Match Cut Madness 3: Best of the 00s

[Idioteque Stalker]

Welcome to Match Cut Madness 3.0, a March Madness-style bracket tournament in which movies engage in 1v1 battles for glory and for shame. In Madness 1.0, MC chose its favorite films of the 80s (results: Champion: Do the Right Thing, Runner-Up: The Shining, Third Place: Aliens). In Madness 2.0, MC chose its favorite films of the 90s (results: Champion: Goodfellas, Runner-Up: Pulp Fiction, Third Place: Fargo). In Madness 3.0, MC tackles a new decade: the best movies of the 00s.

The Rules: Vote for one of two movies. If you haven't seen both movies, don't vote. If you have seen both movies, you must vote no matter how painful. The movie with the most votes moves to the next round, and the other is burned in a fire and can never be seen again by anyone. Eventually one movie will reign supreme.

First up: Competing movies revealed, plus the Play-In Round!

__________________


Round 1 Results

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon (BLOWOUT)
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream (UPSET + BLOWOUT)
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth (UPSET + NAILBITER)
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour (UPSET + NAILBITER)
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent (BLOWOUT)
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo (NAILBITER)
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic (BLOWOUT)
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko (UNANIMOUS BLOWOUT + HUMILIATION)
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (BLOWOUT)
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (UPSET)

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (NAILBITER)
The New World vs. Amelie (BLOWOUT + HUMILIATION)
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (BLOWOUT)
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges (UPSET)

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika (NAILBITER)
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable (NAILBITER)
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien (UPSET)
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy (UPSET)
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi (UPSET)


Round 2 Results

No Country for Old Men vs. Requiem for a Dream
Dogtooth vs. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (NAILBITER)
25th Hour vs. Almost Famous (UPSET)
Spirited Away vs. Punch-Drunk Love
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Finding Nemo (BLOWOUT)
Lost In Translation vs. Shaun of the Dead (UPSET + NAILBITER)
Mulholland Drive vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (BLOWOUT)

There Will Be Blood vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Memento (NAILBITER)
Zodiac vs. The Prestige
Children of Men vs. Ratatouille
The Dark Knight vs. A Serious Man (UPSET + NAILBITER)
Wall-E vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. Oldboy
The Fellowship of the Ring vs. Yi Yi (UPSET)


Sweet Sixteen Results

No Country for Old Men vs. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (BLOWOUT)
25th Hour vs. Spirited Away
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Shaun of the Dead (BLOWOUT)
Mulholland Drive vs. Before Sunset (UPSET + NAILBITER)
There Will Be Blood vs. Memento (UPSET + NAILBITER)
Zodiac vs. Children of Men
A Serious Man vs. Wall-E (NAILBITER)
Inglourious Basterds vs. Yi Yi (UPSET)


Elite Eight Results

No Country for Old Men vs. Spirited Away (UPSET)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Before Sunset
Memento vs. Children of Men (UPSET)
Wall-E vs. Yi Yi (NAILBITER)


Final Four Results

Spirited Away vs. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (UPSET + NAILBITER)
Memento vs. Wall-E


Championship Results

Champion: Spirited Away
Runner-Up: Memento
Third Place: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

[Skitch]

This will be brutal

[Idioteque Stalker]

The Play-In Round
Have you ever looked at the list of movies in a Madness tournament, thought to yourself, "What is doing here when [superior movie Y] would be a better competitor," and wanted to do something about it? Well now you can -- with The Play-In Round!

Play-In Round Rules:

No voting will occur in this round. Instead, MC posters are invited to suggest a replacement for any movie that is considered "on the bubble," so long as they haven't already replaced three movies and the suggested replacement has more views on Letterboxd. (https://letterboxd.com/) This way MC can trend toward greater participation while still customizing the brackets (which are again based on Filmspotting's) to reflect its own unique taste.

Once you have replaced three movies, you may "block" one replacement attempt by another player, even if it's already "locked in." The movie you defend advances to Round 1. The other player may attempt another replacement. If you don't block anything you get an extra Round 1 vote.

In the end, I alone shall bear the full weight and responsibility of determining which replacements are accepted. As supreme ruler I will always strive to remain fair and impartial, but there are certain ways you can increase/decrease the likelihood your suggestion goes through:

Your film is more likely to be chosen if:
-- Other MC posters chime in with support.
-- You give an impassioned plea.
-- You have seen the movie you are trying to replace.
-- It is part of an underrepresented group: documentaries, non-English language films, cast/crew are minority groups, etc.

Your film is less likely to be chosen if:
-- Other MC posters chime in with dissent.
-- [I](NEW CONSIDERATION) It is several orders of magnitude more popular than the movie you are trying to replace (American Psycho has no business preying upon Wendy and Lucy).
-- Your main reason for replacing a film is it is too popular or too obscure.
-- You have not seen the movie you are trying to replace.
-- You are trying to replace a film in an underrepresented group (see above) with a film in a group already sufficiently represented (normie films, you know the type). Theoretically, if you tried to replace City of God with Iron Man, I’d tell you to save your energy.

If your film is chosen, I HAVE to vote for it in round 1.


The 32 movies that are on the bubble, and therefore able to be replaced:


Finding Nemo 903k
Donnie Darko 601k
Amelie 480k
Hot Fuzz 452k (Replaced by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl -- Yxklyx)
Requiem for a Dream 444k
Oldboy 364k
Anchorman 293k (Replaced by Tropic Thunder -- Yxklyx)
City of God 282k

Unbreakable 279k
In Bruges 256k
Moon 223k
The Hurt Locker 201k (Replaced by The Life Aquatic -- Dukefrukem)
Atonement 189k (Replaced by A.I. Artificial Intelligence -- Baby Doll)
Adaptation 173k
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 159k
Let the Right One In 146k (Replaced by Battle Royale -- Skitch)

Synecdoche NY 146k (Replaced by O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- Yxklyx)
Y Tu Mama Tambien 128k
History of Violence 111k (Replaced by Ghost World -- Yxklyx) BLOCKED by Ezee E, History advances
Assassination of Jesse James 110k (Replaced by Paprika -- Skitch)
Elephant 94k (Replaced by Primer -- Skitch)
Squid and the Whale 93k (Replaced by The Descent -- Peng)
Once 79k (Replaced by Irreversible -- Ezee E)
Cache 73k (Replaced by Assassination of Jesse James -- Ezee E)

Grizzly Man 65k (Replaced by Dogtooth -- Baby Doll)
25th Hour 62k
Talk to Her 52k (Replaced by Kung Fu Hustle -- Dukefrukem)
Yi Yi 52k
4 months 3 weeks 2 days 33k (Replaced by Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring -- Peng)
Beau Travail 32k (1999?) (Replaced by I'm Not There -- Baby Doll)
Wendy and Lucy 28k (Replaced by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- Ezee E)
L’Enfant 13k (Replaced by Still Walking -- Peng)


The 32 movies that are locked in, and therefore shouldn't be suggested as replacements:


Almost Famous
Before Sunset
Brick
Brokeback Mountain
Children of Men
The Dark Knight
The Departed
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Fellowship of the Ring
In the Mood for Love
The Incredibles
Inglourious Basterds
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Lost in Translation
Memento

Minority Report
Mulholland Drive
The New World
No Country for Old Men
Pan’s Labyrinth
The Prestige
Punch Drunk Love
Ratatouille

The Royal Tenenbaums
A Serious Man
Shaun of the Dead
Spider-Man 2
Spirited Away
There Will be Blood
Wall-E
Zodiac


______________________

Play-In Round Rules Recap:
-- You may replace movies that are on the bubble until you have replaced three movies.
-- The movie you suggest must have more views on Letterboxd than the movie you're replacing.
-- I choose which suggestions are accepted, and will vote for all accepted movies in round 1.
-- Once you have replaced three movies, you may "block" one replacement attempt by another player, even if it's already "locked in." The movie you defend advances to Round 1. The other player may attempt another replacement. If you don't block anything you get an extra Round 1 vote.

Baby Doll, Ezee E, Peng, and Yxklyx were huge contributors in the Madness 2.0 Play-In Round, drastically changing the course of the tournament. Peng even got two films (Three Colors: Red and Ed Wood) into the Sweet Sixteen, and as a reward received two extra votes to use during the remainder of the competition. In an Elite Eight nail-biter match-up, Ed Wood very nearly took out Fargo!

Who will be the Play-In Round MVP of Madness 3.0? It's time to find out!

The Match-Cut Madness 3 Play-In Round is now open!

[Yxklyx]

so.... if I see movies on the bubble that I think should be in I should just.... wait until someone bumps them off? Then when I reply, they will be locked in? I feel like I'm in defensive mode here...

[Ezee E]

DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (46k) IN
Yi Yi - GET THE FUCK OUT

Try and watch the Diving Bell and the Butterfly and not cry at least once. If you don't cry, well then at least admire Janusz Kaminski's masterful cinematography and a performance that is completely affecting despite being from a POV for a good portion of the movie.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I feel like I'm in defensive mode here...

I feel ya, had to think for a sec...

New Rule/Incentive:
Once you have replaced three movies, you may "block" one replacement attempt by another player, even if it's already "locked in." The movie you defend advances to Round 1. The other player may attempt another replacement. If you don't block anything you get an extra Round 1 vote.

[quido8_5]

Yi Yi - GET THE FUCK OUT


Excuse me, sir?

[Yxklyx]

I feel ya, had to think for a sec...

New Rule/Incentive:
Once you have replaced three movies, you may "block" one replacement attempt by another player. The movie you defend advances to Round 1. The other player may attempt another replacement. If you don't block anything you get an extra Round 1 vote.

I thought that if we replaced a movie it got locked in - wasn't that how it was before?

[Yxklyx]

Excuse me, sir?

Unfortunately I don't recall a single thing about Yi-Yi - I rated it mid-level 8.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I thought that if we replaced a movie it got locked in - wasn't that how it was before?

Yes that's correct. But with this new rule you are now encouraged to be aggressive (rather than defensive, as you say) because you can promote three films and then get an additional "block," for a total of four "moves" in the play-in round. If it turns out there isn't a film you want to defend, you can turn it into an extra round 1 vote.

Also, locking in a movie that's been bumped off by someone else is kind of like guessing $1 more in the Price is Right. Technically it's allowed, but be aware you'll get some serious side-eye the more you do it.

[Ezee E]

Excuse me, sir?

GONE!

[Idioteque Stalker]

GONE!

Sorry, not gone. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (46k) does not have more LB views than Yi Yi (52k). You were definitely getting bonus points for your impassioned plea. Try again!

EDIT: May I suggest to E or anyone else Beau Travail as an easy target... LB lists it as 1999, and that's a huge knock against it. (Claire Denis fans should know I mentioned Beau Travail specifically during the play-in round of Madness 2.0 and no one voted it in.)

[baby doll]

IN: I'm Not There.
OUT: Beau travail (great film but obviously it shouldn't be here)

[Ezee E]

Hmm...

DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
will now say
GOOD BYE TO WENDY AND YOUR DOG TOO

[baby doll]

IN: Marie Antoinette
OUT: Let the Right One In (so chilly and clinical I could never get involved in it)

[baby doll]

IN: A.I. Artificial Intelligence
OUT: Atonement (seriously?!?)

[Yxklyx]

sorry - rules are too confusing...

[baby doll]

I just realized Dogtooth (138k) isn't on the list. That seems like an oversight.

[Idioteque Stalker]

IN: I'm Not There.
OUT: Beau travail (great film but obviously it shouldn't be here)

+ Beau Travail is 1999. Todd Haynes is a respected director
- Beau Travail is part of an underrepresented group. Claire Denis is a respected director
= Beau Travail is out! I'm Not There is in!



DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
will now say
GOOD BYE TO WENDY AND YOUR DOG TOO

+ The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is non-English language. You gave an impassioned plea
- Kelly Reichardt is a respected director
= Wendy and Lucy is out! The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is in!

[Ezee E]

Yeah, get that Atonement and its one cool shot out of here!

[Ezee E]

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/02/28/arts/28gaspar-noe1/merlin_151024704_50b49ab1-1a0a-41b2-8860-535e472cd46e-superJumbo.jpg

Gaspar Noe, MC legend, is so saddened to not be in this grouping.

Enter the Void or Irreversible???

[Yxklyx]

Enter the Void and Wendy and Lucy should be in - but the rules are so complex...

