Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 280

Alex · 01-20-2008, 10:24 AM

We made it a day out in The City yesterday, ending with seeing There Will Be Blood way out at the Bridge Theater.

It wasn't the best conclusion to a great day we could have had but it certainly sparked conversation. Daniel Day-Lewis is fantastic. The movie was obviously made by an amazing filmmaker. The first hour was pretty great. The final 15 minutes pretty much forces you to consider it in relation to Citizen Kane, a sure sign of an extremely confident writer/director but in the end it isn't a comparison made well.

I was never bored but did eye my watch several times through the movie and when they moved to 1927 from 1911 I was definitely dreading another long segment. Fortunately it was only 15 minutes or so.

We had about 5 walkouts during our showing. I don't think anybody was disgusted by the movie (the usual cause of walkouts in my experience) but rather simply worn down, bored, and not sure how much more they were in for.

Glad I saw it, but my vote for No Country for Old Men as the best 2007 movie I've seen is safe. There Will Be Blood wouldn't make my top five.

innerSpaceman · 01-20-2008, 12:38 PM

Heheh, I compared it with No Country, too. I guess since they are the bigger "serious" movies of the season. I liked and admired them both.

The final act of No Country didn't sit too well with me ... and yet I consider it a fine film because I couldn't stop thinking about it for days.

I don't find myself ruminating too much on There'll Be Blood ... but I thoroughly enjoyed it's brief 3rd act that played off Citizen Kane so cannily (but yeah, if that's what prompted all the comparisons to the Welles classic, the filmmaker didn't do himself any favors with a choice that I happen to have enjoyed.)

CoasterMatt · 01-20-2008, 12:45 PM

I know this may sound ridiculous, but the Diving Bell and the Butterfly hit me in such an odd way, I nearly sobbed through sections of it.

It was like a visual representation of the odd dreamlike state I sometimes have after a particularly bad seizure, where I know I'm awake, but can't convey that to anybody.

As much as I love No Country, I'd take Diving Bell over it as my favorite film of 2007.

LSPoorEeyorick · 01-22-2008, 09:29 AM

I also quite like Diving Bell - but not as much as Persepolis. Unfortunately, neither is on the shortlist for best foreign language film because France's proposed entry - Persepolis - didn't make the cut. Not that I care particularly if they win (though Oscar prognostication is a big hobby of mine) but I'd love for them both to have extra publicity. The Orphanage, too.

Alex · 01-22-2008, 09:58 AM

Watched 3 documentaries this weekend:

Helvetica - I think I mentioned this already but can't remember if it was here or in LJ and I'm too lazy to look upthread. Vaguely interesting.

Breasts: A Documentary - An hour-long Cinemax doc from back in the late '90s. Some interesting insights. 22 women talking about all aspects of their boobs and their relationships with said protuberances. The part about breast implants was particularly interesting since it was made right near the silicone hysteria and accepts it as fact but the last ten years has not been kind to the broad claims being made back then without much scientific evidence.

Maxed Out - A documentary about the perils and insanity of easy credit and predatory lending. Filmed just a few months too soon so misses the beginning of the real estate meltdown. Nothing in the movie is necessarily wrong but it really glosses over the role of personal responsibility as if somehow massive credit card debt is a random disease that strikes without warning.

Gemini Cricket · 01-23-2008, 01:20 PM

There's a movie coming out called How She Move. I can't tell you how much that irks me. How She Moves, yes. How She Move... is lame.

Gn2Dlnd · 01-23-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

There's a movie coming out called How She Move. I can't tell you how much that irk me. How She Moves, yes. How She Move... is lame.

Fixed it for ya.

innerSpaceman · 01-23-2008, 03:02 PM

Please tell me he did not just alter someone's quote for comic effect?!?

Stan4dSteph · 01-24-2008, 12:34 PM

I saw U23D in IMAX yesterday. It is amazing. Truly an awesome experience. The 3D is impressive without being gimmicky and the sound was phenomenal. Go see it.

