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Thread: 28 Film Discussion Threads Later

  1. #69426
    Quote Quoting megladon8 (view post)
    You're 100% putting words in my mouth.

    First, I don't agree that he's terrible at making films. He's great at making films, he just needs help writing them.

    With regards to my statement about it being hopeful for the future of big budget film - the entire theatrical film experience has been monopolized by Disney and superheroes.

    His last 3 films have been an intellectual space exploration drama, a war film which many consider one of the best ever made (including Quentin Tarantino), and now a time travel-infused espionage thriller.

    Studios are giving him bid budgets to do films without a cape or lightsaber in sight.

    And of course making a film outside of the studio system is no less of an achievement.

    My point is simply that we have had 10 + years of Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney being all that audiences care about. He draws large crowds for films that want the audience to think about something other than "bang! Pow! Kah-blammo!"
    With regard to Nolan's individual talents, I think "great" is pushing it. Probably the most generous case you could make for him--at least based on the films I've seen (and, to be fair, I haven't seen Interstellar or Dunkirk)--is that he has a certain flair for elaborate narrative structures but his grasp of character, dialogue, and découpage is merely functional.

    As for the state of commercial exhibition over the past ten years (for the moment, I'll put aside festival exhibition and other alternative venues), I don't think the situation is quite as bleak as you paint it (and in the larger cities, the picture's relatively rosy notwithstanding the current epidemic). I haven't been to Ottawa since 2011 but the last time I was there I remember them having at least one operational rep theatre. And as recently as February, Parasite was playing on 2000 screens in the United States--not Marvel-level saturation to be sure but still not nothing. In other words, for moviegoers in most of North America, their choices are extremely limited (as has been the case for my entire lifetime), but it's not quite that bad as all that. But even if it were to become so in the near future, and economic forces were to dictate that only Nolan's films and superhero movies receive wide distribution because that's what the people want, I can't see much point in extolling Nolan as the best filmmaker we can hope to get under the circumstances. To put it another way, I'm perfectly happy staying at home and watching Mark Rappaport's films on the Filmmuseum München Vimeo page, and if other people want to see Marvel comic book movies or Christopher Nolan blockbusters (and frankly I don't find Nolan's films any more creative in terms of sound and image), that's really none of my concern.
    Last edited by baby doll; 06-09-2020 at 02:05 AM.
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  2. #69427
    Another Nolan argument? I think BD has a secret crush.

  3. #69428
    Quote Quoting Idioteque Stalker (view post)
    Another Nolan argument? I think BD has a secret crush.
    Yeah, I keep on taking the bait when someone (not just Duke) is incredulous that Nolan is not "given his dues."
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  4. #69429
    Replacing Luck Since 1984 Dukefrukem's Avatar
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    There's something so pure about his films despite the flaws. The structure is just perfect for entertainment. And there's something completely gratifying about it for me.
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    Quote Quoting D_Davis (view post)
    Uwe Boll movies > all Marvel U movies
    Quote Quoting TGM (view post)
    I work in grocery. I have not gotten sick. My fellow employees have not gotten sick. If the virus were even remotely as contagious as its being presented as, why haven’t entire store staffs who come into contact with hundreds of people per day, thousands per week, all falling ill in mass nationwide?

  5. #69430
    Here till the end MadMan's Avatar
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    I love Nolan, I just don't care if others don't. Kubrick and Leone are the only two favorite directors of mine I will actually go to bat for, and even though oh well no one likes everything.
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  6. #69431
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    2018's Freaks is super problematic from the get go, as it stars (or at least, co-stars) a child actor who just...isn't very good.

    The base idea of the film (a sort of X-Men type story of a small percentage of people being born with powers, and the world hating them) is handled in a unique way, with information about what's really going on being parsed out sparingly throughout the runtime.

    But there are too many flaws to make it one I would recommend. From the aforementioned child actor being so weak, to the visualization of some of the powers being pretty bad, and a massive plot hole involving some sort of test that shows if someone is or isn't an "abnormal"...this one needed more time in the oven.

  7. #69432
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    It's such a painful realization when a movie you loved as a younger person doesnt hold up.

    My kids LOVED it....and while I havent seen it probably 20 years....

    ...Twister is a terrible film.

  8. #69433
    Quote Quoting Skitch (view post)
    It's such a painful realization when a movie you loved as a younger person doesnt hold up.

    My kids LOVED it....and while I havent seen it probably 20 years....

    ...Twister is a terrible film.
    For me that movie is Leaving Las Vegas: It was probably my favourite movie as a teenager but when I saw it a few years ago it didn't have any effect on me. That said, I didn't find the realization very painful: It was the movie I needed then but it's not the movie I need now, and thank God I'm not the same person I was twenty years ago. I mean, I'd like to think I learned something in the last two decades.

    American Beauty and Buffalo '66 are two other movies from my teenage years that time and experience have not been kind to. Election, on the other hand, just looks better and better to me, and I was surprised how well In the Bedroom held up since it seems like no one talks about it anymore. Conversely, Lost in Translation sucked in 2003 and it sucked even more when I re-watched it in 2012: Boring people who don't do or say anything interesting are still boring when you put them in Japan.
    Just because...
    The Fabelmans (Steven Spielberg, 2022) mild
    Petite maman (Céline Sciamma, 2021) mild
    The Banshees of Inisherin (Martin McDonagh, 2022) mild

    The last book I read was...
    The Complete Short Stories by Mark Twain


    The (New) World

  9. #69434
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting baby doll (view post)
    Conversely, Lost in Translation sucked in 2003 and it sucked even more when I re-watched it in 2012: Boring people who don't do or say anything interesting are still boring when you put them in Japan.
    So true.

