Peculiar and fascinating. To me it bares some similarities to two films from the same year - the unorthodox editing gives it the same gritty British feel of Don't Look Now; whilst the pagan ritual scenes are at times so odd and unexpected they almost wouldn't seem out of place in Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain, the pinnacle of surrealist film. Good ending too.
Really liked the opening and closing scenes. The humour has dated well and as usual tons of brilliant lines. For me at times there was a bit too much slapstick (Woody's opening scene on an exercise bike bares resemblance to Chaplin's Modern Times), but the overall charm of the movie more than compensates.
I really enjoyed a couple of the early scenes. The brainwashing dream sequences were interesting to watch, and the press conference with the television screens was very cleverly done. I did feel the plot got a little loose towards the end, but the climax was a tad unorthodox, which was a pleasant surprise.
I watched the Director's cut. It was really really long, and I suspect the theatrical release makes for a more enjoyable film experience, but there are some absolutely brilliant shots in there. In particular the moving shots in the U-boat, Tipperary, and one short shot in which a destroyer cruises over the camera. Really I felt the first 2 hours could be condensed into 1. They go by without any real character or plot development, such to the extent that the sudden emotional and physical struggle of the ending feels congested in comparison. Still, quite the spectacle, I would definitely recommend it.
Haven't seen Flags of our Fathers, but I appreciate what Clint was trying to do with this two-sided-double-feature-thingy. Wasn't a huge fan of the very very faded colour used, but I guess it helped add to the gloom and bleakness of the film. Despite one or two out of place looking CGI'd wide shots the action was elegantly crafted and distributed in good quantity. Jumping from present to 1945 and back at the beginning and end of the film was a nice touch, done effectively (unlike, for instance, the somewhat over-sentimental scenes that bookend Saving Private Ryan...).
I didn't really engage with the film for the first 100 minutes or so, but the last 45 were excellent. The use of long takes such as the one following William H. Macy's character through the party were particular effective, and gave the film an authentic and intimate feel.
Not as far below the rest of Tarantino's filmography as the imdb rating had me believe. In fact I'm a little bit surprised this isn't in the top 250 - the gulf between this and Pulp Fiction is minimal. Was not slow or drawn out at 2 and a half hours, kept me interested and very slick throughout (albeit maybe not as "cool" as PF). Samuel L. Jackson's beard string is a thing of beauty too.
Beautifully disjointed editing. Such an interesting film to watch, original in many many aspects, but yes, a film for iconoclast filmmakers rather than storytellers.
The film begins baring resemblance to Dead Poets Society, but gradually descends to a much darker (and perhaps more realistic) place. The latter half of the film gets increasingly more peculiar and fascinating, presumably as we delve into the 'If....' possibilities of Travis' anarchic anti-establishment psyche.
case in point being the final scenes laden with discontinuity - lack of blood, lack of on screen wounding
Throughout we are treated with alternating black and white and colour scenes that distance us from the film's reality. The black and white scenes appear to serve as the fulfillment of Travis' fantasies, and as such also frame the immorality and decadence bursting from the seams of College House, the archetypal British private school, of course preaching the exact opposite principles - religion, discipline and respect. McDowell is effortlessly cool in the anti-hero role, and the acting across the board is strong. Oh yeah, it's pretty funny at times too.
Not for one minute did the film come across as pretentious to me. If you engage with the film (and yes, that is at times difficult) it is intelligent and thought provoking throughout. Nowadays anything that attempts to be clever is labelled as 'pretentious', so I guess the film as a philosophical project, is doomed to that stereotype. But really, this is a very good watch - highly recommendable to anyone who's interested in philosophy and/or dreams.
Very cool. Still felt fresh after 40+ years and despite the now much repeated subject matter. Great deal of unorthodox editing was interesting to see; a drug-infused surreal sequence towards the end of the film was particularly surprising (in a good way).
Three vastly different but equally cool performances from the leads too and a great rock soundtrack.
I didn't however like the ending, it felt like unnecessarily forced closure. (
in barely a minute of film it changed my perception of the moral of the story from advocating leading a liberated hedonistic lifestyle, to a warning against indulgence, an example of 'living fast and dying young'.
Great atmosphere, very well-made film. The story comes together really well at the end
though if I had to nitpick CMS' death felt like a massive cop out
. Ulrich Muhe's performance is a perfect example of less is more acting (also, he looks a lot like a German Kevin Spacey...), although I was a little bit unsure about the way his character transformed from senior government enforcer to all out empathizer in such a short space of time. Perhaps I'm missing the point and it was supposed to be emphasizing the inherent humanity in everyone, however I felt an interrogator with his supposed track record would not become so easily emotionally attached to the 'artists'. Regardless, it was still a great film.
