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Son Of... (Docscribe)
Studio Mogul
Username: Docscribe
Post Number: 8205
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 01:25 am: | 
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No doubt.
BTW, I can't praise enough the animated NY skyline credits and scene transitions. Someone (or ones) put a lot of bitchin' hard work into those, and if there was an award for such things, Shortbus would have taken it in a cakewalk.
"Never thought I'd get around to changing my siggy, did ya?"
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Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3402
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:22 pm: |
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Casino Royale: Gets better every time I watch it. Good show, 007. A-
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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Chris Marti (Cmarti)
Movie Star
Username: Cmarti
Post Number: 5827
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 06:10 pm: |
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I saw most of Happy Feet today on the way home from Phoenix. I can't fairly make any judgments about the film because the plane's sound system was horrible. I had to give up about 2/3 of the way through in order to prevent my hearing from being permanently damaged. |
AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2063
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 08:31 pm: |
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Saw a terrific film last night called 36. Never heard of it before but that may be because I was in Thailand when it was released over here. I checked onm IMDb and it didn't seem to get a US release other than small film festivals. Anyway I walked into Blockbuster and it was there and I took a chance and it paid off.
It stars Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteil and is "a French 'Heat'", which is a very apt description. Very moody, very stylish, brilliantly shot, great music and superb acting. The plot had a couple of minor problems, but nothing that detracted too badly.
A US remake is inevitably on the way and if it stars Robert De Niro and George Clooney as rumoured then might not be bad.
Loved it - A.
Anyone else seen it? |
C.J. (Thief)
Movie Star
Username: Thief
Post Number: 3349
Registered: 07-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 09:32 pm: |
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According to the IMDb, both DeNiro and Clooney are attached, so we'll see. I hadn't heard of it, but I'll be sure to check it out in my Blockbuster.
JUST MARRIED! -- If you see me posting, my wife must be working.
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Guynoir (Guynoir)
Cinematographer
Username: Guynoir
Post Number: 1502
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:27 am: |
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I've been looking forward to that one, Adam. Too bad there are (as far as I can tell) no plans for U.S. distribution/dvd release in the immediate future. You'd think an acclaimed crime drama w/ two of the best actors on the planet would have a better chance at American release than, say, the latest from Eric Rohmer--but not in this case it seems. |
AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2064
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 12:28 pm: |
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Do French films usually get decent release over there? We get a fair few, especially in London but this is a decent enough film to get a much bigger release than it seems to have got. It's very commercial - I was watching an interview with the director and apparently some of the elite critics in France dismissed the film as too commercial - they callled it too American! He said he has no interest in the kind of films that the French elite like and he's more interested in entertaining people and reckoned if that's what they meant by too American then he'lltake it as a compliment. The mainstream critics in France loved it though. It was nominated for 8 Caesers. |
Guynoir (Guynoir)
Cinematographer
Username: Guynoir
Post Number: 1503
Registered: 02-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 03:11 pm: |
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Adam--The arthouse chain Landmark usually does a good job of showing some of the major French pictures (such as Cache or Army of Shadows) but many of them only arrive in NY/LA/SF or on DVD. As you say, it's strange that such a mainstream French flick as 36 hasn't found any American distribution at all. It's one I'd really prefer to see in a theater. |
Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3409
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 10:43 pm: |
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Eragon: Incredibly unimaginative pileup of fantasy/quest cliches About the typical Frodo/Luke Skywalker stand-in (the terribly uncharismatic Edward Speleers) who's, you guessed it, destined to become the latest dragon rider when he discovers an egg that hatches into a loyal steed, blandly voiced by Rachel Weisz (and I do mean "voiced"...apparently, the film's F/X artists couldn't be bothered with lyp-synch, so the dragon doesn't even move it's mouth when it "talks", instead "thinking" it's dialogue at the hero. Sheesh...). Plus, there's the obligitoy Gandalf/Obi-Wan grizzled mentor figure (Jeremy Irons, in his second stinky dragon movie after Dungeons & Dragons), the Arwen/Leia imperiled princess, the Aragorn/Han Solo dashing rogue, the Saruman/Darth Vader villain (Robert Carlyle?!)...each and every character and plot beat in the film's narrative is regurgitated pap, which is not surprising, what with the film adapted from a novel written by a 15-year-old. Not that hewing to the well-worn archetypes of the genre can't result in a winning entertainment, but Eragon ("Dragon" with an E instead of a D, how droll...  ) suffers from logy pacing, subpar special effects, drab, ugly cinematography and stilted, Star Wars prequel-level dialogue deliveries (John Malkovich's Sauron/Emperor Palpatine main heavy is particularly badly-written). God forbid that anybody try to film the other two books in this "trilogy". C-
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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Dave Lister (Normanv)
Cinematographer
Username: Normanv
Post Number: 2719
Registered: 06-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 12:17 am: |
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Monty - You mean you couldn't tell all that from the trailers and TV commercials? 
