Margaret (Lonergan)

[Boner M]

Finally, a trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjkyIULm8Rw&feature=youtu.be)

Looks... odd, but intriguing. Hope some of those performances play better in context (Paquin & Ruffalo, esp).

[Irish]

Not wild about the premise and seems over cast (Damon? Really?).

Will see it regardless. Been waiting a looooooooong time for another movie from this guy.

[DavidSeven]

Apparently this thing was originally over three hours long, which was the reason Searchlight refused to release it for six years. IMDB still lists it at 149 minutes. Weird runtime for a movie that, based on the trailer, feels like a scaled down The Sweet Hereafter.

[B-side]

Meh.

[Mara]

Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that trailer.

But the poem they quote is one of my favorites.

[chrisnu]

I'm shocked that this movie is actually seeing the light of day. I remember having it on my list of movies to see in 2006. Unfortunately, I can't say I've been very impressed by the trailer.

[Boner M]

Been getting mixed reviews, but these few review excerpts have me extremely optimistic:


the sort of no-holds-barred psychodrama that John Cassavetes specialized in: Lisa pinballs between raw emotional states while a number of vivid supporting characters, from Damon’s pushover schoolteacher to a brash Upper West Sider superbly played by Elaine May’s daughter Jeannie Berlin, circle her like moths to a frenzied flame... This is frayed-edges filmmaking at its finest.


It's less successful as a human drama than as a near-Brechtian exercise in what human drama looks and sounds like - a distanced but often car-crash compelling portrait of a teen as an unfinished being.

[B-side]

Hm. Sounds interesting if nothing else.

[NickGlass]

I'm totally excited, and expecting a sprawling, humane mess.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

Didn't realize this opened today. Will try to get out to it sometime this weekend.

[eternity]

Apparently it's...okay.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

I'm totally excited, and expecting a sprawling, humane mess.

You're going to get it.

I thought this was wonderful, if predictably hampered by whatever half hour of footage was cut from Lonergan's intended 3-hour version. Paquin is off-the-charts playing a completely self-absorbed teen that somehow remains completely fascinating throughout. The story is all over the place, but feels intentionally so. I thought it maybe drifted a bit too much toward specificity in the last twenty minutes or so, but for the rest of the duration it remains engagingly hard to categorize.

Also, hey, Rosemarie Dewitt!

[Yxklyx]

This was amazing!

[chrisnu]

Anyone know when this is coming out on DVD?

[Yxklyx]

One site says July and it shows up towards the top of my Netflix Saved Queue which usually means 2 months away.

[Pop Trash]

This has definitely stayed with me. Such a great screenplay and central performance.

[elixir]

Yeah, this film is absolutely incredible. Conversations as minefields, with the imprecision of language lending itself to the explosiveness of undiluted emotions, typified by the operatic heights of the central character's self-absorption. "Life on the edges" is a central feature here, with distraction paramount to the characters' lives, the messy sprawl (as mentioned above) impossible to escape or compartmentalize in a fragmented existence--there's so many scenes where just so many things are happening, some of which seems exceedingly trivial. And there's a desire to drown out the unimportant--and to feel like something meaningful is occurring--but it's difficult, and most knee-jerk generalizations characters make are reeled back in upon further examination, whether made explicit or not. "Strident." King Lear. So many more memorable scenes that when I was asked by my theatre-going companions (uh, my parents) to pick out my favorite, I couldn't and just listed six or seven instead. About one hundred times the ambition of You Can Count on Me (and just straight-up one of the most ambitious American films of this century, yeah) and features cinematic mastery that I never would have guessed Lonergan had from that film (which I like). I can't fucking wait to see the extended cut, which is probably even more of a masterpiece...

