Definitely The Killer and Hard Boiled were big starters for me. I was an impressionable 13-year-old that was amazed by the slow motion and ultra violence.
But to be frank, the film that really did it for me was The Replacement Killers (yes, the really terrible movie)….. the first time i saw that opening scene with Chow Yun-Fat walking in slow motion with the Crystal Method playing.. and that 180 turn he does with the suit jacket whipping about… i was done.
what sets Kubrick apart, for me, to other film makers is his indefatigable (sorry for the 10$ word) dedication to get the EXACT image in his head onto film. any auteur that can even claim to be called an auteur must have that ability to read a story or a scene, and imagine every single detail in his/her mind- this is without question.
where most film makers fail to meet Kubrick’s standard is when they start making compromises- not shooting enough takes to achieve the “THAT’S IT!” moment, skimping out on minor details like colors and set props, changing locations altogether due to difficulty, time constraints, weather, and financial issues, or just simply not having the talent or the artistry to reach their vision. Kubrick didn’t let ANY of that shit ever get to him.
he was determined NO MATTER WHAT to get whatever he saw in his head onto the screen; even at the cost of comfort, affirmation, reputation, patience, and money- all things he didn’t give a fuck about, if it meant he could achieve that blinding ecstasy of getting a scene right. that’s what exemplifies him as the best artist in cinema for me.
I would love to remake anything by Hitchcock. Namely, “39 Steps” or “Rebecca”. The plots are pitch perfect and give more than enough leeway for great performances and character interaction. In 39 Steps, the give and take between Richard and Pamela would be a lot of fun to do in a modern context. For Rebecca, i think it would be an actress’s dream to play Joan Fontaine’s character (as well as the insanely devoted Ms. Danvers), with that invisible presence of the first wife haunting the film.
Also, the premises of both films (romantic comedy/thriller, psychological horror) offer so much variety in the way of stylistic choices.
As a filmmaker, what is the one picture you would give everything to make and die happy after completing it?
For me, it would be the epic biopic of the life of King David. I would call it “The Psalmist”. Opening scene would be David as a young shepherd boy killing a wolf that is hunting his sheep. First act would be about Goliath. Second act would be his rise and success as King. Third act would be the fall with Bathsheba.
(I know there was already a King David movie with Richard Gere but c’mon now… Richard “Nights in Rodanthe” Gere???)
@ FANDORIN-SAN, Oliver Stone is actually currently working on Wall Street 2! Shia LeBeouf is supposed to star, along with Michael Douglas, if you can believe it.
KJ: the workflow of digital is nowhere near the headache of film. There is no processing or labs involved with digital, everything is instantaneous and available at hand. Granted, there are rendering times and transferring times but to go through the hassle of working with the actual film negative, to me, does not compare.
Also, set-ups and shooting times is much more flexible and expedited with digital. With film, it’s nearly impossible to just run into a scene and shoot; there is the necessary light readings, focus checks, etc. With digital, if the style of the movie demands it, you can jump in, hit record, and keep shooting until you’ve got what you need.
i understand the tangibility of film and how that can lend to a more organic process. spielberg even talked about how he still edits the old fashioned way by smelling the film, looking through the negatives, and all that. but it just seems so outdated in 2009. cutting film is arduous and imprecise in comparison to non-linear point and click.
i can totally see how there is nothing like working hands on with actual film. maybe i’m just from a different era. my first entry into editing was adobe premiere. i only started splicing film in college. perhaps i got spoiled?
Man, i keep seeing these bad reviews for Blindness. Roger Ebert just flat out hated it. But when I saw it, I loved it. I thought it was such an excellent portrayal of the darkness of humanity and how ugly people can get when left to their own devices and pushed to their limits. The contrast between the ward and the doctor and wife’s home at the end was so well done. Also, the actors all around gave some really confident performances. Full of honesty and warmth.
And the cinematography! Aesthetically, it’s a camera man’s dream. Meirelles intentionally tried to mess up the frame and overexpose scenes but he ended up with some really beautiful shots.
To say you didn’t enjoy it or agree with its message is one thing, but to call it a weak and mediocre film? At the very least, you can give credit to its technical achievements and the work of the actors.
i agree with you. i really enjoyed the film and thought it was very well made. but yeah, there were a lot of parts that could have definitely been expanded. and just a few missing segments that could have tied the whole thing together to become more thematically whole.
but more than just being a great stand alone film, i felt like it showed the potential of a promising new film maker in Fresnadillo. Btw, I absolutely loved his take on 28 Weeks Later.
but i’m surprised no one has mentioned his fearless performance as a hoe-slapping drug dealer in none other than that cinematic gem… “CRANK” (also: CRANK 2: HIGH VOLTAGE)
I will always be a fan of the classic Back To The Future.
