What's the last movie you've seen?

[Gustaf]

The Tree of Life

You know.. One day on and I still struggle to say anything remotely intelligent about the film (though I think it's not that much of a difficult watch. Certainly not when compared to The New World which I'll willingly admit defeated me). However I will say that enjoyed it a lot but I don't see the 2001 comparsions that well, if any film is similiar it's Tarkovsky's Zerkalo. And while it is a long time since I saw that film, I think it preferred to Malick's effort, which is perhaps a bit too American for my liking.

Well, I haven't seen Zerkalo. Now that you bring up Tarkovsky, I realize that it has similarities with the one Tarkovsky that I've seen (Andrei Rublev). So I can imagine there could be one very similar movie.

It's only comparable with 2001 in certain ways, of course.

Oh, I see some similarities of course but the comparsion too journalistic for my liking ("Hey, which famous great American film is kind of like this?"). Anyway, it is always good to do a Tarkovsky shout out. Andrei Rublev is great too.

One further thing about Tree: The fact that this was made in contemporary hollywood shows that things aren't that bad after all (though in saying that, if Malick was trying to start his career now....)

Well...I wasn't thinking in terms of what American movie is like this. It was just the first movie I associated it with. It was basically the use of visual effects, showing nature and the universe and very little dialogue. All that stuff. As well as jumping around in time without really bothering about whether the viewer can follow the plot, sort of.

In terms of what the movie is about, I suspect your Tarkovsky is more similar.

[Gustaf]

For like the eight time I saw (well, the last 45 minutes of this time) Blade Runner.

There are o/c many problems with the film but has there really been a film (or at least a hollywood film) which created a unique and credible world which has its characters actually live in it and be encapuslated in it as well as BR did? I really struggle to think of one that comes close (Please don't say Star Wars or LOTR).

The Wizard of Oz?

And I'm surprised you didn't include the Matrix in your please don't say-list.

I haven't seen Blade Runner so I can't really make a serious suggestion.

[Gustaf]

American Graffiti.

It now feels as if I've known Jmfcst my entire life.

Didn't really like the movie that much though. Seemed a bit cliched and I didn't really feel involved in the characters.

[Gustaf]

Didn't really like the movie that much though. Seemed a bit cliched and I didn't really feel involved in the characters.

That's because George Lucas directed it.

QFT.

[Gustaf]

Last Year in Marienbad (1960).

Anyone who thinks they know what this is about is, shall we say, being slightly liberal with the truth. Certainly worth a look mind and the French bourgeoise never looked creepier. (Best way of describing it: A 90 minute horror movie with all the 'shock' scenes taken out and no obvious villian).

I haven't seen it but for me it's about the match stick game, oddly enough. My dad taught me that game as based on the movie.

I only watched one Resnais but I've been wanting to get around to this one as well.

[Gustaf]

Last Year in Marienbad (1960).

Anyone who thinks they know what this is about is, shall we say, being slightly liberal with the truth. Certainly worth a look mind and the French bourgeoise never looked creepier. (Best way of describing it: A 90 minute horror movie with all the 'shock' scenes taken out and no obvious villian).

I haven't seen it but for me it's about the match stick game, oddly enough. My dad taught me that game as based on the movie.

I only watched one Resnais but I've been wanting to get around to this one as well.

Even though it is somewhat peripheral to the plot(? - wrong word to use. The, ummm, 'action') the match stick game (Initially played with cards and then possibly with non-existant photos, you have to watch it to get that bit) is one thing which constantly sticks in my mind. That and the black and white photography, which is great. In general though, like with The Tree of Life, I really have nothing intelligent to say about it (except that it was an obvious influence on David Lynch, if that classes as inteligent comment).

What was your previous Resnais film? The local Art film theatre here is doing a season on him atm so that's probably going to be my August cinema viewing.

Hiroshima, Mon Amour

I should probably rewatch it, because I remember liking it but little about it. Probably because, like what you describe, there is no real plot. A man and a woman meet and it's about war traumas, from what I recall.

And I think the Lynch influence thing would qualify as intelligent. Based on my one movie it makes sense, since the sort of absence of plot is striking in both cases.

[Gustaf]

The Trip

About what I expected, at times very funny. My kind of humour.

[Gustaf]

Sunset Boulevard

Very good.

[Gustaf]

Sunset Boulevard

Very good.

First time seeing that?

Yep. Rather depressing movie, but I sort of expected that going in. I really like noir.

[Gustaf]

Source Code. So-so. Seemed to have enormous plot-holes or maybe I just didn't get it. The twists were way too predictable though. A twist movie has to do better.

[Gustaf]

Bowling for Columbine - trash.  Absolutely idiotic.

I can understand not liking the argument, but surely you'd accept that it's very well put together?

For me a documentary that gives me obviously stupid arguments isn't very impressive.

[Gustaf]

Bowling for Columbine - trash.  Absolutely idiotic.

I can understand not liking the argument, but surely you'd accept that it's very well put together?

