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| mo_flixx |
 Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 10:55 am |
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Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 12533
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Saw "The Illusionist" at Albuquerque's best venue yesterday.
A couple of observations:
Although I like Phillip Glass, his scores do end up putting me to sleep. It's the repetitiveness of the music - so I woke up for the 2nd half after being awake sporadically for the 1/2 half.
Secondly, this is a very dark film. Photographically, I mean. I saw a gt. print and projection was just fine - so despite being in sympathy with the director's dark vision, it was almost too dark in terms of seeing much definition, etc. I got the pt. - "illusion," so it could should have looked a little bit more like a Rembrandt IMO with a few highlights instead of just so dark.
Third, and this is not a criticism...but I found a remarkable consistentency to all the actors' accents thruout this drama set in 19th C. Middle Europe. There really isn't a huge difference between Norton's and Sewell's accents which sound 'almost American.' Just kind of curious to me - but I'm glad that the dialogue coach worked toward consistent European accents rather than having veddy, veddy British pitted against American.
Obviously because of my capnap; I'll see the film again! |
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| chillywilly |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 12:53 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8250
Location: Salt Lake City
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| "cluck" |
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Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:56 pm |
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| Mo, I didn't find the movie too dark visually at all. Are you sure that you saw a good print? And I thought Glass' score was marvelous. |
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| Trish |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:58 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 2438
Location: Massachusetts
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gromit wrote: Running Scared is sort of like a comic book, with non-stop scenes of violence and danger. Not my type of film, though I guess one can admire the effort to ratchet up an entire film. But it was all so over-the-top and with poor dialogue and mediocre acting, that it was hard to get involved at all or keep from laughing at inappropriate moments. If you want to see a film about the search for a missing gun, I'd recommend Kurosawa's Stray Dog instead.
**SPOILAGE of the mean and evil sort**
Throughout the whirlwind of horrors, I think I cared more about the car (a fine cherry-red Mustang convertible), than I did any of the characters. I wasn't interested at all in who turned out to really be a good or bad guy, or who really got shot. Also, why on earth would he keep murder weapons hidden in his basement, rather than in police custody? And when would he have put on a wire, especially knowing that his crime boss didn't trust him. Maybe something slipped by me, but I can't see why it matters if the police find the gun or not (which is what sets the whole plot in motion).
**END SPOILAGE**
Glad I'm not alone - I can't figure out all the hoopla here about the flick (which is why I picked up in the first place) |
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| Befade |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:19 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
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Ehle..................Who is that intriguing man peeking out of your avatar?
I liked The Illusionist, music, color, acting, plot...........enjoyed Rufus Sewell who I haven't been familiar with. Liked the pauses on Edward Norton's face.
I have also seen 3 films that are senior fare (alert Gary and Billy). They were all worth a look and each had a different take on relationships for older folks. Heading South: There are no available men in the U.S. so go to Haiti. There are hungry, healthy, and willing boys there. Mrs. Palfrey at the Clarmont: When you are widowed, your children and grandchildren may not be your best support. Find a young guy with a literary bent. The Boynton Beach Club: As always the thin Florida women get the men. But really..........Dyan Cannon looks sick! |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:28 pm |
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Betsy, those 'mature' movies you mentioned sound very much like movies I wouldn't see on a bet.
Have you not seen Dark City? Sewel was the main character in that one. A great science fiction film. It was the first time I saw him and he was very good. Then I saw him in a horrible 'my son is a chosen one' type of movie (I forget the name) and he was dreadful in keeping with the movie. |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:55 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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Befade wrote: Ehle..................Who is that intriguing man peeking out of your avatar?
It's me. However, I don't think the dimensions are correct. Oh well, thanks for noticing.  |
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It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:26 pm |
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| You Gay guys really know how to look cool. |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:21 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12902
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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I liked The Illusionist quite a bit, and thought the four lead performances to be good. Oklay, Jessica Biel is so pretty it's hard to be objective. It's a pretty quiet period piece, and I've seen some reviews similar to mo's.
Possible spoiler:
In 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and his mistress died in what was perhaps a double suicide--or perhaps the prince murdered his mistress then killed himself or perhaps they were both murdered. (The mistress's body was exhumed in 1992 and it was found that she had not been shot in the head as previously believed, and was possiblyly battered to death, not necessarily by the Prince). The whole episode is a major historical mystery, and may have affected history, because the new heir was Franz Joseph's brother, Carl Ludwig, then Franz Ferdinand, whose death started World War I. I have to wonder whether the character of Crown Prince Leopold in The Illusionist is based on Rudolf. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:58 am |
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| Thanks Syd. I was wondering about any historical connection that the movie might have. That sounds like basis for movie's fictional version. |
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| ehle64 |
| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 2:24 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 7149
Location: NYC; US&A
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Tonight I'll be peepin' this:
Quote: Mil nubes de paz cercan el cielo, amor, jamás acabarás de ser amor (A Thousand Peace Clouds Encircle the Sky). 2003. Mexico. Directed by Juliàn Hernández. With Umberto Juan Carlos Ortuño, Juan Carlos Torres. A gay teenager roams the barren and dreamlike streets of Mexico City in search of someone who might reveal the secret hidden between the lines of a good-bye letter from his ex-lover. In Spanish, English subtitles. 83 min.
@ MoMA's Another Wave: Global Queer Cinema, Part Two screenings. |
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It truly disappoints me when people do something for you via no prompt of your own and then use it as some kind of weapon against you at a later time and place. It is what it is. |
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| dlhavard |
| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 3:31 pm |
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Joined: 24 May 2004
Posts: 1352
Location: Detroit (where the slow are run over)
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I'm looking forward to Hollywoodland this weekend. It looks really good (besides I had a crush on George Reeves when I was a sweet young thang).
Got a good cast: Diane Lane, Bob Hoskins, Adrian Brody, Ben Affleck. Got some really good buzz too. |
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| Befade |
| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:28 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
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George Reeves as Superman was my favorite tv fare, too. (Does anyone remember Sky King?.......he was the first tv hero for me.)
Gary........Yeah, they're mostly women's movies........but I bet you'd get a laugh or two out of Boynton Beach Club. It's got Joseph Bologna and Michael Nouri. Give it a try..........and get back to me about what you think of Dyan Cannon.
Ehle wrote: "It's me. However, I don't think the dimensions are correct. Oh well, thanks for noticing." Very cool looking dude you are Wade..........what's the incorrect dimension? (Your nose is bigger?) |
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| Joe Vitus |
| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:03 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 14498
Location: Houston
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| By the time period of this movie, the 50's, the developmental area called "Hollywoodland" no longer owned the portion which contained the sign (Los Angeles did). The sign itself was almost torn down completely in 1949 (it was in decrepit condition), but the community was so found of it, the "Hollywood" portion alone was refurbised and retained. So why use the antiquainted title for this movie? |
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| lady wakasa |
| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:21 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 5911
Location: Beyond the Blue Horizon
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Befade wrote: Ehle wrote: "It's me. However, I don't think the dimensions are correct. Oh well, thanks for noticing." Very cool looking dude you are Wade..........what's the incorrect dimension? (Your nose is bigger?)
It's the New Wade, svelte and all. I don't know if I can keep up with them anymore...
(Take that, Nouvelle Vague!) |
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http://www.wakasaworld.com |
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