[baby doll]

Irréversible is definitely the more disciplined of the two, and it has 107k views. I'd much rather watch it again than The Squid and the Whale (the second-best Noah Baumbach movie of the decade).

[Idioteque Stalker]

but the rules are so complex...

-- The movie you suggest must have more views on Letterboxd than the movie you're replacing.

This is the main rule. If you follow this you're doing it right.



I'd much rather watch it again than The Squid and the Whale (the second-best Noah Baumbach movie of the decade).

I also prefer Margot at the Wedding.

[Dukefrukem]

I suspect this will be a game that I barely vote in if Baby Doll continues this rampage.

[Idioteque Stalker]

IN: Marie Antoinette
OUT: Let the Right One In (so chilly and clinical I could never get involved in it)

+ Marie Antoinette is part of an underrepresented group, Sofia Coppola is a respected director
- Let the Right One In is non-English language, in an underrepresented genre, and Sofia Coppola already has a film in the tournament
= Thank you, try again!



IN: A.I. Artificial Intelligence
OUT: Atonement (seriously?!?)

+ Steven Spielberg is a respected director, and a fellow MCer chimed in with support (Ezee E)
- Spielberg already has a film in the tournament
= Atonement is out! A.I. is in!

Baby Doll has one replacement left. Ezee has two.

[Peng]

In: The Descent (138K)
Out: The Squid and the Whale (93k)

[Peng]

IN: Still Walking (26K)
Out: L’Enfant (13k)

[Peng]

In: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (37K)
Out: 4 months 3 weeks 2 days (33k)

[Idioteque Stalker]

In: The Descent (138K)
Out: The Squid and the Whale (93k)

+ The Descent is part of an underrepresented genre
- Noah Baumbach is a respected filmmaker
= The Squid and the Whale is out! The Descent is in!



IN: Still Walking (26K)
Out: L’Enfant (13k)

+ Hirokazu Kore-eda is a respected director, hardly anyone has seen L'Enfant
- The Dardenne Bros are respected directors
= L'Enfant is out! Still Walking is in!



In: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (37K)
Out: 4 months 3 weeks 2 days (33k)

+ Kim Ki-duk is a respected director
- Cristian Mungiu is Romania's only hope
= 432 is out! SSFW... and Spring is in!

[Idioteque Stalker]

Peng is the first to hit the max of three replacements, and can choose to block someone else's replacement, even if it's already locked in. If the block is used, the movie Peng defends advances to Round 1, and the person who is blocked can try another replacement. If the block isn't used, Peng gets one extra vote in Round 1.

Example: Baby Doll uses his final replacement to swap out Requiem for a Dream for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Before (or after) I approve the swap, Peng chooses to block the replacement. Requiem for a Dream receives immunity until Round 1, and Baby Doll can attempt a different replacement.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Gaspar Noe, MC legend, is so saddened to not be in this grouping.

Enter the Void or Irreversible???


I just realized Dogtooth (138k) isn't on the list. That seems like an oversight.

I agree these are noteworthy absences. I have a few others in mind as well. Once we are nearing the end of the play in round I will provide a short FYC list in case it jogs anyone's memory.

[Peng]

Peng is the first to hit the max of three replacements, and can choose to block someone else's replacement, even if it's already locked in. If the block is used, the movie Peng defends advances to Round 1, and the person who is blocked can try another replacement. If the block isn't used, Peng gets one extra vote in Round 1.

Example: Baby Doll uses his final replacement to swap out Requiem for a Dream for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Before (or after) I approve the swap, Peng chooses to block the replacement. Requiem for a Dream receives immunity until Round 1, and Baby Doll can attempt a different replacement.

This feels such a mad-with-power-granting rule lol. The only past swab I may be considering blocking is just Beau Travail, but that is out for legitimate reason, so I'll wait and see first. Most likely I'll just convert it for round one point though.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Most likely I'll just convert it for round one point though.

This is almost certainly what I would do. Unless my favorite movie got booted.

Btw I'll be experiencing my first Kore-eda this week or next with Still Walking thanks to you.

[Peng]

It's my favorite Kore-eda, but I watched it for the first time this year after having seen a fair share, so I'm curious how that comes off being seen as his first film.

[baby doll]

IN: Dogtooth
OUT: Grizzly Man (minor Herzog)

[Skitch]

+ Kim Ki-duk is a respected director
- Cristian Mungiu is Romania's only hope
= 432 is out! SSFW... and Spring is in!
I haven't seen 432 but I doubt I'll vote against SSFW...AS all the way to the end.

[Skitch]

Out: Elephant
In: Primer

[Skitch]

Out: Let The Right One In
In: Battle Royale

[Skitch]

Out: The Assassination of Jesse James
In: Paprika

[Idioteque Stalker]

IN: Dogtooth
OUT: Grizzly Man (minor Herzog)

+ Yorgos Lanthimos is a respected director, Dogtooth is non-English language
- Werner Herzog is a respected director, Grizzly Man is the tournament's only documentary
= Grizzly Man is out! Dogtooth is in!

Baby Doll has reached the max of three replacements, and can now block some else's swap or gain an extra Round 1 vote.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Out: Elephant
In: Primer

+ Primer is a cult favorite, a strict genre film, and Shane Carruth was a respected director before everyone found out he's an asshole
- Gus Van Sant is a respected director
= Elephant is out! Primer is in!



Out: The Assassination of Jesse James
In: Paprika

+ Only one anime film in the tournament, Satoshi Kon is a respected director, I'll no longer have to feel guilty about not typing the entire title of Dominik's film
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has a small but rabid following
= Jesse James is out! Paprika is in!



Out: Let The Right One In
In: Battle Royale

Goodness, this one is impossible for me... I think I need some other MCers to weigh in: Which will be the better competitor/which do you prefer?

[baby doll]

I dislike Let the Right One In less than I dislike Battle Royale, which has to be one of the most boring films ever made.

[Skitch]

My argument is in a conversation of the best of the aughts, BR should be in there. My argument against LTROI is its a remake and the original is better.

[transmogrifier]

Goodness, this one is impossible for me... I think I need some other MCers to weigh in: Which will be the better competitor/which do you prefer?

Battle Royale by a country mile. Let the Right One In is boring as hell.

[transmogrifier]

+ Only one anime film in the tournament, Satoshi Kon is a respected director, I'll no longer have to feel guilty about not typing the entire title of Dominik's film
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has a small but rabid following
= Jesse James is out! Paprika is in!


I block this. Jesse James stays.

[Peng]

I block this. Jesse James stays.

You need to have replaced three films first before you can block.

[Idioteque Stalker]

My argument is in a conversation of the best of the aughts, BR should be in there. My argument against LTROI is its a remake and the original is better.

Are you thinking of the American remake Let Me In? I've always thought of Let the Right One In as the original. Also I'm kinda shocked to see MC's distaste for it -- feels like it used to be a favorite around these parts.

[Idioteque Stalker]

You need to have replaced three films first before you can block.

Cue trans pm to Peng, "I'll give you rep to block it for me."

[transmogrifier]

You need to have replaced three films first before you can block.

Nevermind then :)

[Skitch]

Are you thinking of the American remake Let Me In? I've always thought of Let the Right One In as the original. Also I'm kinda shocked to see MC's distaste for it -- feels like it used to be a favorite around these parts.

Oh geez, maybe I bricked that. My bad. I still would put BR in there over either version. I didn't pick some of the other films with lesser watches because I haven't seen them.

[Skitch]

I like the Jesse James flick, but this list needs more anime.

[baby doll]

I like the Jesse James flick, but this list needs more anime.I feel like it's pretty obvious which anime has a shot at cracking the top sixteen and beyond, baring some fluky upset. If any animated film is weirdly conspicuous from the list, it's Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (153k).

[Ezee E]

Nobody has watched Once since the year it came out.

Irreversible, like it or not, is a movie that you can tell people about, and they'll always be curious to check it out. Only to be scarred for life. Gaspar Noe may also be one of the more relevant filmmakers of the 2000s.

IRREVERSIBLE IN
ONCE OUT

[baby doll]

Nobody has watched Once since the year it came out.I feel like that's true of a lot of movies in this competition. Who, in 2021, is still watching and/or thinking about Adaptation., Donnie Darko, or Spider-Man 2?

[Idioteque Stalker]

I didn't pick some of the other films with lesser watches because I haven't seen them.

You are a man of integrity and I thank you. Because of this (and the only Let the Right One In support being a backhanded compliment) I shall now decree:

Let the Right One In is out! Battle Royale is in!

You have now reached the max of three replacements, and can block some else's swap or gain an extra Round 1 vote.


I like the Jesse James flick, but this list needs more anime.

Thank the anime lords for the play-in round -- it didn't exist during Madness 1.0 and Akira was nowhere to be found.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Nobody has watched Once since the year it came out.

Irreversible, like it or not, is a movie that you can tell people about, and they'll always be curious to check it out. Only to be scarred for life. Gaspar Noe may also be one of the more relevant filmmakers of the 2000s.

IRREVERSIBLE IN
ONCE OUT

+ Gaspar Noe is a respected director, Irreversible is non-English language, you gave an impassioned plea
- Once is in an underrepresented genre
= Once is out! Irreversible is in!

And with that, a huge shift in the family-friendliness of Madness 3.0. E has one replacement left.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I feel like it's pretty obvious which anime has a shot at cracking the top sixteen and beyond, baring some fluky upset. If any animated film is weirdly conspicuous from the list, it's Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (153k).

I know this isn't exactly what you're saying, but I would be truly shocked if Wallace and Gromit made it to the Sweet Sixteen. And as a side note, Madness 3 has a lot more animated films than Madness 2 did (because of Pixar obviously), so "it's animated" no longer factors in the + column during play-in consideration. For those who are curious, I would say we are currently starved for documentaries, musicals, and strict comedies.



Who, in 2021, is still watching and/or thinking about Adaptation., Donnie Darko, or Spider-Man 2?

I was surprised to see this, but based on the LB numbers (601k!) Donnie Darko is still very relevant. Adaptation has the Kaufman/Cage factor, though I admit I haven't seen it since it came out. Spider-Man 2 is interesting though -- so beloved when it came out, but two different reboots and the MCU in general make it seem like ancient history.

[Yxklyx]

Planet Terror to replace Yi Yi
Enter the Void to replace 25th Hour

more people need to watch Songs from the Second Floor which is not eligible from what I can tell.

[Yxklyx]

Ghost World to replace A History of Violence

[Skitch]

I support 25th Hour. Great flick. I doubt I'll ever watch Enter the Void again...while it is well made, its just depressing.

I support Planet Terror in the mix, but I haven't seen Yi Yi (I don't think).

Ghost World I found overrated, I like a History of Violence, but we could probably find something more deserving of entry.

[baby doll]

25th Hour isn't repetitive as hell and its characters are actually interesting.

I haven't seen Planet Terror (and honestly don't want to), but Yi Yi is a stone classic.

[baby doll]

I support Ghost World over A History of Violence, even though I haven't seen the former in close to twenty years.

[Idioteque Stalker]

The Play-In Round has drastically changed the tournament line-up. At this point the competition is more diverse, more exciting, and all around stronger than it was to begin.

That being said, and before everyone hits their max of three replacements, here is a list of movies that are not currently in Madness 3 but I find noteworthy for whatever reason:



Mean Girls (628k)
Superbad (531k)
Coraline (477k)
Casino Royale (389k)
Borat (358k)
The 40 Year Old Virgin (318k)
Moulin Rouge! (227k)
The Aviator (198k)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (183k)
Memories of Murder (174k)
Marie Antoinette (171k)
Hot Rod (120k)
Persepolis (98k)
Speed Racer (94k)
Dogville (91k)
Dancer in the Dark (87k)

--- from here down, not eligible unless a lesser-seen replacement ends up being blocked ---

Dear Zachary (48k)
Waltz with Bashir (40k)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (35k)
Pulse (35k)

[Idioteque Stalker]

Planet Terror to replace Yi Yi

+ Planet Terror is a strict genre film
- Yi Yi is non-English language and Edward Yang is a respected director
= Thank you, try again!



Enter the Void to replace 25th Hour

+ Gaspar Noe is a respected director
- Noe already has a film in the tournament, Spike Lee is a respected director, and two MCers chimed in with dissent (Skitch and Baby Doll)
= Thank you, try again!



Ghost World to replace A History of Violence
+ A different type of comic book movie, another MCer chimed in with support (Baby Doll)
- David Cronenberg is a respected director
= A History of Violence is out! Ghost World is in!

