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Critical 20: Home Thread- The First Running

Max Slobodi​n

over 1 year ago

Sounds good. Apologies again for my tardiness.

Uli Cain, Cinefid​el¹³

over 1 year ago

Odi, sounds fine, congrats to Drunk and WBA.

Den and Jirin, your input on the critiques is still needed in the semi and final so keep your eyes open.

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Glad we’re moving forward and yeah, let’s try to encourage more discussion about these films among the participants and the Mubi community.

We got some input, but let’s get MORE.

Jirin

over 1 year ago

Really?

Ok. I guess I should have just ranted about how awful old school Hollywood was. Enjoy the game guys.

Uli Cain, Cinefid​el¹³

over 1 year ago

Jirin, stick around though, like a said, you’ll have a vote in the semi and final.

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Jirin, for the record, I thought your critique was just fine.

I actually like BOTH those films, because they’re recklessly emotional and because they’re old school Hollywood and I don’t have a problem with that. I found it rather amusing that people thought them so godawful but maybe it’s a generational thing. ;)

Don’t be mad. And don’t leave!

And please pepper the upcoming threads with input.

Konrad Szlenda​k

over 1 year ago

So let’s hit the shit again, guys :)

Konrad Szlenda​k

over 1 year ago

I sincerely admit that “Written On The Wind” was one of the worst flicks I saw in my life EVER!

For the record guys, don’t you think that passing the vote to the community is a bit problematical? I found it very amusing that people actually like the smoothness of words instead of a proper bite… but maybe I’m just too old school in my mess-them with-the-mud or crown-them-with-jewels approach to writing critique :D

WBA

over 1 year ago

@Konrad

Lol. If you thought “Written on the Wind” was bad, wait till you have to watch my choice. You’ll probably curse me for the rest of the week then. ;-)

I guess I have a soft spot for Melodrama. :-D

WBA

over 1 year ago

@ Jirin

I actually voted yours as the best. So I guess there are just many different opinions around. ;-)
Don’t get too sore. It’s just a game. And you are still a part of it!

Jirin

over 1 year ago

I was half kidding with that anyway. :) I think the reason I lost was because I put too much description of the plot and that made it a bit long and ‘school assignment’-y. You deserved to win WBA.

Dan Bayer

over 1 year ago

Congrats indeed to Drunken Father and WBA! Don’t know about everyone else, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s critiques. I’m glad for this little game and I hope the rest of Mubi lends their voices in the coming weeks. Can’t wait to watch Skin Deep!

And, for the record, I LOVED Written on the Wind. I genuinely thought it was both a hilarious comedy at the same time as being a good melodrama, which all truly great melodramas should be!

Konrad Szlenda​k

over 1 year ago

Congrats to everybody for the courage :)
Let’s kick back and keep ourselves entertainin’.

Thanks everybody – I’m looking forward to reading everyone’s critiques for the next round!

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

And, for the record, I LOVED Written on the Wind. I genuinely thought it was both a hilarious comedy at the same time as being a good melodrama, which all truly great melodramas should be!

That’s how I feel about both those films. They’re hilarious because they’re so over the top, they’re in your face for the time, and they’re deliriously melodramatic. Plus, old Hollywood! :D

But I did pick these films because I wanted to see people react strongly to them, and be able to keep their emotions in check while writing fluently and cohesively about them. It didn’t matter whether people liked them as I do — liking them or not liking them is a part of criticism but really, it’s more about whether the film is successful in what it aimed to do. Melodrama is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it doesn’t try to be anything but melodrama, so you really have to judge it from that angle and not whether it works outside of that context. It’s a very specific genre.

Anyway, onward to more films and more critiques! :D

WBA

over 1 year ago

Hehe – yes it’s much fun so far. Looking forward to the next rounds – though I’m a bit afraid of Bartas, as he used to be one of my cinematic idols, and I never dared to write something on him. I guess it’s good to be forced sometimes. ;-)

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Yes, WBA, it’s good practice! :)

And I might add, as just a moderator and not a writer, but with teachers in my family background, fun to see how people express themselves.

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Alright, people, I haven’t heard from Uli but I think we can swing this thing.

Winner for Group 1 is: Dan. Congrats! I had to cast a tie breaking vote in this case.

Loser for Group 1 is: DFFOO. Good show — and now Dan and Konrad have to watch and critique GUMMO!

Winner for Group 2 is: WBA. Awesome — second time winner!

Loser for Group 2 is: Max. Good show — and now Uli and WBA have to watch and critique Three Days of the Condor!

We are at the semi-finals, people.

I will set up the next two threads, and we’ll have till next SATURDAY to post critiques. Will announce as always who goes first in each group on Wednesday.

YAY!

I’m disappointed to be out, but it’s a pretty nice consolation that people are gonna have to write about Gummo now! :D

However, I’m not sure if it’s online anywhere… I do have a dvd. Can somebody help me get it streaming somewhere?

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

UIi — please advise for Gummo…

Konrad Szlenda​k

over 1 year ago

I have an old rip somewhere inside my rich movie collection, but what I wanted to say that I’m tired of winning by not losing again :)

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

_but what I wanted to say that I’m tired of winning by not losing again _

ha ha ha, oh Konrad… :)

Uli Cain, Cinefid​el¹³

over 1 year ago

Gummo- well let’s search it out and if we can’t find it out there, we’ll work it out then

Dan Bayer

over 1 year ago

Disappointed you’re out too, DFFOO – you wrote some great stuff and now that you’re out, I have to watch and write about freakin’ Gummo. I will attempt to view and write about it neutrally and from a strictly cinematic viewpoint, but as I think I said before I had an almost violently negative reaction to it the first time I saw it (which, admittedly, was many years ago now).

Uli Cain, Cinefid​el¹³

over 1 year ago

found streaming for both films, hit Odi for the links

WBA

over 1 year ago

Though I’d love to see the film, I’m glad I don’t have to write something about Gummo. I guess “Three Days of the Condor” will be an easier watch. :-)

Thanks for all who voted for my write-ups. But I hope I won’t win this game, as I still want some of you reviewing my choice!

Lol Konrad. :-D

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Ha ha — a weird and interesting slant – wanting to lose so that you can make people watch your film! :D

Oh – ummm… it’s on Youtube. Lol. Should I post a link or just pm it to keep it, you know, secret? (Not that you can just search for it or anything).

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Let people look it up. If they have trouble, then pm…

odilonvert

over 1 year ago

Oh uh, well Max hit it on YT too, so I guess it’s ok to post it on the thread.

! :D