This is a great film. One of my absolute favorites. Do we ask that Herzog be tied down by the facts of his subjects when he’s making non- docs? No. Well this is Cox’s Cobra Verde or Every Man for Himself and God Against All. Cox uses the idea of Sid and Nancy to explore the themes he’s interested in. Like the role of nihilism and anarchy in political, social and personal life and the point at which these ideas stop becoming useful and turn destructive. And that’s just one theme, there’s the rise and fall of artistic movements (breakdancing kids at the end, the shift from the UK to the USA) and the study of two people who claim to believe in nothing, yet are victims of the most romantic and antique of all: that they cannot live without each other. Cox didn’t make a doc, he made an abstraction, an impressionistic study in theme, mood and tone. In his willingness to let go of what a traditional bio-pic is supposed to be and embrace his own vision and conclusions he shows himself to be just as much a product of what was vital and necessary about the punk movement in the first place. Punks not in the details. It’s in the attitude. Criterion should seriously consider re-releasing this.
Why doesn’t “I WAS NINETEEN” by Konrad Wolf have a profile on The Auteurs? That’s just ridiculous. It’s one of the defining pieces of cinema in my life.
When I type a director or title of a movie into the in-site search field I no longer get the direct pages as any of my results. I don’t care about all the forums where people are talking about John Cassavetes. I want to go to his actual page. But I can’t seem to get to it.
The best I can get with some directors is their FANS OF… page, then, once there, I have to click the BACK TO… button to get to the director’s page. It’s like the interface issues on this site are getting worse and worse instead of better and better.
Is anyone else having this problem or have a solution?
“Yes, I admit I’ve watched a Bourne movie and three other spy flicks on the flight home and smiled when I thought about how Hollywood has no idea about what we can really do. The great skill and contribution of our work would make a better movie. . . but no one would believe it!” – C.I.A. Director Leon Panetta
I’m trying to generate a group list of great “real-world” spy movies. Obviously we’ll play fast and loose with the rules. It’s okay if there’s sex, guns or gadgets in the film, or if it’s a comedy/satire, or bends the whole “real-world” notion a bit, but the film has to at least try to approximate some idea of the real field workings of the global intelligence community. You get the gist of what I’m looking for. Something like…
The Falcon and the snowman (1985)
or…
Hopscotch (1980)
I’m sure there’s much better examples out there that are slipping my mind. I want to hear about them all… historical dramas (spying during the Napoleonic wars? Does that movie even exist? If so, I want to see it!), Cold War masterpieces, global cinema… bring it all on!
Great stuff! As I said, let’s play fast and loose with the rules. Obviously real spies have used guns. Obviously real spies have had sex… and have use gadgets, to a certain degree. The trick is to find movies about the intelligence game itself and the characters that populate it, instead of action or fantasy flicks.
@Deckard I know where you’re coming from to a certain degree. Can a spy film achieve cinematic bliss to the extent that, for me, CONTEMPT or TOKYO STORY or BARRY LYNDON or STALKER does? I’m sure it can be done, but has it? THE CONVERSATION is a pretty great film with a CIA audio tech as its protagonist. Is it PERSONA? No, but it’s a very, very good movie.
Having said that, I’m absolutely obsessed with the intelligence game as it’s been played throughout history, and while you may not feel that there’s been any true cinematic masterpieces created with the material, it doesn’t mean there haven’t been a hell of a lot of great, fun engaging “flicks” built on the premise of the “shadow trade”.
what did you watch today? almost 3 years ago
Even Dwarfs Started Small
Herzog is greater than your god (except of course for Bad Lieutenant 2)
Go to Comment
Movie adaptations that REEEEEEEEALLY missed the point! almost 3 years ago
The English Patient seems to have no clue what the book is actually about.
Go to Comment
What do Sex Pistols fans think of this? over 2 years ago
This is a great film. One of my absolute favorites. Do we ask that Herzog be tied down by the facts of his subjects when he’s making non- docs? No. Well this is Cox’s Cobra Verde or Every Man for Himself and God Against All. Cox uses the idea of Sid and Nancy to explore the themes he’s interested in. Like the role of nihilism and anarchy in political, social and personal life and the point at which these ideas stop becoming useful and turn destructive. And that’s just one theme, there’s the rise and fall of artistic movements (breakdancing kids at the end, the shift from the UK to the USA) and the study of two people who claim to believe in nothing, yet are victims of the most romantic and antique of all: that they cannot live without each other. Cox didn’t make a doc, he made an abstraction, an impressionistic study in theme, mood and tone. In his willingness to let go of what a traditional bio-pic is supposed to be and embrace his own vision and conclusions he shows himself to be just as much a product of what was vital and necessary about the punk movement in the first place. Punks not in the details. It’s in the attitude. Criterion should seriously consider re-releasing this.
Go to Comment
What do Sex Pistols fans think of this? over 2 years ago
Now that would have been AMAZING!
Go to Comment
What do Sex Pistols fans think of this? over 2 years ago
Damn, double post… must not keep clicking button.
Go to Comment
What do Sex Pistols fans think of this? over 2 years ago
Triple post… sorry.
Go to Comment
What do Sex Pistols fans think of this? over 2 years ago
Webb was in The Belly of an Architect. That was around the same time as S&N though, so a while back. She lives in my neighborhood! (Venice Beach).
Go to Comment
Film Database Submission March 2010 about 2 years ago
Lo non ho paura/I’m not Scared (2003)
Dir: Gabriele Salvatores DP: Italo Petriccione
Cast: Giuseppe Cristiano, Mattia Di Pierro, Adriana Conserva, Fabio Tetta, Giulia Matturo, Stefano Biase
Screenwriter: Niccolò Ammaniti, Francesca Marciano Composer: Ezio Bosso, Pepo Scherman
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/08/13/13e_imnotscared_wideweb__430x286.jpg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326977/
Go to Comment
100 most significant german films about 2 years ago
Why doesn’t “I WAS NINETEEN” by Konrad Wolf have a profile on The Auteurs? That’s just ridiculous. It’s one of the defining pieces of cinema in my life.
Go to Comment
Film Database Submission April 2010 about 2 years ago
I Was Nineteen
Ich war neunzehn
1968
Dir: Konrad Wolf
It’s been so long since board wouldn’t let me just drag and drop a still in I’ve forgotten the html code for it. Can some one remind me?
PS: It’s criminal that this seminal German film is missing from The Auteurs!
Go to Comment
THE AUTEURS BEST OF THE DECADE: IMAGES about 2 years ago
Battle in Heaven
The White Ribbon
What Time is it There?
Mulholland Dr.
Dogville
Go to Comment
Film Database Submission April 2010 about 2 years ago
I Was Nineteen
Ich war neunzehn
1968
Dir: Konrad Wolf
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061802/
(Sorry for the repeat, I didn’t know how to post images before)
Go to Comment
Change in search engine? about 2 years ago
When I type a director or title of a movie into the in-site search field I no longer get the direct pages as any of my results. I don’t care about all the forums where people are talking about John Cassavetes. I want to go to his actual page. But I can’t seem to get to it.
The best I can get with some directors is their FANS OF… page, then, once there, I have to click the BACK TO… button to get to the director’s page. It’s like the interface issues on this site are getting worse and worse instead of better and better.
Is anyone else having this problem or have a solution?
Go to Comment
No Sex, No Guns, No Gadgets - Real World Spy Flicks almost 2 years ago
“Yes, I admit I’ve watched a Bourne movie and three other spy flicks on the flight home and smiled when I thought about how Hollywood has no idea about what we can really do. The great skill and contribution of our work would make a better movie. . . but no one would believe it!” – C.I.A. Director Leon Panetta
I’m trying to generate a group list of great “real-world” spy movies. Obviously we’ll play fast and loose with the rules. It’s okay if there’s sex, guns or gadgets in the film, or if it’s a comedy/satire, or bends the whole “real-world” notion a bit, but the film has to at least try to approximate some idea of the real field workings of the global intelligence community. You get the gist of what I’m looking for. Something like…
The Falcon and the snowman (1985)
or…
Hopscotch (1980)
I’m sure there’s much better examples out there that are slipping my mind. I want to hear about them all… historical dramas (spying during the Napoleonic wars? Does that movie even exist? If so, I want to see it!), Cold War masterpieces, global cinema… bring it all on!
Thanks!
Go to Comment
No Sex, No Guns, No Gadgets - Real World Spy Flicks almost 2 years ago
Great stuff! As I said, let’s play fast and loose with the rules. Obviously real spies have used guns. Obviously real spies have had sex… and have use gadgets, to a certain degree. The trick is to find movies about the intelligence game itself and the characters that populate it, instead of action or fantasy flicks.
@Deckard I know where you’re coming from to a certain degree. Can a spy film achieve cinematic bliss to the extent that, for me, CONTEMPT or TOKYO STORY or BARRY LYNDON or STALKER does? I’m sure it can be done, but has it? THE CONVERSATION is a pretty great film with a CIA audio tech as its protagonist. Is it PERSONA? No, but it’s a very, very good movie.
Having said that, I’m absolutely obsessed with the intelligence game as it’s been played throughout history, and while you may not feel that there’s been any true cinematic masterpieces created with the material, it doesn’t mean there haven’t been a hell of a lot of great, fun engaging “flicks” built on the premise of the “shadow trade”.
And on that note…
Notorious (1946)
The IPCRESS File (1965)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
The Conversation (1974)
Go to Comment
No Sex, No Guns, No Gadgets - Real World Spy Flicks almost 2 years ago
Sorry Matt, I just repeated your entry. Apologies.
Go to Comment
No Sex, No Guns, No Gadgets - Real World Spy Flicks almost 2 years ago
Ah! Mother Night!!
That’s a great addition! Totally slipped my mind!
Go to Comment