[Pop Trash]

and just straight-up one of the most ambitious American films of this century, yeah

As much as I liked it, I'm not sure we should get carried away here. The 21st century has brought us these American films:

Adaptation.
Memento (which I suppose is American enough)
Inception
Donnie Darko
A.I.
Traffic
Requiem for a Dream
The Fountain
Kill Bill 1&2
The New World
The Tree of Life
Children of Men (well more UK/Mexico than US)
Southland Tales (which even if you don't like it, its ambitious as fuck)
Synecdoche, NY
Eternal Sunshine
The Assassination of Jesse James
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Inglourious Basterds
I Heart Huckabees (which struck me as a more comedic cousin to Margaret)

and if we are going on sheer ambition and moxie (as opposed to quality): Crash, yes Crash

among others...

[Pop Trash]

In fairness, I just realized that if you eliminate sci-fi/fantasy & period piece movies, that list would be next to nothing, so Margaret does do a lot w/o falling into either genre (and no I'm not counting it as a "period piece" just because it was shot in the mid 00s but only released last year).

[elixir]

No. I mean, I guess we look at the word ambitious differently. (And it's not like I think that alone makes it--or any other movie--a good film) I'd disagree with, like, half of the list, but giving a long-winded explanation as to why seems a bit pointless...I guess I'll just say I think this film is way more challenging to audiences than a lot of these films; while watching the film and afterwards, it wasn't hard to see why it took so long for the film to reach theaters.

[Pop Trash]

But you have to admit it has some flaws (which maybe cuz of trying to knock it down to a reasonable length, but still...)

I mean the whole Matt Damon/abortion thing kind of went nowhere.

[elixir]

spoiler that maybe [i'll respond in a sec]

[elixir]

re: the specific plot point you said
I've been reading the script actually. There's a scene shot showing her getting an abortion. Well, I actually read that in a Paquin interview, since I'm not all the way way through the script. Anyways.

It's not out of nowhere and is essential.

I think the Damon sex scene is clearly contrasted with her deflowering. In the latter, she is trying to make it into this momentous event--which of course she would!--and the guy is making it into this casual, trivial thing (which the premature ejaculation proves is a front, right?), and in the former scene, Lisa is trying to do the opposite in a manner, and when she is about to leave, she says how "it's just sex" or something to that effect, but then hilariously, not once, but twice, fails to open the door correctly to exit the house...but it's clear it's just her desire to play this off as casual/trivial rather than it actually being so. And it's also her taking control and using her obvious sexuality as well, though that's something else.

Anyways, where the abortion comes in is essential, I think: at this point in the narrative, the bus accident lawsuit is pretty much wrapped up, and no longer does she have a self-contained dramatic narrative in which to make her "moral gymnasium" and play out her selfish desires and feelings of bourgeois white guilt, her wish to have an importance to her life when it feels trivial...it's like telling about this abortion--whether real or not, though it's real--will cause another torpedo, another operatic movement from which she can play a part in, but because of her past experience, among other things, it's clearly not working and I think she sees it's not worth the effort. I say all of this precisely because of the incredibly awkward way she brings it up, she's clearly trying to stir shit before realizing it won't really do much of anything.


As for it being flawed, well yeah, maybe, but perfection isn't the standard by which I judge films. And I do think some of those "flaws" may be smoothed out by the extended cut (it is 36 minutes of additional footage), but we'll see.

[Pop Trash]

I said this before, but that 'frayed edges' vibe in the formal aspects of the filmmaking parallel the 'frayed edges' of the Lisa character quite well. Obviously, I don't think this is intentional by Lonergan, but it's a nice happy accident.

[elixir]

I said this before, but that 'frayed edges' vibe in the formal aspects of the filmmaking parallel the 'frayed edges' of the Lisa character quite well. Obviously, I don't think this is intentional by Lonergan, but it's a nice happy accident.
It is intentional. Read the script.

[Pop Trash]

It is intentional. Read the script.

The script didn't edit the movie.

