28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Qrazy]

I'd be really interested to see Tarantino do a superhero film.

Anyone else?

Space Western.

[Yxklyx]

Space Western.

Like a remake of the original Star Wars trilogy?

[EyesWideOpen]

I'd be really interested to see Tarantino do a superhero film.

Anyone else?

If it's an original character sure. I don't want to see him be reigned in by what ever corporate entity owns any exisiting characters.

[megladon8]

I think a Tarantino Punisher movie could be pretty neat.

[Wryan]

I get to interview Danny Elfman's brother, Richard, director of the Oingo Boingo cult flick Forbidden Zone, for an upcoming film festival here in Charleston. Poor form to fanboy to him about his brother? I'm thinking prob yes, so I'll refrain.

[Derek]

I'd rather no one made superhero films, at least for a good 5 years. Then I can stop hearing about them every goddamn day.

[MadMan]

The Superman bit is my favorite part of Kill Bill. That's exactly the way I've always viewed Superman, and I think it is the way that makes the character the most interesting.Its not my favorite part, but I love that scene alot. Its Carridine waxing poetic in awesome fashion.


Guess I have the intellect of a 9th grader! Awesome. Two grades higher than I thought.:pritch:

I love QT because of his pop culture referrences, his scripts (and the dialogue, of course), the fact that he makes highly entertaining movies that, although they borrow heavily from other movies, are still made with such a unique sense of style that even when they aren't heavy on subsistence (see: Death Proof or Reservoir Dogs) they're still worth watching anyways. He has never made a boring movie, and he's tried with every movie he's made to do something slightly different, moving in a new direction every time.

For now I've only viewed Superman 2, and I thought it was merely good, not great. But I'm not a fan of Superman. Or even Batman, for that matter, although he's at least more interesting.

[Watashi]

I'd rather no one made superhero films, at least for a good 5 years. Then I can stop hearing about them every goddamn day.
Yet you saw Thor.

I guess the Hollywood Hype Machine has worked. ;)

[megladon8]

I'd rather no one made superhero films, at least for a good 5 years. Then I can stop hearing about them every goddamn day.


Why did you see Thor then?


Oh, too late.

[D_Davis]

Why did your opinion on The Dark Knight fall so sharply?

I know you always loathed Batman Begins, but I remember you really dug The Dark Knight when you first saw it.

I like The Dark Knight, but it didn't do a lot for me. I thought it was very decent. My main problem with it is that I never felt much dramatic tension; Batman never seemed to be in danger. Things happened around him, and to other people, but not to him. But thus is the curse of the genre, right? Or at least to me it is. It's just one of the things that bugs me a bit about the superhero genre, and I can't really escape that.


Also, Bale's Bat-voice irked me to no end.

I also don't think Nolan is a very exciting director.

[Ezee E]

The last twenty minutes are bittersweet, and it's something different then most classical films, but I can't help but feel that the drama is a little forced and manipulative in Make Way For Tomorrow.

I know it's loved around here, but it seems a little out of ordinary that they would just hope that "something would happen" in the six months they had left in that house is also ridiculous. Can anyone answer this?

[Raiders]

The last twenty minutes are bittersweet, and it's something different then most classical films, but I can't help but feel that the drama is a little forced and manipulative in Make Way For Tomorrow.

I know it's loved around here, but it seems a little out of ordinary that they would just hope that "something would happen" in the six months they had left in that house is also ridiculous. Can anyone answer this?

I don't follow. The house was foreclosed. They summoned their children to help them decide and hope one of them would take them in as they couldn't get a new house.

[Russ]

The last twenty minutes are bittersweet, and it's something different then most classical films, but I can't help but feel that the drama is a little forced and manipulative in Make Way For Tomorrow.

I know it's loved around here, but it seems a little out of ordinary that they would just hope that "something would happen" in the six months they had left in that house is also ridiculous. Can anyone answer this?
What else could they do? Besides, it's not about hoping something would happen, it's about realizing that nothing is going to happen.

[Ezee E]

What else could they do? Besides, it's not about hoping something would happen, it's about realizing that nothing is going to happen.
Five kids, and the kids certainly aren't lower class.

I understand that it's all part of the theme that the movie presents, but again, a little forced there.

[Ezee E]

I don't follow. The house was foreclosed. They summoned their children to help them decide and hope one of them would take them in as they couldn't get a new house.
They waited until the last week to do so.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Only managed to watch the first half of Murder by Contract before something came up and I had to stop the movie, but I've got to say that I wasn't finding it all that interesting. I wrote in Brightside's Classical Hollywood thread that I've only recently got into these sorts of films, but now I remember why it took me this long in the first place, and why really, this sort of aesthetic just isn't for me. Yes, the craftsmanship behind the film is good, but my god is the dialogue just a pure and continuous piece of screenwriting conventions and the acting is so mechanic it's untrue. There's just nothing real or immediate, and thus, gripping about the movie because it is so clearly a piece of formula - formally impressive formula perhaps, I haven't seen enough of these types of film noirs to be able to say with any authority. And really, this is the way I feel about many movies of this era. They might have a certain black/white sheen that can be hard to resist at times, but when the main character is doing Tough Guy Act #7 and everybody talks the same, it is no longer interesting.

Or maybe I'm just getting tired of movies that follow genres so faithfully with no ambition to do anything formally or thematically different. The Day of the Jackal looks more up my alley though. Still excited about that one.

[Qrazy]

Like a remake of the original Star Wars trilogy?

Haha... but no more like Cowboy Bebop/Outlaw Star/Firefly - esque but with a uniquely Tarantino flavor.

[Qrazy]

Five kids, and the kids certainly aren't lower class.

I understand that it's all part of the theme that the movie presents, but again, a little forced there.

Forced that the kids wouldn't take them in? Well a) It's King Lear b) That happens in real life all the time.

[megladon8]

Make Way for Tomorrow was the best movie I saw last year.

It also sports one of Criterion's greatest covers.

[Ezee E]

Forced that the kids wouldn't take them in? Well a) It's King Lear b) That happens in real life all the time.
Not that they wouldn't take them in, but let them know months ago that the house was being taken away and that something could've been done. Fairly sure with that family, something could've been done...

[megladon8]

Not that they wouldn't take them in, but let them know months ago that the house was being taken away and that something could've been done. Fairly sure with that family, something could've been done...


I thought the point was that the kids were all selfish assholes who didn't want to step up and help.

The time frame didn't really matter, they're just spoiled brat kids.

[Russ]

Fairly sure with that family, something could've been done...
Isn't that the whole point? Something could've been done, but nothing was.

[megladon8]

Isn't that the whole point? Something could've been done, but nothing was.


Exactly.

Because their children were selfish assholes.

[Russ]

Exactly.

Because their children were selfish assholes.
Well, I wouldn't go that far. They obviously loved their parents, but the situation brought out a lot of hard truths.

[megladon8]

Well, I wouldn't go that far. They obviously loved their parents, but the situation brought out a lot of hard truths.


I didn't think the "burdens" of the parents living with them seemed particularly burdensome at all.

These children owed everything to their parents and were always there for the handouts and the money, but when things got bad, they wouldn't even provide shelter for their parents until they got things sorted out, because they could at times prove to be a mild nuisance.

I saw what the children did as being inexcusable and sickening.

[elixir]

One of the things I loved about the film was that it didn't shy away from how bothersome/problematic the parents could be--especially the mother. This of course doesn't excuse the children's behavior--and they recognized they did wrong--but I think this is a strong argument against the criticisms of "manipulation," because the characters were presented warts and all, not just as cute elderly people.

[Russ]

Well Meg, come back to me when you're 50 and on a fixed income (and maybe have a few dependants of your own) and tell me what you're willing to sacrifice to have your parents move in to your home. Would you be pulling in an income to support you, your wife, your kids, AND your parents (aforementioned warts and all)?

I'm envious if you do.

[StanleyK]

One of the things I loved about the film was that it didn't shy away from how bothersome/problematic the parents could be--especially the mother. This of course doesn't excuse the children's behavior--and they recognized they did wrong--but I think this is a strong argument against the criticisms of "manipulation," because the characters were presented warts and all, not just as cute elderly people.

This.

