What Movies Have You Seen, Part 12 - Page 9

jesus marion joseph · November-13th-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

The preview (with the constant banging of the head) put Mrs. Rollie off of it, so I might have to wait until it comes out in DVD.

I'd never seen the trailer, so I can understand her reticence. I *can* tell you that there are several dream sequences in the movie, and I believe the head-banging scene is one of them. This movie was less "slapstick" than some Coen bros. films (Burn After Reading, Raising Arizona), IMHO, although there is an excellent bar mitzvah sequence with a very stoned teen.

Jazzooo · November-13th-2009, 05:15 PM

"Redbelt. Far from Mamet's best, far from his worst."

I'm having a hard time remembering one I thought was worse than RedBelt.

Pete C · November-13th-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

"Redbelt. Far from Mamet's best, far from his worst."

I'm having a hard time remembering one I thought was worse than RedBelt.

For me Spartan & Oleanna, definitely worse. State & Main maybe a little better.

House of Games & Spanish Prisoner definitely much better.

Winslow Boy hard to categorize, since it's not really a Mamet project.

I think those are the ones I've seen that he directed.

Of films he wrote, Glengarry, Glen Ross definitely the best. American Buffalo didn't translate well to screen. Wag the Dog was pretty bad.

Pete C · November-13th-2009, 05:32 PM

I think I've seen Things Change & Homicide too, but I'm not sure. They're either bad, forgettable, or I've never seen them.

Jazzooo · November-13th-2009, 07:47 PM

Definitely some of lesser work listed there, though I enjoyed State and Main. But Redbelt--so flat, so formulaic and not even using his own formula. I couldn't believe where it ended up... Hard to talk about the ending, though, because some people still haven't seen it.

Pete C · November-13th-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

not even using his own formula

Well, he did manage to work in a swindle, his wife, Ricky Jay and Joe Mantegna.

Jazzooo · November-13th-2009, 09:22 PM

Not really a swindle in my mind--way too predictable. And then to just turn it into another unsurprising action movie?

Squaredancecalling Steve · November-16th-2009, 07:17 AM

Beat Street -- I dug it back then and I dug it today!

Jazzooo · November-16th-2009, 07:43 AM

2012, or The Poseidon Adventure version 5.6.

A big bloated Hollywood blockbuster that creatively imagines the end of the world. I more or less enjoyed this, although it was too long and some of the emotional subplots (people saying goodbye to each other) were a drag (a few were genuinely touching).

Monte Smith · November-16th-2009, 08:06 AM

There are only so many variations on the genre of "crappy alien abduction thriller." I saw The Fourth Kind.

Vince Kargatis · November-16th-2009, 08:14 AM

You seen Paranormal Activity yet, Monte? What did you think?

Uli · November-16th-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

You seen Paranormal Activity yet, Monte? What did you think?

Yeah, let's hear The Expert!

Vince Kargatis · November-16th-2009, 08:42 AM

I asked Monte there because PA and The Fourth Kind were both "video footage"-type films, and that I'd guess he'd like the former much more.

Uli · November-16th-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I asked Monte there because PA and The Fourth Kind were both "video footage"-type films, and that I'd guess he'd like the former much more.

Sorry, Vince. I thought you asked him because you find him a bit para or x-tra normal.

Monte Smith · November-16th-2009, 09:07 AM

Haven't seen it yet, Vince.

stonemonkts · November-16th-2009, 10:00 AM

Reservation Road - Terribly written/scripted drama about the aftermath of a hit and run blah blah blah tortured father, mommy moving on, guilty killer (who is also the couple's lawyer leaning on the cops...ahem)...all in all, very bad. I TIVOed this because I am enthralled with Joaquin Phoenix, who I admire very much as an actor (see "Two Lovers" for an example of how extraordinarily good he can be in the right film). But this thing was terrible.

Jazzooo · November-16th-2009, 10:17 AM

Monte, I predict you will both like and admire Paranormal Activity.

Monte Smith · November-16th-2009, 10:20 AM

Guess I gotta see it.

Jazzooo · November-16th-2009, 11:42 AM

You weren't going to? Maybe I've misjudged the importance of film in your life.