[elixir]

The script didn't edit the movie.
Not exactly, but it tells you that the way it was edited is purposeful. It is whole scenes that were cut rather than bits here and there--the jarring, abrupt edits are intentional. I mean, come on, the guy chose to leave in a five minute montage of the city two hours into the film (which the guy behind me thought was the end of the movie, lol) and numerous super slow-mo shots where the main character gets submerged in the masses (or just isn't even in the frame). And not just that, but because of how often various formal devices are employed, I think it's obvious it is on purpose rather than any sort of "happy accident."

[Boner M]

The upcoming Blu/DVD apparently includes Lonergan's 180+ minute cut. Gonna hold off seeing it til then.

[number8]

Seeing the extended cut tonight. I should eat dinner beforehand, right?

[NickGlass]

Seeing the extended cut tonight. I should eat dinner beforehand, right?

Going to the free screening at the Sunshine? Do you think it's going to be absurdly crowded?

[number8]

Going to the free screening at the Sunshine? Do you think it's going to be absurdly crowded?

For a 3 hour drama that hardly anybody's ever heard of? Doesn't sound like it, does it? But people love free shit, so I dunno. I'm on the press list so I don't have to get there earlier.

I know they're going to get random pedestrians in the area to come in just to pack the house. When I went to the Torchwood: Miracle Day first episode screening there, a bunch of people didn't know what the hell Torchwood was and just wanted to see a free screening.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

@vrizov


5:20, maybe 30 people already in line for MARGARET. Don't dally.

[baby doll]

The upcoming Blu/DVD apparently includes Lonergan's 180+ minute cut. Gonna hold off seeing it til then.The pirated DVD I got only had the 150 minute version, so I decided to watch that instead of nothing. And despite everything I've read, I don't see much evidence either of a director who's seriously lost it and/or an incomplete masterpiece that was badly damaged by having to be cut down to a certain length. In other words, I think the people who say that the film is a mess (whether that's on purpose or not, or because this version doesn't fully reflect the director's vision) have lost the ability to distinguish between novelistic storytelling and messiness. (The only major flaw from my point of view is the superfluousness of the Matt Damon subplot. By the way: Anna Paquin seducing her teacher again?! How long has this girl been in high school?) I'll be sure to check out the longer cut when I get the chance, but for now, this is pretty solid.

[number8]

This was absolutely masterful.

FYI, the extended cut didn't just add scenes. Lonergan redid the sound mix (which is very, very important to what the film is about) and replaced much of the original score with opera music. I haven't seen the 150min cut but I frankly can't imagine not having those two elements. They seem so essential. Maybe I'd watch the 150min cut one day out of curiosity.

[Ezee E]

Comes out on DVD in August...

[elixir]

Comes out on DVD in August...
huh? available tomorrow through amazon

[number8]

But you have to admit it has some flaws (which maybe cuz of trying to knock it down to a reasonable length, but still...)

I mean the whole Matt Damon/abortion thing kind of went nowhere.


re: the specific plot point you said
I've been reading the script actually. There's a scene shot showing her getting an abortion. Well, I actually read that in a Paquin interview, since I'm not all the way way through the script. Anyways.

It's not out of nowhere and is essential.

I think the Damon sex scene is clearly contrasted with her deflowering. In the latter, she is trying to make it into this momentous event--which of course she would!--and the guy is making it into this casual, trivial thing (which the premature ejaculation proves is a front, right?), and in the former scene, Lisa is trying to do the opposite in a manner, and when she is about to leave, she says how "it's just sex" or something to that effect, but then hilariously, not once, but twice, fails to open the door correctly to exit the house...but it's clear it's just her desire to play this off as casual/trivial rather than it actually being so. And it's also her taking control and using her obvious sexuality as well, though that's something else.

