The Film Lovers Thread!

[yogini108]

Oolie I love this thread I'm a movie fanatic

I can't remember who it was but somebody was asking about Brokeback mountain and what we thought.
About it being the most profound love story of all time, I'm not quite sure I could confirm that, but it was extremely profound nonetheless.
What I really loved was that it wasn't all sex and kissing and affection (which is what I kind of expected because it was so highly publicized for being a 'gay' movie)...the love was a lot deeper than that which is why I was so blown away by the end, as I haven't read the book...
The fact that Heath mumbled the whole time to play Ennis was the one thing that brought me out of the film...I know he has an accent, but I'm sure he could have at least enunciated a little.
Overall, I thought it was an amazing film, simply because it was so different from what I'm used to.

Some other movie review quickies...I've been seeing sooo many recently
Munich: I watched the first 40 minutes and ended up leaving. I understand that sometimes blood and grusomeness is necessary to a story, but I felt that the actions and little sub-stories were repetetive and kind of boring
Chronicles of Narnia: I left Munich to see this, expecting it to be a cute little movie..but it was a lot more than that. Narnia was portrayed beautifully onscreen..just like I envisioned it while I was reading the books. I cried and laughed and felt very connected to the charecters...highly recommended by me (maybe its just me though, since I love 'escaping' in the movies. That's probably why I didnt like Munich...I go to the movies to get away from things like that!)
Bee Season: From the previews you can't really get what this movie is about..which made it all the more fun to see and realize what was happening...but it is ultimately the story of a family of 4, where evry person is on a different spiritual path, and it tells their stories...extremely interseting and captivating and orginal
Capote: Philip Seymour Hoffman was brilliant! I didn't know much about Capote, but I thought the relationships and the acting were all very well done and portrayed. I learned a lot from this movie.
The Squid and the Whale: I personally wouldn't recommend this one ...It was a little drawn out for me and although it depicts a family going through divorce..I have never known a family like that in my life. There were funny moments, but the whole mood was sort of skanky and not classy...hard to explain I guess...something about it just seemed off for me.
Casanova: Very light and extremely cute. I'm a huge Heath fan so I loved watching him onscreen. While the story was very cutesy and fun, I loved the twists and fun moments in this movie. Sienna was also much better than I thought she'd be, and all the actors had really great chemistry onscreen..I'd recommend it for a rainy day
Walk the Line: Okay, you guys, I'm obsessed with this movie. What did you guys think? I wasnt around for Johnny cash, and it makes me want to cry just knowing that I missed out on such an amazing life. I feel like Joaquin did a perfect embodiment of Johnny's character and his little 'moments'. Hopefully you will all see this
Memoirs of a Geisha: Verrry long, but such a beautiful tale. The geisha life was shown in a really striking way..and the filming and colors were all breathtaking. Ziyi did an amazing job..and the outcome of the film was incredible

Sorry for so much stuff all at once
I guess I just wanted to share my thoughts and feelings...what did you guys think of all these movies?

-Oolie just to let you know..i think ive set a record in this thread for longest post by me ever

 

[susie_bubble]

I thought I would do a counter-review of Brokeback Mountain.

I had reservations about going to see this film because a) that many rave reviews and awards hype is just frighteningly too good to be true and b) I have never rated Heath Ledger as an excellent actor (A Knight's Tale anyone?) and it sounded like such a tough role to undertake.

However, having seen Sense and Sensibility and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I very much admire Ang Lee's accute sense of character and the ability to really TELL a story. In addition, his way with cinematography is always a joy to watch but I'll come to that later. What I really liked about this film is the character & story coherency.

What we have here is a pure love story which was what I was expecting because there was no way a 'frocklicking gay cowboy' movie could have so profoundly affected every film critic. The affection that they showed each other at times was very brotherly and only sometimes tender (so that you don't wince and think 'Oh pur-lease!'). A love thwarted by society and distractions - is about as conventional as it gets, so really for me, the homosexual thing didn't figure into it much. My favourite bits weren't actually their time spent herding in Brokeback but the subsequent part of the film when you see their lives diverging and at times and at the end, it was truly heartbreaking to watch. I loved the way they kept their love hidden away in Brokeback.

