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| Ghulam |
 Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:00 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 4742
Location: Upstate NY
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The Turkish movie Climate (2006) is an exquisetely directed story of the drifting apart of a professional couple, and their desperate though feckless efforts to save the marriage. Nuri Ceylan, who had also directed the superb Distant (2002) is a master of subtle and nuanced unfolding of relationships and character traits.
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| gromit |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:50 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Argh, just lost my post on Climates.
I saw it last week.
Was annoyed by the petulant, self-absorbed, uncommunicative main characters. This unlikeable pair is bravely played by the director, Ceylan and his wife. But I think using non-actors wasn't the best choice since the film depended so much on small gestures and inner feelings. Some scenes worked much better than others, imo.
There are some gorgeous shots of the mountains, sea and ruins in Turkey.
I need to excavate my dvd's and dig up my copy of Uzak, which I probably bought 3 or 4 years ago. I would also, again, highly rec Ceylan's most recent film, Üç Maymun, a powerful, emotional drama, in which a family spins out of control, guided by a a basic plot which plays out like a Greek drama. It's more satisfying for having an external narrative force at play, along with professional actors to bring the hurt and anguish to light.
Btw, Ceylan's name is pronounced Jay-lon. Basically, much as it looks, except that the first letter has an unexpected J sound. That's because the initial letter actually isn't a C at all, but is a Turkish letter which is a C with a hook at the bottom (which you can see in the title Üç Maymun |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:31 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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Farewell, My Lovely is the 1975 "remake" of Murder, My Sweet, the 1940s Dick Powell version of the Raymond Chandler novel named--wait for it--Farewell, My Lovely. Though the casting of the '75 version is actually more on the money--Robert Mitchum is, on paper, the perfect Philip Marlowe and Charlotte Rampling is far better chosen than Claire Trevor in the original--the 40s version is better. Mitchum does what he was often unfairly criticized for doing, sleepwalking through the role. And Rampling is excellent--far more surprising than Trevor--but she's hampered by the plodding nature of the direction. As for Sylvia Miles in her Oscar-nominated supporting role: Oscar nomination? For what?
Tried to watch Happy-Go-Lucky and made it through about ten minutes. What an incredibly annoying character! Sorry to all those who liked this movie. I have really admired a lot of Mike Leigh's films, but what is it with this one? Sally Hawkins certainly embodies the grating woman well, but all too well IMO. Unwatchable. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:21 am |
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I saw Farewell My Lovely at a screening a movie distributor friend had. It was a pretty flat production. I would blame it on the director. Very disappointing. It wasn't in the same universe as the Powell version.
I saw a lot of screenings at my friend's screening room. Most were a disappointment. The Jerk was one of the good ones. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:20 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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| On the first try, I made it through about 10 minutes of Happy-Go-Lucky. Second try, I made it past halfway. ALL the characters annoyed me. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:59 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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I made it about fifteen minutes in the first time, but that was more because the sound system at the auditorium was so awful that, combined with the accents, I couldn't understand what anyone was saying.
I made it all they way through when I rented it. The characters still annoyed me and I wanted to strangle Poppy. |
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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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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:32 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| I'll try again, perhaps, when I rent the DVD and there are subtitles. Must admit that the difficulty with understanding the accents made a bad situation even worse. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:38 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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I loved the 1975 remake of Farewell, My Lovely. In fact, it was seeing this film that got me into noir, though I didn't know the term at the time. And I loved Robert Mitchum and Charlotte Rampling. For me the 1940 version doesn't hold a candle to it.
Billy- Please try watching them again. Even back to back. Mitchum brings a humanity to the role that Powell never did or could. But Sylvia Miles was truly overrated. On that we can agree. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:18 pm |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
Posts: 8424
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| Happy Go Lucky was a complete delight. It benefits greatly from watching it on DVD with subtitles. I loved Poppy. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 1:56 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Last night I finally saw State of Play. And from what I can tell from my search, the only other person who liked it was Gary. I loved it, and I wonder now whether it would have worked better on the home screen rather than in a theater. [Of course, at the time, I kept wishing I were in a theater. I do think we often suspend more belief, at night in the coziness of our homes.]
Of course, this is my kind of movie. Journalists and politicians. Add to that the strife between an old time investigative journalist and a present day political blogger and we're up to date. What more could I ask for? Add twists and turns, a good mystery with tension that is not manufactured. What can I say? It had my name written all over it.
It also reminded me of the first season of Damages. I only wish it had been a series rather than a film - it needed the breaks we get in series like Damages. Nonetheless, even though I know I'm practically alone in my rave of State of Play, I am going to watch it again and soon! I may even rent the series. And although I do think it suffered because of the format, the performances, especially Russell Crowe's kept me riveted. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:19 pm |
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I saw it in the theatre. Coincidently, I was looking for a movie to watch today and State of Play is at a theatre here. I keep mixing up State of Play with that movie about the CIA or some intelligence group, (which I hadn't seen), so I checked IMDB. Off my list. I rarely see movies a second time so closely after I've seen it the first time, unless I'm seeing it with someone who hasn't. Marta is going to the hairdresser today so that isn't an option.
I don't remember if I mentioned it in my little review, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Probably because of the luke warm reviews I had read.
I'm sure G I Joe will not be as much fun on the small screen. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:41 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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| You're right, Gary. I can't see this again too soon. Last night I was overly enthusiastic but after reading some explanations, I can't see it again. Maybe in a year or so. We'll see. |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:43 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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| Marc |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:38 pm |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
Posts: 8424
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| While HAPPY GO LUCKY received almost unanimous critical praise, it has divided my friends who've seen it. Some find Poppy irritating, others, like myself, are charmed by her positive and cheerful attitude in the face of a world full of killjoys. She's so resilient and upbeat that when she does finally lose her cool it has genuine power and comes as a bit of a shock. Even the most blissed out person has to bring the whip down when their lives get trampled on. Good natured and openhearted people often attract the neediest and most fucked up among us. Poppy's freewheeling spirit makes her a perfect target for the borderline sociopathic driving teacher that enters her life. Misery loves company. |
Last edited by Marc on Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:16 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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| genius post marcus well be *mwah* |
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