Sorry to disappoint tweevotees, but “Harold and Maude”. I think the movie would have been a billion times better without the nothing-but-Cat-ness of it all. Maybe one or two of his songs or something. I don’t know. It sort of keeps me from watching it again, and I love Ashby/Cort/Gordon. Are there any other fans of that movie that hate that soundtrack?
Nathan M., I see that movie as a showcase for a) more of James Mason’s “Lolita” style lechery, b) Helen Mirren’s amazing body, and c) the beautiful Dunk Island. Sure, it’s tonally off in a mess of places, but I just think that Powell wanted to make a painterly film, even if that reflexive idea at the time of its making was a little stuffy and cute. Frankly, I thought the inverse. It would have worked wonderfully as a comedy if it did away with all that nasty gravity.
Tonight, I watched some ridiculously depressing shit on the new Wholphin issue, and I am about to watch the 1944 version of “Gaslight” after a cigarette. I know it won’t have Walbrook, but what can you do?
“Thieves Like Us” for me! The image of her back and forth in the rocking chair, sipping cokes with Keith Carradine and their pug-ugly grins. Some of the most carefree moments captured on film.
There is 1/10000th the amount of Robert Altman discussion that ought to be required around here.
I, for one, think that he is one of the smartest directors to ever talk about the medium, and one of the most addictive personalities to watch talk or listen to. Lately I have been loving “A Perfect Couple”, but for my all-time favorite by him it is probably a toss-up of “The Long Goodbye” and “Thieves Like Us”, with “3 Women” trailing close by.
He has beautiful eyes. He is a cinema god. When will this “Host”-addled board wake up??
RUS, not sure what you mean by navel-gazing. He might be a slow hand at shots and knowing when to cut, but I’d hardly call any of those moments navel-gazing. If anything, it’s a bit like taking a highlighter to a character or bit of mise en scene. While he sometimes lingers on, I never get the feeling of “when will this be over” or that it is self indulgent. Like any other important filmmaker, he is involving the viewer more deeply in what he feels are the essentials of the story.
In terms of “The Long Goodbye”, I don’t see what could really be divined from his depiction of L.A. as pretension per se. If he was striving to really capture L.A. as it was at that time and make some grand statement about it, I think he’d probably turn it into some kind of moral play. If anything, besides the main arc of Marlowe and his friend, not many people get their comeuppance. The gangster gets more money for beating his mistress.
Perhaps it is the homages to Hollywood that he throws in there every now and then that really trouble you? If so, that’s just about the only thing that I can understand in your argument, even if I happen to have liked that aspect.
This whole thread is a big meh and I feel ill for contributing to it. That said..
I just wanted to tip my hat in and say that every great filmmaker steals, just like any good musician or writer. To even entertain the notion that this somehow imbues the art with some kind of irretrievable impurity is FUCKING PATHETICALLY STUPID.
Also, anyone who considers “Boogie Nights” “nothing special” has more than a few screws loose.
I eat four loaves of split-top bread, three to five slices of industrial strength swiss cheese, and one or two DiGiorno Supreme Flatulence furniture sheaths. To wash it all down, I drink a 3-liter Pepsi Blue from seven years ago, so it’s aged really well, and a tablespoon of rat poision, to give me more lines in my body proper.
I forgot about the communion wafers soaked in menstrual blood, and lighting a forklift pallet of sage. I do this every time I watch “Private School For Girls”. I DO NOT LET GIRLS WATCH MOVIES WITH ME.
How could anyone not love “Magnificent Obsession”? It’s got two versions of the film and an hour long Sirk interview! Unless you just blind-bought this knowing nothing of Sirk. If this is the case, may God have mercy..
Even though Brandon Isaacson has probably already watched an Altman movie, I don’t see why there has been such strong advice to watch “M*A*S*H*” first. Really not the best place to start, imho. I would go with “The Long Goodbye” and “Short Cuts”.
What's the most annoying film music you've had to endure? almost 3 years ago
Sorry to disappoint tweevotees, but “Harold and Maude”. I think the movie would have been a billion times better without the nothing-but-Cat-ness of it all. Maybe one or two of his songs or something. I don’t know. It sort of keeps me from watching it again, and I love Ashby/Cort/Gordon. Are there any other fans of that movie that hate that soundtrack?
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Favourite film of the decade (so far)? almost 3 years ago
I am a sucker for love, apparently.
3-Iron, if only for its firm footing as a movie of this decade.
Very close contenders:
- Punch Drunk Love
- Hable Con Ella
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what did you watch today? almost 3 years ago
Nathan M., I see that movie as a showcase for a) more of James Mason’s “Lolita” style lechery, b) Helen Mirren’s amazing body, and c) the beautiful Dunk Island. Sure, it’s tonally off in a mess of places, but I just think that Powell wanted to make a painterly film, even if that reflexive idea at the time of its making was a little stuffy and cute. Frankly, I thought the inverse. It would have worked wonderfully as a comedy if it did away with all that nasty gravity.
Tonight, I watched some ridiculously depressing shit on the new Wholphin issue, and I am about to watch the 1944 version of “Gaslight” after a cigarette. I know it won’t have Walbrook, but what can you do?
Go to Comment
SHELLEY DUVALL almost 3 years ago
“Thieves Like Us” for me! The image of her back and forth in the rocking chair, sipping cokes with Keith Carradine and their pug-ugly grins. Some of the most carefree moments captured on film.
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WHO IS / WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS EVER? almost 3 years ago
Natalie Wood, no hesitation.