You have two replacements left.

[Skitch]

I considered Aviator, Coraline, and I really wish I could weasel Pulse in there somewhere, incredible film.

How are we gonna do this without Speed Racer?? I'm pretty sure thats in the MC by-laws!! :D

[Yxklyx]

O Brother, Where Art Thou? to replace Synecdoche NY

The Hangover to replace Hot Fuzz

[baby doll]

O Brother, Where Art Thou? to replace Synecdoche NY¡No!


The Hangover to replace Hot Fuzz¡Si!

[Skitch]

O Brother, Where Art Thou? to replace Synecdoche NY

YES!!!

The Hangover to replace Hot Fuzz

NO!

[Idioteque Stalker]

How are we gonna do this without Speed Racer?? I'm pretty sure thats in the MC by-laws!! :D

No joke. It feels wrong to me for an MC tournament to not have Speed Racer, and for any tournament to not have Mean Girls.



¡No!

¡Si!



YES!!!

NO!

Thanks for the help guys (canceling each other out).

[Skitch]

O Brother, Where Art Thou? to replace Synecdoche NY

YES!!!

The Hangover to replace Hot Fuzz

NO!

I should expand...Synecdoche NY is a wild flick, very unique, but I've found rewatchability near zero. O Brother is crammed with brilliance that wife and I rewatch at least once a year and quote a lot.

The Hangover was funny exactly once. Hot Fuzz I've rewatched several times and its remarkable at its visual commentary on the action genre, as well as being a very funny movie. Yarp.

[Yxklyx]

I think The Lord of the Rings films should be considered one film (which is probably what the Academy did). I say we convert The Fellowship of the Ring to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

[Skitch]

I think The Lord of the Rings films should be considered one film (which is probably what the Academy did). I say we convert The Fellowship of the Ring to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I would definitely 2nd this motion. I consider them one film.

[Irish]

Who, in 2021, is still watching and/or thinking about Adaptation., Donnie Darko, or Spider-Man 2?

I think this is harder claim to make in 2021, given a fractured media environment that's ready and willing to pander to the nichest of niches.

Two of those films are legit cult movies (in that they appeal to specific interests) and one is considered best in class, at least by fans of its genre. (And if memes count as discussion, these movies are still actively discussed.)

[baby doll]

I should expand...Synecdoche NY is a wild flick, very unique, but I've found rewatchability near zero. O Brother is crammed with brilliance that wife and I rewatch at least once a year and quote a lot.

The Hangover was funny exactly once. Hot Fuzz I've rewatched several times and its remarkable at its visual commentary on the action genre, as well as being a very funny movie. Yarp.I haven't seen any of these films since the time of their release, but I remember enjoying Synecdoche, New York, even if it wasn't totally successful, and being bored by O Brother, Where Art Thou? (which arguably succeeds in doing everything it attempts to do, which isn't much). The Hangover made me laugh (at one point, the guy in the row in front of me asked me to keep it down because I was irritating his girlfriend) whereas Hot Fuzz mostly did not.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I should expand...

Just to be clear my sarcastic "thanks" was due to y'all canceling each other out, not the brevity of the posts. Expanded thoughts are always welcome, obviously (and I generally agree with you -- though I remain impartial), but a simple Si! or No! can be enough to affect the outcomes of this round.

[Skitch]

lol I didn't even see your thanks...I felt the need all on my own.

[Yxklyx]

Just to be clear my sarcastic "thanks" was due to y'all canceling each other out, not the brevity of the posts. Expanded thoughts are always welcome, obviously (and I generally agree with you -- though I remain impartial), but a simple Si! or No! can be enough to affect the outcomes of this round.

Just wait for more input we're not all refreshing the page every 10 seconds. :)

Do we really need TWO Edgar Wright films in Shaun of the Dead AND Hot Fuzz? I've watched The Hangover twice and LOL both times. I'll put it up there with Tropic Thunder and Zoolander. I don't remember anything about the Wright film but I rated it respectably.

[quido8_5]

Who, in 2021, is still watching and/or thinking about Adaptation.,

:raises hand:

It's one of the best screenplays of the decade and established that the quality of Kaufman's writing matched (if not outmatched) his originality.

Also, O Brother Where Out Thou? Over Synecdoche, NY. Sorry Charlie...

[baby doll]

:raises hand:

It's one of the best screenplays of the decade and established that the quality of Kaufman's writing matched (if not outmatched) his originality.Genuine question: Is it one of the best screenplays of the decade? Admittedly I haven't seen the film since January 2003, and I remember finding it entertaining at the time, but I'm not convinced that explicitly stating a rule of Hollywood screenwriting (no voice-overs!) and then flaunting that rule for no other purpose than sticking it to Robert McKee requires all that much imagination.

[quido8_5]

Genuine question: Is it one of the best screenplays of the decade? Admittedly I haven't seen the film since January 2003, and I remember finding it entertaining at the time, but I'm not convinced that explicitly stating a rule of Hollywood screenwriting (no voice-overs!) and then flaunting that rule for no other purpose than sticking it to Robert McKee requires all that much imagination.

If flaunting the rule was the only purpose it served, you'd be right. However, the voiceover is a thread that runs throughout to give voice to his insecurity. In that moment, he feels like a fraud and his worst fears are realized. At the same time, the entire film has shown that voiceover isn't script death and any film technique is not inherently bad, just historically used poorly. It is quirky, but not without purpose, which was what the problem with the spate of quirky experimental screenplays it inspired.

[Irish]

Genuine question: Is it one of the best screenplays of the decade?

Yes.


I'm not convinced that explicitly stating a rule of Hollywood screenwriting (no voice-overs!) and then flaunting that rule for no other purpose than sticking it to Robert McKee requires all that much imagination.

I mean ... at first watch, yeah.

Subsequent watches, a little more than that. He flaunts McKee's rules in dialogue but meets them in action. What makes it special is that he doesn't violate the character's integrity to do it. If you watch the character arcs closely, there's no other way for the movie the end than the way it did.

I think that's what makes it such a skillful exercise. That shit is hard to do, and most don't manage to do it.

[Ezee E]

I HAVE rewatched A History of Violence in the last ten years. You bet your ass I'll be getting that back in the game. Weak ending, but that first 90 minutes or so is close to masterful to me.

[Skitch]

Adaptation is much better than SNY, and if we're gonna have one from Charlie, I'd vote Adaptation all day. It has real arcs whereas SNY is soulless and cruel, even if it an incredible exercise in filmmaking.

Have any of you read the History of Violence graphic novel? The end of that was truly one of the most fucked up things ever. The movie shying away from that was both surprising from a body horror expert director, and a let down.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I think The Lord of the Rings films should be considered one film (which is probably what the Academy did). I say we convert The Fellowship of the Ring to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.


I would definitely 2nd this motion. I consider them one film.

Whether it helps or hurts LOTR's chances in the later rounds (and I can see it going either way), combining seems like a big move considering it's 10 hours of massive-budget high fantasy battling 1 on 1 against regular ol' movies. How can something like A History of Violence, Ghost World, or even City of God (+ plenty of others) stand up against it? Furthermore, what makes it so distinct from other trilogies/series? If it's the fact they were all released during the 00s, that's weak. But even then, wouldn't Raimi's Spider-Man movies qualify? I'm listening, but I'm not convinced.

[Skitch]

Unlike trilogies like Raimi's Spider-Man, I feel like the LOTR "trilogy" is three acts of one story, where as Raimi's Spider-Man is the "continuing adventures" of Spider-Man. Ditto most trilogies and sequels.

Edit: Having just finished the fear street trilogy of films (which I would consider one film), it was completely, entirely WAAAAAAAYYYYY too long. That should've been one film. So I think the runtime on LOTR doesn't factor in to me. It uses its time wisely for the most part.

[Irish]

Furthermore, what makes it so distinct from other trilogies/series? If it's the fact they were all released during the 00s, that's weak. But even then, wouldn't Raimi's Spider-Man movies qualify? I'm listening, but I'm not convinced.

"Lord of the Rings" is a single story. The reason the novels were split into 3 volumes is due to a technical limitation in publishing (and also maybe a nod to Victorian literature?). The reason the movies were split should be obvious.

Raimi's "Spider-man" movies involve the same characters in wholly different narratives. They're not the same story or even a contiguous narrative.

ETA: That said, I think LoTR should be considered 3 separate movies for the sake of discussion. It just makes it easier.

[Peng]

I think The Lord of the Rings films should be considered one film (which is probably what the Academy did). I say we convert The Fellowship of the Ring to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Extreme no to this, which feels almost as fraud as some of the leading performances getting into supporting categories at awards shows.

[quido8_5]

I, for one, would have a slightly more favorable opinion of LotR if it were considered one film. It seems like an unfair advantage, even if it is of-a-piece in a way most trilogies aren't. At the same time, it was all filmed at the same time and is often viewed in one sitting. I've seen the directors cut of each daisy-chained in one binge sitting two times. I found it taxing, but also a much more fulfilling viewing experience. Official vote, though: consider them isolated films and let the chips fall where they may. Will MC agree with the academy that Return of the King is the best surrogate for the trilogy? That right there is draaammmmaaa!

[Idioteque Stalker]

I hear you, and I'm not buying them as one film. What about Star Wars: Is A New Hope/Empire/Jedi a trilogy, or is it a single story?

If the underlying issue is Return of the King or Two Towers should be LOTR representative instead of Fellowship, then don't even think about it. Fellowship has the best rep overall, and it's the first so it just makes sense.

[Ezee E]

Despite saying I want History of Violence back...

I prefer Assassination of Jesse James.

I will GO BACK IN TIME with ROBERT FORD and assassinate PRIMER.

Because Primer is only a neat idea in that it's "realistic time travel" and nothing more. Nothing else is cool about it. The acting is simplistic. The cinematography sucks. Even the screenplay is overly wordy to make time travel scientific again. OUT!

Jesse James has maybe the best cinematography of the 2000s, a top-rated score, and an ensemble that would run circles around Primer and most other movies.

[Ezee E]

Forget if I broke a rule or not, but worth the shot.

[quido8_5]

Despite saying I want History of Violence back...

I prefer Assassination of Jesse James.

I will GO BACK IN TIME with ROBERT FORD and assassinate PRIMER.

Because Primer is only a neat idea in that it's "realistic time travel" and nothing more. Nothing else is cool about it. The acting is simplistic. The cinematography sucks. Even the screenplay is overly wordy to make time travel scientific again. OUT!

Jesse James has maybe the best cinematography of the 2000s, a top-rated score, and an ensemble that would run circles around Primer and most other movies.

Yes to this! Fuck Primer and its impressive use of a dirt-budget resources. Sure, it is a really great homemade movie with a decent concept, decently executed. Yet, it benefits a lot from the moment in which it was released and let's not conflate novelty with quality.

If E has broken the rules, then I will officially stan for the Assignation of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's one of the most beautiful and deliberately paced revisionist Western's that I've seen. The acting is top shelf and it has a level of basic filmmaking competence that Primer lacks. Plus, I haven't watched it in over a decade, but isn't Primer a really reductive explanation of time travel that grasps for theoretical physics but lands somewhere around stoner-level explanation?

[Skitch]

Sweet Christmas alright fuck LOTR

[Irish]

What about Star Wars: Is A New Hope/Empire/Jedi a trilogy, or is it a single story?

Can't tell if you're playing devil's advocate ... or?

[baby doll]

Individually or collectively, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is just so-so. Has any single book done more harm to Hollywood filmmaking than Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces? Hollywood movies of the studio era were profoundly modern: stars like Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Barbara Stanwyck played assertive, modern women who challenged (within certain limits) traditional gender roles. Then Campbell came along and convinced Hollywood that the key to its popularity wasn't its modernity but its ability to tap into mythic structures that are supposedly timeless and universal. Now Hollywood movies seem perpetually stuck in the Medieval period, endlessly and unimaginatively repeating the same hero's journey while banishing sexiness from the screen altogether.

[StuSmallz]

Individually or collectively, The Lord of the Rings trilogy is just so-so. Has any single book done more harm to Hollywood filmmaking than Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces? Hollywood movies of the studio era were profoundly modern: stars like Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Barbara Stanwyck played assertive, modern women who challenged (within certain limits) traditional gender roles. Then Campbell came along and convinced Hollywood that the key to its popularity wasn't its modernity but its ability to tap into mythic structures that are supposedly timeless and universal. Now Hollywood movies seem perpetually stuck in the Medieval period, endlessly and unimaginatively repeating the same hero's journey while banishing sexiness from the screen altogether.I don't see much of a connection between those two points, especially in the context of a trilogy that gave us moments like this...

https://i.ibb.co/XjgF9CX/giphy.gif (https://imgbb.com/)

...but whatever you say, I guess.

