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Post by cinephile on Oct 12, 2010 17:23:50 GMT -5
Half of the theatre I saw this with walked out, which would be more impressive except that there was only 8 people there to start with.
I agree, it was a slow burn, but every shot was beautifully set and being pensive shouldn't comdemn a movie in the first place.
It was a bit odd watching Clooney in such a reserved role, I'd hate to hear what anybody who thought Up in the Air was too slow would think about this.
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Post by gtboozer on Oct 13, 2010 10:06:32 GMT -5
Over the weekend I caught a couple flicks...
The first was Paranormal Activity, continuing my horror movie month. I'm a huge fan of the genre so it's really surprising for me when a film creeps me out like this. The simplicity helped it be creepier, like Blair Witch did. I really dug it with the exception of the last 5 seconds. I thought they could have done a less corny ending.
The other was Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. I don't remember seeing this in theaters at all, and one of those that just didn't get much buzz. First off, I love Herzog, so I was willing to let a lot slide just because I trusted the film maker. I saw the first Bad Lieutenant movie a few years ago and was really excited to see Herzog direct Nick Cage in a totally insane and depraved role. But, for me, it just didn't go far enough into insanity and depravity. Sure, there were a few scenes that got close, but just never really got crazy enough. It also didn't feel like a Herzog movie at all, it seemed like any Hollywood studio director could have been behind the camera. And now I'm going to get into a SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER... skip the rest ... How the hell does a character/person be such an utter failure as a human being and a professional working adult manage to have everything just work out in the end. I almost felt like Herzog was fucking with me at the end. I was watching this happen and thinking, "Is he just dreaming this, or is it some kind of drug induced hallucination? This can't be really what's happening". I don't really want to recommend this, but I want some of you guys to see it and please convince me that I missed something. I really wanted to like this film, just didn't.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Oct 13, 2010 12:29:14 GMT -5
Did anyone else see this? *Raises hand* I can't say I liked it though. It's easy to imagine someone being thrown off by the promotions which promise a much more exciting movie but even after realizing it was a much more introspective story I personally didn't find that it worked. I think I said this in my original thoughts: I just wasn't all that interested in the character the movie focused on. It has some highlights, bits of photography and the like, but on the whole it didn't thrill me. The horror movies I've watched this month have been a mixed bag; I'll try keep my thoughts short: Alien surprisingly (more than) survived despite my familiarity with every good scene and shot and reaction and shock in the entire movie.
Dracula wasn't a sweeping masterpiece but it's still a fun piece of cinema history.
Black Sabbath's flaws are what make it fun:; it's over the top in so many ways.
Rosemary’s Baby may not be my favorite movie but it's easy to see why it's considered a classic, especially within it's genre. Still, it's a fun watch and an interesting piece of film.
That's all the horror I'll write about for now, though I also watched The Descent and The Exorcist.
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Post by gtboozer on Oct 15, 2010 11:06:47 GMT -5
Last night I watched another in my self education of French New Wave films with Truffaut's Shoot the Piano Player.
One of the things that I'm really enjoying about these films is the sense of humor. No matter the subject matter, they seem to be made by people who are having fun. Even in the midst of tragedy there are things we can laugh at. Just as an example in this film... the two villains have kidnapped a kid and one is telling the kid that his scarf is made out of some exotic japanese metal instead of silk. The kid calls BS and the goon says "if I'm lying, may my mother drop dead", jump cut to some old lady falling over dead. Simple things like that right in the middle of a bad thing going down.
I'm really loving these films and look forward to seeing more.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Oct 16, 2010 23:39:49 GMT -5
That's one of the reasons (if not the reason) I've always been so creatively inspired by Francois Truffaut: his films have an almost unexpected sense of warmth to them. Jules and Jim could be much heavier than it actually is but it's got this delicate sense of humor and compassion; to me that's what makes the movie so special.
It's also what I don't like about his brief "Hitchcockian Strain" where he suddenly started devoting his energy into emulating the work Alfred Hitchcock. The Soft Skin is good even if it doesn't match his first three but Fahrenheit 451 doesn't work and The Bride Wore Black is an ice cold mess.
