10618 replies to this topic

[Brandon Burke]

I've been going crazy renting things of late. Many of these (embarrasingly) were first time viewings, all of them brilliant.

* Badlands
* Diary of a Chaimbermaid
* On the Waterfront
* Days of Heaven
* The Descreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
* After Life
* Five Easy Pieces

[Free For All]

My wife and I never seem to be able to keep up with the current films, as far as catching them in the theatre. We did manage to see Return of the King in the theatre, and it was great. Some of the best "escapist" movie making I've ever experienced. We rented Seabiscuit, Whale Rider and the Anthony Hopkins "Picasso" film, I can't remember the title. And Finding Nemo. All were good, IMHO. Our tastes run from "entertainment" to "enlightenment" for the most part.

We still want to see Gangs of New York, Cold Canyon, Lost in Translation, and some others.

Edited by Free For All, 08 January 2004 - 04:42 AM.

[king ubu]

I saw Barry Lyndon recently - knew parts of it, but it was the first time I saw it in its glorious entirety AND in a theatre (not tv). WOW!

Is that music playing at the opening and closing from the Vivaldi Cello Sonata mentioned in the credits?

ubu

[king ubu]

Brandon, if you're into Buñuel, check out some more of his movies: La voie lactée, Phantôme de la liberté, Tristana, Viridiana... from a certain point, all his movies are great!

ubu

[Brandon Burke]

Brandon, if you're into Buñuel, check out some more of his movies: La voie lactée, Phantôme de la liberté, Tristana, Viridiana... from a certain point, all his movies are great!

ubu

To be honest, I was only so-so with Descreet Charm.... Seemed very sloppy and predictable to me. I saw the "dinner turning into a play" scene a mile away. Don't get me wrong, I love Po-Mo metafilm stuff like that but the whole thing seemed like a senior project rather than a film worthy of the acolades it recieves. I was so very impressed with the cinematography and editing in Diary of a Chainbermaid that Descreet Charm... was somewhat of a letdown. On the other hand, Wes Anderson has cited Descreet Charm... as a major infulence on his cinematography and editing in The Royal Tennenbaums (he also mentioned Barry Lyndon, ironically enough) so, among other reasons, I'm sure there's something I'm not seeing. There always is....

Edited by Brandon Burke, 08 January 2004 - 05:14 AM.

[king ubu]

Brandon, so you need all the more check out particularly La voie lactée, I think. I have never seen Le charme discret in its entirety (I think it's the only film of the second part of Bunuel's career I don't really know), but together with Phantôme and Cet obscur objet du désir (the last one, which I adore), it forms sort of a triology.
Maybe your better off with the films he made before. Report back when you see some others! Simon del desierto, although unfinished, is another worth seeing.

ubu

[Joe]

Any Tarkovsky or Cassavetes fans round here?

[ghost of miles]

I've been slumming--the Peter Gunn DVDs that I got for Christmas.

[brownie]

Sorry to barge in re Bunuel but the ultimate Bunuel film remains 'Belle de Jour'. That one is a masterpiece with the best acting ever from beautiful Catherine Deneuve in the part of a French bourgeoisie woman stepping into the world of brothels. And with a smashing role for that genius actor Pierre Clementi. The Clementi actor who joined saxophonist Barney Wilen on an exploration tour of darkest Africa. That was after he played in that 'Belle de Jour' film.

As for Joe's request for Tarkovsky and Cassavettes fan, it's definitively yes for Cassavettes and a little yes for Tarkovsky. I know huge fans of Tarkovsky's films but the only one I really found awesome was 'Andrei Rublev'. I should add 'Solaris' but would need another viewing of that film.
The Cassavettes I love are 'Opening Nightg', 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie' and 'Gloria'. I also have affection for 'Shadows' for all kind of reasons and also probably for want of hearing at least once in my life all the music Charles Mingus had in mind for that film.

[Joe]

Brownie -- have you seen HUSBANDS? It appears to be the one Cassavetes film to have escaped revival on DVD, for whatever reason.

I'm certainly a FACES and WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE man myself. Both are exhausting, maybe even purging, experiences.

