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| Marj |
 Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:42 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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In spite of my love of LAT's Oscar coverage, I found this article from all places, The Washington Post, to be the most in depth and on target regarding Oscar predictions, I've read so far. I don't plan to read nor need to read any more.
http://tinyurl.com/2s4pa2 |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:33 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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Persepolis at its best, which is often, was better than any other film of 2007. This is the story of an Iranian girl growing to be a woman in the years 1978-1992, much of it set in Iran itself, a first-hand account of the rise of oppression after the fall of the Shah, who also comes off badly here. I found the animation hard to get into at first, but I got used to it. The story would have been just as powerful if done live-action, but animation keeps some of the darkest hours, such as those in Vienna, and her bout with depression and pills, from simply turning into melodrama, and allows her to handle her marriage without falling into cliche. And there are things, such as her conversations with God, which might not have worked properly in live-action.
There are some very fine funny moments, too, such as showing the body changes that come with adolescence, or an anatomy class in a society when the female body must be totally covered. Sometimes the heroine comes across as braver than I expect she was, but she balances that with unpleasant things that she did, including a couple that were, frankly, evil. Above all, she is very observant both of herself and others.
This is also the story of how a society, given a chance to achieve freedom, put the shackles back onto itself, and how people can find ways to have some freedom even in the face of oppression. Anyone who talks of the United States becoming an oppressive society should see this movie to see what the real thing looks like. And remember that other places like Afghanistan and Cambodia got much, much worse--after all, she was actually able to go to Vienna and Paris and get away from the repression. Although I strongly doubt that she will be allowed back to Iran while the mullahs are still in power.
The movie does lose focus at times toward the end, when it seems like the story is completed but the movie goes on. These episodes do end up having their points, but also seem superfluous. But I loved the way jasmine blossoms entered into the story.
I have to compare this with The Kite Runner, which also touched on a repressive society but did it in a shallow Hollywood style. In terms of results, The Kite Runner is the cartoon, and Persepolis is the one that's alive. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:31 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Cassandra's Dream is the best Woody Allen film this century. Good casting and acting. A tight dramatic structure. Almost none of the laziness and shortcuts which usually bother me in Woody Allen's late output.
Skimmed through IMDb reviews and don't get the folks who call this a comedy or even black comedy. There's some irony, but perhaps only only or two lines which were even meant to be slightly funny. It's a classical tragedy about over-reaching, and how one moral error leads to more. It has some of the same flavor and themes as Match Point, but I'd say this is a much better, more interesting film. (Though now I'm tempted to go re-watch MP).
I always go into a Woody Allen film hoping to like it and pulling for him. It's been an exercise in disappointment for quite a while. After a pretty dreadful early millennium run (Small Time Crooks, Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending), Woody bounced back with the reasonable Melinda and Melinda in 2004, and has had a decent run since. Cassandra's Dream was entertaining and well-paced, a notch above his recent output. I still counted one scene which could have used a retake, and two plot contrivances, but they blended into the well-conceived whole. |
Last edited by gromit on Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:34 am; edited 1 time in total
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Earl |
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:52 pm |
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Joined: 09 Jun 2004
Posts: 2621
Location: Houston
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| Cassandra's Dream didn't stick around in theaters here very long. I wanted to see it, but it left in a flash. I'll have to wait for the DVD. |
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"I have a suspicion that you are all mad," said Dr. Renard, smiling sociably; "but God forbid that madness should in any way interrupt friendship." |
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| Nancy |
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:59 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4607
Location: Norman, OK
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| It never even made it to a theater around here. |
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| inlareviewer |
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:56 pm |
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Joined: 05 Jul 2004
Posts: 1949
Location: Lawrence, KS
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In scant minutes the Blanches will be announced, so the applicable forums are on lockdown. Tres excitable. I hope I got enough Botox under my arms, 'cause I'd hate to ruin this vintage green dress crammed over my 70s Bay Area bellbottoms. At least it stopped raining, or the hairspray holding my crazed torture-teased 'do with the Sontag streak would melt down to my blood-stained saddle shoes. Fortunately, brought a ski oufit and some period French couture, just in case, and a miner's bag full of implements, including the all-too-necessary cattle-killing air gun, plus a couple of bedpans left over from the League of Linney Lovers float. Now once the ratatouille tureen, not to mention the expensive steak, the hamburger minus phone, the giant meat grinder and baking oven, the specialty pies and, of course, my milkshake, your milkshake, milkshakes for everyone, are secured, am ready to rock.
HAPPY BLANCHELATIONS, ALLE |
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"And take extra care with strangers/Even flowers have their dangers/And though scary is exciting/Nice is different than good." --Stephen Sondheim |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:25 pm |
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gromit wrote: Cassandra's Dream is the best Woody Allen film this century. Good casting and acting. A tight dramatic structure. Almost none of the laziness and shortcuts which usually bother me in Woody Allen's late output.
Skimmed through IMDb reviews and don't get the folks who call this a comedy or even black comedy. There's some irony, but perhaps only only or two lines which were even meant to be funny. It's a classical tragedy about over-reaching, and how one moral error leads to more. It has some of the same flavor and themes as Match Point, but I'd say this is a much better, more interesting film. (Though now I'm tempted to go re-watch MP).
I always go into a Woody Allen film hoping to like it and pulling for him. It's been an exercise in disappointment for quite a while. After a pretty dreadful early millennium run (Small Time Crooks, Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending), Woody bounced back with the reasonable Melinda and Melinda in 2004, and has had a decent run since. Cassandra's Dream was a entertaining and well-paced, a notch above his recent output. I still counted one scene which could have used a retake, and two plot contrivances, but they blended into the well-conceived whole.