  10. #69435
    A Platypus Grouchy's Avatar
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    I totally, word for word agree with everything baby doll said re: Nolan's talent and Lost in Translation.

  11. #69436
    Cinematographer StanleyK's Avatar
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    John Dahl's Joy Ride isn't a particularly good movie, but I was amused by the killer's voice, which sounds just like Mr. Plinkett. I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone else make the connection.

    On another note, Red Rock West is amazing. How isn't this movie hailed as a classic?

  12. #69437
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    To Live and Die in L.A. is spectacular. So much better than I remembered.

    Also, when popular musicians get hired for film scores, they should refer to this film as a guide on how to do it. So tired of hearing "so-and-so is doing the score for the next big movie! Its gonna be so weird and original!" then it being just a generic film score. I'm looking at you, Daft Punk.

  13. #69438
    Here till the end MadMan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting StanleyK (view post)
    John Dahl's Joy Ride isn't a particularly good movie, but I was amused by the killer's voice, which sounds just like Mr. Plinkett. I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone else make the connection.

    On another note, Red Rock West is amazing. How isn't this movie hailed as a classic?
    Red Rock West is pretty good. Cage in a non freak out performance-he was great.
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  14. #69439
    Here till the end MadMan's Avatar
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    Hehe I love Lost in Translation. I like Twister but it's a pretty dumb movie.
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  15. #69440
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    I can't decide if Lord of Illusions is a great movie or a piece of shit.

  16. #69441
    Since 1929 Morris Schæffer's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting StanleyK (view post)
    John Dahl's Joy Ride isn't a particularly good movie, but I was amused by the killer's voice, which sounds just like Mr. Plinkett. I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone else make the connection.

    On another note, Red Rock West is amazing. How isn't this movie hailed as a classic?
    That's Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs.
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  17. #69442
    Here till the end MadMan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Skitch (view post)
    I can't decide if Lord of Illusions is a great movie or a piece of shit.
    I thought it was good. 8/10.
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  18. #69443
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting MadMan (view post)
    I thought it was good. 8/10.
    That's about where I always had it, but this last rewatch was eye opening. It's both. I still dig it, but its it's got 90s direct to tv screaming all over it. Its rough.

  19. #69444
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Skitch (view post)
    I can't decide if Lord of Illusions is a great movie or a piece of shit.
    I'll always enjoy it for nostalgic value.

    It is pretty damn rough around th edges. But there's just, something there.

  20. #69445
    Here till the end MadMan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Skitch (view post)
    That's about where I always had it, but this last rewatch was eye opening. It's both. I still dig it, but its it's got 90s direct to tv screaming all over it. Its rough.
    Unfortunately a lot of 1990s horror looks that way. I just accept it and move on.
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  21. #69446
    I've been thinking today about sex movies. Movies with 1. unsimulated sex and/or 2. sex as as a primary focus.

    Movies like:
    Stranger By the Lake
    Shortbus
    Love
    Nymphomaniac
    In the Realm of the Senses
    I Am Curious (Yellow)
    Blue Is the Warmest Color

    Is there a name for movies like these? I'm calling it elevated porn for now, and I don't feel like googling around for more perspective on this topic. What other movies fall into this category?

  22. #69447
    Replacing Luck Since 1984 Dukefrukem's Avatar
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    Don't forget The Brown Bunny and Kids for that matter.
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    Quote Quoting D_Davis (view post)
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  23. #69448
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    9 1/2 Weeks?

  24. #69449
    Never seen 9 1/2 weeks. Worth watching?

    Kids is a great movie, and also a good suggestion given my parameters, but I don't feel ok adding it to the list.

    The Brown Bunny is also a good suggestion. I haven't seen the film, but the infamous ending scene alone doesn't feel like enough. One scene (no matter how explicit) does not equal sex movie in my mind.

    Had some irl friends suggest Eyes Wide Shut, Showgirls, and The Dreamers. I think the Dreamers fits. Showgirls is a compelling suggestion, but its purposeful embrace of trashiness makes it hard to call "elevated." Eyes Wide Shut is just... complicated. It doesn't feel right to me.

    EDIT: If only Spinal were around...
    Last edited by Idioteque Stalker; 06-18-2020 at 05:43 PM.

  25. #69450
    collecting tapes Skitch's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Idioteque Stalker (view post)
    Never seen 9 1/2 weeks. Worth watching?

    Kids is a great movie, and also a good suggestion given my parameters, but I don't feel ok adding it to the list.

    The Brown Bunny is also a good suggestion. I haven't seen the film, but the infamous ending scene alone doesn't feel like enough. One scene (no matter how explicit) does not equal sex movie in my mind.

    Had some irl friends suggest Eyes Wide Shut, Showgirls, and The Dreamers. I think the Dreamers fits. Showgirls is a compelling suggestion, but its purposeful embrace of trashiness makes it hard to call "elevated." Eyes Wide Shut is just... complicated. It doesn't feel right to me.

    EDIT: If only Spinal were around...
    I haven't watched 9 1/2 Weeks in so many years, I have no idea, but the VHS has been sitting on my shelf for a while, I'll try to get it watched here soon and report back.

    Ohh I would definitely say EWS. My short hand explanation of that movie is "one man's journey through every form of sex in one night".
    Last edited by Skitch; 06-18-2020 at 05:54 PM.

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