In terms of character development, this was another strength of the movie.
Jack and Ennis' relationship was able to progress because of their very different characters. The more bounding and outgoing Jack whose energy probably affected the brooding and tense Ennis. The way they dealt with their love anguish was also very deftly handled. Jack and Ennis both took out their frustrations in very different ways: sex and violence. Their views on open homosexuality were different as well which is why the conclusion was as it was.
Their marriages were also not a complete hack which would have been a tad far fetched and you could see why they did it. Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams did superb jobs as the dominanting and subservient (respectively) wives of Jack and Ennis.

The performances really made this film sing. Ennis was played exactly how he needed to be played. The gruff tense-ness and his anger were all brought out excellently as were the endearing moments when he was happy and when he was in pain. I actually didn't mind Heath's mumbling because I thought it was a character trait. Jake did a good job of playing Jack too though his character was slightly diminished towards the end as it focused more on Ennis. As I said, the ladies did a fantastic job. Anne was hilarious as a Texan trophy wife.

The cinematography was mindblowing. I'm sure the natural scenery is beautiful but everything was very heightened - when it was stormy, the grey clouds seemed frightening and foreboding, when the sky was blue, it was REALLY blue. The swaying grass at the end was the perfect way of ending the movie.

All in all, I was blown away emotionally by the film but it wasn't HARD-hitting. The pace made it so that you just kind of sat there taking it all in. I did come out of it with a cheesy feeling of 'seizing the day'. So I think the film got a message out there which few films often do.

 

[melt977]

Hey susie... you really made me anxious to go see it...

 

[oolie coco]

yogini108 and susie_bubble... I can't tell you how much I enjoy people's movie reviews! Thank you so much! I will definitely respond more later after I read everything more thoroughly....

Your reviews were both so well thought-out and interesting. I really do appreciate reviews because for some reason I have a huge fear of renting a movie that I know nothing about beforehand. I loooove hearing people's opinions on movies. So far I haven't seen very much in theatres - just "Narnia" recently, which I thought was enthralling for the first hour and felt kind of silly to me towards the end. Perhaps I've simply outgrown movies like that (I'm 23) but I've never been too good at enjoying movies where I have to suspend my belief so far.

Ugh, I just have to see Capote/King Kong/Brokeback M. so so badly ...

Did anyone see 1) The Brothers Grimm or 2) Sleepy Hollow? I have my mothers' copies sitting here and like I said, I love to hear opinions first.... Thank you.

Oh , Royal Galliano brought up "Sidewalks of New York" in "Last Movie You Saw". I REALLY recommend that one - such natural acting and dialogue I couldn't believe it. So relatable, touching and funny. Directed by Edward Burns (Christy Turlington's man) and such great performances by Heather Graham, Brittany Murphy, and Rosario Dawson.

 

[adorefaith]

good to hear your views susie.....thanks....

 

[boho_babe]

Ugh, I just have to see Capote/King Kong/Brokeback M. so so badly ...

I've seen King Kong and I think you will like it if you have an appreciation and love for film
Fantastic thread, so thanks for that oolie! And great reviews
Did anyone watch Revolver? (Guy Ritchies film) I wanted to know what everyone thinks to it, because there were so many negative reviews but I loved it.

 

[DreamsAreMade]

oolie coco great thread! Karma worthy me thinks

Most people I know tend to be really excited about Ben Stiller-esque comedies and such. And that is...not me. Definitely not me. I love a laugh, but too much of a slapstick phenomena going lately and it's really starting to irritate me. Nothing can beat great acting and realistic dialogue. Realistic being the key word!!
Prob. won't post in here much but will def. read.

 

[electricringo]

I saw A very long engagement yesterday, which I had already seen a long time ago. Anyone else liked this movie?

I think the cinematography is amazing... and the characters' facial expressions look like they were taken from vintage comic books.

 

[Fade to Black]

Oh btw, is City of God worth watching? I've been hearing about it lately and am starting to get interested.

City of God is a mind blowing movie...it's been likened to being the Brazilian 'Goodfellas,' although City of God is far superior to Goodfellas.

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

thanks for the thread, oolie coco.

electricringo, I watched a very long engagement again last week. I had to have it on dvd. I love the way it's technically a war film,but that it sidesteps the monotony of life in the trenches and shows the softer sides of all the soldiers. i also love the almost whispered humour, like when Mathilde steps out of her wheelchair and says 'It doesn't just happen at Lourdes'.