Anyways, where the abortion comes in is essential, I think: at this point in the narrative, the bus accident lawsuit is pretty much wrapped up, and no longer does she have a self-contained dramatic narrative in which to make her "moral gymnasium" and play out her selfish desires and feelings of bourgeois white guilt, her wish to have an importance to her life when it feels trivial...it's like telling about this abortion--whether real or not, though it's real--will cause another torpedo, another operatic movement from which she can play a part in, but because of her past experience, among other things, it's clearly not working and I think she sees it's not worth the effort. I say all of this precisely because of the incredibly awkward way she brings it up, she's clearly trying to stir shit before realizing it won't really do much of anything.


As for it being flawed, well yeah, maybe, but perfection isn't the standard by which I judge films. And I do think some of those "flaws" may be smoothed out by the extended cut (it is 36 minutes of additional footage), but we'll see.

Wow, it seems insane to me that the abortion scene was cut.

So in the theatrical cut, you just know about it from the scene where she confronts Damon outside the school, making it ambiguous whether or not she's telling the truth? That kinda changes the whole thing.

The scene is important because her mother is the one who takes her to Planned Parenthood, after asking her what her decision is because "it's your body, your baby." It's her first step to trusting her mother again after their blow up.

Also, it plays into Lisa's own guilt about the bus accident. At the lawyer's office, she breaks down screaming about Ruffalo blaming everyone else when it's her own fault. At that point, she's actually talking about her own moral decisions regarding her pregnancy, and that's why she feels ashamed when Damon, unlike her, seemed immediately ready to take his punishment.

[Pop Trash]

Wow, it seems insane to me that the abortion scene was cut.

So in the theatrical cut, you just know about it from the scene where she confronts Damon outside the school, making it ambiguous whether or not she's telling the truth? That kinda changes the whole thing.


That's exactly the impression I got from watching it. It's also so random like oh hi btw...I HAD YR ABORTION when it was never shown or discussed at all in the movie before that point. I think he should have just excised all the Matt Damon subplot in the original cut personally. Not sure how it played in the d.c. but the Damon sex scene was cut pretty awkward as well. Either keep it all or cut it completely.

The music change is interesting. Not sure why the "powers that be" made him change that aspect, since it fits so obviously in with the final scene.

[Ezee E]

huh? available tomorrow through amazon
More the reason I'm thinking of cancelling Netflix.

[number8]

Not sure how it played in the d.c. but the Damon sex scene was cut pretty awkward as well. Either keep it all or cut it completely.

They didn't show the actual sex, but I didn't think it was cut awkwardly. It's a pretty long scene of her seducing him and borderline forcing herself on him, and then it jump cuts from them making out on the couch and her rubbing his pants to Damon apologizing at the door, for comedic effect.

Actually, until she said "it's just sex" I thought the joke was that he came in his pants.

[number8]

By the way, because of some weird seating snafu at the screening, I bizarrely ended up sitting among the cast, close to Ruffalo and behind Lonergan, and sandwiched between Jeannie Berlin and Rosemarie DeWitt.

One of the weirdest screening experience of my life. Publicists/assistants/whoever would periodically run down the aisle to whisper schedules to Lonergan, and he kept checking his phone for texts because Tony Kushner was late or whatever the hell, and I wasn't gonna tell the director of the movie to be quiet.

Rosemarie DeWitt was SOBBING next to me at anything remotely sad in the movie. It was awkward. She also had her phone on and took photos of the screen throughout opening sequence/credits (What?). I didn't really know what to say to her when we sat down so I just made a joke about the seating arrangement. Her part was so small in the movie that when it ended I felt like it would be idiotic to lean over and say, "You were great!" So I didn't.

At least the movie was great so I didn't have to feign interest. I kept thinking of an anecdote my screenwriting teacher once told me of when he watched Ishtar directly in front of Warren Beatty, so he was afraid to even move his head restlessly.

[Pop Trash]

Rosemarie DeWitt was SOBBING next to me at anything remotely sad in the movie. It was awkward. She also had her phone on and took photos of the screen throughout opening sequence/credits (What?). I didn't really know what to say to her when we sat down so I just made a joke about the seating arrangement. Her part was so small in the movie that when it ended I felt like it would be idiotic to lean over and say, "You were great!" So I didn't.