[Soulstation1]

anyone pick up "the days of wine and roses" released on tuesday.

Edited by Soulstation1, 08 January 2004 - 12:45 PM.

[BruceH]

We still want to see Gangs of New York, Cold Canyon, Lost in Translation, and some others.

You can still see Lost In Translation on the big screen---it's still in a few theaters. Slight it may be, but I recommend it.

I'm looking forward to The Fog of War, which should finally hit the local screens on January 23rd. '03 was a good year for documentaries; I saw several but regret missing Spellbound. Have to catch it on video.

[Brandon Burke]

'03 was a good year for documentaries; I saw several but regret missing Spellbound. Have to catch it on video.

Spellbound was probably my favorite film of the year.

[brownie]

Brownie -- have you seen HUSBANDS? It appears to be the one Cassavetes film to have escaped revival on DVD, for whatever reason.

I'm certainly a FACES and WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE man myself. Both are exhausting, maybe even purging, experiences.

Damn. Forgot to mention 'Husbands'! Yes, absolutely, one of Cassavettes' very best. Wild and merciless. Haven't seen that one for quite some time. Peter Falk was just brilliant in that film. Hope ,it's going to be on show around here soon. Cassavettes is highly regarded around these parts.

[Jazzmoose]

I have yet to see Belle de Jour or Woman Under the Influence but both are definitely on my short list of "want to see movies"...

I just saw Taxi Driver for the first time this week and was totally dumfounded. I can't believe no one ever told me how this movie ends, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the entire world for not spilling the beans! This planet rocks, dude!

[Johnny E]

I just saw Taxi Driver for the first time this week

Where you been livin' moose, a spider hole?

[Jazzmoose]

Yeah, I know; it's pretty strange to make it this far without seeing it, but I missed it when it came out, and just never got around to it. There are plenty of other "must see" movies I've missed as well. For a while there, I just didn't go to movies. It seemed like I'd go once a year, the movie would suck shit through a straw, and I'd vow never to go to the theater again. Looking back, I don't know what I was expecting, going to things like Dune...

[Johnny E]

I just saw Buñuel's 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' a couple weeks ago. Very funny social satire. No Catherine Deneuve though. God she is beautiful!

[BERIGAN]

I have yet to see Belle de Jour or Woman Under the Influence but both are definitely on my short list of "want to see movies"...

I just saw Taxi Driver for the first time this week and was totally dumfounded. I can't believe no one ever told me how this movie ends, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the entire world for not spilling the beans! This planet rocks, dude!

You didn't know that Rosebud was his taxi?

[king ubu]

brownie, I guess you are right about "Belle du jour"! Love that film, too! Strange I forgot to mention it before.

Joe, I only saw three or four Cassavetes films, but "A woman under the influence" was one of my strongest movie experiences, and "Gloria" is a fabulous film, too. Some attachment to "Shadows", as well, maybe for similar reasons as brownie's.

About Tarkowski: I saw all of his films save one, last year of the year before that. I knew "Stalker" - and I know I won't go see it for at least five years, because I still like it, but Tarkoswki films are ones you can't see too often in too short time.
Rubliew is impressive! Yes!
His first film (Ivans Kindheit in german), is a very strong one, too.
I am not that partial of "Solaris", though, and "Nostalghia" did not do much either (except for some strong pictures and scenes that did stay in memory).
"Serkalo" is a film I don't really understand - I found it interesting, mesmerizing, strange, beautiful - but I would have to see that one again several times, I think, to really try and have an opinion.

Some nouvelle vague fans here?

How about Godard? He made some of my all time favorites, like "A bout de souffle", "Le mépris", "Weekend", "Masculin Féminin", "Prénom Carmen", "Sauve qui peut (la vie)", "Nouvelle Vague"... one of the great masters, in my opinion.
I never really warmed to Truffaut that much. The early three Doinel films are cool, "Jules et Jim" is great, as is "Nuit américaine", and some others have good scenes, moments or ideas (as "La chambre verte", for instance). Oh, and I did like Moreau in "La mariée était en noir"!
Than I was very impressed by Chabrol's first two films. Found them much different from all his later ones (some of which I love).

ubu

[Brandon Burke]

How about Godard? He made some of my all time favorites, like "A bout de souffle", "Le mépris", "Weekend", "Masculin Féminin", "Prénom Carmen", "Sauve qui peut (la vie)", "Nouvelle Vague"... one of the great masters, in my opinion.

