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| tirebiter |
 Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:25 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4011
Location: not far away
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Michael Clayton is a noisome turd of a movie, a nightmarish void of worthless wretchedness.
That said, I liked it. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:53 am |
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billyweeds wrote: chillywilly wrote: gromit wrote: I also didn't see the need for the opening scene and then a flashback to 4 days earlier. Anyone have insight on why they chose that structure?
I actually liked this part, because it brought you right into the movie without having to tell the story leading up to it. Then the flashback told how he got to that point. If they would have told the story, that might have lagged some without the "how did he get to this point?" intrigue that kept me watching to see how the story unfolded.
SLIGHT SPOLIER
As for Clayton himself. he didn't actually work for the law firm. He was a clean up guy. The contract guy that came in, took care of the mess, then collected his fee. His gambling, divorce, single dad status made him just a vulnerable as the corrupt business guys he dealt with.
END SPOILER
The final scene outside the deposition area with Karen and Michael was well done and exciting to watch. is a superb movie in every way. It's beaufifully structured, gorgeously photographed, incisively written, strikingly directed, and magnificently acted.
IMO it's the best movie of this astounding year.
Agreed, except for the best picture of the year thing, but that's a very close race so inconsequential.
Just off the top of my head, I can think of four movies that year which I consider flawlessly made. MC, NCFOM, CWW (if not flawless, damn close) and EP. |
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| carrobin |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:15 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
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I loved "Michael Clayton," and the main reason I managed to see it was because it was discussed on this forum with such energy. Still haven't managed to get to "No Country for Old Men," though.
As I recall, my feeling about Clayton's job was that he was the guy the firm didn't want too close--an arm's-length dealer who could say and do things that the firm wasn't officially allowed to. And he could sort of pretend he wasn't really a part of the law-firm jungle. Actually, all this has made me want to see the film again.
Gotta get a new DVD player... |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:20 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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From Jim Emerson's review on rogerebert,com
Quote: A few things we can learn from the experimental horror-comedy "The Signal":
1. Do not live in a place called "Terminus." There's no future in it.
2. If your cable goes out, don't stare at the mesmerizing static, just turn off the TV.
3. Do not put on headphones and listen to music while strolling down the corridor in your apartment building if it's strewn with freshly slaughtered corpses, especially if madmen with garden shears are also present.
4. It doesn't hurt to wear a tinfoil hat sometimes. |
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I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
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| Nancy |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:22 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4607
Location: Norman, OK
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Syd wrote: From Jim Emerson's review on rogerebert,com
Quote: A few things we can learn from the experimental horror-comedy "The Signal":
2. If your cable goes out, don't stare at the mesmerizing static, just turn off the TV.
We learned that from Poltergeist also. |
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"All in all, it's just another feather in the fan."
Isaacism, 2009 |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:41 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Into The Wild was pretty mediocre and hard to get involved with. So we have another middle class white boy, not wanting a job or to be like his parents, go in for a Grizzly Adams fantasy.
I preferred Timothy Treadwell, who played himself and had a much more dramatic demise. Also, Werner Herzog's narration was way better than McCandless' sister's (actually I liked her voice, but most of the words were fairly stilted and uninspired). Really I think the film would have worked better leaving out the voice-over narration, and having less of the parents. I would have preferred following his journey as it is happening, not having it presented after the fact.
Into The Wild was too much of an "in memoriam" film, where the lead is a special guy and missed so much simply because he died. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:45 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Quote: Into The Wild was pretty mediocre and hard to get involved with. So we have another middle class white boy, not wanting a job or to be like his parents, go in for a Grizzly Adams fantasy.
Thanks Gromit. I really had a feeling it was going to be just as you said. But I do have it in my queue. Maybe I'll push it down a notch or two. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:53 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Nancy wrote: Syd wrote: From Jim Emerson's review on rogerebert,com
Quote: A few things we can learn from the experimental horror-comedy "The Signal":
2. If your cable goes out, don't stare at the mesmerizing static, just turn off the TV.
We learned that from Poltergeist also.
And whatever you do, DON'T go sticking your head into the TV screen a la Videodrome. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| chillywilly |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:56 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
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gromit wrote: And whatever you do, DON'T go sticking your head into the TV screen a la Videodrome.
Or putting the TV on your head like in THE GROOVE TUBE |
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Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
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| carrobin |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:54 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
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| Well, there go my plans for the weekend... |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:58 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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marantzo wrote: Just off the top of my head, I can think of four movies that year which I consider flawlessly made. MC, NCFOM, CWW (if not flawless, damn close) and EP.
Gary--What's CWW?
Crazy When Wet?
California Wild Women?
Clinton Wins Wisconsin? |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:55 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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| Keep trying, Billy. At least I'm enjoying it. |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:05 am |
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Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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Clowns with Wings
Chicks Wearing Wimples
Cooking Willy Wonka
Back to Billy. |
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I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
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| Nancy |
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:41 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4607
Location: Norman, OK
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Crustaceans without Waistcoats
Cat Wrangling Weather |
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"All in all, it's just another feather in the fan."
Isaacism, 2009 |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:48 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Canada Was Winter
Course Weebles Wobble
Cranberry Waffle Witchcraft |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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