Monte Smith · November-16th-2009, 11:52 AM

No, I was. I was very excited about seeing it some weeks ago, but my cinema-and-life partner, the wife, was not convinced. I've set out three different weekends with Paranormal Activity on my list, but have ended up chomping popcorn in front of Cirque du Freak, and then The Men Who Stare at Goats, and then I had my too-close encounter with The Fourth Kind.

patricia · November-16th-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

Reservation Road - Terribly written/scripted drama about the aftermath of a hit and run blah blah blah tortured father, mommy moving on, guilty killer (who is also the couple's lawyer leaning on the cops...ahem)...all in all, very bad. I TIVOed this because I am enthralled with Joaquin Phoenix, who I admire very much as an actor (see "Two Lovers" for an example of how extraordinarily good he can be in the right film). But this thing was terrible.

Joaquin Phoenix was at his best, IMO, in Return To Paridise.
Had to re-watch that to re-set, after seeing his over-the-top performance in Gladiator. I don't think he has a middle of the road setting. He is either really, really good, or really bad. I put it down to casting as well.

stonemonkts · November-16th-2009, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.

Have you had a chance to see Two Lovers?

jesus marion joseph · November-16th-2009, 01:53 PM

Return to Paradise has a good role by Pheonix, IMHO, although I think it was a remake. It also starred Anne Heche, before we all knew what a wingnut she was.

Squaredancecalling Steve · November-16th-2009, 02:48 PM

My first call backup trio {Doug Adamz + Russ Gauthier + Bill Amatneek} has just done the music to this movie about Jim Thorpe, coming soon to a television station near you:

http://www.jimthorpefilm.com/events/index.html

john williams · November-16th-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

Reservation Road - Terribly written/scripted drama about the aftermath of a hit and run blah blah blah tortured father, mommy moving on, guilty killer (who is also the couple's lawyer leaning on the cops...ahem)...all in all, very bad. I TIVOed this because I am enthralled with Joaquin Phoenix, who I admire very much as an actor (see "Two Lovers" for an example of how extraordinarily good he can be in the right film). But this thing was terrible.

I saw that too and thought it reminded me of those awful telly-movies of the 1980s. The sort of thing they show at midday in Australia. I also picked it up because Phoenix was in it.

me wag · November-17th-2009, 08:26 PM

Not a movie about the New York avant-garde music and art scene but about the people involved. In particular an avant-garde pianist, Adrian Jacobs played by Adam Goldberg, and his interactions with curator Madeleine, an owner of an avant-garde art gallery in Chelsea. I guess it's a pretty accurate outsider-looking-in view of this world but I would have liked it very much if they would have let us discover why people on the inside like to play AND listen to this kind of music instead of just making a joke of it most of the time. The filmmakers did their homework about the philosophy of the music, but I felt like they never really fully grasped the psychology of it.They at least sympathize with Adrian a little by the end even though I totally hated that he supposedly "finds" himself by playing a tune on his piano that could actually be described as melodic.

All in all, though, I wasn't bored with it but it was not a real pleasant movie-going experience either. Maybe the problem is that I know too much about it already to really enjoy it. I would have liked it better if Goldberg didn't have that stupid pretentious beard and wasn't so angry and depressed as if that explains why he does what he does, and by extension, why avant-gardists do what they do. They could have at least pointed out that at least some of this music and art is worth one's time and then I wouldn't have minded the silly jokes. A lot of it made me laugh and I often agreed with it but it eventually came across as being kind of cruel; making fun of people for taking something seriously.

lonely-at-the-top · November-18th-2009, 02:44 AM

My personal Best movie this year, brilliant, see you at the Oscars

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117...goryid=31&cs=1

tippy · November-20th-2009, 10:07 PM

I too thought Reservation Road stank. I did love Phoenix though when he smothered his dad in Gladiator. That was a good film moment imo.

I am feeling left out of the lust for the new Twilight. I found the first one only barely entertaining. If that. I do want to see A Christmas Carol though (anyone seen it?) and An Education sounds pretty good.

stonemonkts · November-20th-2009, 10:30 PM

I want to see Broken Embraces

and I want to see Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

and I want to see A Serious Man

and I want to see The Messenger

me wag · November-21st-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tippy

I too thought Reservation Road stank. I did love Phoenix though when he smothered his dad in Gladiator. That was a good film moment imo.

I am feeling left out of the lust for the new Twilight. I found the first one only barely entertaining. If that. I do want to see A Christmas Carol though (anyone seen it?) and An Education sounds pretty good.

An Education is a very good, entertaining film. I think you'd like it, Tippy.