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lshap |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:39 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
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Bart - Syriana jumps around from location to location every 10 seconds or so. It won't necessarily leave you confused but it may leave you jetlagged. For that reason I'd recommend drinking coffee and watching it all in one glorious shot, if possible.
I loved the film, by the way. It's one example of why I think Matt Damon has made the best film choices of any actor in the past two years. |
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yambu |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:19 pm |
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Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 6441
Location: SF Bay Area
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The Conformist is one scary movie, giving dramatic exposure to Hannah Arendt's notion of the banality of evil. Twentieth Century fascism has its true believers, doers with perverted courage and vision who make the revolutions happen and who later fill the history books. This film picks up with the masses of anonymous people like the character Marcello, who "normalize" the day-to-day barbarism, who are motivated by such things as the assurance of a comfortable apartment. This is not an oppressive regime for those who simply go with the flow, performing the rather routine tasks of purging society of its conscience.
The film itself is gorgeous. The warm interiors remind me of Bergman's Fanny and Alexander. And these up against the over-sized sterility of official rooms. I'm going to have to buy this one. Perhaps in the next viewing I'll better appreciate the sexual overlays. |
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chillywilly |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:23 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
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lshap wrote: Bart - Syriana jumps around from location to location every 10 seconds or so. It won't necessarily leave you confused but it may leave you jetlagged. For that reason I'd recommend drinking coffee and watching it all in one glorious shot, if possible.
Matt Damon was one of two reasons I stuck with the film. The other was Clooney's great performance. The plot and the story were what I had issues with and the flow of them throughout the film. |
_________________ Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
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Syd |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:25 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12929
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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chillywilly wrote: lshap wrote: Bart - Syriana jumps around from location to location every 10 seconds or so. It won't necessarily leave you confused but it may leave you jetlagged. For that reason I'd recommend drinking coffee and watching it all in one glorious shot, if possible.
Matt Damon was one of two reasons I stuck with the film. The other was Clooney's great performance. The plot and the story were what I had issues with and the flow of them throughout the film.
I liked Alexander Siddig, too, but I don't care for the film. |
_________________ Rocky Laocoon foretold of Troy's doom, only to find snaky water. They pulled him in and Rocky can't swim. Now Rocky wishes he were an otter! |
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ehle64 |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:45 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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Syriana is great film entertainment.
yambu -- thx 4 the thoughts on The Conformist. For some reason, my DVDs of that and 1900 are lost in transit to me from amazon.com.
*sigh* |
_________________ It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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mo_flixx |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:49 pm |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 12533
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ehle64 wrote: yambu -- thx 4 the thoughts on The Conformist. For some reason, my DVDs of that and 1900 are lost in transit to me from amazon.com.
*sigh*
Mine haven't arrived yet either. |
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yambu |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 8:28 pm |
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Joined: 23 May 2004
Posts: 6441
Location: SF Bay Area
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mo_flixx wrote: ehle64 wrote: yambu -- thx 4 the thoughts on The Conformist. For some reason, my DVDs of that and 1900 are lost in transit to me from amazon.com.
*sigh*
Mine haven't arrived yet either.
Sorry to hear it. If you don't mind, keep us posted, please. |
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ehle64 |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:45 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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While waiting for my Bertolucci DVDs to arrive, I realized that I had DL'd a movie rental from MovieLink, I wanted to see how it would look on my laptop (but beware the expiration date!), so I chose Wim Wender's 2005 Don't Come Knocking, http://imdb.com/title/tt0377800/, written by and starring Sam Shepard (who would have totally been given all my Blanche support for Best Actor, over Heath, over Philip and Gordon-Levitt, too). The rest of the cast is completely special and pertinent in their own very specific ways: Jessica Lange, Sarah Polley, Tim Roth, Fairuza Balk, Gabriel Mann and a most wonderful and effortless Eva Marie Saint. The story is that of an old Movie Star, famous for Westerns and for getting in trouble. He's had enough. Time to reflect. Flees the set of a multi-million dollar Studio sequel. Kick in some T. Bone Burnett score reminiscent of the best Ry Cooder stuff from Paris, Texas and you have one helluva trip though a looking glass. Please rent this film. It deserves a wider audience.

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_________________ It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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ehle64 |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:45 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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_________________ It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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ehle64 |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:47 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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yambu wrote: mo_flixx wrote: ehle64 wrote: yambu -- thx 4 the thoughts on The Conformist. For some reason, my DVDs of that and 1900 are lost in transit to me from amazon.com.
*sigh*
Mine haven't arrived yet either.
Sorry to hear it. If you don't mind, keep us posted, please.
Will do. mo -- wanna coordinate a viewing time for The Conformist?? |
_________________ It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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gromit |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:12 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9016
Location: Shanghai
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I keep thinking about picking up Don't Come Knocking. Maybe that'll get me to get it. I'm not much of a Wenders fan, but do like Shepard. Anyone else have an opinion on it?
I started The Conformist last night , but only made it 40 minutes in before my brain shut down. Looks interesting, a pretty good set-up, nice interior shots, different than what I expected (so far). Something to look forward to tonight. |
_________________ Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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mo_flixx |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:38 pm |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 12533
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gromit wrote: I keep thinking about picking up Don't Come Knocking. Maybe that'll get me to get it. I'm not much of a Wenders fan, but do like Shepard. Anyone else have an opinion on it?
I saw DON'T COME KNOCKING. I think what interested me the most was the scenes with Shepherd and Lange. I found it one of those movies that makes the viewer uncomfortable - difficult family relationships, depressing environs, loser characters. ehle has picked a photo of one of the most memorable scenes - the youths exploding out on the street.
Curiously, I did see FRANCES with Lange and Shepherd at the Sta. Fe Film Fest. A vault print from Universal. It was the film where Lange and Shepherd fell in love. An incredibly intense story & experience. Too bad the print has turned so red. I assume it's not out on DVD...an amazing film. |
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Marj |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:57 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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It really is. And IMO, Lange's best acting. She has to go to Hell and back and does so with out a seam. Watch her in the interview the scene with Mama. That is true hatred. As real as anything I've ever seen anywhere, anytime. |
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ehle64 |
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:12 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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Frances was the film where I positively fell in love with Lange, I guess, like Shepard. One of my favorites and it is available on DVD. I also feel like she should have won her Oscar for that and not Tootsie, but am probably in the minority knowing how beloved Tootsie is to most people. |
_________________ It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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Syd |
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:10 am |
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Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12929
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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I thought Teri Garr was the one who should have gotten the Oscar for Tootsie. |
_________________ Rocky Laocoon foretold of Troy's doom, only to find snaky water. They pulled him in and Rocky can't swim. Now Rocky wishes he were an otter! |
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