from those movies.

[MacGuffin]

1. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm


If I actually sat down and watched this all the way through, it'd probably be my favorite. I have to agree with baby doll regarding the Batman movies. My favorite would be a toss-up between Batman Forever and The Dark Knight; the former for its comic-sinister sets and general goofiness and the latter for Heath Ledger's frighteningly methodic performance. That said, they're really all not that special. Without animation, I think it's hard to portray Batman's world at the risk of seeming too silly or too self-important.

[number8]

I didn't include Mask of the Phantasm because it'll be a long list with all the animated movies included. I suppose it's the only one to get a theatrical release, but Batman: The Movie didn't, no?

[Derek]

Michael Keaton's reading of "You wanna get nuts? Come on! Let's get nuts!" is still the best thing to result from those movies.

And Seinfeld's subsequent cribbing of it led to one of George Costanza's finest moments, so double win!


Without animation, I think it's hard to portray Batman's world at the risk of seeming too silly or too self-important.

What I saw of Batman: The Animated Series back in the 90s seemed way too self-important to me back then, but I've never been able to get into comics or animated shows based on them, so grain of salt and what not. I had a similar problem with Begins, but I thought Nolan struck a much better balance with The Dark Knight.

[Watashi]

You need to re-watch Batman: TAS, Derek. You're not THAT old.

They are hardly self-important.

[Sven]

They are hardly self-important.

Very po-faced, though.

[Watashi]

Very po-faced, though.
It has serious episodes yeah, but Timm and Co. manage to balance both the fun tone of the early Batman with the more modern mythos of what we know of Batman today. Most of the self-important episodes (like I Am The Night) are pretty bad.

[MacGuffin]

I had a similar problem with Begins, but I thought Nolan struck a much better balance with The Dark Knight.

I agree with you here. I think he began to craft some well-rounded characters in The Dark Knight, which helped liven things up a bit (to his defense, he's crafted some pretty neat characters throughout his career), but it still wasn't enough for me to totally even out all the self-importance. That seems to be the case for everything I've seen by him. With The Dark Knight, Nolan asked us to take a man running around in a bat-suit in a very realistic world (Gotham City seeming to be the only connection to a comic book or comic book-style atmosphere) seriously, and it came off as fan-fiction and as Armond might say, artistic fraud.

[Watashi]

Here is a (unfinished) list I made at RT some time ago. (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?t=623498)

[Sven]

Pretty sure Armond wouldn't use the word "fraudery."

[MacGuffin]

Pretty sure Armond wouldn't use the word "fraudery."

Really? I think I've heard him use it several times before. I thought that was one of his words.

[Dillard]

Happy Together is possibly Wong's best film that I've seen, or at least gives In the Mood For Love and Chungking Express a run for their money. Wong juggles a variety of different aesthetic styles successfully to convey the surging emotions of Fai. As in other films, Wong is a master at matching image to soundtrack, and his use of repetition fills scenes with feelings gathered earlier in the film. I was thinking about half-way through when the main story thread is slowing down that there was no place the film could go. Yet the second half of the film turned out to be even stronger than the first, and needed those experiences, sounds, and images to add a punch to Fai's relationship with Chang and his return to Hong Kong. Full marks for Wong.

[Sven]

Really? I think I've heard him use it several times before. I thought that was one of his words.

Well, it's just not much of an actual word, see. I know Armond likes to embellish, exaggerate, and sometimes uses words curiously, but I'm pretty sure he keeps himself within the bounds of using words that actually exist.

[Sven]

I don't really care if it exists or not as a word. I think it serves its purpose well enough since I'm pretty sure you knew exactly what I meant when I used it.

I also would've known what you meant if you had used the word "fraud," which benefits not only from being an actual word, but also takes less time and energy to type as well as circumvents the chance that someone will give you a ribbing for making up a completely unnecessary word, saving more time, patience, and good grace in the process.

[megladon8]

Even being a huge fan of the Nolan films, I find it hard to understand how someone could think The Dark Knight was an improvement on Batman Begins with regards to feeling overly self-important.


For the record, I can totally understand Sven's liking the Schumacher and Burton films better than the Nolan films. It's not "contrarianism" as so many seem to accuse Sven of sinking to - they really seem more up his alley both stylistically and tonally. When I look at the comic books (and the versions of popular heroes that he most enjoys) I totally see a more stylistically adventurous film like Batman Returns or even Batman Forever being higher on his list than the admittedly self-serious, dark, and loosely "realistic" version that Nolan committed to film.

I don't mean to commit the same crime of speaking for Sven. My intention is only to say that his opinions on the series' totally make sense.


Oh, and have I mentioned yet how animated Batman is the way to go?

[MacGuffin]

I also would've known what you meant if you had used the word "fraud," which benefits not only from being an actual word, but also takes less time and energy to type as well as circumvents the chance that someone will give you a ribbing for making up a completely unnecessary word, saving more time, patience, and good grace in the process.

I went ahead and fixed it for you.

[Sven]

Thanks for the defense, meg. Really, I think it's more a matter of not liking Schumacher's film more so much as it is disliking it less. And certainly you are savvy to my tastes: I definitely navigate toward zany style and adventure, at least moreso than I do to somber character stuff. In this regard, you are correct. However, I think I could argue that Burton's films even work better as films, without my own predilections to spoil the sauce.

But this has been said many times before.

[Sven]

I went ahead and fixed it for you.

Don't fix it for me, man. Fix it for you.

[megladon8]

Thanks for the defense, meg. Really, I think it's more a matter of not liking Schumacher's film more so much as it is disliking it less. And certainly you are savvy to my tastes: I definitely navigate toward zany style and adventure, at least moreso than I do to somber character stuff. In this regard, you are correct. However, I think I could argue that Burton's films even work better as films, without my own predilections to spoil the sauce.

But this has been said many times before.


Understood :)

I guess my overall point was that I take great issue with anyone stating that you dislike Nolan's films as some kind of contrarian stance.

A statement like that would be, to me, as silly and insulting as if you were to state that my liking them is some kind of attempt to be popular and like what everyone else likes.

[Sven]

I guess my overall point was that I take great issue with anyone stating that you dislike Nolan's films as some kind of contrarian stance.

I very much appreciate this.

[MacGuffin]

Does anyone here like Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors? I'm going to give it a watch this weekend if I can.

[soitgoes...]

Does anyone here like Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors? I'm going to give it a watch this weekend if I can.
I liked it. Miles better than that Pomegranates movie.

[megladon8]

I very much appreciate this.


Back from dinner.

I really hope I was in no way over-stepping a boundary, claiming to know what you think (but on the other end of the spectrum).

[megladon8]

A re-watch of Alien Resurrection last night made me think that, wow, that movie is...um...kind of brilliant.

[Scar]

Yeah, I hated Ressurection in theatres, but recently rewatched it, and thought it was alright. I'd still rank it 4th in the Alien series, though.

[B-side]

Does anyone here like Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors? I'm going to give it a watch this weekend if I can.

It's great.

[Derek]

Understood :)

I guess my overall point was that I take great issue with anyone stating that you dislike Nolan's films as some kind of contrarian stance.

But...did anyone do this? Seems odd to take issue with something that didn't actually happen. :)

[Spinal]

Really, I think it's more a matter of not liking Schumacher's film more so much as it is disliking it less.

I'll take Octopussy over Casino Royale. That's kind of sorta the same thing, right?

[Sycophant]

I've occasionally thought about creating a joke account that is an actual arbitrary contrarian to see how Match Cut reacts. But good lord that could be exhausting, and maybe get me banned.