While we're on the subject: as part of the Film Society's profile on French actress Nathalie Baye I had the opportunity to see Francois Truffaut's The Green Room. She was there in person answering questions before I arrived.
It's really is one I wish I could watch once more (hear me Criterion?) and centers on a man (played by Truffaut himself) whose obsessed with remembering his deceased wife. It borders on blunt (the man writes obituaries for a newspaper whose aging demographic is literally dying) but it's ultimately a sincere and moving bit of cinema. It's also pretty interesting when you view it within the context of Francois Truffaut's other films.
Edit: I won't say much more than I managed to snag a copy of The Green Room after a far too difficult search.
Edit: It turns out the movie's been available under the title Vanishing Fiancee via some MGM disc-on-demand service since May. Word is the quality is no better than not-so-good the copy I've got on hand but maybe I'll buy a copy to let them know there's actually interest.
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Post by gtboozer on Oct 26, 2010 10:07:25 GMT -5
So I've been watching several movies lately, but but one that really stands out that I want to mention here is Amadeus. It's one of those films that I've heard about for a long time and just never got around to seeing.
The first thing that caught me by surprise was the humor. I was expecting a period piece drama, what I got was this eccentric character based humor. I found myself laughing out loud in a film about classical music composers, who knew? The other thing that has been mentioned about the film is the fantastic soundtrack and perfect implementation of it. The main character would look at a sheet of music and hear it in his head (as does the viewer) and as he hears it he is describing the intricacies that make Mozart's music so great. The deconstruction of his music and opera was fantastic. Then, probably my favorite scene, the main character is helping Mozart finish "Requiem" (which is my favorite Mozart piece), and they isolate each instrument in the construction of this orchestral arrangement. Then they deliver them all working together and you still hear each individual part, giving the viewer an appreciation for the true genius of Mozart. I never thought that I would be so wrapped up in this film. If you haven't seen Amadeus, I highly recommend it.
Everything else I've been watching is my usual horror movie fest in October. Nothing really stands out worth mentioning besides The House of the Devil. Then just rewatching a bunch of my favorite horror flicks.
On that note, how's the horror marathon going Doc? haven't heard anything in a while.
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Post by Tyler Smith on Oct 26, 2010 17:38:08 GMT -5
So I've been watching several movies lately, but but one that really stands out that I want to mention here is Amadeus. The first thing that caught me by surprise was the humor. I was expecting a period piece drama, what I got was this eccentric character based humor. I found myself laughing out loud in a film about classical music composers, who knew? I was the same way about A Man For All Seasons. I expected a dour period costume drama, but there is a lot of very sharp, very dry wit to it that actually caused me to laugh out loud several times.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Oct 26, 2010 23:56:32 GMT -5
I have been quiet, haven't I? Here's a brief snapshot of what I've been watching:
- The three movies that stand out so far are The Host, The Birds, and The Shining.
- The only movie I had trouble watching was The House of 1000 Corpses.
- They Live and Carrie are both insane and both fun.
- Dracula was interesting, Frankenstein was legitimately good.
- Scream wasn't bad but the references get heavy handed. The well made action scenes are no question the highlight.
Like I said, brief. I'll save some of the meatier discussion (like which Body Snatchers movie is better) for the next post.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Nov 4, 2010 12:58:55 GMT -5
So, uh, here's that "meatier discussion" I mentioned: Which Body Snatchers movie do you prefer?The setup sure is dull but once bodies start gettin’ snatched I much prefer the original. The remake has it’s (occasionally unintentional) moments but an assortment of choices keep it from having the same impact as the original. Both movies have serious problems when it comes to showing how the snatched loved ones are “different.” Will you ever willingly watch The Human Centipede?I'll admit to having spent the last half hour of House of 1000 Corpses playing Angry Birds and not because I couldn't stomach the violence (I sat through the end of Audition-- kiri kiri kiri) but because what I was watching had absolutely no redeeming qualities. The fact that it's a huge mess of a movie doesn't stop Rob Zombie from taking joy in a sickeningly real sort of violence. I immediately scratched The Devils Rejects off my list. It kind of amazes me that Roger Ebert was able to give an objective opinion on that one given his subsequent reviews. I have no patience for this amoralistic torture stuff.
