The Film Lovers Thread!

[Niusity]

^^there are some really great movies(which I was waiting to watch for a long time) there.

 

[YoninahAliza]

Looks like a good list of films (very excited for Moonrise Kingdom!). But it's disappointing to see that their are no female directed films- their were 4 last year- so it's really a shame that none are being shown at Cannes. Because I'm sure that their are some films that must qualify for the film festival.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

I have to say that I had high expectations for We Need to Talk about Kevin and I was not let down; I loved it. It was shocking and striking. The acting, set design, cinematography and symbolism were all fabulous. The narrative, presented in the fractured way in which it was, was exactly as it should have been, considering the subject matter: when people experience trauma like she has, their lives are forever changed and time begins to blur, there is no continuity or sense of chronology. Tilda, herself, "melts the screen" as a friend put it. She is amazing. All of the actors are convincing and mesmerizing. The story itself is so sad and jarring. Great film, imo.

I posted this at Tilda's site, but it's worth posting here - at this link, you will find several short video responses from Tilda Swinton, to questions asked by Roger Ebert:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/09/the_world_according_to_saint_t.html

suntimes.com

 

[MyNameIs]

Watched two films over the weekend without even realizing until afterwards what great companion pieces they are. They both deal with mother/child bond, which is the most interesting theme of all for me.

First was Ballada o Soldate (Ballad of a Soldier, 1959), Soviet film by a Ukrainian director. Have long been wanting to see it given that it's considered to be one of the best films of Soviet cinema. The movie is about a soldier, during WWII, coming home for a day to see his mother. One of the most touching and beautiful films ever. I never cry during films, but I got teary eyed at one point during the last 5 or so minutes. The acting by all involved was outstanding and the images were poetry.

The other movie is Pather Panchali (1955), an Indian film. Stumbled on it very much by accident, never having heard of it before, but it caught my interest so I decided to give it a try. Despite not having grown up in India, never having been to India, and knowing very little about Indian culture, somehow the story reminded me of my own childhood and it felt almost nostalgic. The director's love for the story and characters is evident as he tells a story of a poor family basically trying to get by (more to it than that).

Both films are highly recommended. Don't go in expecting big dramatic scenes or action sequences as these two are very quiet films, but they pack an emotional punch rarely found in today's offerings.

 

[KoV]

hitfix.com


THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Terence Davies | UK | 2011


The massive, overshadowing problem with this film is that it's so mannered. For a movie supposedly about a woman in the throes of damning passionate physical love, it sure plays like a stuffy period piece. Yes, there's one marginally risqué sex scene early on, but aside from that? It's film-making entirely without passion. Weisz is excellent, but very rarely does her character act in a way other than subdued. The film is an adaptation of a play from the 1950s and it doesn't seem as though it's been updated at all. It's very stage-y. Characters say things, but there's no evidence they feel things. The attempted suicide in the film barely registers. Was the audience supposed to feel something? I sure didn't.

One significant good quality of the film are that it's made to look like it came from the 1950s (though to me it seemed earlier. Maybe stuffy aristocrats and war veterans obsessed with their glory days don't progress as fast as the rest of society? Anyway, aside from one scene, if I didn't recognize the actors, I would absolutely believe this film was made decades ago. It's got this gorgeous hazy dreamy look to it, but in a surprisingly dark way. All of the stylistic elements of the film are purposely very dated. And it worked well. The only problem is the story is rather dull and without passion. It doesn't give life to the carefully constructed visuals. It would have been amazing to have this engaging, sad passionate love story contrasting the rest of the film. But they didn't go in that direction and the result was terribly bland. After it ended I didn't feel moved or like I'd gotten anything out of it. Disappointing, to say the least. This had been something I was really anticipating.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Two things:

1.) Who saw The Master, and what did you think of it? What do you think it meant? Was there a message? And what about the relationship between Phoenix and Hoffman's characters, Quill and Dodd?

2.) What fall - Oscar rush! - films are you most looking forward to? Here's a good summation, though some of these have opened already I think:

http://flavorwire.com/412384/flavorwires-big-deal-all-in-fall-movie-preview

 

[MyNameIs]

I saw The Master. I liked it more than There Will be Blood (which I found to be good but incredibly overrated). The three leads were all great with Joaquin giving the best performance of the three. Can't remember much to tell you anything about deeper message though.

As far as upcoming movies. I'm looking forward to Gravity, All is Lost, Nebraska, Her, American Hustle, Anchorman and The Counselor. Was looking forward to Foxcatcher too, but that apparently has been moved to 2014.

 

[adorefaith]

thanks for that link, NPJ. i found the commentary more entertaining than most of the trailers. this, in particular...

"About Time is a time-travelling romance with Rachel McAdams. Wait, didn’t this already happen? Am I having a stroke? (November 1)"

As for films, of those listed there, I'd be interested in seeing The Counselor (mainly for the cast), Nebraska and Her. I could probably also be talked into seeing The Monuments Men because the story is fascinating, but it looks a bit ridiculous..

 

[YoninahAliza]

I'm already looking forward to the Oscar race, already started eyeing some films and actors that I think might do well. Certain films that stand out to me are Gravity (it looks terrifying yet really interesting), 12 Years a Slave (I've been saying for years that Solomon Northrup's story really ought to be made into a film, glad that such a great director took his story on), and Her (it looks cute. Don't know if it will be able to standup against other award contenders though). Several other films look really good too, I'm hoping that this is an interesting Oscar season, I hate when they are boring.