[Winston*]

I've occasionally thought about creating a joke account that is an actual arbitrary contrarian to see how Match Cut reacts. But good lord that could be exhausting, and maybe get me banned.

+ you'd just be repeating what I already did with my Irish account.

[Scar]

I'll take Octopussy over Casino Royale. That's kind of sorta the same thing, right?

Eww.

[Spinal]

+ you'd just be repeating what I already did with my Irish account.

:lol:

[Skitch]

But...did anyone do this? Seems odd to take issue with something that didn't actually happen. :)

I was kinda hoping that was not how I was being perceived, because that not what I was meaning.

[megladon8]

Yeah, I hated Ressurection in theatres, but recently rewatched it, and thought it was alright. I'd still rank it 4th in the Alien series, though.


Yeah, it's definitely the weakest of the series for me.

But I've grown to like it a heckuva lot. It originally hated it, then thought it was "OK", and now I think it's a damn good movie.

Man, they ramped up the psycho-sexual imagery to 11 in that movie. The ooey-gooey factor is also at an obscene level.

[megladon8]

But...did anyone do this? Seems odd to take issue with something that didn't actually happen. :)


Sven has often been accused of contrarianism because he has tastes that differ from the MatchCut "norm".

I guess I did misunderstand what was being directed at Sven's thoughts in the first place, for which I apologize.

[D_Davis]

I'll take Octopussy over Casino Royale. That's kind of sorta the same thing, right?

Oh hell yeah. I'll take fuckin' Moonraker over Casino Royale. I fell asleep in the theater during CR.

[Scar]

Oh hell yeah. I'll take fuckin' Moonraker over Casino Royale. I fell asleep in the theater during CR.

:|

[balmakboor]

Did anyone else watch "Life in a Day" while it was showing on youtube this evening? The Q&A is happening from Sundance right now.

I was only able to watch the first 35 minutes, but I thought it was great. Way beyond my expectations. People sent in a total of about 4,500 hours of footage and they carved a 90 minute film out of it. (Yeah, with that kind of shooting ratio I would hope they could make something pretty great.)

My daughter sent in about 30 minutes of footage. None of it used of course, but she had fun and looks forward to seeing the finished film to learn how other creative people approached the assignment.

[Ezee E]

What type of footage were you suppose to send?

[balmakboor]

What type of footage were you suppose to send?

All of the footage had to be shot on the same day and the basic intention was to have people all over the world document their day in all its banal glory.

Watching the film, obviously a lot of very talented filmmakers and wannabes took the project to heart. But there is also a lot of far more amateurish stuff mixed in. I was really digging it actually.

[balmakboor]

This is the youtube channel. All it's showing at the moment is the trailer. Apparently the Q&A is over.

http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday

[eternity]

Copying and pasting here:



A formidable addition to the genre that stuff like This American Life fits into for most of the film, but then the final twenty minutes come. They are impossible to shake and truly some of the most powerful stuff I've seen in ages. The final scene made me shed a tear exactly five seconds before it cut to the end credits. It was as good as I thought it could be, but then it became better.

[Spinal]

I fell asleep in the theater during CR.

I just got a massive headache.

[Rowland]

And Seinfeld's subsequent cribbing of it led to one of George Costanza's finest moments, so double win!As a fairly well-versed fan of Seinfeld, I can't remember this at all. Help!

[Watashi]

This is an actual cast for a movie next month:

James McAvoy
Emily Blunt
Michael Caine
Patrick Stewart
Stephen Merchant
Jason Statham
Maggie Smith
Hulk Hogan
Ozzy Osbourne
Dolly Parton

There exists a film that contains all these people.

[Dead & Messed Up]

:|

Yeah, I don't get it either. I've learned to respect it, but I don't get it.

[MadMan]

This is an actual cast for a movie next month:

James McAvoy
Emily Blunt
Michael Caine
Patrick Stewart
Stephen Merchant
Jason Statham
Maggie Smith
Hulk Hogan
Ozzy Osbourne
Dolly Parton

There exists a film that contains all these people.That's an um, interesting cast to say the least.

I'd post weekend viewings, but I doubt I'll get to any of them. Just haven't really been in a movie watching mood as of late.

[Sven]

Octopussy is my favorite Bond film, probably.

[balmakboor]

Btw, Life in a Day was directed by Kevin MacDonald (One Day in September, Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland) and was produced by Ridley Scott. An interesting bit of trivia about MacDonald is that he's the grandson of Emeric Pressburger.

[kuehnepips]

Weekend:

My brand new Expendables SE. Envy me.

[number8]

Saw a movie last night that's not only my favorite Channing Tatum peformance, but it's probably the best movie he's been in so far. Signed a thing saying I can't say anything about it online, though, so I guess I won't name it.

[Raiders]

Saw a movie last night that's not only my favorite Channing Tatum peformance, but it's probably the best movie he's been in so far. Signed a thing saying I can't say anything about it online, though, so I guess I won't name it.

My first thought was "oh awesome, Haywire is among my more anticipated films of 2011!"... then I realized you're more likely talking about The Eagle which I have no interest in.

[Derek]

As a fairly well-versed fan of Seinfeld, I can't remember this at all. Help!

It's in the episode where George lies to Susan's parents about having a place in the Hamptons so he doesn't have to go to the meeting for her memorial fund. Elaine gives away that George doesn't actually have a place there yet they still accept his invitation to go up there. Right here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-MtW7hbzWk&feature=related). :)

[D_Davis]

Octopussy is my favorite Bond film, probably.

Me, too.

Oh, and my DVD of Endhiran Tamil shipped today. I cannot wait to have my mind totally blown by three-hours of singing, dancing and epic robot action.

[Watashi]

You know what I like about you English? Octopussy. Man, I must have seen that movie...twice.

[number8]

Hey, Davis, I know you didn't like the first one (me neither) but have you seen Ip Man 2? I just posted my review (http://www.justpressplay.net/movie-reviews/40-reviews/7383-ip-man-2.html).

[D_Davis]

Hey, Davis, I know you didn't like the first one (me neither) but have you seen Ip Man 2? I just posted my review (http://www.justpressplay.net/movie-reviews/40-reviews/7383-ip-man-2.html).

Haven't seen it, yet. Probably will soon. I'll read!

[megladon8]

I think Aliens may actually be my least favorite of the series.

I still love it, though, which shows how highly I think of the series as a whole.

[Skitch]

You guys didn't like Ip Man?! :(

[megladon8]

I find Donnie Yen a little hard to take.

[D_Davis]

You guys didn't like Ip Man?! :(

I just thought it was tonally awkward. I expected the subject matter to be treated with more reverence and seriousness, more akin to Fearless.

It's not a bad movie per se, and I've always really liked Donny Yen. The dude is legit. I also love that he's pretty much keeping modern martial arts cinema alive. SPL and Flashpoint are both pretty damn amazing, and 14 Blades was also good.

[megladon8]

Haven't seen Flashpoint, but SPL is indeed one badass flick.

And, of course, Hero is sublime.

[Skitch]

I just thought it was tonally awkward. I expected the subject matter to be treated with more reverence and seriousness, more akin to Fearless.

It's not a bad movie per se, and I've always really liked Donny Yen. The dude is legit. I also love that he's pretty much keeping modern martial arts cinema alive. SPL and Flashpoint are both pretty damn amazing, and 14 Blades was also good.

I may be jaded from wading through so much in the way of kung fu garbage these days.

