Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 3, 2006 18:26:45 GMT
Tape(2001/Richard Linklater) [First Viewing] Three friends from high school have a ten year reunion in a motel room.This is much more than an 'experimental' flick, as it's often tagged. This is a film about jealousy and guilt, and how they skew our perceptions. The cast is brilliant, and 100% confident in what they're doing, making this film so believable. The writing is excellent, especially considering what a dialogue driven film this is. But it's the direction that takes it beyond it's roots as a stage play and makes us feel the bitterness of the drama unfolding in this claustrophobic motel room. One of the few recent films that gets under your skin. Think "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", but much more gritty and more powerful.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 3, 2006 18:33:38 GMT
Drugstore Cowboy Gus Van Sant 1989 US 1st time; DVD A drug addict, his wife and their two friends feed their addiction by robbing chemists across America. Early Van Sant with a dark humour and ultimately uplifting edge; it must be admired primarily for winning us over with a drugged-up junkie who rids himself of the hangers-on around him, and one has the feeling it rewards more when revisited.Heavenly Creatures Peter Jackson 1994 New Zealand 1st time; VHS Two young girls strike up a close friendship, and both sets of parents are alarmed by the intimacy. A tragedy which may have deserved a more sombre, brooding treatment; Jackson piles on artifice in order to create a kind of fantasy world inhabited by its two adolescent girls, but in the process risks heavy-handed campness, distracting and tiresome until the powerful final scene, which is necessarily brutal and haunting. The obnoxious, overplayed characters don't help.Double Indemnity Billy Wilder 1944 US 2nd time; DVD An insurance salesman falls in love with a client's wife, and decides to help her kill her husband for the insurance. Dark, cynical noir which has become widely regarded as the quintessence of the whole stylistic genre. Chandler's script is sharp and delivered with lip-smacking perfection by all involved; beneath its engrossing surface lies much to be analysed, not least the innuendos concerning an intimacy between Neff and Keyes, the two principle males.The Bad and the Beautiful Vincente Minnelli 1952 US[/color] 1st time; VHSA director, actress and writer all recall the rise and fall of a powerful producer in Hollywood.Interesting character study in which the character is as much the movie industry as it is the producer; it reaches, many times, a level of profound energy and intelligence, but is a mite overlong.[/size]
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Post by Vercetti on Feb 4, 2006 3:39:57 GMT
Grizzly Man - (Werner Herzog;2005;USA) A documentary about Timothy Treadwell, who lived among bears and foxes for 13 summers, until he and his girlfriend were killed by a bear.One of the more provoking documentaries I've seen, touching on many levels. At times you feel like this is somewhat of a character study, a man who is dissatisfied with society, to the point of wishing he was an animal. The film is both disturbing and beautiful. There are many moments that aren't funny, but put a smile on your face, such as the first scene with Timothy and the foxes. A great documentary about a fascinating man. One of the more disturbing scenes for me was Herzog listening to the audio tape of Treadwell/Huguenard being killed, with a horrified expression.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 4, 2006 16:35:03 GMT
Glad you liked "Drugstore Cowboy" Mick. Slacker(1991/Richard Linklater) [First Viewing] Twenty-four hours in Austin, Texas, following some of its more colorful characters.A film full of ideas and spirit. You get the sense that you are watching a documentary, and in fact, you probably are. It's a film about eccentrics, and it never once looks down on any of it's characters, but it doesn't explain them either. It's the kind of film you watch that makes you inspired to be a filmmaker.
