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Wes Anderson: Where to Start?

Joks

12 months ago

“Everyone should see Cries and Whispers at one point…”

Santino should definitely see it, along with Autumn Sonata, so he can finally understand why Woody’s chamber dramas are a load of old ass.

Santino

12 months ago

I’ve seen Cries & Whispers. It didn’t do much for me.

Speaking of Autumn Sonata, in the book of Woody interviews, he talks about Autumn Sonata being one of Bergman’s least successful films. And while he has a lot of problems with Interiors, he stated he thought it was a better film than Autumn Sonata (I guess they both came out in theaters around the same time).

As far as his “chamber pieces”, September is really the only one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Prewitt

12 months ago

I’m thinking of going with The Virgin Spring next……have no idea to be quite honest with you.

Santino

12 months ago

The Virgin Spring is ok.

It’s certainly a bit better than the recent Last House on the Left remake (haven’t seen the Craven version). hehe

Loverof​LeCinem​a

12 months ago

If you want my opinion, I think The Virgin Spring is fantastic. Better than Autumn Sonata, Hour of the Wolf, and Passion Of Anna.

I liked Interiors a lot… Didn’t think Keaton was that good in it, though.

Brad S.

12 months ago

Autumn Sonata is my favorite of the Bergman films so far mentioned on this page. It contains amazing performances of the highest order.

Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left stinks to high heaven, but I’m sure they were able to find a way to make the remake worse.

Loverof​LeCinem​a

12 months ago

I loved the remake actually. Seen it 3 or 4 times now.

Yes, the performances in Sonata were perfect. I’m trying to figure out the purpose of that disabled daughter though…

1) the ugly, spitting, drooling, half person was the only thread of connection Ingrid and Ullman had left.
2) there is no reason, this is where life goes sometimes

Steve Pulaski

12 months ago

Going back on the topic of Wes Anderson, I watched “Bottle Rocket” today. I thought it was just all right. I liked the warmness and whimsical qualities it had, but the whole experience was a sluggish one, not very meaningful, or even truly groundbreaking. Hoping “Rushmore” will be better.

Santino

12 months ago

^when he made Bottle Rocket, nobody noticed. When he made Rushmore, people noticed.

Loverof​LeCinem​a

12 months ago

It hard to explain what is so good about Rushmore…. Bill Murray.

Joks

12 months ago

“Speaking of Autumn Sonata, in the book of Woody interviews, he talks about Autumn Sonata being one of Bergman’s least successful films. And while he has a lot of problems with Interiors, he stated he thought it was a better film than Autumn Sonata (I guess they both came out in theaters around the same time).”

I’d say they are about level, but i’m not a huge fan of Autumn Sonata really, although i do like it.

Interiors is my fav Bergman rip off by Allen.

Joks

12 months ago

“Yes, the performances in Sonata were perfect.”

For some reason i have a problem with L.U once she starts going over the top. That is part of what i did not like about Face To Face either. Once she goes into rage/grief/torment mode, it just kills it for me most of the time.

I prefer some of the other Bergman women over here, like Harriet Anderson.

Steve Pulaski

11 months ago

Just watched “Rushmore” today and, like “Bottle Rocket,” I felt underwhelmed. The actors were great, but everything else sort of floundered. I can’t truly say what I didn’t like, but I found it to be not entirely funny and just not that interesting. “Tenenbaums” is next on my list.

Steve Pulaski

11 months ago

Just finished “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and liked it a lot. So meticulously crafted in its charm, brilliant in terms of art direction, and we are given some very deep characters throughout the way. After two ho-hum efforts, Anderson has proven that he can make a film with both his trademark warmness and lovable eccentricities. I’ll try and get to “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” later this week.

Steve Pulaski

11 months ago

Watched “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” today and enjoyed it, for the most part. Felt a lot of the humor was absent and the quirkiness a bit too heavy-handed, but the design was crisp, the look, smooth as usual, and the performances wonderfully human. A mixed bag, leaning towards the positive side. Next up; “The Darjeeling Limited.”

I don’t think Wes Anderson could make this short film anymore Anderson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eueIWx_XL3U

Loverof​LeCinem​a

11 months ago

@Film Festival

That’s the most Wes Anderson thing I’ve ever seen anybody besides Wes Anderson do.

Steve Pulaski

11 months ago

Watched “The Darjeeling Limited,” which marks the end of my Wes Anderson odyssey, for now, until I get a chance to see “Moonrise Kingdom” theatrically or on Dvd. I enjoyed it a lot more than his other films, yet wasn’t profoundly moved by it like some people claim. Definitely a well shot film, performed wonderfully, but not as involving as it suggeste.

Overall, I admire Wes Anderson’s detail in his pictures and much of his eccentricities in his casting choices, his characters’ personalities, etc, but overall, some of his pictures are all style, no substance (prime example is “Life Aquatic”). Anderson knows how to create an imaginative pictures, full of life and joy, but he makes it difficult to connect to the characters because they’re usually overshadowed by his films’ fluffiness. And sometimes, his pictures aren’t that funny, aren’t that entertaining, and just not that interesting. Other times, they’re enigmatic, enjoyable, and more than meets the eye. A mixed bag indeed.

TakaAwe​some

11 months ago

You’re skipping Fantastic Mr. Fox?

Santino

11 months ago

“overall, some of his pictures are all style, no substance "

It’s a tough thing for some directors, that’s for sure. Visually, they show such promise and you really want to love their films because the are so visually inventive. But the story just doesn’t click. Or the characters don’t connect. There are several directors out there, where you see their brilliance in one area but lacking in others (Tarsem being another example). It’s that cliched statement, “If only they had a good script….”

Steve Pulaski

11 months ago

Takaawesome, honestly, didn’t even know he directed it. Will watch it at some point, but not in a rush. Definitely not skipping it, now that I know.

Santino, that’s exactly how I’d sum up a lot of Anderson’s flicks. In his films, the characters either function in a clunky manner and don’t concatenate with the story (“Bottle Rocket” is the perfect example) and “Rushmore,” I found the Max character to be incredibly unlikable. “Tenenbaums” is when Anderson, I believe, began to actually invest care and substance to his characters, but then detoured dramatically with “Life Aquatic” – a beautiful looking film, but sometimes a task to watch. I desperately wanted to love both “Bottle Rocket” and “Life Aquatic,” but inevitable flaws kept popping up.

Just an FYI, I’m an aspiring film critic, and if you guys are interested, here are my reviews for all of Anderson’s films (currently writing the one for “Darjeeling”).

“Bottle Rocket,” http://stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=3141

“Rushmore,” http://stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=reviews&action=display&thread=3146

“The Royal Tenenbaums,” http://stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=reviews&thread=3157

“The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou,” http://stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=reviews&thread=3161&page=1

Steve Pulaski

11 months ago

Just letting you guys know, I watched “Fantastic Mr. Fox” – caught a surprise showing on Cartoon Network. Really enjoyed it. Quirky and fun, as expected. Will publish a review soon. Stopping by to give you guys two more things.

My review of “The Darjeeling Limited,” http://stevethemovieman.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=reviews&thread=3164&page=1

And also, my blog on Wes Anderson’s filmography. Any comments would be obliged, http://stevepulaski.blogspot.com/2012/06/colorful-world-of-wes-anderson.html

Meg ͏

11 months ago

did you cry when he saluted the wolf? I did