I think to view the children as just 'selfish assholes' sells the film's intelligence short; they could have been shallow caricatures, yes, and in a 30's movie about old people it would be extremely easy to just denounce the younger generation as guilty. But they aren't. They had their reasons for their behavior, as did the parents, and that's the backbone of solid drama and a big factor in making the film as great as it is.

[DavidSeven]

You know, I wouldn't mind seeing Tarantino make some movies about righteous lowlifes in black suits.

[Qrazy]

Not that they wouldn't take them in, but let them know months ago that the house was being taken away and that something could've been done. Fairly sure with that family, something could've been done...

They had their pride, thus the tragedy of the King.

Anyway while I disagree with you on this point I'm with you that the film is not that fantastic overall. Park rear projection for the fail. Love you Derek!

[Derek]

Why did you see Thor then?

Because a friend wanted to see it. Just because I watch a superhero film every month or two doesn't mean I can't be sick of hearing about them all the time and having a new one come out every other weekend.

[Raiders]

Four people in the world find Make Way for Tomorrow mediocre and they're all at this crazy site.

[Russ]

I get to interview Danny Elfman's brother, Richard, director of the Oingo Boingo cult flick Forbidden Zone, for an upcoming film festival here in Charleston. Poor form to fanboy to him about his brother? I'm thinking prob yes, so I'll refrain.
Ask him all about the sequel, Forbidden Zone 2: The Forbidden Galaxy: Is Danny really going to reprise his role as The Devil? Is Jenna really going to be in it? How big of a role is Susan Tyrrell going to have (seeing as how she's all zombiefied and everything)? What's Matthew Bright up to now (we're all huge Freeway fans, right)? Who's gonna play the horny midget king this time around (props to Herve Villechaize)? And what was it like filming in Crenshaw?

Be sure to let him know he's got lots of nutzoid fans (like me).

[soitgoes...]

I'm going to rewatch Make Way for Tomorrorw tonight, followed by the much better remake.*

*It should be noted that this shouldn't be read as a slight against McCarey's film. I think both are great.

[Ezee E]

Isn't that the whole point? Something could've been done, but nothing was.
Because they found out about five days before it happened, and they had to go from possibly helping out in getting the house paid for to figuring out who's going to house them.

[Russ]

Because they found out about five days before it happened, and they had to go from possibly helping out in getting the house paid for to figuring out who's going to house them.
It's been mentioned that both sides shared culpability, but each had somewhat noble intentions. The parents pride may have proved to be their downfall, but the children had their own issues to deal with. It's a tragedy with no villians. I'm sorry you didn't get more out of it.

[Raiders]

Because they found out about five days before it happened, and they had to go from possibly helping out in getting the house paid for to figuring out who's going to house them.

I think you're acting as though the film absolves this. The old man himself admits near the end that he was ashamed for how he had handled himself over the years (going out and leaving her at home) and he also explicitly doesn't take a caretaker job. He has pride and he isn't the best planner. The shift in himself at the end, even more when he enters the "Help Wanted" store, clearly points to a realization that perhaps they could have done more before this point. I think one of the great points to the film is the way it kind of separates the parents from the children, with their own struggles. The shame of the children is in treating the situation as a rather impersonal inconvenience and not recognizing the emotion behind it. It's the clashing of generations; the older, more prideful and laid back and the younger, more uptight and more "realistic." There isn't a villain, simply a circumstance that nobody handled right.

[Yxklyx]

Only managed to watch the first half of Murder by Contract before something came up and I had to stop the movie, but I've got to say that I wasn't finding it all that interesting. I wrote in Brightside's Classical Hollywood thread that I've only recently got into these sorts of films, but now I remember why it took me this long in the first place, and why really, this sort of aesthetic just isn't for me. Yes, the craftsmanship behind the film is good, but my god is the dialogue just a pure and continuous piece of screenwriting conventions and the acting is so mechanic it's untrue. There's just nothing real or immediate, and thus, gripping about the movie because it is so clearly a piece of formula - formally impressive formula perhaps, I haven't seen enough of these types of film noirs to be able to say with any authority. And really, this is the way I feel about many movies of this era. They might have a certain black/white sheen that can be hard to resist at times, but when the main character is doing Tough Guy Act #7 and everybody talks the same, it is no longer interesting.

Or maybe I'm just getting tired of movies that follow genres so faithfully with no ambition to do anything formally or thematically different. The Day of the Jackal looks more up my alley though. Still excited about that one.

Well, it's definitely in B movie territory and if you're not into B movies then it's not going to work for you. I found it amusing - nothing to take seriously but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Yeah, I also felt MWFT was a bit forced - and I watched that one with the GF and she agreed.

[balmakboor]

I have waited so long for this announcement. Fassbinder's Despair.

http://www.amazon.com/Despair-Dirk-Bogarde/dp/B004RBC5JW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1305251282&sr=1-1

[Derek]

I have waited so long for this announcement. Fassbinder's Despair.

Nice, I just picked this up during KG freeleech. It sounds amazing.

[megladon8]

I have to admit I found the children more detestable than others did, it seems.

While it is a film without a villain, I did find them, well, a bit antagonistic.

Like I said earlier, the film's showing the parents' foibles wasn't enough for me to believe the children were in an at all understandable position to deny the parents room and board.

Like Raiders said it's "a circumstance that no one handled right", but I think the children were particularly awful in that regard.

[B-side]

But personally, I'm dismissing Tony Scott only after seeing and disliking most of his movies. As for your thoughts, I'm not so much dismissing them out of hand as much as I'm just continuously shocked at how serious you take him considering that, like Boner said, you so often write intelligently about far worthier directors. It's the disparity of the quality of Scott's films, which I usually find a notch above typical Hollywood hacksmanship, and the quality of most of the other films you watch and comment on that is cause for my bafflement.

I target people like Tony Scott in particular for analysis because he's kinda new territory. I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said a thousand times about Andrei Tarkovsky, John Cassavetes, Ingmar Bergman, etc. I suppose I should take your guys' befuddlement as a compliment. I think I kinda secretly hope that I'm in the process of swaying at least one person on Tony, or at least giving them something to think about.

[B-side]

I have waited so long for this announcement. Fassbinder's Despair.

http://www.amazon.com/Despair-Dirk-Bogarde/dp/B004RBC5JW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1305251282&sr=1-1

Seems a few of his previously unreleased films are getting releases around that time. I Only Want You to Love Me is getting a DVD as well.

[B-side]

I can't help but feel that the drama is a little forced and manipulative in Make Way For Tomorrow.

It is. It's paint by numbers saccharine melodrama. McCarey was no Sirk, that's for damn sure.

[Derek]

I target people like Tony Scott in particular for analysis because he's kinda new territory. I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said a thousand times about Andrei Tarkovsky, John Cassavetes, Ingmar Bergman, etc. I suppose I should take your guys' befuddlement as a compliment. I think I kinda secretly hope that I'm in the process of swaying at least one person on Tony, or at least giving them something to think about.

But he's kinda been the go to Hollywood hack in the blogosphere. You know, the one who all the art fags use as evidence they do like some mainstream films. Which brings me to my agenda when responding to all your Scott posts - to put the motherfucking kybosh on that nonsense. :)


It is. It's paint by numbers saccharine melodrama. McCarey was no Sirk, that's for damn sure.

Uh, Sirk's melodramas were bitingly ironic and Make Way was straight from heart. Kinda silly to compare the two, though McCarey does tread the Sirkian waters in My Son John and more than holds his own.

[B-side]

But he's kinda been the go to Hollywood hack in the blogosphere. You know, the one who all the art fags use as evidence they do like some mainstream films. Which brings me to my agenda when responding to all your Scott posts - to put the motherfucking kybosh on that nonsense. :)

I thought most of us were artfags? I do use Tony Scott as evidence that I enjoy some mainstream cinema.:P


Uh, Sirk's melodramas were bitingly ironic and Make Way was straight from heart. Kinda silly to compare the two, though McCarey does tread the Sirkian waters in My Son John and more than holds his own.

Not all of his melodramas employ much in the way of irony. They work just fine as simple melodramas, but they have texture and they're not indifferently crafted on a technical basis like Make Way for Tomorrow.

[Derek]

I thought most of us were artfags? I do use Tony Scott as evidence that I enjoy some mainstream cinema.:P

Precisely.


