Talk About Movies: Part 4
Somehow threads merged, so here's part 4 of our ongoing movie discussion.
Some of you remember high school with affection, some with disgust, and some not at all.
Linklater's Dazed and Confused strikes me personally as a way I never was.
Dazed and Confused doesn't have much of a plot. The star football player must sign a form saying he won't drink or use drugs. He puts off signing and eventually refuses. The film looks at what happens during the course of one day, the last day of school.
I guess many of us remember the types. I really don't. I went to one of those magnet schools, and I guess there were two types: those who studied and those who didn't. At our recent high school reunion there were many lawyers, doctors, professors, and engineers.
What I remember most is the music. It only took a couple notes to name most of the songs. Although most of the types in the film seemed foreign to me, I love the film. Some of my favorite films are about what we remember and how we remember. And it does make me think of a way I never really was.
I also watched Being There. Most of you know the film. The last shot of the film is disturbing. I would like to hear what you have to say about it.
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Some of you remember high school with affection, some with disgust, and some not at all.
Linklater's Dazed and Confused strikes me personally as a way I never was.
Dazed and Confused doesn't have much of a plot. The star football player must sign a form saying he won't drink or use drugs. He puts off signing and eventually refuses. The film looks at what happens during the course of one day, the last day of school.
I guess many of us remember the types. I really don't. I went to one of those ma
Dazed and Confused was spot on for me. The only part that wasn't the same for our high school was the hazing ritual. Other than that it was exactly how our high school was. If I didn't know better I would have thought they shot the pool hall scenes in the same place we hung out, and the party under the tower in the same "woods" we had parties. The vibe was the same as well. Most of our "jocks" were really stoners. Everyone pretty much got along with each other. They nailed it imo.
Dazed and Confused was spot on for me. The only part that wasn't the same for our high school was the hazing ritual. Other than that it was exactly how our high school was. If I didn't know better I would have thought they shot the pool hall scenes in the same place we hung out, and the party under the tower in the same "woods" we had parties. The vibe was the same as well. Most of our "jocks" were really stoners. Everyone pretty much got along with each other. They nailed it imo.
It was spot on including the hazing. It wasn't a ritual among the school but it was among athletes. If you were a Sophomore you were getting beat down (punch you in the chest, back and/or stomach) at some point by the Seniors and once they got you it was over.
We had a pool hall called Stix. it was the meet up spot and the parties would move on from there. There was a wide variety of people as you had rap, grunge and country all peaking at the same time. Most everyone got along and we had some great times.
The music is what I remember the most. I can still hear Nothin's News by Clint Black or some Jimmy Buffett song inside of that pool hall. I remember hearing Lithium for the first time at a party and we were all freaking out about it. Listening to Dr Feelgood as we got drunk in the party wagon.
Chance channels Jesus in that last sequence. It’s both disturbing and interesting at the same time. Great ending!
Hey Hollywood... Go F*ck yourselves
Sergio Leone & Clint Eastwood Classic ‘’ Getting Remake From Hollywood & Italian Industry
Hey Hollywood... Go F*ck yourselves
Sergio Leone & Clint Eastwood Classic ‘’ Getting Remake From Hollywood & Italian Industry
I guess these remakes are for people who won't see any movie made before they were born and capture a new audience.
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Synecdoche, New York I was just browsing through my recorded movies and saw this. Never heard of it. It had Philip Seymour Hoffman so I thought it might be interesting.
When the opening credits began, it listed Charlie Kaufman as writer/director. Then I knew it would be interesting.
Interesting it was.
I'm struggling to come up with words to describe the plot, so I won't even try.
I'm guessing every person that watches this has a different interpretation of what it is about. My take was that as you go through life, you view life, and your life, through a different lens. That, and the fact that although you might think you're the only one that goes through this, you are mistaken. Everyone does. But, that's just my non-intellectual take. I'm sure there's a lot higher meaning here.
Anyway. Hoffman was fantastic. Loved every minute of it.
Bullitt (1968)
It’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t play. Miles Davis
It’s the silences and non-responses.
The one thing I always remember about this movie is the upstairs handle that opens his front door.
I want Dr. Willard: Replaced.
Steals a newspaper and buys half a dozen TV dinners: Too cool for words!
Robert Duvall’s greatest role: The second call was long distance.
They make the hit men look like: Middle aged accountants.
