For new music in a film I really love Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love..One can probably argue that it’s too cutesy (and it probably is) but there is something so dreamy and relaxing about the music. If the movie is about this state of mind and feeling that love can bring you then the music is a perfect addition to the visual themes.
For a film using already existing music, Lost in Translation is a great recent example. Every song seems to fit well with both the mood and atmosphere of the film. My favorite is Jesus and the Mary Chain’s “Just like Honey” being played at the end of the film as Bill Murray’s character rides away from Tokyo. The fuzz guitar and lyrics really fit the somewhat somber end to the film.
There are so many other great examples, and plenty that have already been posted (I especially liked the mentioning of “In the Mood for Love”).
IN an effort not to sit at my computer and think of this question all day, I will simply second a few choices that people have already given:
Eyes Wide Shut (probably underrated only because of the ridiculous hype the movie had surrounding it before it came out)
The Thin Red Line
Ed Wood
Punch-Drunk Love
It might deserve a second watch since I love Ameros Perros and Babel…but remembering back to my initial viewing of 21 Grams I just didn’t jive with it. I don’t mind fractured narratives but that movie is kinda overload.
Um there have been plenty of bad or underwhelming films this year especially Indiana Jones and probably every other summer film not named Wall-E or The Dark Knight.
However, so far this year three films really insulted my movie-going experience..all three of them for very different reasons;
Speed Racer- This one just gave me a headache. I saw that Time magazines film critic had this on his top 10 list for 2008 and I just kinda have to shake my head. Sure the technology here is new but there is nothing surrounding. I don’t care if it captured the feel and essence of the anime..to me that just says that the anime was pointless as well.
Hamlet 2 – This one is probably done in by the vast amounts of hype it was given after being snatched up at Sundance. Still though, aside from the 10 minutes or so during the actual musical, this film is very very unfunny. Most scenes seem like they were unfinished or simply pieced together out of improvised takes.
Burn After Reading – I actually enjoyed this movie while watching it until I thought about it. I get it Coen Brothers, you are rejecting the idea of being grand filmmakers who need to make important films. But please don’t throw away your talent on cynical piles of trash. Even other throw away Coen brothers films like Intollerable Cruelty were somewhat fun (yeah that’s right I just defended that movie). IF BAR isn’t exactly the WORST film of the year, it certainly is the biggest waste of talent.
I am split on Snyder…really enjoyed Dawn of the Dead, hated 300.
I think the actors could shine…Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, and Billy Crudup are all fine actors.
That being said this is a massive project and I am not sure how it will be treated. Visually it looks great, but if it has anywhere near the depth problems that 300 had it could be a bumpy ride. Given the source material is much richer then 300, but still great source material does not in any way shape or form guarantee a good film (Alan Moore knows this pretty well, if he actually watched the films based on his comics).
I think the hype for this film is going to get out of hand, already my film school peers are dreaming about in day and night. It might be interesting, exciting, it might even skim the depths that Alan Moore achieved…but I can’t imagine it becoming a classic.
The final sword fight in Sword of Doom
The sequence in Fallen Angels where He is introduced as he breaks into other peoples stores and forces people to pay him…hilarious
The karaoke scene in Lost in Translation (your heart has to break when Bill Murray sings More than This)
The spider scene in Through a Glass Darkly
and to prove I am not all about depression
The chase sequence in Raising Arizona…Coen brother zaniness at its most sublime.
If like to see some more Kar-Wai…Fallen Angels especially…though maybe I shouldn’t complain since Chunking Express is now on there…Still though…Oh and also Ashes of Time because the available DVD transfer is terrible (even though it’s not that great of a film).
Melville…I spent hours trying to make sure I didn’t misspell his name or anything. That guy has always gotten slighted by America…and he loved us so much.
If you are turned off by sex scenes in movies just watch Mulholland Dr. and that should fix the problem…Or A History of Violence (at least the films first sex scene).
After reading through these I almost tend to agree about Tim Burton…I enjoy his movies when I sit in the theater and stare at them but once one puts thought towards any of them, they tend to be lacking. That being said I did enjoy Sweeney Todd quite a bit but his output is pretty sketchy before that…Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Planet of the Apes, The Corpse Bride..it’s not very flattering..