Not all of his melodramas employ much in the way of irony. They work just fine as simple melodramas

Never said they don't work fine as simple melodramas, just that they're most often not just that. Which Sirk's did you have in mind that don't employ irony?


they're not indifferently crafted on a technical basis like Make Way for Tomorrow.

I will murder you.

[megladon8]

I think Tony Scott has a more distinct visual panache than most other commercial action filmmakers.

I don't like many of his movies, but there are a few in his filmography that I think are really, really good.


I'd say that if we were apply the "auteur theory", he has a more established style than his brother Ridley, who arguably gets more accolades (bother critically and commercially) than Tony.

Ridley Scott doesn't really have any defining traits in his films, even his earlier, better works.

[megladon8]

Hey, you know what's a movie I didn't really appreciate until I rewatched it?

To Be Or Not To Be.

First time I saw it I thought it was fairly "meh" and overly hyped.

Second time, I thought it was brilliant.

[B-side]

Never said they don't work fine as simple melodramas, just that they're most often not just that. Which Sirk's did you have in mind that don't employ irony?

I don't remember much irony in All I Desire, but then again, I've never claimed to have much of an eye/ear for irony.


I will murder you.

Top Gun > Make Way for Tomorrow

http://cdn.wg.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/oprah-deal-with-it.gif

[soitgoes...]

ekXxi9IKZSA

[B-side]

The best. :D

[soitgoes...]

The best. :DI thought it might play to your artfag sensibilities.

[B-side]

I thought it might play to your artfag sensibilities.

I'm the artfaggiest of them all.

[Boner M]

Alright, my tentative Sydney Film Festival lineup (some'll have to be via screeners):

The Turin Horse
Beats, Rhythms and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
Sleeping Sickness
Attenberg
Septien
Sleeping Beauty
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Tyrannosaur
Silent Souls
The Future
Kill List
Terri
13 Assassins
Tree of Life
Project Nim
A Separation
Hobo With a Shotgun
I Wish I Knew
Tabloid
Black Venus
Post Mortem
Norwegian Wood
Tomboy
Take Shelter
Toomeleh
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel
The White Meadows
HERE

[B-side]

Alright, my tentative Sydney Film Festival lineup (some'll have to be via screeners):

The Turin Horse
Sleeping Beauty
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Tree of Life
Tabloid


<--- jealous

[Boner M]

<--- jealous
ToL will be two weeks after everyone else tho.

[B-side]

ToL will be two weeks after everyone else tho.

Assuming we live in New York and LA? It's not opening wide on the 27th.

But really, we should be discussing all the Emily Browning nudity you're gonna be treated to in Sleeping Beauty.

[soitgoes...]

Assuming we live in New York and LA? It's not opening wide on the 27th.

But really, we should be discussing all the Emily Browning nudity you're gonna be treated to in Sleeping Beauty.I hear she has boobies.

[B-side]

I hear she has boobies.

http://i54.tinypic.com/9sdkki.jpg

[soitgoes...]

Yeah, I know, right? Disgusting.

[soitgoes...]

In other news: Tokyo Story still rocks. I didn't watch McCarey's film prior to it, but I'll get around to it in the next couple days.

[MadMan]

Weekend:

*Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (because its on BBC America, and it can't be worse than Scott's Robin Hood).

*The Wire-I'm going to finish Season 1, damnit.

*Something cool on Netflix Instant Viewing

[Rowland]

Seijun Suzuki's Kagerô-za is completely fucking insane, and yet resembles something approaching coherence as a personalized manifesto for the auteur, deeply attuned to its own self-devouring anarchy in surprisingly candid ways. At 139 minutes, it tested my patience at several points, and yet I'd gladly watch it again, which is something I didn't think I'd ever say about Tokyo Drifter, but who knows, maybe that one's worth another look as well.

[MadMan]

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is campy, cheesy, and over the top at times. But its entertaining throughout, has a good cast, and doesn't pretend to be anything other than a rousing adventure movie set in medieval times and engaging in the typical cliches of the Robin Hood legend. I will say that Alan Rickman is given very little to do in this film other than scowl and shout things like "Kill them!" which means they really waste his talents. Unlike others, I didn't really care that Kevin Costner had a terrible English accent, or that Christian Slater wasn't even needed for this movie. Oh and this is way better than Ridley Scott's Robin Hood movie, but that film was rather pointless anyways and shouldn't have even been made.

[Sven]

maybe that one's worth another look as well.

Maybe? C'mon, man. It's one of the best!

[soitgoes...]

Seijun Suzuki's all over the place with me. I never know what I'm going to get when I watch one of his films. For what it's worth, Gate of Flesh is the best thing I've seen. That one's a visual treat.

[B-side]

Take Aim at the Police Van is my favorite Suzuki I've seen.

[Rowland]

For what it's worth, Kagerô-za makes Tokyo Drifter look like a straight, no-frills genre film by comparison, but where the latter was often frustrating for failing to wholly commit to either its rudderless narrative or its experimental aesthetic in a satisfying manner, this film just goes off the deep-end in both respects, to often-enthralling results.

[NickGlass]

Alright, my tentative Sydney Film Festival lineup (some'll have to be via screeners):

Attenberg
Tyrannosaur
The Future


I've seen these and, eh, they all have their problems, but they're worth a gander. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to your thoughts on them; if I went into my criticisms before you witness these three, I would likely spoil the experience.

No Littlerock? That's disappointing.

[Mara]

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is campy, cheesy, and over the top at times. But its entertaining throughout, has a good cast, and doesn't pretend to be anything other than a rousing adventure movie set in medieval times and engaging in the typical cliches of the Robin Hood legend. I will say that Alan Rickman is given very little to do in this film other than scowl and shout things like "Kill them!" which means they really waste his talents. Unlike others, I didn't really care that Kevin Costner had a terrible English accent, or that Christian Slater wasn't even needed for this movie. Oh and this is way better than Ridley Scott's Robin Hood movie, but that film was rather pointless anyways and shouldn't have even been made.

I just had a sudden, deep memory of the summer of 1991. I can SMELL it.

[Mara]

I just had a sudden, deep memory of the summer of 1991. I can SMELL it.

I was so excited to see that movie that I walked from my house to Frandor Mall, which was about a mile away and I had only recently been given permission to walk that far. (I was eleven or twelve.) The "mall" was actually just a sequence of pretty crappy stores connected by a long hallway. They had a particularly bad "book store" which devoted 75% of its floor space to greeting cards.

I had saved up my allowance money, and used it to buy-- wait for it-- the novelization of the movie. I read it swooningly about ten times before I finally got to see the film in theaters. (I was in love with Christian Slater. It was a different time.)

I also used our VHS tape player to record the MTV video of "Everything I Do" because I thought it was the most romantic song I had ever heard.

Ten or so years later, I was at a wedding where it was being played, and... well, I was pretty embarrassed. What a silly silly, song.

[MadMan]

Bryan Addams fails, hard. That's all I know. In 1991 I was just a 6 year old kid in elementary school. Didn't know what a good movie was. Apparently Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves got a PG rating, so I would have been able to see it.

[Yxklyx]

Weekend:

How I Ended This Summer
Blue Valentine
Real Genius

[balmakboor]

ekXxi9IKZSA

I never realized how gay that movie is until now or how audacious the homoerotic symbolism is.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Ten or so years later, I was at a wedding where it was being played, and... well, I was pretty embarrassed. What a silly silly, song.

That's the song I played for my first piano recital. How dare you.

[MadMan]

I never realized how gay that movie is until now or how audacious the homoerotic symbolism is.The sand beach vollyeball scene is 150% gay. I don't mean that in negative terms, either. I mean that its well, gay. Which is kind of funny to me considering that I agree with a recent article I read online which was about how movies like Top Gun were merely shrilling for the armed forces. Top Gun was released before Don't Ask, Don't Tell....

[NickGlass]

I never realized how gay that movie is until now or how audacious the homoerotic symbolism is.

Really? I've seen a lot of gay porn that is less homoerotic than Top Gun.

[Spinal]

NzY9a-WmE6o

[Mara]

The guy who wrote "Top Gun" lived a couple blocks from me for about a decade. He was a pretty nice guy, a good neighbor, and did his house all fancy for Christmas. But some people in the town never got over the fact that he wrote "Top Gun" and acted like he was an enormous celebrity.

