28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Boner M]

Thieves Like Us: Thought this was OK-ish for the most part, starting strong with the early robbery scenes set against the muddy Missouri landscape, and then hitting a peak with Carradine's first spotting of Duvall, sitting round a table laughing with his cronies while nervously glancing at her every few seconds in the other room, all captured in a glorious master shot moodily lit with dim bare lightbulbs. Then it just sorta coasts on Altman's trademark murky atmospherics, remaining dramatically kinda flat (and Carradine/Duvall's pairing being a case of angular-feature overkill), until the outta-nowhere emotional gut-punch of its final scenes, and ending with one of the most effective slo-mo final shots I can think of; ambivalently capturing Duvall's re-integration into society as both an ascent to the heavens and zombie-fied march. Definitely the most caught-off-guard I've been by a film; might even rewatch soon to see what I might've missed. Still not as good as Ray's They Live by Night (both adapted from the same source).

[Boner M]

Imamura's A Man Vanishes is a doco-fiction hybrid that he made independently after his early-to-mid 60's Nikkatsu tenure, focusing on one missing persons case before spinning off in myriad directions, eventually revealing the case to be a loose pretext for Imamura's own anthropological & sociological preoccupations; familiar from his fictional films, but extrapolated in greater detail here. It's dizzying, convoluted, and held my attention for its 2+ sprawling hours as much as it confused me, which is a lot. It's practically a blueprint for all reflexive Iranian cinema after, although its fourth-wall-breaking ending is a little wonky compared to Mahkmalbaf, Kiarostami et al.

Still, good stuff. I watched the UK MoC DVD, but only just found out that the US's Icarus are releasing it along with 5 other feature/featurette-length Imamura docos - including the ones excerpted in Mark Cousins' The Story of Film - which I'll definitely be buying.

[Morris Schæffer]

Saw Ennio Morricone live last night. Obviously, a wonderful experience with many goosebump-inducing moments, even if I was letdown by the themes for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and the Mission since I felt they sounded a bit off compared to the actual scores from the movies. When the show was over, the applause was eardrum-shattering and the 84-year old returned for an encore. Amazingly, the orchestra then played the trailer theme for Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. Awesome! :lol:

[Qrazy]

Thieves Like Us: Thought this was OK-ish for the most part, starting strong with the early robbery scenes set against the muddy Missouri landscape, and then hitting a peak with Carradine's first spotting of Duvall, sitting round a table laughing with his cronies while nervously glancing at her every few seconds in the other room, all captured in a glorious master shot moodily lit with dim bare lightbulbs. Then it just sorta coasts on Altman's trademark murky atmospherics, remaining dramatically kinda flat (and Carradine/Duvall's pairing being a case of angular-feature overkill), until the outta-nowhere emotional gut-punch of its final scenes, and ending with one of the most effective slo-mo final shots I can think of; ambivalently capturing Duvall's re-integration into society as both an ascent to the heavens and zombie-fied march. Definitely the most caught-off-guard I've been by a film; might even rewatch soon to see what I might've missed. Still not as good as Ray's They Live by Night (both adapted from the same source).

I don't like either of those films.

[Boner M]

I don't like either of those films.

Merry Christmas, Qrazy!

[kopello]

A couple of my weekend xmas viewings:

Die Hard: This was my second time viewing it since watching a tv version during high school, so it might as well be considered a true first time watch. The action here is fantastic, and I enjoyed the whole labyrinth-esque chase scenes. My main problem was with all the filler and sub-plots. Everything involving the cops/fbi/television crew/limo driver was booooring. It would've been a much more intense experience if the film didn't meander quite so often, and stuck to well choreographed set pieces with Willis chewing scenery.

Remember the Night: The rip was shit but it didn't prevent me from getting all warm and tingly on the inside (minus the racism). MacMurray and Stanwyck were the perfect accidentally-fall-in-love couple. Look forward to rewatching it during future Christmas seasons.