Besides those clues, all I needed to know was that it had nothing to do with the "Dragonriders of Pern" books by Anne McCaffrey.
WARNING/GUARANTEE: This post doesn't contain anything useful.
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Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3414
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 01:11 am: |
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Hey, I had a "rent one DVD, get the second free" coupon. Plus, I'm a fan of composer Patrick Doyle (and, indeed, his score is one of the only redeeming aspects of this pile). Plus, sometimes it's just fun to watch a sh!tty movie.
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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Son Of... (Docscribe)
Studio Mogul
Username: Docscribe
Post Number: 8216
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 01:42 am: |
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You no doubt have a LOT of fun. 
"Never thought I'd get around to changing my siggy, did ya?"
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Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3415
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 11:50 am: |
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Stranger Than Fiction: Pleasant surprise: A Will Ferrell movie that didn't make me want to claw my eyes out. In fact, it's pretty damn good. Granted, the premise of a nebbishy IRS agent (Ferrell) who starts to hear a cultured, British voice (Emma Thompson) narrating his crushingly banal life smacks of Charlie Kaufman lite, but Zach Helm's screenplay manages to find it's own niche, and Ferrell manages to squash his worst "comic" impulses and deliver an honest-to-god performance. While it's perhaps not as dazzling a dramatic showcase as Jim Carrey in The Truman Show or Adam Sandler in Punch Drunk Love, Ferrell manages to hold his own here and show a glimmer of genuine promise that I hope he won't completely ignore in the future. A lovely little rumination of predestination and free will, Stranger Than Fiction is a modest little gem. B+
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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fishstick (Fishstick)
Cinematographer
Username: Fishstick
Post Number: 1470
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 03:29 pm: |
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Dead Silence is the most honest horror movie ever made. Its title and its tag "You scream, you die" tell you like it is - you`ll be left in dead silence because there`s nothing to scream about. It ain`t scary. At all. It`s just beyond stupid. So stupid you`ll be speechless throughout this crapfesto, especially when didn`t-see-it-coming-coz-it-makes-no-sense twist kicks in at the end.
I guess it`s a good thing cause if you scream you die. But no such risk with this junk.
Bottom line: wait until it comes out on DVD. And than don`t rent it.
Life`s a bitch and so am I!
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AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2065
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 05:00 pm: |
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quote:Bottom line: wait until it comes out on DVD. And than don`t rent it.
Very good. I'll do just that.
Just seen The Graduate and in the style of fishstick I'll point out that it bothered me slightly that someone as challenged as Dustin Hoffman in the looks department could be such a catch to have women falling over themselves to be with him. That minor quibble aside though, I enjoyed it, thought it way ahead of its time, and thought Anne Bancroft was especially good. A- |
Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3418
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 11:09 pm: |
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As soon as I saw the trailer for Dead Silence digging up that musty old "creepy poem/limmerick recited by children" gimmick (and "Shaw" and "Dolls" don't rhyme), I knew it was a pass. Plus, Saw was wildly overrated.
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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Oh yeah? (Thezookieman)
Movie Star
Username: Thezookieman
Post Number: 4852
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 12:19 pm: |
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quote:Just seen The Graduate and in the style of fishstick I'll point out that it bothered me slightly that someone as challenged as Dustin Hoffman in the looks department could be such a catch to have women falling over themselves to be with him.