This from a town where regularly Jack Kevorkian would walk down our streets. When my high school friends saw him, they'd yell, "HEY DOCTOR DEATH!" He'd just smile grimly and wave.

[balmakboor]

Really? I've seen a lot of gay porn that is less homoerotic than Top Gun.

Well, to be fair to myself, I've only seen it once back when it released and hated it so much I drank away the affected brain cells.

[balmakboor]

http://multimedia.pol.dk/archive/00542/TrierScorsese_high__542895a.jp g

[B-side]

For fun, John Ford roughly ranked:

Fort Apache (1948)
The Searchers (1956)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
My Darling Clementine (1946)
3 Godfathers (1948)
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
Stagecoach (1939)
Tobacco Road (1941)
Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
Wagon Master (1950)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
7 Women (1966)
Rio Grande (1950)
Seas Beneath (1931)
Arrowsmith (1931)
The Long Voyage Home (1940)

All of them are worth watching.

[soitgoes...]

But your ranking has a mediocre movie at the top. I don't understand?

[B-side]

But your ranking has a mediocre movie at the top. I don't understand?

You're a mediocre movie at the top.

[soitgoes...]

You're a mediocre movie at the top.
Watch The Fugitive. Now.

[B-side]

Watch The Fugitive. Now.

Coincidentally, I'm actually grabbing that right meow. Downloading at a breakneck .2 kb/s.

[soitgoes...]

Coincidentally, I'm actually grabbing that right meow. Downloading at a breakneck .2 kb/s.Awesome. Remind me that you watched it, come July.

[B-side]

Awesome. Remind me that you watched it, come July.

ETA was 2 years or so a few minutes ago. Now it's down to a few days.:D

[Irish]

But your ranking has a mediocre movie at the top. I don't understand?

I wouldn't call Fort Apache mediocre. It's a decent movie and a good watch, as long as you're talking about it in the same breath as Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande.

Ranking it above Clementine, Searchers, and Valance is mystifying, though. The exclusion of stuff like Grapes of Wrath and The Quiet Man is also confusing.

[B-side]

The exclusion of stuff like Grapes of Wrath and The Quiet Man is also confusing.

Haven't gotten around to those yet. I'm getting Grapes of Wrath right now. Been holding out on The Quiet Man in hopes of a proper DVD release, but I may be screwed on that front.

[soitgoes...]

ETA was 2 years or so a few minutes ago. Now it's down to a few days.:DIt'll go fast as soon as the freeleech is done. I didn't think I'd say this, but I'm looking forward to the end of this for that reason. Part of me doesn't want there to be another week of freeleech. I already feel like a glutton.

[B-side]

It'll go fast as soon as the freeleech is done. I didn't think I'd say this, but I'm looking forward to the end of this for that reason. Part of me doesn't want there to be another week of freeleech. I already feel like a glutton.

I'm with you there. And the fact that no uploads are allowed during this freeleech is annoying, too.

[Boner M]

Dottie Gets Spanked captures the inchoate feelings of burgeoning sexual identity amongst children better than any film I can think of right now. My 2nd favorite Haynes behind Safe and one of the best TV movies ever.

[balmakboor]

Dottie Gets Spanked captures the inchoate feelings of burgeoning sexual identity amongst children better than any film I can think of right now. My 2nd favorite Haynes behind Safe and one of the best TV movies ever.

Absolutely.

Btw, I posted that random pick of Scorsese and Von Trier at Cannes because I think it's so cool that Scorsese will be the participant/contestant/whatever in The Five Obstructions II. I wonder which film he'll be remaking five times.

[Raiders]

Dottie Gets Spanked captures the inchoate feelings of burgeoning sexual identity amongst children better than any film I can think of right now. My 2nd favorite Haynes behind Safe and one of the best TV movies ever.
:pritch:

[Rowland]

Edgar G. Ulmer's The Man from Planet X isn't exactly up to par with The Black Cat, but it confirms his talent for discerning low-budget genre fare, and by the standards of most '50s alien invader cheapies, this one has a relatively thoughtful air of moral ambiguity, not unlike the same year's higher profile Day the Earth Stood Still.

[Pop Trash]

Dottie Gets Spanked captures the inchoate feelings of burgeoning sexual identity amongst children better than any film I can think of right now. My 2nd favorite Haynes behind Safe and one of the best TV movies ever.

What TV station did he make this for? HBO?

[StanleyK]

I watched the Mike Yanagita scene from Fargo and I just rewatched A Serious Man and I gotta say, even though the Coen brothers have a great eye for visuals and a sense of rhythm for fluid editing, their conversations scenes are too often staged and covered in the most basic and uninteresting way possible. It's good that they trust the performances and dialogue to carry them on their own (and they do), but still. Anyway, I'd say that, and the exaggeratedly uncaring children are my only problems with A Serious Man. Top-tier Coen, it feels like their most heart-felt effort.



Another comedy which held up wonderfully is Hot Fuzz. The build-up for the jokes and the long range in which they get meted out without ever growing old is remarkable. Like Shaun of the Dead, it shows both a genuine understanding of the flaws of cheesy action movies and a genuine love for them, although I wish it would cut back a bit on skewering/replicating the frenetic, over-edited nature of the action scenes. I mean, they're completely coherent and not headache-inducing, but I just can't see so many cuts and not be bothered by it.

[transmogrifier]

I've only got a couple of seconds, so let me say this:

The Outlaw Josey Wales = fucking awesome

[ledfloyd]

mysteries of lisbon was fantastic. i can see why brights is always going on about ruiz. i was completely engrossed in all four and a half of it's hours and when everything comes together in the end it's quite exhilarating. it feels like a delicately constructed maze. the mise en scene is stunning, as is the score, and i loved the theatricality of the performances and dialogue (which, in the end, are rather fitting). bliss.

[B-side]

mysteries of lisbon was fantastic. i can see why brights is always going on about ruiz. i was completely engrossed in all four and a half of it's hours and when everything comes together in the end it's quite exhilarating. it feels like a delicately constructed maze. the mise en scene is stunning, as is the score, and i loved the theatricality of the performances and dialogue (which, in the end, are rather fitting). bliss.

:)

[Kurosawa Fan]

I've only got a couple of seconds, so let me say this:

The Outlaw Josey Wales = fucking awesome

Yes.

[Watashi]

I noticed that Babe: Pig in the City was on Netflix Instant Watch, so I decided to watch it. I know this film got acclaim mostly from Siskel and Ebert, but yeah, it sure is something. This film is a pure Dickensesque fairy tale from top to bottom and George Miller's direction is beautiful, powerful, and haunting. There is some surreal and existential shit going on here. It reminded me a lot of The Brave Little Toaster in its spiritual subtext.

Sven, have you seen this one? Seems like your type of movie.

[transmogrifier]

I noticed that Babe: Pig in the City was on Netflix Instant Watch, so I decided to watch it. I know this film got acclaim mostly from Siskel and Ebert, but yeah, it sure is something. This film is a pure Dickensesque fairy tale from top to bottom and George Miller's direction is beautiful, powerful, and haunting. There is some surreal and existential shit going on here. It reminded me a lot of The Brave Little Toaster in its spiritual subtext.

Sven, have you seen this one? Seems like your type of movie.

BPITC is superior to the first one, I think. Easily so.

[Watashi]

BPITC is superior to the first one, I think. Easily so.
I'd say so too.

[Sven]

Sven, have you seen this one? Seems like your type of movie.

It is a landmark film that has heavily informed my perspective of the expressive capacity of cinema. Thanks for thinking of me. :D

[Qrazy]

mysteries of lisbon was fantastic. i can see why brights is always going on about ruiz. i was completely engrossed in all four and a half of it's hours and when everything comes together in the end it's quite exhilarating. it feels like a delicately constructed maze. the mise en scene is stunning, as is the score, and i loved the theatricality of the performances and dialogue (which, in the end, are rather fitting). bliss.

No.

[MadMan]

I've only got a couple of seconds, so let me say this:

The Outlaw Josey Wales = fucking awesomeWelcome to the club :cool:

[Rowland]

I like everything about Pig in the City besides the slapstick climax with the farmer's wife.

[Watashi]

I like everything about Pig in the City besides the slapstick climax with the farmer's wife.
That part's awesome. It's totally a Miller action set piece. Reminded me of Beyond Thunderdome.