[eternity]

This is an actual cast for a movie next month:

James McAvoy
Emily Blunt
Michael Caine
Patrick Stewart
Stephen Merchant
Jason Statham
Maggie Smith
Hulk Hogan
Ozzy Osbourne
Dolly Parton

There exists a film that contains all these people.
A movie about Shakespearian gnomes.

[Ivan Drago]

A movie about Shakespearian gnomes.

Sad that cast is wasted on that.

By the way Eternity, your avatar is awesome. PLANK!

[balmakboor]

I'm on a mission to see all of Robin Wood's top 10 films and went to Netflix just now to queue up Letter From and Unknown Woman and The Reckless Moment only to find the former hasn't had a U.S. DVD release and the latter is out of print and can only be had as a bootleg from Korea. Arrggh!

I wonder if this means Criterion will be coming to the rescue soon. They seem to like Ophuls.

[B-side]

I'm on a mission to see all of Robin Wood's top 10 films and went to Netflix just now to queue up Letter From and Unknown Woman and The Reckless Moment only to find the former hasn't had a U.S. DVD release and the latter is out of print and can only be had as a bootleg from Korea. Arrggh!

I wonder if this means Criterion will be coming to the rescue soon. They seem to like Ophuls.

Good films. I prefer Caught of Ophuls' American films. Letter from an Unknown Woman is better than both. Both easily attainable via KG, but I'm assuming by your frustration that you either don't have an account or don't download, so I suppose that was a pointless statement.

[D_Davis]

I may be jaded from wading through so much in the way of kung fu garbage these days.

There sure isn't much worth talking about. Have you seen anything really great recently?

I don't think Ip Man is a terrible film, I simply wanted more out of it. Perhaps it was my own fault for wanting something more similar in tone to Fearless - that film has set the standards for historically-based martial arts biopic really high.

Thank God True Legend and Detective Dee were both amazing.

[D_Davis]

I'm on a mission to see all of Robin Wood's top 10 films and went to Netflix just now to queue up Letter From and Unknown Woman and The Reckless Moment only to find the former hasn't had a U.S. DVD release and the latter is out of print and can only be had as a bootleg from Korea. Arrggh!

I wonder if this means Criterion will be coming to the rescue soon. They seem to like Ophuls.

It boggles my mind that in this day and age there are still films that are hard to get and see in a legit fashion. So utterly bizarre.

[balmakboor]

Good films. I prefer Caught of Ophuls' American films. Letter from an Unknown Woman is better than both. Both easily attainable via KG, but I'm assuming by your frustration that you either don't have an account or don't download, so I suppose that was a pointless statement.

KG has always sounded like such a silly game of having to upload in order to download. I just want to download, if anything. So, no, I've never checked it out. Am I being foolish and misguided and old fuddy-duddy-ish about this?

[megladon8]

When it comes to Jet Li's western fare, I actually quite like Kiss of the Dragon.

Of course it doesn't come close to Once Upon a Time in China or Fearless, but I still liked it a lot.

I also quite liked Danny the Dog.

[B-side]

KG has always sounded like such a silly game of having to upload in order to download. I just want to download, if anything. So, no, I've never checked it out. Am I being foolish and misguided and old fuddy-duddy-ish about this?

I'd say so. It's been a huge blessing for me being as into the more obscure cinema as I am.

[Derek]

KG has always sounded like such a silly game of having to upload in order to download. I just want to download, if anything. So, no, I've never checked it out. Am I being foolish and misguided and old fuddy-duddy-ish about this?

I have never uploaded anything to KG. All I do is keep many of the films I DL so they continue to seed. After the first few weeks (patience pays off in spades), I never again had to worry about my ratio and I could download 100-150 films right now and still not have to worry about it. So yes, considering the scope of their collection and the sheer number of films they have that are unavailable elsewhere, you're being fuddy-duddyish. :)

[balmakboor]

I'd say so. It's been a huge blessing for me being as into the more obscure cinema as I am.

I was just on a KG forum and there was lots of talk about having to be invited and having to maintain a "ratio." So, how does one get invited and what is this ratio thing exactly that one has to maintain or get booted out? Some were talking about having to download a lot of crap they don't even want to "maintain a ratio." ???

[balmakboor]

What does "continuing to seed" mean?

[elixir]

Yeah, KG confuses and scares me. I've never really downloaded or torrented movies...I just find them online in other ways often. Or DVDs/netflix of course.

[B-side]

I was just on a KG forum and there was lots of talk about having to be invited and having to maintain a "ratio." So, how does one get invited and what is this ratio thing exactly that one has to maintain or get booted out? Some were talking about having to download a lot of crap they don't even want to "maintain a ratio." ???

A member would have to email you an invite, due to it being a private tracker and all. If you've ever torrented before, then you know that you do so via a torrent client that handles your downloads for you. The ratio you must maintain is simply uploading a certain amount relative to what you've downloaded, the standards of which are really easily sustained. Continuing to seed is simply keeping the file in your torrent client as opposed to removing it.

[Derek]

I was just on a KG forum and there was lots of talk about having to be invited and having to maintain a "ratio." So, how does one get invited and what is this ratio thing exactly that one has to maintain or get booted out? Some were talking about having to download a lot of crap they don't even want to "maintain a ratio." ???

I dl'd a couple of things I didn't want in the very beginning, but in retrospect, I really didn't have to do that. My biggest ratio boost was Chris Marker's Grin Without a Cat! You just have to be careful about downloading too much right away before people download what you have (ie, download a couple films you wanna see, then wait a while before downloading more).

All ratio means is the ratio of what you DL to what you DL. If you download 10GB and have uploaded (seeded) 5 GB, your ratio is 0.5.

It's a bit of a game at the beginning, but as long as your patient during the first month or two and leave your tracker open, it's all good. Most people get screwed by joining, DLing 20 things that want and falling way behind on their ratio.


What does "continuing to seed" mean?

All it means is you leave your torrent tracker open (the same thing that's open when you're dl'ing) so that you're sharing the files you've downloaded.



Anyway, don't wanna hijack the thread, but PM me if you have any more questions. I have plenty of invites too, if you need one.

[balmakboor]

The ratio you must maintain is simply uploading a certain amount relative to what you've downloaded, the standards of which are really easily sustained.

But Derek just said he's never uploaded anything.

[megladon8]

I could never be bothered with torrenting or any other file-sharing systems.

[Stay Puft]

Featured torrents help now, too.

[balmakboor]

Btw, Marker's Grin Without a Cat is amazing.

[B-side]

But Derek just said he's never uploaded anything.

He meant he's never uploaded new material to the tracker. You upload when you seed and someone downloads that film from the tracker. It's basically torrenting without getting rid of the film right away.

[Stay Puft]

When it comes to Jet Li's western fare, I actually quite like Kiss of the Dragon.

I also quite liked Danny the Dog.

Agreed.

I rewatched Danny the Dog a couple months ago and was impressed again by some of the action direction. The brawl in the pit has a nice rhythm and pace to it established almost entirely through the camerawork, with minimal cutting. Quite a fun sequence.

[Derek]

I could never be bothered with torrenting or any other file-sharing systems.

It's really only necessary if you're interested in more rare and unreleased films. It's nice not to have to drop $30 or $40 blind buying a DVD released elsewhere in the world.

[balmakboor]

He meant he's never uploaded new material to the tracker. You upload when you seed and someone downloads that film from the tracker. It's basically torrenting without getting rid of the film right away.

Oh, well that all sounds like a horse of a different color then.

[Milky Joe]

I could never be bothered with torrenting or any other file-sharing systems.

Struggling to understand how it's even a bother at all. Quite the opposite, it's a convenience.