I would've said that the writing was borderline ridiculous, however it is based on a true story, which I guess makes it instead an interesting and genuine insight into extreme human behaviour. Although, as with Network, I didn't really engage with the film to a great extent, it did have some moments of poignancy (particular the ending -
the realization of Sonny that he has led his "innocent" and somewhat dependent friend to an avoidable death
). Lumet has a strange ability to produce acting performances of an almost surreal nature in an entirely plausible manner (the crowd cheering on a bank robber/hostage taker; and the whole gay side-marriage situation, which was particularly nice to see from Al Pacino), which is certainly provocative, and provides for a more refreshing film experience than many modern heist flicks. Further, when a large proportion of films in the genre aim to showcase the ingenuity of the criminal, it's pleasant to see an incompetent and thoroughly human bad guy/good guy protagonist. It's testimony to Pacino's performance that not once throughout watching did I question the moral correctness of my endearment to Sonny as the good guy.
Well enough made and plenty of good acting performances, but I simply couldn't engage with the film. The ending was entirely at odds with the entire mood of the film too, and left me somewhat bemused as to whether this was meant to be a meaningful satire, a meaningless comedy or a scathing critique of network TV. My own inability to engage with the film leads me to disagree wholeheartedly with the first line of the DVD blurb - "even more compelling and relevant today than when it was first released." It just didn't mean much to me.
I was hugely disappointed with this, it is very clearly a play and doesn't adapt well to the screen. That being the case the emphasis is placed on the acting, and whilst Brando is superb, I thought Vivien Leigh was not just undeserving of her oscar, but positively atrocious. The fact that her character is a bit cuckoo seems to be common justification for her overacting in every single scene. Her character comes off as completely unrealistic, whereas I think a good interpretation of Blanche would've managed to make plausible her madness. But I guess I can't really comment on the accuracy of portraying a 50s crazy lady from Mississippi. The rest of the cast do an adequate job.
Like what sacmersault said, something about the film just gave me a mental orgasm, hard to explain but just a really enjoyable film experience for me.
Owen Wilson, like Allen in earlier films, does a good job as the only unsettled, self-scrutinizing player in a world full of characters. The way Allen handles the "time travel" aspect too is so elegantly done it feels nothing but natural. Paris is unsurprisingly beautiful, can't wait to see what Allen does with Rome.
Whilst watching it is difficult to perfectly understand what's going on, but as someone else said, reading the IMDb analysis after really helps explain it (and it does sorta make some sense).
Regardless of all that the first half is excellent in it's tension and creepiness, whilst the second half is equally exciting in an almost Tarantino-esque way. The music throughout is superb.
Comments 51 - 75 of 81
Movie comment on The Wicker Man
dchauvin
Peculiar and fascinating. To me it bares some similarities to two films from the same year - the unorthodox editing gives it the same gritty British feel of Don't Look Now; whilst the pagan ritual scenes are at times so odd and unexpected they almost wouldn't seem out of place in Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain, the pinnacle of surrealist film. Good ending too.Movie comment on The Player
dchauvin
So many cameos! Brilliant film, manages to be thoroughly original despite being one great big satire. I particularly enjoyed Richard E. Grant.Movie comment on Bananas
dchauvin
Really liked the opening and closing scenes. The humour has dated well and as usual tons of brilliant lines. For me at times there was a bit too much slapstick (Woody's opening scene on an exercise bike bares resemblance to Chaplin's Modern Times), but the overall charm of the movie more than compensates.Movie comment on Caddyshack
dchauvin
I found this irritatingly unfunny.Movie comment on The Manchurian Candidate
dchauvin
I really enjoyed a couple of the early scenes. The brainwashing dream sequences were interesting to watch, and the press conference with the television screens was very cleverly done. I did feel the plot got a little loose towards the end, but the climax was a tad unorthodox, which was a pleasant surprise.Movie comment on Das Boot
dchauvin
I watched the Director's cut. It was really really long, and I suspect the theatrical release makes for a more enjoyable film experience, but there are some absolutely brilliant shots in there. In particular the moving shots in the U-boat, Tipperary, and one short shot in which a destroyer cruises over the camera. Really I felt the first 2 hours could be condensed into 1. They go by without any real character or plot development, such to the extent that the sudden emotional and physical struggle of the ending feels congested in comparison. Still, quite the spectacle, I would definitely recommend it.Movie comment on Letters from Iwo Jima
dchauvin
Haven't seen Flags of our Fathers, but I appreciate what Clint was trying to do with this two-sided-double-feature-thingy. Wasn't a huge fan of the very very faded colour used, but I guess it helped add to the gloom and bleakness of the film. Despite one or two out of place looking CGI'd wide shots the action was elegantly crafted and distributed in good quantity. Jumping from present to 1945 and back at the beginning and end of the film was a nice touch, done effectively (unlike, for instance, the somewhat over-sentimental scenes that bookend Saving Private Ryan...).Movie comment on Boogie Nights
dchauvin
I didn't really engage with the film for the first 100 minutes or so, but the last 45 were excellent. The use of long takes such as the one following William H. Macy's character through the party were particular effective, and gave the film an authentic and intimate feel.Movie comment on Jackie Brown
dchauvin
Not as far below the rest of Tarantino's filmography as the imdb rating had me believe. In fact I'm a little bit surprised this isn't in the top 250 - the gulf between this and Pulp Fiction is minimal. Was not slow or drawn out at 2 and a half hours, kept me interested and very slick throughout (albeit maybe not as "cool" as PF). Samuel L. Jackson's beard string is a thing of beauty too.Movie comment on À bout de souffle
dchauvin
Beautifully disjointed editing. Such an interesting film to watch, original in many many aspects, but yes, a film for iconoclast filmmakers rather than storytellers.Movie comment on The General
dchauvin
Great battle scene towards the end. The final shot was pretty amusing too.Movie comment on Dazed and Confused
dchauvin
This film has a nice vibe.Movie comment on If....
