Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 258

Alex · 11-19-2007, 09:55 AM

The ending or something more fundamental throughout?

innerSpaceman · 11-19-2007, 01:25 PM

Primarily the ending. Not that I was expecting good to triumph over evil, but to have Tommy Lee Jone's character be so central thoughout to the apparent theme, I just hated him feel out-matched enough to retire without really ever having been close to being on the trail of the creepiest killer in film history.

I liked the quasi-karmic car accident that also sorta ended the film, but the Jones character reached such such a dead-end that I felt conned somehow.

I was also disappointed that the film was a straight-drama disturba, without any of the wry wit and vaguely comic viewport of violent criminality that I'd come to expect from the Cohen Brothers and which I hoped would be at least minimally evident in this film.

Like I said, though ... I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Gemini Cricket · 11-19-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

For me, that's the sign of a really good film. Or a reaaalllly bad one....

Alex · 11-19-2007, 02:14 PM

The whole movie, in my opinion, is about that ending (and I don't want to spoil in this general thread so here we go):

Spoiler:

Anyway, the ending worked perfectly for what I was taking from the movie. It'll be interesting to see if your thinking on it shifts as it has time to settle or you see it again.

innerSpaceman · 11-19-2007, 05:06 PM

Oh, I agree. Jones's Sheriff was what the movie was about.

Spoiler:

But what seemed to me to be the "message" of the film, concisely delivered in the title, did not - in my mind - really play out in the film. Or not enough to satisfy me at any rate.

Gemini Cricket · 11-19-2007, 10:03 PM

Hee hee.
I got Hairspray on DVD one day early.
Ha ha. Stupid people at Ralph's putting it out too early.
Haw haw.

Gemini Cricket · 11-21-2007, 01:14 PM

I watched Spirited Away again last night.
It's totally mesmerizing.
Beautiful film.
I think Porco Rosso is still my favorite, but this one's cool, too.

Eliza Hodgkins 1812 · 11-21-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I watched Spirited Away again last night.
It's totally mesmerizing.
Beautiful film.
I think Porco Rosso is still my favorite, but this one's cool, too.

Sweet! I think my favorite is Music of the Heart.

Gemini Cricket · 11-21-2007, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

Sweet! I think my favorite is Music of the Heart.

I don't think I've ever seen that one.

Chernabog · 11-25-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I think Porco Rosso is still my favorite, but this one's cool, too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

Sweet! I think my favorite is Music of the Heart.

Wow... Those are my bottom two Studio Ghibli films. Actually, I really really hate Music of the Heart -- the only redeeming thing was the Engrish singing of "Country Roads" that I used to sing at top volume, which would drive my roommate nuts.

Contly load! Take me home! To the prace! I berong!

Besides that, oh my god I have never seen a more boring or pointless anime in my life. What about it did you find good, I'm curious?

Porco Rosso was cute, but it would have been better

Spoiler:

I saw it, and sorta went... wha? That's it?!? Meh.

My favorite is still Princess Mononoke, with Spirited Away a very close second.

11-19-2007, 09:55 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	The ending or something more fundamental throughout?
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11-19-2007, 01:25 PM	#2
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Primarily the ending. Not that I was expecting good to triumph over evil, but to have Tommy Lee Jone's character be so central thoughout to the apparent theme, I just hated him feel out-matched enough to retire without really ever having been close to being on the trail of the creepiest killer in film history. I liked the quasi-karmic car accident that also sorta ended the film, but the Jones character reached such such a dead-end that I felt conned somehow. I was also disappointed that the film was a straight-drama disturba, without any of the wry wit and vaguely comic viewport of violent criminality that I'd come to expect from the Cohen Brothers and which I hoped would be at least minimally evident in this film. Like I said, though ... I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.
	Submit to Quotes

11-19-2007, 02:14 PM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	The whole movie, in my opinion, is about that ending (and I don't want to spoil in this general thread so here we go): Spoiler: For me, while the cat-and-mouse of Brolin-Bardem is what is happening in the movie, the despair of Tommy Lee Jones is what the movie is about. While Jones is a commentator (a "Greek chorus" as I've seen several people say) he isn't a actor within the events of the story. It is no longer "a country for old men." A new violent age is dawning and with an inevitable grinding action you either stand up to it and get taken down or you step out of the way and admit defeat. That is one reason I want to see it again. I need to hear Jones's opening narration again. And then also see once more the exact presentation of what is happening when Jones enters the hotel room following Brolin's demise. Anyway, the ending worked perfectly for what I was taking from the movie. It'll be interesting to see if your thinking on it shifts as it has time to settle or you see it again.
	Submit to Quotes

11-19-2007, 05:06 PM	#5
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Oh, I agree. Jones's Sheriff was what the movie was about. Spoiler: I guess I just wish he would have found out it's no country for old men after having some contact with the overblown and out-of-control evil of modern times, rather than simply arriving too late. zapppop hated that the scene Jones was too late for happened off screen, but I liked that ambiguity and the message it relayed to me. But what seemed to me to be the "message" of the film, concisely delivered in the title, did not - in my mind - really play out in the film. Or not enough to satisfy me at any rate.
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11-19-2007, 10:03 PM	#6
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Hee hee. I got Hairspray on DVD one day early. Ha ha. Stupid people at Ralph's putting it out too early. Haw haw.
	Submit to Quotes

11-21-2007, 01:14 PM	#7
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I watched Spirited Away again last night. It's totally mesmerizing. Beautiful film. I think Porco Rosso is still my favorite, but this one's cool, too.
	Submit to Quotes