[Watashi]

I remember a long time ago, NickGlass came out and said he didn't like It's a Wonderful Life, which shocked a lot of people considering it's a "classic".

I was wondering if there is anyone who actively dislikes A Christmas Story? I don't think I've seen a naysayer ever (in real life or online). Since this is Match-Cut, there has to be someone out there who hates it (I'm looking at you Qrazy).

[Wryan]

I was wondering if there is anyone who actively dislikes A Christmas Story? I don't think I've seen a naysayer ever (in real life or online). Since this is Match-Cut, there has to be someone out there who hates it (I'm looking at you Qrazy).

I don't despise it, but I've never found it interesting, involving, or charming. The leg lamp and the ice tongue are the only highlights for me--and modest ones at that. I could leave the rest.

[Spinal]

It's fine. Don't really get the cult.

[Spinal]

I saw three trailers today with familiar pop songs that have been slowed down and recontextualized. This seems to be a growing cliche for trailers.

[Winston*]

I remember a long time ago, NickGlass came out and said he didn't like It's a Wonderful Life, which shocked a lot of people considering it's a "classic".

I was wondering if there is anyone who actively dislikes A Christmas Story? I don't think I've seen a naysayer ever (in real life or online). Since this is Match-Cut, there has to be someone out there who hates it (I'm looking at you Qrazy).

I've never seen it. Don't think it's held in much esteem outside the US.

[Stay Puft]

I saw three trailers today with familiar pop songs that have been slowed down and recontextualized. This seems to be a growing cliche for trailers.

What trailers?

I'm having a hard time thinking of examples of this off the top of my head.

[Qrazy]

I remember a long time ago, NickGlass came out and said he didn't like It's a Wonderful Life, which shocked a lot of people considering it's a "classic".

I was wondering if there is anyone who actively dislikes A Christmas Story? I don't think I've seen a naysayer ever (in real life or online). Since this is Match-Cut, there has to be someone out there who hates it (I'm looking at you Qrazy).

It's too earnest for me to actively dislike it. I don't think it's particularly formally interesting () but it's fine.

[Spinal]

What trailers?

I'm having a hard time thinking of examples of this off the top of my head.

Zero Dark Thirty - "Nothing Else Matters"

The Great Gatsby - "Happy Together"

Safe Haven - "Go Your Own Way"

See also The Social Network - "Creep"

[Boner M]

I've never seen it. Don't think it's held in much esteem outside the US.

Ditto.

[baby doll]

I've never seen it either, but I don't know how much that has to do with me not being American.

[Dukefrukem]

Do people still want me to do the DVD releases this week even though I missed it due to Christmas?

[baby doll]

Do people still want me to do the DVD releases this week even though I missed it due to Christmas?

Sure, if you want to.

[Dukefrukem]

Love to, just didn't know if people cared after the fact.

[Dukefrukem]

Love to, just didn't know if people cared after the fact.

Actually, Amazon doesn't have a Dec 25th release section.... is it possible nothing new was released this week?

[Ezee E]

Actually, Amazon doesn't have a Dec 25th release section.... is it possible nothing new was released this week?

Maybe on the 26th instead?

[Dukefrukem]

Maybe on the 26th instead?

Yeh Amazon combined both last week's and this week's releases. Most of them come out on the 27th.

[transmogrifier]

Ditto.

Me too. Never even heard of A Christmas Story till I started posting on here. Not really my wheelhouse, though.

[NickGlass]

A Christmas Story is pretty vignette-y, which is why it works for the season. It has real pacing problems, but some wonderfully absurd scenes; therefore, it is a quintessential "background film," where it's more enjoyable to pick and choose which parts to watch. Also, it earns a billion points for being a holiday film that isn't either too schmaltzy or too bitter.

Also, the director, Bob Clark, has an insanely eclectic filmography. Black Christmas or Porky's, anyone?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Completely off-topic, but what are everyone's favourite scenes in which somebody infiltrates a base/mansion/etc with plenty of armed bodyguards and either goes about stealthily (or rather obnoxiously) killing everybody?