28 Film Discussion Threads Later

**Pop Trash** · 08-08-2011, 04:00 PM

Quoting Boner M (view post)

From what I gather he once a pretty big deal before facing homelessness in the mid/late-90's and relocating to Portugal; I've read his name mentioned in 90's reference books and magazine articles alongside Linklater, Jarmusch, Hartley, Haynes and many other big names of that era's indie boom. Seems like a textbook example of a filmmaker ripe for DVD rediscovery. He still churns out DV cheapies but they rarely get seen outside of tiny European festivals.

There was an article about him in The Times recently. They discovered he was living in someones place in like Kansas or Montana (?) or something since he was flat broke. Very sad, since I know he was well regarded in the 80s/90s American indie film scene.

**Stay Puft** · 08-08-2011, 05:35 PM

Quoting Irish (view post)

Was Luc Besson's The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec ever released in the US?

Nope.

Actually forgot about this, though, so thanks for reminding me. Gotta go find a copy.

**Mara** · 08-09-2011, 02:23 AM

I watched The Ghost Writer for Olivia Williams, and so was not disappointed. They should come out with a six hour film called Olivia Williams is an Icy Bitch. I'd be there.

Other than that, I'm not sure the film really lived up to its bleak, gorgeous setting and aesthetics. The story was rather mundane and obvious, not too different from whatever political thriller comes out every summer, except this one was all dressed up in its nicest clothes and permitted to sit at the big kids' table.

Kim Cattrall was completely miscast and her accent was all over the map.

**Ezee E** · 08-09-2011, 02:27 AM

Quoting Mara (view post)

I watched The Ghost Writer for Olivia Williams, and so was not disappointed. They should come out with a six hour film called Olivia Williams is an Icy Bitch. I'd be there.

Other than that, I'm not sure the film really lived up to its bleak, gorgeous setting and aesthetics. The story was rather mundane and obvious, not too different from whatever political thriller comes out every summer, except this one was all dressed up in its nicest clothes and permitted to sit at the big kids' table.

Kim Cattrall was completely miscast and her accent was all over the map.

I want to live in that house though.

**Mara** · 08-09-2011, 02:31 AM

Quoting Ezee E (view post)

I want to live in that house though.

I want that wooden bathtub. Ayup.

**MadMan** · 08-09-2011, 04:55 AM

I thought that The Ghost Writer was really well made, and very efficient. Some of the political material didn't either go far enough, or was really way too obvious-in this case Polanski would have been better off going for something more deeper. Still its a fine, well made movie, and I love how it ends. I'm glad that Pierce Brosman has been able to get roles beyond James Bond, although my favorite one of his is still his alcoholic hitman in The Matador.

**B-side** · 08-09-2011, 08:01 AM

Boner, if you haven't seen David Holzman's Diary, it strikes me as something you'd rather enjoy.

**Boner M** · 08-09-2011, 08:42 AM

Quoting Brightside (view post)

Boner, if you haven't seen David Holzman's Diary, it strikes me as something you'd rather enjoy.

Something I should've enjoyed, indeed; I saw it a few years ago and didn't care for it. Can't remember much except that I found the film padded and Holzman grating. I might give it another look someday; don't trust my initial reaction.

**Morris Schæffer** · 08-09-2011, 10:40 AM

The Ghost Writer is still my fave of 2010, but I understand what Mara is saying. Not an issue for me. The direction, atmoshpere, locations, all masterful. And that's where it's at. True originals rarely come along - Inception was one (1!) - and so most movies are a sort of derivative of others, but again, I didn't notice this. It practically felt like a true original.

**baby doll** · 08-09-2011, 01:18 PM

Quoting Morris Schæffer (view post)

True originals rarely come along - Inception was one (1!)

How are we defining "true" originality? I'll willingly concede that the film has a fairly novel SF premise, but it adheres to principles of continuity editing (notably, parallel montage) which have been around since the late 1910s, and storytelling techniques (stories-within-stories) which have been around for more than a millenia.

**Melville** · 08-09-2011, 01:47 PM

Quoting baby doll (view post)

How are we defining "true" originality? I'll willingly concede that the film has a fairly novel SF premise.

It was a much more interesting premise than that of most Hollywood blockbusters, but people entering each other's dreams isn't novel, and even many of the details of the premise were already done in a Scrooge McDuck comic. I thought the movie's success lay in how well it made use of that premise with those traditional techniques you mentioned, not in the originality of the different elements.