[transmogrifier]

I've only got a couple of seconds, so let me say this:

The Outlaw Josey Wales = fucking awesome

Now that I have a little more time, I can elaborate. It's been a while since I've seen a film that managed to be all of funny, elegaic, tense and brutal, sometimes in the one scene. It is a brilliant balancing act, and a neat commentary on the cliche of the lone guman seeking brutal vengeance. Here, Josey can't stop picking up strays on his long ride to nowhere in particular, and in the end it is clear that it is a sense of community that is the ultimate saviour for internal torment. My single favourite shot is the one which starts off stationary and Josey riding into frame and out again, followed by an entire wagon train of fellow misfits, cast-offs and victims.

I searched on here for reactions, and I'm amazed at how many people criticized it for being too loose and tangential - that's what MAKES the movie.

[soitgoes...]

Someday you will learn to listen to everything I say and save yourself the trouble. ;)
.

[B-side]

Mouchette (Bresson 67) ***½

Probably my favorite Bresson.

[Raiders]

I noticed that Babe: Pig in the City was on Netflix Instant Watch, so I decided to watch it. I know this film got acclaim mostly from Siskel and Ebert, but yeah, it sure is something. This film is a pure Dickensesque fairy tale from top to bottom and George Miller's direction is beautiful, powerful, and haunting. There is some surreal and existential shit going on here.

Indeed. Lurve this movie.

[balmakboor]

I noticed that Babe: Pig in the City was on Netflix Instant Watch, so I decided to watch it. I know this film got acclaim mostly from Siskel and Ebert, but yeah, it sure is something. This film is a pure Dickensesque fairy tale from top to bottom and George Miller's direction is beautiful, powerful, and haunting. There is some surreal and existential shit going on here. It reminded me a lot of The Brave Little Toaster in its spiritual subtext.

Consider it added although I've seen it before. I like it. I do have a greater soft spot for the first Babe though. Its storytelling is so simply delightful.

[ledfloyd]

No.
there are times, rare though they may be, when you are wrong. this is one of those times.

[Dukefrukem]

I just watched Speed on Netflix streaming. Why does there seem to be a lack of solid R-rated action movies as of late? Everything is going PG-13. Like the new Die Hard. I know it's a money thing... but can anyone recommend some solid R-rated action movies? I'm watching the Expendables in 10 minutes.

[Pop Trash]

The Outlaw Josey Wales = fucking awesome

It's good, but having rewatched both this and Unforgiven in the last six months, I gotta say that Unforgiven is Eastwood's Western masterpiece.

[Qrazy]

there are times, rare though they may be, when you are wrong. this is one of those times.

Well as long as you recognize that they're rare... then okay. ;)

[Dukefrukem]

What the heck? (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/05/which_of_his_movies_will_marti .html)

[transmogrifier]

What the heck? (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/05/which_of_his_movies_will_marti .html)

I hope its Last Temptation.

Obstruction 1: Last Temptation with an all canine cast
Obstruction 2: Last Temptation shot in modern day Baghdad as a punk musical
Obstruction 3: Last Temptation narrated by the cross
Obstruction 4: Last Temptation starring Tori Spelling as Jesus
Obstruction 5: Last Temptation using only images from Antichrist but with overdubbing allowed

[Spinal]

At last, an American remake of a foreign film that I'm actually looking forward to.

[soitgoes...]

Probably my favorite Bresson.Second favorite for me. I just hope it returns me to Derek's good graces.

[Derek]

Second favorite for me. I just hope it returns me to Derek's good graces.

Bresson love will always do that. The fact that it's a Bresson that Qrazy despises is just icing on the cake. :)

[Derek]

And I'll take Pale Rider over Josey Wales for non-Unforgiven Eastwood westerns.

[Qrazy]

And I'll take Pale Rider over Josey Wales for non-Unforgiven Eastwood westerns.

I'll take High Plains Drifter because Pale Rider and Josey Wales both suck.

[balmakboor]

What the heck? (http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/05/which_of_his_movies_will_marti .html)

I may have missed one or two, but these seem to be the candidates for Scorsese to remake (assuming remaking a feature five times is off the table):

What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
It's Not Just You, Murray!
The Big Shave
American Boy
Mirror, Mirror
Bad
Life Lessons
The Key to Reserva

I haven't seen most of those, but I did like Life Lessons a lot.

[balmakboor]

I'll take High Plains Drifter because Pale Rider and Josey Wales both suck.

Pale Rider is pretty great actually. I've never seen Josey Wales.

[Spinal]

First Obstruction: You may not use Leonardo DiCaprio

[Kurosawa Fan]

I'll take High Plains Drifter because Pale Rider and Josey Wales both suck.

You couldn't be more wrong about Josey Wales, but you couldn't be more right about High Plains Drifter. The contrast is hurting my brain.

[soitgoes...]

I'll take High Plains Drifter because Pale Rider and Josey Wales both suck.You started so right and ended so wrong.

[soitgoes...]

The Big ShaveI don't even know what a full-length Trier remake of this would turn out like.

EDIT: I suppose a short version (straight remake) would still be pretty brutal in Trier's hands.

[transmogrifier]

I'll take High Plains Drifter because Pale Rider and Josey Wales both suck.

What I like about you, Qrazy, is how you never give up, no matter how wrong you are. One day, you'll make it.

[Ezee E]

Life Lessons is practically a full-length movie. Just less then an hour I think.

The Key To Reserva and The Big Shave seem like the easiest options. I figure he'll just to a new film entirely.

I would figure he'd play with different formats of film. 3D, 16MM... Maybe a straight shot...

[Raiders]

I don't even know what a full-length Trier remake of this would turn out like.

EDIT: I suppose a short version (straight remake) would still be pretty brutal in Trier's hands.

Scorsese will direct each version, Trier will just dictate the terms.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Trouble the Water was an interesting documentary in the way that it not only brought into focus the racism and governmental negligence that took place during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but in the damaging effect of capitalism as an ideology, the American education system, the justice system, etc. Kim and her husband, as well as many left devastated in the community, find a sense of purpose in the charity they are able to provide for others, and in the bond they form with those who are suffering with them. They form relationships and come to the aid of even complete strangers in a way the government fails to do. Prior to that they had been toiling in a ritually ignored area of the country, dealing drugs and trying to get by. They are all in a daily fight to survive and improve their lives post-Katrina, yet through that struggle, their happiest moments seem to emerge, and the only time the smiles fade and the spirits falter is when they're trying to secure money or security from FEMA, or when they learn of the shortcomings of a government that pretends to have their best interest at heart. One of the most shocking revelations comes when Kim's brother meets up with them in Memphis. Having been in a county jail during Katrina, he recounts the story, accompanied by photographic evidence by the filmmakers, of the prisoners not being told that Katrina was coming, and being abandoned by every employee of the prison, guards and warden included, left with no food or water, to die like rats.

Where the film falters is in portraying Katrina itself, and this has more to do with the effectiveness of Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke. There is no angle of the actual hurricane in which that documentary didn't cover completely, and because of that, about a third of Trouble the Water feels like a shallow retreading of ground that has been thoroughly covered, even with the first person narrative and the reliance almost exclusively of very raw self-shot footage during the storm. Despite this, the film is very effective as a searing examination of the effectiveness of our current political systems, and an almost Marxist position on the value of community and philanthropy in America.

[soitgoes...]

Scorsese will direct each version, Trier will just dictate the terms.This is what I get for not using my reading skills.

[Qrazy]

You started so right and ended so wrong.

Clint Eastwood is a bad director.

[soitgoes...]

Clint Eastwood is a bad director.

I wouldn't claim him to be a great director, but I would say he's made a number of great films. He's also made a bunch of crap, but I don't think it's fair to label him a bad director.

[transmogrifier]

Clint Eastwood is a bad director.

Who yet has still made great films on occasion. It's almost as if there were other elements in a film other than the direction.

[baby doll]

At last, an American remake of a foreign film that I'm actually looking forward to.I don't know if I'd go that far, but I'm bemused that Trier is remaking his own film about making another director remake one of his own films. Maybe it'll be a trilogy, and in the third, Leth and Scorsese will make Trier remake The Five Obstructions five times according to various arbitrary rules.