[Russ]

Quite the opposite, it's a convenience.
This.

[B-side]

Oh, well that all sounds like a horse of a different color then.

It's incredibly easy once you dive in. It was intimidating for me at first as well, so you're certainly not alone there. I just don't know where I'd be without such an incredible place like KG.

[megladon8]

Because torrenting requires the sharing of files in order for the ones you want to download with any kind of reasonable speed.

And I don't have any files to share.

So it's a bit of a conundrum - I have to get files to share, which will take several days (I've even had download times of a week or more).

Then, once they're downloaded, it's only once in a blue moon that I get a file I can burn to a disc and will work properly in my DVD player.

I absolutely abhor watching things on a computer screen.


So I use Google. If I can't find it on Google, so be it.

[Milky Joe]

Because torrenting requires the sharing of files in order for the ones you want to download with any kind of reasonable speed.

Yeah, hm, no, it doesn't. Speed is contingent on the number of seeders.

[megladon8]

Yeah, hm, no, it doesn't. Speed is contingent on the number of seeders.


I guess we're talking about two completely different things then.

What I understood as "torrenting" and have been pointed to many times by my friends is a service in which your download speed is directly linked to how much you have available for upload.

Since I don't have anything on my computer to add to the pool of files, I was always getting stuck with download times of like 5 days.

[Milky Joe]

Yeah, that has nothing to do with torrents.

Maybe the most confusing aspect of torrenting has to do with port-forwarding, but even that's pretty simple. A lot of torrent sites are very reasonable about ratios, too. You don't even need to keep a ratio if you haven't downloaded more than 5 GB on some sites, then once you get past that set amount you have to keep a ratio of at least 0.2, which is nothing.

[Winston*]

I can't use torrents because in my country there is no such things as uncapped broadband. :(

[dmk]

There are other non-fascistic ratio-free means such as Rapidshare and that ilk with Surreal Moviez and Retro Flix which serve just as well as torrents while using an entirely different system. Likewise invite-only, but it's not hard to get one (well, that's not so true for Retro).

[Rowland]

The sixteen worst ways to be killed by Jason Statham. (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/01/the_16_worst_ways_to_be_killed .html#photo=2x77171)

2 is easily the best.

[soitgoes...]

I can't use torrents because in my country there is no such things as uncapped broadband. :(There's always a seedbox which sidesteps your country's broadband restrictions by using another person's computer in another, more broadband friendly, country. The kicker is that it isn't free, but you can easily find one that won't set you back more than a handful of dollars (<$20) a month (not sure what a handful of dollars translates into New Zealand money).

[Skitch]

There sure isn't much worth talking about. Have you seen anything really great recently?

I don't think Ip Man is a terrible film, I simply wanted more out of it. Perhaps it was my own fault for wanting something more similar in tone to Fearless - that film has set the standards for historically-based martial arts biopic really high.

Thank God True Legend and Detective Dee were both amazing.

No. I watch all of them that pop up on Netflix I can. Dragon Dynasty has about 1 in 25 that are good. In comparrison to most of the crap I've been suffering through, Ip Man was Oscar worthy. :D

I'm a little surprised by your love of Fearless. While I enjoyed that film I wasn't blown away. It has been a while though, I'll watch it again.

I'll also seek out True Legend and Detective Dee.

[Raiders]

Eh, I don't know what I do wrong, but I can seed for weeks and weeks and never upload a single KB. Even popular films I never seem to be able to and when I do, it is at about 5 KB/s and never totals more than a few MB. If I didn't have some gracious gifts from nice benefactors, I would have been booted long ago from KG.

[Derek]

Eh, I don't know what I do wrong, but I can seed for weeks and weeks and never upload a single KB. Even popular films I never seem to be able to and when I do, it is at about 5 KB/s and never totals more than a few MB. If I didn't have some gracious gifts from nice benefactors, I long ago would have been booted from KG.

The problem with popular films, is you may be 1 of 50 people seeding the film at a time. I have the best luck with films with only 3 or 4 seeders, so when someone DLs it, I get at least a couple hundred GBs uploaded.

When you say benefactors, do you mean people have just DL'd from you or have they "donated" to you? I've read stuff that makes me think you can give away upload ratio to help people out, but I never saw how. If it's possible, I can definitely help you out.

[Raiders]

The problem with popular films, is you may be 1 of 50 people seeding the film at a time. I have the best luck with films with only 3 or 4 seeders, so when someone DLs it, I get at least a couple hundred GBs uploaded.

I know all this, but it still seems to just never work out for me. Then again, I am not as frequent a user as a lot of people.


When you say benefactors, do you mean people have just DL'd from you or have they "donated" to you? I've read stuff that makes me think you can give away upload ratio to help people out, but I never saw how. If it's possible, I can definitely help you out.

I have been given a gift of say 5GB to be added to my upload total. Not sure how it was done. I'm OK for now; in fact my ratio is really good (about 1.0) but the gifts total about 20GB and my actual uploaded amount is about 10GB. I only have about 30GB downloaded. Thanks for the offer though.

[Ezee E]

Yeah. I followed the tips and tried uploading what I should upload, and all I was given was .03. I haven't been on the website too much since.

[endingcredits]

Getting the featured torrents on KG quickly after they're posted is a good way to keep up your ratio if you have a decent upload pipe.

[Morris Schæffer]

I'm torrenting at blindingly fast speeds. If it's a movie that was just posted and the guy who posted it is well-known - and you'll quickly figure out who the good ones are - I might have the movie within the hour (assuming it's about 700 MB in size). That's without uploading (sharing) anything myself. Once I've got the movie, I move it to a different folder (ex. Movies) rather than keeping it in the torrent client folder, and then remove it from my client so I don't have to upload either. Seeds & leachers is crucial. The higher the better.

[endingcredits]

I'm torrenting at blindingly fast speeds. If it's a movie that was just posted and the guy who posted it is well-known - and you'll quickly figure out who the good ones are - I might have the movie within the hour (assuming it's about 700 MB in size). That's without uploading (sharing) anything myself. Once I've got the movie, I move it to a different folder (ex. Movies) rather than keeping it in the torrent client folder, and then remove it from my client so I don't have to upload either. Seeds & leachers is crucial. The higher the better.

So what you're saying is your ratio sucks and you're heading for the b&hammer?

[MacGuffin]

Boy Meets Girl (Carax, 1984) **

Baloney!

[D_Davis]

I'm a little surprised by your love of Fearless. While I enjoyed that film I wasn't blown away. It has been a while though, I'll watch it again.


I think Fearless is a masterpiece. It will definitely be placed on a revised Top 100, and I think it is Jet Li's best film. It might be Ronny Yu's best film, even beating out The Bride With White Hair. It's just so classy and well made - it has substance. I really wish I could see the full cut with the entire Michelle Yeoh sub-plot that was removed. Apparently almost 40 minutes were cut from the HK version.

edit - looks like the director's cut is now available on DVD. I'll need to see this. Scarecrow here I come!

[elixir]

When a movie doesn't play in DVDs for the US (region 1), will it work in your computer?? I think it's region 2 or from Australia or something...and I almost bought it because it was really cheap, but then it said it wouldn't play on US DVD players.

