28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Kurosawa Fan]

Dude you are totally getting rep from me. I yearn for the year 2020 in which after Southland Tales is considered an ahead-of-its-time cult classic, it wins the yearly poll for 2006.

It won't get a vote from me. I'm done with it. An hour and a half I wish I could have back. What a complete waste.

[Ezee E]

new york ff


I'm all about Gomorroh. Check that out. I hope it shows up in Telluride.

[Ezee E]

K-Fan did the right thing.

I managed to watch the whole deal. Outside of an impressive beginning, the bizarro (but stupid) Timberlake music video, and the three-way dance at the end, it was just plain dumb.

I like the energy D_davis has about it, but I just cannot see that myself.

[D_Davis]

Yeah, ST is a film that I feel is custom made for folks like me: people who love PKD and his unique brand of gonzo, anything-goes speculative fiction. It's a very small niche, that's for sure. Interesting, though, that my web-mate gave it the top spot on his top 10 last year, and I am pretty sure it will be at least in the top 5 for me this year, and it will most definitely be making a very high appearance on my revised top 100. It is a film that resonates with me on a very deep and personal level.

[Pop Trash]

Yeah, ST is a film that I feel is custom made for folks like me: people who love PKD and his unique brand of gonzo, anything-goes speculative fiction. It's a very small niche, that's for sure. Interesting, though, that my web-mate gave it the top spot on his top 10 last year, and I am pretty sure it will be at least in the top 5 for me this year, and it will most definitely be making a very high appearance on my revised top 100. It is a film that resonates with me on a very deep and personal level.
:)

[Qrazy]

Yeah, ST is a film that I feel is custom made for folks like me: people who love PKD and his unique brand of gonzo, anything-goes speculative fiction. It's a very small niche, that's for sure. Interesting, though, that my web-mate gave it the top spot on his top 10 last year, and I am pretty sure it will be at least in the top 5 for me this year, and it will most definitely be making a very high appearance on my revised top 100. It is a film that resonates with me on a very deep and personal level.

PS Green Snake was awful.

[D_Davis]

I totally understand why so many people hate ST, and I don't think there is any logical argument to be made to convince someone that it is a good film. It's just one of those things that I like because I like.

PS Green Snake is awesome.

[Qrazy]

I totally understand why so many people hate ST, and I don't think there is any logical argument to be made to convince someone that it is a good film. It's just one of those things that I like because I like.

PS Green Snake is awesome.

Awesome in a wow that sucked kind of way?

[D_Davis]

More like awesome in a "wow, that was an incredibly inventive and beautiful folk-fantasy, totally unlike anything else I've ever seen; a film full of imagination and passion, a film that possesses a captivating dream-like allure," or something.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I really loved Trouble Every Day (2001), the incredibly haunting and detached mood completely weighs on my soul. The film features some of the most intimate moments I've ever seen committed to film, which oddly enough serve to emphasis the divide and alienation of the characters. It's not an easy watch considering the mood, and some of the content (at least for me), but well worth it. I'm still trying to figure out some of the little details and moments, but overall one of the best films I've seen in a while. I REALLY need to see more Claire Denis. REALLY.

[Qrazy]

More like awesome in a "wow, that was an incredibly inventive and beautiful folk-fantasy, totally unlike anything else I've ever seen; a film full of imagination and passion, a film that possesses a captivating dream-like allure," or something.

Agreed.

[Sycophant]

Yeah, ST is a film that I feel is custom made for folks like me: people who love PKD and his unique brand of gonzo, anything-goes speculative fiction. It's a very small niche, that's for sure. Interesting, though, that my web-mate gave it the top spot on his top 10 last year, and I am pretty sure it will be at least in the top 5 for me this year, and it will most definitely be making a very high appearance on my revised top 100. It is a film that resonates with me on a very deep and personal level.Your continued argument for this film has made me increasingly reticent to approach Dick's work.

[D_Davis]

Your continued argument for this film has made me increasingly reticent to approach Dick's work.

That's cool. You may not like him. He's definitely not for everyone. I know a lot of people that just don't dig his stuff - he can be a hard nut to crack. I can totally understand people who read PKD and think "WTF did I just read?"

But like I said in the ST thread, this film is not necessarily representative of Dick's work, but being very familiar with Dick's work offers an interesting perspective into the film.

[Rowland]

Your continued argument for this film has made me increasingly reticent to approach Dick's work.PKD is amazing when he's at his best, don't let these correlations with Kelly's juvenile wankery scare you away.

[Winston*]

I will read another Philip K. Dick book instead of watcing Southland Tales if that's okay with you D_Davis.

[D_Davis]

I will read another Philip K. Dick book instead of watcing Southland Tales if that's okay with you D_Davis.

Can't argue with this.

I recently finished my 30th PKD book. About ready to pick my 31st.

[D_Davis]

I do find the depth of spite and hatred towards ST to be interesting. I often find myself at odds with the general consensus when it comes to films and books, but never to this magnitude. I mean, people actively despise this film to a level I don't often see.

It's like it personally offends the notion of what people look for in the films they enjoy. Maybe this is partially why I like it so much. It's do different than most things I watch. It's so unique and it just breaks rules left and right. Is it a mess? Yeah, totally, but I think it is a glorious and exciting mess.

It's like a movie made by someone who has no idea what a movie is and so they just went at it with a headstrong stubbornness and child-like joy of creating something with the imagination. I just don't see this kind of thing often enough.

Part of the reason why I pretty much stopped watching films this year is because they all seemed to bore me. I just don't find what I am looking for in movies right now, but ST possessed just about everything I look for. It excited me and made me want more. I want more movies like this. More movies that aren't afraid to just let it rip. This is really the same reason why I like Tsui Hark's movies so much.

[MadMan]

My goal this year (or next year) is to read a PKD book. Considering how much I've loved all of the adaptations of his books that I've seen so far (Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, etc.)

Oh and I have a feeling I will enjoy Southland Tales. Why? Because it looks right up my alley, I suppose.

And thanks to Best Buy I am finally going to watch Taxi Driver and see what all of the fuss is about.

[D_Davis]

My goal this year (or next year) is to read a PKD book. Considering how much I've loved all of the adaptations of his books that I've seen so far (Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, etc.)


They're really short, and most are quite good and engaging, so you should be able to blow through a couple in no time.

Try Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, and then watch Southland Tales; the film references the book a few times.

[Rowland]

Try Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, and then watch Southland Tales; the film references the book a few times.Yeah, the movie is packed with awkward references. Is there a justification for this on a subtext level or something, or is it just namedropping for the sake of it?

[Sycophant]

Rather, I had a feeling throughout the movie that it was made by somebody who knew way better than the rest of us what movies were, and was going to show us that it could best them all. And then it took that attitude about movies and applied it to just about everything else it was, uh, tackling.

[D_Davis]

Yeah, the movie is packed with awkward references. Is there a justification for this on a subtext level or something, or is it just namedropping for the sake of it?

I don't know. This is one of the reasons why I need to see it again, and reread some of the PKD books it references.

[Sycophant]

I watched the first hour of Dave Chappelle's Block Party about two weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I should finish that.

[D_Davis]

Rather, I had a feeling throughout the movie that it was made by somebody who knew way better than the rest of us what movies were, and was going to show us that it could best them all. And then it took that attitude about movies and applied it to just about everything else it was, uh, tackling.

Forever the cynic!

:)

[MadMan]

I watched the first hour of Dave Chappelle's Block Party about two weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I should finish that.You should. The second half is just as awesome as the first half. Easily one of my favorite films from 2006.

[D_Davis]

Block Party we can agree on. It's awesome.

[Qrazy]

I watched the first hour of Dave Chappelle's Block Party about two weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I should finish that.

Yeah, it's quality.

[D_Davis]

PKD had a unique ability to expertly illustrate how his characters all have a different perception of reality. We all perceive things differently - each one of us tunes in and tunes out certain things, and these things form our perception of reality. In PKD's books, his characters often have vastly different perceptions of what is going on. It's like they are all part of the same plot, but each one is on a different trip.

I got the same impression from Southland Tales. It was like the characters were all in the same movie, and yet they were each in a different meta-movie. Each one of the characters had a different idea of what kind of movie, or world, they were in, and I really appreciated it this aspect of the film.

[Spinal]

I really loved Trouble Every Day (2001), the incredibly haunting and detached mood completely weighs on my soul. The film features some of the most intimate moments I've ever seen committed to film, which oddly enough serve to emphasis the divide and alienation of the characters. It's not an easy watch considering the mood, and some of the content (at least for me), but well worth it. I'm still trying to figure out some of the little details and moments, but overall one of the best films I've seen in a while. I REALLY need to see more Claire Denis. REALLY.