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Post by Vercetti on Feb 5, 2006 2:27:26 GMT
2001: A Space Odyssey - (Stanley Kubrick;1968;UK/USA) In 1999 a monolith is found on the moon that sends a signal to Jupiter. In 2001 a mission is set to investigate Jupiter until the computer HAL 9000 causes problems.One of the best films ever made, and I say this referring to the ten best. Much of this feels like pure cinema, and in that way it feels like a silent film with the lack of dialogue in many of it's scenes. I thought this would be a long film I wouldn't enjoy as much as Kubrick's other films but I was hooked to the screen. It's amazing how a decade before Star Wars, this looks better and is more realistic to space. The final segment with the stargate journey is one of the most captivating scenes in cinema. Kubrick's most meticulous film, and it comes out as his best. I can't even come up with any criticism. I love the scene inside HAL's "brain." I'm gonna play Pink Floyd's song "Echoes" to the "Jupiter & Beyond the Infinite" segment of the film, which supposedly synchronizes. (Pink Floyd declined to compose music for the film, though they later regretted it)
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 5, 2006 16:25:43 GMT
Waking Life(2001/Richard Linklater) [First Viewing] A man travels through his dreams.Like "Slacker", it's a film full of ideas and spirit. But unlike Linklater's debut, it's far more thought provoking, and possibly one of the most beautiful films ever made. It's like a visual essay on film, philosophy, religion, and the unconscious mind. I kept thinking of our little discussion on self-indulgence when I watched this film, which is an example of the greatness self-indulgence can provide. Linklater is a true visionary, who remains one of the best and most important American filmmakers working today.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 5, 2006 20:08:11 GMT
The New World Terrence Malick 2005 US 2nd time; big screen The first English settlers in America find themselves at odds with the Natives, and are saved by the rival king's youngest daughter, who falls in love with Captain John Smith. Thoroughly captivating stuff from a meticulous artist; exploring themes of love, nature and the contrast between two civilisations, one free and content at its own introversion, the other curious and explorative, and both primitive in their own way, it is a beautiful work from start to finish. A period piece which feels like it could have been made before Cinema existed or even some time in the future, and a reconstruction of historical myth more interesting as a fictional work, it is a remarkably complex and warmly compelling film.Fararishtay kifti rost Angel on the Right Jamshed Usmonov 2002 Italy/France/Switzerland/Tajikistan 1st time; DVD A hardman who returns to his village home in Tajikistan after many years in Russian jail, to find his mother is ailing and the local mafia want their debts repaying. Austere examination of acceptance of Fate, with minimal dialogue and sombre visuals. It has a rather abstract way of storytelling, with a kind of assumed understanding between its characters and the audience; as a result, it is a direct contrast to Hollywood narrative, while also requiring much patience in order to take hold.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Feb 6, 2006 1:42:49 GMT
Crash (2004) First Viewing Directed by: Paul Haggis Rating: [/i] Imperfect, with some charecters truly just not living up to potential. Sandra Bullock and Brendan Frasier's presance in the film only helps to detract from the over-all sum. The strenghts you find in this film come from the cast blending almost without a hitch and in the screenplay. I must commend Matt Dillon for his role, along with Terrance Howard and Chris "Ludicris" Bridges. A well crafted film, just falling short of being truly great.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 6, 2006 2:28:44 GMT
I agree with your criticism of "Crash" Mike. I just couldn't buy Brendan Fraser as the District Attorney of L.A., no matter how hard I tried. I love the rest of the cast though. Short Cuts(1993/Robert Altman) [Second Viewing] The lives of two dozen L.A. citizens intersect within the course of a few days.A film about isolation and sexual frustration, told by Altman showcasing his wonderful style with a jazzy undertone. One memorable moment after another, my favorite being Peter Gallagher being interrupted by the carpet cleaner while he is destroying his ex-wife's house, catered to us brilliantly by Altman's sly sense of humor. The symmetry between all the characters is very well drawn out, thanks to a star-studded ensemble, with Jack Lemmon standing out in what is probably his slimiest role. The scene where he walks out on his son in the hospital is quietly powerful, which I guess would be the perfect description for the film itself.
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Post by Vercetti on Feb 6, 2006 17:13:05 GMT
History of the World: Part I - (Mel Brooks;1981;USA) A satire on the world including the dawn of man, Roman Empire, Spanish Inquisition, and French Revolution.Yet another hilarious film from Brooks. This has been criticized as being a bunch of random sketches but ultimately it works and it proves to be a very enjoyable film. I doubt anyone can watch this without a smile on their face. The cast was great from Brooks, Hines, DeLuise, and even Orson Welles as the narrator. Not as good as Blazing Saddles but still great.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Feb 6, 2006 23:45:40 GMT
History of the World: Part I - (Mel Brooks;1981;USA) A satire on the world including the dawn of man, Roman Empire, Spanish Inquisition, and French Revolution.Yet another hilarious film from Brooks. This has been criticized as being a bunch of random sketches but ultimately it works and it proves to be a very enjoyable film. I doubt anyone can watch this without a smile on their face. The cast was great from Brooks, Hines, DeLuise, and even Orson Welles as the narrator. Not as good as Blazing Saddles but still great. One of my favorites. Hitler on Ice... Citizen Kane (1941) Nth Viewing Directed by: Orson Welles Rating: [/i] This is what cinema can truly be, a real form of art. Welles creates perhaps the greatest American film here. It never drags, despite it's meticulous pacing at times. This is, in every sense of the word, a masterpiece.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 7, 2006 2:20:59 GMT
The Roaring Twenties(1939/Raoul Walsh) [First Viewing] A WWI vet turns to bootlegging to avoid poverty.Throughout the picture, I felt like I was watching a classic gangster version of "Goodfellas". This docu-drama is wonderfully crafted, and supported by a powerhouse performance from James Cagney, the tragic hero of the gangster genre. Humphrey Bogart turns in a fine early performance as Cagney's henchman. One of the most underrated films of it's era.
