28 Film Discussion Threads Later

[Pop Trash]

Aside from Rushmore's Max, I'd say Dignan is Anderson's most compelling character.

Margot Tenenbaum? C'MON!

[Derek]

Margot Tenenbaum? C'MON!

Close third.

[dreamdead]

Turkish Delight (Verhoeven, 1973) **

Yeah, I'm afraid a rewatch will not be kind to this film, whenever I get around to it. I remember it being well shot and acted, but I'm quite hesitant to believe it'll resonate as a mature film anymore. I remember appreciating the depths of sexuality, but the limited growth of Hauer's character would more likely be irksome now.

[slqrick]

Where's the money, Lebowski?

[B-side]

The Masseurs and a Woman is wonderful. Such warmth. I hope Shimizu has more films of this quality.

[soitgoes...]

The Masseurs and a Woman is wonderful. Such warmth. I hope Shimizu has more films of this quality.

He does.

[B-side]

He does.

I had a feeling, if anyone was gonna respond, it'd be you.:P

I'm getting Ornamental Hairpin right now.

[B-side]

Queen of Diamonds is yet another elusive stasis drama from Nina Menkes. She again uses her sister, Tinka, as her vessel for which she paints a portrait of alienation tinged with morality. Being that her camera is largely static, each frame feels carefully composed, and often when the point of interest leaves the frame, her camera will linger for several seconds afterward. She uses some of the best framing of any currently working American filmmaker. This one might be favorite of hers so far.

[soitgoes...]

I had a feeling, if anyone was gonna respond, it'd be you.:P

I'm getting Ornamental Hairpin right now.

That, Mr. Thank You, Japanese Girls at the Harbor and Children in the Wind are all quality. Shimizu was on par with his contemporaries - Mizoguchi, Naruse, and Ozu. Quality stuff.

[B-side]

That, Mr. Thank You, Japanese Girls at the Harbor and Children in the Wind are all quality. Shimizu was on par with his contemporaries - Mizoguchi, Naruse, and Ozu. Quality stuff.

If my first experience with him is any indication, I'm inclined to agree. Seems Mizoguchi didn't have the monopoly on nice tracking shots.

[Boner M]

Pola X: Best I can describe this film is a straightforward romantic tale from an off-kilter parallel universe, which is a mixed blessing. Carax's film language becomes more and more irrational as its characters' passions become increasingly outsized, although perhaps lacking familiarity with Melville's Pierre meant that it didn't hit me as viscerally as Carax's prior three films did. Still, some unforgettable imagery (river of blood!) and can imagine it'll haunt me for a while.

[Sycophant]

Agreeing with soitgoes... wholeheartedly about Shimizu. He's become one of my favorite filmmakers.

[Pop Trash]

I've come to realize a lot of people IRL don't like There Will Be Blood.

[Sven]

I've come to realize a lot of people IRL don't like There Will Be Blood.

Sometimes IRL people have their shit together.

[Pop Trash]

Sometimes IRL people have their shit together.

You didn't like it either?

[Rowland]

I've come to realize a lot of people IRL don't like There Will Be Blood.

I haven't met many people who've seen it, but the same year's No Country For Old Men has the same track record for me. Almost everyone I've talked to has found it boring or pointless or whatever.

[Pop Trash]

I haven't met many people who've seen it, but the same year's No Country For Old Men has the same track record for me. Almost everyone I've talked to has found it boring or pointless or whatever.

There's a screenwriter/writer acquaintance of mine who was dissing TWBB on twitter today. He's a (mostly) intelligent guy but tends to view films/fiction writing way too logically. He was calling it "pointlessly violent" which is strange since Plainview only kills two people in that, which by Shakespeare/average Hollywood action movie standards is really low. Then again he's Christian so maybe he doesn't like the (literal) preacher bashing.

Incidentally, I was reading the screenplay to that the other day, and the dialogue in TWBB is so interesting to me. If you just read it separate from the film/performances, it's so unlike most film dialogue. I'm not sure what else to compare it to. Mamet maybe?

[Russ]

AgustÃ* Villaronga's 1987 film, In a Glass Cage, certainly deserves recognition, although you'd probably be hard-pressed to find many unqualified recommendations, due to the extremely disturbing material. Much closer to art-house thriller than to standard horror genre fare (although unspeakable horror certainly permeates the film), IaGC takes an unflinching look at horrific atrocities, and their effect on impressionable survivors, and in this case, on the curious relationship between a monstrous Nazi-in-exile and his mysterious caregiver. Villaronga's feature debut is as intelligent as it is bold, and the stylish direction is much more assured than you'd expect from a first-time helmer. This is some bleak, rather sick territory being explored, but very worthwhile for the adventurous viewer. pro

[Dukefrukem]

It's only April, but this has been a tremendous year for cinema already.

[Spinal]

I have never seen The New World. Netflix sent me the extended version and I'm thinking, hey, why not. Good idea or bad idea?

[Izzy Black]

Pola X: Best I can describe this film is a straightforward romantic tale from an off-kilter parallel universe, which is a mixed blessing. Carax's film language becomes more and more irrational as its characters' passions become increasingly outsized, although perhaps lacking familiarity with Melville's Pierre meant that it didn't hit me as viscerally as Carax's prior three films did. Still, some unforgettable imagery (river of blood!) and can imagine it'll haunt me for a while.

What do you mean his language becomes more irrational?

[B-side]

Nina Menkes defriended me on Facebook after I told her I pirated her work.

[Boner M]

What do you mean his language becomes more irrational?

The opening portion at the Normandy chateau is very classically directed (at least for a Carax film), but when his half-sister appears the entire film becomes more formally unbalanced; the camera glides and swoops operatically, there's a band scoring scenes diegetically, the acting and dramaturgy become less naturalistic (eg, the episode kid's left to yell 'you stink' to passer-bys on the street), there're seemingly unmotivated dream sequences etc etc.

[Boner M]

Nina Menkes defriended me on Facebook after I told her I pirated her work.

Hahaha

[B-side]

Hahaha

I'm sad now. I initially told her I didn't wanna say how I watched them, then she asked why not, and I told her because I didn't wanna tell a decidedly not rich filmmaker that I saw her work for free. She replied, "hmmmm" and defriended me. I'm such a colossal fuck-up. I told her I'd totally buy Dissolution, her latest, on DVD if it existed. I guess that didn't persuade her.