Looks aren't everything, you should know that by now, Adam. Personality and a good heart go a long way. But if anyone is hung up about looks they can always go to a site like this to find their own true love
And as for Eragon, I hope that that 15-year-old kid cleaned up when his movie rights were sold. Good for him
Standing in the shadow of the One True City...
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AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2066
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 02:31 pm: |
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quote:Looks aren't everything, you should know that by now, Adam. Personality and a good heart go a long way.
Yeah but he didn't have much of either of those either!
quote:But if anyone is hung up about looks they can always go to a site like this to find their own true love
Sounds like a good idea! I've a hard time believing the guy who invented it is an 8.2 though. If he is then I'm an 11. |
AboutFilm host (Carlo)
Moderator
Username: Carlo
Post Number: 7060
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 10:57 pm: |
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I doubt looks had anything to do with why Mrs Robinson seduced him.
AboutFilm President and Sugar Daddy (www.aboutfilm.com); OFCS Member (www.ofcs.org)
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god save the pens. (Kermie)
Cinematographer
Username: Kermie
Post Number: 2152
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 11:09 pm: |
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For those of you who liked "300," there's a somewhat bizarre yet very cool cross-promotion between it and ... the NHL. Saw it tonight while I was watching the Canes-Craps game. (I don't recall seeing that shot of Brodeur in previous NHL commercials, but I believe Brind'Amour breaking the stick over his leg was in last year's Stanley Cup promos.) |
AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2068
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 02:58 pm: |
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Have we all caught this yet? |
Nicola_D (Nicola_d)
Key Grip
Username: Nicola_d
Post Number: 682
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 04:48 pm: |
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Re: The video: Ah, method-acting; or is it an attempt at career suicide by both parties? Then again, I suppose as long as money is to be made no one in Hollywood really cares. |
AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2070
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 09:01 pm: |
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Lily Tomlin comes out quite well. Russell seems like a freak. |
AboutFilm host (Carlo)
Moderator
Username: Carlo
Post Number: 7061
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 09:24 pm: |
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Wow.
AboutFilm President and Sugar Daddy (www.aboutfilm.com); OFCS Member (www.ofcs.org)
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god save the pens. (Kermie)
Cinematographer
Username: Kermie
Post Number: 2156
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 - 10:38 pm: |
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Oy. Y'know, after someone has gone on a massive screaming tirade, full of the F word (which I use quite frequently myself), it's quite laughable for that person to tell someone else to act like a grown-up. =.) |
Son Of... (Docscribe)
Studio Mogul
Username: Docscribe
Post Number: 8221
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 12:28 am: |
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Ironically, the person who comes out best in all this is...*surprise* George Clooney!
When I read Clooney's account of his near fisticuffs with Russell on the set of Three Kings (or were blows actually exchanged? I can't remember...), my initial thought was "Hey, that was a terrific movie, and particularly well directed, and even George was darn good performance in it, so it must have been a case of a stressed star throwing a prima donna tantrum, and the exaggerating its instigation in a play for sympathy." But after this appalling episode with Tomlin...uhm...no way...Russell is clearly unhinged. A talented guy, mind you, but nevertheless, wracked by some seriously ugly and disturbing 'issues'.
No surprise that since Huckabees (which also underperformed at the B.O.) Russell's output as a director has been near zero. Word must have spread like wildfire...I mean, who the hell would willingly subject him/herself to that kind of humiliating personal abuse? I'm surprised it wasn't enough to get him fired and/or the production shut down. Geeez Louise, that was lawsuit territory.
"Never thought I'd get around to changing my siggy, did ya?"
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AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2071
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 09:17 am: |
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Where were we discussing Kate and Leo reuiniting?
Well it's happening and is being directed by Sam Mendes, which means it'll be awesome.
I'll make my Oscar predictions for 2008 now and say Kate and Leo will definitely both win Oscars. You heard it here first. |
Kathy (Kk1024)
Cinematographer
Username: Kk1024
Post Number: 1828
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 10:33 am: |
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That clip was awful. Lily acted quite controlled in face of his psycho tirade.
I did not heart Huckabees in the first place. |
Nicola_D (Nicola_d)
Key Grip
Username: Nicola_d
Post Number: 683
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 - 03:17 pm: |
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The Host: I don't know why the critics are raving about this one. It's okay in a 50's B-movie Saturday afternoon matinee kind of way, but not much else. Two and one-half stars, mostly because of it's dark, strange sense of humor.