Wonderful film and certainly a peculiar beast. Glad you liked it.

[Derek]

More movies that aren't afraid to just let it rip.

Kelly let it rip alright. Like a wet, smelly fart right in the face of the viewer.

[Qrazy]

Kelly let it rip alright. Like a wet, smelly fart right in the face of the viewer.

Ah really? Did it have to be wet? Has he no shame?

[Spinal]

I've clicked on three different threads and read about juicy farts, crap in a punch bowl and Harvey Dent's erect cock. Think it's time to call it a night.

[Derek]

I've clicked on three different threads and read about juicy farts, crap in a punch bowl and Harvey Dent's erect cock. Think it's time to call it a night.

Richard Kelly started it.

[Qrazy]

I've clicked on three different threads and read about juicy farts, crap in a punch bowl and Harvey Dent's erect cock. Think it's time to call it a night.

Match-Cut: Finally a Forum for the Intellectual Elite

[Derek]

Match-Cut: Finally a Forum for the Intellectual Elite

I apologize for the gratuitousness of my last post. Three straight 8-hour days of tutoring middle/high schoolers followed by 2 hours of tutoring a musician in Math have officially sucked every ounce of discretion from me.

More on topic, Trouble Every Day is a film that has improved immensely in my memory. Most of the problems I had with it have melted away and I'm left only with admiration at such a unique and beautiful take on the vampire mythos.

[Qrazy]

I apologize for the gratuitousness of my last post. Three straight 8-hour days of tutoring middle/high schoolers followed by 2 hours of tutoring a musician in Math have officially sucked every ounce of discretion from me.

More on topic, Trouble Every Day is a film that has improved immensely in my memory. Most of the problems I had with it have melted away and I'm left only with admiration at such a unique and beautiful take on the vampire mythos.

Don't worry about it, while you've been reflecting upon wet farts I've been discussing punch bowl crap and Dented cocks.

[Derek]

Don't worry about it, while you've been reflecting upon wet farts I've been discussing punch bowl crap and Dented cocks.

And yet even on a night like this, MatchCut still continues to be vastly superior to RT. :)

[Qrazy]

And yet even on a night like this, MatchCut still continues to be vastly superior to RT. :)

True say.

[MadMan]

And yet even on a night like this, MatchCut still continues to be vastly superior to RT. :)Well shit son, that ain't hard. And yet I still post there. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

[Dead & Messed Up]

You want to know a bizarre movie? I got one for you.

It's called Space Camp, a forgotten family-flick from 1986. It stars Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, and Joaquin Pheonix, and the story concerns a plucky group of kids who accidentally get shot into space.

Like all "realistic" sci-fi films set in outer space, I had an immediate weakness for the scenes of suspense. There's something intrinsicially tense about spacewalks, low oxygen reserves, and crew tension, and Space Camp has plenty of that. Whenever it's about that, it's a goofy good time.

But the film also wanted to cash in on E. T., so one of the subplots is about a $27 million robot named Jinx who befriends Joaquin's character and quickly develops not only sentience, but the capacity for feelings ("Jinx and Max? Friends for-ev-er!"). It's a seriously uneasy mix, but things pick up a third of the way into the thing.

Sadly, the film was not that successful, mostly because 1986 wasn't exactly a great year for space shuttles.

[number8]

I just want to say that I'm not that big of a PKD fan and didn't really pick up on the influences, so it's definitely not a film only for Dickheads like Davis. I loved it because it was a very funny and moving film with excellent visuals and performances.

[SirNewt]

Delicatessen

I hate this.

[Bosco B Thug]

RE: Tale of Two Sisters
Actually...

Early on the movie, he's seen cozy with evil stepmother, then at one point he gets up and goes to sleep on his own (single) bed. If we're to believe there's only one girl with split personalities for most of the film, then he was hugging his daughter and went to sleep alone for the night. Wow, true! Never saw it that way. An accurate and apt observation; one certainly can't argue against someone reading that scene that way. I doubt it was meant to be seen that way though... Don't remember the "naughty" line...

[Benny Profane]

You want to know a bizarre movie? I got one for you.

It's called Space Camp, a forgotten family-flick from 1986. It stars Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, and Joaquin Pheonix, and the story concerns a plucky group of kids who accidentally get shot into space.

Like all "realistic" sci-fi films set in outer space, I had an immediate weakness for the scenes of suspense. There's something intrinsicially tense about spacewalks, low oxygen reserves, and crew tension, and Space Camp has plenty of that. Whenever it's about that, it's a goofy good time.

But the film also wanted to cash in on E. T., so one of the subplots is about a $27 million robot named Jinx who befriends Joaquin's character and quickly develops not only sentience, but the capacity for feelings ("Jinx and Max? Friends for-ev-er!"). It's a seriously uneasy mix, but things pick up a third of the way into the thing.

Sadly, the film was not that successful, mostly because 1986 wasn't exactly a great year for space shuttles.

I saw that film so many times growing up. I loved it but it's been awhile so I have no idea how well it would hold up.

[MadMan]

Delicatessen

I hate this.Why? I'm curious because I want to see this, and I actually know where to find a copy. Its just a matter of will, and deciding when I'm in the mood for what appears to be a dark sci-fi/horror/comedy.

[Derek]

Why?

Hint: A film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.


and I actually know where to find a copy.

You know where everywhere is too?

;)

[monolith94]

Why? I'm curious because I want to see this, and I actually know where to find a copy. Its just a matter of will, and deciding when I'm in the mood for what appears to be a dark sci-fi/horror/comedy.
Don't let him discourage you; it's a great film, and one of my top five favorites.

[Winston*]

I will read another Philip K. Dick book instead of watcing Southland Tales if that's okay with you D_Davis.

Done. Read The Cosmic Puppets. Fun book. Took less time to read than it would take to watch the movie also.

Now it's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain D_Davis.

[MadMan]

Don't let him discourage you; it's a great film, and one of my top five favorites.I won't. Especially since no reasons were given by him as to why its a bad film. And that's never stopped me before anyways.


Hint: A film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.



You know where everywhere is too?

;)Of course. I didn't know if you did though. Smartass :P

[monolith94]

To give a 1 to a film is a pretty big statement. What did it do to so actively offend his sensibilities? Was he bored? Insulted (by what???)? Incredulous? It's impossible to counter a claim about a film when the claim is so abstract.

[Boner M]

I've gotta hand it to Tom McCarthy; between The Station Agent and his latest, he makes the sort of films that should be - and I guess, really are - terminally safe, earnest Sundance crowdpleasers (this time with an extra dollop of liberal guilt), that nonetheless manage to hit my soft spot with such efficiency that I'm stammering to muster up my usual cynical dismissal. I'm sharpening my knives for his next one, though. Without canny casting, I'd imagine both films would fall apart under the weight of their good intentions and naivety.

[Boner M]

Um, weekend.

No Fear, No Die
The Earrings of Madame De...
Le Corbeau
This Sporting Life

And if Criterion's Shepitko double comes in the mail, I'll watch Ascent.

[origami_mustache]

Weekend:
Ivan The Terrible 1 & 2
Stromboli
Voyage In Italy

[Yxklyx]

Netflix is all screwed so who knows about the weekend:

Long Day's Journey into Night
The King of Marvin Gardens
Black Test Car

I'm especially interested in seeing the last one - directed by Yasuzo Masumura. GIants and Toys and Manji were very refreshing films. He's my new "director I want to see all films from" guy.

[balmakboor]

PKD had a unique ability to expertly illustrate how his characters all have a different perception of reality. We all perceive things differently - each one of us tunes in and tunes out certain things, and these things form our perception of reality. In PKD's books, his characters often have vastly different perceptions of what is going on. It's like they are all part of the same plot, but each one is on a different trip.

I got the same impression from Southland Tales. It was like the characters were all in the same movie, and yet they were each in a different meta-movie. Each one of the characters had a different idea of what kind of movie, or world, they were in, and I really appreciated it this aspect of the film.

I really respect your love of ST and truly do understand your defense of the film. I have my own movies that I defend with a similar passion and for reasons that nobody else seems to understand (Mission to Mars as an exploding of a scene from Carrie for instance). But I just keep coming back to the question: Couldn't Kelly have made a film that was a treasure trove of goodies for PKD fans that was actually good and entertaining instead of the inept and dreadfully boring film I watched? (Then I think about Donnie Darko and how much I disliked that as well and figure that Kelly really is something of an Edward D. Wood, Jr. without the charm.)

