When I first saw this, I was watching it in my darkened bedroom at night. To say it was a transcendental experience is an understatement. The film slowly envelopes you in its waking nightmare atmosphere. I can’t wait to pick this up when Criterion releases it.
1. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
2. On Golden Pond
3. Superman II
4. Arthur
5. Stripes
6. The Cannonball Run
7. Chariots Of Fire
8. For Your Eyes Only
9. The Four Seasons
10. Time Bandits
Coincidentally, I got a few donuts at Donut Connection near my house earlier today and the HDTV in the store was playing “The Fountain”. Then again, you’ve got to love a donut shop that has framed movie posters on the walls.
I thought “Walking and Talking”, “Lovely and Amazing” and “Friends With Money” were wonderful.
Surely, she merits a spot as an auteur?
I can recall the Herculean effort it took to wean people away from “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” toward “Lovely and Amazing” when those films came out on VHS & DVD at the video store I worked at at the time. Of course we had a million copies of the former and two or three of the latter.
I’d just like to thank The Criterion Collection for launching a place where us fellow film geeks/cinema lovers can meet and discuss some of the best films ever made. I spent almost seven years at different video stores and watching people rent the most asinine movies while “Cache”, “Swimming Pool”, “Jean de Florette” (and its sequel), “The Girl On The Bridge”, “Lost In Translation”, or any of the many other movies that have something to say are right there waiting to be discovered.
Roger Ebert summed it up best…
From Roger Ebert’s Movie Answer Man @ rogerebert.com, 2003.
Q. I work at a local video store and the recent release of Lost In Translation on DVD has had lots of people asking about it. But I noticed that about 90 percent of the people that watched it said they didn’t like it. In fact, most of them said it was the worst movie they had ever seen. They didn’t understand why it drew all of the attention that it got.
Is this because of the expectations that the general public has in their minds? Was it over-advertised by the Oscar hype it got? Or is it just because the general public can’t watch a film that will challenge them to think when they are used to watching big-budget films where everything is drawn out for them?
Sean O’Connell, Novato, Calif.
A. Yes, yes, and yes. Lost In Translation requires audiences to be able to pick up feelings and information on frquencies that many moviegoers don’t receive on. Most of the movies people go to see are made in such a way that not a moment’s thought is required. The audience is a passive receptor for mindless sensation. When I’m told by people they hated Lost In Translation, I have to restrain myself from replying, ‘You are saying more about yourself than about the film.
Lost In Translation was applauded by 94 percent of the 190 critics monitored at rottentomatoes.com, and by 97 percent of the major critics. Does that mean critics are (a) out of touch with popular taste, or (b) have better taste than the customers of Sean O’Connell’s video store? Before you answer, remember that the mission of a good critic is not to reflect popular taste but to inform it.
In any case, I look forward to many discussions with all of you in the future. I love this site!
Yeah, Matt, it was quite a chore telling all of these girls who’d come in to rent “Divine Secrets…” that “Lovely and Amazing” has articulate, well-defined female characters who feel real versus the script-by-committee cliche machine that the characters in the other film are.
I’d often get “deer in the headlights” looks but there were many who were ecstatic that I’d told them about “Lovely and Amazing”, and they’d come back giving rave reviews.
I know what you mean, Matt. Callie Khouri should have a tiny tm after her name. I mean, Emily Morton’s exchange with Dermot Mulroney in “Lovely and Amazing”, Frances McDormand’s meltdown in the store in “Friends With Money”…these moments are expertly written and well-performed.
But that’s beyond the pale for the mouthbreathers out there. They’d rather rent “Bride Wars” or “Fool’s Gold”.
Yeah, I think Focus Features promoted the film as “OMGBILLMURRAYWACKYFUNTIMETOKYOCRAZY!” Actually, that may have been the Japanese title.
But yeah, this site is like manna, it’s film nirvana and I can’t stop raving about it. It’s truly original and I’m over the moon that we’ve been gifted with it.
One of my fondest film-going experiences was seeing this in the theater; another was when I saw “The Big Lebowski” in the theater. I need to pick up the “Dark City” special edition DVD soon.
In “Modern Romance”, I love the bewildered look and befuddled and small interjections Albert Brooks gives as Bob Einstein (alias Super Dave Obsborne) continually upsells him on everything in the sporting goods store.
Alright, who else enjoyed this film? True, the ending’s pretty much a brick wall but that opening…WOW. I think this may be one of Margot Kidder’s forgotten performances – she’s excellent – and Charles Durning is exceptional as always.
I loved your analysis, a much deeper delving into the film and its themes and ideas than what was espoused at the time of its release, i.e. the viewer is the one who “is the camera”. I need to watch more of Haneke’s films.
Alright, fess up. You know them. You work with them. You live with them. Hell, sometimes you’re even related to them.
