‘allo from Philly. I’m a writer/editor for two.one.five magazine here in the city and handle most of the film/dvd reviews for the joint amongst various other things. Happy to be here, basking in the warm glow of opinionated cinephiles and such.
Catherine, I’m with you all the way on Michael Freaking Bay, and why “Armageddon,” of all films was given the Criterion treatment is absolutely beyond me.
Hate, though. That I can get into. Let me clear my throat.
I absolutely hated “As Good As It Gets” - a film I found just plain loathsome. I still can’t believe people dug it. Pretty much anything with John Travolta. I hate that dude (as an actor, mind you, I know nothing of him as a real person). I entirely blame his renaissance on QT, whom I otherwise dig.
-Anything by Hal Hartley. Nothing personal, fella, but the pacing of your stuff makes me want to jab hot forks in my eyes.
-“Dead Man.” Ditto, with the pacing stuff. I don’t mind “Stranger Than Paradise” and “Down By Law” but after that Jarmusch totally loses me.
-Anything by Joel Schumacher. It seems as if Hollywood has finally figured out he can’t make a film to save his life.
-“Righteous Kill.” Lord, that was a piece of crap. Of all the bad things DeNiro and Pacino have done separately in the last decade, their collective effort trumped them all. Even the title sucks.
-“Vicky Christina Barcelona.” Hate is a bit strong - I didn’t absolutely hate the film — but I can’t fathom how people don’t find it a complete bore, a film Mr. Allen has made countless times and with each incarnation, a little less inspired. He really needs to leave Scarlett alone for a while.
Oh, and I’m totally with the original poster on this thread: Kevin Smith’s stuff is always so sloppy and lame, I’ve given up on the dude.
Yeah, not to be a P.T. Anderson apologist (not like he needs one), but I think the dude is fucking marvelous. But, you know, as Wendy suggests, such is film.
I think the main point, and why debates like this — while infinitely amusing — rarely amount to much is pretty basic: We’re moved by different things, all of us, and we all have our little touch points. In the end, if something moves us, even if we can plainly see its manipulations, we ascribe it with a certain kind of power. That power we defend to the death because it matters so much to us. If the film in question didn’t move us, we can’t understand why it didn’t and find at least a little suspect anyone who did like it.
I don’t like Kevin Smith one bit, but someone else hates my boy P.T. Anderson. Maybe we both just don’t get it.
Yeah, not to be a P.T. Anderson apologist (not like he needs one), but I think the dude is fucking marvelous. But, you know, as Wendy suggests, such is film.
I think the main point, and why debates like this — while infinitely amusing — rarely amount to much is pretty basic: We’re moved by different things, all of us, and we all have our little touch points. In the end, if something moves us, even if we can plainly see its manipulations, we ascribe it with a certain kind of power. That power we defend to the death because it matters so much to us. If the film in question didn’t move us, we can’t understand why it didn’t and find at least a little suspect anyone who did like it.
I don’t like Kevin Smith one bit, but someone else hates my boy P.T. Anderson. Maybe we both just don’t get it.
I’m also down with “Ken Park” it sucks that you can’t buy a copy of it in the states — at least that I know of. I’m a bit of a sucker for Clark, anyway, but that film was really digging into some worthwhile material.
Sadly, I also have to throw my wretched hat into the “Titanic” ring. I actually reviewed that flick for one of the city papers — long before any hype had come up about it — and I can’t front and say it didn’t completely blow me away. The romance was pretty standard and silly, but the rest of the film was so beautiful and strangely beguiling, it totally took me in. I think I actually smoked a cigarette when I left the theater and I am normally staunchly anti-smoke.
Magnolia, definitely. Punch Drunk Love, ditto.
How about a weird little horror flick from Larry Fessenden called “Wendigo”? The ending is totally silly — and really doesn’t work — but everything else that leads up to it is really, really good. At least as far as I can remember.
When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
Hard to go wrong with many of the films you fine people already suggested, but I’d have to add one to the mix:
1. Alien. Ahem, my personal favorite film. In terms of what it does both overtly and covertly, I really wouldn’t change a bloody thing about it.
