jrod
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Post by jrod on Jan 9, 2006 19:07:49 GMT
The Godfather Francis Ford Coppola 1972, USA[/color] Nth viewing; DVDReview coming Friday. Anyone else planning to participate watched the film again yet? Heat Michael Mann 1995, USA[/color] 2nd viewing; TVGreat movie. Wouldve enjoyed to see a little bit more with Deniro and Pacino at the same time, but its still great.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 9, 2006 19:24:11 GMT
Would you agree that, having seen this film (I haven't), Herzog's productions run the risk of being more interesting than the films themselves? Jrod, I've not watched The Godfather yet. I will, though.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Jan 9, 2006 19:28:51 GMT
you get to pick the next movie too
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 9, 2006 19:54:59 GMT
The Star Boarder The Landlady's PetGeorge Nichols 1914 US 1st time; DVD A boardinghouse tramp finds himself the focus of the others' jealousy because of his flirting with the landlady. Exaggerated Chaplin farce, with little of worth to be found.A Busy DayCharles Chaplin 1914 US 1st time; DVD A woman is jealous of her husband's flirting; but she gets her comeuppance in the end. Early Chaplin short in which he plays a woman. Unfunny stuff.Caught in a CabaretMabel Normand 1914 US 1st time; DVD A waiter rescues a woman from a thug, and, when invited to her home, pretends he is a Greek ambassador. Odd moments here and there, though decidedly not in Chaplin's best vain.The Pillow Book Peter Greenaway 1995 France/UK/Netherlands 1st time; VHS A Japanese woman, obsessed with calligraphy on, and in a way as, flesh, searches for the perfect calligraphy lover, and seeks revenge on a publisher. A shapeless form (that is, a carefully constructed piece of Cinema) which may be proof that the medium, in its purest form, is not quite as commercially enjoyable to the masses as the populists may like to think; as a multi-textured, technically accomplished work, it is an original, demanding aesthetic treat.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Jan 9, 2006 20:43:47 GMT
Would you agree that, having seen this film (I haven't), Herzog's productions run the risk of being more interesting than the films themselves? Oh yes, definitely. During the documentary, the interviewer asks Herzog what he will do after he completes the film. He responded that he shouldn't make any more films, and check into an insane asylum instead. While the comment was funny, I do believe he was being serious.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 9, 2006 20:58:15 GMT
There's a brilliant moment in his documentary, The White Diamond (2004), a film about airship engineer Dr. Graham Dorrington and his ambitious attempt to journey over Kaieteur Falls in the heart of Guyana. A conversation has developed between Dorrington and Herzog, and we enter it mid-way through. Herzog is telling Dorrigton, like a teacher does a pupil, of how it would be impossible for the doctor to even think about taking Herzog's up on the airship's initial test voyage, and gives him a lesson in responsibility. It seems a reasonable enough request from a director basically in charge of all of his crew deep in the jungles.
Then Herzog turns around and says (I'm paraphrasing), "It has to be me up there on that flight." Whether out of sheer legal and safety caution, or artistic selfishness, I don't know, but Herzog gets his wishes. The outcome, due to a dangerous malfunction during the flight, is a humorous when, when the on-site safety technician blasts Dorrington in a lesson on safety. Herzog doesn't open his mouth.
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Jan 10, 2006 2:25:02 GMT
Brazil(1985/Terry Gilliam) [Fourth Viewing] A clerk living in a bureaucratic world accepts a promotion in order to uncover the identity of his dream girl.Gilliam's amazing Kafkaesque attack on bureaucracy is an amazing experience, full of surreal moments of haunting vision and sly humor. Gilliam's attention to detail is so extraordinary, I discovered new things even upon a fourth viewing. And the propaganda signs throughout are hilarious. A masterpiece of personal film-making.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Jan 10, 2006 15:56:26 GMT
The Truman Show seemed to predict the giant reality TV show wave (came out a year before Survivor debuted). Excellent movie
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Jan 10, 2006 20:40:39 GMT
Yeah, it's definitely more prescient than satirical. It's more of a religious allegory and exploration of ideas of reality and identity, I think.
Christof: "I am the creator....... of a television show."
