“The Conversations: Walter Murch and the art of film editing” by Michael Ontaatje. …what a wonderful book. Reading it is like having a great master talk to you about the fine points of his art. Also great is “In the Blink of an Eye” by Walter Murch.
Re: Citizen Kane: I admire it, I just don’t like it. Maybe it is the character of Kane himself that turns me off the movie, I don’t really know. I just know I never really feel like watching it and when I do it is like watching a brilliant piece of work that inexplicably leaves me cold. I like Othello, Chimes at Midnight, and Touch of Evil much more than Kane.
I agree with Matt Parks that it would have been less effective in 2001. Sometimes a thing can be made too obvious. Great still from Psycho, too! My personal favorite jump-cut is Peter O’Toole blowing out the match – cut to sunrise in the desert.
Just saw “In a Lonely Place” the other night for the first time. I now understand all the fuss made about Nicholas Ray – he was truly a brilliant and original talent. Film Forum here in NYC is running a retrospective of his films and I will be there for as many of them as I can! My first impression of his unique sensibility is that he makes melodrama seem like the purest form of cinema. By that, I mean that melodrama, as a self-indulgent and narcissistic class of drama, is uniquely suited to the implicit eroticism of cinema and the passive nature of experiencing a movie as spectator.
“Summer Hours” by Olivier Assayas and “Beaches of Agnes” by Agnes Varda are my favorites of the year so far. But it hasn’t been too memorable a year for new movies yet (with those notable exceptions!).
“Public Enemies” was fascinating to look at – I’m a fan of Michael Mann and I really admire his pushing digital imagery into new territory. It was an interesting and brave choice for a retro period piece. The gun fights also made great use of sound – nobody does a gunfight as well as Mann. Still, dramatically, the movie was a letdown. Depp doesn’t have ANY gangster in him AT ALL! – worst casting decision ever. I am looking forward to the new films from Tarantino and Almodovar.
“Amelie” – this is the one French film nearly everyone has seen, attractive young women especially; and I cannot stand it! And it’s always her favorite movie! This cloying, design-y, French confection makes me give up on ever finding a woman I can watch movies with… so sad:(
I have to say I don’t understand all the Juno-bashing. Ellen Page is a very interesting actress to watch and listen to. I also like actor Michael Cera for the same reason – both are non-glamour actors with strong character-actor appeal. I would like to see more movies with actors like them. In addition to excellent performances from the entire cast, Juno was also a smart, funny story …so, what’s the beef? The only problem I had was that I got tired of that song in a big hurry!
Any recommendations on good books about filmmaking/film theory/films in general? almost 3 years ago
“The Conversations: Walter Murch and the art of film editing” by Michael Ontaatje. …what a wonderful book. Reading it is like having a great master talk to you about the fine points of his art. Also great is “In the Blink of an Eye” by Walter Murch.
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Any recommendations on good books about filmmaking/film theory/films in general? almost 3 years ago
Also a great read: “This is Orson Welles,” by Orson Welles and Peter Bogdanovich.
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What's your favorite country (by cinematical standards) almost 3 years ago
France, US, India (for Satyajit Ray)
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Poll of the Month, July: Favourite Films by Women almost 3 years ago
Okay, here are two no one has named yet…
“My Father and I” by Anne Fontaine
“All is Forgiven” by Mia Hansen-Love
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Art-House films people give you "shit" for not liking almost 3 years ago
CItizen Kane
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Art-House films people give you "shit" for not liking almost 3 years ago
Re: Citizen Kane: I admire it, I just don’t like it. Maybe it is the character of Kane himself that turns me off the movie, I don’t really know. I just know I never really feel like watching it and when I do it is like watching a brilliant piece of work that inexplicably leaves me cold. I like Othello, Chimes at Midnight, and Touch of Evil much more than Kane.
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fanciful musings almost 3 years ago
I agree with Matt Parks that it would have been less effective in 2001. Sometimes a thing can be made too obvious. Great still from Psycho, too! My personal favorite jump-cut is Peter O’Toole blowing out the match – cut to sunrise in the desert.
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WHO IS / WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS EVER? almost 3 years ago
Ingrid Bergman in Casblanca
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Nicholas Ray almost 3 years ago
Just saw “In a Lonely Place” the other night for the first time. I now understand all the fuss made about Nicholas Ray – he was truly a brilliant and original talent. Film Forum here in NYC is running a retrospective of his films and I will be there for as many of them as I can! My first impression of his unique sensibility is that he makes melodrama seem like the purest form of cinema. By that, I mean that melodrama, as a self-indulgent and narcissistic class of drama, is uniquely suited to the implicit eroticism of cinema and the passive nature of experiencing a movie as spectator.
Go to Comment
Top Films of 2009 - so far almost 3 years ago
“Summer Hours” by Olivier Assayas and “Beaches of Agnes” by Agnes Varda are my favorites of the year so far. But it hasn’t been too memorable a year for new movies yet (with those notable exceptions!).
“Public Enemies” was fascinating to look at – I’m a fan of Michael Mann and I really admire his pushing digital imagery into new territory. It was an interesting and brave choice for a retro period piece. The gun fights also made great use of sound – nobody does a gunfight as well as Mann. Still, dramatically, the movie was a letdown. Depp doesn’t have ANY gangster in him AT ALL! – worst casting decision ever. I am looking forward to the new films from Tarantino and Almodovar.
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Necessary films to own... almost 3 years ago
“To Be or Not To Be,” an Ernst Lubitsch comedy with Jack Benny and Carole Lombard – priceless. It has so many great lines…
Benny: Colonel, I can’t tell you how good it is to breathe the air of the Gestapo again.
or…
Prof. Siletsky: Shall we drink to a blitzkrieg?
Lombard: Mmm… I prefer a slow encirclement.
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What is the greatest film title ever? almost 3 years ago
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
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Movies you hated that everyone else loves almost 3 years ago
“Amelie” – this is the one French film nearly everyone has seen, attractive young women especially; and I cannot stand it! And it’s always her favorite movie! This cloying, design-y, French confection makes me give up on ever finding a woman I can watch movies with… so sad:(
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Movies you hated that everyone else loves almost 3 years ago
I have to say I don’t understand all the Juno-bashing. Ellen Page is a very interesting actress to watch and listen to. I also like actor Michael Cera for the same reason – both are non-glamour actors with strong character-actor appeal. I would like to see more movies with actors like them. In addition to excellent performances from the entire cast, Juno was also a smart, funny story …so, what’s the beef? The only problem I had was that I got tired of that song in a big hurry!
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GREAT MOVIES WITH BAD ENDINGS... almost 3 years ago
FIght Club and Mystic River – terrible endings! Also, Lord of the Rings 3 (great movie) but too many endings – they go on forever!
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