[Pop Trash]

I do find the depth of spite and hatred towards ST to be interesting. I often find myself at odds with the general consensus when it comes to films and books, but never to this magnitude. I mean, people actively despise this film to a level I don't often see.

It's like it personally offends the notion of what people look for in the films they enjoy. Maybe this is partially why I like it so much. It's do different than most things I watch. It's so unique and it just breaks rules left and right. Is it a mess? Yeah, totally, but I think it is a glorious and exciting mess.

It's like a movie made by someone who has no idea what a movie is and so they just went at it with a headstrong stubbornness and child-like joy of creating something with the imagination. I just don't see this kind of thing often enough.Part of the reason why I pretty much stopped watching films this year is because they all seemed to bore me. I just don't find what I am looking for in movies right now, but ST possessed just about everything I look for. It excited me and made me want more. I want more movies like this. More movies that aren't afraid to just let it rip. This is really the same reason why I like Tsui Hark's movies so much.

Yeah that's exactly how I felt about it. I watch enough movies to know when something is being safe and when something is really trying to go for a new way of approaching filmmaking. I really don't get the spite towards ST and don't see how it's much different from other, experemental ground breaking films (like say Pirrot Le Fou or Week-End by Godard)

Plus it's not like the movie made tons of money or anything so it's not being advertised or marketed towards you. The movie was barely released to begin with.

Then again I feel about Dogville the way a lot of you feel about ST.

[Raiders]

Weekend:

Tropic Thunder
Transsiberian
Friday Night

[D_Davis]

Done. Read The Cosmic Puppets. Fun book. Took less time to read than it would take to watch the movie also.

Now it's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain D_Davis.

Cosmic Puppets is fun - it's almost Lovecraftian; it has more in common with the weird tales than it does most of PKD's SF.

What was my end of the bargain?

[D_Davis]

Delicatessen is way awesome.

[Ezee E]

If Netflix sends out movies:
CJ7
Dark City

Also,
Pineapple Express
Tropic Thunder

[balmakboor]

I love it when movies just let it rip and I agree that Tsui Hark is a fine example. I especially find myself re-watching Dangerous Encounters: 1st Kind and The Blade constantly. Other let it rip film favorites are Evil Dead II, Dead Alive, most everything I've seen from Takeshi Miike, and It's Alive 2 and 3. This let it rip attitude is also what made Versus and, even more so, Godzilla: Final Wars so appealing to me.

I don't think Southland Tales let it rip. It felt like a very controlled movie from start to finish. It just didn't have any memorably unhinged moments anywhere near the level of the films I mentioned above. I'll forgive a movie for everything else -- including making no sense at all -- if it gives me at least one jaw-dropping moment of unhinged beauty ever five or ten minutes. ST just left me numb waiting for something, anything, to happen that would suddenly turn it into a fun experience.

I gotta admit though that D's mentioning of PKD's interest in different characters inhabiting different reality spaces has captured my imagination. It sort of justifies how the different characters in ST all seemed to be existing in a different movie. Moreso though, it has me interested in reading a few PKD books.

[balmakboor]

If Netflix sends out movies:
CJ7
Dark City


That's funny. Those are my next two as well. Hopefully, Netflix fixes their latest problem quickly.

[D_Davis]

I gotta admit though that D's mentioning of PKD's interest in different characters inhabiting different reality spaces has captured my imagination. It sort of justifies how the different characters in ST all seemed to be existing in a different movie. Moreso though, it has me interested in reading a few PKD books.

This was a major theme of his work. He often explored people's ability to occupy the same space as other people and yet feel totally disconnected from one another and from humanity in general - something Dick may have felt more than others. Sometimes, a certain kind of drug would be the catalyst for this phenomenon, while other times it was just the mental instability of the characters that would cause them to reject others and become totally self-centered. I don't get this feeling from other films based on PKD novels, and so it was refreshing to see it done in ST. I really got the sense that those characters all had completely different reality tunnels.


I love it when movies just let it rip and I agree that Tsui Hark is a fine example. I especially find myself re-watching Dangerous Encounters: 1st Kind and The Blade constantly. Other let it rip film favorites are Evil Dead II, Dead Alive, most everything I've seen from Takeshi Miike, and It's Alive 2 and 3. This let it rip attitude is also what made Versus and, even more so, Godzilla: Final Wars so appealing to me.


I wouldn't have a problem with lumping ST into the same group as these films, and I enjoy it for many of the same reasons.

[megladon8]

I find the idea of anyone being personally insulted by others' like/love of a film to be pretty ridiculous.

[balmakboor]

I find the idea of anyone being personally insulted by others' like/love of a film to be pretty ridiculous.

Yeh, I don't get it either. I don't feel insulted when someone loves a movie that I hate. The feeling I get actually is a sadness that I don't share that love. It's like they have a bit of pleasure wealth in their life that I don't have.

[Sven]

Yeh, I don't get it either. I don't feel insulted when someone loves a movie that I hate. The feeling I get actually is a sadness that I don't share that love. It's like they have a bit of pleasure wealth in their life that I don't have.

That's why you have to start taking pleasure in tearing into movies.

[megladon8]

Oh, it's very pleasurable to tear into a movie.

But I'm not going to tear into a person for liking that movie.

[balmakboor]

That's why you have to start taking pleasure in tearing into movies.

You know, the most fun I've had writing reviews has been the negative reviews I've written for Disturbia, Transformers, and Southland Tales. It kinda made me glad in the end that I had suffered through them.

[Qrazy]

I won't. Especially since no reasons were given by him as to why its a bad film. And that's never stopped me before anyways.

Of course. I didn't know if you did though. Smartass :P

It's never stopped you from watching a film before or from wanting to watch a film before? ;)

[D_Davis]

I don't enjoy writing reviews for films I think are terrible. I've only done it three times (I think) - Saw, Silent Hill and The Happening. I'd rather turn someone one to something I think is awesome than turn them away from something I think sucks. I just can't muster the enthusiasm to be really negative about a film or book.

[Raiders]

I don't enjoy writing reviews for films I think are terrible. I've only done it three times (I think) - Saw, Silent Hill and The Happening. I'd rather turn someone one to something I think is awesome than turn them away from something I think sucks. I just can't muster the enthusiasm to be really negative about a film or book.

Exactly.

[balmakboor]

This was a major theme of his work. He often explored people's ability to occupy the same space as other people and yet feel totally disconnected from one another and from humanity in general - something Dick may have felt more than others. Sometimes, a certain kind of drug would be the catalyst for this phenomenon, while other times it was just the mental instability of the characters that would cause them to reject others and become totally self-centered. I don't get this feeling from other films based on PKD novels, and so it was refreshing to see it done in ST. I really got the sense that those characters all had completely different reality tunnels.

You should add some thoughts to the Southland Tales wikipedia page. It only makes one passing reference to PDK calling it a "strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick" and it could be useful to others to have that fleshed out.

[Sven]

I see what you mean (I definitely would rather convince people to worthiness than prevent them from something they may like... lover, not hater), but I do not approach my reviews with persuasion or dissuasion in mind. I see them as lines of dialogue in the general stream of that film's discourse.

[Sycophant]

I do not approach my reviews with persuasion or dissuasion in mind. I see them as lines of dialogue in the general stream of that film's discourse.
This. Extended to everything I write, since I don't really do much in the way of actual reviewing. Only rarely do I actually consider my thoughts to be evangelical, and they'll always include something that makes it explicit.

[D_Davis]

You should add some thoughts to the Southland Tales wikipedia page. It only makes one passing reference to PDK calling it a "strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick" and it could be useful to others to have that fleshed out.

Perhaps I will after I watch it again and come to a more definitive conclusion to what, if anything, all the references mean.

I definitely want to write something about it, but I want to reread Flow My Tears, UBIK, and some other PKD books before doing so.

[D_Davis]

There are definitely different ways to approach reviews and film criticism. I am more of a champion of certain films, and so I approach my reviews from this angle. This is especially true with martial arts films, as so many people write them off as being corny or just throw away genre cinema at best. I like to champion the cinematic qualities of these films, while turning people onto films they may not have given a chance to begin with.

But however I approach a review, I just find it a waste of my time to be negative. There is too much out there to be positive about. It's just part of my personality I guess.

[Duncan]

I usually write about movies that stimulate thoughts I believe I should write down before I forget them. Or, because I feel there are ideas to be explored within a film that just thinking about won't illuminate. Or, because a film evokes some emotion that I want to express.

Generally I don't write negative reviews. If I do it is almost always of a well praised movie so that under-discussed criticisms may be suggested.

[Sven]

Goddamn hippies.