[kopello]

Somewhat on the topic of torrents and what not, I'm having trouble playing a video file with subtitles from a USB onto my Sony blu-ray player. I can play the video file off the usb once I convert it to mp4 format, but I have no idea how to get the subtitles to work. It's not the same as watching them with VLC on my computer, I can't just have the video and subtitle file have the same name and they work, I may have to convert the subtitle file to something else but I don't know what. I've posted this question on other forums but with no help, if anyone knows how to do this it'd be greatly appreciated so I can watch my blurip of I Wish I Knew on my tv. :)

[D_Davis]

When a movie doesn't play in DVDs for the US (region 1), will it work in your computer?? I think it's region 2 or from Australia or something...and I almost bought it because it was really cheap, but then it said it wouldn't play on US DVD players.

Most DVD players in computers are region coded - either at the software or hardware level. There was a great tool for unlocking these called DV43 - however, it only works on 32bit machines, and the dev is not making a 64bit version. It worked great and did not require one to flash the hardware.

There are other hacks - www.videohelp.com

***

In other news, I just picked up the director's cut of Fearless. Stoked.

[Sven]

There are other hacks - www.videohelp.com


*takes a shot

[endingcredits]

When a movie doesn't play in DVDs for the US (region 1), will it work in your computer?? I think it's region 2 or from Australia or something...and I almost bought it because it was really cheap, but then it said it wouldn't play on US DVD players.

What OS are you using? According to google, in windows you can right click on its icon in 'My Computer' and adjust the Region. Apparently there is a limit on the numbers of times this can be done though, so I'd suggest doing it once and then ripping to the HD.

[elixir]

Mac. I actually found a region 1 version (if I decide to buy it, of course), but I'm keeping that link and this information in mind for the future.

[megladon8]

Watching Alien 3, it's pretty funny at the beginning when they are looking at the bodies in the wreckage and they say that the little girl "drowned in her sleep...she didn't feel anything."

Yet, they show a shot of her in the cryo-tube with a look of UTTER HORROR on her face, and her hands positioned like she was trying to claw her way out.

[Pop Trash]

Has anybody figured out what the fuck actually happens at the end of The Conversation?

[megladon8]

Has anybody figured out what the fuck actually happens at the end of The Conversation?


What do you mean? What are you confused about?

[Pop Trash]

What do you mean? What are you confused about?

Well the whole "murder" in the hotel room. Did that actually happen? Caul picks up the newspaper that (I think, my DVD was skipping around this point) says something about Duvall's character dying in a car wreck. I mean, I guess it's always going to be ambiguous, and that's what I like about it. Even Ebert doesn't seem to know if the blood that emerges from the toilet in the couple's hotel room is real or imagined by Caul.

[Raiders]

Well the whole "murder" in the hotel room. Did that actually happen? Caul picks up the newspaper that (I think, my DVD was skipping around this point) says something about Duvall's character dying in a car wreck. I mean, I guess it's always going to be ambiguous, and that's what I like about it. Even Ebert doesn't seem to know if the blood that emerges from the toilet in the couple's hotel room is real or imagined by Caul.



Yeah, it is never told to us 100% clearly. It is a rather classic case of the untrustworthy POV. The blood in the toilet is definitely subjective. It is at least played as a first-person POV horror shot (the implication being Harry's own paranoia, and his part in this scheme, is spilling over the edge into a messy and seemingly unstoppable force). The murder seems less subjective and more a fact, but we are never given an outsider's confirmation. It is all part of a brilliant sequence where Harry basically spills over--back to the toilet image--into full on paranoid assault. I still think the obvious implication is that it did happen and that the newspaper article is a cover-up. The changing of intonation in the recording saying "he'd kill us if he had the chance," showing Harry's own misconception (further feeding into the film-long exploration of his selective genius and carelessness) gives us a likely tale that there was a murder and a cover-up. But, we can't be sure, despite any destructive fine-combing. Such is the nature of the melancholic final image.

[MacGuffin]

Some good theater-going for me in the next few months. Tomorrow it's Creation (Stan Brakhage) and The Secret Garden (Phil Solomon) et al.; then late Feb., Eustache's The Mother and the Whore and then Thom Anderson's latest Get Out of the Car (haven't seen Los Angeles Plays Itself, but it plays around here every quarter or so) with a few other interesting looking geographical a-g docs. Finally, Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives of course in early March.

[Pop Trash]

Yeah, and the whole "he'd kill us if he had chance" thing could simply be a figure of speech. I mean I say "my so-and-so co-worker would kill me if..." often but I don't think they would literally murder me (at least I hope not). I also think what Harrison Ford's character says at the end (something like "we are listening to you"), and what is the catalyst for Caul destroying his apartment looking for a bug, could be interpreted as a bluff. For all we know, there may not be a bug at all anywhere.

[Skitch]

I think Fearless is a masterpiece. It will definitely be placed on a revised Top 100, and I think it is Jet Li's best film. It might be Ronny Yu's best film, even beating out The Bride With White Hair. It's just so classy and well made - it has substance. I really wish I could see the full cut with the entire Michelle Yeoh sub-plot that was removed. Apparently almost 40 minutes were cut from the HK version.

edit - looks like the director's cut is now available on DVD. I'll need to see this. Scarecrow here I come!

I just checked...I have the directors cut. 2 hours 21 minutes. Hopefully this is the cut you're refering to.

As for classy, well made, and substance...maybe Ip Man just caught me in the right mood, but I felt that way about it. Yeah, not a masterpiece, but man, I really enjoyed it.

This is getting me pumped to watch Fearless.

[EyesWideOpen]

In other news, I just picked up the director's cut of Fearless. Stoked.

I have an HD-Dvd copy of that. I've watched it twice now, so good.

[D_Davis]

Not quite sure how I feel about the Michelle Yeoh subplot, but the rest of the DC of Fearless is amazing. The fight sequence in the restaurant is just stunning; everything from the use of space, props, lighting and choreography is masterful. I'd argue that Jet Li has never looked better; his form is flawless, and he harnesses so much power. The fights in this movie look and sound like they are painful and brutal - the film captures the brutality of wushu combat over and above the elegance of the of movement. And what's more, the film counter-balances the brutality with the middle portion of the film, which is quiet and meditative.

It is definitely somewhere on my top 100 now. Really glad I watched it again.

[D_Davis]

As for classy, well made, and substance...maybe Ip Man just caught me in the right mood, but I felt that way about it. Yeah, not a masterpiece, but man, I really enjoyed it.


I'm going to give Ip Man a rewatch when I'm able to get part two on DVD.

[Skitch]

I believe that every one of us film freaks has at least a handful of films we grew up with that we will always love, reguardless of maturity, or how poorly some films age. Last week my mom was going through her vhs', and asked me if there was any I wanted before she took em to the thrift store. I took one.

1959's Last Days Of Pompeii with Steve Reeves is so fucking awesome.

[megladon8]

I so wish that Bruce Lee had gotten to work with people like Ronny Yu, Woo-ping Yuen and Jet Li.

As it is, he was one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived, and only really had one incredible movie under his belt, one good one, and a whole bunch of mediocrity.

[D_Davis]

I so wish that Bruce Lee had gotten to work with people like Ronny Yu, Woo-ping Yuen and Jet Li.

As it is, he was one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived, and only really had one incredible movie under his belt, one good one, and a whole bunch of mediocrity.

I often imagine how much different the martial arts film would be had Lee chosen to sign on with the Shaw Brothers rather than Golden Harvest. Just imagine Bruce Lee in a Chang Cheh or Lau Kar Leung film? His persona and style would have worked perfect with LKL. But the Shaws only wanted him to be another wheel in their machine.

So yeah, who knows. And I agree - he should have been in better films.

[number8]

He was amusing in MARLOWE.

[megladon8]

You know, upon rewatching all of the Alien films, I actually think I just cannot rank them outside of the first one being my favorite.