The Namesake: I liked this well made film about families, the clash of cultures and the immigrant experience. Interestingly, although directed by a woman, I thought the female characters did not fare all that well. And the parents were a bit angelic, if not totally believable. Otherwise, it's not all that sentimental. Three stars.
. |
Space_dog (Space_dog)
Key Grip
Username: Space_dog
Post Number: 908
Registered: 09-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 06:37 pm: |
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The Namesake- I too liked this film. It was interesting seeing Kal Penn in a more serious role than the usual goofy comedic roles that he is famous for. I like the parents. Maybe they were a bit unbelievable but I bought into their story. After seeing this film, I am curious to read the book the film was based on.
Red Doors - I thought this film about a Chinese-American family was more realistic since the characters were not perfect and had issues of their own to sort out. The only thing that I did not care for was the fact that the story involving the father and his running away from home was not resolved to escape his mundane home life after retiring from his job. Personally I would have liked to have seen that storyline wrapped up in a bud but for the most part I enjoyed this film immensely.
Dead is the new alive
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AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2076
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 08:27 pm: |
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Since I saw Hot Fuzz and really liked it I thought I'd check out Shaun of the Dead.
I switched off after half an hour. |
fishstick (Fishstick)
Cinematographer
Username: Fishstick
Post Number: 1471
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 09:10 pm: |
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Shooter. Went to see it for Mark Wahlberg`s macho/shirtless/shit-blowing up antics, but ended up really liking his comic relief side-kick. The movie doesn`t know what it wants which is part of fun. On one side, you have cheesy slo-mos of Mark`s swagger(also the name of his movie hero) and lines like "he shot my dog", while on another side they want you to take some conspiracy hogwash about US oil tycoons and mass graves under the pipelines in Africa seriously. Throw completly unnecessary romance with Bambi-faced, big-cleaveaged Southern belle into the mix and you`ll get the idea just how mixed this bag is.
But shit blowing up and shots in the head, fingers, knees, you name it, are applause-worthy (at least my audience clapped each time which is a lot) and comic relief sidekick is actually really funny without being slapstick and dumb.
I`ve no clue what the conspiracy was about and what the conspirators (sp?) wanted but it was a dumb fun that`s worth a DVD rental once it`s on the disk.
Life`s a bitch and so am I!
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Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3425
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 10:24 pm: |
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How anyone could shut off Shaun Of The Dead after half-an-hour is beyond me.
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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AboutFilm host (Carlo)
Moderator
Username: Carlo
Post Number: 7063
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 11:00 pm: |
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Hot Fuzz was better.
AboutFilm President and Sugar Daddy (www.aboutfilm.com); OFCS Member (www.ofcs.org)
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AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2078
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 04:56 am: |
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quote:How anyone could shut off Shaun Of The Dead after half-an-hour is beyond me.
Didn't laugh once in half an hour. Smiled once in half an hour but that wasn't due to cleverness of script - it was purely because Bill Nighy is awesome.
Person I saw it with was having about as much fun so we gave up.
And the hyper-edited sequences were fine the first time I saw them but now I see they also used them in Shaun, they'll be wearing a bit thin if they're used again in their next film. |
Oh yeah? (Thezookieman)
Movie Star
Username: Thezookieman
Post Number: 4864
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 02:35 pm: |
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re: the Lily Tomlin video:
1. Who in the world shot this footage??
2. Why hasn't the "director" of this film been blacklisted from working in Hollywood? This is workplace abuse on a massive scale. Getting into fisticuffs with George Clooney? Calling Lily Tomlin a bitch and worse? What sort of maladjusted freak is this fellow?
Standing in the shadow of the One True City...
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Frances Nicole (Midge_wood)
Key Grip
Username: Midge_wood
Post Number: 1018
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 08:20 pm: |
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Layer Cake I feel that I've seen this movie before, only it had a different name. About the only thing that kept me interested was Daniel Craig.
Mmm. Daniel Craig.
Peace be with you.