I saw her walking around and hanging out at the San Fran FF this year. I didn't want to say anything to her, because she's not a big star, and I didn't want to come off like some stalker weirdo or anything. She has a very recognizable nose.

[NickGlass]

One of the weirdest screening experience of my life. Publicists/assistants/whoever would periodically run down the aisle to whisper schedules to Lonergan, and he kept checking his phone for texts because Tony Kushner was late or whatever the hell, and I wasn't gonna tell the director of the movie to be quiet.


Tell me about it. My friend and I got in line at 6pm (we were probably roughly in the 60s), and after they let in a handful of people at 6:45, they paused the line and told us that the VIP list was larger than half the size of the theater (so, over 150 people) and they had to wait and see if they would show. By 7pm, there were still 40 VIP people who had not arrived. We were roughly a dozen people from the front when we were still waiting at 7:30pm; then, after asking, we were told they had to finish introductions, start the film, and then they would let a certain number of people left on line filter in. We didn't feel like walking into a dark screening and scrambling for two seats together, so we just bailed at that point. I had a very "So it goes" attitude at first, but upon recollection was pretty annoyed with the way they mishandled, and misinformed, the crowd.

By far the best part was being near the front of the line and watching the alt-celebrity VIPs stumble in exactly (or after) 7pm. A very dazed Natasha Lyonne was my favorite, as always.

I saw the film back in December, so I'm trying not to feel too defeated about it (but...extended cut!).

[number8]

Tell me about it. My friend and I got in line at 6pm (we were probably roughly in the 60s), and after they let in a handful of people at 6:45, they paused the line and told us that the VIP list was larger than half the size of the theater (so, over 150 people) and they had to wait and see if they would show.

Dude, you're familiar with the downstairs theater of the Sunshine, right? THE ENTIRE MIDDLE were reserved seats. The whole thing. Top to front. It was ridiculous. Those people in line in front of you got to sit at the wing seats.

[NickGlass]

Dude, you're familiar with the downstairs theater of the Sunshine, right? THE ENTIRE MIDDLE were reserved seats. The whole thing. Top to front. It was ridiculous. Those people in line in front of you got to sit at the wing seats.

That must have been an absurd sight.

Yeah, I knew it was in their downstairs theater--when I asked a representative if it was in the large theater, he said yes, so I thought we were fine to make it in. Alas, when I heard the VIP number I was shocked.

[Watashi]

This is the first film I'll be blind buying in years.

[Pop Trash]

Good read:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2012/07/margaret_the_masterpiece_that_ .html#more

[ThePlashyBubbler]

The dude yelling "Bravi!" at the opera, and the subsequent discussion is pretty much my favorite thing ever.

Can't wait to see the extended cut.

[Raiders]

So tempted by the $3.99 Amazon VOD rental, but it is the theatrical cut only. I think I just want to watch Lonergan's three-hour cut. DAMMIT.

[Yxklyx]

I've heard mention of a longer cut but Netflix shows one at 150m which is what it was in the theater. It's available 8/7/2012. Is Netflix in error about the time or are they actually releasing a theatrical and long cut version?

[elixir]

yeah, the longer cut was released, it's a tad over 3 hours; it's on a disc with the theatrical here (http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Blu-ray-Combo-Anna-Paquin/dp/B005LAIGF0). If you liked the theatrical, you should definitely watch it.

[chrisnu]

The theatrical cut is now available at Redbox kiosks. Should I skip it for the extended cut?

[Bosco B Thug]

Please note: Blu-ray disc offers only the theatrical version, while the DVD disc offers only the extended cut version.
Weird way to do it...

You'd think this would mean the DVD from Redbox or Netflix would be the Extended Cut, but I guess not.

[chrisnu]

The Redbox Web site is reporting a running time of 2:30, but that may be incorrect. I can blow $1.20 to find out...