[baby doll]

I don't see much of a connection between those two points, especially in the context of a trilogy that gave us moments like this...

https://i.ibb.co/XjgF9CX/giphy.gif (https://imgbb.com/)

...but whatever you say, I guess.There used to be a time when Hollywood films were just ahead of the culture. Part of what's fascinating about a '30s film like Gone with the Wind, for instance, is its ambivalent attitude towards its heroine, which reflects certain ideological tensions within the United States during the Depression: the modern woman who flaunts social norms is simultaneously a cause for anxiety (and therefore must be punished) and an object of fascination. In other words, classical cinema provided a space in which the contradictions of modernity could be negotiated for a mass audience. In attempting to be timeless and mythic, Jackson's trilogy doesn't speak to the early 21st century in the way that Gone with the Wind spoke to the 1930s.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Can't tell if you're playing devil's advocate ... or?

Just trying to get to the bottom of whether it should be considered one or three films. It'll remain three separate films for this tournament.


Now, to catch up with some other stuff:

E, you're not going to like this, but you paired the wrong two movies. Primer replaced Elephant, not Jesse James. Paprika replaced Jesse James. So you have three options: 1) Save Jesse James by getting rid of Paprika. 2) Save Elephant by getting rid of Primer. 3) Retract your block and live to fight another day.

The 32 movies that are on the bubble, and therefore able to be replaced:


Finding Nemo 903k
Donnie Darko 601k
Amelie 480k
Hot Fuzz 452k
Requiem for a Dream 444k
Oldboy 364k
Anchorman 293k (Replaced by Tropic Thunder -- Yxklyx)
City of God 282k

Unbreakable 279k
In Bruges 256k
Moon 223k
The Hurt Locker 201k
Atonement 189k (Replaced by A.I. Artificial Intelligence -- Baby Doll)
Adaptation 173k
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 159k
Let the Right One In 146k (Replaced by Battle Royale -- Skitch)

Synecdoche NY 146k (Replaced by O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- Yxklyx)
Y Tu Mama Tambien 128k
History of Violence 111k (Replaced by Ghost World -- Yxklyx) BLOCKED by Ezee E, History advances
Assassination of Jesse James 110k (Replaced by Paprika -- Skitch)
Elephant 94k (Replaced by Primer -- Skitch)
Squid and the Whale 93k (Replaced by The Descent -- Peng)
Once 79k (Replaced by Irreversible -- Ezee E)
Cache 73k (Replaced by Assassination of Jesse James -- Ezee E)

Grizzly Man 65k (Replaced by Dogtooth -- Baby Doll)
25th Hour 62k
Talk to Her 52k (Replaced by Kung Fu Hustle -- Dukefrukem)
Yi Yi 52k
4 months 3 weeks 2 days 33k (Replaced by Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring -- Peng)
Beau Travail 32k (1999?) (Replaced by I'm Not There -- Baby Doll)
Wendy and Lucy 28k (Replaced by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- Ezee E)
L’Enfant 13k (Replaced by Still Walking -- Peng)






O Brother, Where Art Thou? to replace Synecdoche NY

The Hangover to replace Hot Fuzz

+ O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a musical, Coens are respected filmmakers, Kaufman has three movies in the tournament
- Coens have two movies in tournament, MCers chimed in with more dissent (Baby Doll, quido) than support (Skitch)
= Synecdoche NY is out! O Brother, Where Art Thou? is in!

+ Shaun of the Dead is already in the tournament
- Edgar Wright is a respected director, does anyone actually think The Hangover makes it past Round 1?
= Thank you, try again!

[quido8_5]

E, you're not going to like this, but you paired the wrong two movies. Primer replaced Elephant, not Jesse James. Paprika replaced Jesse James. So you have three options: 1) Save Jesse James by getting rid of Paprika. 2) Save Elephant by getting rid of Primer. 3) Retract your block and live to fight another day.


Fuckin' Sophie's Choice over here.

2 is the clear choice

[Skitch]

Madness.

[Yxklyx]

Paprika and Primer should both be in.

[baby doll]

I didn't understand the plot of Primer or Paprika, but I liked the former (and would happily watch it again) and was bored to distraction by the latter. The difference, I think, is that Carruth's film isn't really about its plot but tone and atmosphere (the dialogue is more overheard than heard), whereas Paprika is about pop-surrealist imagery in search of a structure.

[Skitch]

Carruth's film isn't really about its plot but tone and atmosphere (the dialogue is more overheard than heard), whereas Paprika is about pop-surrealist imagery in search of a structure.

Yeah thats why they're both great and unique and belong in the game. Both films are well aware of these facts and its part of the film(s) intentionally.

[Yxklyx]

Any opinions on Anchorman? I think that's the only film here I haven't seen, maybe I should see it?

[Skitch]

Any opinions on Anchorman? I think that's the only film here I haven't seen, maybe I should see it?

I think it may Will Ferrells best...its quite funny. And I find most of his comedies near intolerable. I recently watched his Nascar movie and I didnt even smile once. Horrible.

[Yxklyx]

So how are the initial movies selected? I just watched Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy for the first time and I found it very uneven so...

Tropic Thunder to replace Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

surely, the former has some cult following here in Match Cut! The Jack Black cameo is one the best parts of Anchorman yet here in TT he has a full complete hilarious role.

[transmogrifier]

Anchorman sucks. Replace it with anything.

[Skitch]

I would replacing anchorman with something else...I don't think Tropic Thunder is an upgrade so much as a lateral move, but I don't care...

[Mr. McGibblets]

Is Zoolander in yet? That should replace Anchorman.

[baby doll]

Too bad Kung Fu Hustle only has 86k views, which seems suspicious considering it reportedly grossed 173 million yuan at the Chinese box office. Even more suspicious is that Wolf Warrior 2--which earned 5.6 billion yuan domestically--only has 3k views on Letterboxd, while Dangal (currently the top earning Bollywood film of all time) has just 29k views--only slightly more than Wendy and Lucy.

[Yxklyx]

Is Zoolander in yet? That should replace Anchorman.

Not enough views! I'd vote Tropic Thunder over several of the films in this madness.

[Ezee E]

I want Paprika in. But also Jesse James.

[Mr. McGibblets]

I think this is allowed:

Monsters, Inc. to replace Anchorman.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Tropic Thunder to replace Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

+ MC doesn't seem to care for Anchorman
- Otherwise seems like a lateral move
= Anchorman is out! Tropic Thunder is in!

You have now reached the max of three replacements, and can block some else's swap or gain an extra Round 1 vote.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I think this is allowed:

Monsters, Inc. to replace Anchorman.

Technically it would be allowed, but Yxklyx got to Anchorman first and even still you'd have some big negatives (just fyi in case you feel like making another attempt, which you totally should): Monsters, Inc. (841k) is several orders of magnitude more popular than Anchorman (293k), and Pixar already has four movies in the tournament (Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Finding Nemo).

[Idioteque Stalker]

With 14 of 32 movies having been replaced, The Play-In Round will now start winding down. I'll give it a day or two, but get those submissions in.

Baby Doll, Peng, Skitch, and Yxklyx have reached the maximum amount of replacements. Ezee E has one left. Anyone else is invited to submit up to three replacements, even all at once.

Similar to Madness 2.0, I will also suggest some replacements of my own. If any one of these receives more support than dissent then it will be locked in. Let your voice be heard!

Mean Girls (630k) > Donnie Darko (603k)
Moulin Rouge! (228k) > Moon (223k)
Speed Racer (94k) > 25th Hour (62k)

Maybe some of those are long shots. The 00s Play-In Round has been interesting because it's long enough ago I'm not sure what the MC consensus is, but not so long ago that a general cannon has been accepted en masse (like was arguably the case for the 80s and 90s). And I know 25th Hour received support earlier in the thread, but Speed Racer has to have a chance for MC Madness 3.0 to feel legit, and it doesn't have a chance against Haneke, Almodovar, or Yang.

The 32 movies that are on the bubble, and therefore able to be replaced:


Finding Nemo 903k
Donnie Darko 601k
Amelie 480k
Hot Fuzz 452k
Requiem for a Dream 444k
Oldboy 364k
Anchorman 293k (Replaced by Tropic Thunder -- Yxklyx)
City of God 282k

Unbreakable 279k
In Bruges 256k
Moon 223k
The Hurt Locker 201k
Atonement 189k (Replaced by A.I. Artificial Intelligence -- Baby Doll)
Adaptation 173k
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 159k
Let the Right One In 146k (Replaced by Battle Royale -- Skitch)

Synecdoche NY 146k (Replaced by O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- Yxklyx)
Y Tu Mama Tambien 128k
History of Violence 111k (Replaced by Ghost World -- Yxklyx) BLOCKED by Ezee E, History advances
Assassination of Jesse James 110k (Replaced by Paprika -- Skitch)
Elephant 94k (Replaced by Primer -- Skitch)
Squid and the Whale 93k (Replaced by The Descent -- Peng)
Once 79k (Replaced by Irreversible -- Ezee E)
Cache 73k (Replaced by Assassination of Jesse James -- Ezee E)

Grizzly Man 65k (Replaced by Dogtooth -- Baby Doll)
25th Hour 62k
Talk to Her 52k (Replaced by Kung Fu Hustle -- Dukefrukem)
Yi Yi 52k
4 months 3 weeks 2 days 33k (Replaced by Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring -- Peng)
Beau Travail 32k (1999?) (Replaced by I'm Not There -- Baby Doll)
Wendy and Lucy 28k (Replaced by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- Ezee E)
L’Enfant 13k (Replaced by Still Walking -- Peng)

[Ezee E]

I'd hate to do it but:

ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES (for reasons listed earlier)
needs to replace
CACHE

Why?

Outside of a rather jarring shot in Cache, does anyone remember anything else about this movie? It's also Haneke-light. Piano Teacher or White Ribbon should be his 2000s movie.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Too bad Kung Fu Hustle only has 86k views, which seems suspicious considering it reportedly grossed 173 million yuan at the Chinese box office. Even more suspicious is that Wolf Warrior 2--which earned 5.6 billion yuan domestically--only has 3k views on Letterboxd, while Dangal (currently the top earning Bollywood film of all time) has just 29k views--only slightly more than Wendy and Lucy.

It's definitely worth pointing out, but I wouldn't exactly call it suspicious. I can't find current geographical/language stats at the moment, but LB was created in a dominantly English-speaking country, and from my perspective a very large percent of reviews are in English. The types of big-budget Chinese and Indian releases that produce huge box office domestically but not internationally are simply not being seen as much by the types of people who currently use the site.

The biggest shocker to me is Anchorman at only 293k. I would've expected it to be at least twice that much, and I think the reason is related tangentially -- Anchorman isn't the type of film LB users seek out, not due to language and distribution, but due to "taste."

[Skitch]

I'd hate to do it but:

ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES (for reasons listed earlier)
needs to replace
CACHE

Why?

Outside of a rather jarring shot in Cache, does anyone remember anything else about this movie? It's also Haneke-light. Piano Teacher or White Ribbon should be his 2000s movie.

Totally support this.

[quido8_5]

I'd hate to do it but:

ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES (for reasons listed earlier)
needs to replace
CACHE

Why?

Outside of a rather jarring shot in Cache, does anyone remember anything else about this movie? It's also Haneke-light. Piano Teacher or White Ribbon should be his 2000s movie.

This seems good to me. They are pretty close quality wise, but Assassination of Jesse James certainly left more of a lingering impression.

[Yxklyx]

Mean Girls (630k) > Donnie Darko (603k)
...

I block this, I guess I have one.

[Idioteque Stalker]

ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES (for reasons listed earlier)
needs to replace
CACHE


+ Jesse James has a small but rabid following, two MCers chimed in with support (Skitch, quido)
- Michael Haneke is a respected director, Cache is non-English language
= Cache is out! Jesse James is in!

You have now reached the max of three replacements, and can block some else's swap or gain an extra Round 1 vote.

[Ezee E]

I like the upset wins...

Do we think History of Violence can make it further or Ghost World?

My own thoughts is that enough people have seen both so should be able to get plenty of voters, but whether or not it can win is a different question.

