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| ehle64 |
 Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:07 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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Befade -- wasn't it you who was curious to my Running With Scissors thoughts? Well, I liked it. Didn't love it. Wouldn't nominate it for anything except perhaps an HM for Annette Bening (this woman even cried like a psycho!) I know it's no friggin' masterpiece of any kind, but I wonder if the backlash came mostly from critics who hadn't read the book. I really felt that Ryan Murphy fleshed out the characters well. I mean, of course they were caricatures, but that's what made the book so funny and interesting. It also totally could have been a 90-minute picture.
I also watched Sherrybaby today. I think I saw Down To The Bone too recently. Very similar themes. Gyllenhaal was great and obviously has a great body, but I kind of got that after the 5th time she was burrowing some dude's head in her crotch. |
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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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| Marc |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:13 am |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
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Quote: Gyllenhaal was great and obviously has a great body
Gyllenhaal can go from being really hot looking one moment to being very plain looking the next. She's a chameleon. |
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| Trish |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:05 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 2438
Location: Massachusetts
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i bought The Departed and watched it for the third time a couple days ago. I have to say I liked even more this time - fully appreciating all the performances - its moved up in my best film of 2006 list .
I was cheap buying the DVD version with no extras and now am regretting it . Has anyone bought the special edition (2-disc) - Were the extras worth the additional $10? When I saw it didn't have a director's commentary I hesitated and bought the $14 version. In particular, are the additional scenes any good?
I think I'll try to get it eventually from the library - There's Spec Edition DVD floating around there - although I'll probably have to wait 6 months to view it |
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| mo_flixx |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:03 pm |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
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| TARGET is supposed to have a good price for THE DEPARTED version with the extras. |
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| chillywilly |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:02 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
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Trish wrote: i bought The Departed and watched it for the third time a couple days ago. I have to say I liked even more this time - fully appreciating all the performances - its moved up in my best film of 2006 list .
I was cheap buying the DVD version with no extras and now am regretting it . Has anyone bought the special edition (2-disc) - Were the extras worth the additional $10? When I saw it didn't have a director's commentary I hesitated and bought the $14 version. In particular, are the additional scenes any good?
I got the special 2-Disc edition. The version that Target sells came with a little book that contains the entire script of the movie.
The packaging isn't all that (nothing fancier than the regular version). The extras disc is nice with some deleted scenes and commentary. I've not had a chance to watch the movie again (looking forward to it this weekend), but I'm sure it's a quality transfer.
I can comment more later after I've had a chance to view it all, but so far, I'd say you should be ok with the standard DVD unless you like the idea of having a mini version of the script (it's a nice touch). |
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Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:09 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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SPOILERS
Ace in the Hole/The Big Carnival (1951)
There has probably never been a movie from a major director quite like Ace in the Hole. It is a movie of almost unrelenting bleakness and cynicism, lightened only slightly at its outermost margins. It also not only stands up well more than 50 years later, it has a freshness and relevance that comes from an almost uncannily eerie spot on prediction about the future of the role of media in our culture. Wilder notably responded to the initial negative reaction to the film by noting that he did not think he made in cynical enough. In a time of wall-to-wall media coverage of the parentage of Anna Nicole Smith's baby, breathless television commentary on the suit Kobe Bryant wore to a hearing on his rape case or a prosecutor’s hairstyle, crowds of gawkers outside of a mine disaster, Ace in the Hole plays with a more harshly realistic light now than it probably did on its initial release.
Kirk Douglas gives a tremendous, fearless performance as Chuck Tatum, a newspaper reporter who has fallen off the face of the journalistic globe and who smells the chance to regain his fortune when he stumbles on the story of Leo Minosa, trapped in an old Indian cliff dwelling. Tatum immediately recognizes that he can remake his name on Leo's story, if he can stretch the coverage out long enough. With the connivance of the fame-hungry local sheriff (despicably well played by Ray Teal), Tatum deliberately delays the rescue in order to maximize the story.
I have never seen Douglas give a performance quite like this, or in a role like this. In fact, there may not be another role like this in that era. Tatum is almost uncompromisingly nasty and self-serving to everyone; his boss, his coworker, Leo's slatternly wife, and Leo himself. Douglas the movie star disappears completely in this film. It is a masterful performance; any clue that we are watching Kirk Douglas acting would tear the film down.
