they've shown this on both screens: your next movie thread

[lastclearchance]

(continued from here)

I finally (finally!) saw Southland Tales. Loved it!

How is it nobody mentioned that basically every role is stunt-casted? (This admittedly annoyed me once: Kevin Smith as the Professor Inside the Matrix.) But really! It's like he coughed up as much cultural detritus as he could from as far back as he could remember and just cast anyone who'd played a memorable supporting role. My favorite of these is probably Curtis Armstrong.

Two quibbles:
1. I know it's this neo-Marxist struggle on the streets or whatever, and maybe it was intentional (see: the brief footage of Woodstock '99-esque brodown partying caught on one screen or another) but really? A riot on the streets of LA, compared by a newscaster to the 92 riots, and we are looking at...white dudes with mohawks shooting at...whom? Was the idea to portray a non-riot riot or was it just that badly portrayed? And even if the "riots" were supposed to be bro-downs, why was Avon Harris's character the only black person in the movie? Nora Dunn et al. had no problems articulating a feminist resistance.

2. I had no problem with the Christian iconography and even the idea of the Taverner ascension is fine by me, but the floating ice cream truck looked really corny, and more than a little out of place even among the visuals of this movie.

So my paper proposal about the queer undercurrents of 1970s hetero-porn was accepted for an upcoming popular culture studies conference,

Congratulations!

Thanks. Alas, I'm probably going to withdraw myself. Until now, I've always had the benefit of institutional support for these kind of events, but now that I don't, I think the costs of going will be too much. I've tried to justify it to myself on the grounds that it would further enhance my CV, but the fact of the matter is, it really wouldn't matter. I think I'll still write the paper, though, since I'm sort of inspired and should have the time.

Too bad about the conference but I for one would love to hear more about the paper (or at least keep reading your updates as you review films).

[Wally]

Raining Stones and Riff Raff.

KEN LOACH.

IS WITHOUT FUCKING PEERS.


Both set in the late eighties early nineties, the latter in London and the former in Manchester. Both have Ricky Tomlinson in supporting roles, being a goddamn star. Raining Stones is perhaps a strange little piece amoungst Loach's films, given the amount of focus the lead character's religon plays on his behaviour. Unemployed man is trying to raise money for his daughter's communion dress, desperately trying eek out enough change, but little bits of life keep getting in the way, and he ends up borrowing one hundred and fifty quid, and things get worse before they get better. All the regular and understandable Loach grievances are there, Thatcher ass fucked the working class, and the Labour party were too incompantant to do anything other then offer a gimp mask. But the film is so gentle, funny and warm you find yourself almost smiling through much of it despite essentially witnessing someone's dispair intensify. There's one or two unbearable scenes where you see the kind of vultures that circle british council estate.

Riff Raff, isn't a world away, but less family and local community focused. Robert Carlsyle comes down to London to find work. He gets some on a buliding sight and starts getting some of young pub singer. And the film switches between council flat and building site, watching the men and women involved struggle along with humor and grace, but is never patronising or sentimental.

how the fuck there isn't a statue of Loach in every city in England remains a mystery.

[auto-da-fey]

Saw an advance screening of There Will Be Blood last night, and while I'm still thinking it through, it's certainly a striking film, well worth seeing on the big screen--I've always admired PTA's use of sound, and he employs it effectively here as well. Strong visuals, too--the gushing oil threatens to spray you. The narrative and stylistic templates seem to be silent movies like Greed (which makes sense, considering the film's basis in Upton Sinclair's Oil); I can't think of any other contemporary reference points, really. I'm not sure the off-kilter episodic structure of the film is entirely successful, but it's still one of the best 2007 films I've seen.

Bonus entertainment value also came from the competing advance-screener dude who tried so hard to lure us into Charlie Wilson's War and the talkative crazy lady who poor Bernard got stuck sitting next to.

[Andrew_TSKS]

i saw a commercial for charlie wilson's war and i'm not at all sure how to feel about it. it's such obvious oscar bait, and of course the commercial mentioned how it was already up for half a dozen golden globes even though it wasn't out yet, which really annoyed me, but on the other hand aaron sorkin wrote it and philip seymour hoffman is in it, but on the other hand "studio 60" and "mission impossible III". i don't know.

[das kranke Tier]

This thread title's killin' me...to the Harmony in My Head thread...

[girl]

I finally saw the Futurama movie. I was sadly disappointed. It's like they remembered to include every character and every catchphrase from the series, but forgot that it should be sharp and funny. It could've been edited into a good 1/2 hour episode, but extending it to 1 1/2 hours just didn't work for me.

[hannah]

Indiewire Critics Poll 2007 is up: http://www.indiewire.com/critics2007/

I have no idea what 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days is. Blah! I should have a list prepared soon, which I'm doing w/o seeing the number one film in the Critics Poll and a ton of other caca either.