dchauvin
The film begins baring resemblance to Dead Poets Society, but gradually descends to a much darker (and perhaps more realistic) place. The latter half of the film gets increasingly more peculiar and fascinating, presumably as we delve into the 'If....' possibilities of Travis' anarchic anti-establishment psyche.Movie comment on Strangers on a Train
dchauvin
Classic Hitchcock. The shot of Walker in the tennis crowd is brilliant.Movie comment on The Red Shoes
dchauvin
Beautiful, way ahead of its time. I just don't understand why there aren't more films as visually satisfying as this.Movie comment on Waking Life
dchauvin
Not for one minute did the film come across as pretentious to me. If you engage with the film (and yes, that is at times difficult) it is intelligent and thought provoking throughout. Nowadays anything that attempts to be clever is labelled as 'pretentious', so I guess the film as a philosophical project, is doomed to that stereotype. But really, this is a very good watch - highly recommendable to anyone who's interested in philosophy and/or dreams.Movie comment on Easy Rider
dchauvin
Very cool. Still felt fresh after 40+ years and despite the now much repeated subject matter. Great deal of unorthodox editing was interesting to see; a drug-infused surreal sequence towards the end of the film was particularly surprising (in a good way).Three vastly different but equally cool performances from the leads too and a great rock soundtrack.
I didn't however like the ending, it felt like unnecessarily forced closure. (
Movie comment on Das Leben der Anderen
dchauvin
Great atmosphere, very well-made film. The story comes together really well at the endMovie comment on Dog Day Afternoon
dchauvin
I would've said that the writing was borderline ridiculous, however it is based on a true story, which I guess makes it instead an interesting and genuine insight into extreme human behaviour. Although, as with Network, I didn't really engage with the film to a great extent, it did have some moments of poignancy (particular the ending -Movie comment on Network
dchauvin
Well enough made and plenty of good acting performances, but I simply couldn't engage with the film. The ending was entirely at odds with the entire mood of the film too, and left me somewhat bemused as to whether this was meant to be a meaningful satire, a meaningless comedy or a scathing critique of network TV. My own inability to engage with the film leads me to disagree wholeheartedly with the first line of the DVD blurb - "even more compelling and relevant today than when it was first released." It just didn't mean much to me.Movie comment on A Streetcar Named Desire
dchauvin
I was hugely disappointed with this, it is very clearly a play and doesn't adapt well to the screen. That being the case the emphasis is placed on the acting, and whilst Brando is superb, I thought Vivien Leigh was not just undeserving of her oscar, but positively atrocious. The fact that her character is a bit cuckoo seems to be common justification for her overacting in every single scene. Her character comes off as completely unrealistic, whereas I think a good interpretation of Blanche would've managed to make plausible her madness. But I guess I can't really comment on the accuracy of portraying a 50s crazy lady from Mississippi. The rest of the cast do an adequate job.Movie comment on Midnight in Paris
dchauvin
Like what sacmersault said, something about the film just gave me a mental orgasm, hard to explain but just a really enjoyable film experience for me.Owen Wilson, like Allen in earlier films, does a good job as the only unsettled, self-scrutinizing player in a world full of characters. The way Allen handles the "time travel" aspect too is so elegantly done it feels nothing but natural. Paris is unsurprisingly beautiful, can't wait to see what Allen does with Rome.
Movie comment on 127 Hours
dchauvin
Great acting and directing, but the fact that I knew exactly how the story would pan out detracted somewhat from my overall enjoyment.Movie comment on Lost Highway
dchauvin
Whilst watching it is difficult to perfectly understand what's going on, but as someone else said, reading the IMDb analysis after really helps explain it (and it does sorta make some sense).Regardless of all that the first half is excellent in it's tension and creepiness, whilst the second half is equally exciting in an almost Tarantino-esque way. The music throughout is superb.
Movie comment on The Gold Rush
dchauvin
Slow to start but eventually charmingShowing items 51 – 75 of 81