[B-side]

It's not hard to see why Ford sometimes considered The Fugitive the best thing he did. The usual Fordian moral ambiguity is taken to its most extreme here with a murderer dying a martyr and the titular fugitive being no less a criminal than those he blesses. Fonda's priest character is no longer a true priest not only because he can't identify as one where he is due to them being prosecuted in a Mexico currently experiencing a revolution, but because of the things he's being compelled to do due to the circumstances he finds himself in and the obligations he feels he has as a man of God. The bookends of the film are Ford at his absolute best, and this is the best I've seen Fonda. Where the hell is the DVD for this?

[Raiders]

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (Tashlin, 1956) **

If we're gonna give B-side grief for Tony Scott, I can't really let this fly by unannounced.

[Boner M]

If we're gonna give B-side grief for Tony Scott, I can't really let this fly by unannounced.
I'll admit I've been in a pretty shit mood over the weekend. The rating partially reflects a resistance to candy-coloured surfaces and general frivolity. Even so, none of the satire felt particularly sharp, and the broad humour (popcorn explosions/pipe whistles during kisses, Loverdoll being being mobbed by young women, etc) didn't feel sustained. I liked the fourth-wall-breaking moments. Not much else.

[Qrazy]

Who yet has still made great films on occasion. It's almost as if there were other elements in a film other than the direction.

His best films are merely above average. B- material at best.

[Derek]

My best posts are merely above average. B- material at best.

Fixed.

[megladon8]

I think Unforgiven is pretty masterful.

[soitgoes...]

It's not hard to see why Ford sometimes considered The Fugitive the best thing he did. The usual Fordian moral ambiguity is taken to its most extreme here with a murderer dying a martyr and the titular fugitive being no less a criminal than those he blesses. Fonda's priest character is no longer a true priest not only because he can't identify as one where he is due to them being prosecuted in a Mexico currently experiencing a revolution, but because of the things he's being compelled to do due to the circumstances he finds himself in and the obligations he feels he has as a man of God. The bookends of the film are Ford at his absolute best, and this is the best I've seen Fonda. Where the hell is the DVD for this?I'd be inclined to say that this is Ford's best looking film, maybe The Searchers, and the reason is Gabriel Figueroa. He worked on a handful, albeit some of the best, Buñuel films, but otherwise I feel he's a relative unknown. I discovered his work accidentally through Emilio Fernández films, which you might want to check out.

[Qrazy]

Fixed.

Way to make it personal when I was only insulting a director Derek. You have no class.


You're classless.

Wanker.

Just kidding. I love you.

[Rowland]

A Japanese Pink (aka soft-core porn) musical shot by Christopher Doyle: Underwater Love (http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/05/the-underwater-love-trailer-is-bubblegum-pop-perfection-with-breasts-and-a-bit-of-moaning.php)

[Dukefrukem]

Clint Eastwood is a bad director.

I thought MC was above pompous statements like this. Oh wait, it's MC.

[Raiders]

I thought MC was above pompous statements like this. Oh wait, it's MC.

:rolleyes:

Statements like this are far more obnoxious.

[Spinal]

How is that pompous? It's merely an opinion.

[Dukefrukem]

How is that pompous? It's merely an opinion.

This is a bad opinion.

[/point]

[Dukefrukem]

:rolleyes:

Statements like this are far more obnoxious.

(In Artie Lange voice)
I was kidding....

[Derek]

This is a bad opinion.

[/point]

Actually Spinal stated a fact. Perhaps MC will be more tolerable once you can differentiate facts from opinions. ;)

[Dukefrukem]

Actually Spinal stated a fact. Perhaps MC will be more tolerable once you can differentiate facts from opinions. ;)

0wn3d.

I wouldn't have said anything if his statement was backed up by supporting reasonings why he thought Clint Eastwood was a bad director. (maybe I missed it ... as usual)

I don't know why, but all of a sudden statements with not supporting reasons bothers me, or at least makes me challenge it. It's like a slap in the face to anyone who thinks he could possible be a decent director, but it's such a well known fact that he's a bad director, he doesn't even need to put in any effort to explain himself.

[megladon8]

Is it acceptable to say that Clint Eastwood is nothing special as a director, but has turned out a few wonderful films?

[Dukefrukem]

Is it acceptable to say that Clint Eastwood is nothing special as a director, but has turned out a few wonderful films?

I guess its the extremes that bother me.

[megladon8]

I guess its the extremes that bother me.


I was just posing it as a general question to everyone.

It's how I feel about Eastwood, I guess. He's an idealist, and his films often try to evoke a lyrical poetry, but it doesn't always work.

I think he's a pretty middle-of-the-road director, with very little distinctive style (but rather some consistent themes throughout his work, showing how deeply political a man he is).

That being said, I do think (as I said earlier) that Unforgiven is masterful, Gran Torino is great, and he has a few other strong works. But looking at his body of work as a whole, he's hardly "one of the greats".

[transmogrifier]

See, as much as I love Unforgiven, The Outlaw Josey Wales and A Perfect World, I can't for the life of me figure out how Gran Torino gets mentioned as a great film, or even a good one. It is crushingly cliched and poorly acted.

[megladon8]

See, as much as I love Unforgiven, The Outlaw Josey Wales and A Perfect World, I can't for the life of me figure out how Gran Torino gets mentioned as a great film, or even a good one. It is crushingly cliched and poorly acted.


Do you like High Plains Drifter?

[Boner M]

I kinda like Gran Torino but it's so shockingly poorly paced and edited; I remember taking my dad and even he pointed out those technical shortcomings. Stupid Clint rushing his post-prod to get in the awards race.

[transmogrifier]

Do you like High Plains Drifter?

I haven't see it yet. It'll probably be the next one I seek out.

[megladon8]

I haven't see it yet. It'll probably be the next one I seek out.


I think it's better than Josey Wales.

Just my two cents. Hope you like it.

[transmogrifier]

I think it's better than Josey Wales.

Just my two cents. Hope you like it.

Well, if it's better than Josey Wales, I'll be a happy camper. :)

[Winston*]

People should see White Hunter, Black Heart. Probably Clint's best performance.

[megladon8]

Well, if it's better than Josey Wales, I'll be a happy camper. :)


It's decidedly darker, and even "trippier".

I mean, the hero begins the movie by raping a girl then taking over a town as his.

[Derek]

People should see White Hunter, Black Heart. Probably Clint's best performance.

One of his best for sure. I like it a lot more than The African Queen.

[transmogrifier]

People should see White Hunter, Black Heart. Probably Clint's best performance.

Another one I haven't seen.

High Plains Drifter sounds interesting.

One of the things I love about old films is often I have no idea even the premise of the film I'm about to watch, let alone the rough storyline. It's cool to go in completely unsullied by info.

[megladon8]

Another one I haven't seen.

High Plains Drifter sounds interesting.

One of the things I love about old films is often I have no idea even the premise of the film I'm about to watch, let alone the rough storyline. It's cool to go in completely unsullied by info.


I've had some great experiences like this, as well.

Though I have found that many old movie trailers gave way too much away, as well as often going on far too long.

I've seen trailers from the '50s and '60s that went over the entire plot, including the climax, and last more than 4 minutes.

[Rowland]

My favorite Eastwood is A Perfect World, though I admittedly say that as someone only really familiar with his work from the early '90s on.

[Boner M]

Another vote for A Perfect Word from me.

-Do you love her?
-Kissed her butt, didn’t I?

[Derek]

Yet another vote for Mystic River.

*shifty eyes*

[Derek]

I've had some great experiences like this, as well.

Though I have found that many old movie trailers gave way too much away, as well as often going on far too long.

I've seen trailers from the '50s and '60s that went over the entire plot, including the climax, and last more than 4 minutes.

Fortunately new trailers learned from those mistakes and now ruin everything in less than 2 minutes.

[B-side]

I can't for the life of me figure out how Gran Torino gets mentioned as a great film, or even a good one. It is crushingly cliched and poorly acted.

Yeah, it's a piece of shit.

[Irish]

I've never thought much about Clint Eastwood as a director. Most of his career, he's been hampered by being forced to cast himself as the lead to get funding. And he's always been something of a commercial, populist kind of moviemaker.

