jake
Writer's block
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Post by jake on Feb 12, 2007 16:07:57 GMT
wetdog, what DVD is Robert. Schastlivaya zhizn on?
That looks like a great film viewing month to me. Dumont, Denis, Sokurov and a Columbo episode.
I guess you only watched it as Speilberg directed it but what did you think of it?
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Capo
Administrator
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Post by Capo on Feb 12, 2007 16:09:11 GMT
Spider is a must. Wet Dog is the Cronenberg expert here; he spoke so enthusiastically about his work that I felt the need to revisit some films I had liked by not necessarily admired... Spider was one, and it blew me away.
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Boz
Published writer
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Post by Boz on Feb 12, 2007 18:28:05 GMT
I feel like I might finally be mentally opening up to classic/foreign cinema. Pounding through TSP's Top 100 list is becoming less and less of a chore and more like an actual pleasure.
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RNL
Global Moderator
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Post by RNL on Feb 12, 2007 23:01:05 GMT
I'm glad you're enjoying Cronenberg's films, Omar. Have you got any more available to you? "Naked Lunch" and "A History of Violence", which I plan on viewing later today. I wasn't sure if I was ready to revisit "The Fly", or venture into "Crash", whose reputation varies anywhere you go. What would you recommend for future viewings from him? Crash is the most divisive, confrontational, difficult film he's made. I absolutely love it, and it gets better each time I watch it, but it took a while to connect with it, and a lot of people can't seem to do that at all. Naked Lunch is fairly divisive too, but I think it's more accessible than Crash. You liked Fear and Loathing, so you'll probably like Naked Lunch, there's a lot of similarities. I dunno if you're familiar with Burroughs' work - it shouldn't really matter, but the more intimate your knowledge of Cronenberg and Burroughs' respective works, the richer that movie is. It's not really an "adaptation" of the novel (even thinking about what an "adaptation" of Naked Lunch would entail only highlights the insurmountable differences between literature and cinema), instead it's exactly what a biopic about a unique artist made by a unique artist should be: itself a unique work of art, blending sometimes compatible and sometimes incompatible aesthetics and constantly commenting on its own conception and construction. The fundamental problem with most biopics is that they're cinematically formulaic and generic, so what you've got are ordinary films made about extraordinary people, and whatever about making ordinary art about extraordinary sportsmen/politicians/journalists, making ordinary art about extraordinary artists is like a huge horrible insult. I'm dreading Niccol's Dali film, but I'm looking forward to I'm Not There. Anyway, I can see you definitely liking M Butterfly, eXistenZ and Spider. Camera, too. His work prior to Videodrome is more uneven, and connection with it can be dependent on how fascinating you find the conceptual content (and also your affinity for sci-fi/horror films). I think Stereo, Shivers and The Brood are superb. If Cronenberg ever remade one of his own films, I'd like it to be Shivers. I could talk Cronenberg all day.
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Boz
Published writer
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Post by Boz on Feb 12, 2007 23:07:29 GMT
I feel like I might finally be mentally opening up to classic/foreign cinema. Pounding through TSP's Top 100 list is becoming less and less of a chore and more like an actual pleasure. MM, try some early Truffaut (400 Blows; Jules et Jim; Shoot the Piano Player) and a later work, "Day For Night." Seeing that you're a filim student, "Day For Night" might inspire you as it's one of the great movies about filmmaking (you've seen Wes Anderson's American Express commercial?). "Shoot..." - so much style and fun, you'd most likely like it. "400 Blows" - well-known classic; coming-of-age movie "Jules et Jim" - words can't describe Film noir is another route to the classics. 400 and Jules have both been inching up my shortlist for a while now. Thanks for the recommendations.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Feb 12, 2007 23:13:39 GMT
wetdog, what DVD is Robert. Schastlivaya zhizn on? It's on the Region 2 Russian Ark DVD. It's considered a documentary, but it's way too abstract to qualify as one in my opinion. It's about how fortunate Hubert Robert was to have had natural artistic impulses that were totally in line with the era into which he was born, how he was never at odds with his peers or his public, never had to force his aesthetic or fight for exposure. It has the same whispered, lyrical voiceover as the cameraman character in Russian Ark provides. It's really, really beautiful. I always loved Columbo, he's a great character. I think I'd actually seen some of Murder by the Book before. It's a lot of fun, I've yet to see a Columbo movie I didn't enjoy. I liked the meta-murdermystery framing with the detective novels and the two layers of fiction interacting with oneanother, I'm not sure how often they did that kind of thing. It's very well shot, too, in the early Spielberg style.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Feb 12, 2007 23:48:07 GMT
Vendredi soir Friday Night Claire Denis 2002, France [/color] 1st viewing; download[/size]
Trouble Every Day Claire Denis 2001, France / Germany / Japan[/color] 1st viewing; download[/size] [/quote] Now, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!!! Denis' Friday Night is one of those "small" films that is a freakin' masterpiece.[/quote] Yeah, Friday Night is fantastic, and it's hard to articulate exactly why; it all seems so slight, and yet hits so deeply. As for Trouble Every Day... well, I really think there's nothing better than a great horror film. It's the kind of movie that inspires me to write, and strengthens my desire to make movies myself.
