Leon (or ‘The Professional’ in the U.S.) It’s irresistible mix of high octane action of heart wrenching love story had a great effect on my 10 year old self and I have never looked back since. Followed closly by American Beauty and A Clockwork Orange
Personally I think the film is about how evil can never be defeated, only endured. It reminds me of Morgan Freeman’s voiceover at the end of Se7en. ‘Ernest Hemingway once said ’the world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.’
The novel is fine, but it is one of McCarthy’s lesser works. He tends to ramble on about the workings of fate and chance particularly in the scenes where Chirgurh executes Wells and Carla Jean. The film I believe genuinely manages to trangress its literature roots by cutting all the flab whilst keeping close to the essential ideas of the story making these scenes more tense and (in the case of Carla Jean) more moving.
The novel is fine, but it is one of McCarthy’s lesser works. He tends to ramble on about the workings of fate and chance particularly in the scenes where Chirgurh executes Wells and Carla Jean. The film I believe genuinely manages to trangress its literature roots by cutting all the flab whilst keeping close to the essential ideas of the story making these scenes more tense and (in the case of Carla Jean) more moving.
I was heartbroken when The Assassination Of Jesses James…landed with a hollow thud at the box-office when it came out. In knew it would be a hard sell but I thought the presence of Pitt would reel in the money crowd. Anyway I remember hearing a radio interview with Roger Deakins who thought the movie may have a strong afterlife like another beloved flop he worked on, The Shawshank Redemption. I was curious to know what other films that failed at the box-office have fans on this site.
The Wire has just finished its run over here in the U.K. and I can safely say that it is the finest television show that I have ever seen. It’s arguably the closest thing television has been to the scope of an epic novel; every season is a volume and every episode a chapter. Indeed David Simon had originally planned to do it as novel so its hardly suprising that the story evolves slowly but surely like a piece of literature. I find the most inspiring aspect of the show to be Simon’s personal mantra, ‘Fuck the casual viewer’. The Wire refuses to talk down to its audience allowing them to piece together the plot and texture of the world in which the story takes place rather than many other American T.V. shows e.g. 24 – Where every chracter feels compelled to remind one another every five minutes of the various nukes, assassians and viruses threatening the country. The show also tackles opinions that many Americans – and indeed anybody of any nationality – would shy away from and not be comfortable confronting. Attitudes towards race, sexuality, social class, good and evil are challenged at every turn with no character left unblemished by the brutality of their profession, be it the corridors of power, or the crime ridden streets. The sheer ambition of the show is staggering and while I can perhaps understand why Eli was put off by its scope I believe the sheer brilliance of Simon’s writing and outstanding cast of compelling characters make the show such a joy to watch and the audience feels compelled to unravel the puzzle. It’s not just a great T.V. show, it’s the great American epic of our time.
Finally got a hold of the director’s cut of Leon, I found the new scenes interesting to watch yet I didn’t feel they were vital to film. Maybe I’m too used to the old cut. I’m curious to what version others prefer and any other films where you prefer one version to another?
I’m writing a script about the French resistance for my major practical work for my final year at university. I am already hunting for a copies of the films mentioned above. Does anyone have any other good ideas for other films?
Hmmm. Not to sure, it looks a bit like Jason Bourne: Road To Baghdad. Don’t get me wrong; I think that the Paul Greengrass Bourne films are blockbuster filmmaking at their best. I was just expecting him to handle such sensitive material with the approach he used in Bloody Sunday and United 93. I hope this is just the studio trying to reach out to the mainstream ‘blow shit up’ crowd and the final film lives up to it’s promise.
I know that that scene is too on the nose compared with the level of what comes before it, yet I always find that scene incredibly moving none the less. It could be the level of the performances or just the sheer emotional weight descending, who knows? Perhaps I’m just trying to embrace whatever hope I can out of the film but I fully understand why many find it out of place.
I think both Sideways and Eternal Sunshine…are fantastic but if I had to pick I’d go for Sideways. I saw it a very crucial moment in my filmgoing life and it remains one of my all time favourites.
While I agree with quite a number of films on this list the rankings are completley messed up. I do really like the Greengrass Bourne pictures, but two? There Will Be Blood and Lost In Translation deserved much higher slots in my opinion.
I could complain about young people watching films they shouldn’t be at their age but being a hypocrite isn’t my thing. (Nearly 21, been a cinefile since 13.)
The air tank : No Country For Old Men
Pencil: The Dark Knight
Bowling Pin: There Will Be Blood
Bowling Ball: The Big Lebowski
Any gun in Clint Eastwood’s hand: The Dollars Trilogy
Tommy Gun: Miller’s Crossing
Hanzo Sword: Kill Bill Vol.1
Screwdriver: Dawn Of The Dead
Hammer: OldBoy
Sickle: Battle Royale
Anything Matt Damon touches: The Bourne Trilogy
In an odd way, Plainview does obtain happiness at the end of the film. He makes enough money to ‘get away from everyone’ as he hoped to, including his adopted son and he rids himself of all possible competition in killing Eli. A happy ending for him if not the audience?