:P

[Ezee E]

I think differently. Bashing a movie is pretty damn fun sometimes.

[Benny Profane]

It's definitely more fun to horsewhip a movie.

[Grouchy]

I don't enjoy writing reviews for films I think are terrible. I've only done it three times (I think) - Saw, Silent Hill and The Happening. I'd rather turn someone one to something I think is awesome than turn them away from something I think sucks. I just can't muster the enthusiasm to be really negative about a film or book.
Me too. It's why my very negative reviews (The Happening) are very short sometimes. Then again, explaining why something fails almost always should take more time logically than explaining why it works.

And I guess I just have to voice my opinion on Southland Tales - it has some funny moments, but overall it's an intolerable movie. I can't imagine how I managed to watch it all on one sitting either. I agree that Kelly is simply a very bad director, regardless of the originality of his ideas. In the same level as Ed Wood as far as inept framing and acting, only a lot less fun. And I'm including Donnie Darko in this judgement, which I hate even more.

[Qrazy]

Me too. It's why my very negative reviews (The Happening) are very short sometimes. Then again, explaining why something fails almost always should take more time logically than explaining why it works.

And I guess I just have to voice my opinion on Southland Tales - it has some funny moments, but overall it's an intolerable movie. I can't imagine how I managed to watch it all on one sitting either. I agree that Kelly is simply a very bad director, regardless of the originality of his ideas. In the same level as Ed Wood as far as inept framing and acting, only a lot less fun. And I'm including Donnie Darko in this judgement, which I hate even more.

I disliked Donnie Darko so much I don't think I could ever bring myself to watch his second feature.

[D_Davis]

I don't care for Donnie Darko much at all, beyond the soundtrack, and from what I hear they changed my favorite music cues in the director's cut.

[Mysterious Dude]

I find it a lot more difficult to write about films I like than about films I don't like. I'm just naturally negative, I guess.

[Spinal]

Weekend:
The Red and the White

Hopefully:
The Wayward Cloud

[Sycophant]

I find it a lot more difficult to write about films I like than about films I don't like. I'm just naturally negative, I guess.There's nothing wrong with that!

[Sycophant]

Weekend:
Tropic Thunder (bringing my own grain of salt)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

The rest of Dave Chappelle's Block Party

[balmakboor]

I just find I have a lot more at stake when reviewing movies I love. I need to convince others that they are great and that they should see them. When reviewing movies I hate, the pressure is off. The worse that can happen when I pan a movie is that my reader will be unconvinced and see the movie -- and possibly even like it.

[Qrazy]

I don't care for Donnie Darko much at all, beyond the soundtrack, and from what I hear they changed my favorite music cues in the director's cut.

Yes but the comparison films you and Fas seem to agree upon are also films I really dislike... Versus, Miike, etc. So I remain fairly confident that I would loathe Southland Tales.

[D_Davis]

Yes but the comparison films you and Fas seem to agree upon are also films I really dislike... Versus, Miike, etc. So I remain fairly confident that I would loathe Southland Tales.

I don't think you'd last 15 minutes into ST.

[Rowland]

Dwayne Johnson twiddling his fingers.:lol: :lol: Yes.

I like the Moby score as well, even if it's often applied in puzzlingly incongruent ways, and Kelly orchestrates a few evocative shots, but otherwise... this movie was a catastrophe. It has to be a joke, but if so, it isn't funny, clever, or insightful.

[DavidSeven]

Dwayne Johnson's incessant twiddling of his fingers looks so self-conscious. It's like screaming, "hey everybody! I have a quirky character tick!" Not a fan of that choice at all (or any other contained within the film, I guess).

[Rowland]

Dwayne Johnson's incessant twiddling of his fingers looks so self-conscious. It's like screaming, "hey everybody! I have a quirky character tick!" Not a fan of that choice at all (or any other contained within the film, I guess).Don't get me wrong, I only like it because it looked so damn ridiculous. The only other element in the movie that made me laugh as much was Jon Lovitz trying to play a badass cop.

[Sycophant]

Dwayne Johnson's incessant twiddling of his fingers looks so self-conscious. It's like screaming, "hey everybody! I have a quirky character tick!" Not a fan of that choice at all (or any other contained within the film, I guess).
I found it independently delightful, and with a film as non-cohesive as Southland Tales, independently delightful is sufficient. Toward the end of the film, it's all I was even really watching for. While I hated the movie, it sold me on Johnson as a performer and a screen presence, which has only been strengthened in subsequent pictures.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I don't enjoy writing reviews for films I think are terrible. I've only done it three times (I think) - Saw, Silent Hill and The Happening. I'd rather turn someone one to something I think is awesome than turn them away from something I think sucks. I just can't muster the enthusiasm to be really negative about a film or book.
Neither can I really, I'll usually put out my thoughts, but I can't ever really muster the energy to write more than 200 words on something that I didn't enjoy, or doesn't interest me in the first place.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Weekend
My Winnipeg (maybe)
Les Amants
Possession
The Garden (1995)

[Scar]

Weekend:

I plan on wearing pants only if/when company shows up.

[Grouchy]

Weekend:

I plan on wearing pants only if/when company shows up.
Good plan.

[Spinal]

Weekend:

I plan on wearing pants only if/when company shows up.

Elitist.

[Scar]

Good plan.

If I don't have to leave the house, it'll be perfect.

[Scar]

Elitist.

The days of 'No Pants' parties are behind me.

[Grouchy]

If I don't have to leave the house, it'll be perfect.
If you have to leave the house without pants, cops stuff will happen.

[Scar]

If you have to leave the house without pants, cops stuff will happen.

Yeah, the cops in Eden Prairie don't have much to do, 'cept when a yuppy goes too fast in their BMW SUV on the way to soccer practice.

[SirNewt]

Why? I'm curious because I want to see this, and I actually know where to find a copy. Its just a matter of will, and deciding when I'm in the mood for what appears to be a dark sci-fi/horror/comedy.

Aw crap! You had to ask. I was hoping to get away with a handful of people agreeing with me and another handful saying I'm stupid. Now I have to write a review of a film I completely hate. Oh well, this'll be my first entirely negative review. I'll post it in a couple days. I'm really busy this week.


Weekend:
Ivan The Terrible 1 & 2


worth it for the costumes alone.

As for my weekend, I'm catching Tropic Thunder tonight and that might be it. I blew a lot of free time Monday and Tuesday watching the 1995 BBC adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice', which was great. So it's back to work this weekend. . . grumbles. . .

[megladon8]

I'm actually considering purchasing the Kill Bill Blu-Rays.

I want to see both of them again. See if my opinion has changed.

[MadMan]

Aw crap! You had to ask. I was hoping to get away with a handful of people agreeing with me and another handful saying I'm stupid. Now I have to write a review of a film I completely hate. Oh well, this'll be my first entirely negative review. I'll post it in a couple days. I'm really busy this week.:lol: Ooookay.....I guess I've done my evil turn for the week. You could just write a short review like I always do.


It's never stopped you from watching a film before or from wanting to watch a film before? ;)Neither. I'm completely unstoppable :P I'll watch whatever I want to, man.

Weekend:

*Confidence
*Taxi Driver

The Station Agent is a film that I really enjoyed and liked. However I sort of forget about it after viewing it, and really some of the elements felt too warm and fuzzy. Maybe I'm just not a big fan of warm and fuzzy. Or maybe I just like warm. The fuzziness tickles too much. But the warmth burns. Plus the film's ending was a tad unsatisfying. Still the main cast made up for that.

Really its easier to bash a film or praise a movie. The hardest reviews to write are for films that exist inbetween the extremes. Although I sometimes find it difficult to write about movies I really love or ones that are great.

[Yxklyx]

That's funny. Those are my next two as well. Hopefully, Netflix fixes their latest problem quickly.

My queue shows three movies shipping yesterday with no delivery date listed - however I got two of them in the mail today.

[Ezee E]

I've had two movies that were suppose to be shipped Wednesday, pushed back to Thursday, and now to Friday.

[balmakboor]

I've had two movies that were suppose to be shipped Wednesday, pushed back to Thursday, and now to Friday.

I still have three movies at home and will be mailing two tomorrow morning. So hopefully by Monday things get fixed up. I'll finally watch Satantango disk 1 this weekend.

[Qrazy]

I still have three movies at home and will be mailing two tomorrow morning. So hopefully by Monday things get fixed up. I'll finally watch Satantango disk 1 this weekend.

I don't see you liking it.