Also Soderbergh has been on a downward spiral ever since Traffic…-I can’t believe he has followed that film up with the likes of Full Frontal, the Ocean movies, the awful re-make of Solaris, and The Good German…I hope Che changes that streak.
The winner has to be Rob Reiner though..I mean the guy was never going to be an incredible filmmaker but Spinal Tap is one of the funniest movies of all time, Misery has some great acting, and any 10 year old boy who hasn’t been moved by Stand by Me probably has no soul. Still…The Bucket List, Alex and Emma, Rumor Has It, The Story of Us….Ouch.
I guess my thoughts was who is now consistently terrible…Reiner certainly has some good films in the past (in addition to the three I mentioned) and I admit to forgetting about A Few Good Man…good entertainment if I ever saw it.
Still thought for consistent crap these days Reiner kinda takes the cake for me
I suppose I could take the easier route and say Brett Ratner…that guy just sucks.
Postwar Kurosawa…Though I have to agree with whoever posted about needing an early Kurosawa set..I would love to see his first 4 or so films collected. Some of the VHS copies I have had to watch those movies on are simply awful..
Also, I have the Samuel Fuller collection but haven’t had time to dig into…damn college. Still I am encouraged by the positive posts about it on here.
A.I. Artificial Intelligence…all the way!! It’s one of the few films I hold dear because I love it so much and no one else seems to have much sympathy for it.
I know we have one more year left in the 2000’s…yet for some reasons I have been thinking about, when the decade is over what films will be viewed as helping define the decade. I know this is dangerous because especially in the 90’s the year 1999 kinda helped define the decade with Fight Club, Sixth Sense,, Three Kings, Being John Malkvoich, The Matrix etc…
Still though there have been some great films in the previous nine years…Consider not only which are the best but also the most important and influential.
I will post more thoughts after hearing other people comment but I suppose one off the top of my head has to be Children of Men, if nothing more then for the innovative cinematography.
First off..I totally agree with John C. Reilly…never has discovering ones comedic side contributed to their downfall more harshly (or maybe it was just becoming friends with Will Ferrell). As for Gimatti I generally agree with that, though I would defend the Illusionist while bringing down Lady in the Water a little more harshly. Still though the guy had a lot going for him coming off of Sideways and he has really squandered it.
While it’s arguable I would have to say Johnny Depp. Of course he was always somewhat popular of an actor but since Pirates he has either chosen ridiculous stuff in an attempt to keep his “bad boy” image intact (The Libertine springs to mind) or just chosen to let Tim Burton lead him around wherever he wants.
Also I have to say, and this is in the same boat as Johnny Depp, that Nicole Kidman has underwhelmed recently. I loved Moulin Rouge but ever since that film she has hedged interesting film choices with Hollywood dreck. She once would have done Dogville and Eyes Wide Shut…now she does The Stepford Wives, Australia, and The Hours.
While I sort of agree with what you say about Soderbergh…doing three Ocean films doesn’t exactly constitute originality. Also since his experiments constantly seem to fail, in my opinion, he would probably be better off going another route.
I’d agree with Linklater…his output is so diverse it has to be applauded..But that’s coming from someone who enjoys School of Rock and Before Sunset.
I like the choice of Lynch but I will reverse that and take Mulholland Dr. over Inland Empire.
Also great call on The New World, it is really an underappreciated film.
American TV has it’s problems, for the basic fact that it is commercially funded. Because of this series run on for 5-10 seasons, well pass when they were still fresh, especially when they have to pump out 24 episodes a season. HBO and FX have found great ground in requiring only 10-12 episodes a season (sometimes even less) and the quality of their shows really are apparent. That’s not to say network TV is dead..it’s just that their shows always seem to suffer from overexposure or creative lapses. That being said some of my favorite shows are on network television…namely Lost, 30 Rock, Pushing Daisies…ok so that’s about it.
Still though Television isn’t just a wasteland for reality TV and trashy serials…it just about it..but there’s still hope. Networks need only attempt to take a cue from HBO, or even better the BBC, and the quality of their shows would skyrocket. There’s a reason why British shows are so popular with critics; their creators know how much material they can get out of a series and the BBC doesn’t push them to drone on for 5 extra seasons just for money purposes.