But I gotta say my favorite is Happy Accidents by Brad Anderson. Just because it does so much with so little. The story is a huge scope but is told as a small low budget feature. And the screenplay does its best to be airtight with the time traveling physics and mechanics (even postulating made-up theories that sound plausible) which is essential to any time-bending movie.
@Law, I get it. “Blow Shit Up” is like the New “French New Wave”… except not French. Or the Neo “Italian Neorealism”…. except awesome.
Blow Shit Up is all about rebelling against conformity and stuff being exactly the way it is. Like, what’s the deal with buildings?! Total erections of government fascism. Blowing that shit up is an act of free-spirited rebellion. If the words of Ginsberg’s “Howl” were meteors, the end result would be “Armageddon.” I totally get it.
what film or films may have made you into the fan/fanatic you are over 3 years ago
Definitely The Killer and Hard Boiled were big starters for me. I was an impressionable 13-year-old that was amazed by the slow motion and ultra violence.
But to be frank, the film that really did it for me was The Replacement Killers (yes, the really terrible movie)….. the first time i saw that opening scene with Chow Yun-Fat walking in slow motion with the Crystal Method playing.. and that 180 turn he does with the suit jacket whipping about… i was done.
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What sets Stanley apart from the others? over 3 years ago
what sets Kubrick apart, for me, to other film makers is his indefatigable (sorry for the 10$ word) dedication to get the EXACT image in his head onto film. any auteur that can even claim to be called an auteur must have that ability to read a story or a scene, and imagine every single detail in his/her mind- this is without question.
where most film makers fail to meet Kubrick’s standard is when they start making compromises- not shooting enough takes to achieve the “THAT’S IT!” moment, skimping out on minor details like colors and set props, changing locations altogether due to difficulty, time constraints, weather, and financial issues, or just simply not having the talent or the artistry to reach their vision. Kubrick didn’t let ANY of that shit ever get to him.
he was determined NO MATTER WHAT to get whatever he saw in his head onto the screen; even at the cost of comfort, affirmation, reputation, patience, and money- all things he didn’t give a fuck about, if it meant he could achieve that blinding ecstasy of getting a scene right. that’s what exemplifies him as the best artist in cinema for me.
Go to Comment
If You Could Direct A Remake... about 3 years ago
I would love to remake anything by Hitchcock. Namely, “39 Steps” or “Rebecca”. The plots are pitch perfect and give more than enough leeway for great performances and character interaction. In 39 Steps, the give and take between Richard and Pamela would be a lot of fun to do in a modern context. For Rebecca, i think it would be an actress’s dream to play Joan Fontaine’s character (as well as the insanely devoted Ms. Danvers), with that invisible presence of the first wife haunting the film.
Also, the premises of both films (romantic comedy/thriller, psychological horror) offer so much variety in the way of stylistic choices.
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Best, Guilty Pleasure Film. about 3 years ago
Drumline!
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What is your Dream Project? about 3 years ago
As a filmmaker, what is the one picture you would give everything to make and die happy after completing it?
For me, it would be the epic biopic of the life of King David. I would call it “The Psalmist”. Opening scene would be David as a young shepherd boy killing a wolf that is hunting his sheep. First act would be about Goliath. Second act would be his rise and success as King. Third act would be the fall with Bathsheba.
(I know there was already a King David movie with Richard Gere but c’mon now… Richard “Nights in Rodanthe” Gere???)
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YOUR CHOICE OF ACTORS/ACTRESSES/DIRECTORS YOU'D LIKE IN A MOVIE TOGETHER! DEAD OR ALIVE! about 3 years ago
SAMANTHA MORTON and RYAN GOSLING directed by SPIKE JONZE in a romantic comedy.
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Astounding Debuts about 3 years ago
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH by Spike Jonze
and most definitely CITY OF GOD by Fernando Meirelles
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The Dark Knight- Zentih or Nadir of Contemporary Filmmaking or Somewhere Inbetween? about 3 years ago
LOL Sekzee. Nicely done.
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If You Could Direct A Remake... about 3 years ago
@ FANDORIN-SAN, Oliver Stone is actually currently working on Wall Street 2! Shia LeBeouf is supposed to star, along with Michael Douglas, if you can believe it.
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If You Could Direct A Remake... almost 3 years ago
@FANDORIN-SAN http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/02/javier-bardem-joining-oliver-stones-wall-street-2/
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favorite short film. almost 3 years ago
i’m surprised no one posted “More” by Mark Osbourne yet. such a beautiful piece of film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRMfDbm7nFo
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Soderbergh on Red Camera almost 3 years ago
KJ: the workflow of digital is nowhere near the headache of film. There is no processing or labs involved with digital, everything is instantaneous and available at hand. Granted, there are rendering times and transferring times but to go through the hassle of working with the actual film negative, to me, does not compare.