They’re the people that think a black and white film has no merit. That there’s nothing creative or memorable there. That a black and white film is not worth investing any time whatsoever in. I actually had a friend jokingly refer to the always amazing (perhaps the last remaining great cable channel) Turner Classic Movies as “the senior citizen channel”. So let’s all shine the spotlight on those individuals who think B&W means boring and weird. Oh, how I pity them.
Once again, Roger Ebert sums it up ever so eloquently. The man’s a national treasure.
Q. I was delighted to see TCM playing several classic horror films like “Cat People,” “Freaks” and “The Thing from Another World,” which I DVR’d with the intention of having a night-long classic horror fest on Halloween. But on the big night, all my guests booed the idea of a black & white playlist and left shortly after. Is there something I can do to get people excited about seeing these movies or do I just need to seek out new friends for movie night?
Chris Kelley, Ill.
A. These people are not your friends. Even how you word your question indicates you will never be happy with them. No one who dislikes b&w should be allowed to view a motion picture.
Right now I’m reading “Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn” by William J. Mann. It’s an excellent book and I got it at a Borders in Honolulu while I was there visiting friends a few months ago. It’s a hardcover and I only paid $5.99, as it was on a discount table.
There’s more, but here are just a few off the top of my head…
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomas
Anything Vonnegut’s written, though I must single out “Happy Birthday, Wanda June”. They actually had that play in our middle school library, which I thought was rather interesting to say the least. It was part of a collection of short stories.
Most of J.D. Salinger’s work
I enjoy Chuck Palahniuk’s novels, though I’ve not read them all.
I just recently read “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman and thoroughly enjoyed it.
No. about 3 years ago
When I first saw this, I was watching it in my darkened bedroom at night. To say it was a transcendental experience is an understatement. The film slowly envelopes you in its waking nightmare atmosphere. I can’t wait to pick this up when Criterion releases it.
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TOP 10 FILMS FROM YOUR "BIRTH YEAR" about 3 years ago
Top Grossing Movies In The USA 1981:
1. Raiders Of The Lost Ark
2. On Golden Pond
3. Superman II
4. Arthur
5. Stripes
6. The Cannonball Run
7. Chariots Of Fire
8. For Your Eyes Only
9. The Four Seasons
10. Time Bandits
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The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Can someone make covers for “La Jetee” and “The Fountain”?
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my ex roommate bleeped eddie murphy about 3 years ago
I met Todd Barry a week ago.
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The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Great cover for “The Fountain”.
Coincidentally, I got a few donuts at Donut Connection near my house earlier today and the HDTV in the store was playing “The Fountain”. Then again, you’ve got to love a donut shop that has framed movie posters on the walls.
Go to Comment
Nicole Holofcener's Not An Auteur? about 3 years ago
I thought “Walking and Talking”, “Lovely and Amazing” and “Friends With Money” were wonderful.
Surely, she merits a spot as an auteur?
I can recall the Herculean effort it took to wean people away from “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” toward “Lovely and Amazing” when those films came out on VHS & DVD at the video store I worked at at the time. Of course we had a million copies of the former and two or three of the latter.
Go to Comment
So This Is Where The Cool Kids Hang Out... about 3 years ago
I’d just like to thank The Criterion Collection for launching a place where us fellow film geeks/cinema lovers can meet and discuss some of the best films ever made. I spent almost seven years at different video stores and watching people rent the most asinine movies while “Cache”, “Swimming Pool”, “Jean de Florette” (and its sequel), “The Girl On The Bridge”, “Lost In Translation”, or any of the many other movies that have something to say are right there waiting to be discovered.
Roger Ebert summed it up best…
From Roger Ebert’s Movie Answer Man @ rogerebert.com, 2003.
Q. I work at a local video store and the recent release of Lost In Translation on DVD has had lots of people asking about it. But I noticed that about 90 percent of the people that watched it said they didn’t like it. In fact, most of them said it was the worst movie they had ever seen. They didn’t understand why it drew all of the attention that it got.
Is this because of the expectations that the general public has in their minds? Was it over-advertised by the Oscar hype it got? Or is it just because the general public can’t watch a film that will challenge them to think when they are used to watching big-budget films where everything is drawn out for them?
Sean O’Connell, Novato, Calif.
A. Yes, yes, and yes. Lost In Translation requires audiences to be able to pick up feelings and information on frquencies that many moviegoers don’t receive on. Most of the movies people go to see are made in such a way that not a moment’s thought is required. The audience is a passive receptor for mindless sensation. When I’m told by people they hated Lost In Translation, I have to restrain myself from replying, ‘You are saying more about yourself than about the film.
Lost In Translation was applauded by 94 percent of the 190 critics monitored at rottentomatoes.com, and by 97 percent of the major critics. Does that mean critics are (a) out of touch with popular taste, or (b) have better taste than the customers of Sean O’Connell’s video store? Before you answer, remember that the mission of a good critic is not to reflect popular taste but to inform it.
In any case, I look forward to many discussions with all of you in the future. I love this site!
