The Ice Storm – One of the most intense film experiences I’ve had in a while. I think it will take a few weeks for me to fully absorb this one. But, I think I liked it.
Tommy it is only 2.99 on amazon vod
Film Socialisme.
My first Jean-Luc Godard film. Ugh. At least now I have a good excuse to avoid everything else he’s made! :P
Wait, I didn’t miss Margueritte. I went to see it, but the projector was fucked so I ended up not seeing anything. That’s weird because the other dat I was trying to remember what movie I was going to see then. Jack and Jill was playing too and I remember saying something like “Why can’t the projector be fucked for Jack and Jill” to the ticket person.
@G-Legs
Yeah, I had the same reaction to The Ice Storm a few weeks ago. It’s growing on me.
A Town Called Panic
B-
The film is a ton of fun in the beginning, but the novelty soon wore off for me and became annoying. That’s pretty much all I’ve got to say for this weird little thing…
In The Company of Men
A+
I can’t give it anything but A+. It’s a disturbing, painfully cringe inducing little film I saw no fault with and I was very moved (and shaken terribly) by the script throughout. Eckhart is simply phenomenal in his breakout role.
man I’ve for to see Company it’s been near the top of my list for so long, thanks for reminder
No problemo. See it soon! :)
The Ice Storm – One of the most intense film experiences I’ve had in a while. I think it will take a few weeks for me to fully absorb this one. But, I think I liked it.
I need to rewatch. Enjoyed it first go round. I just IMDBd it and noticed that it’s set in the 70s. Didn’t realize this while watching.
edit- I guess the swingers party should have been a clue. Did everyone swing back then?
The Ice Storm – One of the most intense film experiences I’ve had in a while. I think it will take a few weeks for me to fully absorb this one. But, I think I liked it.
I need to rewatch. Enjoyed it first go round. I just IMDBd it and noticed that it’s set in the 70s. Didn’t realize this while watching.
edit- I guess the swingers party should have been a clue. Did everyone swing back then?
edit 2 – nvmd
@LOC what exactly shook you? i haven’t see ITCOM in a while but what bothered me most was the beta guy. it’s him who is the loser int he whole scenario. i cringed at his total lack of a backbone. other than that, i thought the feminist criticism of the film was a bit much. basically, she experiences a guy being an asshole to her. live and learn. her handicap probably elicited more sympathy for her than was justified really.
@Mogambo
“I need to rewatch. Enjoyed it first go round. I just IMDBd it and noticed that it’s set in the 70s. Didn’t realize this while watching.”
Or because the girl kept going on about Nixon… I don’t think swinger parties are popular anymore, the stuff in Eyes Wide Shut is da shit!
About ICOM:
LE SPOILER
What shook me is how she was hurt, but grew up and continued with her life while the small, needy little twerp is the one left with nothing, screaming at the top of his lungs in fear of disappearing into anonymity. It’s like he was pleading to us, the viewer, to notice him and understand he is not a bad guy. Another thing that messed me up a bit was Eckhart still living with his wife, saying he did what he did because “he could”. That line made me shrink where I sat…. Aren’t we all like this? Isn’t american history like this? Doing things and taking things because we fucking can? A brutally honest piece of work.
I think Varda was trying to go for some sort of subtle sinister feel or something (which is why you said it’s not very nice?), but the acting was too simple (and on occasion wooden) to really pull it off.
I don’t know – that’s a major reason why I love it so much… and the wooden acting really adds to it, I think. The whole movie is just kind of oppressively beautiful, and then tragedy strikes and it quickly goes back to this beauty. And I really like all the subtexts of the film, and I’m still not really sure what exactly I think Varda was going for…
Also I cringed in that cafe scene when it goes to those shots of “mystery” and whatever the others were; completely unnecessary and made it feel like a Godard film, which in my opinion is not something a filmmaker should be going for at all.
Well, I mean, it’s not exactly like a Godard film – it’s like a French New Wave film, of which Godard’s are only a few. So, yeah, it does look like a Godard film, but it’s not like Varda was exactly emulating Godard. And, for what it’s worth, “Mystere” was a brand of ice cream bar that was in France at the time (maybe still is?), and I think all the other shots there were like actual ads. I guess they weren’t necessary, but I liked that scene… what didn’t you like about that specific scene? Just cause it was like a Godard film?
Also, I’m flattered that you watched it because of its place on my list!! :D
TEXAS, ADIOS (Franco Nero spaghetti western)…very violent, very entertaining
@LOC yea, I’m glad you noticed how the woman was hurt BUT grew from it and moved past it. This is why I said that feminist criticism of the film was a bit much. if anything it’s the male character that is made out to be the loser in the end.
Re: the Eckhart character. I’m probably alone on this but I didn’t mind him so much. Yes, he is an asshole. Shallow. But I didn’t despise the guy. He’s presumably in a happy and fulfilling relationship. What’s his crime other than being mean? Shirley I wouldn’t chill with the man. But I’m ok with his type being around because he’s harmless unless you let him harm you.
