Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 3, 2007 2:06:30 GMT
1. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford 2007 2. Chopper 2000
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Dec 3, 2007 2:19:03 GMT
1. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) 9/10
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 3, 2007 2:58:30 GMT
I liked Assassination because it was a step forward from Chopper's (already promising) cinematography and also that film's elliptical story progression. Because of the title and the historical myth, I found the half-hour leading up to James's death almost unbearable - incredibly fucking tense. I tend to have a problem with its kind of all-knowing voice-over, but I warmed to it as it went on (mainly because Roger Deakins's photography, already tremendous, took on an even more significant role in these voice-over segments).
But I felt the coda was too long, too bloated; I realise it was perhaps necessary (though I found it as an ultimate thematic retread of Ford's fantastic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance). I felt relieved and shattered and enormously melancholic when James was finally shot, but by the time the credits came, I felt relieved in another (more negative) way altogether.
PS. Casey Affleck = performance of the year, thus far.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Dec 3, 2007 3:21:42 GMT
I didn't expect the story to continue so far past James' death. But there was more to say, which is the significance of not just calling the film The Assassination of Jesse James. Affleck has more screentime than Pitt. I think seeing Robert Ford's story through to its conclusion, and giving it the same attention as it received prior to James' death, is crucial.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Dec 3, 2007 3:24:34 GMT
PS. Casey Affleck = performance of the year, thus far. Agreed. At least tied with Mortensen. Also, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis = score of the year, thus far and most likely finally. Warren Ellis is the violinist from Dirty Three, by the way. Did you get a chance to listen to them yet?
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 3, 2007 3:28:02 GMT
I didn't expect the story to continue so far past James' death. But there was more to say, which is the significance of not just calling the film The Assassination of Jesse James. Affleck has more screentime than Pitt. I think seeing Robert Ford's story through to its conclusion, and giving it the same attention as it received prior to James' death, is crucial. Definitely, I didn't have a problem with his screentime or significance in the story (is Affleck's a main role or supporting role?), but I had a problem with the way it was done. Like I said, not sure, right now, how else it could have been done, but I felt the skips forward disrupted the elliptical narrative and fairly slow progression thitherto.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 3, 2007 3:31:10 GMT
PS. Casey Affleck = performance of the year, thus far. Agreed. At least tied with Mortensen. Also, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis = score of the year, thus far and most likely finally. Warren Ellis is the violinist from Dirty Three, by the way. Did you get a chance to listen to them yet? No. I couldn't stop laughing at Cave's cameo, by the way. It brought back memories of Wings of Desire, which is more or less a video promo within the film (much more melancholic in that film, though). Put it this way: I was verging on tears when Pitt put his gun down and checked the picture on the wall for dusting, and ten minutes later I couldn't wait to get out of the cinema.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 3, 2007 19:25:20 GMT
Seeing Assassination made me want to re-watch Chopper. I like Dominik's casual treatment of seemingly significant characters, how they come and go. It's quite messy (or structurally unconventional), and it works for me.
The question I need to ask, though, is why seven years between his first and second film?
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Dec 3, 2007 20:22:07 GMT
It should've been a out a year ago, it was shot August-December 2005. I think he worked for a while on an adaptation of The Demolished Man (which De Palma has been trying to get made since the '70s).
Wiki:
"Dominik is currently writing his third feature to direct exploring present day racial tensions in Sydney with Aboriginal actress Deborah Mailman being considered for the lead role; Heath Ledger, Toni Collette and Aaron Pederson are also on the director's wish list."
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 3, 2007 21:45:24 GMT
I wouldn't think there's a shortage of actors wanting to work with him. He draws good performances. Eric Bana is marvellous in Chopper.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Dec 9, 2007 18:35:17 GMT
I didn't expect the story to continue so far past James' death. But there was more to say, which is the significance of not just calling the film The Assassination of Jesse James. Affleck has more screentime than Pitt. I think seeing Robert Ford's story through to its conclusion, and giving it the same attention as it received prior to James' death, is crucial. Definitely, I didn't have a problem with his screentime or significance in the story (is Affleck's a main role or supporting role?), but I had a problem with the way it was done. Like I said, not sure, right now, how else it could have been done, but I felt the skips forward disrupted the elliptical narrative and fairly slow progression thitherto. You're probably right. Maybe some of the lovely, rich languor of the midsection should've been sacrificed to allow a deeper exploration of Ford's celebrity and life post-Jesse. It's a minor niggle for me, though. This isn't Dominik's preferred cut anyway, is it?
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 9, 2007 23:50:06 GMT
I don't know.
Dunno if you realised it, but I moved it up a star. After a week of reflection, it's a tremendous film. You should see Chopper soon as.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Dec 10, 2007 1:14:55 GMT
I've borrowed it from a friend.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 10, 2007 1:42:10 GMT
It's one of those films you hear of from obnoxious people, the kind who spurt out enthusiasm which sparks the kind of "Hm, doubt I'll like that" reaction in you. But it's got the same subtle, elliptical narrative patterns as Jesse James, as well as great visuals, and a fantastic performance from Eric Bana.
(I think the narrative pattern and visuals were stepped up a gear for Jesse James.)
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Blib
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Post by Blib on Dec 10, 2007 2:13:57 GMT
This is why I already love this site. You all are guiding me to all sorts of great movies that I would never have seen. The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford is one that I wanted to see already, but after reading this thread you have me wanting to see Chopper as well, which is a movie I have never even heard of until now.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Dec 10, 2007 16:44:25 GMT
So many movies and so little time. I wish I could operate on two hours sleep a night.
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Blib
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Post by Blib on Dec 11, 2007 5:52:29 GMT
As I was typing the above post I was thinking "So much time and so little to do. Wait, scratch that, reverse it."
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Post by ronnierocketago on Dec 11, 2007 8:32:52 GMT
BTW, Dominik's JESSE JAMES won the top prize for the San Francisco Critics group.
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Kino
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Post by Kino on Feb 25, 2008 1:03:24 GMT
Maybe some of the lovely, rich languor of the midsection should've been sacrificed to allow a deeper exploration of Ford's celebrity and life post-Jesse. Which parts of the midsection would you have cut or changed?
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Feb 25, 2008 1:13:05 GMT
If it were up to me, I'd just have made the film 3hrs+. But maybe that wasn't an option. I don't know what scenes would have to be sacrificed in a trade-off between pre- and post-assassination time if the film had to remain the same length.
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