| Author |
Message |
|
| billyweeds |
 Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:16 pm |
 |
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
bart wrote:
Check out the extra segment on the DVD, in which Nick Gianasi "spills the beans" about working for Troma -- I especially like his comment to the effect that "most directors teach that less is more...however (director) believes that MORE is more....lots more!"
It's actually Rick Gianasi, one hell of a nice guy. And the "(director)" is the becoming-legendary Lloyd Kaufman, another highly nice guy who also happens to be wacko--but in a really fun way.
Saw Lloyd recently in Atlanta at DragonCon, where I was a mini-celebrity because of this movie. Fun. |
|
|
| Back to top |
  
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:28 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
Once has a wonderful score and lovely performers. It's extremely slight, which is okay, but one questions the over-the-top praise the film received. I did enjoy it immensely while still considering it vaguely unsatisfying compared with expectations.
Still, I would never dream of steering anyone away from it. The songs alone make it worthwhile. They are memorable. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:03 am |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
|
Billy,
What are you doing watching movies at home when you should be out screening Sweeney Todd for me!  |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
|
| Back to top |
|
| jeremy |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:09 am |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 6794
Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)
|
Billy,
I think you got it just about right. Once is a beautifully balanced sauvignon blanc of a film, but just not robust enough for slab of steak expectations. |
_________________
I am angry, I am ill, and I'm as ugly as sin.
My irritability keeps me alive and kicking.
I know the meaning of life, it doesn't help me a bit.
I know beauty and I know a good thing when I see it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:40 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
jeremy--Answer a couple of related questions about Once for me, if you can: (SPOILERS IN WHITE AHEAD)
How did they get the money together for the $2,000 recording session? And how did he manage to pay for the piano at the end?
Anybody else who's already seen Once can join in the fun. I just want to know. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| marantzo |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:17 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
I saw it, I loved it and I reviewed it, a long time ago. Yes Billy the music alone is reason enough to see the film. One critic complained that the repetition of some songs got a little stale. Nonsense they were effective every time they were played.
One thing I remarked about was how perfect the closing shot was, It encapsulated the whole emotional arc of the story and was very moving, done in a way that exhibits how an artist can create something wonderful with just a simple vision. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| bart |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:52 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 05 Dec 2005
Posts: 2381
Location: Lincoln NE
|
| Just saw Away From Her, yet another splendid film from Canada. Not every day one sees a film about Alzheimer's that is both convincing and somehow ends happily. Beautifully shot, paced, written, acted. The sort of DVD where you might skip the extras because the film is a whole and satisfying work of art, needing nothing appended. |
_________________
Former 3rd Eye Member |
|
| Back to top |
|
| lshap |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:46 pm |
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
|
Billy,
I saw Once early in the year so my memory isn't perfect, but... (Spoilers ahead in white)
I think 'the guy' was never actually broke. He worked at his dad's repair shop and, in fact, his dad was very supportive (in a beautifully-acted supporting role) and may have helped financially. 'The girl' also worked, so although this couple was lower middle class, they were never portrayed as penniless. $2000 was certainly a hit, but the money was there. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Marj |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:52 pm |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
|
marantzo wrote: Clooney in OBWAT reminded me strongly of Clark Gable. And that wasn't because of his look, but because of the performance, though there was a similarity in their looks also.
Was that who he was using as model for his performance, Marj?
Gary -- Yes, he used Clark Gable. I think I mentioned that in an earlier post. He used his look as well as his speech patterns and if you watch the film with that in mind, it becomes not only evident but even funnier. Of course Clooney did exaggerate. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Marj |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:14 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
|
Joe Vitus wrote: Billy,
What are you doing watching movies at home when you should be out screening Sweeney Todd for me!
Joe -- While Sweeney Todd has been get great reviews, it is so different from the show, that I'm taking a wild guess by saying it might not be Billy's cuppa. And the reaction of those who have seen the show and then the film hasn't been good.
Most of the reviews are not on IMdb yet but Newsweek and The NY Times raved. I found the Times' review particularly revealing:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/movies/21swee.html?8dpc
PS. Shouldn't this be in Current? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Befade |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:16 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
|
Quote: The sort of DVD where you might skip the extras because the film is a whole and satisfying work of art, needing nothing appended.
I really appreciated the comments by Julie Christie. She's a person with a humble, down-to-earth viewpoint. And she doesn't talk too much.
I watched The Girl in the Cafe with Bill Nighy and Kelly McDonald (?). Somebody here recommended it. It's a film that starts out one way and ends up at the other end of the football field. You think you are going to see a slightly boring May/December romance between two shy people with poor communication skills. Hang on!
Bill Nighy was just incredible in the first 45 minutes. I kept thinking he would make a wonderful mime. What he does just with body language and facial expressions make dialogue unneccessary. I'm not sure the whole film works when it becomes a message movie.......but......worth seeing. The Iceland location was a nice note. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:19 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
|
| Perhaps it should. But thanks for providing it anywhere. My instinct is to avoid this movie. |
_________________
You've got a great brain. You should keep it in your head.
-Topher |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:11 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
Befade wrote: Quote: The sort of DVD where you might skip the extras because the film is a whole and satisfying work of art, needing nothing appended.
I really appreciated the comments by Julie Christie. She's a person with a humble, down-to-earth viewpoint. And she doesn't talk too much.
I agree with Betsy. I am so glad I listened to the commentary by Christie, whose refreshing take on DVD commentaries in general was worth the rental all by itself. It's at the very end of the movie and has secured my membership in the Julie Christie Fan Club. (And remember, I'm not a tremendous fan of her acting per se; I just love the fact that she exists.) |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| marantzo |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:09 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Marj wrote: marantzo wrote: Clooney in OBWAT reminded me strongly of Clark Gable. And that wasn't because of his look, but because of the performance, though there was a similarity in their looks also.
Was that who he was using as model for his performance, Marj? -- Yes, he used Clark Gable. I think I mentioned that in an earlier post. He used his look as well as his speech patterns and if you watch the film with that in mind, it becomes not only evident but even funnier. Of course Clooney did exaggerate.
In case you may be wondering if I unconsciously had your mention of that in a past post, I thought of Clark Gable as I watched the movie, and I believe I mentioned him reminding me of Gable at the time. I never cared for Clooney all that much, in fact he usually annoyed me. I liked him in Three Kings but OBWAT was what really turned my opinion of him 180 degrees. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| mo_flixx |
| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:08 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 12533
|
Befade wrote: Quote: The sort of DVD where you might skip the extras because the film is a whole and satisfying work of art, needing nothing appended.
I really appreciated the comments by Julie Christie. She's a person with a humble, down-to-earth viewpoint. And she doesn't talk too much.
I watched The Girl in the Cafe with Bill Nighy and Kelly McDonald (?). Somebody here recommended it. It's a film that starts out one way and ends up at the other end of the football field. You think you are going to see a slightly boring May/December romance between two shy people with poor communication skills. Hang on!
Bill Nighy was just incredible in the first 45 minutes. I kept thinking he would make a wonderful mime. What he does just with body language and facial expressions make dialogue unneccessary. I'm not sure the whole film works when it becomes a message movie.......but......worth seeing. The Iceland location was a nice note.
THE GIRL IN THE CAFE is a special film and a must for Nighy fans.
Betsy, your remarks make me want to see FAR FROM HER (AWAY FROM HER) again just to listen to Christie's comments.
Sorry, I still think of this title in French, LOIN D'ELLE.
FAR FROM HER strikes me as the most meaningful film on Alzheimer's to date. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