I love all three sequels, and all three have an equal number of "problems" that keep me from loving one more than the other(s).

Overall, one of my favorite film series' of all time.

[Bosco B Thug]

The King's Speech - I was surprisingly taken by much of Hooper's style, but conjointly it's a very manipulative picture with a very formulaic flim-flam of a screenplay, that tries to convince you it's looking historically at British ministry but instead is heaping the oddest sort of flattery and face-value evaluations of this episode in history. Is this is how the film is coming off to you guys, too? Anyway, Colin Firth is magnificent, though.

Lost in Translation - Um babydoll? Yoo-hoo? You may have gained an ally.

[Spinal]

I still can't bring myself to want to see The King's Speech.

[Skitch]

Lost in Translation - Um babydoll? Yoo-hoo? You may have gained an ally.

I missed baby doll's take. Which side are you guys on?

[Kurosawa Fan]

I still can't bring myself to want to see The King's Speech.

Neither can I. I was really surprised when I read in EW that it's the front-runner for Best Picture. It just seems so bland and paint-by-numbers.

[Bosco B Thug]

I still can't bring myself to want to see The King's Speech. Colin Firth's performance is clearly the only real reason to see it.


I missed baby doll's take. Which side are you guys on? Ah, baby doll doesn't like it very much, and always mentions that it's condescending to Japanese people. I kinda see it now, and while I don't think it characterizes the whole film, it does stink up a bit what came off as a very slight, kinda bubble-headed picture this time around.

[Ezee E]

The King's Speech is heralded wherever it goes. But the reason I don't want to see it is not because it appears to be by the numbers, but because I simply don't care what it's about. A studdering king? Meh.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Wow, Haxan was the bees knees.

[Bosco B Thug]

The King's Speech is heralded wherever it goes. But the reason I don't want to see it is not because it appears to be by the numbers, but because I simply don't care what it's about. A studdering king? Meh.
I hate to pull Social Network-hater reasoning, but yeah, the story itself is a problem of the film. It's not that speech impediment isn't something to take seriously, but its being placed as the hinge upon which its historical story finds its meaning is contrived to the point of uselessness, as is the story ending up mostly about the perseverance of royal tradition.

[baby doll]

Neither can I. I was really surprised when I read in EW that it's the front-runner for Best Picture. It just seems so bland and paint-by-numbers.I haven't seen it either, despite having a total man-crush on Colin Firth, but I'm not in the least surprised at it being the Oscar front-runner precisely because it looks bland and plaint-by-numbers. Also, why are you reading Entertainment Weekly in the first place?

I also can't bring myself to see The Fighter (even though I've liked or loved all of David O. Russell's previous films), 127 Hours (although it can't be worse than Slumdog Millionaire), or Toy Story 3 (I haven't seen Toy Story 2, so I'd be lost).

[StanleyK]

Black God White Devil (Rocha, 1964) **½

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this. I saw it a long time ago and was similarly ambivalent, but I don't really remember much from it.

[NickGlass]

I haven't seen it either, despite having a total man-crush on Colin Firth, but I'm not in the least surprised at it being the Oscar front-runner precisely because it looks bland and plaint-by-numbers. Also, why are you reading Entertainment Weekly in the first place?

With the recent wins by The Hurt Locker, The Departed and No Country for Old Men, the public seemed to buy into the illusion that the Academy was overlooking bait, and getting hipper. Say what you will about those films, but none were conceived with the concept that awards may follow; they're rather unconventional choices. But, yes, this appears to be a Slumdog year (not that Slumdog was created for the sole purpose of seeming sophisticated and picking up awards--it just panders and emotionally manipulates enough as to seem so after the fact), where calculated portrayals of "overcoming an obstacle" and empty attempts at seeming globally cultured will prevail. Pity. And, for the record, Firth didn't even particularly impress me (certainly overshadowed by his marvelous performance last year in A Single Man).


I also can't bring myself to see The Fighter (even though I've liked or loved all of David O. Russell's previous films), 127 Hours (although it can't be worse than Slumdog Millionaire), or Toy Story 3 (I haven't seen Toy Story 2, so I'd be lost).

I'd almost recommend you see The Fighter just to see how good O. Russell is at trying to avoid the films inauthentic, baity aspects, just before he seemingly disappears half way through and the movie goes way downhill. 127 Hours is an amusement for Boyle (hit-or-miss for me, generally), but certainly not an accomplishment. Oh, and go watch Toy Story 2; it's better and Toy Story 3 just borrows its themes and then adds another 10 years to its nostalgia.

[Spinal]

Oh, and go watch Toy Story 2; it's better and Toy Story 3 just borrows its themes and then adds another 10 years to its nostalgia.

Pretty sure you misspelled Brave Little Toaster in this sentence.

[D_Davis]

I know what I'm watching this week

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs042.snc6/167232_159386827445303_1000012 19601760_337811_7719073_n.jpg

[number8]

Awesome. That movie is bananas.

[soitgoes...]

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this. I saw it a long time ago and was similarly ambivalent, but I don't really remember much from it.
I just watched this a couple months ago, and I gave it a similar rating (probably closer to two stars). Though it was a fairly recent viewing, I don't remember too much about it either outside of the high contrast film, the obvious black-white dichotomy, and the symbolic nature of the story. I have the same ambivalence to pretty much all Brazilian Cinema Novo I've seen with the exception of the glorious The Given Word.

[Russ]

D, does Robot have English subs?

[D_Davis]

D, does Robot have English subs?

Yeah - burned in, white, no outline. It's been awhile since I've suffered through those kinds of subs.

[Boner M]

I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this. I saw it a long time ago and was similarly ambivalent, but I don't really remember much from it.
Loved the style, loved the sung narration, found everything else either thematically remote or confusing. I'll confess my mind wasn't really on the film by the second half; I mostly just zoned out and waited for a striking image to reel me back in.

[baby doll]

With the recent wins by The Hurt Locker, The Departed and No Country for Old Men, the public seemed to buy into the illusion that the Academy was overlooking bait, and getting hipper.Really, dude?

[StanleyK]

I just watched this a couple months ago, and I gave it a similar rating (probably closer to two stars). Though it was a fairly recent viewing, I don't remember too much about it either outside of the high contrast film, the obvious black-white dichotomy, and the symbolic nature of the story. I have the same ambivalence to pretty much all Brazilian Cinema Novo I've seen with the exception of the glorious The Given Word.


Loved the style, loved the sung narration, found everything else either thematically remote or confusing. I'll confess my mind wasn't really on the film by the second half; I mostly just zoned out and waited for a striking image to reel me back in.

That was pretty much my reaction as well. I'll admit that I remember literally nothing about it, which makes me a bit curious to revisit it seeing as how it's so highly revered in Brazil, but maybe I'll watch this The Given Word first instead.

[DavidSeven]

With the recent wins by The Hurt Locker, The Departed and No Country for Old Men, the public seemed to buy into the illusion that the Academy was overlooking bait, and getting hipper.

[Re-added for context:] Say what you will about those films, but none were conceived with the concept that awards may follow; they're rather unconventional choices.


Really, dude?

I'm not sure what your objection is. Do you actually think the producers of The Departed thought that a remake of a contemporary Hong Kong police procedural would have a reasonable shot at winning year-end awards? Let's try to ignore the fact that it was an American production and that all Best Picture winners are American productions because that is beyond the scope of Nick's point.

[Spinal]

I'm not sure what your objection is. Do you actually think the producers of The Departed thought that a remake of a contemporary Hong Kong police procedural would have a reasonable shot at winning year-end awards?

