jake
Writer's block
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Post by jake on Mar 7, 2006 14:40:44 GMT
Nicholas Ray (1911-1979)1. In A Lonely Place (1950) 2. Johnny Guitar (1954) 3. Rebel Without A Cause (1955) 4. They Live by Night (1948) 5. Lightning over Water (with Wim Wenders) (1980)
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jake
Writer's block
Posts: 215
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Post by jake on Mar 7, 2006 14:44:51 GMT
Seeing as though there have been a lot of threads lately for hack directors, here’s one who deserves discussion and celebration, Nicholas Ray.
Along with Alfred Hitchcock he was the Cahiers du cinéma’s most championed filmmaker.
“There was theatre (Griffith), poetry (Murnau), painting (Rossellini), dance (Eisenstein), music (Renoir). Henceforward there is cinema. And the cinema is Nicholas Ray." – Godard.
What do you think?
My personal favourite of his films so far has to be In A Lonely Place. On the surface yet another cynical noir starring Bogart. But it goes deeper, with musings on artistic integrity vs. money spinning, the darkness in the soul of Hollywood (Alcoholics have no place) and the destructiveness of violence.
Bogart is astonishing as Dix Steele, this along with his Fred C. Dobbs in Treasure of Sierra Madre being in my opinion the only time you see the character itself and not just a variation of Bogart’s screen persona. The film also contains one of the most beautifully romantic scenes I have witnessed. Dix and Laurel (Gloria Grahame) find a haven in a bar and the resident singer sings a song that seems to be written for them. It sounds corny when I describe it, but the expressions on Dix and Laurel’s faces are heart wrenching.
Anyone else a fan?
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Capo
Administrator
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Post by Capo on Mar 7, 2006 15:28:01 GMT
I haven't seen any, though your brief summary of his work and people's reaction to him has wetted my apetite.
I have They Live By Night ready to go.
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Post by Vercetti on Mar 7, 2006 19:16:22 GMT
Rebel Without a Cause In a Lonely Place Rebel Without a Cause is relevant, even today. I also wanna see They Live by Night.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Mar 7, 2006 21:11:43 GMT
“ There was theatre (Griffith), poetry (Murnau), painting (Rossellini), dance (Eisenstein), music (Renoir). Henceforward there is cinema. And the cinema is Nicholas Ray." – Godard. I remember that quote from Bertolucci's "The Dreamers". I remember enjoying "Rebel Without a Cause", but it's been too long. I've always been interested in "In a Lonely Place".
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RNL
Global Moderator
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Post by RNL on Mar 7, 2006 21:18:53 GMT
1. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) 5/10
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Post by Vercetti on Mar 7, 2006 23:23:36 GMT
“ There was theatre (Griffith), poetry (Murnau), painting (Rossellini), dance (Eisenstein), music (Renoir). Henceforward there is cinema. And the cinema is Nicholas Ray." – Godard. I remember that quote from Bertolucci's "The Dreamers". I remember enjoying "Rebel Without a Cause", but it's been too long. I've always been interested in "In a Lonely Place". I actually think Bogart is better in there then Casablanca, though his character is less likable if memory serves. It really needs a rewatch.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Mar 18, 2006 14:46:52 GMT
I just realized that a film I've been wanting to see for years is one of Ray's: Bigger Than Life
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Nov 12, 2006 15:46:59 GMT
Have you ever seen "Bigger Than Life", Kino?
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Capo
Administrator
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Post by Capo on Feb 12, 2007 13:30:31 GMT
There are holes in many areas of my filmwatching, Kino. In fact, they're so big that my experience doesn't even have any real shape; I've no recognisable tastes or anything.
I'm seeing Rebel Without a Cause on the 20th of this month, on the big screen.
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Capo
Administrator
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Post by Capo on Feb 12, 2007 23:42:13 GMT
You're possibly right, Kino; I like to explore directors rather than decades or movements or anything.
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Capo
Administrator
Posts: 7,847
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Post by Capo on Feb 13, 2007 1:23:18 GMT
Well don't. Not unless you're naked.
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RNL
Global Moderator
Posts: 6,624
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Post by RNL on Feb 13, 2007 1:44:09 GMT
I'm always naked when I browse this board.
