I sat through a screening of Sergei Bondarchuk’s version of “War and Peace.” Eight hours, two parts (split up into two days of screening). It was a gorgeous film, but I left feeling, “Damn. I get it already!”
I’m with Hitchcock, who once said, “The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.” The only film whose length does not bother me—and in fact I hardly even noticed the fact that it was long the first time I saw it—is “Seven Samurai” (at almost four hours). Other than that, if I gotta take a piss, and a film is going on and on, then it better be really fucking brilliant.
Joshua W, I LOVE Ran. Seriously one of my favorite films, and a viewing experience I will never forget. I know what you mean—it seems very underappreciated, but I wouldn’t say everyone hates it. After all, it did get the Criterion treatment—a very nice 2-disc set—and I think it was released to critical acclaim.
As for me, I can think of two films that everyone seems to hate and I just love and I can’t really explain why: “Falling Down” and “SLC Punk!” I think both films are hilarious and dark and entertaining as hell… everyone else—including all the critics—think they are awful. Whatever.
No, Kifah — I hated the Dark Knight, too. I thought it was such crap. Meanwhile, it seems everyone else jerks off to it.
Re: Crash — I loved that movie when it came out. Then I watched other movies, and then I watched Crash again, and I found I didn’t really like it much at all.
As for me, well, prepare to gasp or get pissed off as you will, but I cannot stand Quentin Tarantino and anything he does. I think his style of dialogue is annoying, and the way he references other films does not feel like subtle homage, but complete ripping-off—and it hardly ever seems to work; rather, it feels forced and, dare I say, corny. Don’t get me wrong, he’s good at what he does, but I just don’t like it anyway. Or maybe I just don’t “get” him, but that’s fine with me. Though, to contradict myself, I think Pulp Fiction is good. Everything else, I can’t watch.
LA DOLCE VITA! Of all Fellini movies, why has this one not gotten the Criterion treatment?
Also: Fargo. Dead Man. Annie Hall. Chinatown. Amelie. Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams (a vastly underrated film—even though it isn’t really a regular film; nevertheless, it is a beautifully-shot collection of profound vignettes, and deserves more attention).
I recently watched Jarmusch’s “Broken Flowers.” I’ve heard that the critics hated it. While it’s definitely not one of his best, I thought it was pretty good. Solid writing, great dialogue, and that classic deadpan wit only Jarmusch is capable of. Wouldn’t say I LOVE it, but I quite liked it more than it seems others do.
Mugino, you get blank stares for thinking “American Psycho” was hilarious? Well, it’s pretty comedic—albeit rather dark, but it has very obvious comedic elements. I mean, the amazing business card showdown scene? Oh man. That’s fucking classic. And the way he murders to Huey Lewis?
I think you’re just talking to the wrong people. When I saw it in theaters, everyone was laughing—even at parts that in any other film would be frightening, people were laughing hysterically.
And does anyone else think Persepolis should have won Best Animated Feature? A long shot, of course, but it is one of my favorite animations—or films for that matter—to come out last year.
You should watch a documentary on the making of Citizen Kane (I forget the name of the one I saw). It will change the way you look at Orson Welles and cinema in general. It’s quite amazing how this wonderkid wrote, directed, acted, and innovated—all for his debut feature! And it’s fascinating to learn how he weaved metaphor, philosophy, and all sorts of facets of human nature and used an innovative narrative structure to boot. He may not be the best actor in the world—I would give that to Brando, possibly—but he has huge points in my book for everything else he contributed to cinema.
I recently got my undergrad degree in English literature, and although I love books, I decided what I really love is movies—after learning that I talk about them obsessively, way more than the average person. So now I’m working toward applying for a graduate filmmaking program, so we’ll see where that takes me.
But I can’t stand the Dark Knight. And Memento is such a damn gimmick, it makes me want to punch every critic that applauded it. In fact, I think Christopher Nolan is pretty overrated.
David, people you know hate American Beauty? What’s wrong with them? That film made me love Kevin Spacey.
I know how you feel about The Man Who Wasn’t There. I watched it with friends and although I wouldn’t say I love it, I was the only one who walked away happy.
I like how Annie Hall’s structure—looking back on all his relationship experiences in a somewhat random order—mirrors the way he is in the relationships: erratic, unpredictable, confusing.
Oh, and I don’t like Requiem for a Dream. At first, I like the playful editing, but then it wears thin and becomes old. I like the Kronos Quartet, but god, that music was so thick throughout the whole film—it wouldn’t let up. Annoying.
And ultimately, I did not care for the story of the kids and their heroin problems. However, I thought the story about the mother and her obsession with losing weight was rather compelling, and the performance was stunning. I think that the movie should have been all about her, and with fewer gimmicks; then I would probably love it.
