Why would you want to contain your excitement? It IS exciting! Finally!
Yes, I am also excited. I like Louis Malle a lot and I haven’t seen this one yet so it’s something for me to look forward to.
THE DAY AFTER MY BIRTHDAY. Sweet. I’m buying the shit out of this one.
I saw this when I was young and regularly cited it as one of the worst films ever made. I saw it again last year and now regularly cite it as one of the best films ever made. Louis Malle is a genius in the truest sense of the word. I am now trying to hunt down Vanya on 42nd Street.
The Malle boxset from Criterion is my pick for the best they’ve ever done, by the way. I love it because Malle was often underrated because of his eclecticism and the set manages to feel like three completely separate films ultimately add up to a trilogy.
I can’t wait to own this one. It plays on IFC really late at nights from time to time, so if you’re not able to wait for it to hit DVD you should check IFC’s schedule.
I’ve only read about it and watched clips up to now. I’ve been waiting for it to come available on dvd and I’m glad Criterion is the one to do it. You just can’t go wrong with Louis Malle and Vizzini!
Will Criterion box the film with action figures…d’ya think?
haha love the “Guffman” reference.
“Who do you know?”
7 months later I too rejoice! I can’t believe that I’ve been anxious for this to come out on Criterion and I missed it’s release! But now it’s on its way and I can’t wait to get my paws on this gorgeous new transfer and on the extras. Extras! I think I died and am in heaven.
It’s playing this weekend in NYC. Not sure what theater but I saw it in TONY.
dp
Eeeeerrrrrg…. I just don’t understand….
What don’t you understand?
life
and also
It’s criterion release
Why don’t you understand its criterion release? It’s a pretty great film.
Hrrrrrmmmm….
I disagree….
uh-oh……
What about this film do you dislike?
I dislike how it’s constant back and forth dialogue seems to constantly repeat itself, just with different layers on it, I dislike how the film thinks that just because it’s entirety takes place at a dinner table that all it has to do is initiate philosophical conversations, which are mildly interesting, but does nothing to create an atmosphere of any kind, just back and forth, back and forth… It seems a film that thinks way to highly of itself. I thought the bits about Andres adventures and travels and stuff were quite brilliant, but the film as a whole just left me underwhelmed.
I disagree because the film is simply about a dinner between Andre and Wally where the two, who are involved in theatre, discuss their lives and philosophy plays in. Watching the film, I felt like I was sitting there listening and at times I wanted to say something to but Louis Malle wouldn’t cast me.
I actually found the film overwhelming the way I found Stalker overwhelming. It was like the pleasant refreshing conversation with some smart people (in these case smart theatre people) that I had always wanted to have.
And I disagree with the atmosphere part. Through editing and through the tone and speed of conversation, much atmosphere was created. The Mystery of Picasso reminds me of this film as it is a thriller about Picasso painting, achieved through atmosphere. While My Dinner with Andre is a drama about two people talking, achieved through atmosphere. I felt very satisfied with Malle, Gregory and Shawn’s refusal to ever show us anything but the conversation, no flashbacks nothing at all because it left much to the imagination and my imagination was keen on following the threads the film provided.
And I don’t think the film thinks too highly of itself. It feels rather down to earth to me. Just two people talking about what they would if they were having dinner. Only now that the conversation is more interesting because it is scripted (and without doubt the topics of a few dinners combined) and thus more tightly woven. All in all, I was very happy with the dinner although no one ordered anything for me.
(it is subjective in the end, but discussion is nice and what we need on this forum)
Haha, that’s funny, because I was FRUSTRATED during the film that I COULDN’T jump in and say what I thought. If people are having intelligent discussions, I guess I want to be a part of them, and not watch them have it.
The atmosphere part is obviously just a matter of the brain of the viewer, and if you thought it had atmosphere, far be it from me to argue. I’d hate it if someone told me Spirit Of The Beehive had no emotion, so yeah.
And It just seems like an experimental film to me, testing out an idea, an experimental film that is thought too highly of. That’s what I think anyway.
I don’t know, I find myself increasingly unable to judge films because 1) many films are not targeted at me (I belong to a strange social group in terms of age, location, class and ideas) so who am I to pass a definite judgement on them and 2) films like My Dinner with Andre are made with set intentions and who am I to judge whether they have been achieved or not. As long as the makers are satisfied wtih the product and the product is an intellectual one (as opposed to pure entertainment which I feel that I can dismiss because it often promotes ideologies mindlessly), then the film is perfect.
Another film I don’t think you should check out it Vanya on 42nd Street.
Well, I have a surprisingly high tolerance for just plain entertainment, so almost every film I see at least gets a 2/4 star rating. That’s what I always mean when I say great trash. Entertainment. But I still won’t see a film in theaters unless I think it has potential, or am forced into one by gunpoint.
Haha I won’t ever watch a film for pure entertainment because I don’t believe a film can ever say nothing and misguidedly analyse everything I see anyway. So serve me some Woody Allen or Aki Kaurismaki over 2012 or (500) Days of Summer anyday.
i haven’t seen Andre yet but i doubt if this was the downfall of Malle’s U.S. period…i’ve seen 2 U.S. films by him so far,Pretty Baby and Atlantic City and both possessed extraordinary qualities of corruption and trickery,something Malle loves mixing either in noir (Elevator in the Gallows) or in masterful comedies (Zazie in the Metro,yeah,i love that one,sue me)
Oh yes, Law, definitely, I never watch a film just to be entertained, but if that’s all I experience, I do not feel insulted.
But is that all you will experience? I always feel indignated by the ideologies promoted by the films in multiplexes that I am dragged too and the useless and excessive cinematography and editing techniques employed.
You won’t be bored by “Andre”, Dimitris. The diners are both charming, erudite and engaging. You’d enjoy the company of either (impossible now with Gregory, since he’s moved on to the next realm). I won’t say it’s as good as Malle at his best, because it’s not, but it’s immensely entertaining. It’s conversation as art. Wow. Imagine.
Yes, you won’t be BORED dimitris, perhaps underwhelmed, but…
LAW: I don’t at all films, but at some, yes. I really enjoyed Star Trek.
@Dimitris
You WILL and SHOULD love My Dinner With Andre. Along with Damage and Pretty Baby, it is one of my favorite late Malle films.
Gary Wood
I’m sorry if I’ve abused my Forum rights, by not really providing a topic for conversation, but I couldn’t contain my excitement. My Dinner with Andre!