I feel like more would be supportive of History of Violence, myself included, but want to hear others first....

[Skitch]

History of Violence over Ghost World for me.

[Yxklyx]

...
The biggest shocker to me is Anchorman at only 293k. I would've expected it to be at least twice that much, and I think the reason is related tangentially -- Anchorman isn't the type of film LB users seek out, not due to language and distribution, but due to "taste."

What about Mean Girls (630k) then?

[Mr. McGibblets]

The number of votes for both Mean Girls and Donnie Darko suggest to me that Letterbox users vastly over-represent one age group.

[transmogrifier]

History of Violence over Ghost World for me.

Same here.

[quido8_5]

Ghost World seemed really great when I was a teenager dealing with things. Watched as an adult and it was good, but a lost a lot of luster-- overestimated because of the particular moment it was released into? A History of Violence fundamentally changed how I view action films and the weight of violence in cinema.

[Dukefrukem]

Can A Beautiful Mind replace the Hurt Locker?

[Dukefrukem]

and The Machinist over Y Tu Mama Tambien

[Dukefrukem]

also was 2004 the worst year for film ever?

[Dukefrukem]

History of Violence over Ghost World for me.

by a mile.

[Dukefrukem]

Kung Fu Hustle replace Talk to Her?

[Ezee E]

GHOST WORLD.


http://thehoopdoctors.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dikembe-mutombo-1.jpg

[baby doll]

also was 2004 the worst year for film ever?Beautiful City, Before Sunset, The Big Red One: The Reconstruction, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Howl's Moving Castle, I ♥︎ Huckabees, Kung Fu Hustle, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Moolaadé, Mysterious Skin, La niña santa, Notre musique, Le Pont des Arts, Primer, Triple Agent, Tropical Malady, 2046, Vera Drake, The World, Yes. Maybe not the best year ever but far from the worst.

[baby doll]

and The Machinist over Y Tu Mama TambienUgh.

[DFA1979]

also was 2004 the worst year for film ever?

Nah. It's one of my favorite years for movies, actually.

[StuSmallz]

There used to be a time when Hollywood films were just ahead of the culture. Part of what's fascinating about a '30s film like Gone with the Wind, for instance, is its ambivalent attitude towards its heroine, which reflects certain ideological tensions within the United States during the Depression: the modern woman who flaunts social norms is simultaneously a cause for anxiety (and therefore must be punished) and an object of fascination. In other words, classical cinema provided a space in which the contradictions of modernity could be negotiated for a mass audience. In attempting to be timeless and mythic, Jackson's trilogy doesn't speak to the early 21st century in the way that Gone with the Wind spoke to the 1930s.Sure it did; the role of women in combat continued to be a growing trend worldwide during the era of third wave feminism, after all, and just looking specifically at the years that the LOTR trilogy was being released ('01-'03), that period alone saw German women being allowed to serve in that country's combat units, the promotion of the first female general in South Korea's military, and the first Australian woman to achieve a two-star rank in their Defence Force (heck, the year Fellowship came out was the same year that New Zealand itself authorized women to serve in all defense units in their military). So, taking all that into account, elements like the change to have Arwen single-handedly rescue Frodo's life from the Black Riders, and bring him to Rivendell (as opposed to Elrond & Glorfindel in the book) takes on a new relevance to contemporary society, and ignoring that is selling the trilogy short, IMO.
Beautiful City, Before Sunset, The Big Red One: The Reconstruction, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Howl's Moving Castle, I ♥︎ Huckabees, Kung Fu Hustle, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Moolaadé, Mysterious Skin, La niña santa, Notre musique, Le Pont des Arts, Primer, Triple Agent, Tropical Malady, 2046, Vera Drake, The World, Yes. Maybe not the best year ever but far from the worst.Don't forget The Incredibles!

[baby doll]

Sure it did; the role of women in combat continued to be a growing trend worldwide during the era of third wave feminism, after all, and just looking specifically at the years that the LOTR trilogy was being released ('01-'03), that period alone saw German women being allowed to serve in that country's combat units, the promotion of the first female general in South Korea's military, and the first Australian woman to achieve a two-star rank in their Defence Force (heck, the year Fellowship came out was the same year that New Zealand itself authorized women to serve in all defense units in their military). So, taking all that into account, elements like the change to have Arwen single-handedly rescue Frodo's life from the Black Riders, and bring him to Rivendell (as opposed to Elrond & Glorfindel in the book) takes on a new relevance to contemporary society, and ignoring that is selling the trilogy short, IMO.Even granting that the films update the novels' sexual politics to bring them more in line with contemporary attitudes (and even without having read any Tolkien, I have little doubt the films do this), Jackson's trilogy does not seem to me very revealing as a site of ideological tension in which contradictory attitudes towards femininity (or any other issue) are negotiated on the screen, as happens in studio-era melodramas about unruly women (and, as I've argued elsewhere on this forum, in Verhoeven's Basic Instinct and Showgirls). As far as the films seem concerned, the issue is basically settled.


Don't forget The Incredibles!I haven't seen it.

[Dukefrukem]

Ugh.

That's what you get for replacing Atonement.

[baby doll]

That's what you get for replacing Atonement.I didn't realize you were so invested in that movie.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Can A Beautiful Mind replace the Hurt Locker?

+ This tournament's lack of Russel Crowe belies what the early 00s were actually like
- Do we really want Ron Howard in Madness 3 instead of Kathryn Bigelow?
= Thank you, try again!



and The Machinist over Y Tu Mama Tambien


+ The Machinist has an iconic performance from one of the 00s biggest stars
- Alfonso Cuaron is a respected director, YTMT is non-English language, another MCer chimed in with dissent
= Thank you, try again!



Kung Fu Hustle replace Talk to Her?


+ For a moment the world was Stephen Chow's oyster, KFH is a strict genre film
- Pedro Almodovar is a respected director
= Talk to Her is out! Kung Fu Hustle is in!

[Dukefrukem]

Do we really want Ron Howard in Madness 3 instead of Kathryn Bigelow?

We do. But whatev :)

[Idioteque Stalker]

As the Play-In round winds down, please note:

Ezee E has blocked Ghost World from replacing A History of Violence, which will now advance to Round 1 (i.e. can no longer be replaced or blocked).

Yxklyx has one replacement left. Duke has two.

Get your submissions in -- Round 1 begins soon!

The 32 movies that are on the bubble, and therefore able to be replaced:


Finding Nemo 903k
Donnie Darko 601k
Amelie 480k
Hot Fuzz 452k (Replaced by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl -- Yxklyx)
Requiem for a Dream 444k
Oldboy 364k
Anchorman 293k (Replaced by Tropic Thunder -- Yxklyx)
City of God 282k

Unbreakable 279k
In Bruges 256k
Moon 223k
The Hurt Locker 201k (Replaced by The Life Aquatic -- Dukefrukem)
Atonement 189k (Replaced by A.I. Artificial Intelligence -- Baby Doll)
Adaptation 173k
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 159k
Let the Right One In 146k (Replaced by Battle Royale -- Skitch)

Synecdoche NY 146k (Replaced by O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- Yxklyx)
Y Tu Mama Tambien 128k
History of Violence 111k (Replaced by Ghost World -- Yxklyx) BLOCKED by Ezee E, History advances
Assassination of Jesse James 110k (Replaced by Paprika -- Skitch)
Elephant 94k (Replaced by Primer -- Skitch)
Squid and the Whale 93k (Replaced by The Descent -- Peng)
Once 79k (Replaced by Irreversible -- Ezee E)
Cache 73k (Replaced by Assassination of Jesse James -- Ezee E)

Grizzly Man 65k (Replaced by Dogtooth -- Baby Doll)
25th Hour 62k
Talk to Her 52k (Replaced by Kung Fu Hustle -- Dukefrukem)
Yi Yi 52k
4 months 3 weeks 2 days 33k (Replaced by Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring -- Peng)
Beau Travail 32k (1999?) (Replaced by I'm Not There -- Baby Doll)
Wendy and Lucy 28k (Replaced by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- Ezee E)
L’Enfant 13k (Replaced by Still Walking -- Peng)

[Dukefrukem]

The third best film of 2003 The Matrix Reloaded to replace City of God

[Idioteque Stalker]

The third best film of 2003 The Matrix Reloaded to replace City of God


From rules:



Your film is less likely to be chosen if:
-- You are trying to replace a film in an underrepresented group (see above) with a film in a group already sufficiently represented (normie films, you know the type). Theoretically, if you tried to replace City of God with Iron Man, I’d tell you to save your energy.


Save your energy. No movie in the play-in round is untouchable -- but if there is one, it's City of God. Your post would fit better in this thread. (http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?7411-Attack-Free-Unpopular-Opinion-Thread)

[Yxklyx]

City of God should be in the tournament and I was against all of Dukefrukem's changes but it's too late ....

Surprised to see Dogtooth with so many views. I mean it's a great film.

[Dukefrukem]

City of God should be in the tournament and I was against all of Dukefrukem's changes but it's too late ....


It will be kicked out as soon as it goes up against Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Might as well have some fun with it.

These rules are so arbitrary it's hard to take anything serious here.

[Skitch]

- Do we really want Ron Howard in Madness 3 instead of Kathryn Bigelow?


I don't know, but if we going Russel Crowe it should be Gladiator.

[Yxklyx]

I re-watched Hot Fuzz last night. It's a decent film until everyone starts pulling out the guns (after which I couldn't stand it anymore)- it's got 452 views though which is a lot which means there are few replacements. I wonder why the superior Spider Man (vs Spider Man 2) is not in this tournament?

Anyway, I propose Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to replace Hot Fuzz.

[Dukefrukem]

Taken to replace In Bruges

[Dukefrukem]

Taken to replace In Bruges

If not, Burn After Reading to replace In Bruges

Edit: fuck, nevermind

[baby doll]

The third best film of 2003 The Matrix Reloaded to replace City of GodI've seen The Matrix Reloaded. It's not better than All the Real Girls, Bad Santa, Bright Leaves, The Brown Bunny, Café Lumière, Capturing the Friedmans, The Corporation, Cowards Bend the Knee, Crimson Gold, Dogville, Down with Love, Elephant, Goodbye, Dragon Inn, Los Angeles Plays Itself, Pas de repos pour les braves, Pas sur la bouche, The Saddest Music in the World, Tarnation, Les Triplettes de Belleville, Young Adam, and many, many others. It is a completely average movie. It may not even be the third best Wachowski sisters film.

[Dukefrukem]

The Life Aquatic replace The Hurt Locker

[Skitch]

The Life Aquatic replace The Hurt Locker

I'm okay with that one. I think the Hurt Locker is pretty overrated

[baby doll]

Although I'd probably watch The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou again before The Hurt Locker, it doesn't seem very necessary when The Royal Tenenbaums (a better Anderson film, in my opinion) is already in the running.

[Skitch]

Life Aquatic > Royal Tenenbaums.

Most of Wes Anderson's schtick to me is "privileged kids of super-rich people think life is hard", and I find a lot of it annoying and out of touch with most people's reality, even if he's a great visual director and editor.

[Idioteque Stalker]

These rules are so arbitrary it's hard to take anything serious here.

Of course it's mostly arbitrary, and no one said it should be taken seriously.

If you or anyone else is having a hard time getting movies accepted, my suggestion would be to think less about what movies you like/dislike and more about what movies you think will do well/not do well. The goal is to create an interesting, diverse, and competitive line-up -- and instead of a simple "yes" or "no", I provide +/- comments to reveal my thought process and set a precedent for others to follow. Take a look at those, read the room, and then decide whether or not you feel like registering an official complaint with the MC Madness Board of Trustees.

[baby doll]

Most of Wes Anderson's schtick to me is "privileged kids of super-rich people think life is hard", and I find a lot of it annoying and out of touch with most people's reality, even if he's a great visual director and editor.Roger Ebert: "A film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. A good film or a bad film can be made about anything. Therefore, to dismiss (or praise) a film solely because of its subject matter, it is not necessary to see it. That is why people who make statements beginning with the words 'I don't like films about...' are idiots, or censors."

[Dukefrukem]

Fahrenheit 9/11 replaces YiYi

[baby doll]

Fahrenheit 9/11 replaces YiYiI can't think of any reason to watch or think about this documentary in 2021.

[Dukefrukem]

I can't think of any reason to watch or think about this documentary in 2021.