He considers True Grit to be Oscar bait. So probably yeah.

[baby doll]

I'm not sure what your objection is. Do you actually think the producers of The Departed thought that a remake of a contemporary Hong Kong police procedural would have a reasonable shot at winning year-end awards? Let's try to ignore the fact that it was an American production and that all Best Picture winners are American productions because that is beyond the scope of Nick's point.Particularly in contrast with the original, which was a tight, unpretentious genre piece, Scorsese's remake is so bloated and self-consciously operatic that you almost feel bad for the director.

[Ezee E]

Particularly in contrast with the original, which was a tight, unpretentious genre piece, Scorsese's remake is so bloated and self-consciously operatic that you almost feel bad for the director.

You didn't really answer his question.

[Watashi]

Baby doll's logic: I don't like the movie, therefore it's Oscar bait.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'll take Slumdog Millionaire and Crash two movies I at least liked over Chicago (the worst film to win best picture in recent memory) and The Departed (a bad remake).

I also don't understand how The Departed is hip. It's directed by one of Hollywood's hugest directors and stars Hollywood's biggest star actually "acting" again.

[Milky Joe]

Scorsese isn't hip? He may not be Tarantino (who is less hip than one might think), but he's pretty hip.

[baby doll]

You didn't really answer his question.I thought I did, since it seemed like Scorsese was sending messages directly to the Academy saying, "This isn't merely a genre film, because it's really long and self-consciously operatic and Jack Nicholson is over-acting like crazy."

[baby doll]

Scorsese isn't hip? He may not be Tarantino (who is less hip than one might think), but he's pretty hip.I dunno, when I think of hip directors, particularly in the sense of not being shameless Oscar-baiters, I tend to think of folks like Hal Hartley, Todd Haynes, Jim Jarmusch--you know, formally adventurous American filmmakers.

[MadMan]

I still can't bring myself to want to see The King's Speech.Same here. It looks really boring to me.

I've viewed both The Departed and Infernal Affairs. There's a little secret I'm willing to share: just because its an original film and just because the remake is American doesn't mean the original foreign movie is better. Shocking, I know, but apparently it is to a lot of people. I discovered this when I made that thread about remakes vs. the original source material, which reminds me that I should really post some updates.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Scorsese's done a lot of self-consciously operatic films over the years.

Not sure if that refutes babydoll's points or not. Just an observation. Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, and Shutter Island all strike me as intentionally operatic (re: theatrical, melodramatic, and/or grandiose), sometimes humorously so. Also, his output from the last decade has almost always gone long; his shortest film, Shutter Island, was about 140 minutes.

Again, not refuting anything. Just offering up a bit more context.

[Dukefrukem]

WTF is this??????????????????

yysbbPStfWw

[balmakboor]

I don't think anybody was surprised that a movie involving DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, and Scorsese (in the ganster genre no less) was an award winner. Precious few including academy voters know or care that it was a remake.

I have always appreciated Scorsese's movies much more on a second viewing. I still have three to see again that I've only watched once, The Departed, Kundun, and Cape Fear. I didn't much like any of these three on first viewing.

[number8]

WTF is this??????????????????

yysbbPStfWw

You could ask, or you could scroll up on this page.

[Dukefrukem]

You could ask, or you could scroll up on this page.

Ha. What a coincidence. I was just browsing through youtube and found that video.

Now I MUST watch this movie as soon as humanly possible.

[NickGlass]

I dunno, when I think of hip directors, particularly in the sense of not being shameless Oscar-baiters, I tend to think of folks like Hal Hartley, Todd Haynes, Jim Jarmusch--you know, formally adventurous American filmmakers.

You realize I'm not actually talking about what is actually "hip" (yikes! dangerous, ambiguous word), but what is considered hip by the Academy and the general public. Let's not turn this into a semantics debate. I doubt Scorsese read the script for The Departed and thought, "Hey, this might be the one to win me the Oscar," let alone such win Best Picture for such a sloppy, ultraviolent vision. Given the subjects and scopes the Academy tends to latch onto, Gangs of New York could be considered his "Oscar Bait," but not The Departed.

[NickGlass]

I thought I did, since it seemed like Scorsese was sending messages directly to the Academy saying, "This isn't merely a genre film, because it's really long and self-consciously operatic and Jack Nicholson is over-acting like crazy."

That's why it's a crappy film--not why it's Oscar bait.

[baby doll]

I've viewed both The Departed and Infernal Affairs. There's a little secret I'm willing to share: just because its an original film and just because the remake is American doesn't mean the original foreign movie is better.Agreed. The original is better because it isn't so full of itself that it gets unintentional laughs and it's an hour shorter, not because the characters are speaking Cantonese.

[baby doll]

Scorsese's done a lot of self-consciously operatic films over the years.

Not sure if that refutes babydoll's points or not. Just an observation. Bringing Out the Dead, Gangs of New York, and Shutter Island all strike me as intentionally operatic (re: theatrical, melodramatic, and/or grandiose), sometimes humorously so. Also, his output from the last decade has almost always gone long; his shortest film, Shutter Island, was about 140 minutes.

Again, not refuting anything. Just offering up a bit more context.I wonder if there's a connection between Scorsese moving to bigger budgets with Gangs of New York, and the length of the films, which seems to balloon in proportion to how much money they cost. You can't make a hundred million dollar movie with Leonardo DiCapprio and then have it only be a tight, ninety minute gangster movie (like the original Infernal Affairs) or a Val Lewton-style gothic horror flick (all of Lewton's horror films are under seventy minutes); it needs to be a two and a half-to-three hour epic with lots of A-list stars. To paraphrase Godard on Jane Campion, I think Scorsese is a perfect example of a talented director who's been ruined by money.

[NickGlass]

To paraphrase Godard on Jane Campion, I think Scorsese is a perfect example of a talented director who's been ruined by money.

I think this about Christopher Nolan.

[balmakboor]

I wonder if there's a connection between Scorsese moving to bigger budgets with Gangs of New York, and the length of the films, which seems to balloon in proportion to how much money they cost. You can't make a hundred million dollar movie with Leonardo DiCapprio and then have it only be a tight, ninety minute gangster movie (like the original Infernal Affairs) or a Val Lewton-style gothic horror flick (all of Lewton's horror films are under seventy minutes); it needs to be a two and a half-to-three hour epic with lots of A-list stars. To paraphrase Godard on Jane Campion, I think Scorsese is a perfect example of a talented director who's been ruined by money.

Most major directors in Hollywood get stuck in the everything must be long groove. Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Peter Jackson, Michael Mann, Oliver Stone, etc. These guys and others are stuck in the everything they make must be a major work reaching for masterpiece mode. It's hard to make a little film once you've made a huge one in Hollywood. Once you've made Schindler's List, nobody wants you to make Duel. Once you've make GoodFellas, nobody feels satisfied with another Mean Streets.

Something -- one of the few things actually -- that I like about Steven Soderbergh is how he keeps slipping little films in between his big Hollywood efforts. Spielberg once mentioned a desire to make a Dogme 95 film. Well, that whole craze has blown over, but I'd still like to see him do such a thing.

[baby doll]

Most major directors in Hollywood get stuck in the everything must be long groove. Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Peter Jackson, Michael Mann, Oliver Stone, etc. These guys and others are stuck in the everything they make must be a major work reaching for masterpiece mode. It's hard to make a little film once you've made a huge one in Hollywood. Once you've made Schindler's List, nobody wants you to make Duel. Once you've make GoodFellas, nobody feels satisfied with another Mean Streets.