[Sven]

Met/saw/drank with in varying degrees tonite: Michael Cuesta, Paul Dano, and Bruce Altman. All great fellows.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Malena (2000) is completely uninspired, despite a potentially interesting and provoking idea. I inherently dislike that the story is told from the perspective of a love-struck young boy who understands little about the world, and sees the world through over-sentimentalized glaze. It's without real drama, and never truly explores the mob mentality, especially as they attack a seemingly innocent woman. Only one scene for me stands out as actually emotionally effective, and that is due to Belluci, not much else. I think this is the end for me and Tornatore. All the problems I had with Cinema Paradiso repeat themselves here, the film is just meh.

[Bosco B Thug]

I didn't think much of Carnival of Souls before, but I rewatched it and it really is a haunting and very impressive work: perfectly paced, cinematically adept, and, probably most notably, a screenplay that is surprisingly articulate.

[MadMan]

I didn't think much of Carnival of Souls before, but I rewatched it and it really is a haunting and very impressive work: perfectly paced, cinematically adept, and, probably most notably, a screenplay that is surprisingly articulate.Yeah I couldn't even finish the film the first time I tried watching it. I gave it another chance when it showed up on TCM last October, and I really dug it a lot. A third viewing has cemented my belief that its somewhat overrated, and is a really effective and very creepy horror flick. It just barely misses my Top 20 Horror Films of All Time.

[Bosco B Thug]

Yeah I couldn't even finish the film the first time I tried watching it. I gave it another chance when it showed up on TCM last October, and I really dug it a lot. A third viewing has cemented my belief that its somewhat overrated, and is a really effective and very creepy horror flick. It just barely misses my Top 20 Horror Films of All Time. Yep, one of those "2nd time's the charm" films. Particularly gratifying.

A little more: Mary Henry's a great character (another early 60's, existentially perturbed cool blonde = guaranteed results) and the dynamic and contrast articulated between her and the lead male character really works and really shapes the film.

[number8]

Met/saw/drank with in varying degrees tonite: Michael Cuesta, Paul Dano, and Bruce Altman. All great fellows.

What was the occasion?

[Sven]

What was the occasion?

A Young Friends of Film (program whose organizer I intern for) screening of L.I.E. I don't much care for the film, but the guys were all very awesome. I was particularly taken with Dano, actually, who has earned mega props in my book for being the opposite of obnoxious young movie starry.

[Ezee E]

Malena (2000) is completely uninspired, despite a potentially interesting and provoking idea. I inherently dislike that the story is told from the perspective of a love-struck young boy who understands little about the world, and sees the world through over-sentimentalized glaze. It's without real drama, and never truly explores the mob mentality, especially as they attack a seemingly innocent woman. Only one scene for me stands out as actually emotionally effective, and that is due to Belluci, not much else. I think this is the end for me and Tornatore. All the problems I had with Cinema Paradiso repeat themselves here, the film is just meh.
Indeed. I really thought this was going to be something for a while, but it just became badly executed. Bellucci does do well in this despite all things though.

[origami_mustache]

A Young Friends of Film (program whose organizer I intern for) screening of L.I.E. I don't much care for the film, but the guys were all very awesome.

I thought L.I.E. was pretty good...nothing spectacular, but always nice to see Brian Cox in more featured roles like this...didn't realize the kid was Dano until now.

[Spinal]

I was particularly taken with Dano, actually, who has earned mega props in my book for being the opposite of obnoxious young movie starry.

Damn it, don't tell me about this. I'm perfectly happy with hating him for being one of the worst actors alive.

[number8]

Why is it that the nice guys are always awful actors? I've heard that two of the humblest, nicest Hollywood actors you'll ever meet are Keanu Reeves and Josh Hartnett.

[Pop Trash]

Damn it, don't tell me about this. I'm perfectly happy with hating him for being one of the worst actors alive.
I thought Dano did a better job in There Will Be Blood than Day-Lewis. You heard me.

[Pop Trash]

Also has anyone seen Cuesta's film 12 and Holding? It looked good but I never got around to seeing it. L.I.E. was good but I remember not liking what happens to Cox at the end. It seemed like a random cop out.

[Stay Puft]

This is for TC, wherever the hell you are, dude...

You win.

Raise the Red Lantern was an awesome movie.

[origami_mustache]

I thought Dano did a better job in There Will Be Blood than Day-Lewis. You heard me.

that's just silly :crazy:

[megladon8]

Why is it that the nice guys are always awful actors? I've heard that two of the humblest, nicest Hollywood actors you'll ever meet are Keanu Reeves and Josh Hartnett.


Keanu Reeves is awesome.

[Raiders]

Why is it that the nice guys are always awful actors? I've heard that two of the humblest, nicest Hollywood actors you'll ever meet are Keanu Reeves and Josh Hartnett.

I don't think Hartnett is awful in the least. Somewhat bland and unexciting, but he's far from awful.

[megladon8]

I don't think Hartnett is awful in the least. Somewhat bland and unexciting, but he's far from awful.


I thought his little bookend performance in Sin City was actually really great. A highlight of the movie.

[Qrazy]

that's just silly :crazy:

Yes it is.

And Raise the Red Lantern is indeed awesome.

[D_Davis]

Ever since I heard that Keanu Reeves donated a large portion of his salary from the two Matrix studios back to the film crew, my respect and admiration for him has grown. He just seems like a cool dude.

[megladon8]

Ever since I heard that Keanu Reeves donated a large portion of his salary from the two Matrix studios back to the film crew, my respect and admiration for him has grown. He just seems like a cool dude.


He also on more than one occasion completely given up his salary so that films could be made the way the director wanted them to. He gave up a large portion of his pay for The Replacements so that they could hire Gene Hackman.

And when his sister was dying, he paid all her hospital bills, and put his projects on hold to spend nearly all his time with her.

Say what you will about his acting ability (I actually like the guy as an actor), but he's a stand-up guy.

His name means "the coolness", and I think that's fitting.

[Ezee E]

Tom Hanks is a nice guy and seems to be a good actor.

Denzel Washington too.

[megladon8]

Tom Hanks is a nice guy and seems to be a good actor.

Denzel Washington too.


Really? I've actually heard the exact opposite about Denzel.

[Ezee E]

Really? I've actually heard the exact opposite about Denzel.
He gave a career to a guy inside a gift store.

Forgot his name, but whoever played Antoine Fisher would be nowhere without Denzel.

[Raiders]

He gave a career to a guy inside a gift store.

Forgot his name, but whoever played Antoine Fisher would be nowhere without Denzel.

Derek Luke. It's not like Denzel gave it to him for nothing. Luke was already friends with Fisher and was able to get himself an audition.

[Qrazy]

Yeah I've also heard Denzel is fairly full of himself (from my cousin who has worked with him).

[origami_mustache]

OK, that's enough...I'd go to the TMZ website if I wanted to read about celebrities' reputations.

[Spinal]

I thought Dano did a better job in There Will Be Blood than Day-Lewis. You heard me.

Most absurd post ever. Congrats.

[Ezee E]

Most absurd post ever. Congrats.
And on Match Cut, that's an accomplishment.

[Scar]

Most absurd post ever. Congrats.

Now, the question is:

Is this said in the vein of ComicBookStore Guy, or ValleyGirl?

[Sycophant]

Of course, I'm fine with Day-Lewis's performance being preferred over Dano's, but is the suggestion here that Dano's wasn't actually good? I was quite impressed with him in TWBB.

[Spinal]

Now, the question is:

Is this said in the vein of ComicBookStore Guy, or ValleyGirl?

I was thinking Grumpy Batman voice.

[Spinal]

Of course, I'm fine with Day-Lewis's performance being preferred over Dano's, but is the suggestion here that Dano's wasn't actually good?

Yes.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Of course, I'm fine with Day-Lewis's performance being preferred over Dano's, but is the suggestion here that Dano's wasn't actually good? I was quite impressed with him in TWBB.

I think Spinal was being sarcastic. I'm pretty sure he loved Dano in TWBB.

[Raiders]

I think Spinal was being sarcastic. I'm pretty sure he loved Dano in TWBB.

Heh. No, he didn't. I did though.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Heh. No, he didn't. I did though.

I wasn't being serious. I'm well aware of Spinal's hatred of all things Dano (on screen at least). Dano is Spinal's Danny Huston.

I too liked Dano in TWBB.

[monolith94]

Dano, for the most part, sucked in TWBB. I can name several of my acting friends from high school who could've given a better perf.

[Raiders]

Dano, for the most part, sucked in TWBB. I can name several of my acting friends from high school who could've given a better perf.

Ridiculous.

[Rowland]

Speaking of Reeves, did anyone see Street Kings? I think I'll give it a rental when it's released on DVD, especially after Theo Panayides (http://leonardo.spidernet.net/Artus/2386/hiatus08.htm#street) gave it such a high score.

