I find his style worked best in A Man Escaped, which I consider genius and my favorite work of his. But I will agree with others that his style of acting is just downright distracting although not always (Mouchette, Diary of a Country Priest work well).
What I appreciate most from Bresson is his use of sound and sharp edits which you actually “feel” as opposed to his model acting technique which more often than not does not work for me.
I wish I could say that his acting style leaves room for the infinite, as mentioned above but I can’t. Also, as much as I admire J. Hoberman he’s definitely one of the more pedantic critics out there and his line about not ‘getting’ Bresson just pisses me off.
I’d agree with the comment that Tarkovsky is the master of the philosophical, see The Mirror for proof. I really should read more about Heidegger. Kiarostami and Kieslowski are also very philosophical but more subtle ways.
Most of the scenes that have made me cry have already been mentioned. But now I’m getting all emotional reading peoples posts, even the movies I haven’t seen. I’m going to go watch a movie right now and bawl my eyes out.
Up was a terrible piece of sh!t. The kid was by far the most annoying character I’ve ever encountered in a film. Pixar is terribly overrated. Had to get that off my chest.
I’ve heard that Le Diable, Probablement could be read as one big case of homosexual anxiety. But I really think you’re seeing what you’d like to see in Bresson and maybe that’s his intent. A Man Escaped is based on a true story and if two men hug each other in the end of the movie I really don’t see that as gay. Seems like you’re focusing far too hard on tiny details and missing the much larger picture.
I usually don’t care about director’s terrible personalities for the most part and find the anecdotes pretty humorous. With the exception of Robert Bresson. From everything I’ve read, he seems to think he’s the messiah of cinema and all he does is put down virtually all directors and pans their films as being uncinematic. Your style make work for you (only sometimes I might add) but it doesn’t mean everyone else is doing it wrong.
Dreyer’s Joan of Arc is far superior to that of Bresson’s and was definitely very jealous.
I’ve got a book on Robert Bresson of various essays compiled and edited by James Quandt and its fairly huge and I haven’t noticed any mention of homosexuality in his films. Seems like you googled what you wanted and found a couple critics who agree.
“I’ve noted earlier in this thread that I don’t feel like Bresson is overly concerned with psychoanalysis or sociology, and human sexuality would fall under both of those categories. He seems (for the most part) to be more concerned with the elliptical nature of human living.” – nathan
Yes! A hundred times yes! Which is why I don’t understand how there’s apparently so much homosexual over/undertones in his work. Also David, this is the book I have http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca/publications_bresson.aspx and I’d think twice about calling it inferior.
Jules et Jim and Sunrise for me were terrible terrible films. I couldn’t even finish Sunrise it was so bad. And Jules et Jim pissed me off like no other film has in a long time. Yet I went into them expecting that they would be nothing less than masterpieces.
Convince me I should give them another chance (you’ll have a hard time) or vent some similar experiences. o_O
1. Andrei Rublev
2. L’atalante
3. La double vie de Veronique
4. Mirror
5. Before Sunset
6. Ordet
8. 8 1/2
9. A Man Escaped
10. Something really good that I most definitely forgot
Mouchette being called a slut doesn’t mean the movie is laden with sexuality in any way. Mouchette has sex yes but the handling of that by Bresson is anything but sexual.
You should watch A Man Escaped if you want to get into Bresson. In my opinion his style is best suited for that movie. And I’ve seen Balthazar 4 or 5 times and I’ve never been moved to tears or felt so completely moved by the ending, although I will say its good.
Damn, I was just about to make this thread. I think my favs would be Dargis, Rosenbaum, AO Scott and Hoberman in that order more or less. Rosenbaum recently gave a short review of 24 City which gives me hope he’ll continue writing.
Hate to sound like an asshole but I find Ebert’s consistency has gone down alot in recent years (post-surgery?) his reviews of great movies are always good though, I just don’t know what to make of him now.
I’ve seen Rublev, Mirror and Stalker and loved them all. And I’d rank them in that order. I turned off Rublev twice and then on the third viewing I stuck through…it’s now probably my favourite film. I’ve never been more exhilarated at the end of a movie. Andrei Rublev is for sure the definition of EPIC.
The opening shot of Sans Soleil of the kids in a field in Iceland. I never managed the finish the film because I was fairly high and fairly confused. That said I can never forget that shot.
Also the last shot of Red. I’m still struggling to understand the movie but everytime I get to that last shot I feel so moved.
I agree with what he says about Godard, I’ve tried really hard to get into his films but I can’t. BORING. And I totally agree with what he says about Tarkovsky.
I’ve only seen Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and I loved it. Tried to watch Playtime a couple times, it’s funny here and there but it bored me (I know what you’re thinking) and I haven’t been able to finish it.
Fitting Bresson Into the Canon about 4 years ago
I find his style worked best in A Man Escaped, which I consider genius and my favorite work of his. But I will agree with others that his style of acting is just downright distracting although not always (Mouchette, Diary of a Country Priest work well).
What I appreciate most from Bresson is his use of sound and sharp edits which you actually “feel” as opposed to his model acting technique which more often than not does not work for me.
I wish I could say that his acting style leaves room for the infinite, as mentioned above but I can’t. Also, as much as I admire J. Hoberman he’s definitely one of the more pedantic critics out there and his line about not ‘getting’ Bresson just pisses me off.
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Most Philosophical Filmmakers? about 4 years ago
I’d agree with the comment that Tarkovsky is the master of the philosophical, see The Mirror for proof. I really should read more about Heidegger. Kiarostami and Kieslowski are also very philosophical but more subtle ways.
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Fitting Bresson Into the Canon about 4 years ago
So does this mean Bresson is teh gay?
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Great Cuts about 4 years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtKf3ftuVs
L’argent (Bresson)
This cut at 0:20 is pretty intense, it’s all I can think of now.
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What film scenes really make you cry? about 4 years ago
Most of the scenes that have made me cry have already been mentioned. But now I’m getting all emotional reading peoples posts, even the movies I haven’t seen. I’m going to go watch a movie right now and bawl my eyes out.
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Favorite opening scene about 4 years ago
The opening of The Double Life of Veronica just might be my favorite opening of any film.
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IS "BENJAMIN BUTTON" WORTHY OF BEING IN THE COLLECTION? about 4 years ago
In no way shape or form worthy. There was so much wrong with this film. Why couldn’t they give it to Fight Club or Zodiac?
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Top Animated Films about 4 years ago
Up was a terrible piece of sh!t. The kid was by far the most annoying character I’ve ever encountered in a film. Pixar is terribly overrated. Had to get that off my chest.
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How To Format Text, Links, Etc. on theauteurs.com about 4 years ago
this is a test
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Tulpan about 4 years ago
So very disappointed with myself that I missed it when it came to town. Not pleased at all.
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Help make The Auteurs totally awesome about 4 years ago
It would be nice to see people’s avatars in the forums, unsure if it’s been said already but that would be nice.
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Pixar's latest masterpiece. about 4 years ago
Ugh. Up was vastly overrated and so was Wall-E. Wall-E is better in my opinion mainly because of the first 20 minutes or so are very good.
I think Up gets the award for most annoying child character ever conceived in all of cinema.
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What is your favorite ending? about 4 years ago
Andrei Rublev. The ending left me so exhilarated, I’ve never experienced anything like it since.
Also the ending to The Mirror (Zerkalo), so simple and masterful.
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Fitting Bresson Into the Canon about 4 years ago
I’ve heard that Le Diable, Probablement could be read as one big case of homosexual anxiety. But I really think you’re seeing what you’d like to see in Bresson and maybe that’s his intent. A Man Escaped is based on a true story and if two men hug each other in the end of the movie I really don’t see that as gay. Seems like you’re focusing far too hard on tiny details and missing the much larger picture.
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WHY DO WE CARE IF A GREAT DIRECTOR WAS ALSO A BAD PERSON? about 4 years ago
I usually don’t care about director’s terrible personalities for the most part and find the anecdotes pretty humorous. With the exception of Robert Bresson. From everything I’ve read, he seems to think he’s the messiah of cinema and all he does is put down virtually all directors and pans their films as being uncinematic. Your style make work for you (only sometimes I might add) but it doesn’t mean everyone else is doing it wrong.
Dreyer’s Joan of Arc is far superior to that of Bresson’s and was definitely very jealous.
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What films do you always catch shit for for not liking? about 4 years ago
Diego Lerer, you suck.
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Fitting Bresson Into the Canon about 4 years ago
I’ve got a book on Robert Bresson of various essays compiled and edited by James Quandt and its fairly huge and I haven’t noticed any mention of homosexuality in his films. Seems like you googled what you wanted and found a couple critics who agree.
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Fitting Bresson Into the Canon about 4 years ago
“I’ve noted earlier in this thread that I don’t feel like Bresson is overly concerned with psychoanalysis or sociology, and human sexuality would fall under both of those categories. He seems (for the most part) to be more concerned with the elliptical nature of human living.” – nathan
Yes! A hundred times yes! Which is why I don’t understand how there’s apparently so much homosexual over/undertones in his work. Also David, this is the book I have http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca/publications_bresson.aspx and I’d think twice about calling it inferior.
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Pixar's latest masterpiece. about 4 years ago
@ phat magik
What is this shortround you speak of? What is the meaning of this? Explain!
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Films you expected to be great but were terrible about 4 years ago
Jules et Jim and Sunrise for me were terrible terrible films. I couldn’t even finish Sunrise it was so bad. And Jules et Jim pissed me off like no other film has in a long time. Yet I went into them expecting that they would be nothing less than masterpieces.
Convince me I should give them another chance (you’ll have a hard time) or vent some similar experiences. o_O
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10 GREATEST FILMS IN YOUR OPINION!!!(in order) about 4 years ago
1. Andrei Rublev
2. L’atalante
3. La double vie de Veronique
4. Mirror
5. Before Sunset
6. Ordet
8. 8 1/2
9. A Man Escaped
10. Something really good that I most definitely forgot
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Fitting Bresson Into the Canon about 4 years ago
Mouchette being called a slut doesn’t mean the movie is laden with sexuality in any way. Mouchette has sex yes but the handling of that by Bresson is anything but sexual.
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Films you expected to be great but were terrible about 4 years ago
You should watch A Man Escaped if you want to get into Bresson. In my opinion his style is best suited for that movie. And I’ve seen Balthazar 4 or 5 times and I’ve never been moved to tears or felt so completely moved by the ending, although I will say its good.
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Who is the BEST critic in the business right now? about 4 years ago
Damn, I was just about to make this thread. I think my favs would be Dargis, Rosenbaum, AO Scott and Hoberman in that order more or less. Rosenbaum recently gave a short review of 24 City which gives me hope he’ll continue writing.
Hate to sound like an asshole but I find Ebert’s consistency has gone down alot in recent years (post-surgery?) his reviews of great movies are always good though, I just don’t know what to make of him now.
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Tarkovsky about 4 years ago
I’ve seen Rublev, Mirror and Stalker and loved them all. And I’d rank them in that order. I turned off Rublev twice and then on the third viewing I stuck through…it’s now probably my favourite film. I’ve never been more exhilarated at the end of a movie. Andrei Rublev is for sure the definition of EPIC.
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Your favourite voice in cinema about 4 years ago
Michel Simon. For sure.
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Still Image about 4 years ago
The opening shot of Sans Soleil of the kids in a field in Iceland. I never managed the finish the film because I was fairly high and fairly confused. That said I can never forget that shot.
Also the last shot of Red. I’m still struggling to understand the movie but everytime I get to that last shot I feel so moved.
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Favourite film of the decade (so far)? about 4 years ago
Yi-Yi
Mullholland Dr.
Before Sunset
Eternal Sunshine
Assasination of Jesse James
Synecdoche NY
There Will Blood
probably forgetting something
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Bergman on Hitchcock about 4 years ago
I agree with what he says about Godard, I’ve tried really hard to get into his films but I can’t. BORING. And I totally agree with what he says about Tarkovsky.
Other than that he can just STFU.
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POOR JACQUES TATI almost 4 years ago
I’ve only seen Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and I loved it. Tried to watch Playtime a couple times, it’s funny here and there but it bored me (I know what you’re thinking) and I haven’t been able to finish it.
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