His movies always seem deeply rooted in the time they were made (Every Which Way But Loose, Pink Cadillac, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). Sometimes his timing is perfect (Unforgiven, 1992) and sometimes it's awful (Pale Rider, 1985). He also whored himself out a bit in the 1990s, obviously more interested in payoffs than art (Absolute Power, Space Cowboys).

The reason I keep seeing his movies is the same reason I keep seeing Woody Allen and Spike Lee's stuff. Because even if the work in question is below par, hell, I figure it's got a better than even chance to be interesting subject matter and have some kind of a point of view, both socially and artistically. You can't really say that about a lot of people working today.

Directing is something of a secondary career to him and he's made 35 movies to date. He's still turned out, by my count, eight or nine movies that are notable and worth seeing.

That alone puts him well above average, in just about any context.

[megladon8]

I like that (in most of his films) Eastwood has no problem putting his personal politics on display, even if they are questionable by societal standards.

Even if it's an opinion or view I don't agree with, I find it much more interesting to see someone being honest about how they see the world, than pandering to audiences or critics.

[Ezee E]

Eastwood seems to have movies that I'll either love or find unwatchable. His last two for instance just seem so boring and uninteresting that I'm not even going to bother with them.

When it deals with one character, it seems to be at its best. So long as he doesn't get carried away with multiple storylines like in Changeling or Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil.

[B-side]

The reason I keep seeing his movies is the same reason I keep seeing Woody Allen and Spike Lee's stuff. Because even if the work in question is below par, hell, I figure it's got a better than even chance to be interesting subject matter and have some kind of a point of view, both socially and artistically. You can't really say that about a lot of people working today.

Well said.

[Spinal]

I kinda feel the opposite. I feel like I could go the rest of my life without experiencing Eastwood's artistry or his point of view and be just fine.

[B-side]

I kinda feel the opposite. I feel like I could go the rest of my life without experiencing Eastwood's artistry or his point of view and be just fine.

Haha, fair enough. I get what he's aiming at, though.

[Sxottlan]

Don't think I've seen this posted yet.

August's Criterions:

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3418/577_BD_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3406/575_BD_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3412/576_BD_box_348x490.jpg

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3448/Kurahara_box.png

http://criterion-production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/3445/578_BD_box_348x490.jpg

And several blu-ray re-releases of earlier Criterion films: Battle of Algiers, If... and Orpheus.

[Boner M]

I thought that was an Eclipse set of 5 Kiyoshi Kurosawa films I've never heard of, then got all giddy, then sighed with disappointment upon 2nd look.

Still, nice month.

[Rowland]

I thought that was an Eclipse set of 5 Kiyoshi Kurosawa films I've never heard of, then got all giddy, then sighed with disappointment upon 2nd look.Are you saying that all Japanese names in which both the first and the surname have the same number of syllables and begin with the letter K, the first names end with a 'yoshi', and the surnames almost rhyme, are difficult to tell apart? That's racist!

[soitgoes...]

I've become more excited for each month's announcement of Eclipse titles than I am with Criterion.

[Boner M]

Are you saying that all Japanese names in which both the first and the surname have the same number of syllables and begin with the letter K, the first names end with a 'yoshi', and the surnames almost rhyme, are difficult to tell apart? That's racist!
I hear the original title for the box was The Warped World of Another Japanese Dude

[B-side]

I've become more excited for each month's announcement of Eclipse titles than I am with Criterion.

Same here. I mean, as much as we needed another DVD of The Killing...

[Rowland]

Really, they couldn't have included The Gate of Youth, which Kurahara co-directed with Kinji Fukasaku in 1981?!

[Dukefrukem]

I kinda like Gran Torino but it's so shockingly poorly paced and edited; I remember taking my dad and even he pointed out those technical shortcomings. Stupid Clint rushing his post-prod to get in the awards race.

The terrible acting is more obnoxious than the pacing.

And was it a well known fact he rushed it out the door?

[Dukefrukem]

And the Killing box art there is fucking amazing.

[baby doll]

By the way, did anybody hear that a director's cut of Ishtar is being screened in New York this week? I rather liked the original version, so I hope this gets some kind of DVD release.

[Irish]

By the way, did anybody hear that a director's cut of Ishtar is being screened in New York this week? I rather liked the original version, so I hope this gets some kind of DVD release.

This is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard anyone say in relation to entertainment.

All the more confusing as it's coming from you.

[dmk]

This is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard anyone say in relation to entertainment.

All the more confusing as it's coming from you.
Hm, so entertainment shouldn't get some kind of DVD Release? Are you retarded?

Anyway, a Blu-ray release of the original cut was up for pre-order months ago on Amazon, but Sony cancelled it for some reason. This new Director's Cut must have been that reason, and I guess it'll come out in that format sooner or later. Which is great, because it's an awesome film.

edit- her previous stuff deserves a release more though. I think they're either out of print (The Heartbreak Kid), unreleased (A New Leaf) or really expensive in sub-par editions (Micky and Nicky).

[balmakboor]

This is the most bizarre thing I've ever heard anyone say in relation to entertainment.

All the more confusing as it's coming from you.

What are you talking about? A guy liked a movie and hopes its director's cut makes it to DVD. Sounds perfectly sensible to me.

[balmakboor]

The terrible acting is more obnoxious than the pacing.

And was it a well known fact he rushed it out the door?

I like Gran Torino. :(

[Irish]

What are you talking about? A guy liked a movie and hopes its director's cut makes it to DVD. Sounds perfectly sensible to me.

Because, my god, it's Ishtar. Ishtar?!



Hm, so entertainment shouldn't get some kind of DVD Release? Are you retarded?

We're talking about the Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman movie, right? Or did he mean something else?

[balmakboor]

Because, my god, it's Ishtar. Ishtar?!

We're talking about the Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman movie, right? Or did he mean something else?

You do know that Ishtar has a great many defenders?

[Irish]

You do know that Ishtar has a great many defenders?

You have single handedly just darkened my faith in humanity. I honestly did not believe that possible. :cry:

[balmakboor]

One of the things I like the most about match-cut is people here don't write off movies because "all the critics said they suck and they made diddly-squat." People here have minds of their own and keep them open for every movie they watch.

I personally have a lot of movies on my thumbs up list that got drubbed including:
Heaven's Gate
1941
Popeye
Zabriske Point
Mission to Mars
Howard the Duck
One From the Heart
Speed Racer

I really need to see Ishtar.

Oh, and I forgot about Zardoz and Exorcist II: The Heretic

[Dukefrukem]

I like Gran Torino. :(

I love Gran Torino. But the actress that played Sue was.. not good.

[Sven]

Because, my god, it's Ishtar. Ishtar?!

The trend is that films derided on a mass scale like Ishtar generally harbor choice qualities that are overlooked in the scramble to prove one's self a voice of status quo reasoning. I do not like the film myself, but I haven't seen it since I was a teenager. I have several friends who like it, so I trust that there's probably something to it. Quality is seldom as self-evident as you seem to think it is.

[Sven]

Heaven's Gate
Popeye
Mission to Mars
Exorcist II: The Heretic

All masterpieces.

[Irish]

I personally have a lot of movies on my thumbs up list that got drubbed including:
Heaven's Gate
1941
Popeye
Zabriske Point
Mission to Mars
Howard the Duck
One From the Heart
Speed Racer

You mean as a guilty-pleasure thing or a so-bad-it's-good thing or are you genuinely arguing that these are good movies and the rest of us missed out?

[Irish]

The trend is that films derided on a mass scale like Ishtar generally harbor choice qualities that are overlooked in the scramble to prove one's self a voice of status quo reasoning. I do not like the film myself, but I haven't seen it since I was a teenager. I have several friends who like it, so I trust that there's probably something to it. Quality is seldom as self-evident as you seem to think it is.

Good post. I owe you a +1.

[Derek]

All masterpieces.

Sven, you have to check out the hour-long interview of DePalma by Noah Baumbach on the new Blow Out Criterion release. Great stuff, especially when DePalma goes off about how he hates "coverage" and an over-reliance on close-ups.

[Derek]

The trend is that films derided on a mass scale like Ishtar generally harbor choice qualities that are overlooked in the scramble to prove one's self a voice of status quo reasoning.

And to think this was your MO way before the trend started. How ahead of the curve are you!? ;)

[balmakboor]

You mean as a guilty-pleasure thing or a so-bad-it's-good thing or are you genuinely arguing that these are good movies and the rest of us missed out?