Also, I loved the article round up that you posted NPJ, some of it was very snarky. One of my favorites was, "There will be another Hobbit movie. It will be called Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It will not be the last one. There will never be a last one."

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Well I saw Gravity; I thought it was very good but not that great. It seems a little overhyped to me. What did others think?

 

[Stellar Tenement]

I saw the trailer for Gravity months ago, and thought it looked really tiresome. Then when it came out, I looked at the amazing rating it had at RottenTomatoes.com, and thought, Wow, I guess I should see this in 3D while I can. And then I watched the trailer again, and was reminded of how tiresome it looked. I was thinking, I don't want to sit through an hour and a half of that. (The trailer is mostly Sandra Bullock freaking out in the throes of a lot of disorienting action. It looked exhausting and yet boring at the same time.)

However, considering the great reviews, I went to watch it anyway, and I'm glad I did. I went in with the impression the trailer left on one hand, and the impression left by the reviews on the other, and was feeling ambivalent with conflicted expectations. But it was much better than the trailer made it seem. It was lovely, and sad, and also pretty exciting, as opposed to the unrelenting sensory barrage that the trailer made it appear to be.

I actually thought it lived up to the tremendous hype. It's one of the few examples where I could say that about anything.

 

[Not Plain Jane]

In honour of Halloween...

15 Fantastic Horror Films Directed by Women
By Alison Nastasi on Oct 27, 2013 11:00am - from Flavorwire

Most horror movies are generally told from a male perspective, despite the fact that studies have shown the audiences for these films are 50% female. There have been some powerful genre movies made by women, featuring feminist leanings and a strong female viewpoint. We wanted to highlight these works — those films that bypass the stereotypical (naked) damsel in distress trope and call attention to the male gaze, sometimes turning it back onto itself. If the only names that come to mind when discussing horror are Hitchcock and Romero, let this list also serve as an introduction to fantastic female filmmakers who enjoy scaring the hell out of their audiences.

http://flavorwire.com/422217/15-fantastic-horror-films-directed-by-women/

 

[Not Plain Jane]

Well, I just finished reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, and I have to say that the casting for the film adaptation seems wrong to me.

Like I know Charlize Theron is an excellent actor, but she's nothing like Libby, who is small (like 5' tall) and with red hair. And Chloe Mortez as Diondra is TOTALLY wrong; it should be a curvy brunette with big blue eyes. What? The only one who makes sense to me is Nicholas Hoult as Lyle.

Disappointing... I don't have high hopes.

The casting for Gone Girl already looks much better based on Flynn's actual work.

 

[Rose n Toast]

^ Oh I love Charlize as well, but do not think she suits Libby at all! Amy Adams was originally in the works, who is at least a red head...
Tye Sheridan (from Mud and Tree of Life) as the young Ben is a pretty great choice, I think he's an incredible child actor.

I'm so excited for Gone Girl, it's my most anticipated film of 2014

 

[Not Plain Jane]

^ Oh yeah, you're right about Tye Sheridan. He was really moody in Mud, and that would suit a young Ben.

 

[Razzer]

I am glad I have remembered to come back to this thread as a few months ago I watched the film "Slacker" made in 1991 by Richard Linklater and it was fantastic, I loved it so much! I really liked the slow speed of it all, how it easy it flowed from one character to another and the cinematography was beautiful but in a quiet way. Also even though some may argue (which they have done loudly on IMDB forums) that the film is "so hipster" and "has no plot", I kinda liked the lack of plot, it made me look more at the character's as real people that I could identify with and appreciate all the small more finer details of the film and the actors in it.

 

[heelscatchfire]

^ sometimes I love movies like that. Where there is no plot but you really enjoy seeing the chemistry and personality of the characters and watch them develop.

I didn't know there was going to be a Gone Girl film adaptation! Now I'm really excited for that. I haven't read Dark Places yet, I see Corey Stoll is in the film. I really liked him in House of Cards. So I'm interested to see more from him.

 

[SallyAlbright]

Hi all, I study film at NYU so would love to join in! What are your picks for Best Picture this year? Of the major contenders, I've seen Gravity, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Saving Mr. Banks, Captain Phillips and Blue Jasmine. I'd have to say that the Wolf of Wall Street would be my pick thus far.

 

[KoV]

Hi all, I study film at NYU so would love to join in! What are your picks for Best Picture this year? Of the major contenders, I've seen Gravity, American Hustle, The Wolf of Wall Street, Saving Mr. Banks, Captain Phillips and Blue Jasmine. I'd have to say that the Wolf of Wall Street would be my pick thus far.

If you're asking what we think will win Best Picture, I think it's a toss-up between 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, and American Hustle.

If you're asking our personal picks for the best films of the year, here's my top 5:

01. Laurence Anyways (I know some people will count it as a 2012 film, but I go by it's US release)
02. Her
03. Prisoners
04. Frances Ha
05. The Place Beyond The Pines


Out of those, I don't think Laurence Anyways will get any Oscar nominations, I think Her will be nominated for Picture and Original Screenplay (possibly cinematography or score as well? One can hope), I think Prisoners will get a nom for cinematography, Frances Ha might get one for Original screenplay and I don't think TPBTP will get anything, sadly.

 

[TanyaKiller]

^Prisoners was fantastic and underrated! It definitely deserved more buzz and recognition. Everybody talks about Gravity, but Prisoners is the real deal. They were released around the same time, right? I think it is better cause it's a more difficult movie to watch, it goes through a darker alley, questioning human nature.