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Post by siege121 on Nov 5, 2010 11:43:34 GMT -5
I would give Devil's Rejects a 7/10 and would give House of 1,000 Corpses a 1/10 if that means anything. Those movies are really night and day.
I just watched The Devil's Backbone last night and thought it was really good. I think I love Del Toro as much as I do because he clearly loves movies as much as your hardcore film fan does. I was not expecting this movie to be as entertaining as this was. I thought it would be a more somber ghost story and was pleasantly surprised. Seek this out if you haven't seen it.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Nov 5, 2010 13:10:07 GMT -5
The Devils Rejects: I knew the only way I'd watch the movie was if I could prove that it was anything other than just a technically proficient House of 1000 Corpses. Roger Ebert's review made it clear this was not the film I was looking for.
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vulpix
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Post by vulpix on Nov 7, 2010 14:17:55 GMT -5
I just watched Hachi: A Dog's Tale. To sum it up:
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Post by bouncingbrick on Nov 9, 2010 8:11:19 GMT -5
So, uh, here's that "meatier discussion" I mentioned: Will you ever willingly watch The Human Centipede?I'll admit to having spent the last half hour of House of 1000 Corpses playing Angry Birds and not because I couldn't stomach the violence (I sat through the end of Audition-- kiri kiri kiri) but because what I was watching had absolutely no redeeming qualities. The fact that it's a huge mess of a movie doesn't stop Rob Zombie from taking joy in a sickeningly real sort of violence. I immediately scratched The Devils Rejects off my list. It kind of amazes me that Roger Ebert was able to give an objective opinion on that one given his subsequent reviews. I have no patience for this amoralistic torture stuff. Fisrt off, I hated House of a Thousand Corpses, it was sooooo boring. But, for some weird reason, The Devil's Rejects was pretty good. I'd have to agree completely with siege121 on this. I watched The Human Centipede this weekend. It was both stupid and boring. Sure, I watched it to see the horror freakshow on display, but I had to sit through an hour of the worst horror film writing I've seen in years! For example, the car that the two (idiot) girls are driving gets a flat tire (of course) and they get out to walk for help and instead of taking the nice, paved road they've been driving on, they walk...into the woods. Then, by pure chance, they come across the house where the demented Dr. lives. He doesn't even capture them! They just happen on by! Lazy and stupid writing! The worst thing about it is there's no character development at all. I don't care if the people ever make it out alive so I'm not emotionally invested, so I'm never, ever scared. Not even a little creeped out. This film is so inept it's pathetic. Tom Six should not be allowed to make movies anymore. For all you would be horror filmmakers out there, watch Drag Me to Hell before you even attempt to make a scary movie. I'm so sick of all the crap that passes for horror these days.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Nov 11, 2010 1:42:13 GMT -5
So it seems you will willingly watch The Human Centipede. From what I gather The Devils Rejects is just as lurid as House of 1000 Corpses but is artistically superior. I guess my final question is: in your mind can technical mastery outweigh morally questionable content?
I've been going through Audrey Hepburn's filmography, a sort of detox from all that horror:
Roman Holiday was wonderful. Part of me has always been attracted to the notion of "film as escapism" and this film is literally one huge vacation.
Generally speaking Sabrina is also fantastic but parts of the story feel less bold than others. Then again, the movie opens with a delightful scene involving Audrey Hepburn trying to commit suicide.
I was hoping for more from Love in the Afternoon but in the end it just doesn't work. I can see why Audrey Hepburn's character might be attracted to the seemingly romantic playboy but right when you think they're going give her a cold splash of reality the film barrels on as if it's a non-issue.
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Nov 12, 2010 0:52:42 GMT -5
I'm eager to type up a few words about a screening I went to earlier tonight. I enjoy getting these screening invites so I'm not going to refrain from using any names: it's written and stars current female SNL cast member Kristen Wiig. I know I'm not the only one excited for this: Kristen Wiig is one of the best SNL cast members in recent memory, director Paul Feig created Freaks and Geeks, producer Judd Apatow is also one to look out for. This was supposedly the first time they'd shown it to an audience and supposedly Judd Apatow was there (I know, it sounds unlikely that he'd come out to Paramus, New Jersey).