No trench coats: London Fogs!
“Shotgun and a backup man.”: Professionals!
“It’s your case!”: Silence!
“I’ll try to back you up!”: Silence!
“The door is open, sir.”: Silence!
“I demand that signed statement, now!”: When I’m ready!
Rolls down the window: For the Model 97.
We must all compromise: Bullshit!
Known for its famous car chase, Bullitt actually has three excellent chase scenes– the first being a foot chase in the hospital, and the last another foot chase dodging aircraft on the runways of SFO. (The car chase still holds up, despite being conducted with the lumbering beasts of the 60s.)
As popular as this flick is, I still think it is underrated. There's a reason Steve McQueen was the coolest guy to appear on screen, and it’s not just because he wore desert boots – he was a great actor.
A beautifully made movie. In fact, a masterpiece. Check it out!
I loved Synecdoche, New York.
Bergman Island by Mia Hansen-Love is a different sort of film. A couple, one an older director of horror films, and his younger partner, herself a writer and director, go to Faro Island for Bergman Week, a once a year gathering at the Bergman estate.
The male director specializes in horror films, but he's also an expert on Bergman. His partner knows less about Bergman films but is a fan. They are staying in one of Bergman's homes where one of Bergman's films dealt with the end of his marriage.
The couple have a few problems. The woman begins talking about a script she can't finish and suddenly the film turns into a film within a film switching back and forth between the original film and the film the woman is narrating.
Mia Hansen-Love takes much from her own life, and apparently she is taking much from her 15 year relationship with Olivier Assayas.
See it on Criterion. It's full of surprises and there is and ending to her script.
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interesting!
Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is one of my favorite films of the past ten years. It's based on "The Story of Your Life" by Ted Chaing. (The story is available as a PDF online.)
The best films touch us in ways that sometimes are difficult to explain, but this one, despite its complex narrative, is hard to explain although it will touch each of us in different ways.
Basically, the story is about a linguist who is recruited to translate the "language" of aliens who have landed in 12 spots around the world. Amy Adams stars as Louise, the linguist. As she begins to learn the alien language, her perception of time starts to change. Eventually, she has command of their language and sees things the way the aliens do.
Okay, simple enough. But what the film is about is the story of your life. If you knew the future, what would you charge? I suppose we can all answer that question in one way or another.
I connect intimately with that question because in one way I did know the future. But I didn't know the whole story. I could, if I could change things, save myself from tremendous worry and heartbreak. But then I never would have gained what I have either. I learned a great deal about myself, but I also learned a great deal about others.
The poet William Wordsworth talks in one poem about his belief that for what he has lost comes "abundant recompense."
Louise makes the decision not to change her life despite knowing what will happen. I wouldn't change a thing either.
If you have seen Arrival, you have probably answered that question for yourself. If not, see it and consider the story of your life.
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I was considerably less impressed by Arrival despite all the mass acceptance of it's greatness. I can see your passion, and I admire it... I just do not connect with this vehicle in the same manner
I understand the implications of it's story line, however I didn't find it particularly insightful or enlightening, but I have only ever watched it one time... at the movie theater.
Perhaps I can give it another go.
If you don't like the film as much as I do, then try reading Ted Chaing's stuff. He transcends the sci-fi genre.
I saw Arrival in the theater the first time. The theater was full, so I had to sit next to a woman and her teenage daughter. The daughter offered me popcorn. More kids should be raised this way.
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Nice write up, John. Arrival is close to a masterpiece
Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is one of my favorite films of the past ten years. It's based on "The Story of Your Life" by Ted Chaing. (The story is available as a PDF online.)
The best films touch us in ways that sometimes are difficult to explain, but this one, despite its complex narrative, is hard to explain although it will touch each of us in different ways.
Basically, the story is about a linguist who is recruited to translate the "language" of aliens who have landed in 12 spots
Great review. I just remember it as the only (completely unexpected) movie I found myself crying at the end in probably 20 yrs
never understood why anyone could think arrival was a good film
The Speedway Murders - Documentary about the 1978 Burger Chef murders where 4 teens were killed and the case is still unsolved. Very well done and maybe it’s been done before but they use the actors of the victims to re-enact but also break down the different theories about what happened to them. It’s out as a rental on Prime.
Longlegs did 3 million on the Thursday night premier. Lots of talk about jam packed theaters. Maybe there is hope for movies after all.