Go to Comment
Nicole Holofcener's Not An Auteur? about 3 years ago
Yeah, Matt, it was quite a chore telling all of these girls who’d come in to rent “Divine Secrets…” that “Lovely and Amazing” has articulate, well-defined female characters who feel real versus the script-by-committee cliche machine that the characters in the other film are.
I’d often get “deer in the headlights” looks but there were many who were ecstatic that I’d told them about “Lovely and Amazing”, and they’d come back giving rave reviews.
Go to Comment
Nicole Holofcener's Not An Auteur? about 3 years ago
I know what you mean, Matt. Callie Khouri should have a tiny tm after her name. I mean, Emily Morton’s exchange with Dermot Mulroney in “Lovely and Amazing”, Frances McDormand’s meltdown in the store in “Friends With Money”…these moments are expertly written and well-performed.
But that’s beyond the pale for the mouthbreathers out there. They’d rather rent “Bride Wars” or “Fool’s Gold”.
Go to Comment
So This Is Where The Cool Kids Hang Out... about 3 years ago
Thanks, Leah!
Yeah, I think Focus Features promoted the film as “OMGBILLMURRAYWACKYFUNTIMETOKYOCRAZY!” Actually, that may have been the Japanese title.
But yeah, this site is like manna, it’s film nirvana and I can’t stop raving about it. It’s truly original and I’m over the moon that we’ve been gifted with it.
Go to Comment
I'm curious, do auteurs watch the Super Bowl? about 3 years ago
I always like to say that I watch new TV spots and commercials and apparently, in between, there’s some sporting event or something.
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Dark City about 3 years ago
One of my fondest film-going experiences was seeing this in the theater; another was when I saw “The Big Lebowski” in the theater. I need to pick up the “Dark City” special edition DVD soon.
Go to Comment
The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Can someone make covers for “Swimming With Sharks”, “Before Sunrise”, and “Before Sunset”?
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The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Cool. Thanks, Samantha.
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The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Double post. Sorry.
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Favourite snippet (some quirky little thing a character does) about 3 years ago
In “Modern Romance”, I love the bewildered look and befuddled and small interjections Albert Brooks gives as Bob Einstein (alias Super Dave Obsborne) continually upsells him on everything in the sporting goods store.
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Brian DePalma's Sisters about 3 years ago
Alright, who else enjoyed this film? True, the ending’s pretty much a brick wall but that opening…WOW. I think this may be one of Margot Kidder’s forgotten performances – she’s excellent – and Charles Durning is exceptional as always.
Go to Comment
(UN)HIDDEN CAMERA: THE "REAL" SENDER OF THE TAPES about 3 years ago
I loved your analysis, a much deeper delving into the film and its themes and ideas than what was espoused at the time of its release, i.e. the viewer is the one who “is the camera”. I need to watch more of Haneke’s films.
Go to Comment
The Anti-Black & White Film Brigade about 3 years ago
Alright, fess up. You know them. You work with them. You live with them. Hell, sometimes you’re even related to them.
They’re the people that think a black and white film has no merit. That there’s nothing creative or memorable there. That a black and white film is not worth investing any time whatsoever in. I actually had a friend jokingly refer to the always amazing (perhaps the last remaining great cable channel) Turner Classic Movies as “the senior citizen channel”. So let’s all shine the spotlight on those individuals who think B&W means boring and weird. Oh, how I pity them.
Once again, Roger Ebert sums it up ever so eloquently. The man’s a national treasure.
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/ANSWERMAN/811059966/1023
Movie Answer Man
BY ROGER EBERT / November 5, 2008
Q. I was delighted to see TCM playing several classic horror films like “Cat People,” “Freaks” and “The Thing from Another World,” which I DVR’d with the intention of having a night-long classic horror fest on Halloween. But on the big night, all my guests booed the idea of a black & white playlist and left shortly after. Is there something I can do to get people excited about seeing these movies or do I just need to seek out new friends for movie night?
Chris Kelley, Ill.
A. These people are not your friends. Even how you word your question indicates you will never be happy with them. No one who dislikes b&w should be allowed to view a motion picture.
Go to Comment
The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Those are lovely, Matt. Can you do one for “Manderlay” while you’re at it?
Good calls all, Jordan. I especially second a “Bubble” fake Criterion cover.
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TheAuteurs List of the Week 4/26/09: Your 10 Favorite Books about 3 years ago
Right now I’m reading “Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn” by William J. Mann. It’s an excellent book and I got it at a Borders in Honolulu while I was there visiting friends a few months ago. It’s a hardcover and I only paid $5.99, as it was on a discount table.
There’s more, but here are just a few off the top of my head…
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomas
Anything Vonnegut’s written, though I must single out “Happy Birthday, Wanda June”. They actually had that play in our middle school library, which I thought was rather interesting to say the least. It was part of a collection of short stories.
Most of J.D. Salinger’s work
I enjoy Chuck Palahniuk’s novels, though I’ve not read them all.
I just recently read “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Go to Comment
The Auteurs' Fake Criterion Covers about 3 years ago
Anyone want to take a stab at “The Girl On The Bridge”?
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