[number8]

I think it's because they didn't really have any budget to do a proper transfer of it. Lonergan basically cut the extended version from dailies and stuff that weren't color corrected. When I was watching it, I could sort of tell just from the picture quality some of the scenes that weren't in the theatrical cut. The extended cut release is basically a bonus feature, which they allowed to be on the disc as a courtesy to Lonergan.

[elixir]

Yeah, I've watched both cuts, and I could tell you for sure that, technically speaking, the extended is not as "finished" as the theatrical. It's certainly more than watchable, very much so, but like number8 said, you can see it's unfinished. It's a bit unfortunate in some ways, like in the second half where the sound mixing doesn't feel quite complete, since the sound design is so essential to the film, and its function is more emphasized in than the theatrical.

As to which to watch, that can be a hard question and depends on you. Personally, I love both cuts, but I would say the extended is overall the stronger film. If you think you will watch both, then go for the theatrical first. Otherwise, I guess I'd say that the theatrical is more polished, a tad more ambiguous, and, though unconventional, it is more conventional than the extended cut, which is more radical in its sound design, form, takes even longer for the lawsuit plot to kick in, and is even more diffuse even if it rounds out some tricky subplots from the theatrical (most prominently, Damon's character). Also, the latter of course has extended and additional scenes, and some are essential, especially that great diner scene, which is a wonderful encapsulation of many of the film's themes while also acting as an important emotional point for the progression of Paquin's character. And instead of the original score, there is more opera used, which makes sense.

Um, so yeah, hopefully that can help a bit? But I'm not sure exactly which cut to say.

[Bosco B Thug]

Hmm, I see. Very helpful.

Seems the Extended Cut's the way to go, in spite of its unfinished nature. Netflix lists 150 min DVD also, but maybe it's management ignorance.

[chrisnu]

Redbox DVD has the theatrical cut.

[Yxklyx]

My local video store has both versions. Way cool!

[Pop Trash]

Watched the OG version again, and man, I really like the music in this. All that sad/dreamy pizzicato score. Not sure how I feel about it being replaced with opera the whole time, but haven't seen the longer cut. Great movie tho.

[number8]

What the hell? It went out of print that fast?

http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Blu-ray-Combo-Anna-Paquin/dp/B005LAIGF0/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1345565583&sr=1-2&keywords=margaret

[ledfloyd]

goddammit. so much for waiting for the price to come down.

[Raiders]

What the hell? It went out of print that fast?

http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Blu-ray-Combo-Anna-Paquin/dp/B005LAIGF0/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1345565583&sr=1-2&keywords=margaret

It was a limited-time Amazon exclusive. Not sure if there are plans to print more or expand to other vendors.

[Watashi]

Yeah, I couldn't find it anywhere else. It's not at Best Buy or even in their computer database.

So weird.

[Boner M]

I waited to buy it while I was on holiday in North America to avoid postage costs. FML.

[number8]

Yeah, I couldn't find it anywhere else. It's not at Best Buy or even in their computer database.

So weird.

Well, it's being sold exclusively at Amazon. I just didn't expect they would run out so soon.

[Pop Trash]

This better be a temp thing.

Or Criterion should put this and You Can Count on Me out on blu. That would be even better.

[number8]

Amazon page is updated. You can buy it from them again now, but it is temporarily out of stock so you'll have to wait a bit.

[Ezee E]

It's also at every Redbox.

[chrisnu]

It's also at every Redbox.
Just the theatrical cut, though.

[Bosco B Thug]

My local video store has both versions. Way cool! I thought this was a brilliant idea, but my mom and pop video store isn't savvy enough, apparently. Fox Searchlight are twisted, grinning f***ers with their so-called "RENTAL EXCLUSIVE" discs!

[DavidSeven]

Watched the theatrical cut.