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Post by Vercetti on Feb 7, 2006 3:22:29 GMT
Glad you loved it Omar. I consider it the best out of the Warner Brothers box set. Out of all the films in it, The Roaring Twenties' direction stood out the most. The Producers - (Mel Brooks;1968;USA) A producer and his new accountant plan on making money by making the biggest flop ever, "Springtime For Hitler."I was disappointed with this. I thought this was going to be Brooks' best film from what I heard but unfortunately it isn't. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good comedy and memorable at that, but it didn't strike as much of a chord as Blazing Saddles or The History of the World: Part I did. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder are great in their quirky roles, but otherwise, I was hoping for a great comedy.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 7, 2006 19:50:16 GMT
Badlands Terrence Malick 1973 US 2nd time; VHS A garbage worker and fifteen-year-old magazine addict fall in love and go on a killing spree across the Dakota plains. Strangely beautiful tale, haunting and lingering in its visual sumptuousness and deadpan handling of violence; a comment on social alienation, the difference between the wild and society, and the myth placed around cool, rebellious figures with seemingly something to say, though they communicate by aimless killing.Saving Private Ryan Steven Spielberg 1998 US Nth time; DVD Eight soldiers are sent behind enemy lines to rescue a private whose brothers have been killed in combat. A bravura example of the director's talent and exuberance; the washed-out greens and browns, one minute soaked with rain, the next dry with rubble, and the rumbling sounds of a not-so-distant war are terrifically brought together. The opening and closing scenes in the graveyard may hurt it, but it is no less a masterpiece.Schindler’s List Steven Spielberg 1993 US 2nd time; VHS In WW II, an Austrian businessman saves 1,100 Jews from Nazi concentration camps. The black and white cinematography masks the differences between the goodies and the baddies here, a complex film about an ultimately righteous man doing good after initial prosperity at labourers' expenses. It is at its best when Neeson and Fiennes, two powerhouse characters with differences of opinion despite being on the same side, fill the screen together. An important, remarkable film, superbly handled and controlled.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Feb 7, 2006 21:40:48 GMT
Blue White Red This is really one of the best trilogies Ive ever seen. White is normally considered the weakest link, although personally I liked Blue the least of the 3. I really enjoyed the gigantic amount of the color the movie was named after in each film too. Made them incredibly fun to watch, among other things
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 8, 2006 3:07:58 GMT
Before Sunrise(1995/Richard Linklater) [First Viewing] An American man and a French woman spend the night together in Vienna.An amazing film, not unlike Linklater's others, that is driven purely by dialogue and characterization. It's a rare thing for a film to capture such true intimacy on screen, but "Before Sunrise" manages to be truthful, funny, endearing, and heartbreaking, all at the same time. A wonderful film that will only get better with age.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Feb 8, 2006 3:34:42 GMT
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Feb 8, 2006 19:05:56 GMT
Gummo Harmony Korine 1997 US 2nd time; VHS In an Ohio town, which hasn't recovered from a tornado, youths search for ways to pass the time. Because of its utter disregard for narrative, this episodic succession of anti-climaxes, full of unpleasant images and characters, is a demanding, challenging film. In many ways it is quite clearly a feature debut, while in others it has the feeling of an assured master playing with the medium; in this respect, it is like no other film, which must account for something.Julien Donkey-Boy Harmony Korine 1999 US 1st time; DVD A schizophrenic lives with his brother, who aspires to be a wrestler, his pregant sister (father unknown) and stern, military father. Willing, and succeeding, to create new images and new contexts for familiar images, Korine's second film, the first American feature made under the Dogme manifesto, is powerful, even gut-wrenching, in much of its raw aesthetic. Shot on lightweight DV, it is deliberately the anti-everything, in turns poignant and hilarious, at once uplifting and bleak.The Thin Red Line Terrence Malick 1998 US 2nd time; DVD In 1943, US forces land on Guadalcanal, and are ordered to take a heavily defended position. An absorbing war film with much killing and little blood; Malick instead focuses on how war itself is the enemy, and how it lamentably only exists among humans and the civilised world: as much as they're trying to defeat the Japanese, the Americans still get caught up in the corruption of their own hierarchy and chain of command. Meanwhile, amid all the noisy chaos, there are plenty of placid shots of the natural world at peace, accompanied by multi-faceted, ruminative voice-overs.Kárhozat Damnation Béla Tarr 1987 Hungary 1st time; DVD A hopeless man, distanced from society, is in love with a singer, but she's married… An absolutely astonishing piece of work, decidedly not for everyone, but essential viewing for those who appreciate assured visions, and they don't come more firm than this; a methodic film shot in long takes and slow pans, with a bleak mise-en-scene and cynical poetry to match. Surreal, haunting, astounding.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Feb 8, 2006 20:37:43 GMT
Well, you had a fun day. Glad you liked Damnation (and Julien (and Gummo (and The Thin Red Line))).
Werckmeister is quite a bit better, I think.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 8, 2006 21:30:29 GMT
Korine's second film, the first American feature made under the Dogme manifesto, This is probably a stupid question, but I just read the same thing about the film in Leonard Maltin, and I'm not sure what it means.
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