Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 476

Gemini Cricket · 09-16-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Then you liked the last shot of Jackie Brown.

But I liked the rest of Michael Clayton...

I prefer The Longest Day over Saving Private Ryan as well, flippy. I found SPR to be pretentious in places. Also I was confused on how the movie was supposed to be Ryan's flashback but he didn't see any of what happened.

Moonliner · 09-16-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

But I liked the rest of Michael Clayton...

I prefer The Longest Day over Saving Private Ryan as well, flippy. I found SPR to be pretentious in places. Also I was confused on how the movie was supposed to be Ryan's flashback but he didn't see any of what happened.

I've watched Saving Private Ryan a couple of times. I like the beach landing scene. Lot's of action and great sound effects. It's like a theme park ride. I've never made it much past that point however, I assume from comments above that they eventually find the guy....

Ghoulish Delight · 09-16-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

Actually, I find suspension of disbelief frequently tougher in current mainstream movies than in much fare from the thirties through seventies. Quick case in point: A Night To Remember (58) vs. Titanic (97). The latter is so impressed with itself and its shiny effects that it pulls me out of its story constantly. AN2R is subtle, unflashy, and even if the effects are primitive, I leave that movie feeling like I lived through it much more than Cameron's effort. Another quick example; I prefer The Longest Day (62) over Saving Private Ryan (98) for Normandy landing sequences, largely because it doesn't go out of its way to throw snazzy techniques, severed limbs and surround sound whooshes and explosions in my face. Ryan almost seemed like a (very grisly) theme park attraction. And don't get me started on Pearl Harbor. Okay, rambling, must get ready for work.

I'm not saying everyone other than Tarrantino succeeds at it, just that Tarrantino or that all old movies failed, simply that Tarrantino actively avoids it preferring the purposeful effect of putting style and film making technique in the forefront of your mind during his movies (as opposed to the examples you give where the same may happen for you but not for the reasons it does in a Tarrantino film).

Gemini Cricket · 09-16-2009, 03:26 AM

Getting back to Michael Clayton:
Does anyone have an opinion about the last shot of the film. Clooney in the taxi. The shot goes on and on. Kinda cool but I'm wondering why it was there and what it meant. I'm not sure. I liked it, I guess.

innerSpaceman · 09-16-2009, 10:51 AM

I'm pretty sure the long last shot of Michael Clayton is just to let it sink in what he's done and get a glimmer of how he feels about it and how the past week has changed his life.

Keep in mind it was just an interesting way to do the end credits. If it hadn't been the end of the film, the taxi shot would have been 6 seconds long instead of 600.

Gemini Cricket · 09-16-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I'm pretty sure the long last shot of Michael Clayton is just to let it sink in what he's done and get a glimmer of how he feels about it and how the past week has changed his life.

That's what I figured. Very interesting.

innerSpaceman · 09-16-2009, 11:34 AM

Yeah, and I like the movie past that point more than the opening. IMO, it's a great distillation of the WWII genre. As such, I tend to like it better than actual WWII movies that are truly part of that genre.

The cast is great, especially Tom Hanks. And the reveal is not a trick, as some may claim.

Alex · 09-16-2009, 11:38 AM

The "flashback" used to bother me but I've decided to accept it not as a literal flashback but rather Ryan's pausing to reflect on the sacrifice that was made for him and whether he was worth it and then the movie showing us what that sacrifice was.

Still didn't much care for the movie though.

Gemini Cricket · 09-16-2009, 11:45 AM

For me, one of the most unforgettable movies about WWII has to be The Fighting Sullivans. It's horribly sad but based on the true story of the Sullivan Brothers. I can't watch it any more (it makes me profoundly sad) but it's a good film.

flippyshark · 09-16-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

For me, one of the most unforgettable movies about WWII has to be The Fighting Sullivans. It's horribly sad but based on the true story of the Sullivan Brothers. I can't watch it any more (it makes me profoundly sad) but it's a good film.

OOOH what a flashback. I was very young and that was on TV, and man did I cry - Now, do I dare go back and see it again?

09-16-2009, 03:26 AM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Getting back to Michael Clayton: Does anyone have an opinion about the last shot of the film. Clooney in the taxi. The shot goes on and on. Kinda cool but I'm wondering why it was there and what it meant. I'm not sure. I liked it, I guess.
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09-16-2009, 10:51 AM	#5
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I'm pretty sure the long last shot of Michael Clayton is just to let it sink in what he's done and get a glimmer of how he feels about it and how the past week has changed his life. Keep in mind it was just an interesting way to do the end credits. If it hadn't been the end of the film, the taxi shot would have been 6 seconds long instead of 600.
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09-16-2009, 11:34 AM	#7
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Yeah, and I like the movie past that point more than the opening. IMO, it's a great distillation of the WWII genre. As such, I tend to like it better than actual WWII movies that are truly part of that genre. The cast is great, especially Tom Hanks. And the reveal is not a trick, as some may claim.
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09-16-2009, 11:38 AM	#8
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	The "flashback" used to bother me but I've decided to accept it not as a literal flashback but rather Ryan's pausing to reflect on the sacrifice that was made for him and whether he was worth it and then the movie showing us what that sacrifice was. Still didn't much care for the movie though.
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09-16-2009, 11:45 AM	#9
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	For me, one of the most unforgettable movies about WWII has to be The Fighting Sullivans. It's horribly sad but based on the true story of the Sullivan Brothers. I can't watch it any more (it makes me profoundly sad) but it's a good film.
	Submit to Quotes