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Tim (Tim)
Cinematographer
Username: Tim
Post Number: 1120
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 10:28 pm: |
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Rocky Balboa: There are a few sports (and positions within those sports) where an "old" guy of 40 or so could professionally compete. The notion that a 60 year old man could go toe-to-toe with a heavyweight champion is laughable. I can't figure out if its a critical failure or sort of a bizarre virtue that the material and story is taken seriously. C
For Your Consideration: Bottom line is that I never laughed once, and I can't watch enough Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, and Best of Show. With A Mighty Wind and now this I'm sort of baffled where the recipe is going wrong. C
Idiocracy...loved the humor of Beavis and Butthead and Office Space, so I "get" Mike Judge, but this became nearly unwatchable for me. The biggest problem is that there is more than enough evidence of "dumbing down" now that there was no reason to go 100's of years into the future and turn it into a total farce. D+ |
fishstick (Fishstick)
Cinematographer
Username: Fishstick
Post Number: 1472
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 08:57 am: |
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Children of Men. It was interesting up til refugee camp. And than, put on your helmets and raise your shields cause baseball bats are out to beat you over the head with a message that children mean peeeeeeeeeeeace. Aaaaaaaaaaaah.
Crap ending. But Clive Owen is divine.Why he didn`t get an oscar nom for this is beyond me.
Overall, overrated movie that was satisfying while there were no children but get progressivly worse with a baby arrival. F*** the metaphore, just tell the story!
Life`s a bitch and so am I!
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Brian (Stang66)
Key Grip
Username: Stang66
Post Number: 553
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 11:08 am: |
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Well, since I've been trying to catch up with "Lost" (I've started from the beginning...so I'm knee deep, but what a brilliant show...) I haven't had much time to really check out movies. But since it's Spring Break, I've got some more time.
The other night my mom rented The Holiday, and since it stars three of my favorite actors (Winslet, Diaz, and Law) I decided to give it a go. It was agreeable. It was funny. There were some nice moments. But it was also predictable. I liked the cast all around, but even they could not cover up a 2.5 hour running time. Really, for a romantic comedy, 2.5 hours? GRADE: B
That's especially embarrassing when put alongside the 2005 2 hour adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which I saw last night. And what a dazzling little film. The cast was spot on, the visuals were grand, and the atmosphere was sublime. I fell in love with Elizabeth Bennet myself. Knightley was outrageously good. GRADE: A
if you want me down, oh i can get real low, you better believe i'll be down by your shoes...
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AdamL (Adaml)
Cinematographer
Username: Adaml
Post Number: 2079
Registered: 08-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 01:14 pm: |
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I really liked The Holiday - principally for the quality of acting. Jude Law was absolutely terrific. |
Brian (Stang66)
Key Grip
Username: Stang66
Post Number: 554
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 03:53 pm: |
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The more I think about it, the more I liked The Holiday. After I watched it, I actually called my friend and told them to see it, but she had already bought it. She said that she tried to tell us to see it, but everyone thought it looked bad, so she never told me about it. Law was terrific, as I think he is in general. He's able to play so many different levels at the same time. He really is a phenomenally underrated actor, I think the over-exposure hurt him.
if you want me down, oh i can get real low, you better believe i'll be down by your shoes...
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Kathy (Kk1024)
Cinematographer
Username: Kk1024
Post Number: 1831
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 10:24 pm: |
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The over-exposure and lollipop head hurt Law. It's hard for me to relate to him.
I think Clive Owen's wonderful though. Fishstick, he was on my AFFA ballet.
I bought Holiday for my Mother who watches Pride and Prejudice daily. She's 89 years old, and she loves Elizabeth Bennet also. I'll have to watch it, because I thought it looked bad, too.