[balmakboor]

If anyone feels bored, run down through these Dragon Dynasty titles and give your opinion on which are must see and which are must avoid (and why if you feel like it):

http://www.dragondynasty.com/films/all

Thanks

[Scar]

If anyone feels bored, run down through these Dragon Dynasty titles and give your opinion on which are must see and which are must avoid (and why if you feel like it):

http://www.dragondynasty.com/films/all

Thanks

Must See:

Fist of Legend
Hard Boiled
Kill Zone
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Police Story
36th Chamber
One Armed

[Pop Trash]

Most absurd post ever. Congrats.
I'll go two for two: Southland Tales is a better film than There Will Be Blood.

[number8]

Also has anyone seen Cuesta's film 12 and Holding? It looked good but I never got around to seeing it.

I did, when it first came out. Pretty good, actually, if a bit forgettable. Scary performances from the kids.

[balmakboor]

I'll go two for two: Southland Tales is a better film than There Will Be Blood.

That goes well beyond absurd and enters "should be committed to an asylum" territory.

TWBB is easily my favorite PTA film btw.

[Rowland]

DOA: Dead or Alive > Into Great Silence
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters > I Don't Want to Sleep Alone
Mr. Brooks > The Savages
Smiley Face > The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Disturbia > Day Night Day Night
Revolver > We Own the Night
Vacancy > Sweeney Todd
Stardust > The Darjeeling Limited
Spider-Man 3 > Black Book
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix > There Will Be Blood
Atonement > No Country for Old Men

etc.

[D_Davis]

If anyone feels bored, run down through these Dragon Dynasty titles and give your opinion on which are must see and which are must avoid (and why if you feel like it):

http://www.dragondynasty.com/films/all

Thanks

See Now:
Come Drink With Me
Fist of Legend
Hard Boiled
Heroes of the East
Infernal Affairs
Kill Zone (SPL)
Legend of the Black Scorpion (The Banquet - how they got that title is beyond me...)
PTU
Seven Swords
Tai Chi Master
36th Chamber of Shaolin
One-Armed Swordsman

See Later:
Flash Point
City of Violence
Royal Tramp Collection
Police Story 1 and 2
Born to Fight
Dragon Heat (I think the is Dragon Squad - if so, fun in a Michale Bay sort of way - totally ridiculous)
Infernal Affairs 2 and 3
King Boxer
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
My Young AUntie

Don't Bother:
The Protector
Above the Law
Crime Story
Dog Bite Dog
Fatal Contact
Invisible Target


Never seen:
The Rebel
Shanghai Express
Robin-B-Hood

[Spinal]

Smiley Face > The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Stardust > The Darjeeling Limited


Agreed on these.

[Yxklyx]

The Red and the White (Jancsó, 1967) ***1/2

I liked this a lot. Any comments?

[Spinal]

I liked this a lot. Any comments?

Strange film in the sense that you don't really have a protagonist, you don't really even know what the conflict is about unless you have a better grasp of Russian history than I do, you don't have a clear cut side that you are intended to root for and apart from a couple characters, it's really hard to even tell which side is which. In fact, a lot of the time, the characters in the film are preoccupied with just that question - deciding who's on which side so that they know who they are supposed to kill and who they are supposed to fight alongside. That's a pretty insightful comment on the absurdity of war I'd say. I like how all the reversals and plotting and maneuvering simply leads up to a shot of the two sides lining up and shooting each other. Yeah, that about sums it up.

[Grouchy]

Eh, Dano was good in There Will Be Blood and ok in Little Miss Sunshine, as bad as that movie was. It's downright silly to say he's better than Day-Lewis in ANY performance, though.

[transmogrifier]

Atonement > No Country for Old Men


This is right. The others, I disagree with or I haven't seen one of the films in question.

[Qrazy]

I'll go two for two: Southland Tales is a better film than There Will Be Blood.

You have now lost all the credibility you never had.

[Rowland]

This is right. The others, I disagree with or I haven't seen one of the films in question.Into the Wild & Gone Baby Gone > All of last year's BP nominees

;)

[Qrazy]

Into the Wild & Gone Baby Gone > All of last year's BP nominees

;)

You really seem to be trying your best here to completely discredit yourself.

[Grouchy]

You really seem to be trying your best here to completely discredit yourself.
There Will Be Blood > Into the Wild > No Country for Old Men

Fargo > sex

[transmogrifier]

Into the Wild & Gone Baby Gone > All of last year's BP nominees

;)

I can't remember all of the Best Picture nominees, but I think that's right.

:)

[transmogrifier]

Fargo > sex

You're definitely not doing it right. Is there another person involved?

[megladon8]

Yeah, Gone Baby Gone was wonderful.

[Grouchy]

You're definitely not doing it right. Is there another person involved?
On a regular day, several.

[Watashi]

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/full_boxshot/453_box_348x490.jpg

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/full_boxshot/452_box_348x490.jpg

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/full_boxshot/450_box_348x490.jpg

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/full_boxshot/451_box_348x490.jpg

[Sycophant]

Criterion Chungking Express (without Tarantino's face!) and Bottle Rocket? Guess I'm double-dipping.

Like Eric Chase Anderson's illustration for BR. Not crazy about the placement of the text.

[Rowland]

I miss Tarantino's bulbous mug.

[DavidSeven]

http://www.criterion.com/content/images/full_boxshot/453_box_348x490.jpg

Orgasmic.

[megladon8]

Those are some beautiful covers, except for Fanfan - that guy on the right in the red vest looks like his face was badly photoshopped on.

[Qrazy]

Yeah I'd like to see a better print of Chungking Express than what I saw.

[Spinal]

I'd like to see the Burton film. The rest ... eh ... whatever.

[D_Davis]

I still really like Bottle Rocket.

[megladon8]

I still really like Bottle Rocket.


It and The Darjeeling Limited are the two Wes Anderson movies I haven't seen yet.

The Royal Tenenbaums is in my top 10 of all time. A beautiful movie, everyone is spot-on casting. Also one of the best performances of Gene Hackman's very impressive career.

He'd probably be my favorite actor ever.

[Spinal]

I still really like Bottle Rocket.

I do too, but I didn't really need a Criterion edition of it.

[D_Davis]

I do too, but I didn't really need a Criterion edition of it.

Agreed.

[D_Davis]

Bottle Rocket is the only Anderson film I can watch now.

It doesn't suffer from his overwrought preciousness that has bogged all of his other films down.

After I saw Life Aquatic, I got really, really sick of his shtick, and I can't watch Rushmore or RT in the same way that I used to - two films that I used to love to death.

[balmakboor]

And don't forget that Chunking Express is on their Blu-ray list.

[Pop Trash]

After I saw Life Aquatic, I got really, really sick of his shtick, and I can't watch Rushmore or RT in the same way that I used to - two films that I used to love to death.
This, but I always felt his movies were a little overrated. It also bugs me that Anderson is the only contemporary American director that has Criterions for all his movies. What makes him so special?

[Ezee E]

This, but I always felt his movies were a little overrated. It also bugs me that Anderson is the only contemporary American director that has Criterions for all his movies. What makes him so special?
Everything is just so symmetrical.

[Winston*]

Criterion makes editions of all his movies because they think people will buy them thus making the company money IMO.

[Derek]

Criterion makes editions of all his movies because they think people will buy them thus making the company money IMO.

Criterion would never stoop so low!

Oh wait...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Z4VVWYP2L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[Ezee E]

Criterion makes editions of all his movies because they think people will buy them thus making the company money IMO.
Finally, a Winston post that made me laugh. It's been a while dude.

[Winston*]

Finally, a Winston post that made me laugh. It's been a while dude.I know man, I know.

[origami_mustache]

Gone Baby Gone and Into the Wild are as average as they come.

[transmogrifier]

Gone Baby Gone and Into the Wild are as average as they come.


Seeing as they come pretty awesomely, then you are pretty much correct.

[Raiders]

The Company (2003) 63

I would expect an Altman man to do better than that.

[transmogrifier]

I would expect an Altman man to do better than that.

I kind of got sleepy halfway through it, and I'm not sure whether I fell asleep or not. Problem was, there was no way of telling from watching the film.

Still, I'll see it again when I'm caffeinated.

Also add:

Buffalo Bill and the Indians - 64

Great start, great end, but slack in the middle. Gotta love Newman though, and the (almost) final zoom in on his bright blue eyes is a stunning encapsulation of Altman's love-hate relationship with celebrity and myth-making.