If you need any evidence just compare the British Office to the American Office
I generally enjoy Wes Anderson though my enthusiasm for his work has tapered off recently. Rushmore is still my favorite of his films and while I still enjoy Royal Tennenbaums, I have some serious problems with it. Bottle Rocket and Darjeeling are both worthy efforts but suffer, Bottle from some bad acting and just general first film problems and Darjeeling Limited from simply rambling on forever. I felt like that movie was going to end about 10 times.
Add to that my utter dislike for The Life Aquatic and my annoyance with that American Express commercial and I would say you have a mixed bag.
I do think he needs to get away from his current visual style/thematic ground. It’s been used too much by him and I would like to see his film making abilities explored a little more. Still though, Rushmore is amazing.
GREAT USE OF MUSIC IN FILMS over 3 years ago
Off the top of my head;
For new music in a film I really love Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love..One can probably argue that it’s too cutesy (and it probably is) but there is something so dreamy and relaxing about the music. If the movie is about this state of mind and feeling that love can bring you then the music is a perfect addition to the visual themes.
For a film using already existing music, Lost in Translation is a great recent example. Every song seems to fit well with both the mood and atmosphere of the film. My favorite is Jesus and the Mary Chain’s “Just like Honey” being played at the end of the film as Bill Murray’s character rides away from Tokyo. The fuzz guitar and lyrics really fit the somewhat somber end to the film.
There are so many other great examples, and plenty that have already been posted (I especially liked the mentioning of “In the Mood for Love”).
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Underrated Films... over 3 years ago
IN an effort not to sit at my computer and think of this question all day, I will simply second a few choices that people have already given:
Eyes Wide Shut (probably underrated only because of the ridiculous hype the movie had surrounding it before it came out)
The Thin Red Line
Ed Wood
Punch-Drunk Love
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Movie's you just don't like. over 3 years ago
It might deserve a second watch since I love Ameros Perros and Babel…but remembering back to my initial viewing of 21 Grams I just didn’t jive with it. I don’t mind fractured narratives but that movie is kinda overload.
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Favorite Cinematographer over 3 years ago
Christopher Doyle
Just to be old-fashioned Conrad L. Hall especially for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Sven Nykvist in his work for both Bergman and Woody Allen
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Favorite Cinematographer over 3 years ago
Oh and for whoever cited this one:
Anthony Dod Mantle – for his work in 28 Days Later
good call
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The best Monty Python film? over 3 years ago
Can I say none of them and go back to watching the television show?
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Which Movies Have You Walked Out On? over 3 years ago
The only movie I have ever walked out of was “The Ten”…so so very unfunny.
I almost walked out of Alexander but felt Oliver Stone would be mad at me if I did.
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Which Movies Have You Walked Out On? over 3 years ago
And the 2nd and 3rd Pirates of the Carribbean films deserved a mass exodus towards the door but it never materialized.
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The Worst Films of 2008 over 3 years ago
Um there have been plenty of bad or underwhelming films this year especially Indiana Jones and probably every other summer film not named Wall-E or The Dark Knight.
However, so far this year three films really insulted my movie-going experience..all three of them for very different reasons;
Speed Racer- This one just gave me a headache. I saw that Time magazines film critic had this on his top 10 list for 2008 and I just kinda have to shake my head. Sure the technology here is new but there is nothing surrounding. I don’t care if it captured the feel and essence of the anime..to me that just says that the anime was pointless as well.
Hamlet 2 – This one is probably done in by the vast amounts of hype it was given after being snatched up at Sundance. Still though, aside from the 10 minutes or so during the actual musical, this film is very very unfunny. Most scenes seem like they were unfinished or simply pieced together out of improvised takes.
Burn After Reading – I actually enjoyed this movie while watching it until I thought about it. I get it Coen Brothers, you are rejecting the idea of being grand filmmakers who need to make important films. But please don’t throw away your talent on cynical piles of trash. Even other throw away Coen brothers films like Intollerable Cruelty were somewhat fun (yeah that’s right I just defended that movie). IF BAR isn’t exactly the WORST film of the year, it certainly is the biggest waste of talent.
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Watchmen over 3 years ago
My quick thoughts;
I am split on Snyder…really enjoyed Dawn of the Dead, hated 300.