No Country was the first film I saw in 2008 (UK release dates) and I remember saying something along the lines of, ‘If I see a better film this year, then this will be one of the best years for cinema’. And low and behold, less than a month later I saw There Will Be Blood. I spent several weeks weighing up the case for both of them before realising that it was There Will Be Blood. No Country is a masterpiece yes, but TWBB is on another planet. I hope I get to see something that good again in my lifetime.
Peter Capaldi: Best Supporting Actor? almost 3 years ago
Is it really to hard a stretch?
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Favorite Movies by Female Directors over 2 years ago
Lost In Translation (One of my all time favourites, Sofia Coppola)
Strange Days (Bigelow)
Boys Don’t Cry (Pierce)
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what film changed you over 2 years ago
For me it’s a tie between American Beauty and A Clockwork Orange
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films that made you love film over 2 years ago
Leon (or ‘The Professional’ in the U.S.) It’s irresistible mix of high octane action of heart wrenching love story had a great effect on my 10 year old self and I have never looked back since. Followed closly by American Beauty and A Clockwork Orange
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What is No Country actually about? over 2 years ago
Personally I think the film is about how evil can never be defeated, only endured. It reminds me of Morgan Freeman’s voiceover at the end of Se7en. ‘Ernest Hemingway once said ’the world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.’
Go to Comment
What is No Country actually about? over 2 years ago
The novel is fine, but it is one of McCarthy’s lesser works. He tends to ramble on about the workings of fate and chance particularly in the scenes where Chirgurh executes Wells and Carla Jean. The film I believe genuinely manages to trangress its literature roots by cutting all the flab whilst keeping close to the essential ideas of the story making these scenes more tense and (in the case of Carla Jean) more moving.
Go to Comment
What is No Country actually about? over 2 years ago
The novel is fine, but it is one of McCarthy’s lesser works. He tends to ramble on about the workings of fate and chance particularly in the scenes where Chirgurh executes Wells and Carla Jean. The film I believe genuinely manages to trangress its literature roots by cutting all the flab whilst keeping close to the essential ideas of the story making these scenes more tense and (in the case of Carla Jean) more moving.
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What is No Country actually about? over 2 years ago
Excuse the double post…damn technology!
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Favourite Box-Office flops over 2 years ago
I was heartbroken when The Assassination Of Jesses James…landed with a hollow thud at the box-office when it came out. In knew it would be a hard sell but I thought the presence of Pitt would reel in the money crowd. Anyway I remember hearing a radio interview with Roger Deakins who thought the movie may have a strong afterlife like another beloved flop he worked on, The Shawshank Redemption. I was curious to know what other films that failed at the box-office have fans on this site.
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So... The Wire... (POSSIBLE SPOILERS) over 2 years ago
The Wire has just finished its run over here in the U.K. and I can safely say that it is the finest television show that I have ever seen. It’s arguably the closest thing television has been to the scope of an epic novel; every season is a volume and every episode a chapter. Indeed David Simon had originally planned to do it as novel so its hardly suprising that the story evolves slowly but surely like a piece of literature. I find the most inspiring aspect of the show to be Simon’s personal mantra, ‘Fuck the casual viewer’. The Wire refuses to talk down to its audience allowing them to piece together the plot and texture of the world in which the story takes place rather than many other American T.V. shows e.g. 24 – Where every chracter feels compelled to remind one another every five minutes of the various nukes, assassians and viruses threatening the country. The show also tackles opinions that many Americans – and indeed anybody of any nationality – would shy away from and not be comfortable confronting. Attitudes towards race, sexuality, social class, good and evil are challenged at every turn with no character left unblemished by the brutality of their profession, be it the corridors of power, or the crime ridden streets. The sheer ambition of the show is staggering and while I can perhaps understand why Eli was put off by its scope I believe the sheer brilliance of Simon’s writing and outstanding cast of compelling characters make the show such a joy to watch and the audience feels compelled to unravel the puzzle. It’s not just a great T.V. show, it’s the great American epic of our time.
Go to Comment
Theatrical or Director's Cut? over 2 years ago
Finally got a hold of the director’s cut of Leon, I found the new scenes interesting to watch yet I didn’t feel they were vital to film. Maybe I’m too used to the old cut. I’m curious to what version others prefer and any other films where you prefer one version to another?
Go to Comment
Films on the French Resistance over 2 years ago
I’m writing a script about the French resistance for my major practical work for my final year at university. I am already hunting for a copies of the films mentioned above. Does anyone have any other good ideas for other films?