[transmogrifier]

She Hate Me

To steal a phrase from D_D, this is a film that just lets rip. Doesn't have a central thesis - it has roughly 53 of the things, spiralling giddily through the battle of the sexes, emasculation, politics, corporate whistleblowing, the intertwining of business and morality.....I was expecting a car wreck from what I had heard about it, but it works pretty well as fantasy-satire (its not on speaking terms with realism in terms of plot and characterisation etc), and Mackey holds the film up very well in what is not really much of a role. I wasn't bored for a second, even though it never really achieves cohesion.

[BirdsAteMyFace]

Also has anyone seen Cuesta's film 12 and Holding? It looked good but I never got around to seeing it. L.I.E. was good but I remember not liking what happens to Cox at the end. It seemed like a random cop out.Saw this a couple of years back at a film festival. The overall vibe of the film reminded of Mean Creek; now, I hardly remember anything about Twelve and Holding. Nevertheless, I'd say it's worth a viewing.

[Philosophe_rouge]

My short break from film the past few weeks has been wonderful, if only because now that I'm watching them again with regularity, I feel as though my love for cinema is renewed... if not taking on a new life. Watching La Ceremonie (1995), opened my eyes to a filmmaker I've yet to explore, Chabrol. If he has a handful of films half as good as this, I will be thrilled. It's amazing I've neglected him so long, because I love the French New Wave and Hitchcock. He certainly puts Truffaut's Hitchcockian effort, The Bride Wore Black to shame. La Ceremonie is slow-moving, the tension built slowly, from a series of secrets kept by Sophie from her new employers, to her budding friendship with an eccentric and spiteful postal worker. Sophie's character in particular transforms in the most incredible way as the film progresses, though her mysterious past indicate that her behavior is not all that unusual. I love how the camera seems to slowly stalk some of the characters, only lending to the overall tense atmosphere. Huppert and Bonnaire have great chemistry, adding that extra push to an already tremendous film.

[Qrazy]

Yeah The Bride Wore Black sucked.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Yeah The Bride Wore Black sucked.
It's pretty unwatcheable, although I have a hard time with a lot of Truffaut. I've turned off a lot of his films, and haven't really enjoyed anything aside from Jules et Jim (which is among my five favourite films).

[Qrazy]

It's pretty unwatcheable, although I have a hard time with a lot of Truffaut. I've turned off a lot of his films, and haven't really enjoyed anything aside from Jules et Jim (which is among my five favourite films).

I think his first three films are among the cream of the crop but everything after that I have little to no patience for... Day for Night and a couple Antoine Doinel (sp?) films being the exceptions.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I think his first three films are among the cream of the crop but everything after that I have little to no patience for... Day for Night and a couple Antoine Doinel (sp?) films being the exceptions.
I'm not a huge fan of Shoot the Piano Player, and honestly, I turned off the 400 Blows... though I've been meaning to rewatch it. Day for Night I enjoy though.

[Qrazy]

I'm not a huge fan of Shoot the Piano Player, and honestly, I turned off the 400 Blows... though I've been meaning to rewatch it. Day for Night I enjoy though.

Well... like them more!

[Duncan]

Watched Repulsion. It was excellent. Loved the sound design.

[balmakboor]

Truffaut will always be mainly "that guy who interviewed Hitchcock" for me. His only films I've really liked are 400 Blows and, in a guilty pleasure sort of way, Fahrenheit 451.

[Raiders]

I adore Shoot the Piano Player and Stolen Kisses but yeah, Truffaut is fairly middling overall.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Truffaut will always be mainly "that guy who interviewed Hitchcock" for me. His only films I've really liked are 400 Blows and, in a guilty pleasure sort of way, Fahrenheit 451.
Unfortunately, I feel the same. I also love his writing, and almost consider his failure to translate his passion for cinema to the screen something of a tragedy. He's probably my favourite New Wave critic to read, and yes his interview with Hitchcock is invaluable. Really, something of a shame.

[Kurosawa Fan]

My short break from film the past few weeks has been wonderful, if only because now that I'm watching them again with regularity, I feel as though my love for cinema is renewed... if not taking on a new life. Watching La Ceremonie (1995), opened my eyes to a filmmaker I've yet to explore, Chabrol. If he has a handful of films half as good as this, I will be thrilled. It's amazing I've neglected him so long, because I love the French New Wave and Hitchcock. He certainly puts Truffaut's Hitchcockian effort, The Bride Wore Black to shame. La Ceremonie is slow-moving, the tension built slowly, from a series of secrets kept by Sophie from her new employers, to her budding friendship with an eccentric and spiteful postal worker. Sophie's character in particular transforms in the most incredible way as the film progresses, though her mysterious past indicate that her behavior is not all that unusual. I love how the camera seems to slowly stalk some of the characters, only lending to the overall tense atmosphere. Huppert and Bonnaire have great chemistry, adding that extra push to an already tremendous film.

Watch Le Boucher, it's even better. I'm pretty sure Boner would agree with me.

[Grouchy]

Watch Le Boucher, it's even better. I'm pretty sure Boner would agree with me.
Yes, that's the one I was going to recommend too.

I agree with all of you about Truffaut - the guy has made some boring films, although he's by far the most valuable critic of the French New Wave. I like Jules and Jim, The 400 Blows and Fahrenheit 451.

[Weeping_Guitar]

I think most who love Jules and Jim would also really love Truffaut's Two English Girls, which is sadly hard to see right now as it's out of print. By far my favorite of his post-60s.

[number8]

Which one of you here mentioned watching Ganja Queen? I'm watching it now and I can't get over how angry I am that my parents still live in a country that executes someone for marijuana possession. It fucking infuriates me.

I'll keep watching, though...

[MadMan]

I do too, but I didn't really need a Criterion edition of it.Yep. Without having seen Darjing Limited yet I'd say its Anderson's weakest film.


Speaking of Reeves, did anyone see Street Kings? I think I'll give it a rental when it's released on DVD, especially after Theo Panayides (http://leonardo.spidernet.net/Artus/2386/hiatus08.htm#street) gave it such a high score.While I'm not so sure that film was right for him I'll give it a shot.


Yep, one of those "2nd time's the charm" films. Particularly gratifying.

A little more: Mary Henry's a great character (another early 60's, existentially perturbed cool blonde = guaranteed results) and the dynamic and contrast articulated between her and the lead male character really works and really shapes the film.Oh yeah, she's pretty good in the film. I also dig how her character sort of examplifies the film's thoughts on alienation and how the 60s in many ways began the youth culture's rebellion against the older generation. Man I'm sure I wrote a review about this, but I don't think I ever posted it because I thought it sucked. Or perhaps 'cause I never finished it. I'm not sure.

Considering that I'm a fan of Kevin Costner I think I'm also becoming a bit of a Keanu fan. I don't think he's a bad actor, and he usually does good in the roles that truly fit him. So far the best peformance I've seen him give was in A Scanner Darkly, which is a great film. Oh and the stories posted about him in this thread only make me like him more. Cool stuff.

[origami_mustache]

Seeing as they come pretty awesomehly, then you are pretty much correct.

fixed

[Spinal]

I'm not really sure what to make of The Wayward Cloud, but it definitely earns points for sustained crazy.

[transmogrifier]

Mysterious Skin

Awesome exercise in melancholia, intelligently setting up exquisite tension in the simple process of hoping to see someone have access to the truth, not matter how horrible it may be. Araki does a brilliant job of keeping the two storylines apart and yet interwined, with the genuinely engrossing paradox of wishing so much that someone finds what they want while simulataneously seeing just how dangerous such knowledge can be. Great score too.

Slither

Really stupid and unscary by the end (so much so that I really gave up caring about a single thing that was happening) that did have an encouraging start where it seemed to be attempting some sort of tonal disjunction. Don't bother.

[Winston*]

Slither
Don't bother.

Well, I say do bother. Your move, transmogrifier.

[transmogrifier]

Well, I say do bother. Your move, transmogrifier.

Orc 2 Nf3 Nc6

http://martyexon.net/images/christmas%2002/Chess.jpg

[origami_mustache]

I'm not really sure what to make of The Wayward Cloud, but it definitely earns points for sustained crazy.

I think this might be Tsai's best film.

[Watashi]

Did I just see trans praise a score?

*checks outdoors*

Nope. No atom bombs going off. This must be legit.

But yeah, the Mysterious Skin score is great.

[origami_mustache]

I love Aqua Teen Hunger Force, but don't really think it can work outside of the 15 minute format.

[Stay Puft]

Finally saw Takeshis'. Top 3 Kitano, easily. (Hana-bi and Kikujiro probably being my other two.) The ending sequence(s), beginning on the beach with the soccer ball, was sublime, and crazy, and mind-blowing, and... I don't even know what happened but I loved every second.