Brian - I'm a "Lost" fan also. I keep trying to figure things out, and it makes my head hurt. |
Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3428
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 10:59 pm: |
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The Pursuit Of Happyness: Like Cinderella Man, here's another uplifiting piece of "pull youself up by the bootstraps" biopic cheese that has no rightly reason to be so unexpectedly good. This is a story that easilly could have leaned on schmaltz, but Will Smith is really playing for keeps here in shedding his Big Willie persona. While the film is rather sanitized (really, a black man in a dirty, paint-covered T-shirt can just walk into a brokerage firm in 1981 and apply for an internship without getting shown the door? I don't care how geneal and unthreatening Smith comes across here, it's still tough to swallow) and a bit one-sided (Thandie Newton's one-note shrew of a wife in particular), this is nevertheless a film full of affecting moments and fine acting by Smith and his young son Jaden. Tough to resist. B+
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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Insert pithy statement (Reelwoman)
Cinematographer
Username: Reelwoman
Post Number: 2222
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 12:35 am: |
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I liked Pursuit, too, but was disappointed with the measurement of "success." Before the credits, but after the film, when the postscript talks about Chris Gardner's financial successes, they do not make any references to the personal achievement of raising his son alone. Apparently, that is implied and left to us to infer. It is interesting that the director has said that it was his intention to portray The American Dream - for me, it seemed as though that dream only included capitalistic successes. I *was* impressed by Smith's turn as the desperate, determined father.
"Self expression doesn't seem to be one of your problems."
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Insert pithy statement (Reelwoman)
Cinematographer
Username: Reelwoman
Post Number: 2223
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 12:36 am: |
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As for Children of Men, it should have received more Oscars than it did. The cinematography was amazing, editing, acting, script...Clive Owen turned in an amazing performance. I love him.
"Self expression doesn't seem to be one of your problems."
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Brian (Stang66)
Key Grip
Username: Stang66
Post Number: 555
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 02:06 am: |
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Kathy-I'm a recent convert. I never thought the show would be my cup of tea, but I randomly borrowed season one from a friend of mine and watched all 24 eps in less than a week. But I don't know anyone with season two, so I started renting them the other night and I watched the first two discs in less than a day (one gripe was the placement of the ep "The Other 48 Days" in which they show the people from the back of the plane...I was invested in the other crew and I really didn't want to leave them for a bunch of characters I didn't know...but Michelle Rodriguez is quite good as Ana-Lucia), but when I went for discs 3 and 4, someone had checked them out. Now I'm having withdrawals. I guess you could say I'm addicted.
if you want me down, oh i can get real low, you better believe i'll be down by your shoes...
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Monterey Jack (Monty)
Movie Star
Username: Monty
Post Number: 3429
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:40 am: |
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Yeah, I'm a huge Lost fan as well, Love the mystery, the characters, the feature film-quality production values, Michael Giacchino's music...everything.
-Reservoir Dogs (1992): Getting pumped for next week's release of Grindhouse by revisiting the early works of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, starting with Q's startling debut feature, a still-shocking mixture of the old ultraviolence, funky pop-culture riffing ("The Thing...motherf*cker looks just like The Thing"), a smokin' soundtrack (is it even possible to hear "Stuck In The Middle With You" anymore without the image of Michael Madsen dancing around with the straight razor popping into your mind?) and Tarantino's penchant for narrative temporal gymnatstics as he depicts the chaotic aftermath of a botched jewel heist, as the gang of desperate criminals (Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Madsen, and the late Chris Penn among them) hole up in an abandoned warehouse and try to suss out who the "rat" is in theie midst. Not as "showy" as Tarantino's later work, and robbed of some of it's initial galvanizing power by 15 years' worth of tough-guy crime thrillers trying to ape Tarantino's mix of violence and giddiness, but nevertheless still an absolute must. "You're under arrest, sugar!" A-
Bad bees, bad! Ow! OWWWWWWWW! Oh no, they're defending themselves somehow...!
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Frances Nicole (Midge_wood)
Key Grip
Username: Midge_wood
Post Number: 1019
Registered: 05-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 01:19 pm: |
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Michael Giacchino is a fucking genius.
Peace be with you.
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Tim (Tim)
Cinematographer
Username: Tim
Post Number: 1122
Registered: 06-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 03:51 pm: |
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Enjoyed the heck out of 300. Especially watching critics and reviewers delicately balance their enjoyment of the movie with the moral conundrums contained within. On one level it is as gratuitous and simple as you can get, but there are some fabulous underlying conflicts in the story and ethical paradoxes to consider. Ultimately it is greater than the sum of its parts. Not sure how I'd grade it, but in the context of its genre a definite A-ish type grade. |
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