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Trailer over 2 years ago
Hmmm. Not to sure, it looks a bit like Jason Bourne: Road To Baghdad. Don’t get me wrong; I think that the Paul Greengrass Bourne films are blockbuster filmmaking at their best. I was just expecting him to handle such sensitive material with the approach he used in Bloody Sunday and United 93. I hope this is just the studio trying to reach out to the mainstream ‘blow shit up’ crowd and the final film lives up to it’s promise.
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Which movies would you like to see on The Auteurs? over 2 years ago
Trees Lounge…please!
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the masterpiece project - part 8 (2000-2009) over 2 years ago
2000 (USA) – Traffic
(World) – Battle Royale
2001 (USA) – The Royal Tenenbaums
(World) – Amelie
2002 (USA) – Bowling For Columbine
(World) – City Of God
2003 (USA) – Lost In Translation
(World) – OldBoy
2004 (USA) – Sideways
(World) – Downfall
2005 (USA) – A History Of Violence
(World) – Symapthy For Lady Vengeance
2006 (USA) – United 93
(World) – The Wind That Shakes The Barley
2007 (USA) – There Will Be Blood
(World) – This Is England
2008 (USA) – Synecdoche, New York
(World) – Waltz With Bashir
2009
as of October(USA) – Star Trek(World) – Moon
*This is really off the top of my head. I’m sure there are better USA films than Star Trek this year, I just have not seen them yet!
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the masterpiece project - part 8 (2000-2009) over 2 years ago
Quick correction! 2006 (World) – Pan’s Labyrinth
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The climactic sequence: "I could have done more". Poignant or kitsch? over 2 years ago
I know that that scene is too on the nose compared with the level of what comes before it, yet I always find that scene incredibly moving none the less. It could be the level of the performances or just the sheer emotional weight descending, who knows? Perhaps I’m just trying to embrace whatever hope I can out of the film but I fully understand why many find it out of place.
Go to Comment
Do you think Sideways is the best film of 2004? over 2 years ago
I think both Sideways and Eternal Sunshine…are fantastic but if I had to pick I’d go for Sideways. I saw it a very crucial moment in my filmgoing life and it remains one of my all time favourites.
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The Times's Top 100 of the decade over 2 years ago
While I agree with quite a number of films on this list the rankings are completley messed up. I do really like the Greengrass Bourne pictures, but two? There Will Be Blood and Lost In Translation deserved much higher slots in my opinion.
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Teens on The Auteurs over 2 years ago
I could complain about young people watching films they shouldn’t be at their age but being a hypocrite isn’t my thing. (Nearly 21, been a cinefile since 13.)
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Best Weapon In a Movie over 2 years ago
The air tank : No Country For Old Men
Pencil: The Dark Knight
Bowling Pin: There Will Be Blood
Bowling Ball: The Big Lebowski
Any gun in Clint Eastwood’s hand: The Dollars Trilogy
Tommy Gun: Miller’s Crossing
Hanzo Sword: Kill Bill Vol.1
Screwdriver: Dawn Of The Dead
Hammer: OldBoy
Sickle: Battle Royale
Anything Matt Damon touches: The Bourne Trilogy
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Films Left to See Before Making Best of Decade List over 2 years ago
Pretty much everything in the last 6 to 7 months. I’ve fallen behind quite badly
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Daniel Plainview, stupidest man on earth (?) over 2 years ago
In an odd way, Plainview does obtain happiness at the end of the film. He makes enough money to ‘get away from everyone’ as he hoped to, including his adopted son and he rids himself of all possible competition in killing Eli. A happy ending for him if not the audience?
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Performances by Directors in Other Director's Films over 2 years ago
Spike Jonze in Three Kings
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Performances by Directors in Other Director's Films over 2 years ago
Mathieu Kassovitz in Amelie and Munich
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Who is the BEST critic in the business right now? over 2 years ago
Mark Kermode – BBC Radio 5
Peter Bradshaw – The Guardian
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Your 5 Favourite Directors over 2 years ago
1) The Coen Brothers
2) Stanley Kubrick
3) Paul Thomas Anderson
4) Wes Anderson
5) Alfred Hitchcock
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What is the greatest film title ever? over 2 years ago
The original title for Life Of Brian.
JESUS CHRIST: LUST FOR GLORY
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Paul Thomas Anderson's next project over 2 years ago
That’s just topped my to see list.
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There Will Be Blood or No Country For Old Men, which is the better film? over 2 years ago
No Country was the first film I saw in 2008 (UK release dates) and I remember saying something along the lines of, ‘If I see a better film this year, then this will be one of the best years for cinema’. And low and behold, less than a month later I saw There Will Be Blood. I spent several weeks weighing up the case for both of them before realising that it was There Will Be Blood. No Country is a masterpiece yes, but TWBB is on another planet. I hope I get to see something that good again in my lifetime.
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