While greg nibbled on an unhealthy snack/tim roth what films have you watched?

[elpollodiablo]

I have those pdfs, if you want em

Dunno how we'd transfer them exactly

[guanajuato]

c'mon guys, the hulk was good! i think it really holds up. it shouldn't be classed alongside movies such as daredevil. besides, for the new incredible hulk, edward norton wrote the screenplay?? sounds like a vanity project to me. but whoa, according to imdb, edward norton also wrote a screenplay for motherless brooklyn!?!?!  my favorite lethem novel.. well he's got good taste in his writing, that's for sure. my mind just got blown. go edward norton!! holy shit.

the passion of the christ had a better satan, and strangely so did that b movie the prophecy, but constantine has one hell of a great lucifer at the end, and it sort of puts the movie over the top for me. and yeah, tilda swanson was unnerving.

[elpollodiablo]

I could probably send em over IM, if you do want them

JON

[guanajuato]

thanks! they are pretty big though for im methink. 127mb. i'll torrent them. i found them on pirate's bay!

[elpollodiablo]

Good show doggie

[guanajuato]

yeah there's a lot i didn't pick up, hopefully the graphic novels will help. i think it's kind of peculiar sony didn't release a director's cut first thing. the dvd comes out tomorrow and it looks bare bones, 1 disc. i guess they are waiting to see if it becomes a 'cult classic' like donnie darko, so they can release more and more deluxe versions, with 'director's preferred version' and so on.

i think it's stupid to do a bare bones 1 disc dvd with this movie. they might have made a real push with a deluxe edition with 2 or 3 discs, the different versions of the movie, major commentary and explanations, and maybe include the graphic novel inside. because, when they finally decide to release the 'deluxe version', people will have already been confused and angered by the movie to the point where they won't give it a chance the second time around, with additional, helpful materials.

according to wikipedia:

Southland Tales grossed $275,380 at the North American box office, and $81,028 elsewhere, making a worldwide total of $356,408[24], falling far short of the film's $15-17 million budget.

jesus! that is so terrible. i guess the sony corp doesn't want to throw anymore money at it, but it seems kind of short sighted to me. it'll sell on dvd, just because of all the people who missed it in the theater, who swear by donnie darko, i guess. but it'd build goodwill if they added all kind of supplemental material, because they could market the movie is richard kelly's 'masterpiece' that requires 3 dvds and a graphic novel and such. i think the idea of a challenging movie draws a bigger crowd by far.

[elpollodiablo]

Yeah the box office figures are hilarious. Still, this movie feels like it was much more expensive than $17 million.

I think we'll see some awesome deluxe editions coming out as it catches on on DVD, for sure.

[guanajuato]

i was checking to see if it comes out on blueray at least, and on the blueray forum there is a link to kelly's website:

As for bonus features, there is a cool 30 minute documentary and an animated short film on the disc. I didn't have time to record a commentary... but I'm sure there will be a much more elaborate multi-disc release down the road... when we have more time to compile the massive amount of supplemental material related to the film, assemble a longer version, etc. No word yet on a date for the Blu-Ray disc.

[guanajuato]

oh shit, here's his next movie, apparently.

Based on the short story by Richard Matheson, "The Box" stars Cameron Diaz as Norma Lewis and James Marsden as Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child who receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger, played by Frank Langella, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world...someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the crosshairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

well, richard matheson is the shit, but i can't help but reading between the lines, seeing that cameron diaz and fuckin james marsden is in it, and seeing this as a disciplinary action by movie execs, forcing him into a money maker. considering how huge i am legend's box office take was, which was written by matheson -- however awesome and influential matheson is as a writer, this definitely seems like after southland tales bombed, they've forced kelly into the studio system.

[ddillaman]

I think Last Life in the Universe was fucking boss.

QFT.

Watched INVISIBLE WAVES this week, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's much maligned follow up. It's much more pretty okay than I expected from the reviews, though definitely no LAST LIFE and wouldn't have guessed Chris Doyle shot it if he hadn't been credited.

Other recent viewings:

DONKEY SKIN: well that was unexpected. Catherine Deneuve wearing a donkey carcass. In a fairy tale! Many horses dyed making this film. Anyway, amiably surreal, a bit slow but worth checking out.

INFERNO: after all the build up of the underwater scene, that was kind of disappointing. (It's no ALIEN: RESURRECTION on that front, a film that is otherwise terrible.) Once it kicks in, though, it's pretty spell-bindingly silly (I mean this as a compliment), and has made me try to use the phrase "grumpier than a bag of wet cats" as often as possible.

LONG WEEKEND: remember when horror movies had actual characters in them? Some of the "nature attacks" scenes are unconvincing, but the whole thing has a pretty ominous vibe that transcends those failures, and some of those long takes near the end are pretty spellbinding. There's an essay to be written comparing and contrasting the supernatural motives of animals in INFERNO and LONG WEEKEND, but I ain't doing it.