I think the actors could shine…Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, and Billy Crudup are all fine actors.
That being said this is a massive project and I am not sure how it will be treated. Visually it looks great, but if it has anywhere near the depth problems that 300 had it could be a bumpy ride. Given the source material is much richer then 300, but still great source material does not in any way shape or form guarantee a good film (Alan Moore knows this pretty well, if he actually watched the films based on his comics).
I think the hype for this film is going to get out of hand, already my film school peers are dreaming about in day and night. It might be interesting, exciting, it might even skim the depths that Alan Moore achieved…but I can’t imagine it becoming a classic.
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BEST SEQUENCE OR SCENE FROM ANY FILM(CAN BE AN OPENING OR ANYTHING ELSE) over 3 years ago
SOOO many..
The final sword fight in Sword of Doom
The sequence in Fallen Angels where He is introduced as he breaks into other peoples stores and forces people to pay him…hilarious
The karaoke scene in Lost in Translation (your heart has to break when Bill Murray sings More than This)
The spider scene in Through a Glass Darkly
and to prove I am not all about depression
The chase sequence in Raising Arizona…Coen brother zaniness at its most sublime.
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Famous Caucasian Men -- How Many Can You Name? over 3 years ago
Fist off…worst topic ever!!
Second off….George Washington
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
If like to see some more Kar-Wai…Fallen Angels especially…though maybe I shouldn’t complain since Chunking Express is now on there…Still though…Oh and also Ashes of Time because the available DVD transfer is terrible (even though it’s not that great of a film).
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Favorite auteurs missing from the profile selection box. over 3 years ago
Melville…I spent hours trying to make sure I didn’t misspell his name or anything. That guy has always gotten slighted by America…and he loved us so much.
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Sex in the movies: Disturbing? over 3 years ago
If you are turned off by sex scenes in movies just watch Mulholland Dr. and that should fix the problem…Or A History of Violence (at least the films first sex scene).
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Famous Caucasian Men -- How Many Can You Name? over 3 years ago
Sting is pretty awesome.
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WHAT MODERN...AMERICAN...HORROR FILMS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CRITERION COLLECTION? over 3 years ago
Simply put…John Carpenter’s The Thing and Cronenberg’s The Fly
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WHAT MODERN...AMERICAN...HORROR FILMS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE CRITERION COLLECTION? over 3 years ago
Simply put…John Carpenter’s The Thing and Cronenberg’s The Fly
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Directors that consistently make terrible films over 3 years ago
After reading through these I almost tend to agree about Tim Burton…I enjoy his movies when I sit in the theater and stare at them but once one puts thought towards any of them, they tend to be lacking. That being said I did enjoy Sweeney Todd quite a bit but his output is pretty sketchy before that…Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Planet of the Apes, The Corpse Bride..it’s not very flattering..
Also Soderbergh has been on a downward spiral ever since Traffic…-I can’t believe he has followed that film up with the likes of Full Frontal, the Ocean movies, the awful re-make of Solaris, and The Good German…I hope Che changes that streak.
The winner has to be Rob Reiner though..I mean the guy was never going to be an incredible filmmaker but Spinal Tap is one of the funniest movies of all time, Misery has some great acting, and any 10 year old boy who hasn’t been moved by Stand by Me probably has no soul. Still…The Bucket List, Alex and Emma, Rumor Has It, The Story of Us….Ouch.
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Best Criterion? over 3 years ago
Band of Outsiders and In the Mood for Love.
Though that Adventures of Antoine Donel might be the best actual DVD package Criterion has ever put together.
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Best film of the 80's? over 3 years ago
I will keep it English language films and say……Purple Rose of Cairo? Yeah that sounds good
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Directors that consistently make terrible films over 3 years ago
I guess my thoughts was who is now consistently terrible…Reiner certainly has some good films in the past (in addition to the three I mentioned) and I admit to forgetting about A Few Good Man…good entertainment if I ever saw it.
Still thought for consistent crap these days Reiner kinda takes the cake for me
I suppose I could take the easier route and say Brett Ratner…that guy just sucks.
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Eclipse over 3 years ago
Postwar Kurosawa…Though I have to agree with whoever posted about needing an early Kurosawa set..I would love to see his first 4 or so films collected. Some of the VHS copies I have had to watch those movies on are simply awful..