I just saw A Woman is a Woman last week and loved it.....

[Joe]

Ubu -- I also much prefer Godard to Truffaut. CONTEMPT (looks incredible in its Criterion Collection edition), APLHAVILLE and WEEKEND are my favorites.

I am also a HUGE Eric Rohmer fan. Or so I discovered this past summer.

[rockefeller center]

I saw Lars von Triers's "Dogville" last week which is a very good film. The morality/revenge thing kept me thinking for a while. Yesterday I went to see "Spun." It was ok though I felt they tried a little bit too hard to create some cult characters.

[brownie]

THE Godard film with Jean-Paul Belmondo was 'Pierrot Le Fou'. The Belmondo-Anna Karina duo was magic. Probably THE masterpiece of the Nouvelle Vague.
But I also love 'A Bout de Souffle' (Breathless). With another magic duo Belmondo-Jean Seberg. And I mean love. I was really in love then with Jean Seberg

[king ubu]

THE Godard film with Jean-Paul Belmondo was 'Pierrot Le Fou'. The Belmondo-Anna Karina duo was magic. Probably THE masterpiece of the Nouvelle Vague.

love it! beautiful ending!
(and the legendary Sam Fuller appears there, yes? Not in Le mépris?)

ubu

[king ubu]

I saw Lars von Triers's "Dogville" last week which is a very good film. The morality/revenge thing kept me thinking for a while. Yesterday I went to see "Spun." It was ok though I felt they tried a little bit too hard to create some cult characters.

That ending...

First of all: the film really blew me away! A great experience, really!
But the end - I don't know. The scene were the father turns up is beautifully filmed - when she sits there in the car, very classy shots. Perfect gangster film esthetics). Then there's the Brecht reference (Jenny Song).
What I don't get is how to understand the ending - I finally decided there really is no other way than the old testament one to interpret it. And I don't like that at all.

ubu

[rockefeller center]

First of all: the film really blew me away! A great experience, really!
But the end - I don't know. The scene were the father turns up is beautifully filmed - when she sits there in the car, very classy shots. Perfect gangster film esthetics). Then there's the Brecht reference (Jenny Song).
What I don't get is how to understand the ending - I finally decided there really is no other way than the old testament one to interpret it. And I don't like that at all.

You mean the "eye for an eye, tooth for tooth" thing? Probably. After the end I thought about how would I have felt, had the last chapter been missing; no revenge. I felt Grace's cruel revenge was a necessity and I must admit it was a relieve for me, the civilised viewer. I see it as simple as that.

[brownie]

love it! beautiful ending!
(and the legendary Sam Fuller appears there, yes? Not in Le mépris?)

ubu

Sam Fuller was indeed in 'Pierrot Le Fou'. He ad-libbed a famous one-liner 'Film is like a battleground' in a sequence of the film.
Great, great director, Sam Fuller

[brownie]

Ubu, Samuel Fuller was in 'Pierrot le Fou', Fritz Lang was in 'Le Mepris'.
Le Mepris was another interesting Godard. And having Fritz Lang and Brigitte Bardot in the same film was a typical godardian twist.

[king ubu]

Thanks, brownie! I know about Lang, of course. Have seen Le mépris three times maybe, in the past four or five years. Must be one of my favorite films.
Lang is great. Love that scene outside of the film studio. Then that house on where is it? Capri or Amalfi?
And how Godard somehow succeeds in cutting the BB image to pieces and still she is not totally choped into pieces... love it!
I have only seen Pierrot once, so I was not sure anymore if that cool Sam Fuller guest spot happened there or in some other film.

brownie, how about Le beau serge and Les cousins? I really like these two!

ubu