[hannah]

ohhh it won at Cannes and hasn't had a theatrical run here. that's why phew

[jebreject]

I finally saw the Futurama movie. I was sadly disappointed. It's like they remembered to include every character and every catchphrase from the series, but forgot that it should be sharp and funny. It could've been edited into a good 1/2 hour episode, but extending it to 1 1/2 hours just didn't work for me.

The first part is like this, but I think it gets pretty good once they get past that.

[Greg Nog]

I finally saw the Futurama movie. I was sadly disappointed. It's like they remembered to include every character and every catchphrase from the series, but forgot that it should be sharp and funny.

Yeah, I thought that, too.  Pretty much the only part that made me laugh was when the Professor's doing some calculations, and Bender asks, "Whatcha got there?  Numbers?"

[lastclearchance]

Indiewire Critics Poll 2007 is up: http://www.indiewire.com/critics2007/

How is it that Killer of Sheep is eligible? Did it never get distribution before?

[hannah]

Nope -- never had music rights.

It's like with Army of Shadows last year, which topped a lot of lists.

[heather marie]

I'm going to be singing Twin Cinema for the rest of time. THANKS A LOT NICK.

[lastclearchance]

This thread title's killin' me...to the Harmony in My Head thread...

I'm going to be singing Twin Cinema for the rest of time. THANKS A LOT NICK.

I can change it if you all want! I just wanted a title that especially acknowledged Whit's conributions, so I picked a lyric from the New Pornographers...

[elpollodiablo]

Southland Tales got exactly six days at our theater here. Make way for Sweeney Todd!

[girl]

I like the title, but if you do decide to change it, you should change it to this:

I just wanted a title that especially acknowledged Whit's contributions, so I picked a lyric from the New Pornographers...

[heather marie]

Nah, they're one of my favorite bands so I'm completely okay with this. I like having them stuck in my head.

[Ah_Pook]

I finally saw the Futurama movie. I was sadly disappointed. It's like they remembered to include every character and every catchphrase from the series, but forgot that it should be sharp and funny.

Yeah, I thought that, too.  Pretty much the only part that made me laugh was when the Professor's doing some calculations, and Bender asks, "Whatcha got there?  Numbers?"

this is how i felt as well, but i still thought it was pretty good. it picked up a lot in the second half. im willing to give them a pass on a mediocre first movie on the grounds of getting back into the swing of writing futurama. the next one is really make or break.

also, i really think they should have just made more episodes instead of trying the whole movie thing.

[mountmccabe]

Saw an advance screening of There Will Be Blood last night, and while I'm still thinking it through, it's certainly a striking film, well worth seeing on the big screen--I've always admired PTA's use of sound, and he employs it effectively here as well. Strong visuals, too--the gushing oil threatens to spray you. The narrative and stylistic templates seem to be silent movies like Greed (which makes sense, considering the film's basis in Upton Sinclair's Oil); I can't think of any other contemporary reference points, really. I'm not sure the off-kilter episodic structure of the film is entirely successful, but it's still one of the best 2007 films I've seen.

I will basically second everything you've said.  I'd third the bit about PTA's use of sound if I thought I could get away with it.

Basically I still haven't been able to come up with anything coherent to say about the thing.  It is dark and powerful and Daniel Day Lewis just dominates.

[mountmccabe]

Also I just saw Control and maybe it is because I love Joy Division's music so much but it really struck me on an emotional level.  I am much more likely to watch a movie and say "oh, I like what Paul Thomas Anderson was doing with this shot" than "oh no Plainview, watch out!" [made up example, btw] but I kept on wanting Ian to talk about the issues he was going through, to not just stand there and hurt people.  And I of course knew what was going to happen!

The music performances - which were by the actors - were fantastic, especially in the beginning.  It was a huge thrill to see them playing these great songs... but as things progressed it just started to hurt more and I didn't have the same elation.  I don't know how the fuck Corbijn and co did this but damn.

[melancolley]

Just read an article about Control couple of days ago and it made me angry, despite not having seen it yet.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/nostalgia-a-spiritual-sickness-killing-the-punk-generation-and-theembers-of-youth/2007/12/20/1197740464705.html
I think his point is that it's ok to make films about the past unless the subject means something personally to him.

[morgan]

The IMDB message board threads for The Golden Compass sort of make me want to destroy humanity.

[Ah_Pook]

i saw walk hard. there was a lot of really funny stuff.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Just read an article about Control couple of days ago and it made me angry, despite not having seen it yet.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/nostalgia-a-spiritual-sickness-killing-the-punk-generation-and-theembers-of-youth/2007/12/20/1197740464705.html
I think his point is that it's ok to make films about the past unless the subject means something personally to him.

that article is poorly constructed and barely has a thesis. i don't really even understand the basis of his objection.

[jebreject]

The IMDB message board threads for The Golden Compass sort of make me want to destroy humanity.

quotes plz