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Benham Jones's Posts

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is this the greatest site ever? over 3 years ago

this is the greatest site ever.

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is this the greatest site ever? over 3 years ago

Yves, don’t you be talking any junk about The Rock.

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Best Picture Oscar 2009 over 3 years ago

Tim, I agree re: Best Screenplay going to Milk. I liked Slumdog, but I really hope that doesn’t take the whole show. Mickey should win for The Wrestler but probably won’t. Sean Penn or Frank Langella might take it, which would be no crime, but I’m still crossing my fingers for Mickey. Best Director is a hugely confusing catagory, with Sam Mendes, Gus Van Sant, Danny Boyle, Clint Eastwood and Darren Arofonosky all crowding the neighborhood. No one has really mentioned it yet, but I think Jonathan Demme could upset this category and take it. Still, I’m having a hard time judging whether Rachel Getting Married was one of the absolute best or absolute worst that I saw this year. Ledger will take Best Supporting Actor, though Javier Bardem was really really excellent in Vicky Christina Barcelona. Kate Winslet might actually take both Actress categories, though I can’t speak for The Reader since I haven’t seen it yet.

Steve, I wouldn’t call Vicky Christina Barcelona a lesser Woody Allen; I really felt right inside of Barcelona and it felt good. But yes, Scarlett did nearly ruin the whole movie.

But lets all be serious, right? The months right before the awards are fun, but fuck the Oscars.

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Eraserhead over 3 years ago

a movie that changed my life. absolutely a predecessor to The Shining in the way the camera floats through endless space in Henry’s apartment. Pre-dates the Stedicam too, which is interesting. Apparently Lynch used to build tracks, weigh down the camera with sandbags, push the rig and then just let it glide.

the ultimate movie about being a dad.

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There Will Be Blood or No Country For Old Men, which is the better film? over 3 years ago

No Country is a really good movie, but There Will Be Blood is far superior, especially as each film sit in their respective directors catalogues. Very few directors today have the balls to play and take risks at the level of what P.T. Anderson is doing.

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Expanding the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago

Hal Hartley’s The Unbelievable Truth and Trust as essential American indies and pieces of muse cinema. Hartley’s The Book of Life is in the collection, and thats a good movie, but those two are a pair of favorites. Even if you aren’t a fan of Hal’s style, you can’t deny his influence on American indie of the 90’s.

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Best Film About Film? over 3 years ago

8 1/2, Adaptation and Sullivan’s Travels are the first three that jump to mind.

On this tip though, does anyone know where I can acquire a copy of Dennis Hopper’s The Last Movie. I’ve heard that might fit this bill…

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Do You Like Wes Anderson? over 3 years ago

When I left the theater, I remember thinking that The Royal Tenenbaums was the first great American movie of the new millennium. What’s not to like? Great music, great actors and great funnies. Wes Anderson rules, no?

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Best Film About Film? over 3 years ago

it was about the ultimate movie. a pro-wrestling flick.

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What films have you walked out on and why ? over 3 years ago

Love Jerry Maguire; one of few mainstream movies that almost accurately depicts the way in which desire just fades and then returns with little or no warning.

I don’t know if I’ve eve walked out of a movie… Being in a theater is usually more fun for me than being anywhere else. I did turnoff a rental the other day though and that was the first time I’d done that in a while. For the love of god, please NEVER rent Hellride, even if you want to test out your new Bluray for explosive POWER. It was the most unwatchable piece of garbage that ever made its way onto my screen.

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Books about film. over 3 years ago

Another endorsement for Andre Bazin.

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MOMENT OF TRUTH: HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO THE MOVIES AND FALLEN ASLEEP DURING THE FILM? over 3 years ago

Perhaps Chronicles of Narnia… but I think I was on drugs.

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MOMENT OF TRUTH: HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO THE MOVIES AND FALLEN ASLEEP DURING THE FILM? over 3 years ago

Oh, and El Topo for a midnight screening. Maybe also on drugs?

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The scariest or most disturbing film you have EVER seen. over 3 years ago

My first viewing of the 1997 Funny Games was particularly unsettling and Holy Mountain also really screwed with my head. I’ve been gearing up with a friend to see Salo since we first read about it in high-school, and I think that is going to happen soon. So I may have to report back.

My MOST disturbing film experience though was when a friend gave a Girls Gone Wild disc after a long-term relationship of mine ended. I watched it and then immediately broke the disc in half.

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The scariest or most disturbing film you have EVER seen. over 3 years ago

I reconsidered. The Seventh Continent is probably the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen, but also a favorite extremely close to my heart.

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Children of Men disdain forum over 3 years ago

A great release from a major studio. I put it off for a while, but was pleasantly surprised.

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Michael Mann-style over 3 years ago

Thief sorely needs a remaster. That Tangerine Dream score would sound rather ill in hi-def. I can’t always handle the Michael Mann style, but Thief and Manhunter surely are excellent movies.

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Michael Mann-style over 3 years ago

Also, The Insider.

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How Big Is Your DVD Collection? over 3 years ago

I have a small collection because I have a small bank account. Obviously love love love Criterion, but they are great rentals. Too expensive as purchases.

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What films have you walked out on and why ? over 3 years ago

absolutely love The Falls

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Exelent Character Made By Actors In Movies over 3 years ago

Are we just listing great performances?

Klaus Kinski in Agguire
Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter

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Last movie you saw and rate it over 3 years ago

The Perverts’ Guide To Cinema: 8/10

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WHAT IS YOUR PICK FOR THE WORSE MOVIE EVER MADE? over 3 years ago

Andre, I saw Mortal Kombat 2 at a middle school birthday and I found it so dull that I went to the bathroom for the last 45 minutes. I wrote about how much I hate hate hated it in the school paper, but remained anonymous so as to not hurt the birthday boy’s feelings.

Needless to say, I feel your pain. The original Mortal Kombat was kind of fun though.

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use of profanity in film over 3 years ago

Dennis Hopper works with profanity like a sculptor works with clay.

“I’ll have to send you a love letter! Straight from my heart, fucker! You know what a love letter is? It’s a bullet from a fucking gun, fucker! You receive a love letter from me, and you’re fucked forever! You understand, fuck? I’ll send you straight to hell, fucker!”

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WHAT IS YOUR PICK FOR THE WORSE MOVIE EVER MADE? over 3 years ago

Justin, anything by Steven Siegal far trumps Van Damme in shittiness.

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Movies your parents like over 3 years ago

Cool Hand Luke, Moonstruck, The Graduate, Apocalypse Now etc… My parents liked the classics while I was growing up, and are always been down to watch whatever when I go home for the holidays. They like some bullshit too. But if they are down to put on The Passenger with me, I’m fine with watching Hitch every once in a while. Mamma don’t like screen violence too much though.

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THE AUTEURS JUNKIES CRISIS CENTRE/SUPPORT GROUP/COUNSELLING SERVICE over 3 years ago

I have barely thrown my two cents on the forum beyond the basic lists, but I already need help. Just lost my job and this site is not helping with the rebuilding process. Once I am working again though, I hope to play on the level. It’s been fun reading a lot of the work on here. Also looking to hook up with young NYC based filmmakers.

First though, gotta get a fackin’ job.

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Your 5 Favourite Directors over 3 years ago

too hard. but….

Herzog
Kubrick
Chaplin
Scorsese
Godard

and my newbie is P.T. Anderson. though I know we can’t really call him a new guy anymore.

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