A.J., when you’re done congratulating yourself for your string of stereotypes about Americans, working yourself into a froth from your own ridiculous imagination, you might be interested to know you’re whining to Europeans, lol. You know, it’s a child who can’t stand it when people don’t like things they like, especially when it’s obviously a highly subjective matter.
Actually, the version I watched was in two parts, in total well over two hours.
Anyway, this one sneaked up on me in the last quarter of the movie. Some might roll their eyes at the facile resolution at the end, but I really loved the way the themes of lying and truth-telling (and morality and purpose and belonging) built, and inverted, and finally culminated. More charming than I expected!
A slavish imitation of the “cool” indie film by someone with no real understanding. And a depiction of paternalistic gender relations that would literally feel regressive in a 1950s Western film, relations that become so laughable that the film begins to feel like unintentional satire.
Aside from the usual Fordian Americana, the central message of resistance to prejudice — in terms of race and gender — is very sweet and moving — even as the entire film is drenched in such repugnant racial and gender paternalism. The paradox is Ford, and it’s America.
Let's make a film that takes on an age-old spiritual-philosophical chestnut -- a trial of humanity's moral worth -- but let's handle it in the most pedestrian manner possible, with nothing to appeal to the imagination or intellect. And let's make it an hour and three-quarters long.
Some Like It Hot as the fourth most existential film? The Sound of Music? Just looking over the top 50 here, I can see that the implicit definition of what is existential seems very loose. I expected films about people confronting their own mortality or divine silence. I can see some of these movies being vaguely existential, but the definition here seems to be more of a general notion of people making hard decisions and facing the consequences, coming to terms with their positions as individuals over and against society?
Why is this on the badmovies list? Most PSAs make lists like that because their datedness makes them hilariously hokey or cheesy to watch now. But while the information in this one may be outdated, the gist of it is still true and it's mostly just informational in style -- it has some hallmark elements that make it very 50s/early 60s, but it's not an amusing cheesefest. I don't get it.
Comments 1 - 25 of 241
Movie comment on Sluzhebnyy roman
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
A.J., when you’re done congratulating yourself for your string of stereotypes about Americans, working yourself into a froth from your own ridiculous imagination, you might be interested to know you’re whining to Europeans, lol. You know, it’s a child who can’t stand it when people don’t like things they like, especially when it’s obviously a highly subjective matter.Movie comment on Progulka
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
If you would like to see 2000s youths living an adventure in 1950s gender roles, this is the flick for you.Movie comment on Starshiy syn
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Actually, the version I watched was in two parts, in total well over two hours.Anyway, this one sneaked up on me in the last quarter of the movie. Some might roll their eyes at the facile resolution at the end, but I really loved the way the themes of lying and truth-telling (and morality and purpose and belonging) built, and inverted, and finally culminated. More charming than I expected!
Movie comment on King Solomon's Mines
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Terrible on a surprising number of levels.Movie comment on Zhestokiy romans
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
An apotheosis of inane misogyny.Movie comment on Nebo. Samolyot. Devushka.
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
A slavish imitation of the “cool” indie film by someone with no real understanding. And a depiction of paternalistic gender relations that would literally feel regressive in a 1950s Western film, relations that become so laughable that the film begins to feel like unintentional satire.Movie comment on The Dark Mirror
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Wonderfully campy.Movie comment on The Sun Shines Bright
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Aside from the usual Fordian Americana, the central message of resistance to prejudice — in terms of race and gender — is very sweet and moving — even as the entire film is drenched in such repugnant racial and gender paternalism. The paradox is Ford, and it’s America.Movie comment on The Story of Mankind
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Let's make a film that takes on an age-old spiritual-philosophical chestnut -- a trial of humanity's moral worth -- but let's handle it in the most pedestrian manner possible, with nothing to appeal to the imagination or intellect. And let's make it an hour and three-quarters long.Movie comment on The Singing Fool
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
If the creators of this film could go back and change one detail in that final scene, I think I know what it would be.Toplist comment on 500 existential films
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Some Like It Hot as the fourth most existential film? The Sound of Music? Just looking over the top 50 here, I can see that the implicit definition of what is existential seems very loose. I expected films about people confronting their own mortality or divine silence. I can see some of these movies being vaguely existential, but the definition here seems to be more of a general notion of people making hard decisions and facing the consequences, coming to terms with their positions as individuals over and against society?I'd be curious to know the criteria here.
Movie comment on The Street
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Very nice.Movie comment on Hunger
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
I thought the ending was tastefully done.Movie comment on Sången om den eldröda blomman
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
That last Swedish word on the screen is hilarious in the context.Movie comment on Bataille de neige
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
a.k.a. Snowball FightMovie comment on Queimada
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
a.k.a. Burn!Movie comment on Zhizn za zhizn
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
A Life for a Life (a.k.a. Her Sister's Rival)Toplist comment on Butler's Fantasy Cinema: Impossible Worlds on Screen
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Too many non-fantasy films on this list. You can only dilute the definition of a genre so much ...Movie comment on Evstifeyka-volk
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Loved this one!Movie comment on Burevestnik
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Seems a bit of a poke at something in Soviet/post-Soviet culture thatMovie comment on Devochka dura
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Observant and beautiful.Movie comment on Six Men Getting Sick
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
a.k.a. Six Men Getting SickMovie comment on The Bottle and the Throttle
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Why is this on the badmovies list? Most PSAs make lists like that because their datedness makes them hilariously hokey or cheesy to watch now. But while the information in this one may be outdated, the gist of it is still true and it's mostly just informational in style -- it has some hallmark elements that make it very 50s/early 60s, but it's not an amusing cheesefest. I don't get it.Movie comment on The Sick Kitten
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Boy just had to show off his hat play at the end, even though it wasn't in the script and didn't fit his character.Movie comment on The Kiss in the Tunnel
Local Hero -- aka MestnyiGeroi
Sometimes a tunnel is not just a tunnel.Showing items 1 – 25 of 241