Andrew Kay — I totally agree with you. I love Japanese and French cinema, but it seems Criterion is so focused on these that other countries get lost in the wake. Of course, there are a number of Italian, Spanish, and English films, but still… I’d like to see a lot more from other places. China. India (why is there nothing by Satyajit Ray?). Brazil. etc.
George — I think one of the points of George Washington was that it was not supposed to be pretentious! It was made on a super small budget with non-professional actors, and it uses real locations (no sets) and everything is shown as dilapidated as it really is in the south.
The weekend that it came out, it was already in the top 100 list on IMDB. It got a ridiculous number of high ratings. Right now, it stands as their #4 greatest film of all time.
What. the. fuck.
I hate the Dark Knight. The only thing that was interesting was Heath Ledger—the movie should have been about him alone. Everything else was annoying, cheesy, and over the top. That scene with the civilian and prisoner boats was lame. Come on! We know that the civilians would have pushed that button without question.
I also love Extras, The Office (both the British and US versions), Arrested Development, and Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
I want to get into Six Feet Under and The Wire, because they were so highly acclaimed for their writing, but I haven’t had the time to invest in so many episodes.
When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
The 400 Blows. A masterpiece.
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The longest movie you've ever sat through over 3 years ago
I sat through a screening of Sergei Bondarchuk’s version of “War and Peace.” Eight hours, two parts (split up into two days of screening). It was a gorgeous film, but I left feeling, “Damn. I get it already!”
I’m with Hitchcock, who once said, “The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder.” The only film whose length does not bother me—and in fact I hardly even noticed the fact that it was long the first time I saw it—is “Seven Samurai” (at almost four hours). Other than that, if I gotta take a piss, and a film is going on and on, then it better be really fucking brilliant.
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Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
Joshua W, I LOVE Ran. Seriously one of my favorite films, and a viewing experience I will never forget. I know what you mean—it seems very underappreciated, but I wouldn’t say everyone hates it. After all, it did get the Criterion treatment—a very nice 2-disc set—and I think it was released to critical acclaim.
As for me, I can think of two films that everyone seems to hate and I just love and I can’t really explain why: “Falling Down” and “SLC Punk!” I think both films are hilarious and dark and entertaining as hell… everyone else—including all the critics—think they are awful. Whatever.
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The longest movie you've ever sat through over 3 years ago
Haha. I’ll have to remember that. Great story.
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the hate corner over 3 years ago
No, Kifah — I hated the Dark Knight, too. I thought it was such crap. Meanwhile, it seems everyone else jerks off to it.
Re: Crash — I loved that movie when it came out. Then I watched other movies, and then I watched Crash again, and I found I didn’t really like it much at all.
As for me, well, prepare to gasp or get pissed off as you will, but I cannot stand Quentin Tarantino and anything he does. I think his style of dialogue is annoying, and the way he references other films does not feel like subtle homage, but complete ripping-off—and it hardly ever seems to work; rather, it feels forced and, dare I say, corny. Don’t get me wrong, he’s good at what he does, but I just don’t like it anyway. Or maybe I just don’t “get” him, but that’s fine with me. Though, to contradict myself, I think Pulp Fiction is good. Everything else, I can’t watch.
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most overrated oscar performances or robberies over 3 years ago
I still think Bill Murray should have won Best Actor for Lost in Translation. He’s amazing in that picture.
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
LA DOLCE VITA! Of all Fellini movies, why has this one not gotten the Criterion treatment?
Also: Fargo. Dead Man. Annie Hall. Chinatown. Amelie. Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams (a vastly underrated film—even though it isn’t really a regular film; nevertheless, it is a beautifully-shot collection of profound vignettes, and deserves more attention).
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Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
I recently watched Jarmusch’s “Broken Flowers.” I’ve heard that the critics hated it. While it’s definitely not one of his best, I thought it was pretty good. Solid writing, great dialogue, and that classic deadpan wit only Jarmusch is capable of. Wouldn’t say I LOVE it, but I quite liked it more than it seems others do.
Go to Comment
Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
Mugino, you get blank stares for thinking “American Psycho” was hilarious? Well, it’s pretty comedic—albeit rather dark, but it has very obvious comedic elements. I mean, the amazing business card showdown scene? Oh man. That’s fucking classic. And the way he murders to Huey Lewis?
I think you’re just talking to the wrong people. When I saw it in theaters, everyone was laughing—even at parts that in any other film would be frightening, people were laughing hysterically.
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
I agree about Last Year at Marienbad. That’s definitely Criterion material, and needs to see a proper US release.
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most overrated oscar performances or robberies over 3 years ago
And does anyone else think Persepolis should have won Best Animated Feature? A long shot, of course, but it is one of my favorite animations—or films for that matter—to come out last year.