Gemini Cricket · 01-24-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Please spank me and tell me he did not just alter someone's quote for comic effect?!?

Yeah, people shouldn't do that.

01-20-2008, 10:24 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	We made it a day out in The City yesterday, ending with seeing There Will Be Blood way out at the Bridge Theater. It wasn't the best conclusion to a great day we could have had but it certainly sparked conversation. Daniel Day-Lewis is fantastic. The movie was obviously made by an amazing filmmaker. The first hour was pretty great. The final 15 minutes pretty much forces you to consider it in relation to Citizen Kane, a sure sign of an extremely confident writer/director but in the end it isn't a comparison made well. I was never bored but did eye my watch several times through the movie and when they moved to 1927 from 1911 I was definitely dreading another long segment. Fortunately it was only 15 minutes or so. We had about 5 walkouts during our showing. I don't think anybody was disgusted by the movie (the usual cause of walkouts in my experience) but rather simply worn down, bored, and not sure how much more they were in for. Glad I saw it, but my vote for No Country for Old Men as the best 2007 movie I've seen is safe. There Will Be Blood wouldn't make my top five.
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01-20-2008, 12:38 PM	#2
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Heheh, I compared it with No Country, too. I guess since they are the bigger "serious" movies of the season. I liked and admired them both. The final act of No Country didn't sit too well with me ... and yet I consider it a fine film because I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. I don't find myself ruminating too much on There'll Be Blood ... but I thoroughly enjoyed it's brief 3rd act that played off Citizen Kane so cannily (but yeah, if that's what prompted all the comparisons to the Welles classic, the filmmaker didn't do himself any favors with a choice that I happen to have enjoyed.)
	Submit to Quotes

01-20-2008, 12:45 PM	#3
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I know this may sound ridiculous, but the Diving Bell and the Butterfly hit me in such an odd way, I nearly sobbed through sections of it. It was like a visual representation of the odd dreamlike state I sometimes have after a particularly bad seizure, where I know I'm awake, but can't convey that to anybody. As much as I love No Country, I'd take Diving Bell over it as my favorite film of 2007. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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01-22-2008, 09:29 AM	#4
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	I also quite like Diving Bell - but not as much as Persepolis. Unfortunately, neither is on the shortlist for best foreign language film because France's proposed entry - Persepolis - didn't make the cut. Not that I care particularly if they win (though Oscar prognostication is a big hobby of mine) but I'd love for them both to have extra publicity. The Orphanage, too.
	Submit to Quotes

01-22-2008, 09:58 AM	#5
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Watched 3 documentaries this weekend: Helvetica - I think I mentioned this already but can't remember if it was here or in LJ and I'm too lazy to look upthread. Vaguely interesting. Breasts: A Documentary - An hour-long Cinemax doc from back in the late '90s. Some interesting insights. 22 women talking about all aspects of their boobs and their relationships with said protuberances. The part about breast implants was particularly interesting since it was made right near the silicone hysteria and accepts it as fact but the last ten years has not been kind to the broad claims being made back then without much scientific evidence. Maxed Out - A documentary about the perils and insanity of easy credit and predatory lending. Filmed just a few months too soon so misses the beginning of the real estate meltdown. Nothing in the movie is necessarily wrong but it really glosses over the role of personal responsibility as if somehow massive credit card debt is a random disease that strikes without warning.
	Submit to Quotes

01-23-2008, 01:20 PM	#6
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	There's a movie coming out called How She Move. I can't tell you how much that irks me. How She Moves, yes. How She Move... is lame.
	Submit to Quotes

01-23-2008, 03:02 PM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Please tell me he did not just alter someone's quote for comic effect?!?
	Submit to Quotes

01-24-2008, 12:34 PM	#9
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	I saw U23D in IMAX yesterday. It is amazing. Truly an awesome experience. The 3D is impressive without being gimmicky and the sound was phenomenal. Go see it.
	Submit to Quotes