Something -- one of the few things actually -- that I like about Steven Soderbergh is how he keeps slipping little films in between his big Hollywood efforts. Spielberg once mentioned a desire to make a Dogme 95 film. Well, that whole craze has blown over, but I'd still like to see him do such a thing.For me, the fact that Scorsese's stuck in "the everything he makes must be a major work reaching for masterpiece" mode is precisely what holds him back from making a masterpiece. It seems like getting financing for Hugo Cabaret is no problem, but if he wanted to make something with a more modest budget (like After Hours), he'd be laughed out of the room.

[StanleyK]

I think this about Christopher Nolan.

Does this mean you like Memento, Nick?

[NickGlass]

Does this mean you like Memento, Nick?

Indeed it does. Even just measuring up Inception vs. Memento, I see very different visions. Memento was modestly budgeted, pushing Nolan to play with form and actually dig into how the human psyche works when plagued by trauma and fragmentation in a sparse and effective way. Inception had the budget to create a whole new world devoid of humans and emotion, and simply explain how a human mind would work in some alternate universe; it's a completely insular puzzle of a film that says nothing true to me about behavior. I apologize to those who found depth and identification within Leo's "emotions," but it simply doesn't work for me; it's such a cold, visual-effects-overloaded mechanical film.

[StanleyK]

Indeed it does. Even just measuring up Inception vs. Memento, I see very different visions. Memento was modestly budgeted, pushing Nolan to play with form and actually dig into how the human psyche works when plagued by trauma and fragmentation in a sparse and effective way. Inception had the budget to create a whole new world devoid of humans and emotion, and simply explain how a human mind would work in some alternate universe; it's a completely insular puzzle of a film that says nothing true to me about behavior. I apologize to those who found depth and identification within Leo's "emotions," but it simply doesn't work for me; it's such a cold, visual-effects-overloaded mechanical film.

Word. I would also say that Memento is Nolan's best by far- as in, it's the only that held up on further viewings. I have to admit that the bombast suckered me into a positive reaction for Inception on the big screen; now I continue to think less of it every day. Not because it's cold, exactly (as basic as Cobb's arc is, I found it compelling to the extent in which I could relate his pain to Nolan's pain. The man clearly is afraid to lose a spouse), but because its direction is so anemic. I can't really get very excited on a film about filmmaking when the filmmaking on display is so purely functional and, as you put it, mechanical.

[D_Davis]

You could ask, or you could scroll up on this page.

Or go two pages back, or check the Youtube thread.

;)

jk, Duke.

[Ezee E]

I have no problem with Scorsese getting all the money in the world to do what he wants. His trademark is certainly there, and I've read no interviews of him struggling with his newer movies. I just wonder when he'll get to do Silence.

[number8]

I'm more impressed by Following than Memento, honestly, and that's not even a hipstery "I liked them on Vinyl" comment.

[Raiders]

Indeed it does. Even just measuring up Inception vs. Memento, I see very different visions. Memento was modestly budgeted, pushing Nolan to play with form and actually dig into how the human psyche works when plagued by trauma and fragmentation in a sparse and effective way. Inception had the budget to create a whole new world devoid of humans and emotion, and simply explain how a human mind would work in some alternate universe; it's a completely insular puzzle of a film that says nothing true to me about behavior. I apologize to those who found depth and identification within Leo's "emotions," but it simply doesn't work for me; it's such a cold, visual-effects-overloaded mechanical film.

Indeed... and to toot my own horn: http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?p=278599

[NickGlass]

I'm more impressed by Following than Memento, honestly, and that's not even a hipstery "I liked them on Vinyl" comment.

I haven't seen it, but I would like to.


Indeed... and to toot my own horn: http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?p=278599

Ah, very interesting. I must have missed it because I wasn't around here much this summer, and I also didn't care to read all about whether the top fell or didn't for 10 pages, because I didn't care what it did.

[baby doll]

I have no problem with Scorsese getting all the money in the world to do what he wants. His trademark is certainly there, and I've read no interviews of him struggling with his newer movies. I just wonder when he'll get to do Silence.It's not the lack of a directorial trademark that bothers me; it's taking what should be a very straightforward genre assignment and self-consciously inflating it in order to maintain his prestige in the industry. There's a good anecdote about Nicholas Ray in Luis Buñuel's autobiography:


"You're a famous director," I said to Ray. "Why not try an experiment? You've just finished a picture that cost five million dollars. Why not try one for four hundred thousand dollars and see for yourself how much freer you are?"

"But you don't understand!" he cried. "If I did that in Hollywood, everyone would think I was going to pieces. They'd say I was on the skids, and I'd never make another movie!"

It was a sad conversation, because he was absolutely serious.

[Rowland]

Following is a nifty neo-noir, but it's nowhere near as accomplished as Memento in its scope or impact. David Julyan's moody score (http://www.christophernolan.net/files/David%20Julyan%20-%20Following%20-%20Following%20Theme.mp3) helps it immensely.

[Derek]

I'm more impressed by Following than Memento, honestly, and that's not even a hipstery "I liked them on Vinyl" comment.

But Memento on vinyl just sounds so much cooler!

[DavidSeven]

I find that people often say about The Dark Knight and Inception that "they like it less every day they think about it," but that the people who actually watch the films again appreciate them more on repeat viewings. Just an observation. Probably has to do with the fact that Nolan isn't much for memorable and vivid imagery, but that he still brings a level of execution that is recognizable in-the-moment as exceptional direction. I'm a big fan of Memento, too. But then again, he had a lot less money for Insomnia and The Prestige than he did for The Dark Knight and Inception ...and well, those films kind of suck in comparison to his most expensive films.

[Barty]

Every film of Nolan I've liked as I've watched them more. Even The Prestige.

[number8]

That's me. My love for them typically wane after a while, but another viewing always revitalizes. I pretty much realized during my second viewing of Inception that I was too harsh in my review. Now I'm reconsidering again. I'm sure if I pop in the Blu-ray again tonight, I'll go right back to "it's great" mode.

The Dark Knight, I can't tell you how many times I've nitpicked and downplayed my appreciation for it, only to be completely and totally absorbed every time I put it on.

[megladon8]

A very interesting, arrestingly honest interview with Jack Nicholson. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350653/Jack-Nicholson-I-used-feel-irresistible-women-Not-more.html)

I thought it was a good read.

[Sycophant]

Someone not in this rut: the Coens.

[DavidSeven]

PTA seems to have successfully transitioned from "epic mode" to doing films with a more moderate scope. The Coens, too, shift pretty successfully between small and medium pictures. Both received arguably their best reviews for films populated with mostly Hollywood unknowns (TWBB and A Serious Man). There are a handful of directors who seem to be in love with the 2.5 hour movie with big name stars, but this point that Godard is apparently getting at seems rather phoney, especially considering that his most respected films were the ones he probably had the easiest time financing.

[megladon8]

I find that people often say about The Dark Knight and Inception that "they like it less every day they think about it," but that the people who actually watch the films again appreciate them more on repeat viewings. Just an observation. Probably has to do with the fact that Nolan isn't much for memorable and vivid imagery, but that he still brings a level of execution that is recognizable in-the-moment as exceptional direction. I'm a big fan of Memento, too. But then again, he had a lot less money for Insomnia and The Prestige than he did for The Dark Knight and Inception ...and well, those films kind of suck in comparison to his most expensive films.


While I agree with your overall message, I have to disagree with your assessment of The Prestige.

Sometimes I think it may very well be his best work.