Also wonderful is Jan Sterling as Leo's femme fatale (literally) wife, whose reaction, at first, is that Leo's predicament gives her a head start on leaving him. Later, Tatum convinces her that she can make scads of money of her husband, which she does with tremendous malice - the price to visit the cliff dwelling goes from free to one dollar quite rapidly. Sterling brings a great balance of sexiness and ruthlessness to her role.
But the goat of this movie is not just two or three heartless people, it is all of us. As in Frank Cady (Sam Drucker in Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction) who, with his wife, is proudly and fiercely the first of the throng that encamps at the cliff dwelling, and who is not above using his status for his own personal gain; he turns an interview into an advertisement for his insurance business. Leo’s predicament draws a huge crowd, including a literal carnival, and other people who are looking to cash in on Leo, most notably a country band hawking the sheet music to their song, “We’re Coming Leo.”
Wilder handles all of this material with his usual straightforward aplomb. Wilder is not one for shots that call attention to themselves, and the unpretentious nature of his direction serves the starkness of the story well. Likewise the script is full of the bitter wit and great lines that grace any Wilder film.
But the film has one major failure, and that is the end. Tatum, it turns out, at least belatedly has a heart and isn’t the most cynical person in the film, and we get an unnecessary and unlikely attempted murder, a stabbing, comeuppance for the bad guy - all of which seems tacked on and diminishes the film. To me the real end of the movie comes a few minutes earlier, when Tatum announces that Leo had died, and the carnival closes down, the crowds leave and even as the dust begins to settle, we see a long shot of the solitary figure of Leo’s lame father, slowly hobbling back to the mountain that still holds the body of his son. That is an unforgettable shot. That ending, with Tatum essentially unredeemed and alive, would serve the movie much better.
Still, this bitter, cynical and well-made movie is a great gem, and a fine addition to Wilder’s brilliant oeuvre.
P.S. Thanks grace! |
Last edited by whiskeypriest on Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| Trish |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:09 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 2438
Location: Massachusetts
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Yesterday, I had a day off work due to snow (work at a college) so I watched some DVDs.
Bubble - was pretty good, a small indi film (no recognizable actors) but directed by Soderbergh. About a sort of triangle between 3 works at a doll factory. Interesting, and pretty short (78 min). I think it made headlines last year because it was the first film that debuted in theatres, on cable, and for rental at the same time - some experiment they tried
The other two films were a less interesting - Talledega Nights and Clerks II |
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| Trish |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:11 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 2438
Location: Massachusetts
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chillywilly wrote: Trish wrote: i bought The Departed and watched it for the third time a couple days ago. I have to say I liked even more this time - fully appreciating all the performances - its moved up in my best film of 2006 list .
I was cheap buying the DVD version with no extras and now am regretting it . Has anyone bought the special edition (2-disc) - Were the extras worth the additional $10? When I saw it didn't have a director's commentary I hesitated and bought the $14 version. In particular, are the additional scenes any good?
I got the special 2-Disc edition. The version that Target sells came with a little book that contains the entire script of the movie.
The packaging isn't all that (nothing fancier than the regular version). The extras disc is nice with some deleted scenes and commentary. I've not had a chance to watch the movie again (looking forward to it this weekend), but I'm sure it's a quality transfer.
I can comment more later after I've had a chance to view it all, but so far, I'd say you should be ok with the standard DVD unless you like the idea of having a mini version of the script (it's a nice touch).
thanks Chilly - definitely comment here (when you see them) about the deleted scenes. |
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| Befade |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:31 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
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ehle64 wrote: Befade -- wasn't it you who was curious to my Running With Scissors thoughts? Well, I liked it. Didn't love it. Wouldn't nominate it for anything except perhaps an HM for Annette Bening (this woman even cried like a psycho!) I know it's no friggin' masterpiece of any kind, but I wonder if the backlash came mostly from critics who hadn't read the book. I really felt that Ryan Murphy fleshed out the characters well. I mean, of course they were caricatures, but that's what made the book so funny and interesting. It also totally could have been a 90-minute picture.