I'll keep my thoughts brief: I'm willing to forgive the meandering plot (it was two hours long so a lot might end up on the cutting room floor) but I just didn't find the comedy to be all that sharp, especially given the talent involved. I'm eager to see how the final cut plays out but it'll take some magic to make this the outstanding movie it should be. In a word: disappointing.
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Post by maarow on Nov 13, 2010 2:42:42 GMT -5
No work means three movies for me today:
Return to Oz - A common reaction when people remember this movie is, "That scared the shit out of me when I was a kid!" I love a good creepy fairy tale, and the first act, where Dorothy is imprisoned in a mental asylum and threatened with electroshock therapy to cure her of her "delusions", seemed promising. But when the action shifted to Oz, director Walter Murch seemed unwilling to commit to the darkness and instead settled on forced whimsy. Everything just wound up feeling cheap and tacky and I was more reminded of similar '80s fantasies like Neverending Story and Labyrinth than the 1939 classic.
Harry Brown - I've heard this one compared to Gran Torino, but in my opinion it's far superior. It trades in the "grizzled but lovable racist" and almost cartoonish gang members for a palpable sense of danger and dread throughout. The "chavs", while not incredibly defined, have enough depth to seem like humans rather than plot points, and of course Michael Caine gives a brilliant performance. Best of all I never felt like I was being preached to.
Infernal Affairs - I don't like to compare films, but the extreme similarity of many scenes in the original to those in the remake left me simply wondering at the end, "Did I like it better than The Departed?" About the same, I think. Both films are flawed in different ways, and I never really invested all that much in the characters in either scenario. Here, I felt the plot's reliance on twists and turns impeded character development, and I felt as though the filmmakers were trying to orchestrate my emotions via the sappy music and flashbacks rather than earning my investment. I would call both films entertaining, but that would be the end of it.
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Post by Tyler Smith on Nov 14, 2010 21:14:06 GMT -5
Just watched Amores Perros for the first time. Very superior to Babel, in my opinion, but not quite as good as 21 Grams. Oddly enough, my favorite of the three stories is that of the model, her boyfriend, and their dog. I found it to be really heartwrenching.
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Post by gtboozer on Nov 16, 2010 12:53:26 GMT -5
I like Amores Perros the most out of Inarritu's films so far. That may be because it was the first of his films that I saw and the others have just felt like him doing the same old type of story telling. They are still really good, I'd just like to see something different from him.
I find myself getting very annoyed by the vignette type multiple stories in one film right now. It seems way over done and has turned into a cheap trick for some mediocre film makers to seem smart and better than they are. I'm not talking about Inarritu, I think he is one of the few who can do it well. I can't think of any examples right now because the bad ones are pretty forgettable. It's just a technique that has been annoying me lately, right up there with the multiple story lines that some how converge and overlap, like Crash.
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Post by maarow on Nov 16, 2010 18:43:26 GMT -5
I don't know if I want to admit this, but last night A Very Brady Sequel was on HBO and I wound up watching the whole thing. It is, as you might guess, incredibly silly, and not all of the jokes hit the target, but I was surprised at how often I was laughing. It was stupid, but inspired in its stupidity, and I liked its commitment to sheer lunacy.
I think my favorite moment was when the "bad guy" pulled out a firearm and brandished it quite blatantly in the family's face, and after a minute or so Carol turns to Mike and says helpfully, "Careful, Mike. He's got a gun."
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Dr Handsome
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Post by Dr Handsome on Nov 20, 2010 22:28:16 GMT -5
Well I was really looking forward to rewatching Chungking Express tonight but the disc I received is split in half. Netflix recommends I clean it with a damp cloth but as far as I can tell that didn't do a thing.
Netflix is as understanding about these situations as they can possibly be but that change the fact that I now have no idea what I'm supposed to do for the next two hours.
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