I’ve seen most the Ozu available in Canada (including the silents). Many of them remain vivid in my memory, but Tokyo Twilight doesn’t. What I do remember about it is the feeling it was more ‘plotted’ than Ozu’s other films, as though he’d imposed events upon the characters rather than letting them muddle through, as they usually do. It seemed less about universals of human nature and more about peculiar things happening to particular humans. It’s not one of my favourites.
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
I think I’d put Little Nemo above any other strip, actually. It’s never funny, but McCay assembled so much of the ‘grammar’ of his medium—and pushed it toward animation, too. And the composition is extraordinary. And it was popular. He was a bit like D.W. Griffith that way.
Come to think of it, none of the strips I really like are funny, except for Far Side. And didn’t Schulz claim that wasn’t a strip?
What differentiates a ‘great film’ from a ‘masterpiece’, aside from someone’s need for a more precise term? And ironically, a lot of people use the term to describe the ineffable quality of a great film, which is, obviously, imprecise.
To me, masterpiece ought to mean a film that exhibits peak performances (dramatic or otherwise) from everyone involved in it. That point’s already been made. The ‘piece’ reflects the ‘mastery’ several people have attained in their respective crafts. This is a useful definition, because it allows us to assess the quality of films that we don’t personally love. I don’t love Citizen Kane, as a matter of fact, but I appreciate the hell out of it.
Three caveats: (1) One’s appreciation of a masterpiece would increase based on his/her knowledge of film, film history, etc., whereas one’s appreciation of a ‘great film,’ perhaps, would not be so affected. (2) Can you judge something a masterpiece if you don’t see it in a theatre? Maybe, but Lawrence of Arabia, for example, loses an immense amount on the small screen (or even a fairly big one). (3) I’m not sure a masterpiece’s technical perfection makes it ‘better’ than a flawed movie with one or more standout qualities… and I certainly don’t think a masterpiece is, by definition, more memorable.
For modern actresses, I’ll take Kate Winslet. She’s so legit that when she takes her clothes off, my first thought is: ‘why would her character do that?’ A big step for me.
From the past: Gish and Pickford could play anything, though they weren’t always given the chance. And Clara Bow, really, is the best thing ever filmed.
Could Even Ozu Completely Mishandle Portrayal of Human Emotions? over 2 years ago
I’ve seen most the Ozu available in Canada (including the silents). Many of them remain vivid in my memory, but Tokyo Twilight doesn’t. What I do remember about it is the feeling it was more ‘plotted’ than Ozu’s other films, as though he’d imposed events upon the characters rather than letting them muddle through, as they usually do. It seemed less about universals of human nature and more about peculiar things happening to particular humans. It’s not one of my favourites.
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top 3 art forms over 2 years ago
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
Go to Comment
top 3 art forms over 2 years ago
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
Go to Comment
top 3 art forms over 2 years ago
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
Go to Comment
top 3 art forms over 2 years ago
Great art often crosses boundaries. Rodin put dance into sculpture; Degas put it into painting. Shakespeare (and many others) put verse into drama. Winsor McCay put graphic novels into the comic strip before the former was even around. BUT, for me, this would be the top three:
1. Cinema
2. Drama
3: Comic strips
…honourable mention to television, btw. Episodic story-telling is underappreciated.
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top 3 art forms over 2 years ago
Eesh, I’m really sorry about that… my computer froze when I clicked reply.
Episodic story-telling DEFINITELY won’t be under-appreciated now.
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top 3 art forms over 2 years ago
I think I’d put Little Nemo above any other strip, actually. It’s never funny, but McCay assembled so much of the ‘grammar’ of his medium—and pushed it toward animation, too. And the composition is extraordinary. And it was popular. He was a bit like D.W. Griffith that way.
Come to think of it, none of the strips I really like are funny, except for Far Side. And didn’t Schulz claim that wasn’t a strip?
Go to Comment
THE ELEMENTS OF A MASTERPIECE: What does it take to make your list? over 2 years ago
What differentiates a ‘great film’ from a ‘masterpiece’, aside from someone’s need for a more precise term? And ironically, a lot of people use the term to describe the ineffable quality of a great film, which is, obviously, imprecise.
To me, masterpiece ought to mean a film that exhibits peak performances (dramatic or otherwise) from everyone involved in it. That point’s already been made. The ‘piece’ reflects the ‘mastery’ several people have attained in their respective crafts. This is a useful definition, because it allows us to assess the quality of films that we don’t personally love. I don’t love Citizen Kane, as a matter of fact, but I appreciate the hell out of it.
Three caveats: (1) One’s appreciation of a masterpiece would increase based on his/her knowledge of film, film history, etc., whereas one’s appreciation of a ‘great film,’ perhaps, would not be so affected. (2) Can you judge something a masterpiece if you don’t see it in a theatre? Maybe, but Lawrence of Arabia, for example, loses an immense amount on the small screen (or even a fairly big one). (3) I’m not sure a masterpiece’s technical perfection makes it ‘better’ than a flawed movie with one or more standout qualities… and I certainly don’t think a masterpiece is, by definition, more memorable.
Go to Comment
which is your favorite actress: over 2 years ago
For modern actresses, I’ll take Kate Winslet. She’s so legit that when she takes her clothes off, my first thought is: ‘why would her character do that?’ A big step for me.
From the past: Gish and Pickford could play anything, though they weren’t always given the chance. And Clara Bow, really, is the best thing ever filmed.
Go to Comment