I also watched Sherrybaby today. I think I saw Down To The Bone too recently. Very similar themes. Gyllenhaal was great and obviously has a great body, but I kind of got that after the 5th time she was burrowing some dude's head in her crotch.
Yep.......Wade, as one who loved the book, too.......the movie didn't have the same vibe.....I'm not really sure why. But like you say Annette was worth watching.
I watched Sherrybaby last night and was blown away. Could not take my eyes off it. Yes, Maggie Gyllenhaal was brilliant......but there was more. Her daughter was one of the most "real" child actors I've ever seen on screen. Maybe some of it was the writing, but the little girl behaved in real little girl ways and showed the attraction/repulsion to her mother that seemed just right.
The story was well done, too......alot of tension...."Will this ex-con mother make it or slide back into her loser/user life?" I like the way it ended SPOILER could easily have been a bummer.......but the road trip with her daughter gave Sherry the necessary dose of reality and humility to face up to what was necessary. An extra anxious moment at the end for me.....the last minute the dvd froze up and I didn't hear Maggie's last words......Anybody remember them?
One thing bothered me. Maggie was wearing a blonde wig in the first part of the film....and it was obvious. Why would a slip like that happen in an otherwise well-thoughtout film? Another thing I question. I thought everyone knew that if you are recovering from addiction to a substance......you cannot drink alcohol safely.
When you think of the Best Actress competition...Dench, Mirren, Streep, Cruz, Benning.....Gyllenhaal is the youngest.....and how can you say she's not the bravest of the lot? No hesitation in her nude scenes......they perfectly described a character who would do anything to feel better or get a break. She gave herself over to the role. Is it too late to offer her for a Blanche? |
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| lady wakasa |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:44 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 5911
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
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Trish wrote: Bubble - was pretty good, a small indi film (no recognizable actors) but directed by Soderbergh. About a sort of triangle between 3 works at a doll factory. Interesting, and pretty short (78 min). I think it made headlines last year because it was the first film that debuted in theatres, on cable, and for rental at the same time - some experiment they tried
I liked Bubble - I've heard it described as Soderbergh trying to reenergize his indie roots (as in most of the indie fare these days is really funded by the big studios).
They had planned seven films with that experiment, but I haven't heard of any others. |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:21 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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Bets -- have you seen Down To The Bone? I thought Vera Farmiga's portrayal of pretty much the same character in a different setting was miles better than Gyllenhaals. Of course, different strokes and all that.
Also, maybe you connected so much to her daughter Alexis because she looks so much like the little blonde cherub in your avvy? J/K -- the girl was really good. |
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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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| mo_flixx |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:00 pm |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
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Befade wrote: ...
One thing bothered me. Maggie was wearing a blonde wig in the first part of the film....and it was obvious. Why would a slip like that happen in an otherwise well-thoughtout film? Another thing I question. I thought everyone knew that if you are recovering from addiction to a substance......you cannot drink alcohol safely....
Funny, I didn't notice that it was a wig. I'm usually good on things like that. The only explanation I can think of is that it was a VERY low budget movie, and that may have accounted for the bad job with the wig.
As to Sherry's drinking...I thought that was the whole point. It was just another part of her self-destructive behavior. I didn't question it...in fact, I wasn't at all surprised to see her drinking play a part in the film's plot.
What did surprise me was that Sherry came from a much more affluent background than I expected. Both her father and brother lived well in middle-class suburbia. I didn't expect that.
I agree about the standout performance by the little girl. |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:24 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12929
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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whiskeypriest wrote: SPOILERS
Ace in the Hole/The Big Carnival (1951)
Good review. It's one of the nastiest film-noirs, and certainly memorable. I think of it as the film where Kirk Douglas grits his teeth through the entire movie. It wasn't until I saw The Bad and the Beautiful that I really liked one of his performances. |
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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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| grace |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:43 pm |
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Joined: 11 Nov 2005
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| From the It Was Just a Matter of Time file... one of the movie channels is showing Skyscraper ("Eighty-Six Floors of Action-Packed Terror!"), starring Anna Nicole Smith, tonight at 1am. |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:05 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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| From the Just In The Nick of Time file. . . INHD is airing McCabe & Mrs. Miller tonight @ 10pm EST. |
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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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