For me a documentary that gives me obviously stupid arguments isn't very impressive.

Most documentaries give obviously stupid arguments

Well, there you go - I seldom watch and even more rarely enjoy documentaries.

I did like Videocracy. I guess the subject matter there was so stupid that it'd be impossible for the movie to look stupid by comparison.

[Gustaf]

Shawshank Redemption. Cute movie, although the ending was a bit disappointing - I was hoping it would turn out he actually did it, since that would have been more interesting. I liked the whole escape thing, but beyond that it seemed like a poor man's Forrest Gump.

[Gustaf]

Bananas

Very funny and also quite short (a plus in my book 90% of the time).

Woody Allen one? I love this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYp9WtbMo2k

And I concur with Gully on Videodrome.

And, Angus, I liked it - I just didn't find it to be that good.

[Gustaf]

And I concur with Gully on Videodrome.

And, Angus, I liked it - I just didn't find it to be that good.

What?  Videodrome?  I remember watching it a long time ago.  I enjoyed looking at Debbie Harry's breasts.  Not to mention James Woods' ass.  But honestly I thought it was kinda silly.  Breathing cassettes, veins running through tables, and handguns being stuffed into the abdomen.  Silliness.  Maybe it went over my head.

Last night I watched "El Crimen del Padre Amaro."  I liked it very much.  Apparently it was the biggest box-office grossing movie in Mexico ever.  I think the director should have developed Amaro's character more--it's hard to feel that he's falling from grace when you don't think he has many scruples to begin with--and the ending was very predictable.  But it was, overall, dramatic and captivating. 

No, no my comment to you was about Shawshank.

Saw Submarine tonight. Cute little movie. Although you might almost have settled for the trailer - it had most of the best moments.

[Gustaf]

No, no my comment to you was about Shawshank.

Ah, that makes sense. 

Last night we watched Ladri di biciclette subtitled in English.  Unlike Shawshank, which was at its core a story about hope, Ladri is a classic example of Italian neo-realism, and is set in impoverished, post-war Rome.  There was no killing or bloodshed or gratuitous violence, so it was suitable for family viewing.  The protagonist is Antonio, an underemployed skilled worker who depends upon his bicycle for his job, and the story line is about Antonio and his son chasing down the man who stole his bicycle in the early part of the film.  The deeper story is a social message, I think. 

I've seen that. Great film, but quite sad. I wouldn't show it to a kid though. You want to wait till they're grown up before you kill their hopes.

(Although the ending is arguably a bit more positive again)

And I agree with you on the message. It seems to me that the whole premise is a message in itself - getting your bike stolen shouldn't mean starvation in a civilized society.

[Gustaf]

Watching "Memento" in films class. Very interesting. Anyone else see it?

Yes. It's a good movie but probably not something I'd watch again anytime soon. You have to pay very close attention from start to finish.

Memento is awesome.

[Gustaf]

Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho.

Short film, and incredibly good. I'm a sucker for even the tiniest hint of romance where one of the individuals involved suffers from one disability or another.

You should watch Talk to Her by Almodovar then.

[Gustaf]

Eu Não Quero Voltar Sozinho.

Short film, and incredibly good. I'm a sucker for even the tiniest hint of romance where one of the individuals involved suffers from one disability or another.

You should watch Talk to Her by Almodovar then.

Or you might find it under Hablé con ella.  I liked that one very much also.

I watched another Rosellini movie last night.  Dov'è la libertà?  Like Ladri it was basically a critique of the wretchedness of post-war Rome.  Humorous at times, but mostly depressing.

I noticed that you're a fan of Almodovar. Great director. And I assumed the English title would be more useful.

[Gustaf]

I'll be the odd one out and say that while I have of course read several Le Carre novels I had no idea there was a movie coming out...

[Gustaf]

I'll be the odd one out and say that while I have of course read several Le Carre novels I had no idea there was a movie coming out...

He has a slightly surreal cameo as a drunk at a Christmas party. Which also featured a Father Christmas (it's Britain in the 1970s, so no Santa's) with a Lenin face mask.

I don't suppose the universe can be so good so as to bless us with a link to this?

I have seen The Constant Gardener. It was pretty good.

[Gustaf]

Planet of the Apes Revolutions or whatever it's called. Decent, but a bit of a letdown.

[Gustaf]

Planet of the Apes Revolutions or whatever it's called. Decent, but a bit of a letdown.

You mean the new one?


I will be seeing Ides of March, 50/50, and Moneyball over the weekend.  Hopefully none disappoint.

Yeah, yeah the new one.

[Gustaf]

Moneyball, the Tree of Life and A Better Life.

@angus watch Children of Men asap.

I concur with this.

[Gustaf]

Il Divo

Really, really, really good.

Oh! Watched that one in cinemas when it came out here (two years ago, maybe?). I remember me and my friend laughed so hard we were hushed by someone.

It certainly made me realize how Berlusconi can win elections in Italy - by the standards of the Italian right he is a shining beacon of honesty and law-abiding.