Roger Ebert: "A film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. A good film or a bad film can be made about anything. Therefore, to dismiss (or praise) a film solely because of its subject matter, it is not necessary to see it. That is why people who make statements beginning with the words 'I don't like films about...' are idiots, or censors."

[Ezee E]

Fahrenheit 9/11 replaces YiYi

Ew, why?

[quido8_5]

I am so confused why Yi Yi is on the chopping block so frequently This is a seriously amazing film that has not left me since I watched it over 15 years ago. It is one of the most pure and quiet depictions of life as it is actually lived that I have seen.

[Skitch]

Roger Ebert: "A film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. A good film or a bad film can be made about anything. Therefore, to dismiss (or praise) a film solely because of its subject matter, it is not necessary to see it. That is why people who make statements beginning with the words 'I don't like films about...' are idiots, or censors."

Then lets abandon all film discussion or criticism, because this extremely generalized statement could be applied to many reviews of movie characters and their stories.

Its perfectly valid to say I don't relate to certain characters.

[baby doll]

Roger Ebert: "A film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. A good film or a bad film can be made about anything. Therefore, to dismiss (or praise) a film solely because of its subject matter, it is not necessary to see it. That is why people who make statements beginning with the words 'I don't like films about...' are idiots, or censors."The form and style of Moore's film are purely instrumental, assembling a rhetorical argument that George W. Bush should be voted out of office. As Bush is no longer running for office, the film exists now purely as a historical document with little aesthetic interest. On the contrary, Moore's sounds and images bludgeon his the spectator with his points. Yi Yi--in addition to its interest as a historical document bearing witness to certain aspects of life in Taipei in the late '90s--is also masterful as storytelling and elegantly directed. And it's still "only" the fourth-best Yang film I've seen, after A Brighter Summer Day, Taipei Story, and The Terrorizers.

[baby doll]

Then lets abandon all film discussion or criticism, because this extremely generalized statement could be applied to many reviews of movie characters and their stories.

Its perfectly valid to say I don't relate to certain characters.It's perfectly valid to say one didn't "relate" (god, I hate that word) to certain characters; what's invalid, I think, is to dismiss certain works of art on that basis. I can't empathize with Oedipus but that doesn't mean I think Sophocles is deficient as a playwright. Off the top of my head, I can think of a great number of truly great films that purposely preclude the spectator from forming a sympathetic attachment to their characters (e.g., virtually the entire filmographies of Oshima Nagisa and Straub/Huillet). Judging films on their "relatability" implies a profound lack of curiosity about the world and about film: the characters in this movie are like me, therefore it's good; the characters in this movie are not like me, therefore the film is bad. It precludes the possibility that one may want to watch films about people who are absolutely nothing like oneself (one of the customary pleasures of going to the movies is escapism, after all), and is thus extremely limiting as an aesthetic criteria. If I only watched films about obese, middle-class Nova Scotians of mixed European and South Asian heritage who are married to Hong Kongers, I'd have very few films to watch.

[Skitch]

Judging films on their "relatability" implies a profound lack of curiosity about the world and about film: the characters in this movie are like me, therefore it's good; the characters in this movie are not like me, therefore the film is bad.

That was never said.


It precludes the possibility that one may want to watch films about people who are absolutely nothing like oneself (one of the customary pleasures of going to the movies is escapism, after all), and is thus extremely limiting as an aesthetic criteria. If I only watched films about obese, middle-class Nova Scotians of mixed European and South Asian heritage who are married to Hong Kongers, I'd have very few films to watch.

Once again you're splitting hairs and moving goal posts. I didn't say any of his films were bad, in fact I said he was good filmmaker, I just said I didn't relate to a theme of characters that runs through a good bit of his filmography. Which you've first quoted Ebert to call me an idiot or a censor and then said it was okay to do so then said it was not.

[Skitch]

what's invalid, I think, is to dismiss certain works of art on that basis. I can't empathize to Oedipus but that doesn't mean I think Sophocles is deficient as a playwright.
Okay, let me pick an equally silly comparison: I don't know particularly what you think of Man of Steel, but I'm guessing you would probably have the same complaints as a fair amount of people. So I can say just because you don't associate what its like to be an alien raised on Earth your negative review of a movie based on his character motivations makes you a censor?

God this argument is dumb. Why do I let you hook me this stupid shit all the time.

[baby doll]

That was never said.You said his films are "out of touch with most people's reality," which strongly implies that it is more noble to depict the problems of working- and middle-class characters than the super-rich.


Once again you're splitting hairs and moving goal posts. I didn't say any of his films were bad, in fact I said he was good filmmaker, I just said I didn't relate to a theme of characters that runs through a good bit of his filmography. Which you've first quoted Ebert to call me an idiot or a censor and then said it was okay to do so then said it was not.And in saying that you don't relate to this theme, you imply that the presence of this theme in his work causes you to enjoy his films less, and that The Life Aquatic is superior to The Royal Tenenbaums on the grounds that said theme is not present in the former.

[baby doll]

Okay, let me pick an equally silly comparison: I don't know particularly what you think of Man of Steel, but I'm guessing you would probably have the same complaints as a fair amount of people. So I can say just because you don't associate what its like to be an alien raised on Earth your negative review of a movie based on his character motivations makes you a censor?I haven't seen Man of Steel so I have no idea what you're talking about.

[quido8_5]

I can't empathize to Oedipus

Well, that makes one of us.

[quido8_5]

Life Aquatic > Royal Tenenbaums.

Most of Wes Anderson's schtick to me is "privileged kids of super-rich people think life is hard", and I find a lot of it annoying and out of touch with most people's reality, even if he's a great visual director and editor.

Regardless of the argument (which I find mostly semantic), I think there's a number of people who would pick Life Aquatic over Royal Tenenbaums. I've seen more people name the former as their favorite Wes Anderson film than the latter. For me, Royal Tenenbaums >>>> Life Aquatic, but I can see the appeal. Part of what makes Tenenbaums a fantastic film is that the characters are inherently unrelatable*, to an almost surrealistic extent. But the central struggle of all the characters becomes a gut punch: we're all looking for something to invest our lives in and, most of the time, it comes up hollow. The Life Aquatic approaches the idea of parental distance more directly and is more about the dyadic relationship of father and son. It's also got the Anderson quirk-level set to max, which is why I have a hard time ranking it highly.

Having said all that, Life Aquatic is a much more interesting dark horse in the madness and I think would have a good chance of going far in the competition.

[Skitch]

You said his films are "out of touch with most people's reality," which strongly implies that it is more noble to depict the problems of working- and middle-class characters than the super-rich.

And in saying that you don't relate to this theme, you imply that the presence of this theme in his work causes you to enjoy his films less, and that The Life Aquatic is superior to The Royal Tenenbaums on the grounds that said theme is not present in the former.

Nope, didn't say it was more "noble", only said that it didn't relate to anything I understand. And considering the ideas hes presenting of the fraction of a percent of a percent of a percent of the populace, I was relaying that that fraction of a fraction of a fraction who do should maybe quit herumphing films that play to 99.99999% of the planet. The Life Aquatic isn't necessarily out of the criticism I've already named, but at least its some researchers who still require funding rather than crybabies who have weeks to ride trains around the world while bemoaning their personal existential life crises. Not that we all dont go through that turmoil, but its a hard sell when the vast majority of us cant take a few months or years rent free to roam and contemplate.

To say that I inferred it was more noble to write characters that are relatable to the vast majority of people is akin to telling me I dont understand the emotional struggle Jeff Bezos goes through everyday.

[Skitch]

I haven't seen Man of Steel so I have no idea what you're talking about.

Precisely the point.

Roger Ebert: "A film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. A good film or a bad film can be made about anything. Therefore, to dismiss (or praise) a film solely because of its subject matter, it is not necessary to see it. That is why people who make statements beginning with the words 'I don't like films about...' are idiots, or censors."

You would dismiss such a film because of its subject matter. That is why people who would, say, dismiss such a film, say, because you (probably) don't like films about comic books, aka "you don't like films about dot dot dot..."

...are...

[Idioteque Stalker]

I propose Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl to replace Hot Fuzz.

+ Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow is iconic, Shaun of the Dead is already in the tournament
- Edgar Wright is a respected director
= Hot Fuzz is out! Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is in!



The Life Aquatic replace The Hurt Locker

+ MCers chimed in with support, The Life Aquatic has a devoted following
- Wes Anderson already has a film in the tournament
= The Hurt Locker is out! The Life Aquatic is in!



Fahrenheit 9/11 replaces YiYi

+Fahrenheit 9/11 is a documentary
- MCers chimed in with dissent, Yi Yi is non-English language
= Thank you, try again!

Neither Taken nor Burn After Reading has more views on LB than In Bruges. Duke has one replacement left.


The 32 movies that are on the bubble, and therefore able to be replaced:


Finding Nemo 903k
Donnie Darko 601k
Amelie 480k
Hot Fuzz 452k (Replaced by Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl -- Yxklyx)
Requiem for a Dream 444k
Oldboy 364k
Anchorman 293k (Replaced by Tropic Thunder -- Yxklyx)
City of God 282k

Unbreakable 279k
In Bruges 256k
Moon 223k
The Hurt Locker 201k (Replaced by The Life Aquatic -- Dukefrukem)
Atonement 189k (Replaced by A.I. Artificial Intelligence -- Baby Doll)
Adaptation 173k
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 159k
Let the Right One In 146k (Replaced by Battle Royale -- Skitch)

Synecdoche NY 146k (Replaced by O Brother, Where Art Thou? -- Yxklyx)
Y Tu Mama Tambien 128k
History of Violence 111k (Replaced by Ghost World -- Yxklyx) BLOCKED by Ezee E, History advances
Assassination of Jesse James 110k (Replaced by Paprika -- Skitch)
Elephant 94k (Replaced by Primer -- Skitch)
Squid and the Whale 93k (Replaced by The Descent -- Peng)
Once 79k (Replaced by Irreversible -- Ezee E)
Cache 73k (Replaced by Assassination of Jesse James -- Ezee E)

Grizzly Man 65k (Replaced by Dogtooth -- Baby Doll)
25th Hour 62k
Talk to Her 52k (Replaced by Kung Fu Hustle -- Dukefrukem)
Yi Yi 52k
4 months 3 weeks 2 days 33k (Replaced by Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring -- Peng)
Beau Travail 32k (1999?) (Replaced by I'm Not There -- Baby Doll)
Wendy and Lucy 28k (Replaced by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly -- Ezee E)
L’Enfant 13k (Replaced by Still Walking -- Peng)

[baby doll]

Precisely the point.

Roger Ebert: "A film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. A good film or a bad film can be made about anything. Therefore, to dismiss (or praise) a film solely because of its subject matter, it is not necessary to see it. That is why people who make statements beginning with the words 'I don't like films about...' are idiots, or censors."

You would dismiss such a film because of its subject matter. That is why people who would, say, dismiss such a film, say, because you (probably) don't like films about comic books, aka "you don't like films about dot dot dot..."

...are...I didn't dismiss the film because I haven't seen it. Therefore, I have no opinion on it. No one can see every movie.

[baby doll]

Nope, didn't say it was more "noble", only said that it didn't relate to anything I understand. And considering the ideas hes presenting of the fraction of a percent of a percent of a percent of the populace, I was relaying that that fraction of a fraction of a fraction who do should maybe quit herumphing films that play to 99.99999% of the planet. The Life Aquatic isn't necessarily out of the criticism I've already named, but at least its some researchers who still require funding rather than crybabies who have weeks to ride trains around the world while bemoaning their personal existential life crises. Not that we all dont go through that turmoil, but its a hard sell when the vast majority of us cant take a few months or years rent free to roam and contemplate.

To say that I inferred it was more noble to write characters that are relatable to the vast majority of people is akin to telling me I dont understand the emotional struggle Jeff Bezos goes through everyday.I would never want to spend five minutes with the characters in Goodfellas but that doesn't mean I think it's a bad film. One of things fiction can do is to make us care about characters we would find repellent if we were to meet them in real life. The problems of privileged Manhattanites does not seem to me less (or more) worthy as a subject for dramatic representation than, say, the lives of Mexican slum children or rice farmers in Southeast Asia. The real Matt Zuckerberg is a sleazy douchebag but I still enjoyed The Social Network. Jane Austen is probably the most entertaining novelist in the English language and all her books are about people in rooms discussing marriage and property.

[DFA1979]

Michael Moore is a gifted propagandist and I don't know why anyone would think otherwise. Also Fahrenheit 911 isn't even close to being his best film or even his best film from the 2000s, imo of course.