It was interesting ...not successful for me, but interesting. I appreciated the way it looked and moved like a film of the 70s, even though it clearly has a contemporary setting. I thought the first hour or so was quite enrapturing, but as the lawsuit starts to come to the forefront of the narrative, it seemed the film became incessantly concerned with its ideas rather than its execution. The human element of this film felt completely lost in its second half, and it soon became clear the characters now existed to convey very academic ideas rather than to represent something more honest. I'll give it points for having ambitious ideas, but they are not contained within workable film that relates anything close to a human experience.

Also, I realize this is low on the list of concerns for many of you, but some of the acting in this was downright wretched. The actress playing Emily was particularly off, I thought.

[Boner M]

Also, I realize this is low on the list of concerns for many of you, but some of the acting in this was downright wretched. The actress playing Emily was particularly off, I thought.
Jeanne Berlin? Umm, no.

[Watashi]

So I finally got to this even though it's been sitting on my desk for a month now.

This is a very difficult film to write about, but going over Jim Emerson's review, I think passage absolutely nails what I found so absorbing about Margaret:


I've never seen a film that dissects with such precision just how hard it is to have a meaningful conversation, to actually communicate what you want to say to another person, and to hear and process what they are saying. So many opportunities for evasion, deception, ambiguity, whole or partial (mis)interpretation, passive-aggressive manipulation... So many written and unwritten rules, guidelines, laws, expectations, manners, customs, shorthand signals... Lisa is a teenage diva -- she's a high school girl! -- and she plunges into an adult world where she's way, way over her head.

The conversations in this film were brutal. No one is right or wrong. The sudden eruptions of frustration and confusion were hard to watch sometimes. The whole film is a response to the utter chaos of 9/11 and how everyone's voice wanted to be heard, but it kept getting drowned out in anger and sadness. So many literary, musical, and philosophy allusions. It's impossible to track them all in one viewing. I don't think it's a mess, but I think by watching the Extended Cut will answer a lot of dropped subplots (like the abortion) that I had.

Very hard movie to write about.

[Melville]

One of the best studies of guilt and the strangling difficulties of communication and confession—amongst other things—since The Brothers Karamazov. I wasn't expecting the death scene to be so emotionally gruelling, nor the ending to be so supremely cathartic.

[EyesWideOpen]

I just got the dvd from netflix because I though the dvd version was the extended cut but it's the theatrical version. Dammit!

[Pop Trash]

I just got the dvd from netflix because I though the dvd version was the extended cut but it's the theatrical version. Dammit!

It's still damn good, homie.

[EyesWideOpen]

It's still damn good, homie.

I would never knowingly watch a lesser version of a film when a better version is available.

[Watashi]

I would never knowingly watch a lesser version of a film when a better version is available.

Why do you automatically assume it's a better version?

[EyesWideOpen]

Why do you automatically assume it's a better version?

Because every thing I've read on it said it was the preferred version.

[Derek]

Because every thing I've read on it said it was the preferred version.

It's available for purchase on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Theatrical-Extended-Blu-ray-Combo/dp/B005LAIGF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366695952&sr=8-1&keywords=margaret).

[Winston*]

I think only the extended cut is available over here.

BTW this movie was fantastic.

[number8]

Why do you automatically assume it's a better version?

We told him it is in this thread.

[dreamdead]

This was great. Love the doubling of Lisa's declaration of guilt echoed in Damon's admission of guilt. Some of the cityshots could be trimmed off the director's cut, but as an evocation of a city and a mood, it's wonderfully detailed, multifaceted, and filled with bravura scenes.

[Irish]

Ok, I'm trying to track this thing down. iTunes has a 2:30 version. Is that the one to watch?

I read an article that said there's a studio cut (2:00), Scorsese's cut (2:30), and Lonergan's original 3:00 cut. I'm not sure what was released when.

Little help?

[Watashi]

That's the theatrical cut, but if you can, try to watch the director's cut.

[Yxklyx]

Well I thought the theatrical cut was the best movie of the year - not sure I want to watch the director's cut.

[Irish]

Cool, thanks guys.