THE YAKUZA: started off kind of cringingly bad to dull, but once the plot kicks in it's actually a really absorbing film, and the end is as necessary as it is disturbing as it is sad. Actually, there's an essay to be written comparing and contrasting THE YAKUZA to LONG WEEKEND in its treatment of people entering foreign lands and their respect for local customs. Not by me, though.

DAMNATION: my introduction to Bela Tarr and ... kind of underwhelmed, actually. But then again I know that SATANTANGO and WERCKMEISTER have much higher reputations, so I will wait. Dude knows how to use a dolly, though.

[RoyBiggins]

Hey!  So, I watched the Iron Man Trailer and it does look like a whole lot of fun.  I am a little wary of Dude Wanting To Take Over All of Asia with an Army of Iron Men, but I'm super excited about other things, such as Jim Rhodes being in the movie.  I always loved that there was a black iron man, too.  I also own several issues of his ill-fated War Machine spinoff book.

But, uh...guys...Samuel L Jackson plays Nick Fury.

Re: southland tales--consider it rented.  I dont' even know what to expect, but with the stuff you've all posted I feel like Milly's psyche may have written the movie while he was asleep.

[YojimboMonkey]

But, uh...guys...Samuel L Jackson plays Nick Fury.

So they're definitely going for Ultimate universe flavor there.  Here's a little Ultimate Nick Fury for you:

[Greg Nog]

Whoa.  That's gonna be interesting.

Re: southland tales--consider it rented.  I dont' even know what to expect, but with the stuff you've all posted I feel like Milly's psyche may have written the movie while he was asleep.

That's pretty much what you can expect.  I would recommend just letting it wash over you like a bath of warm milk.  Probably best to not try making too much sense of it the first time around.

[dieblucasdie]

Whoa.  That's gonna be interesting.

Re: southland tales--consider it rented.  I dont' even know what to expect, but with the stuff you've all posted I feel like Milly's psyche may have written the movie while he was asleep.

That's pretty much what you can expect.  I would recommend just letting it wash over you like a bath of warm milk.  Probably best to not try making too much sense of it the first time around.

Yeah, the first time I saw it I didn't know what the hell to think, but my reaction's the same as pollo's.  The longer I sit with it, the more I like it. 

And come on, any movie that has a song and dance number featuring Justin Timberlake where he neither sings nor dances?  That shit is GOLD. 

Also, don't get too worried about "The Box."  I mean, James Marsden and Cameron Diaz are annoying, sure, but they're also fucking Royal Shakespeare Company material compared to the cast of Southland Tales, and look how that turned out. 

I have a feeling that once the DVD's been around for a year or two, Southland Tales isn't going to look like as much of a commercial flop either.

[Andrew_TSKS]

oh shit, here's his next movie, apparently.

Based on the short story by Richard Matheson, "The Box" stars Cameron Diaz as Norma Lewis and James Marsden as Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child who receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger, played by Frank Langella, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world...someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the crosshairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

well, richard matheson is the shit, but i can't help but reading between the lines, seeing that cameron diaz and fuckin james marsden is in it, and seeing this as a disciplinary action by movie execs, forcing him into a money maker. considering how huge i am legend's box office take was, which was written by matheson -- however awesome and influential matheson is as a writer, this definitely seems like after southland tales bombed, they've forced kelly into the studio system.

for the record, there was an 80s-era "twilight zone" episode based on this story. it was called "button, button". made a hell of an impression on me at age 10. i used to love that show, but every once in a while they would have an episode that would scare the holy fuck out of me, and "button, button" was one of them.

another one that made a gigantic impression on me was one in which a dude who had committed a crime was marked on his forehead for a year as "invisible". he had this fucked up THING stuck to his forehead, and when people saw it, they ignored him as if he wasn't there. at first he was like "fuck it, i'm gonna steal stuff", but by the time a few months had gone by he was losing his shit. the ending of the episode was really intense too. god, that one still gives me chills to think of.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Hey!  So, I watched the Iron Man Trailer and it does look like a whole lot of fun.  I am a little wary of Dude Wanting To Take Over All of Asia with an Army of Iron Men, but I'm super excited about other things, such as Jim Rhodes being in the movie.  I always loved that there was a black iron man, too.  I also own several issues of his ill-fated War Machine spinoff book.

But, uh...guys...Samuel L Jackson plays Nick Fury.

you may be interested to know that war machine's getting face-time these days as a secondary character in dan slott's "avengers: the initiative" book, which is one of my favorite current superhero titles.

also, jim's right, that's ultimate universe nick fury then. a good move, if you ask me. the ultimate universe is so much better than the original universe.

[Andrew_TSKS]

triple post of power: while i was in delaware over the weekend, i saw a documentary about tad, the sub pop band. it was fucking fascinating and made me want to go back and listen to all those tad albums i haven't heard in over a decade. it seems like a story that would appeal to anyone who finds stories about musicians interesting--tad and his bassist, kurt danielson, are both such interesting characters that i would think the movie would keep the interest even of people who aren't big fans of the music.

and by the way, in the present-day interview scenes, tad is wearing a yob t-shirt. i was stoked.

