Third Eye Film Society ~ View topic

Author

Message

< Third Eye Film Forums ~ Current Film Talk

yambu

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:51 pm

Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 6441 Location: SF Bay Area

marantzo wrote:

.....I thought they got to South America too fast also. Hell, it's taken me close to two years and I'm not there yet.

I know nothing about this film, other than what I've read here. (I never read reviews until ex post facto.) Even the con comments are making me run out to the big screen for the first time since about Doubt.

billyweeds

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:58 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 20618 Location: New York City

Liked The Hangover quite a lot, though it's not remotely the "laff riot" it's being sold as. The three male leads are terrific, each in his own special way. Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, and Ed Helms are hysterically funny as three guys who wake up the morning after a bachelor party to no memory and a lot of carnage. Cooper is the handsome one, the family man/schoolteacher who, let out of his usual milieu, becomes a raging animal. Helms plays the nerdy dentist henpecked by his cheating controlling termagent of a g.f., and Galifianakis is the socially challenged, strange-to-the-max imminent brother-in-law of the groom...who is MIA.

The set-up is very, very funny, but then the movie stops being hilarious and becomes alternately scary, sinister, and heartwarming, as the three new friends battle a criminal element and bond as brothers.

Heather Graham is along for pulchritudinous episodes.

It's obvious why this movie is such a monster hit. It'll never be a favorite of mine--the tone wavers a bit much for my taste--but it's extraordinarily well made by director Todd Phillips, it speaks resoundingly to a lot of primal issues, and it is, ultimately, a funny movie...just not amazingly so.

billyweeds

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:54 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 20618 Location: New York City

The Hangover is #1 for the second week in a row at the box office, with Up second and...this must be a huuuuge disappointment to the producers of the #3 movie, The Taking of Pelham 123 coming in third.

Bottom line: The Hangover is the breakout sleeper hit of the year and possibly the decade. It's another Pretty Woman.

Syd

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:02 pm

Site Admin Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 12921 Location: Norman, Oklahoma

I'm impressed that Up is still doing so well.

_________________
I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament

marantzo

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:51 pm

Guest

With the saturation advertising of Pelham 123, I am suspicious of its quality. It's almost a truism that when they have a huge advertising campaign for a movie, don't expect much.

lshap

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:31 pm

Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2004 Posts: 4248 Location: Montreal

For what it's worth, The Taking of Pelham 123 has received very good reviews from a couple of critics I've read. It's on my to-see list, and I may add The Hangover, based on Billy's review.

marantzo

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:55 pm

Guest

The review i read from our local critic was favourable but the capsule reviews from all over that they posted with the local review were not complimentary. The general theme of the reviews was that the mechanics of the crime were ridiculous.

billyweeds

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:11 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 20618 Location: New York City

Pelham has gotten very mixed reviews overall, and almost all of them say the same thing: rent the old version instead. I saw it eons ago, and it's heading my Netflix queue at the moment. Predictably, there's a long wait.

lissa

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:33 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 2148 Location: my computer

Adding to the voices singing in praise of Up - it is nothing short of spectacular. Saw it in 3D and the trailers were enough to make it worth the price of admission (Toy Story 3D - June 2010!).

But the film had me in tears 5 minutes out - the montage of Carl and Ellie is the stuff of good film. With no words, set to music that changes mood with the events onscreen, the viewer gets a full picture of one lifetime shared by 2, and the layered nuances were subtle as well as profound.

The rest of the film was just one huge enjoyment. Senior citizen, uninterested in so-called progress and misunderstood by the younger crowd, choosing his own course of action instead of kowtowing to The Law, setting out on a hare-brained scheme that actually works, and dealing with obstacles he encounters along the way...all in the Disney tradition. That, and incredible animation to boot!

I noticed things I never notice in films, for example textures (the cloth of the curtains, or clothing, or rags used to wipe windows) were wonderfully rendered and realistic. The dialogue was sharp and poignant as well as funny bordering on silly. The masterful ability of the filmmakers to take the viewer from tears to laughter in 60 seconds reminds me of some of the better comedies of our time.

But the experience, with lessons not-so-heavyhanded, makes this as perfect a film as any.

As for the 3D vs 2D - I could see that the 2D would be brighter in visuals, but I wouldn't have missed the 3D adventure for anything. I felt as though I were walking with Carl and Russell through the forest and through rock formations. And there's no question I'll own the Blu-Ray when it comes out, so I can see it in all its splendor on my flat-screen set which is made for films just like this.

_________________
Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren't happy.

Earl

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:43 pm

Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 2621 Location: Houston

billyweeds wrote:

The original version played on The CW earlier this evening and, with nothing better to do than nurse a cold, I watched it. Very entertaining. Walter Matthau and Jerry Stiller were wonderfully droll and played off eachother beautifully, like two jazz musicians. Robert Shaw was a scary villain, although I didn't quite understand his motive for doing the very last thing we see him do. Then there was that great final shot.