Also, set-ups and shooting times is much more flexible and expedited with digital. With film, it’s nearly impossible to just run into a scene and shoot; there is the necessary light readings, focus checks, etc. With digital, if the style of the movie demands it, you can jump in, hit record, and keep shooting until you’ve got what you need.
Go to Comment
Soderbergh on Red Camera almost 3 years ago
i understand the tangibility of film and how that can lend to a more organic process. spielberg even talked about how he still edits the old fashioned way by smelling the film, looking through the negatives, and all that. but it just seems so outdated in 2009. cutting film is arduous and imprecise in comparison to non-linear point and click.
i can totally see how there is nothing like working hands on with actual film. maybe i’m just from a different era. my first entry into editing was adobe premiere. i only started splicing film in college. perhaps i got spoiled?
Go to Comment
Best modern day cinematographers? almost 3 years ago
ELLEN KURAS
see: Eternal Sunshine, ’nuff said.
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What was Meirelles thinking? almost 3 years ago
Man, i keep seeing these bad reviews for Blindness. Roger Ebert just flat out hated it. But when I saw it, I loved it. I thought it was such an excellent portrayal of the darkness of humanity and how ugly people can get when left to their own devices and pushed to their limits. The contrast between the ward and the doctor and wife’s home at the end was so well done. Also, the actors all around gave some really confident performances. Full of honesty and warmth.
And the cinematography! Aesthetically, it’s a camera man’s dream. Meirelles intentionally tried to mess up the frame and overexpose scenes but he ended up with some really beautiful shots.
To say you didn’t enjoy it or agree with its message is one thing, but to call it a weak and mediocre film? At the very least, you can give credit to its technical achievements and the work of the actors.
Go to Comment
If You Could Direct A Remake... almost 3 years ago
@DAVID DARDANELLI
i agree with you. i really enjoyed the film and thought it was very well made. but yeah, there were a lot of parts that could have definitely been expanded. and just a few missing segments that could have tied the whole thing together to become more thematically whole.
but more than just being a great stand alone film, i felt like it showed the potential of a promising new film maker in Fresnadillo. Btw, I absolutely loved his take on 28 Weeks Later.
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If You Could Direct A Remake... almost 3 years ago
@Jacy Valdivieso
Darren Aronofsky is currently developing a RoboCop reboot!
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Best Performances by Musicians almost 3 years ago
Dwight Yoakam in “Panic Room”
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Best Performances by Musicians almost 3 years ago
lots of love for Dwight Yokam.
but i’m surprised no one has mentioned his fearless performance as a hoe-slapping drug dealer in none other than that cinematic gem… “CRANK” (also: CRANK 2: HIGH VOLTAGE)
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Favorite Time Traveling Movie almost 3 years ago
I will always be a fan of the classic Back To The Future.
But I gotta say my favorite is Happy Accidents by Brad Anderson. Just because it does so much with so little. The story is a huge scope but is told as a small low budget feature. And the screenplay does its best to be airtight with the time traveling physics and mechanics (even postulating made-up theories that sound plausible) which is essential to any time-bending movie.
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Absurdly romantic movies - Suggestions? almost 3 years ago
Before Sunrise is oozing with romance. Yes, OOZING.
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Great performances that hardly ever get discussed almost 3 years ago
Samantha Morton in Sweet and Lowdown
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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 2007 almost 3 years ago
Poetic cinema, very similar to something by Malick. I even love the chugging, deliberate pacing of it.
Casey Affleck definitely deserved his Oscar Nom.
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Most depressing film you have ever seen? almost 3 years ago
Synecdoche, New York was very well made but incredibly depressing. Not a high or joyful note all throughout.
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Movie scenes that give you goosebumps almost 3 years ago
In “Paths of Glory” when the German girl sings, bringing all the soldiers in the room to tears.
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What scene or moment in any given film scared you the most? almost 3 years ago
The scene when Roman Polanski’s character sees himself across the window, spying on HIMSELF, in “The Tenant”. Even thinking of it gives me shivers.
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The killer or hard boiled almost 3 years ago
‘Killer’ for its story. ‘Hard Boiled’ for its action.
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Michael Bay says creating an "Art" movie is easy almost 3 years ago
You know how hard it is to come up with a breakdancing robot??? You don’t see Fellini or Lynch writing brilliant shit like that!
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Michael Bay says creating an "Art" movie is easy almost 3 years ago
@Law, I get it. “Blow Shit Up” is like the New “French New Wave”… except not French. Or the Neo “Italian Neorealism”…. except awesome.
Blow Shit Up is all about rebelling against conformity and stuff being exactly the way it is. Like, what’s the deal with buildings?! Total erections of government fascism. Blowing that shit up is an act of free-spirited rebellion. If the words of Ginsberg’s “Howl” were meteors, the end result would be “Armageddon.” I totally get it.
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What is your Dream Project? almost 3 years ago
@AARON DUMONT, haha that sounds just as insane as the book. love it.
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