While a few are flawed movies that I still find well worth seeing, a few are to me genuinely great movies. Heaven's Gate is one of American film's high points.

[Sven]

And to think this was your MO way before the trend started. How ahead of the curve are you!? ;)

Brow furrowed, I've been trying to pinpoint for the last few minutes exactly where the ribbing is here. Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my post. The trend has been there pretty much forever. I feel like I've always tried to give derided films a fair shot. I'm missing the joke.

Thanks for the rec about the De Palma interview. I've been wondering how it is.

[Sven]

...when DePalma goes off about how he hates "coverage" and an over-reliance on close-ups.

Yes! I can't tell you how many projects I've worked on that have alienated my artistic sensibilities with an insistence on proper coverage. Probably why I dislike television as much as I do.

[Derek]

Brow furrowed, I've been trying to pinpoint for the last few minutes exactly where the ribbing is here. Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my post. The trend has been there pretty much forever. I feel like I've always tried to give derided films a fair shot. I'm missing the joke.

Does the word "trend" not suggest something temporary? If it's been around forever, it's not really a trend. The way you said made it sound like you were saying it was in vogue or whatevs and I was saying you were doing that before it was cool. Nothing mean-spirited intended.


Thanks for the rec about the De Palma interview. I've been wondering how it is.

Yeah, Baumbach's a good interviewer and they cover a good amount of ground. I do wonder if the Baumbach/DePalma combo will make Armond's head explode.

[Sven]

Does the word "trend" not suggest something temporary? If it's been around forever, it's not really a trend. The way you said made it sound like you were saying it was in vogue or whatevs and I was saying you were doing that before it was cool. Nothing mean-spirited intended.

Ah. I was using "trend" to describe a pattern. As in "the trend is that the sky is more red during a sunset". Anyway, this is not to say that I am not a prescient genius and dictator of discerning taste.

[Dukefrukem]

Are people keeping up with this?
They're awesome.

6s6UiEuCYXA
PTSEa--Alkw
sqlaU5OMsks
uIFbGNqs0JQ
e4QRSbf9H5M
5tWh4Z42SJk

[MadMan]

The auteur theory can go fuck itself -- MadmanBeen a while one of my posts containing "Fuck" and involving something film related was sig. Too long, I say :P

[megladon8]

Opinions on Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!?

Was watching it last night for the first time since it was originally released on VHS, and I was 9 years old, so in other words I was pretty much watching it for the first time.

And yeesh...awful.

[Spun Lepton]

Opinions on Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!?

Was watching it last night for the first time since it was originally released on VHS, and I was 9 years old, so in other words I was pretty much watching it for the first time.

And yeesh...awful.

Paid excellent fan service for people who collected the card sets.

[MadMan]

I think its a really funny spoof of 1950s sci-fi space invader movies. Plus it has Jack Nickelson playing two roles, and a young Jack Black and Natalie Portman as well. My favorite moment though is the great Jim Brown fighting the Martian leader.

[megladon8]

I was surprised by how totally unfunny it is.

Just...blah. Total misfire. And what a waste of such an incredible cast.

[Derek]

Opinions on Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!?

Post-Ed Wood Burton is all pretty bad.

[Mara]

Opinions on Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!?

Was watching it last night for the first time since it was originally released on VHS, and I was 9 years old, so in other words I was pretty much watching it for the first time.

And yeesh...awful.

Let's see. I saw it in theaters with my friend Chip, and we would have been... oh... sixteen. We laughed and laughed and laughed.

Would I think it's funny now? Hard to say.

[megladon8]

Post-Ed Wood Burton is all pretty bad.


Sleepy Hollow is wonderful :sad:

[Sven]

Mars Attacks is great.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Opinions on Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!?

Was watching it last night for the first time since it was originally released on VHS, and I was 9 years old, so in other words I was pretty much watching it for the first time.

And yeesh...awful.

Bold concept, scattershot execution.

[Dukefrukem]

Let's see. I saw it in theaters with my friend Chip, and we would have been... oh... sixteen. We laughed and laughed and laughed.

Would I think it's funny now? Hard to say.

I vividly remember seeing it in theaters and i vividly remember being so disappointed. They rebooted the comic series around this time and boy was Mars Attacks a terrible movie, probably Burtons worst. Best part? Jack being impaled by the Martian flag.

[Irish]

Opinions on Tim Burton's Mars Attacks!?

From a time when the plot of Burton's movies could be almost entirely described by their titles alone. Mars attacks ... and then nothing happens.

There's some good gags (The aliens running around with a universal translator that keeps saying "Don't run away! We are your friends!" as they kill humans) but on the whole the movie is shit.

[Sven]

I'm gonna appeal to authority on this one and mention that Godard, cinema Himself, loves Mars Attacks.

[Russ]

So Wryan, whatever became of your interview with Richard Elfman?

[Bosco B Thug]

I'm gonna appeal to authority on this one and mention that Godard, cinema Himself, loves Mars Attacks. Fack yeah, really??!! I have no idea where I stand on Mars Attacks, but that fact is totally gonna skew my eventual re-watch. :)

[Spinal]

Weighing in ...

Very good:
Popeye
Speed Racer
Mission to Mars

Good:
Zabriske Point

Not good:
Sleepy Hollow

Awful:
Mars Attacks
Exorcist II: The Heretic
Howard the Duck

Haven't seen:
Heaven's Gate
1941
One From the Heart
Ishtar
Zardoz

[Watashi]

At least Sven didn't call Howard the Duck a masterpiece.

[Qrazy]

Yeah, put me in the Mars Attacks is awful category.

[Scar]

I find Mars Attacks! to be quite hilarious.

And Sven likes Exorcist II? If I ever get to watch a movie with him, I want it to be this one, so he can explain his love for it to me.

[soitgoes...]

I like Mars Attacks okay.

[Pop Trash]

For the record, Mars Attacks and Starship Troopers both rule.

[Russ]

Ok, who was the last person who hates Mars Attacks?

'Cause I'm with them.

[transmogrifier]

Mars Attacks!: good idea + totally unfunny script = meh

[megladon8]

I think just about all of my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt considering I find The Ninth Gate to be not only better than Chinatown, but one of Polanski's best.

[megladon8]

Mars Attacks!: good idea + totally unfunny script = meh


Pretty much.

And for the record, Sleepy Hollow is, in fact, pretty great.

[Derek]

And for the record, Sleepy Hollow is, in fact, pretty great.

Or alternately, it's not and amounts to little more than a few pretty pictures. I actually thought it was okay when I saw it for the first time a year or two ago, but when it was on at a Halloween party last year, my friend (who loves Mars Attack and even has a poster of it) and I spent most of the time making fun of how bland and silly it was and how awful Burton has become. That was an effective way of alienating half of the people there, though at least my friends hosting kinda hate Burton's recent films.

[B-side]

Ok, who was the last person who hates Mars Attacks?

'Cause I'm with them.

As am I. Embarrassing film.

[Winston*]

Watching the Bing Crosby cartoon of Sleepy Hollow on Youtube. It's weird.

Who's the town lady's man? Ichabod, Ichabod Crane.

[megladon8]

I hate Burton's output as of late, but Sleepy Hollow is not in that bunch.

He has yet to top Ed Wood or Batman Returns, though.

[Winston*]

Oh man, the Headless Horseman song is good.

Now he likes them little, he likes them big
Part in the middle, or a wig
Black or white or even red
The Headless Horseman needs a head

[EyesWideOpen]

I hate Burton's output as of late, but Sleepy Hollow is not in that bunch.

He has yet to top Ed Wood or Batman Returns, though.

Big Fish beats Batman Returns handily.

[Winston*]

Oh shit he's in the woods and the frogs are croaking "Headless Horseman"!

[Winston*]

The ending of the Bing Crosby Sleepy Hollow is darker than the ending of the Burton one.

[Boner M]

Hey Derek where's your av from? If it's from the Mekas I'm even more curious than before.

[Ivan Drago]

Hey Derek where's your av from? If it's from the Mekas I'm even more curious than before.

I'll see his Jonas Mekas and raise him a Naomi Uman.

Sorry but Removed still resonates with me.

[B-side]

Hey Derek where's your av from? If it's from the Mekas I'm even more curious than before.

It is, yes.