_________________
"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."

Marj

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:41 pm

Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 10497 Location: Manhattan

Earl -- Spoiler Alert: I assume your asking why he wanted to kill himself? Remember he asked if NY used the death penalty? There are a lot of people who like to have control over their how and when they die. The Shaw character is a perfect example. He'd prefer to death via the third rail to rotting away in prison for the rest of his life. And yes, kidnapping is an automatic life sentence.

gromit

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:03 am

Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 9010 Location: Shanghai

The Shanghai Film Festival started yesterday.
Danny Boyle chairing the jury; Halle Barry, Clive Owen and Quincy Jones supposed to make appearances. Fortunately they didn't sit next to me, as I smelled a bit from 2 hours of basketball in the park across the street, and preferred the empty seats anyway for my basketball bag and the leg room. Sorry, Halle, maybe next time. Apparently, Isabelle Huppert will also be here. I wouldn't have minded being sweaty next to her.

In my stinkitude, I watched Kameleon, a slick and impressive new Hungarian film from Krisztina Goda. This is her 4th film, and she has had a huge hit in Hungary with a smart Bridget Jones style comedy (Just Sex and Nothing Else), and a nationalist film (Children of Glory) about a pivotal, cathartic USSR-Hungary Olympic water polo match in the wake of the Soviet invasion of 1956 (the so-called "blood in the water" match). The latter film was co-written by Joe Eszterhas (and you thought you didn't know anyone involved in Hungarian films).

Chameleon follows two predatory friends -- a charmer and his assistant -- who seduce women, gain their trust, and flee with their cash. Their MO is to get jobs as janitors and snoop around to learn about the female employees, in order to find likely targets. Things escalate when they move into bigger leagues, janitorially raiding the client files of a famous psychologist, and targeting a ballet dancer from a well-off family.

I liked how in the beginning the stud has the Midas touch and is able to turn every potential pitfall into a coup. Then when things start to go wrong, the reverse Midas Touch takes over, the film's dramatic pulse gets racing, and the downward vortex is unrelenting.

This is a very polished Hollywood style production, including very H-wood style music cues and a tasteful sex scene set to music. But it never degenerated into the unlikeliness and hokum which plagues so many Hollywood films hellbent on plot twists and a big-bang finale.
I liked how the film seemed to have its ending, even involving Caesar, their pet chameleon, thus nicely referencing the title. But then, there is another 15 minutes or so, in which a final twist or two occurs. Of course our seducer is the real chameleon, changing his identity and approach, (but still trapped in his own cage waiting for victims?)

My only minor quibbles would be that the relationship between the two crooks is a little unclear. They are supposed to be buddies from an orphanage. But I thought something more was implied. And the character of the assistant crook is a little underdeveloped. Also the main female character seems to move from one male to another perhaps a little too easily, as the plot requires.

A very solid, smooth film. Likable leads, nice pacing, some good dialogue -- overall, a smart thriller. Don't be surprised if you hear the name Krisztina Goda ... possibly making a Hollywood movie near you.

_________________
Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number.

Befade

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:51 pm

Joined: 20 May 2004 Posts: 3784 Location: AZ

Sounds like one to watch for, Gromit.

I saw Goodbye Solo yesterday and had 2 problems with it. First.....I didn't get why Solo was so quick to get alarmed about William and his plans. And I didn't like all the bleak, dark scenes in the taxi cab at night. As the story moved along I appreciated the connection to other characters especially Alex. Can somebody tell me why Solo latched on the William? SPOILERS: I get that at the end of the movie Solo learned how to let go.

Saw Tyson, too. Made me think about how we never really know all the sides to a person. He isn't an easy puzzle to put together. Brilliant boxer...that's obvious at the beginning, extensive vocabulary (does he read alot?), funny way of describing girlfriends/sex, self-blame...taking responsibility for mistakes he's made, his aimlessness, his self-control when Robin Givens is telling Barbara Walters how out of contol he is, his loss of control when he bites Evander Hollyfield's ear. Someone who can blow 300 million dollars and file for bankruptcy, father 5-7 children, get married 2 weeks after one dies, continuously cheat on a spouse......Who is this guy? When I saw him close up in the Apple store.....I saw someone well dressed with pride and politeness......

_________________
Lost in my own private I dunno.

gromit

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:19 am

Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 9010 Location: Shanghai

Befade wrote:

When I saw him close up in the Apple store.....I saw someone well dressed with pride and politeness......

... and a tribal tattoo on his face, with Chairman Mao on his bicep.

_________________
Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number.

Marc

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:58 am

Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 8424

Quote:

And I didn't like all the bleak, dark scenes in the taxi cab at night.

What?! This ain't the fuckin' LOVE BUG.

Betsy, do you go to the movies to see what you want to see or to see what the director wants you to see?

All times are GMT - 5 Hours

View next topic View previous topic Page 2167 of 3196 Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3 ... 2166, 2167, 2168 ... 3194, 3195, 3196 Next Third Eye Film Society Forum Index ~ Third Eye Film Forums

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum