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Nick Kostopoulos's Posts

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"The Last Temptation of Christ", Scorsese's most underrated film? about 3 years ago

Hi, I’m new to these boards!

I feel The Last Temptation was the first Biblical film to portray these characters as living entities, not actors reciting lines passed doen through the ages. And it is most definetely the film that best portrayed the environment of ancient Israel: not picturesque, but full of spiritual and political turmoil.

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Kubrick on Criterion? about 3 years ago

Will any of his films ever be released on Criterion? That said, what is the procedure for the release of films on Criterion?

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Todd Haynes' "I'm Not Ther" about 3 years ago

This film captured Dylan perfectly in all his contradicting, frustrating, magical, surreal, talents.

This film needs to be more widely and seen; and its praise shouted from the rooftops.

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Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There" about 3 years ago

This film captured Dylan perfectly in all his contradicting, frustrating, magical, surreal, talents.

This film needs to be more widely and seen; and its praise shouted from the rooftops.

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"The Last Temptation of Christ", Scorsese's most underrated film? about 3 years ago

True as that may be Ganselmi, Gibson also failed on a certain level to provide any context. There are miniscule flashback’s of Christ’s ministry. If I for example knew nothing about Christianity, I would have a hard time understanding from Gibson why Jesus was important. There are certain denominations of Christianity that place far to much emphasis on the passion, and tend to forget that the passion is the natural followthrough of Christ’s ministry.

Scorsese manages to portray Jesus as the captivating and frightening orator he probably was, and it is this that leads to his death. Scorsese gives us the context.

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Who Do I Have To Plead With To See "Barry Lyndon" Released On Criterion?!!! about 3 years ago

Can we start a petition? Who’s with me?!

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Who Do I Have To Plead With To See "Barry Lyndon" Released On Criterion?!!! about 3 years ago

Sign the petition here:

http://www.petitiononline.com/BL1975/petition.html

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Sign my petition to have Barry Lyndon released on Criterion!!!!! about 3 years ago

Sign Here!

http://www.petitiononline.com/BL1975/petition.html

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Sign my petition to have Barry Lyndon released on Criterion!!!!! about 3 years ago

Hopefully, assuming this petition doesn’t fail completely, I will email Criterion with the petition attached.

I feel the film is unfairly neglected and is very deserving of the same treatment as the Shining or Full Metal Jacket.

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Pixar's latest masterpiece. about 3 years ago

“Up” was so beautiful. Touching, sad, hilarious. Walt would be so proud.

“For every laugh there should be a tear.”

Walt meant it, and Pixar continues it.

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best music[sound effects] used on a film,what are your favorites? about 3 years ago

Peter Gabriel’s score for “The Last Temptation of Christ”.

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Let's talk about Emmy Rossum almost 3 years ago

A very attractive young woman; something very Audrey Hepburn-esque about her looks.

She can sing, as was demonstrated in “The Phantom of the Opera” and as almost anyone can attest, she gave “Mystic River” its soul. Her final scene with Sean Penn is heartbreaking.

It remains a great mystery to me as to why she wasn’t given more roles after the success of “River” and “Phantom”. (Hell, she made “The Day After Tomorrow” tolerable for me!)

I realize that she’s now mainly concentrating on a music career, but it is unforgiveable to me that her last completed role was in “Dragonball”

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I have discovered a new cinematic priciple. I coin it, the Audrey Hepburn effect. almost 3 years ago

The Audrey Hepburn effect is the ability to stare at a single shot of an attractive woman in any movie, for hours on end, no matter how good, or how terrible the movie in question is.

Example: The angelic Emmy Rossum in the godawful “Poisedon”.

Any other thoughts or examples?

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I have discovered a new cinematic priciple. I coin it, the Audrey Hepburn effect. almost 3 years ago

Clearly my remarks, meant to be taken tongue in cheek, were misinterpreted.

When referring to the Audrey Hepburn effect, I merely mean there are numerous such examples in a film like “Two For the Road” when one could be perfectly content with merely pausing on Ms. Hepburn’s face to marvel at her beauty.

Perhaps hyperbole is the best way to describe it. There is no degredation or sexism meant, Shotzi and Anonymnity. With the example of Ms. Rossum, the idea was that an her beauty would be enough to sustain one through an entire film as bad as Poisedon.

Obviously a single frame would mean nothing as it would be taken out of context. In the cases of both Ms. Hepburn and Ms. Rossum, they are not only both beautiful both very fine actors as well,

If anything, Julia understands what I’m getting at, and demonstrates that the “principle” is not as chauvinistic as has been interpreted

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I have discovered a new cinematic priciple. I coin it, the Audrey Hepburn effect. almost 3 years ago

I feel that a great much of what I have said has been ignored. At no time, have I attempted reduce either of the aforementioned women to mere objects. Both women are fine actresses, and at least in one case, a damn fine singer. To reduce these two fine actresses to the level of a mere pin-up like Megan Fox is an incredible disservice to both.