And then agree with Jason, among others:
2. The Bicycle Thief. Simple yet absolutely devastating.
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New to The Auteurs? You Belong Here over 3 years ago
‘allo from Philly. I’m a writer/editor for two.one.five magazine here in the city and handle most of the film/dvd reviews for the joint amongst various other things. Happy to be here, basking in the warm glow of opinionated cinephiles and such.
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the hate corner over 3 years ago
Catherine, I’m with you all the way on Michael Freaking Bay, and why “Armageddon,” of all films was given the Criterion treatment is absolutely beyond me.
Hate, though. That I can get into. Let me clear my throat.
I absolutely hated “As Good As It Gets” -a film I found just plain loathsome. I still can’t believe people dug it.Pretty much anything with John Travolta. I hate that dude (as an actor, mind you, I know nothing of him as a real person). I entirely blame his renaissance on QT, whom I otherwise dig.I didn’t absolutely hate the film — but I can’t fathom how people don’t find it a complete bore, a film Mr. Allen has made countless times and with each incarnation, a little less inspired. He really needs to leave Scarlett alone for a while.-Anything by Hal Hartley. Nothing personal, fella, but the pacing of your stuff makes me want to jab hot forks in my eyes.
-“Dead Man.” Ditto, with the pacing stuff. I don’t mind “Stranger Than Paradise” and “Down By Law” but after that Jarmusch totally loses me.
-Anything by Joel Schumacher. It seems as if Hollywood has finally figured out he can’t make a film to save his life.
-“Righteous Kill.” Lord, that was a piece of crap. Of all the bad things DeNiro and Pacino have done separately in the last decade, their collective effort trumped them all. Even the title sucks.
-“Vicky Christina Barcelona.” Hate is a bit strong -
Oh, and I’m totally with the original poster on this thread: Kevin Smith’s stuff is always so sloppy and lame, I’ve given up on the dude.
Thanks, I really needed that.
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the hate corner over 3 years ago
Yeah, not to be a P.T. Anderson apologist (not like he needs one), but I think the dude is fucking marvelous. But, you know, as Wendy suggests, such is film.
I think the main point, and why debates like this — while infinitely amusing — rarely amount to much is pretty basic: We’re moved by different things, all of us, and we all have our little touch points. In the end, if something moves us, even if we can plainly see its manipulations, we ascribe it with a certain kind of power. That power we defend to the death because it matters so much to us. If the film in question didn’t move us, we can’t understand why it didn’t and find at least a little suspect anyone who did like it.
I don’t like Kevin Smith one bit, but someone else hates my boy P.T. Anderson. Maybe we both just don’t get it.
Go to Comment
the hate corner over 3 years ago
Yeah, not to be a P.T. Anderson apologist (not like he needs one), but I think the dude is fucking marvelous. But, you know, as Wendy suggests, such is film.
I think the main point, and why debates like this — while infinitely amusing — rarely amount to much is pretty basic: We’re moved by different things, all of us, and we all have our little touch points. In the end, if something moves us, even if we can plainly see its manipulations, we ascribe it with a certain kind of power. That power we defend to the death because it matters so much to us. If the film in question didn’t move us, we can’t understand why it didn’t and find at least a little suspect anyone who did like it.
I don’t like Kevin Smith one bit, but someone else hates my boy P.T. Anderson. Maybe we both just don’t get it.
Go to Comment
Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
I’m also down with “Ken Park” it sucks that you can’t buy a copy of it in the states — at least that I know of. I’m a bit of a sucker for Clark, anyway, but that film was really digging into some worthwhile material.
Sadly, I also have to throw my wretched hat into the “Titanic” ring. I actually reviewed that flick for one of the city papers — long before any hype had come up about it — and I can’t front and say it didn’t completely blow me away. The romance was pretty standard and silly, but the rest of the film was so beautiful and strangely beguiling, it totally took me in. I think I actually smoked a cigarette when I left the theater and I am normally staunchly anti-smoke.
Magnolia, definitely. Punch Drunk Love, ditto.
How about a weird little horror flick from Larry Fessenden called “Wendigo”? The ending is totally silly — and really doesn’t work — but everything else that leads up to it is really, really good. At least as far as I can remember.
Go to Comment