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RNL
Global Moderator
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Post by RNL on Feb 13, 2007 0:12:40 GMT
Yeah, I have Three Extremes downloaded.
...and when I say "horror movies", I mean beyond the stereotypes of the genres that bear that common label, I just mean films that deal with that darker side of experience and imagination.
You know that analogy of the human psyche being like an ocean, the light and ripples on the surface change with the times, but those mysterious, dark, frightening depths are always there right below. There's nothing better, for me, than art that dives really, really, really deep into that ocean. Herzog always uses that analogy.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 13, 2007 5:47:40 GMT
Naked Lunch(1991/David Cronenberg) [First Viewing] An exterminator's life is turned upside down when his wife becomes addicted to the bug powder he uses.A strange and wonderful film. Cronenberg creates an enchanting and surreal world, almost in the vain of a film noir, complemented brilliantly by Howard Shore's always reliable (jazzy) score. I don't really want to repeat everything that Wetdog has said, but much like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", you can't make make an ordinary film about an extraordinary artist, and that is exactly what Cronenberg has avoided here. A History of Violence(2005/David Cronenberg) [Third Viewing] A small town man's life is turned upside down when two serial killers visit his diner.My plot descriptions for Cronenberg's films might be sounding repetitive and generic, but his work is far from it. This film in particular says more about identity than almost any film I have ever seen. And it's themes of violence, media, sexuality, and the American dream only add to the multiple layers of this relatively short but always engaging film. From the opening shot to the ambiguously powerful ending, Cronenberg explores themes that have been apparent in almost all of his work, with some surprising parallels to "Videodrome", among others. Viggo Mortensen is superb.
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Boz
Published writer
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Post by Boz on Feb 14, 2007 9:07:59 GMT
Wow, look what I figured out how to do. I'm pretty sure this works, although I guess the true test is when someone else tries it. You can now view my excel films database by clicking here.Let me know if that works. If so, I'm excited.
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Capo
Administrator
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Post by Capo on Feb 14, 2007 12:27:02 GMT
I need to be logged into Pittsburgh's Webmail, apparently.
It's funny because my university E-mail is Webmail too. Perhaps there's a way. I'll do some fiddling.
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Boz
Published writer
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Post by Boz on Feb 14, 2007 18:05:55 GMT
Ah, blast. I had been looking at different free webspace services, but figured I'd just give it a shot the crude way.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 16, 2007 3:17:08 GMT
Ghost World(2001/Terry Zwigoff) [First Viewing] Two teenage best friends drift apart the summer after their high school graduation.Despite the fabulous opening, the film feels, much like it's characters, overly cynical and drenched in melancholy, which makes it very off putting at times. Plus, the film also feels like it has to go out of it's way to be quirky and offbeat. Even though there were some really funny moments and gags, and good performances all around (especially Buscemi), I was really disappointed.
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Capo
Administrator
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Post by Capo on Feb 18, 2007 16:35:58 GMT
The fundamental problem with most biopics is that they're cinematically formulaic and generic, so what you've got are ordinary films made about extraordinary people, and whatever about making ordinary art about extraordinary sportsmen/politicians/journalists, making ordinary art about extraordinary artists is like a huge horrible insult. I'm dreading Niccol's Dali film, but I'm looking forward to I'm Not There. Check out John Maybury's Francis Bacon film Love is the Devil. Highly recommended, and I'll think you'd like it.
