Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 7, 2006 1:08:09 GMT
Zerkalo (1975?/Tarkovsky)While it presents its images in a wider range of formats than Last Year at Marienbad, covers more chronological ground than Wild Strawberries, and doesn't ever really find its way into any sort of long-term narrative the way Mulholland Dr. did, this perhaps stands, at least in my mind, as the least impressive of the films of its kind, although it is interesting that this film is the only autobiographical one among the bunch. Tarkovsky executes some nice camera moves at certain points, and some of the slow-motion, silent sequences work pretty well, but overall, the emotional effect is lost. I'm still very interested in seeing some more of Tarkovsky's work.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Sept 7, 2006 5:21:29 GMT
The Illusionist(2006/Neil Burger) [First Viewing] A magician in turn-of-the-century Vienna uses his tricks to recapture an old love and overthrow the government.A technically brilliant film; gorgeous cinematography, great attention to period detail/costumes, and the wonderful score by Philip Glass. But the romantic (sub)-plot hurts the film, in my opinion. And in retrospect, there were some plot holes and a lot of implausibility to go with it all. Be that as it may, any sequence with Norton on stage is mesmerizing, and any scene he shares with Giamatti is also excellent. I liked the overall pacing of the film as well.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 7, 2006 17:16:15 GMT
Man of Aran (1934/Flaherty)Supposedly a pioneer in the utilization of non-synchronus sound, this film, despite it's impressive technical accomplishments considering the time period, is ultimately so uneventful and so redundant, nothing of worth can really be salvaged. The only real interesting aspect was the editing, rapid-fire at times, which made some sequences more exciting. And how or why this is considered a documentary is beyond me. The people in the film were not professional actors, and I think actually lived under the conditions in which they are shown, but it is staged just like a dramatic fiction film, and shot like one as well.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 9, 2006 0:19:51 GMT
Paris, Texas (1984/Wenders)Wonderful use of color, great performance by Harry Dean Stanton. While the character's motivations aren't always clearly explained, Wenders has still crafted a good film. I enjoyed it.
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Post by Michael on Sept 9, 2006 1:03:22 GMT
Paris, Texas (1984/Wenders)Wonderful use of color, great performance by Harry Dean Stanton. While the character's motivations aren't always clearly explained, Wenders has still crafted a good film. I enjoyed it. Glad you liked it! Easily one of my top 3 or 4 favorite movies...
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 9, 2006 1:07:09 GMT
Yeah that was the reason I was looking forward to seeing it. Aguirre The Wrath of God is next.
Thank god for Netflix. [/product placement]
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 9, 2006 22:01:03 GMT
The Perfect Score (2004/Robbins)Enjoyable movie about stealing the SAT, made even funnier because I MURDERED that test. I'm in love with Scarlett Johansson.
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Post by Vercetti on Sept 9, 2006 22:42:24 GMT
The Perfect Score (2004/Robbins)Enjoyable movie about stealing the SAT, made even funnier because I MURDERED that test. I'm in love with Scarlett Johansson. Ugh, I remember being dragged into this movie. I hated it with a passion.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 10, 2006 6:36:01 GMT
Invincible (2006/Core)Good cinematography and music here, really setting the time period well. It kept upsetting me to see Mark Whalberg trotting around in the 70's without being called Dirk Diggler.
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Post by Michael on Sept 11, 2006 5:00:14 GMT
ZerkaloABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING!!! This is the closest art has ever come to portraying an individual's memories. There is no narrative arc, and it's not a story in the traditional sense, but rather an assemblage of images, scenes, and thoughts which at first sight seem to have very little in common and just drift back and forth with no obvious literal explanation. This, and Tarkovsky's Stalker are, to me at least, the pure definitions of cinema as art. I cannot wait to see more Tarkovsky films.
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Post by Michael on Sept 11, 2006 5:05:34 GMT
Did Tarkovsky manage to capture his own memories on film? What exactly is this medium capable of?