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3 Great Actors You'd Definitely Hangout With. almost 3 years ago
Robert Mitchum
Bill Murray
Ben Gazzara
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Any Commentaries you've listened to more than once? almost 3 years ago
How has nobody mentioned Altman?
Also, I have to second the John Waters
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"Husbands" gets a release date! almost 3 years ago
Tomorrow is going to be a great day, what with this and season 12 of “The Simpsons” coming out!
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An Altman Lack almost 3 years ago
There is 1/10000th the amount of Robert Altman discussion that ought to be required around here.
I, for one, think that he is one of the smartest directors to ever talk about the medium, and one of the most addictive personalities to watch talk or listen to. Lately I have been loving “A Perfect Couple”, but for my all-time favorite by him it is probably a toss-up of “The Long Goodbye” and “Thieves Like Us”, with “3 Women” trailing close by.
He has beautiful eyes. He is a cinema god. When will this “Host”-addled board wake up??
Go to Comment
Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 films of the past 17 years almost 3 years ago
It’s cool that Tarantino gave props to “Dogville”.
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An Altman Lack almost 3 years ago
What’s pretentious about “The Long Goodbye”?
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An Altman Lack almost 3 years ago
http://blog.gettyimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/use_altman-lower-res.jpg
Look at those pools of magnificence..
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An Altman Lack almost 3 years ago
RUS, not sure what you mean by navel-gazing. He might be a slow hand at shots and knowing when to cut, but I’d hardly call any of those moments navel-gazing. If anything, it’s a bit like taking a highlighter to a character or bit of mise en scene. While he sometimes lingers on, I never get the feeling of “when will this be over” or that it is self indulgent. Like any other important filmmaker, he is involving the viewer more deeply in what he feels are the essentials of the story.
In terms of “The Long Goodbye”, I don’t see what could really be divined from his depiction of L.A. as pretension per se. If he was striving to really capture L.A. as it was at that time and make some grand statement about it, I think he’d probably turn it into some kind of moral play. If anything, besides the main arc of Marlowe and his friend, not many people get their comeuppance. The gangster gets more money for beating his mistress.
Perhaps it is the homages to Hollywood that he throws in there every now and then that really trouble you? If so, that’s just about the only thing that I can understand in your argument, even if I happen to have liked that aspect.
Go to Comment
An Altman Lack almost 3 years ago
“California Split” is one of the only ones I haven’t seen yet. Downloading it now, though.
Anyone ever see “Fool For Love”? Despite having my main squeeze Harry Dean Stanton in it, that’s probably the only one I can say totally stinks.
What do we think about “O.C. and Stiggs”?
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Quentin Tarantino's Top 20 films of the past 17 years almost 3 years ago
This whole thread is a big meh and I feel ill for contributing to it. That said..
I just wanted to tip my hat in and say that every great filmmaker steals, just like any good musician or writer. To even entertain the notion that this somehow imbues the art with some kind of irretrievable impurity is FUCKING PATHETICALLY STUPID.
Also, anyone who considers “Boogie Nights” “nothing special” has more than a few screws loose.
Go to Comment
An Altman Lack almost 3 years ago
Fredo: Haha, you like “Elephant”.
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"Husbands" gets a release date! almost 3 years ago
I just got my copy.
It comes with a vial of Cassavetes’ sperm.
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"Husbands" gets a release date! almost 3 years ago
One would hope not, although I would also love a reprint of “Minnie and Moskowitz” so I don’t have to shell out thirty or forty bucks for it.
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Do we need a Dazed and Confused Part 2? almost 3 years ago
As long as Clint is in part 2, I’m down.
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Can we have a John Waters thread? almost 3 years ago
1. Polyester
2. Cry-Baby
3. Serial Mom
4. Hairspray
5. Desperate Living
6. Pink Flamingos
7. Pecker
8. A Dirty Shame
Haven’t seen the others
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Favorite Movie Soundtracks? almost 3 years ago
They All Laughed
Polyester
True Stories
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
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What are your "Guilty Pleasure" films? almost 3 years ago
More American Graffiti
Spice World
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Criterions That Didn't Impress You almost 3 years ago
Ahem, “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” rules.
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Reactions to Inglourious basterds almost 3 years ago
This thread is goddamn embarassing!
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Film watching habits almost 3 years ago
I eat four loaves of split-top bread, three to five slices of industrial strength swiss cheese, and one or two DiGiorno Supreme Flatulence furniture sheaths. To wash it all down, I drink a 3-liter Pepsi Blue from seven years ago, so it’s aged really well, and a tablespoon of rat poision, to give me more lines in my body proper.
Go to Comment
Film watching habits almost 3 years ago
I forgot about the communion wafers soaked in menstrual blood, and lighting a forklift pallet of sage. I do this every time I watch “Private School For Girls”. I DO NOT LET GIRLS WATCH MOVIES WITH ME.
Go to Comment
Most Anticipated Films almost 3 years ago
Life During Wartime ftw
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Criterions That Didn't Impress You almost 3 years ago
How could anyone not love “Magnificent Obsession”? It’s got two versions of the film and an hour long Sirk interview! Unless you just blind-bought this knowing nothing of Sirk. If this is the case, may God have mercy..
Go to Comment
Robert Altman virgin, looking for recommendations almost 3 years ago
Even though Brandon Isaacson has probably already watched an Altman movie, I don’t see why there has been such strong advice to watch “M*A*S*H*” first. Really not the best place to start, imho. I would go with “The Long Goodbye” and “Short Cuts”.
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Is Criterion's Crown Slipping almost 3 years ago
Yeah, but not everyone has the money to blow on a region-free DVD player
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