[DFA1979]

The Life Aquatic is imo better than The Hurt Locker. I do love The Hurt Locker, though.

[transmogrifier]

I am so confused why Yi Yi is on the chopping block so frequently This is a seriously amazing film that has not left me since I watched it over 15 years ago. It is one of the most pure and quiet depictions of life as it is actually lived that I have seen.

Seriously. 90% of the suggested replacements in this thread are making the competition worse.

[Dukefrukem]

The Host to replace YiYi

[Skitch]

I would never want to spend five minutes with the characters in Goodfellas but that doesn't mean I think it's a bad film. One of things fiction can do is to make us care about characters we would find repellent if we were to meet them in real life. The problems of privileged Manhattanites does not seem to me less (or more) worthy as a subject for dramatic representation than, say, the lives of Mexican slum children or rice farmers in Southeast Asia. The real Matt Zuckerberg is a sleazy douchebag but I still enjoyed The Social Network. Jane Austen is probably the most entertaining novelist in the English language and all her books are about people in rooms discussing marriage and property.

Again, you're changing the base of conversation, so I'll respond with an equally silly comparison: I don't know what it's like to be Batman, but I like movies about Batman.

[Idioteque Stalker]

The Host to replace YiYi

+ The host is a strict genre film
- Yi Yi has weathered a lot during this round and received support at every turn
= Thank you, try again!

You still have one replacement left. If you submit something it will probably be your last chance because Round 1 will begin in a couple hours.

[baby doll]

The Host to replace YiYiJust curious: have you seen Yi Yi?

[Idioteque Stalker]

Seriously. 90% of the suggested replacements in this thread are making the competition worse.

From my perspective the line-up has clearly gotten more interesting, but I have suppressed as much as possible the part of myself that prefers certain movies to others. If I allowed myself to have opinions on movies again, then went through one-by-one, it's entirely possible my heart would break. But such is the price of democracy.

[baby doll]

Again, you're changing the base of conversation, so I'll respond with an equally silly comparison: I don't know what it's like to be Batman, but I like movies about Batman.How am I changing the base of conversation? Your complaint against Anderson's films, as I understand it, is that you can't sympathize with his characters' problems because they're too rich ("crybabies who have weeks to ride trains around the world while bemoaning their personal existential life crises"). My argument is that we don't evaluate fictional characters by the same standard as people in real life; the work creates its own context. The problems of the super-rich may not be of interest to us in real life, but a film may cause us care deeply about them. To point out that the characters in Anderson's films are rich enough that they can take off to India on a whim without having to worry about jobs or bills is not a meaningful criticism of his films because it says nothing about the films' treatment of their subject matter.

[Dukefrukem]

Borat to replace YiYi

[Idioteque Stalker]

Borat to replace YiYi

+ Borat was a cultural phenomenon, Borat is a strict comedy
- Yi Yi is non-English language, Edward Yang is a respected director, Yi Yi has received a lot of MC support, Borat (360k) is several orders of magnitude more popular than Yi Yi (52k)
= Thank you, try again!

[Skitch]

How am I changing the base of conversation? Your complaint against Anderson's films, as I understand it, is that you can't sympathize with his characters' problems because they're too rich ("crybabies who have weeks to ride trains around the world while bemoaning their personal existential life crises"). My argument ...

...was that you started this off by essentially calling me an idiot. You start off with an insult then act defensive like you didn't. I said that I don't care for a lot of his films because of those reasons and I also acknowledged hes a really good filmmaker. I didn't say I have to associate with every character's motivation in every movie to say its a good movie, thats ridiculous. I also find it ridiculous that you could never use "not buying/caring about a character's motivation/plight" a valid criticism. A peak filmmaking ability is to make you care about characters you normally wouldn't.

[Dukefrukem]

The Devil’s Backbone replaces YiYi

[Idioteque Stalker]

The Devil’s Backbone replaces YiYi

The Devil's Backbone does not have more LB views than Yi Yi.

For a multitude of reasons, Yi Yi is quite resilient. At this point I would suggest trying to replace another film. Borat for instance has enough views that you would have plenty of other options.

[Skitch]

Duke you are really motivating me to see this Yi Yi that is causing so much hub-bub! lol

[Dukefrukem]

House of Wax replaced YiYi

[Skitch]

hahahahaha

[baby doll]

...was that you started this off by essentially calling me an idiot. You start off with an insult then act defensive like you didn't. I said that I don't care for a lot of his films because of those reasons and I also acknowledged hes a really good filmmaker. I didn't say I have to associate with every character's motivation in every movie to say its a good movie, thats ridiculous. I also find it ridiculous that you could never use "not buying/caring about a character's motivation/plight" a valid criticism. A peak filmmaking ability is to make you care about characters you normally wouldn't.First of all, I apologize for implying that you're an idiot. That was unnecessarily provocative; if I genuinely thought you were an idiot, I wouldn't bother having this discussion with you.

As for the validity of not buying or caring about a character's plight, that is a valid criticism but it is insufficient to point to the characters' economic status as a reason for one's disinterest. In the case of The Royal Tenenbaums, I think there is little question of "not buying" the characters' problems since they are self-evidently real problems: familial estrangement, festering resentments, unrequited love, infidelity, drug addiction, the death of one's spouse. The characters aren't imagining these things. So the question then becomes one of the audience caring about these problems. In other words, are the characters' problems not just real but serious? It seems to me that none of the problems I just listed are made less painful by having buckets of cash.

[Skitch]

First of all, I apologize for implying that you're an idiot. That was unnecessarily provocative; if I genuinely thought you were an idiot, I wouldn't bother having this discussion with you.

As for the validity of not buying or caring about a character's plight, that is a valid criticism but it is insufficient to point to the characters' economic status as a reason for one's disinterest. In the case of The Royal Tenenbaums, I think there is little question of "not buying" the characters' problems since they are self-evidently real problems: familial estrangement, festering resentments, unrequited love, infidelity, drug addiction, the death of one's spouse. The characters aren't imagining these things. So the question then becomes one of the audience caring about these problems. In other words, are the characters problems not just real but serious? It seems to me that none of the problems I just listed are made less painful by having buckets of cash.

I've only seen it once (even though I own the Criterion mega-set)...yes, these are real problems anyone of any financial status can have. I'm well aware this is coming from an audience member's (me) personal view of life. In the case of several of Anderson's movies, its presented in such a way that its harder for me to be sympathetic to the characters emotional state because of their extreme wealth. I'm not discounting their emotional state exists or invalidating it. I believe they feel the way they do. But I also feel like, "Oh yeah? Come on down to my level and smell this shit and have the same emotional issues with no money." Maybe it is selfish and silly, but its the way I feel. And if we remove all feeling for flat out cold criticism, there will be no soul to criticism. Hell, I can't think of an Anderson film I give a negative score to. I give them positive scores even if I don't like them because the filmmaking is solid.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Hell, I can't think of an Anderson film I give a negative score to.

Same here. Dude can craft a movie. But for all the reasons you cite, I would hesitate to do an Anderson marathon for instance. It would wear me down over time.

[baby doll]

I've only seen it once (even though I own the Criterion mega-set)...yes, these are real problems anyone of any financial status can have. I'm well aware this is coming from an audience member's (me) personal view of life. In the case of several of Anderson's movies, its presented in such a way that its harder for me to be sympathetic to the characters emotional state because of their extreme wealth. I'm not discounting their emotional state exists or invalidating it. I believe they feel the way they do. But I also feel like, "Oh yeah? Come on down to my level and smell this shit and have the same emotional issues with no money." Maybe it is selfish and silly, but its the way I feel. And if we remove all feeling for flat out cold criticism, there will be no soul to criticism. Hell, I can't think of an Anderson film I give a negative score to. I give them positive scores even if I don't like them because the filmmaking is solid.If the characters in Anderson's films were less wealthy, it might have the effect of making it harder for the spectator to care about their emotional problems. Imagine an Italian neorealist film where one character needs to recover his stolen bicycle in order to support his family and another attempts suicide over his unrequited love for his adopted sister: the latter problem would seem trivial in comparison with the former, rendering the suicide attempt ridiculous. By focusing on lives of wealth and privilege, Anderson creates a context where the characters' emotional problems feel important.

Incidentally, I find Lost in Translation and much of Somewhere (excluding the scenes with Elle Fanning) stupefyingly boring because I don't judge the characters' problems to be serious, even without reference to poverty: they're just bored.

[Idioteque Stalker]

House of Wax replaced YiYi

+ House of Wax is so bad it's good, I lost faith but you proved me wrong
- Literally nothing
= Yi Yi is out! House of Wax is in!

JK. We're done here.

[Dukefrukem]

Catwoman replaces YiYi

[Idioteque Stalker]

Voting for Round One is now open! Vote now by posting in this thread or sending me a PM.

Rules Reminder: Vote for one of two movies. If you haven't seen both movies, don't vote. If you have seen both movies, you must vote no matter how painful. The movie with the most votes moves to the next round, and the other is burned in a fire and can never be seen again by anyone.

If you have an extra Round 1 vote, be sure to post it in the thread or send me a PM by the end of the round.

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi


The Who's Who of Madness 3.0

-- Ten directors have multiple movies in the tournament. Paul Thomas Anderson, Brad Bird, Alfonso Cuaron, Ang Lee, Steven Spielberg, Andrew Stanton, and Quentin Tarantino have two each. Wes Anderson, the Coens, and Christopher Nolan have three each. In Madness 2, second and third place (Pulp Fiction and Fargo) went to directors who started out with multiple movies in the tournament, but first place (Goodfellas) was Scorsese's only entry. Will Madness 3 finish with another lone wolf at the top, or will these 00s superstars brute force their way to victory through sheer numbers?

-- Past Madness champs Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese are both in their third straight tournament with 25th Hour and the Departed. 90s runner-up Quentin Tarantino has two strong contenders in Kill Bill Vol 1 and Inglourious Basterds, while the ghost of 80s runner-up Stanley Kubrick haunts Play-In Round dark horse AI: Artificial Intelligence. 90s third place winners the Coen Brothers are once again all over MC Madness, including maybe their strongest entry yet, No Country for Old Men. (Meanwhile 80s third place winner and surprise MC favorite James Cameron is nowhere to be found, even though Avatar was arguably the biggest film of the decade.) Can these films make a run, or will MC choose to usher in new blood?

-- MC Madness has never strayed so far from the Oscars. Of the sixty-four movies in the tournament, only two (of a possible ten) won the Oscar for Best Picture: The Departed and No Country for Old Men. Another seven (of a possible forty-five) were nominated, but didn't win. That's nine out of a possible fifty-five Best Picture nominees, or a staggeringly low 16% crossover. Past Madness winners Do the Right Thing (no Oscar wins) and Goodfellas (one Oscar win) are noteworthy Academy snubs -- if Madness 3 follows suit, is that good news for what is regarded as the 00s biggest snub, The Dark Knight?

Find out when voting closes in one week!

[Skitch]

Bolded votes. No bolding means I haven't seen one. Spoilered for size.

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon - all day
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream - sophies choice
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko - reverse sophies cho
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring - brutal!

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence - WHAT
The New World vs. Amelie - easy
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges - tough

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika - DAMMIT
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

[Yxklyx]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

It was a good decade for animated films.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle


Monster status achieved. But I forgive you because "reverse sophie's choice" is a wonderful phrase.

[Skitch]

Monster status achieved. But I forgive you because "reverse sophie's choice" is a wonderful phrase.

That wasn't an easy choice either. The animation on Wall-E is unreal.

[Ivan Drago]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko (damn you for making me choose between two films in my top 10 of all time in the first round lol)

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

Going to watch Yi Yi (DONE) and Paprika within the week.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Congratulations to Yxklyx for a new MC Madness Milestone -- the first person with 100% completion in Round 1 of any tournament!

[Idioteque Stalker]

Time for a way-too-soon check-in on some early favorites/upsets!

-- A.I. Artificial Intelligence is currently shutting out 1 seed There Will Be Blood
-- Primer is currently shutting out 1 seed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
-- Tropic Thunder is currently shutting out Almost Famous
-- Wes Anderson's three films have received a total of zero votes

[Dukefrukem]

That wasn't an easy choice either. The animation on Wall-E is unreal.

It's a super easy choice. Wall-E is great and all, but Kung Fu Hustle is close to a masterpiece of comedic filmmaking. It's up there with Ghostbusters.