Glad you liked it, Capo.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 10, 2006 20:43:32 GMT
Elephant Gus Van Sant 2003 US 2nd time; DVD An ordinary day in an American high school turns into a disaster when two friends go through with their plan to randomly kill their fellow students. A powerful, multi-character drama which, when viewed, is immediately excellent, though one is not necessarily sure why. Shot in long-takes, with the camera tracking from behind its characters through empty hallways, it is a haunting depiction of human tragedy.Brokeback MountainAng Lee 2005 US 1st time; big screen 1963 Wyoming: two cowboys spend a summer working together, and end up falling in love. At times this looks like a ravishing epic. The same cannot be said, however, for the content; an exhaustively long film which, ultimately, makes a mountain out of a molehill. The problem is not in the subject matter or central relationship, but in the schematic way the narrative treats it.
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Jan 10, 2006 20:47:10 GMT
Brokeback MountainAng Lee 2005 US 1st time; big screen 1963 Wyoming: two cowboys spend a summer working together, and end up falling in love. At times this looks like a ravishing epic. The same cannot be said, however, for the content; an exhaustively long film which, ultimately, makes a mountain out of a molehill. The problem is not in the subject matter or central relationship, but in the schematic way the narrative treats it. That was my estimation of about what BBM would be, probably why Ive yet to see it. It doesnt necessarily need to be great. To win a Best Picture all you got to do is throw out something that really pisses off ultra conservatives
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 10, 2006 21:01:37 GMT
Coming out of the cinema, I had three different conversations with entirely unconnected people; all three thought the film was brilliant. The third conversation was with somebody on his way into the film, having loved it the first time around.
A film which wants to push boundaries, but doesn't.
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jake
Writer's block
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Post by jake on Jan 11, 2006 0:10:54 GMT
They Live by Night Nicholas Ray 1948 Sensitive if sentimental debut from Ray with the now familiar tale of two doomed lovers on the run. Where this differs from its many successors is the director’s obvious adoration for the young couple, which is missing in films like Gun Crazy and Bonnie & Clyde. Ray shoots the close-ups with romanticized soft lighting and filters the narrative through his communist gaze; nearly all of the characters are victims of capitalism and its tendency for greediness. Estranged misfits on the edges of society looking to connect to “normal” people or escape to an idyllic place (this time it is Mexico) are other regular themes of Ray’s and he is without doubt the most important component of this film. A notable film with many apparent influences.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Jan 11, 2006 1:37:40 GMT
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Omar
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Post by Omar on Jan 11, 2006 2:17:58 GMT
Broken Flowers(2005/Jim Jarmusch) [Third Viewing] A fifty-something millionaire/bachelor sets out to look for a son he may or may not have.Jarmusch's wonderful road picture might be the best film of 2005. It's subtle approach is the epitome of Jarmusch's work, and the attention to detail and characterization is excellent. Bill Murray in his best performance leads an amazing cast in an always fascinating and thought provoking film.
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Post by Mike Sullivan on Jan 12, 2006 5:19:21 GMT
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Post by Vercetti on Jan 12, 2006 5:48:35 GMT
Le Samouraï - (Jean-Pierre Melville;1967;France/Italy) After killing a club owner, a hitman finds himself pursued by both the police and his employers.This may be the greatest crime/suspense ever. The film is perfectly paced, directed meticulously by Melville. While the plot is simple, Melville brings the film into deeper levels that most crime films lack today. Alain Delon's performance is haunting, like an anti-social Bogart. The Jazz score is also wonderful, adding a pulsating feeling to some scenes, and a nice calmness to others. Definitely the best Neo-Noir along with Chinatown. Another power the film holds is containing less action and dialogue than most movies have, while maintaining fascination that holds strong from scene-to-scene. Review: Film Board/ GangsterBB
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jrod
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Post by jrod on Jan 12, 2006 19:41:49 GMT
The Insider (1st Viewing) Al Pacino and Russel Crowe star as two men who try to blow the whistle on big tobacco. The best Pacino movie of the last ten years (since Heat, also directed by Michael Mann). Paths of Glory (1st Viewing) Ive seen 6 Kubrick films, and this is my least favorite, not to say that is bad. The set used during the charge to capture Anthill at the beginning is absolutely amazing. I personally didnt like the last 5-10 minutes, but everythign before that is splendid.
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