[Winston*]

Rewatched MASH. What an awesome movie. Has an anarchic energy to it that recalls the late Heath Ledger's performance in the film The Dark Knight.

[origami_mustache]

Rewatched MASH. What an awesome movie. Has an anarchic energy to it that recalls the late Heath Ledger's performance in the film The Dark Knight.

I had a really interesting discussion with the editor on MASH, Blazing Saddles, and Rocky 2 about Altman, Stallone, Brooks...he teaches my editing aesthetics class and only 4 people showed up for class so we basically just ended up asking him stuff and he told us all kinds of interesting stories for two and a half hours.

[transmogrifier]

Did I just see trans praise a score?

*checks outdoors*

Nope. No atom bombs going off. This must be legit.

But yeah, the Mysterious Skin score is great.

Check the sig...four, count 'em, FOUR scores over 70. Look at me, I'm Roger Ebert. :)

You're Henry Fool score is broken, by the way. You should get it looked at.

[Yum-Yum]

You're Henry Fool score is broken, by the way. You should get it looked at.

Yeah, it seems to be missing two stars.

[balmakboor]

I had a really interesting discussion with the editor on MASH, Blazing Saddles, and Rocky 2 about Altman, Stallone, Brooks...he teaches my editing aesthetics class and only 4 people showed up for class so we basically just ended up asking him stuff and he told us all kinds of interesting stories for two and a half hours.

Did anyone have a tape recorder? That would make a great book.

[origami_mustache]

Did anyone have a tape recorder? That would make a great book.

Wish I had one, the guy really should write one....he is a great storyteller and has had some incredible experiences with many notable people.

[Qrazy]

Wish I had one, the guy really should write one....he is a great storyteller and has had some incredible experiences with many notable people.

Bring your laptop to class next time.

[Duncan]

The Conversations is a really great book on sound editing and editing. It's with Michael Ondaatje interviewing Walter Murch (The Godfather, The Conversation, The English Patient). I think origami would especially like it because he's a sound guy.

[Spinal]

Nathan Lee on The Wayward Cloud (funny, but includes a spoiler):

Oh, I've read all kinds of elaborate defenses of the film, including a frame-by-frame analysis of the climactic nasty that argues an ecstatic "expression of love." Now, I'm a total sucker for "volumetrics of the shot" and whatnot, and pulling your cock out of a comatose, possibly dead Japanese porn star and ramming it down the throat of a woman you ostensibly dig is many things—but unless you've been on the receiving end of a similar scenario, I'd caution against calling it love.

:lol:

[Qrazy]

Nathan Lee on The Wayward Cloud (funny, but includes a spoiler):

Oh, I've read all kinds of elaborate defenses of the film, including a frame-by-frame analysis of the climactic nasty that argues an ecstatic "expression of love." Now, I'm a total sucker for "volumetrics of the shot" and whatnot, and pulling your cock out of a comatose, possibly dead Japanese porn star and ramming it down the throat of a woman you ostensibly dig is many things—but unless you've been on the receiving end of a similar scenario, I'd caution against calling it love.

:lol:

Yeah I wouldn't call the action itself love either, but in relation to the film it is rather a final condemnation of the porn industry and it's ability to present anything even remotely resembling love. The porn star in an attempt to express his feelings mistakenly attempts to do so physically and violently, because that's his primary means of emotional expression at this point. The scene acts as a commentary on all that violent and ugly porn which many men spend a great deal of time watching, masturbating to and then finally transferring it into their own sex lives... as if sex is not quite sex unless there's a demeaning cumshot to the face at the end of it. More generally it's also about the problematic relationship between sexual physicality and love but I think explicitly it's primarily about the porn industry.

[Spinal]

Sounds about right to me.

[megladon8]

What the hell kind of porn are people watching?

Violent and ugly?

I've never watched violent porn - the mere idea kind of scares me.

Obviously porn is not like real sex because they have to do awkward positions in order to get good angles for the camera to view the "action". But I've never seeked out (or been aroused by) anything I would consider even remotely violent.

[Spinal]

I don't think you have to specifically seek it out to find it. It's fairly common. A large percentage of it (that I have come across while ... errr ... conducting academic research) seems to use the humiliation of the female as the main draw.

[megladon8]

I don't think you have to specifically seek it out to find it. It's fairly common. A large percentage of it (that I have come across while ... errr ... conducting academic research) seems to use the humiliation of the female as the main draw.


Again, I have no idea where you are going to look for porn.

[Spinal]

Again, I have no idea where you are going to look for porn.

This is not a revolutionary concept, man. Pretty much accepted fact. And I am far from being an anti-porn crusader.

[megladon8]

This is not a revolutionary concept, man. Pretty much accepted fact. And I am far from being an anti-porn crusader.


I realize that it's pretty much normal for them to be "humiliating" to the woman (though I'd argue against that), but it's this "violent" stuff that still has me puzzled.

Are we talking like, people beating each other up? Cutting each other during sex?

Why the hell would you watch something like that? The last thing I think of when I have a hard-on is "gee, I wish I could slice a bitch up".

[Qrazy]

What the hell kind of porn are people watching?

Violent and ugly?

I've never watched violent porn - the mere idea kind of scares me.

Obviously porn is not like real sex because they have to do awkward positions in order to get good angles for the camera to view the "action". But I've never seeked out (or been aroused by) anything I would consider even remotely violent.

I suppose that depends how you define the terms. Do you find jizzing in the eye an appealing concept?

[Qrazy]

I realize that it's pretty much normal for them to be "humiliating" to the woman (though I'd argue against that), but it's this "violent" stuff that still has me puzzled.

Are we talking like, people beating each other up? Cutting each other during sex?

Why the hell would you watch something like that? The last thing I think of when I have a hard-on is "gee, I wish I could slice a bitch up".

No not like decapitation during sex more like violent attitudes... Take that Cock Bitch!

[megladon8]

I suppose that depends how you define the terms. Do you find jizzing in the eye an appealing concept?


No, but I know there are women out there who really enjoy getting "facials", or giving oral.

So even if the woman enjoys it and is genuinely turned on by it, the man should refuse because it's demeaning?

[Spinal]

No not like decapitation during sex more like violent attitudes... Take that Cock Bitch!

This.

[Raiders]

And I am far from being an anti-porn crusader.

...


And Give My Love to the Swallows (Jires, 1972) ***1/2

Clearly.

[Spinal]

Clearly.


Heh. That one is actually clean as a whistle. Honest! It's the Asian film with the dreamy, poetic title that's naughty.

[megladon8]

No not like decapitation during sex more like violent attitudes... Take that Cock Bitch!


I don't enjoy that stuff, either.

The greatest turn on in the bedroom is for the woman to be enjoying herself just as much as I am, so treating her like garbage is not really my thing.

[Raiders]

Heh. That one is actually clean as a whistle. Honest! It's the Asian film with the dreamy, poetic title that's naughty.

I figured as much. I'm torn between which Tsai film I want to go to next. I have only seen two so I have many options. For some reason, the naughty, somewhat divisive one has always caught my eye.

[Spinal]

I figured as much. I'm torn between which Tsai film I want to go to next. I have only seen two so I have many options. For some reason, the naughty, somewhat divisive one has always caught my eye.

I didn't realize that it was a sorta-kinda sequel to What Time is it There? until the woman mentions watches in the middle of the film. I think it's probably OK as a stand-alone film, but watching the other first might have helped me process the themes a little better.

[Raiders]

I didn't realize that it was a sorta-kinda sequel to What Time is it There? until the woman mentions watches in the middle of the film. I think it's probably OK as a stand-alone film, but watching the other first might have helped me process the themes a little better.

That's one of the two I have seen, so I guess I'm all set!

[Qrazy]

No, but I know there are women out there who really enjoy getting "facials", or giving oral.

So even if the woman enjoys it and is genuinely turned on by it, the man should refuse because it's demeaning?

I wouldn't know because I know no women who genuinely like it. When I run into one I will have to re-evaluate.

[Spinal]

There's probably some who genuinely enjoy it. But there's probably others who think they should enjoy it because they're watching the same porn the boys are.

[Raiders]

So how 'bout that Dark Knight, huh?

[D_Davis]

Best. Topic. Ever.

[Spinal]

So how 'bout that Dark Knight, huh?

Nothing pornographic about that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/filthysize/tdk-wallpaper.jpg

:|

[Raiders]

Best. Topic. Ever.

Yes, internet geeks talking about sex is truly the oxymoron of the year.