[Lazlo]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

[Dukefrukem]

Time for a way-too-soon check-in on some early favorites/upsets!

-- A.I. Artificial Intelligence is currently shutting out 1 seed There Will Be Blood
-- Primer is currently shutting out 1 seed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
-- Tropic Thunder is currently shutting out Almost Famous
-- Wes Anderson's three films have received a total of zero votes

Check your PM and three of those change.

[baby doll]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

[Skitch]

Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Prestige
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges


I'm not sure which of these you haven't seen, but your really should, I bet you would find them interesting at least. With the Descent, make sure its the original ending cut. Most of it plays Hollywood until the last act then its like oh damn this is a bit more

[Skitch]

It's a super easy choice. Wall-E is great and all, but Kung Fu Hustle is close to a masterpiece of comedic filmmaking. It's up there with Ghostbusters.

I agree, but in a bit of irony for this matchup, it has some dodgy computer animation lol.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Going to watch Yi Yi and Paprika within the week.

That's a good week. Now let's see if Baby Doll is invested enough in Yi Yi to actually sit down and watch The Incredibles.

[Skitch]

I will try to watch Yi Yi soon (I don't know a single thing about it), but I'm not gonna lie, I would like to see Incredibles last a bit. I love that movie.

Slight panic moment, had to go make sure Princess Mononoke wasn't in this range. Thankfully its not. Phew.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Slight panic moment, had to go make sure Princess Mononoke wasn't in this range. Thankfully its not. Phew.

You'll be glad to know Princess Mononoke had an incredible run in Madness 2, taking out Jackie Brown, Lost Highway, and Fight Club before losing to Pulp Fiction (and not by much) in the Elite Eight. Makes me wonder if Spirited Away has a shot at the Final Four.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Seeing that it is enjoying a nice lead over The Royal Tenenbaums at the moment, I will finally watch 25th hour tonight. First reaction: the title could be better!

EDIT: holy fuck Patrice O'Neal is in this?

EDIT 2: oh he was barely in it...

[Mr. McGibblets]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream (by so much)
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible (have not seen Irresversible)
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour (this should be like a last-8 matchup)
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent (have not seen The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (have not seen SSFWS)

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking (have not seen Still Walkin)
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (This is not a good matchup. Hot Fuzz is so much better than either of these)
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale (have not seen Battle Royale)
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika (have not seen Paprika)
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi (have not seen Yi Yi)

[quido8_5]

And awwwaaayyyy we go!

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou? -> this is very close.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation -> ugh, there are only a handful of movies that I would vote over Adaptation. This is definitely one of them. Sigh... it could've been a contender.
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford -> and after all that...
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

[quido8_5]

It's a super easy choice. Wall-E is great and all, but Kung Fu Hustle is close to a masterpiece of comedic filmmaking. It's up there with Ghostbusters.

Wall-E is a masterpiece. Everything about it is superlative. Maybe my favorite animated film of all time. I really need to see Kung Fu Hustle, though.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon


You monster!

Also, you and everyone else voting Unbreakable over A Serious Man need to get your heads examined.

[Idioteque Stalker]

The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (This is not a good matchup. Hot Fuzz is so much better than either of these)


I agree it is a weak match-up, especially when compared to something like Fellowship vs. City of God or even There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. But I've found The Prestige to be a Nolan underdog that doesn't get much discussion but people quietly love, and Pirates is just all-around solid blockbuster entertainment. Who knows how far Hot Fuzz would've gotten, but Shaun of the Dead's presence made it less necessary.

[Ezee E]

We need a YiYi banner.

[Ezee E]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

[quido8_5]

I agree it is a weak match-up, especially when compared to something like Fellowship vs. City of God or even There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. But I've found The Prestige to be a Nolan underdog that doesn't get much discussion but people quietly love, and Pirates is just all-around solid blockbuster entertainment. Who knows how far Hot Fuzz would've gotten, but Shaun of the Dead's presence made it less necessary.

I was so happy to see The Prestige make it in. Really a gem with some great acting and nice, twisty story. Probably most understated direction of Nolan's career, by Nolan standards. It can still be pretty extra in places, but shows that he can make a good movie without making it over the top.

[Idioteque Stalker]

We've received about half the votes I expect to be cast in this round. Here are some key match-ups to keep your eye on as voting continues through the week:

The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour -- With three movies in the tournament, Wes Anderson had high hopes. Tenenbaums should be his best chance for a late-round push, but 25th Hour has a nice lead and The Life Aquatic and Fantastic Mr. Fox aren't doing so hot either.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer -- In Filmspotting's tournament from 2019 Eternal Sunshine was the overall runner-up, but Skitch's replacement for Elephant isn't making things easy for the 1 seed.

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence -- Baby Doll's replacement for Atonement is currently leading Filmspotting's overall champion. If There Will Be Blood loses in the first round to a play-in submission, it would be the biggest upset in MC Madness history.

LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God -- Maybe the week's premier match-up, expect these two heavy hitters to be neck and neck down to the wire.

[StuSmallz]

Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God

[quido8_5]

We need a YiYi banner.
How about...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/tLlADtuCY0-sPCOV_L5h_Ns1-6zoo-0icOqCrCGSSZndxno5ZkeLzOYI50Lm _gp_uDZ5KJvlvzmLXXPcyrkl96zoE_ 4ACsWI9BFCD-QrcBdjMr7dCeO0-z191whbKVXDIoSWJCORtAAUfJj0IFd mhw

Or

https://www.filmcomment.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/06/Yi-Yi_1_FEATURE.jpg

[transmogrifier]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie (don't care - both are boring)
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (what the hell is this doing here?)
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

[Skitch]

I'll work on that quido

[Peng]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Pan’s Labyrinth vs. Dogtooth
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Love vs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (dammit for this match-up)

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking (dammit x 2)
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

The Dark Knight vs. Paprika
A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God
The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi

Four I haven't seen this round: Almost Famous, I'm Not There, Donnie Darko, Yi Yi

[Ezee E]

With our junkfood talk, that top banner would work great with better quality

[baby doll]

I'm not sure which of these you haven't seen, but your really should, I bet you would find them interesting at least. With the Descent, make sure its the original ending cut. Most of it plays Hollywood until the last act then its like oh damn this is a bit moreThe ones I've not seen are The Descent, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and Ratatouille.

[baby doll]

Now let's see if Baby Doll is invested enough in Yi Yi to actually sit down and watch The Incredibles.It's not on any of the streaming services I subscribe to, which means I'd have to track down a DVD somewhere.

[StuSmallz]

Even granting that the films update the novels' sexual politics to bring them more in line with contemporary attitudes (and even without having read any Tolkien, I have little doubt the films do this), Jackson's trilogy does not seem to me very revealing as a site of ideological tension in which contradictory attitudes towards femininity (or any other issue) are negotiated on the screen, as happens in studio-era melodramas about unruly women (and, as I've argued elsewhere on this forum, in Verhoeven's Basic Instinct and Showgirls). As far as the films seem concerned, the issue is basically settled.

I haven't seen it.But it's that updating of the series' gender dynamics that demonstrate the way it challenged traditional roles when it comes to female characters, which is exactly the aspect that you tried to deny in your original post on the matter.

[Paranoid Android]

No Country for Old Men vs. Moon
Brick vs. Requiem for a Dream
Kill Bill Vol. 1 vs. Irreversible
The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour
Almost Famous vs. Tropic Thunder
Spirited Away vs. The Descent
Punch-Drunk Lovevs. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind vs. Primer
Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo
Lost In Translation vs. I’m Not There
Shaun of the Dead vs. The Life Aquatic
Mulholland Drive vs. Donnie Darko
Spider-Man 2 vs. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Before Sunset vs. Adaptation
Fantastic Mr. Fox vs. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring

There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. Artificial Intelligence
The New World vs. Amelie
Memento vs. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Zodiac vs. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Children of Men vs. Battle Royale
Ratatouille vs. In Bruges

A Serious Man vs. Unbreakable
Wall-E vs. Kung Fu Hustle
The Departed vs. Y Tu Mama Tambien
Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence
Minority Report vs. Oldboy
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God

[DFA1979]

I guess I should probably see YiYi at some point. I'm surprised I've viewed at least 40 something of the flicks listed.

Big Wes Anderson fan here and I might marathon all of his movies at some point since I own all of them except for Isle of Dogs. Seen em all even his short movies and I'm still waiting for his new one.

[baby doll]

But it's that updating of the series' gender dynamics that demonstrate the way it challenged traditional roles when it comes to female characters, which is exactly the aspect that you tried to deny in your original post on the matter.That's not what I said in my original post, or at least not what I meant to say. I did say that films of the studio era were just ahead of the culture in their representation of gender roles, depicting women who were slightly more independent and modern than was socially acceptable for the period, but I didn't mean to imply that such films (and their latter day successors) were unambiguously progressive. Rather, part of their fascination lies in their ambivalence, which reflects broader ideological tensions within American society during this period. By the time Jackson made his trilogy, however, attitudes toward women had shifted considerably, so while his female characters are doubtlessly more active than their counterparts in Tolkien's novels, they are not transgressive women and the films' attitude toward them is unambiguously positive.

[Idioteque Stalker]

25th Hour -- not my favorite Spike Lee joint. Loved Berry Pepper's arc, didn't care for Philip Seymour Hoffman's. Loved Lee's electric direction, didn't care for the overall look of the film. Loved the "fuck rant," didn't care for Brian Cox's closing flight of fancy. A good film, but not among the best of the decade imo.

[Yxklyx]

The Incredibles is kind of pedestrian as animated films go. Doesn't really try anything new like some of the others this decade. Rewatched Yi Yi last night, a good solid film but I couldn't connect to it as much as I would have liked.

[Idioteque Stalker]

The Incredibles is kind of pedestrian as animated films go. Doesn't really try anything new like some of the others this decade.

It's ludicrously entertaining, but I've always found the elitist themes discomforting. If Yi Yi takes it out in the first round then somewhere Watashi will feel a disturbance in the force.

[Ivan Drago]

That's a good week. Now let's see if Baby Doll is invested enough in Yi Yi to actually sit down and watch The Incredibles.

I just learned Yi Yi is close to three hours long. Might be planning my Sunday around it or just watching it over two nights.

[baby doll]

25th Hour -- not my favorite Spike Lee joint. Loved Berry Pepper's arc, didn't care for Philip Seymour Hoffman's. Loved Lee's electric direction, didn't care for the overall look of the film. Loved the "fuck rant," didn't care for Brian Cox's closing flight of fancy. A good film, but not among the best of the decade imo.The Hoffman subplot felt a lot fresher in early 2003 before Anna Paquin was in six other movies where she sleeps with her teacher.

[Yxklyx]

I just learned Yi Yi is close to three hours long. Might be planning my Sunday around it or just watching it over two nights.

I watched it last night while I was dead tired. It's an epic film that's never boring. Not as flashy overall as something like Magnolia (at times it is) but well worth the watch.

[Idioteque Stalker]

Developing: Unlikely Play-In Round survivor A History of Violence -- originally in the tournament line-up, then replaced for Ghost World by Yxklyx, and then saved when Ezee E blocked the replacement -- is now surging in what has become a nail-biter match-up with Inglourious Basterds.

Inglourious Basterds vs. A History of Violence is one of three match-ups in which everyone has voted so far, along with There Will Be Blood vs. A.I. and Fellowship of the Ring vs. City of God. The match-up with the fewest votes? You guessed it: The Incredibles vs. Yi Yi.

________________


The match-ups with the most combined LB views:
1. The Dark Knight vs. Paprika (1.2m + 137k = 1.337m)
2. Brokeback Mountain vs. Finding Nemo (343k + 911k = 1.254m)
3. The Prestige vs. Pirates of the Caribbean (550k + 651k = 1.201m)

The match-ups with the least combined LB views:
30. Before Sunset vs. Adaptation (245k + 175k = 420k)
31. The Royal Tenenbaums vs. 25th Hour (353k + 62k = 415k)
32. In the Mood for Love vs. Still Walking (218k + 26k = 244k)

You'll notice that neither the most nor least popular match-ups according to LB reflect what is actually happening here in MC Madness. We are truly a community of insufferable edgelords!

[Skitch]

I love the Incredibles. But I haven't seen YiYi sooo...

[Yxklyx]

I love the Incredibles. But I haven't seen YiYi sooo...

...you risk having The Incredibles lose if you don't watch Yi Yi :)