Thanks gromit, now I want to see it. I didn't want to because of the less than enthusiastic reviews, but now I want to. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:28 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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marantzo wrote: gromit wrote: Cassandra's Dream is the best Woody Allen film this century. Good casting and acting. A tight dramatic structure. Almost none of the laziness and shortcuts which usually bother me in Woody Allen's late output.
Skimmed through IMDb reviews and don't get the folks who call this a comedy or even black comedy. There's some irony, but perhaps only only or two lines which were even meant to be funny. It's a classical tragedy about over-reaching, and how one moral error leads to more. It has some of the same flavor and themes as Match Point, but I'd say this is a much better, more interesting film. (Though now I'm tempted to go re-watch MP).
I always go into a Woody Allen film hoping to like it and pulling for him. It's been an exercise in disappointment for quite a while. After a pretty dreadful early millennium run (Small Time Crooks, Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending), Woody bounced back with the reasonable Melinda and Melinda in 2004, and has had a decent run since. Cassandra's Dream was a entertaining and well-paced, a notch above his recent output. I still counted one scene which could have used a retake, and two plot contrivances, but they blended into the well-conceived whole.
Thanks gromit, now I want to see it. I didn't want to because of the less than enthusiastic reviews, but now I want to.
Me too. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:19 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Gromit -- Do see MP again. I fond it to be much better upon a second viewing.
Now, I am really eager to see Cassandra's Dream. Thanks for your review. I'm like you. I always root for good directors especially when they've fallen into a slump. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:27 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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One thing notable about Cassandra's Dream is how functional and unflashy the camerawork is. Especially compared to all of the recent films I've been watching. There's something old-style about it, like using 80's techniques to just tell a story.
The score is by Philip Glass, which will likely excite some and cause other to groan. I thought the music was a bit heavy-handed the first two times it entered in force, but settled down and was interesting the rest of the way.
I thought the weakest plot point in C's Dream,and one scene that looked a little off, involved the rich uncle.
Not too much a problem, especially since the uncle is played well by Tom Wilkinson (I had just seen him in M. Clayton a few nights before).
Just reading about the film prior to its release, it seems that the hot young actress was supposed to lead to the brothers' downfall, and that a late change switched this to the rich uncle.
That might explain why things were a little bumpy in those parts. |
Last edited by gromit on Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:51 am; edited 1 time in total
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| gromit |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:44 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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A problem with Woody is that he has alot of other things going on -- young wife, kids, jazz band, other projects. So it's not always clear how much time he spends writing and working on a given film. He generally churns out one film a year, whereas many other top directors work on each project for 2-3 years. His budgets aren't huge and he prefers to do things in one take and wrap up by 5 PM, 6 at the latest. Actors and crew love this, and like working with Woody, but there is a tendency for him to use shortcuts, shorthand, and be shortsighted about how all of this impacts his films.
I'd prefer a good WA film every other year over the uneven annual output we get now. But Woody more or less sets his own rules and follows his own dixieland drummer. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:06 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Taxi to the Dark Side.
First I've heard of this, though I have encountered some taxi drivers who could have used a little torture.
According to the Db of IM, it was released in the US Jan 18.
Thought it had to be '07 to qualify.
Only has a mere 451 votes on IMDb which is very low for a recent film.
Shrug.
Anyone have any favorite Iraq War docs?
There were many out there and I never got a grip on which were good, best, etc.
No End In Sight is well-done but didn't go much beyond the news I knew. Seemed best for those who wanted a recap or weren't following closely while US foreign policy hit a sandbar.
I also saw Gunner Palace which is interesting because most of the footage was shot by US soldiers themselves. Though it looks amateurish and isn't too insightful, does give a look at what life is like for the soldiers, and what awaits them on return.
Baghdad ER is here on Dvd, but I haven't picked it up. This was an HBO film.
There's also a few others I don't know much about:
UNCOVERED: The War on Iraq
The Ground Truth
Obviously now I need to see Taxi.
Any others?
And not just Iraq, but also Afghanistan War, torture, US foreign policy/human rights.
I'd also rec The Road to Guantanamo which is a re-creation of events. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| lady wakasa |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:54 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 5911
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
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gromit wrote: Anyone have any favorite Iraq War docs?
There were many out there and I never got a grip on which were good, best, etc.
<snip>
Any others?
And not just Iraq, but also Afghanistan War, torture, US foreign policy/human rights.
I haven't seen many Iraq / War on Terror films, but what I have seen hasn't been very good (Redacted most recently; it's a recreation of the Haditha incident married to a use of modern info-gathering techniques). I'm thinking it's still early for filmmakers to say much. But I do have a copy of Uncovered in my to-see pile.
Human Rights Watch has an annual film festival in the spring that you might want to check out (well, the website, at least). I would've volunteered for the NYC edition except it's too early in the day. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:21 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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I was mostly wondering about documentaries, as there seem to be many and I'm having a hard time keeping them straight or getting a handle on which are the best.
I've so far avoided Redacted and Valley of Elah.
Though might give them a go at some point. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| lady wakasa |
| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:30 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 5911
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
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gromit wrote: I was mostly wondering about documentaries, as there seem to be many and I'm having a hard time keeping them straight or getting a handle on which are the best.
I've so far avoided Redacted and Valley of Elah.
Though might give them a go at some point.
I noticed that, but Redacted is "based on" (and they're in the ballpark with most of the facts) so figured it might be of interest.
I'm still thinking it's too early for a good anything on current military activites. |
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