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Capo
Administrator
Posts: 7,847
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Post by Capo on Feb 20, 2007 17:19:12 GMT
1. Rebel Without a Cause 1955
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Post by Anasazie on Nov 1, 2008 8:01:13 GMT
We need some more love on the boards for this guy. A very very influential film-maker who made what is in my mind one of the most assured debuts of all time from anywhere.
1. They Live by Night (1948) 9/10 2. King of Kings (1961) 8/10 3. On Dangerous Ground (1952) 8/10 4. The Savage Innocents (1960) 8/10 5. Lightning Over Water (1980) 8/10 6. Bigger Than Life (1956) 8/10 7. Johnny Guitar (1954) 7/10 8. In a Lonely Place (1950) 6/10 9. Rebel Without a Cause (1955) 6/10 10. The True Story of Jesse James (1957) 5/10 11. Born to Be Bad (1950) 5/10 12. Macao (1952) 5/10 13. 55 Days at Peking (1963) 4/10 14. Flying Leathernecks (1951) 4/10 15. Hot Blood (1956) 3/10
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Kino
Published writer
Posts: 1,200
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Post by Kino on Nov 1, 2008 8:10:09 GMT
We need some more love on the boards for this guy. I tried, man, especially when I posted this. Tried with Hartley, Watkins, among others.
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Post by Anasazie on Nov 1, 2008 9:21:42 GMT
Yeah the lack of love for Hartley and Watkins is also pretty evident. Maybe we need to tie the regulars from here down and make 'em watch some films by these 3 guys especially. I can understand with Watkins as his stuff is hard to come by, but Hartley really is ignored in the States and there's no excuse for it....it's a shame as i'd place him, Ray and Losey (another no one mentioned on here) among the 10 greatest American directors. Abel Ferrara's another who's unappreciated that'd make it on that list. Not to mention Hellman for that matter!
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Kino
Published writer
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Post by Kino on Nov 1, 2008 20:49:25 GMT
Watkins' stuff is readily available on DVD. He isn't really out there as much in terms of coverage, though. I guess being an outsider in terms of style, financing, and production locations don't help. But Edvard Munch is a fuckin' knockout masterpiece. Punishment Park should be seen, too, for starters. I can certainly understand if people find the style to be obtrusive, but Munch and Park should be given a chance just as much as people are open to trying more popular titles.
Hartley (up to Henry Fool) is a favorite. I liked Fay Grimm, but didn't find it as good or funny the second time around. I do like that he's taking chances with his subject matter and equipment since Book of Life, though. The Unbelievable Truth, Trust, and Surviving Desire should be mandatory viewing for people who think romantic comedy or melodrama can't be done in fresh and idiosyncratic ways. Simple Men is hilarious. Despite being dialogue-heavy, he is foremost a visual storyteller. There's emotion in his blocking and shot compositions. The editing is on-point.
There are factors as to why Hartley has fallen off in terms of coverage while his indie contemporaries, like Jarmusch, Haynes, and Linklater haven't, but remastered DVDs and retrospectives can cure that.
I can see people being turned off by Hartley's spin on Bressonian acting and sense of humor, though. And his best works are modest and small-scale which sometimes by default unfairly makes such a filmmaker low on priority.
By your ratings, I wouldn't have expected you to place Hartley that high. For that distinction, I'd expect more 10, 9, or 8 ratings.
Could you do a little write-up on No Such Thing? I gotta rewatch it. I think you're the only person I know of that who thinks highly of it.
Hellman? Oh, yeah. Two-Lane and Cockfighter especially.
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Post by Michael on Nov 1, 2008 21:02:51 GMT
Maybe we need to tie the regulars from here down and make 'em watch some films by these 3 guys especially.
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Post by Anasazie on Nov 1, 2008 22:29:49 GMT
I'll try to do a write up if i get time. I'm not really one who spends a lot of time writing about films, i'm no writer! I'm a visualist who watches a lot of stuff at the moment because i'm more comfortable with images than words and cash for art making is limited right now I'm not surprised to hear you mention Hartley as a fave only up to Henry Fool though, tends to be a general consensus and it's kinda like the whole post-Weekend Godard thing. I'm not sure about the connection between Bresson and Harltey's style of performance. I'd say Hal's is much closer to 80s Godard than anything else and i certainly don't remember much humour or tongue-in-cheek in a Bresson film. Which is not a criticism of course, he's one of my very faves!
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