**Sven** · 08-09-2011, 03:09 PM

Quoting Melville (view post)

and even many of the details of the premise were already done in a Scrooge McDuck comic.

I have yet to get over how awesome this is.

**Spun Lepton** · 08-09-2011, 05:17 PM

Original, if you don't include all of the primitive drawings about caveman dreams.

I mean, that's what you mean by using the term "original," right Morris? Ultimately and absolutely original, correct?

:|

**Thirdmango** · 08-09-2011, 07:59 PM

In the past couple days I watched the Transporter movies. Wanted some mindless action. The second was pretty terrible but both the first and third were better then expected, I think I actually liked the third the best.

**Thirdmango** · 08-09-2011, 08:04 PM

Just went back and read some life is beautiful stuff. One of the best decisions I ever or specifically didn't make is how ignorant I was to the movie at the time I watched it. I knew absolutely nothing, so watching the first half I thought it would stay a simple love story, I had no idea the holocaust was coming in the movie and so it was especially impactful in that way.

**B-side** · 08-09-2011, 08:06 PM

Quoting Boner M (view post)

Something I should've enjoyed, indeed; I saw it a few years ago and didn't care for it. Can't remember much except that I found the film padded and Holzman grating. I might give it another look someday; don't trust my initial reaction.

I had a feeling you'd seen it. I was distracted while I was watching, but I still rather enjoyed it. I'd definitely recommend you give it another go.

**StanleyK** · 08-09-2011, 08:38 PM

Happened to watch For the Birds again today. Neat little story, and it makes some great use of sound and frames. I think Pixar has a better track record with their shorts, which tend to be more accomplished and entertaining than their feature films.

**MadMan** · 08-10-2011, 06:37 AM

Quoting StanleyK (view post)

Happened to watch For the Birds again today. Neat little story, and it makes some great use of sound and frames. I think Pixar has a better track record with their shorts, which tend to be more accomplished and entertaining than their feature films.

I agree with this to a certain degree, as Geri's Game is fantastic and I love For The Birds. However I still haven't viewed Wall-E or Toy Story 3 yet.

**Morris Schæffer** · 08-10-2011, 10:54 AM

Quoting baby doll (view post)

How are we defining "true" originality? I'll willingly concede that the film has a fairly novel SF premise, but it adheres to principles of continuity editing (notably, parallel montage) which have been around since the late 1910s, and storytelling techniques (stories-within-stories) which have been around for more than a millenia.

In Belgium we have a saying "fucking an ant up the ass." I believe here it's called splitting hairs.

Even without doing much thinking, Inception seems to have no equals in the past ten years. That's good enough for me. 1910, that's like before I was born.

**Irish** · 08-10-2011, 12:14 PM

Quoting Melville (view post)

It was a much more interesting premise than that of most Hollywood blockbusters, but people entering each other's dreams isn't novel, and even many of the details of the premise were already done in a Scrooge McDuck comic.

Also:
- The Lathe of Heaven (1980, based on Ursula Leguin's novel)
- Brainstorm (1983)
- Dreamscape (1984)

**kuehnepips** · 08-10-2011, 12:41 PM

Quoting Thirdmango (view post)

In the past couple days I watched the Transporter movies. ... The second was pretty terrible ...

You don't like him gay, eh? :lol:

*note to self: Stay away from men from Belgium*

**Morris Schæffer** · 08-10-2011, 04:12 PM

Thirdmango is Belgian?

**MadMan** · 08-10-2011, 05:24 PM

Quoting Irish (view post)

Also:
- The Lathe of Heaven (1980, based on Ursula Leguin's novel)
- Brainstorm (1983)
- Dreamscape (1984)

Haven't seen any of those save for Dreamscape, which despite its dated FX is awesome.

**Spinal** · 08-10-2011, 06:53 PM

Quoting Morris Schæffer (view post)

Thirdmango is Belgian?

Unless I hear differently, I just assume everyone is Belgian.

**Spun Lepton** · 08-10-2011, 07:41 PM

Quoting Spinal (view post)

Unless I hear differently, I just assume everyone is Belgian.

I LOVE BEER AND WAFFLES.

Thread: 28 Film Discussion Threads Later

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