Go to Comment
Controversial opinion: Orson Welles is not very good over 3 years ago
You should watch a documentary on the making of Citizen Kane (I forget the name of the one I saw). It will change the way you look at Orson Welles and cinema in general. It’s quite amazing how this wonderkid wrote, directed, acted, and innovated—all for his debut feature! And it’s fascinating to learn how he weaved metaphor, philosophy, and all sorts of facets of human nature and used an innovative narrative structure to boot. He may not be the best actor in the world—I would give that to Brando, possibly—but he has huge points in my book for everything else he contributed to cinema.
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Favorite Kurosawa flicks? over 3 years ago
I cannot decide between Ran and Seven Samurai.
I am also a big fan of one of his last films, Dreams, which everyone seems to overlook. It’s one of the most beautifully-shot films I’ve ever seen.
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12-year old asking... over 3 years ago
Start with 400 Blows! I would love to go back and watch that film in my adolescence.
This makes me happy to hear that someone your age is getting into classic cinema. I wish I was that cool at your age.
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the love corner over 3 years ago
I dunno. I have a thing for the young Anna Karina. Cute cute cute.
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QUENTIN TARANTINO over 3 years ago
Overrated and annoying as hell. I cannot stand the way he writes dialogue.
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New to The Auteurs? You Belong Here over 3 years ago
I recently got my undergrad degree in English literature, and although I love books, I decided what I really love is movies—after learning that I talk about them obsessively, way more than the average person. So now I’m working toward applying for a graduate filmmaking program, so we’ll see where that takes me.
Favorite directors: Kurosawa, Coen Bros., Kaurismaki, De Sica, Schnabel, Kubrick, Teshigahara, Truffaut, P.T. Anderson, Jarmusch, Gondry.
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Favorite film composers over 3 years ago
I will see even the crappiest movie if Jon Brion’s name is anywhere on it.
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Movie's you just don't like. over 3 years ago
Aw. I love 21 Grams.
But I can’t stand the Dark Knight. And Memento is such a damn gimmick, it makes me want to punch every critic that applauded it. In fact, I think Christopher Nolan is pretty overrated.
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Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
David, people you know hate American Beauty? What’s wrong with them? That film made me love Kevin Spacey.
I know how you feel about The Man Who Wasn’t There. I watched it with friends and although I wouldn’t say I love it, I was the only one who walked away happy.
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Favorite film composers over 3 years ago
Oh, I totally forgot: Mark Mothersbaugh.
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Do you ever feel that cinema is... over 3 years ago
“A feature film is twenty-four lies per second.” — Michael Haneke
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Inventive Narrative Structures over 3 years ago
I like how Annie Hall’s structure—looking back on all his relationship experiences in a somewhat random order—mirrors the way he is in the relationships: erratic, unpredictable, confusing.
Go to Comment
Movie's you just don't like. over 3 years ago
Oh, and I don’t like Requiem for a Dream. At first, I like the playful editing, but then it wears thin and becomes old. I like the Kronos Quartet, but god, that music was so thick throughout the whole film—it wouldn’t let up. Annoying.
And ultimately, I did not care for the story of the kids and their heroin problems. However, I thought the story about the mother and her obsession with losing weight was rather compelling, and the performance was stunning. I think that the movie should have been all about her, and with fewer gimmicks; then I would probably love it.
Go to Comment
Worst Criterion DVDs over 3 years ago
Andrew Kay — I totally agree with you. I love Japanese and French cinema, but it seems Criterion is so focused on these that other countries get lost in the wake. Of course, there are a number of Italian, Spanish, and English films, but still… I’d like to see a lot more from other places. China. India (why is there nothing by Satyajit Ray?). Brazil. etc.
George — I think one of the points of George Washington was that it was not supposed to be pretentious! It was made on a super small budget with non-professional actors, and it uses real locations (no sets) and everything is shown as dilapidated as it really is in the south.
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Classic movies you can't get on d.v.d. over 3 years ago
There is no Region 1 / US DVD release of Antonioni’s Il Deserto Rosso (The Red Desert). Why the hell?
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Controversial opinion: Orson Welles is not very good over 3 years ago
Mao,
Tarantino sucks ass! :)
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K.U.B.R.I.C.K. over 3 years ago
I just wish he was more productive in his last twenty years. What the hell happened? I know he’s a perfectionist, but still…
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Anybody else hate the Dark Knight? over 3 years ago
The weekend that it came out, it was already in the top 100 list on IMDB. It got a ridiculous number of high ratings. Right now, it stands as their #4 greatest film of all time.
What. the. fuck.
I hate the Dark Knight. The only thing that was interesting was Heath Ledger—the movie should have been about him alone. Everything else was annoying, cheesy, and over the top. That scene with the civilian and prisoner boats was lame. Come on! We know that the civilians would have pushed that button without question.
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TV SHOWS over 3 years ago
FREAKS AND GEEKS! My favorite show ever.
I also love Extras, The Office (both the British and US versions), Arrested Development, and Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
I want to get into Six Feet Under and The Wire, because they were so highly acclaimed for their writing, but I haven’t had the time to invest in so many episodes.
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