Devils advocate: Eckhart’s character did both the beta guy and the woman a favor by hardening them up. They were both extremely naive at the beginning. I doubt either of them will make the same mistake again. The woman isn’t going to have to experience that emotional pain again because she now knows that yea…there are assholes out there.
@Mogambo
“if anything it’s the male character that is made out to be the loser in the end.”
I agree. Howard said that he wasn’t the bad guy, like that would make a difference. How far do you get in this world if you are nice and innocent? NOWHERE. This film hammers that in.
“the Eckhart character. I’m probably alone on this but I didn’t mind him so much”
I didn’t hate him at all, I didn’t like him either. I just watched him like I watched Anthony Perkins in Psycho…
“He’s presumably in a happy and fulfilling relationship”
He keeps her happy, and keeps himself happy. Why? Because he can. Eckhart’s character is a sociopath, and he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about that woman in his bed. As TJ Mackey said, seduce and destroy.
“But I’m ok with his type being around because he’s harmless unless you let him harm you.”
I would avoid him like the plague. He is smart, and could use and break me at his will if I’m naive. That’s what makes him so frightening.
“Devils advocate: Eckhart’s character did both the beta guy and the woman a favor by hardening them up. They were both extremely naive at the beginning. I doubt either of them will make the same mistake again. The woman isn’t going to have to experience that emotional pain again because she now knows that yea…there are assholes out there.”
Yes im sort of with you here… The woman has had a tougher life than any of the characters. She was hurt, but shall move on like always… It’s in her nature to learn and prevail, and Eckhart did teach her that men can be fucking scum. But Howard is the one I dont think will learn from this. He is incapable of being harsh or a bad person, so he will continue his days thinking his kindness and smothering will procure him a mate. He is spineless, and hopeless.
@Mogambo
I need to rewatch. Enjoyed it first go round. I just IMDBd it and noticed that it’s set in the 70s. Didn’t realize this while watching.
Ha, I think without realising it was in the 70s you miss pretty much all the main themes in the film; you should most definitely rewatch it.
@DFFOO
what didn’t you like about that specific scene? Just cause it was like a Godard film?
Well yeah, I don’t like Godard style of treating the viewer like some sort of idiot, and in an otherwise intelligent film, it’s very out of place.
“The Ice Storm – One of the most intense film experiences I’ve had in a while. I think it will take a few weeks for me to fully absorb this one. But, I think I liked it.”
The only Ang Lee film i’ve watched more than once. and it was the film that American Beauty should have been.
I love the atmosphere. it’s so damn COLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. you can almost feel the surroundings.
i also appreciate how everyone is just lost in that film. both the children and the adults.
and it was the film that American Beauty should have been.
Exactly what I was thinking the whole way through.
i also appreciate how everyone is just lost in that film. both the children and the adults.
well at least the children were learning and had a reason to be lost.
the adults OTOH…dysfunctional city.
The White Diamond – One of, if not THE, most incredible documentary by Herzog. Amazing stuff, I don’t know how on Earth he manages to find such strange people all the time.
The Hurt Locker (First rewatch since release) 8/10
When I first heard of the real military’s criticism of the movie’s realism, I thought, ‘Realism, who cares? It gets the tension and the sense of danger right’. But watching it again, it’s hard to get those criticisms out of your head, and it honestly does lower my estimation of the film.
Moonrise Kingdom 4/5——long live Wes Anderson. Enough said.
Double post
@RGrimes
Yeah, great film for Andernites.
The Match Factory Girl
A-
It’s really refreshing to watch a movie that you have no clue what will happen next. It’s suspenseful in a dry, ordinary way. I didn’t find it depressing, but accepted what it was very early on and just went with it. I’m glad I did, it’s pretty satisfying by the end. However, it’s WAY too short for me to run out telling everyone who appreciates film to get a copy of.
Quiet Chaos 5/5
Simple concept with great depth of feeling, reminded me of Reveries Of The Solitary Walker by Rousseau
I hadn’t seen that actress since Hot Shots, will have to seek her out based on the strength of this work
MIB3
61/100
Not as awful as I expected (maybe because I like Josh Brolin). I sort of liked that denouement and it was surprisingly effective. Mostly a “meh” film, though.
Btw, I like Will Smith but I thought his acting was pretty bad in this. Tommy Lee Jones didn’t have his heart in it, either (Ditto with the second film.) The thing is, the relationship between the two in this film is supposed to be more emotional and dramatic—especially from Will Smith’s side, but it really didn’t work. I don’t know if I remember the chemistry between two actors disappear so dramatically.
The Secret of Kells
70/100
I tried watching Johnnie To’s Mad Detective, but my son got up from his nap and started watching, so I decided to switch to this film. I liked the animation and sentiments behind the film (e.g., the value of books). I’m not sure what kept me from liking it a lot more, as I feel like I should like this more than I did.
@Lover:
Andernite? Is that what I am? Because I kind of dig that.
@RGrimes
Any fan of Wes Anderson is, in my book, an Andernite. Is that okay?
@ Lover:
I wear that label proudly….I AM an Andernite from this day forth…….
tomas.roges
Ugh, really want to see it Dennis. I missed it when it played in theatres.