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 11, 2006 9:05:12 GMT
Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972/Herzog)A good character study, hampered by Herzog's failure to establish any real lasting narrative arc, his overuse of freehand (although I have trouble blaming the guy here, considering he's shooting in the middle of a jungle with a reported 8 person crew), bad special effects, and the annoyingly dubbed dialogue. Kinski was good, but didn't get enough screen time. I liked the subtle guitar and organ soundtrack though.
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Post by Vercetti on Sept 11, 2006 9:12:49 GMT
I find it odd to criticize someone for overusing freehand when he's making in independent low budget film in harash conditions. I really hope you don't see Cassavetes films for that matter, considering that's what they're made up of.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 11, 2006 9:43:47 GMT
That's why I added the little note in the parantheses there.
I mean I know that I can't really blame these directors who are on low budgets per say, I'm just saying I felt it hurt the film.
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Post by Michael on Sept 11, 2006 18:25:49 GMT
Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972/Herzog)A good character study, hampered by Herzog's failure to establish any real lasting narrative arc, his overuse of freehand (although I have trouble blaming the guy here, considering he's shooting in the middle of a jungle with a reported 8 person crew), bad special effects, and the annoyingly dubbed dialogue. The documentary-esque visuals are a huge part of my love for the film. It feels real, but you're watching a truly insane human being move further and further towards the edge until he completely falls over. Powerful. Capo called it "the most unsettling depiction of human tragedy he's ever witnessed." I couldn't agree more. I wish you'd give this another chance.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 14, 2006 1:37:29 GMT
The Illusionist (2006/Burger)I'm pretty sure this is the only film I've ever seen twice in the theater. Enjoyed it more this time around, further appreciated the cinematography, and Phillip Glass' fantastic score. Norton's performance is top notch, and I'll reiterate that Rufus Sewell is the standout here. An especially rewarding viewing considering I knew the twist. Go see this if you haven't.
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Post by Valenti on Sept 14, 2006 8:59:57 GMT
I was given a copy of Aguirre from my uncle, who had taped it on television, but I have only seen the first fifteen minutes or so of it. It did in fact--at least, to me--look VERY real, as though someone had followed these men around with a video camera. Everything looked real because none of it was created to look good, much like real life.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 14, 2006 17:37:42 GMT
Sixteen Candles (1984/Hughes)Really enjoying Hughes mid 80's films. While this is clearly the one going for the cheapest laughs, and Hughes displays little of his more mature storytelling abilities, both director and star Molly Ringwald have some standout moments. Anthony Michael Hall outdoes himself as well. One thing I don't get is how this film is rated PG. Nudity, language, alcohol. Beats me. Very enjoyable overall. Night Mail (1936/Watt & Wright)A well-made early documentary telling the story of a special mail-delivery train that operates in England and Scotland. We watched this film in class mainly to explore the idea of using narration to make up for the lack of quality sound work. Watt & Wright use the "Voice of God" style narration; an authoritative, unopinionated booming voice that spouts the many modern technological facets of the special train. The most entertaining part though was the seemingly-random inclusion of a performance of a train rhyme by the stern-voiced narrator, almost sung, almost rapped. Land Without Bread (1932/Buñuel)Narration plays a much more vital role here, with virtually no dialogue, and it's interesting that here, the narrator sometimes refers to things that "we" saw, inferring he was part of a travelling group visiting this country. This documentary focuses on the people of a remote Spanish town living in abject poverty, plagued with disease and famine, many of whom are stricken with deformities. Buñuel chooses to have running triumphant trumpet music playing in the background throughout, an interesting choice, but one that sharply contradicts with the images of graphic animal deaths, along with the matter-of-fact treatment of human suffering, elements that make the film particularly disturbing. Even worse was the fact I read afterwards, revealing that Buñuel himself dictated the torture and murder of several animals to get the shots he wanted.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 14, 2006 23:23:47 GMT
She's All That (1999/Iscove)One of the best of the flood of high school comedies released in the late 90's boy band era, although also one of the cheesiest at times (read: synchronized dance sequence). All the principal players are spot on though, Iscove's direction is manageable, and everybody loves a little Kevin Pollak every once and a while.
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Post by Vercetti on Sept 15, 2006 0:37:55 GMT
Ying xiong - (Yimou Zhang;2002;Hong Kong/China)
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