That’s good to hear, David. The trailer left me a little…well, I wasn’t sure. I did like the look of it. Its hyper-real clarity. Btw, was this photographed on stock or was it digital?
If you believe in “American Exceptionalism” and that we are at heart represented by “good people” who are “fighting terrorism” then you’re not going to like this film. And we’re not going to have much to say to one another either.
No argument there.
>>Tony Blair. If you’re aware of his recent legal testimenoy (covered extensively in the UK but virtually ignored by the U.S. media for obvious reasons)<<
A little, but not nearly enough leaked through on NPR.
i don’t trust Ehrenstein but i’ll see it anyways because it can’t be as bad as Oliver Twist or Bitter Moon.
In fact I’d say it was already the top candidate for Best Documentary of 2010
???
When you see the film you’ll know why.
Great news I’ve been excited for this one given the material is something Polanski is a master with.
Adds to my pre-existing excitement to see it.
“And it has the best Polanski finale since “Chinatown.””
Strong words. Better than the Tenant too?
Yes, better than “The Tenant.”
And it wasn’t in the script. Polanski invented it at the last minute.
david I hope u are right
I agree with you on beatty so I will take yr word for this
cannot wait for Ghost Writer
read the book…looking forward the film
There’s a review on imdb calling the film “the experience of a lifetime”. It gets a high average rating there too. I must admit till reading this thread and David’s high opinion i’d not paid it much attention (Polanski hasn’t been on top form in recent years), it now seems a must-see. As for Blair and his testimony over Iraq, well it’s a continuing source of frustration that he’s still at large and not on trial. Teflon Tony. So it’s in effect but not officially a documentary? A pity David and Dimitris aren’t better buddies cos they don’t seem poles (but maybe Poles?) apart politically
Good to here it’s good. Thanks, David.
I saw and enjoyed every moment – but that’s because I enjoy Polanski. Masterpiece…? Well, must say that thought had not occurred to me. I do think the casting was pitch perfect, particularly Brosnan as the PM and Cattrall as his secretary. But the payoff wasn’t great enough for me… the punchline should’ve been killer, like Chinatown…
hasn’t really been on my radar but i’ll definitely see it when i get the chance.
I think there are numerous punchlines: the way the film exposes how the CIA recurits “assets,” the countries that don’t recognize the jurisdiction of the World Court (and are therefore safe for Cheney to visit), the handling of Brosnan’s fate (providing a cinematic denouemnt we all wish were possible in real life.)
Haven’t known David to be this excited by a new film since Ang Lee’s latest.
here is hoping it makes so much money they set him free
OMG David is an international justice lawyer now because he saw something in a film.
Okay I’ll play
David, wouldn’t the Chaney, as a national of member state, be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court regardless of the country he visited?
yeah, I guess that was a punchline….
dp
Just to avoid potential confusion: we are party to the World Court (the ICJ), but the US is not a member of the ICC.
One of the wonders of an unipolar postmodern world is that those people will never be prosecuted in a court of law. Just look at Kissinger. So every so often something comes along, like this movie, to make us feel good for awhile but dont be mistaken the reality is that the guilty will go scott free.
Or as Kurosawa said- The Bad Sleep Well
Or as Kurosawa said- The Bad Sleep Well
Thank you, David.
I am definitely going to this. You are one the most savvy critics on the planet. Does this mean I’ll share the same opinion. I don’t know. But I do know I’m in for a very good film. I had seen an ad for it and rather dismissed it when I saw Polanski’s name. But immediately thought, he made “The Pianist,” which to me was one the best films of the decade.
He is still a very great filmmaker and truth-teller. Is there a better essaying of the true nature of political corruption then “Chinatown.” I doubt it. Thanks for the extra shove to reality.
That there could be more to this scandal then we are in here of United States of No Facts, really has me going. I could never figure out why the authorities were so hot to get Polanski. After all, if the system had any decency it would be hounding Bush, Cheney et al just as doggedly as Polanski.
“Haven’t known David to be this excited by a new film since Ang Lee’s latest.”
Ang Lee’s latest sucked, so….
Blair avoids or is wary of visiting certain countries in case he’s arrested as a war criminal. Of course, most countries practise double standards, with leaders of the most powerful able to get away with their crimes, but occasionally surprises happen like Pinochet being detained in UK at request of Spain (and Maggie was livid); of course he didn’t quite have the clout of Bush and Blair. Anyway, it seems like there’s plenty of life in Polanski yet
Pinochet = Bush/Blair?
wow you folks are really confused….
Kissinger, Bush, Cheney, they’re all protected. Prosecuting them would expose the rot at the core of this country. The fear is, it would have the effect of a complete unraveling. The same reason we will not break up banks which are TBTF. It’s all protected. It’s easier to go after a man who had sex with a minor. War crimes and kleptocracy get a pass.
David Ehrenstein
Saw it last night. It’s a fucking masterpiece and easily the most important politcal film since “Bulworth”. And just as Warren Beatty is dismissed for being a “womanizer,” Polanski can be written off as a “child rapist” — though the truth about that incident tells a different story that will one day be explicated in full. It won’t of course be believed by the Kool-Aid drinkers of America.. But they’re not likely to cotton to this film either as it’s a thorough indictment of the the war criminals who still reside in high places and (the really important part) exposes their mindset. If you believe in “American Exceptionalism” and that we are ar heart represented by “good people” who are “fighting terorism” then you’re not going to like this film.
And we’re not going to have much to say to one another either.
On an immediate level the film deals with Tony Blair. If you’re aware of his recent legal testimenoy (covered extensively in the UK but virtually ignored by the U.S. media for obvious reasons) then you’ll know that every word of this film is true.
In fact I’d say it was already the top candidate for Best Documentary of 2010.
I don’t want to say any more until you people have seen it. Especialy because it’s the sort of film that requires lengthy and detailed discussion. But the cast (Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams and especially and most surprisingly Kim Cattrell) is beyond superb.
And it has the best Polanski finale since “Chinatown.”
Polanski is the toughest of the tough.
Hitler couldn’t kill him.
Manson couldn’t kill him.
Who do these rank amateurs think they are?
They have NO IDEA of who they’re dealing with?