Am I in the wrong to be infatuated with either of them? Perhaps I should have simplified the subject heading to “Name the actor/actress you have a crush on”? I was merely attempting to demonstrate how attractive they were. So attractive that I’d sit through a terrible film like Poisedon.

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I have discovered a new cinematic priciple. I coin it, the Audrey Hepburn effect. almost 3 years ago

Thank you Lemonglow! I wrote the previous post in my defense, but what I said, your stated better.

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I have discovered a new cinematic priciple. I coin it, the Audrey Hepburn effect. almost 3 years ago

Again, I was being facetious. Both examples of actress I provided are not only very attractive, but very good actresses as well.

Would you tell Botticelli that he was objectifying whomever his model for Venus was?

I personally believe that every single name that has been provided here is an example of a woman that is beautiful, as well as intelligent and talented.

Why would anyone object to that?

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Is Stanley Kubrick 'cold' or not? almost 3 years ago

I dare one to find a more emotionally lacerating scene than the death of Bryan in"Barry Lyndon", and I dare one to find a more optimistic coda than Bowman ascending his human limitations in “2001” and evolving once more.

Best to hear it from the man himself:

“I ought not to be regarded as a once happy man who has been bitten in the jugular and compelled to assume the misanthropy of a vampire.”

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"The Last Temptation of Christ", Scorsese's most underrated film? almost 3 years ago

Here’s what Ebert has to say about the casting of the Harvey Kietel:

What makes “The Last Temptation of Christ” one of his great films is not that it is true about Jesus but that it is true about Scorsese. Like countless others, he has found aspects of the Christ story that speak to him. This is the Jesus of his two most autobiographical characters, Charlie in “Mean Streets” and J.R. in “Who’s That Knocking at My Door?” Both of those characters were played by Keitel. Interesting that he choose Keitel this time to play Judas. Perhaps Judas is Scorsese’s autobiographical character in “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Certainly not the Messiah, but the mortal man walking beside him, worrying about him, lecturing him, wanting him to be better, threatening him, confiding in him, prepared to betray him if he must. Christ is the film, and Judas is the director.

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The best deals (purchase wise) you've come across almost 3 years ago

Antonioni’s “The Passenger” for $3.99 from Big Lots.

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most overrated oscar performances or robberies almost 3 years ago

Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton” over Cate Blanchett in “I’m Not There.”

And the greatest robbery EVER:

Rex Harrison for “My Fair Lady” over Peter Sellers in “Dr. Strangelove”, Peter O’Toole in “Becket”, Richard Burton in “Becket”, and Anthony Quinn in “Zorba the Greek”. Fucking ridiculous.

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The King of Pop Dead almost 3 years ago

Billie Jean may be one of the greatest songs ever.

His personal life is ANOTHER MATTER ENTIRELY. We should pay our respects to Michael Jackson the performer, then when the dust settles we can honestly analyze what the hell happened.

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Can film trailers be an art themselves? almost 3 years ago

The “Watchmen” trailers were brilliantly concieved, awe-inspiring pieces of film…

Kinda makes me wish the movie didn’t suck. :/

The trailer for “Schindler’s List” is also beautiful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAH3RTRlCHY

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Roman Polanski's "Oliver Twist" almost 3 years ago

I just recieved this from Netflix; any thoughts?

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"1776" almost 3 years ago

In honor of the upcoming 4th, let’s discuss the ridiculously entertaining musical by Peter Stone.

They made a musical about the creation and signing of the Declaration of Independence…and it’s actually funny!

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"1776" almost 3 years ago

Harry, if I’m not mistaken the actual number in question is “Cool Considerate Men”, which characterized those opposed to the Declaration as being “ever to the Right”, which Nixon of course did not appreciate.

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"1776" almost 3 years ago

It is shown annually on TCM. Tonight, the 4th, it will air at 10:15.

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Is it possible to have an existentially transformative experience watching a film? almost 3 years ago

Scooter, you took the words straight out of my mouth! I was so profoundly moved that I finally became convinced I needed to become a filmmaker. I’m studying screenwriting at USC now, and I really do believe I owe a large part of it to Stanley Kubrick.

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"Match Point" is better than "A Place in the Sun" almost 3 years ago

Stevens makes Shelley Winters’ character such an unappealing, possesive person that it’s not difficult to sympathize with Clift’s predicament, and his eventual decision to kill her. Whereas Allen acknowledges that not everything is so black and white, and gives both female character’s positive and negative attributes, thereby making the film far more morally ambiguous.

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"Match Point" is better than "A Place in the Sun" almost 3 years ago

I just realize how finite this sounded, but I hope a debate will emerge.

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