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Post by The Ghost of LLC on Feb 18, 2007 23:36:26 GMT
The Dreamers (Italy/France/UK; 1st Viewing; 2003) - Direcror: Bernardo Bertolucci An American living in Paris during the highly political climate of 1968 moves in with two young French twins with a shared passion for film, and a sexual curiousity.First off, let me say what pissed me off. The American response. Why in the hell is our society so prude? I had imagined the sexual content of this film to be far, far worse. But I thought it was all rather mild; deserving of its R rating, but merely above the average amount of nudity and sexuality American's are used to in cinema. I really didn't see what the big deal is with expressing the human form... Why feel threatened? Anyways, aside from my ranting, let's get onto to the film itself. Beautifully directed, obviously it's Bertolucci. I'm going to say this is my favorite film of his, just behind Ultimo Tango a Parigi. His cinematography and direction is right on par (I was very interested in the "making of" documentary on the DVD... I had heard he was very a disciplined director, but I wasn't aware he was such a hard ass on his actors . It was almost comical, watching him insult Eva Green in particular). The performances are excellent. I preface, they are excellent. This is further proof that Michael Pitt is the man. He is a god of independant cinema. Eva Green gives an absolutely amazing performance, especially considering this was infact her first film. Also, while I've never been one to really view celebrities in a mean of attraction or anything similar, Eva Green is an excellent specimen of woman. A very beautiful girl. If I had to say so, this is the best film of 2003.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 19, 2007 2:17:06 GMT
Breach(2007/Billy Ray) [First Viewing] A young FBI agent in assigned to investigate a veteran agent suspected of treason.Different from many current films of it's type, in that it focuses more on the psychology of the two central characters, and doesn't rely on action to forward it's plot. Even though I might be beating a dead horse, Ryan Phillippe is not a very good actor, and can not carry a film. Luckily, Chris Cooper is in top form. Kiss Me Deadly(1955/Robert Aldrich) [First Viewing] After picking up a mysterious hitchhiker, a private investigator finds himself in over his head.A very stylish and unconventional film for it's time, whose influences can not be denied. It starts abruptly and never stops, not even to explain a rather confusing plot. And I can't decide whether the ending was hilarious, or just plain strange. It felt like something out of a Science Fiction film from that time period. Either way, I'm not likely to forget it.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 20, 2007 17:17:38 GMT
Running Scared(2006/Wayne Kramer) [First Viewing] A dirty gun used to kill an undercover cop is stolen from a mobster, who must obtain it before the night is through.An ingenious premise, almost a reverse of Kurosawa's "Stray Dog", is completely ruined by the heavy-handed style that quickly wears out it's welcome. Plus, the plot gets more outrageous and silly as it goes on, with a final twenty minutes that is laughably bad. Half Nelson(2006/Ryan Fleck) [Second Viewing] An inner-city teacher with a drug addiction forms a friendship with one of his students.A film that not only stands above any film in the sub-genre of 'teacher-student relations' films (i.e. Finding Forrester), but is also worthy of comparison to the best character studies to come out of the 60's and 70's, yet, in spite of all this, it stands alone, reinventing the aforementioned sub-genre and any character study that I have seen so far this decade. Ryan Gosling fully embodies his character, making it something beyond a performance. He is wonderfully supported by Shareeka Epps, who is silently powerful as his equal. Fleck wisely puts the focus on mundane details of everyday life, making this quiet and observant film one of the truest and best I have seen in years. The best of 2006, and highly recommended to everyone.
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Boz
Published writer
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Post by Boz on Feb 21, 2007 0:01:37 GMT
Of all the films I've seen for the first time since I got to college in late august, I've ranked them as follows. ... 0 films ... 1 film ... 16 films ... 60 films ... 40 films 0 ... 17 films Seems about right.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Feb 21, 2007 21:18:01 GMT
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus(2005/Andrew Douglas) [First Viewing] A musician travels through the deep south, provoking stories of spirituality and sin.A film that combines elements of a documentary, a narrative feature, and that of a music video, creating a truly unique viewing experience. The eclectic soundtrack wonderfully creates an atmosphere that is both beautiful and terrifying, surreal and gritty. A film that offers a rare glimpse into an almost obsolete and bizarre culture. Douglas' roving camera allows a sort of limitless feeling of understanding and exploration throughout. Spellbinding, haunting, and completely absorbing all of the way through.
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Omar
Global Moderator
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Post by Omar on Feb 22, 2007 22:59:56 GMT
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos(2006/Paul Crowder, John Dower) [First Viewing] The rise and fall of the New York Cosmos soccer team.The documentary gives an amazing since of time and place: New York City in the 1970's, thanks in part to some great archive footage and a wonderful soundtrack. It also manages a great use of split screen, and provides some very insightful interviews. A very entertaining documentary that would be the ideal candidate for an unconventional narrative feature.
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