[guanajuato]

Re: southland tales--consider it rented.  I dont' even know what to expect, but with the stuff you've all posted I feel like Milly's psyche may have written the movie while he was asleep.

i wish! nigga, you'll LOVE. but you gotta watch twice, preferrably the first time, fuck drunk -- because it's like the whole world collapsing -- very painful!

[RoyBiggins]

I know nothing of this "ultimate universe."  I really should read some more comics.  Just don't know what sucks today.  But next time Almanzo goes to the comic shop on a weekend, I'll make him take me with.

What was the name of the Sub Pop documentary thing? I'd rent that, though I know nothing of this Tad.

And, Milly--Netflix ships ST today.  I'll get to it right after I find a couple hours to dim the lights and watch No Country for Old Men.

[Andrew_TSKS]

oh, it's just a documentary about tad. it's called "tad: busted circuits and ringing ears", or something of that nature.

[Greg Nog]

WHAT THE FUCK

MICHAEL CERA AS SCOTT PILGRIM

MASS HYSTERIA, EDGAR WRIGHT AND MOVIE STUDIOS LIVING TOGETHER

[elpollodiablo]

Alright, so. Richard Kelly. I've come to the conclusion that the dude is a dumbass. Really. Reading the graphic novels cemented this for me; they are incredibly poorly written. Like, a lot of the dialogue and exposition brought to mind all of the submissions I was reading last week for the fiction section of our undergrad lit mag. Here is a choice example:

"Boxer wondered how he had come upon this place, somehow familiar and somehow strange. yet having perhaps the better claim, the road was filled with traffic and wanted wear. Though as for the time passing, the roads had worn about the same... and both that evening equally lay in sand where no step had trodden black."

That's the sort of pseudo-dramatic overwritten nonsensical prose that one finds in every undergraduate creative writing workshop. You're probably thinking that it makes some sort of sense in context. It doesn't. I've read it two dozen times, and I'm no closer to understanding it. It reads like a really poor first draft from a writer who probably isn't ever going to get much better. There are moments, too, in the actual film, where the weird charisma of it doesn't quite mask the stilted, clumsy dialogue. Cf. "Pandora's box had been left exposed." That allusion means nothing, it's the kind of thing amateur writers due to try and imbue their prose with meaning that isn't really there. And honestly I think that's about as deep as most of the Frost & Eliot & biblical allusions go, as well. Check out the blurb for the cover flap of the graphic novels:

"These are the sordid tales of what happens next... how it all comes crashing down. In the alternate future of Southland Tales the war machine is running out of gas, and there is no alternative. Alternative fuel, that is.

Global warming may indeed be the "whimper" that T.S. Eliot foretold. Perhaps our destiny is to slowly drown ourselves into oblivion.

The film will take you down that other road. The one that ends with a "bang". What if there is a path to end all suffering, and hidden somewhere along the way there exists a primer? A primer that could help us extinguish this great big mess of a planet once and for all. Quick and painless.

Well, I shouldn't say "quick". According to me it takes 2 hours and 33 minutes (without end credits) to explain how the world ends. I'm sorry this isn't shorter, but it had to be this way.

There is no alternative. Alternative fuel, that is."

Emphasis mine. The redundant bit is actually in there; he must consider that line clever as all get out. But that gives you a pretty good idea of this guy's skill. Faulkner he ain't.
I don't point this out just to beat up on Kelly, but because it amazes me that this guy created this film. And I'm trying and trying to put my finger on the specific element(s) in Southland Tales that made it such a rush for me, and I can't. Is it just the spectacle? Maybe. It's a fucking trainwreck, for sure. A sexy trainwreck.

[Maaik]

triple post of power: while i was in delaware over the weekend, i saw a documentary about tad, the sub pop band. it was fucking fascinating and made me want to go back and listen to all those tad albums i haven't heard in over a decade. it seems like a story that would appeal to anyone who finds stories about musicians interesting--tad and his bassist, kurt danielson, are both such interesting characters that i would think the movie would keep the interest even of people who aren't big fans of the music.

and by the way, in the present-day interview scenes, tad is wearing a yob t-shirt. i was stoked.

Tad Doyle was the highlight of that HYPE! doc that came out in the late 90s.  He, and the Screaming Trees proclaiming themselves to be a "ton of band!"  I'll have to see if I can get my hands on this Tad doc.

[dieblucasdie]

Yeah, pollo, the Frost/Eliot stuff in ST made me think it was written by like, a freshman English major taking a poetry survey course for the first time. 

I think the thing about Kelly is that he just has a lot of ideas:  Some of them brilliant, some of them the dumbest things a person has ever thought of.  I think that's actually what makes both of his films so engaging, even if they don't make any fucking sense.  It's like they inhabit this enormous conceptual space where anything goes.

edit:  Which I why I think that, weirdly, if he manages become more focused his films will start to suck.

[Thermofusion]

What milly said about a film adaptation of Gravity's Rainbow... I'm inclined to agree!

He'd better be right, because I'm buying this junk tonight primarily on account of this assertion