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the night watchman
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 Posted: 02.03.2005 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Jim Harper wrote: | | If that makes any sense at all. |
That makes complete sense. That's remarkable, too; I didn't know such a social shift was taking place in Japan. The knowledge adds an extra level to Kiyoshi Kurosawas work. Thanks for providing that.
| beltmann wrote: | | And I'm sure that Memento Mori't the only quality one; no doubt I've missed a few that would indeed trigger my personal switches. |
Jim mentioned this one, but after reading your last post I'll second his recommendation: Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Kairo (aka Pulse, or sometimes Circuit). That's probably the movie that comes closest to having a discernable "vision," in the same way Memento Mori does.
Your problem with Asian horror, Eric, is similar to my problem with classic musicals: They're an important part of cinema, and I feel I should appreciate them, yet I just don't like them (although I do know precisely why I don't).
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Jim Harper
Director
Joined: 29 Feb 2004
Posts: 226
Location: Totnes, Devon, UK
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| Posted: 02.03.2005 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: | | That makes complete sense. That's remarkable, too; I didn't know such a social shift was taking place in Japan. The knowledge adds an extra level to Kiyoshi Kurosawas work. Thanks for providing that. |
I haven't seen it yet, but an interesting comparision piece would be Shinji Aoyama's Eureka. It's inspired by the real-life hijack of a bus in May 2000, where a teenager wielding a knife a busload of passengers hostage. Although the police finally managed to resolve the situation, he managed to stab four people, fatally injuring one of them. Since it's happened the media in Japan has pounced upon it as a high-profile case that epitomizes the wave of violence- most of it perpetrated by youngsters- that is plaguing the country. While Kurosawa's film deals with the futile search for a root cause of the violence, Aoyama's deals with the eventual consequences of such an incident. |
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
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Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 02.03.2005 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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 Thanks, I'll keep it in mind.
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beltmann
Studio Exec
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Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 4:49 am Post subject: |
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They won't be ready for 2005 release, but two of my most eagerly anticipated films are:
Fast Food Nation, with Richard Linklater somehow adapting a piece of sprawling journalism by Eric Schlosser.
The Mayor of Castro Street, with Bryan Singer telling the story of slain gay politician Harvey Milk. For more than a decade I've been saying his story would make a great feature film.
Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment |
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the night watchman
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Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 6:00 am Post subject: |
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At this moment I'm most looking forward to Serenity and Cronenberg's A History of Violence.
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | I'm looking forward to Land of the Dead too. But at this point, I'm most anticipating Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Serenity.
Peter Jackson's King Kong should be a hoot, and so far Episode III looks promising, but it has a lot to do to redeem Ep I & II.
I'm also looking forward to War of the Worlds, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Batman Begins, Jurassic Park IV, Constantine, The Ring Two and Sin City. |
The year so far...
For me the most satisfying from that list have been Batman Begins and Sin City. Land of the Dead, War of the Worlds, and Ep III were flawed but generally successful entertainments; the cast and crew of The Ring Two deserve grand kudos for raising the movie above the crummy script by Erin Kruger; Hitchhicker's Guide drifts between a relief and a disappointment; Constantine was entertaining but dumb; and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had Johnny.
Best So Far:
Downfall 2004, Oliver Hirschbiegel
Worst So Far (tie):
The Amityville Horror 2005, Andrew Douglas
Fantastic Four 2005, Tim Story
Biggest Surprise:
The Devil's Rejects 2005, Rob Zombie
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."
-David Cronenberg |
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: |
Best So Far:
Downfall 2004, Oliver Hirschbiegel
Worst So Far (tie):
The Amityville Horror 2005, Andrew Douglas
Fantastic Four 2005, Tim Story
Biggest Surprise:
The Devil's Rejects 2005, Rob Zombie |
Downfall is a top priority for me. Glad I skipped Amityville and Fantastic Four, although I'm sure I'll catch up with both on DVD.
My 2005 favorite so far is Turtles Can Fly, but several earlier movies that first became available in Milwaukee in 2005 should also be considered: Divine Intervention; Million Dollar Baby; The Woodsman; The Sea Inside; House of Flying Daggers.
Worst So Far: Dean Augustin's Anthem. I've managed to miss most of the usual suspects, but I strongly disliked Be Cool and Born Into Brothels.
Biggest Surprise: Dark Water, and maybe Assault on Precinct 13 and Kung Fu Hustle.
And I too should have listed A History of Violence among my most anticipated, along with Good Night. And, Good Luck.
Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment |
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the night watchman
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Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: | | Million Dollar Baby; The Woodsman; |
I suppose I should probably place those two in 2005 myself -- if I'm going to place Downfall in 2005 -- in which case, they give Downfall a run for its money.
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."
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beltmann
Studio Exec
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Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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I just saw The Woodsman recently, and I'm disappointed that audiences have undervalued it. Suggesting a man's cavernous inner life and psychological struggle almost entirely through his eyes, lips and hands, Bacon gives one of the most physical, moving performances I've ever seen in my life--and I say that with no sense of hyperbole.
HIGHLIGHT TO READ SPOILER (minor)
The queasy scene where Bacon sits on the park bench with the young girl provokes the typical run-away-little-girl! response, but what's amazing is how that reaction is outweighed by our desire to root for Bacon--not for him to succeed in his seduction, but for him to resist the urge. It's a surprisingly complex and effective scene, much like most of the movie.
Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment |
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
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Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 08.08.2005 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Woodsman SPOILER:
Agreed. The scene in the park with Robin, for me, is the film's both emotional and thematic core, and the very aspect that makes it so relevent. It is the counterpoint of the scene in which Walter watches the schoolyard pedophile seduce a victim and writes over and over in frustration "THE BOY GETS IN THE CAR!" It demonstrates that film correctly understands Walter?s journey toward redemption lies farther down the road than a simple desire to stay out of prison or to ?be normal,? as he tells his therapist: he must also understand that the of condemnation of his pursuit is more than a moral abstraction; he must recognize the human damage its consequences assure.
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."
-David Cronenberg |
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
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Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 08.09.2005 5:49 am Post subject: |
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I have Downfall from Netflix currently and can't wait. If I didn't have work early tomorrow, I'd watch it right now.
Best so Far: Cinderella Man, closely followed by Batman Begins.
Worst so Far: Son of the Mask, with Prozac Nation being almost equally awful.
Biggest Surprises: Fever Pitch, Dark Water, A Lot Like Love.
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
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Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 08.09.2005 5:51 am Post subject: |
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Oh, and most awaited of the year: Match Point and A History of Violence.
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Danny Baldwin
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 08.12.2005 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Cronicas is another I'm anixiously anticipating, but I'm sure I won't get to see it until it hits video.
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."
-David Cronenberg |
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