Also, I have the Samuel Fuller collection but haven’t had time to dig into…damn college. Still I am encouraged by the positive posts about it on here.
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Films you love but most people hate. over 3 years ago
A.I. Artificial Intelligence…all the way!! It’s one of the few films I hold dear because I love it so much and no one else seems to have much sympathy for it.
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Defining films of the deacade over 3 years ago
I know we have one more year left in the 2000’s…yet for some reasons I have been thinking about, when the decade is over what films will be viewed as helping define the decade. I know this is dangerous because especially in the 90’s the year 1999 kinda helped define the decade with Fight Club, Sixth Sense,, Three Kings, Being John Malkvoich, The Matrix etc…
Still though there have been some great films in the previous nine years…Consider not only which are the best but also the most important and influential.
I will post more thoughts after hearing other people comment but I suppose one off the top of my head has to be Children of Men, if nothing more then for the innovative cinematography.
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Better Before They Were "Discovered"? over 3 years ago
First off..I totally agree with John C. Reilly…never has discovering ones comedic side contributed to their downfall more harshly (or maybe it was just becoming friends with Will Ferrell). As for Gimatti I generally agree with that, though I would defend the Illusionist while bringing down Lady in the Water a little more harshly. Still though the guy had a lot going for him coming off of Sideways and he has really squandered it.
While it’s arguable I would have to say Johnny Depp. Of course he was always somewhat popular of an actor but since Pirates he has either chosen ridiculous stuff in an attempt to keep his “bad boy” image intact (The Libertine springs to mind) or just chosen to let Tim Burton lead him around wherever he wants.
Also I have to say, and this is in the same boat as Johnny Depp, that Nicole Kidman has underwhelmed recently. I loved Moulin Rouge but ever since that film she has hedged interesting film choices with Hollywood dreck. She once would have done Dogville and Eyes Wide Shut…now she does The Stepford Wives, Australia, and The Hours.
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Directors that consistently make terrible films over 3 years ago
While I sort of agree with what you say about Soderbergh…doing three Ocean films doesn’t exactly constitute originality. Also since his experiments constantly seem to fail, in my opinion, he would probably be better off going another route.
I’d agree with Linklater…his output is so diverse it has to be applauded..But that’s coming from someone who enjoys School of Rock and Before Sunset.
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Defining films of the deacade over 3 years ago
I like the choice of Lynch but I will reverse that and take Mulholland Dr. over Inland Empire.
Also great call on The New World, it is really an underappreciated film.
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Television... a query. over 3 years ago
American TV has it’s problems, for the basic fact that it is commercially funded. Because of this series run on for 5-10 seasons, well pass when they were still fresh, especially when they have to pump out 24 episodes a season. HBO and FX have found great ground in requiring only 10-12 episodes a season (sometimes even less) and the quality of their shows really are apparent. That’s not to say network TV is dead..it’s just that their shows always seem to suffer from overexposure or creative lapses. That being said some of my favorite shows are on network television…namely Lost, 30 Rock, Pushing Daisies…ok so that’s about it.
Still though Television isn’t just a wasteland for reality TV and trashy serials…it just about it..but there’s still hope. Networks need only attempt to take a cue from HBO, or even better the BBC, and the quality of their shows would skyrocket. There’s a reason why British shows are so popular with critics; their creators know how much material they can get out of a series and the BBC doesn’t push them to drone on for 5 extra seasons just for money purposes.
If you need any evidence just compare the British Office to the American Office
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Do You Like Wes Anderson? over 3 years ago
I generally enjoy Wes Anderson though my enthusiasm for his work has tapered off recently. Rushmore is still my favorite of his films and while I still enjoy Royal Tennenbaums, I have some serious problems with it. Bottle Rocket and Darjeeling are both worthy efforts but suffer, Bottle from some bad acting and just general first film problems and Darjeeling Limited from simply rambling on forever. I felt like that movie was going to end about 10 times.
Add to that my utter dislike for The Life Aquatic and my annoyance with that American Express commercial and I would say you have a mixed bag.
I do think he needs to get away from his current visual style/thematic ground. It’s been used too much by him and I would like to see his film making abilities explored a little more. Still though, Rushmore is amazing.
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