Like with Amelie, it's the little details that stand out, like her ongoing and childish reasoning with faith: ' If I don't break the (apple) peel Menech is alive'. I myself used to do this when my cats were gone and presumed dead so i was surprised and delighted to see it in a film.

I think it's just of those warming stories that restores your faith in the often crappy world.


twilight fairy - I remember your clockwork orange obsession alright
i agree that it's all that it's cracked up to be. aside from the humour and the many lasting images it burns into your memory (the milk bar, the William Tell fast forward, the eyes wiiide open)...it's just visually magnificant.

And it satirises the world so well : 'It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen'


I only read the review of Match Point after I had seen it (at a preview) and somehow i managed to miss all the rave ones, instead finding some that matched my view that Woody had well and truly kept his eye off the ball this time. So much of it bothered me. I agree with oolie coco, that the wealthy siblings were fine, but Nola and Chris really wrecked my head. Jonathan Rhys Meyers was as stiff and wooden as could be, and if he was as Irish as they kept saying, why did his accent sound so forced and English...
And... I still don't understand the appeal of this Scarlett one, do you have to be male to see the attraction of her and her ample bosom

 

[oolie coco]

strawberry daquiri, I never reviewed "Match Point". I don't want to take credit for a review I never gave!

oolie coco great thread! Karma worthy me thinks

Most people I know tend to be really excited about Ben Stiller-esque comedies and such. And that is...not me. Definitely not me. I love a laugh, but too much of a slapstick phenomena going lately and it's really starting to irritate me. Nothing can beat great acting and realistic dialogue. Realistic being the key word!!
Prob. won't post in here much but will def. read.

While I really don't think Ben Stiller is funny in his own films (Zoolander? Dodgeball? Meet the Parents? and the millions of others) and I really don't see the appeal, he thankfully did a great job in Tenenbaums.

But actually comedies are actually my favourite type of film, by far I loved 'Wedding Crashers' ...but I have a thing for Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn...

 

[susie_bubble]

I thoroughly enjoyed A Very Long Engagement too!

A Jeunet film through and through and I DON'T think it's basically 'Amelie' set in the 20's. That would be an insult. For a start, it couldn't be more stark and honest about life in the trenches, the imminent death that faces the troops, the desperation that they all go through (imagine being court marshalled for self infliction of pain). I thought it really got those bits right yet still made them enthralling and slightly amusing to watch as each one of those people on Bingo Crepiscule was made into a significant and unique character (the way that Jeunet highlights character quirks straight off....similar to the way Anderson signposts his characters in Tenenbaums).

The underlying strain of course is the puzzle, the mystery of Manech's whereabouts. When parts start to slot in, you really start to anticipate what's going to happen and just as Mathilde never loses hope, so too do you as you root and root. Bottom line is, this film made me give a damn and her courage and hope actually moved me (which is very rare when usually something is so predictable, you're too bored to care).

It looked spectacular too....from the grim and grit of the trenches to the sun-kissed home of Mathilde where it's as if her hope and love for Manech lit the whole place up. The score was very sweeping and grand which suited the film.

I too loved the little bits of humour that popped up from time to time as they were very much recognisable from Jeunet's past films Delicatessen and Amelie but not really the thing that made this film worth watching.

 

[june gloom]

Having seen Rushmore, for me, there were these Wes Anderson characteristics that really worked for me. That nostalgic/vintage/retro placement of the film means you're not sure what decade this is. Sign-posting the film with overtly obvious labels and descriptions. For example the introductions of characters. There was an endearing naivete that I loved.

I agree with that comment. There's just a definite feel of Wes in Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic and I loved it.

I'm going to go and recommend The Chumscrubber. It has an all-star cast - Glenn Close, Rita Wilson, Ralph Fiennes, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jamie Bell, Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin, Lou Taylor Pucci to name a few. It's not particularly a drama or a comedy, it's a perfect blend of both. The comedy is dark but still enjoyable. There's been comparisons to Donnie Darko and American Beauty, but I don't like comparing movies because it might often affect people's expectations. The story takes place in a suburban community where drugs (prescribed sometimes, but usually not) are prevalent. The community is dealing with the death of a young drug dealer, which somehow affects all of the characters and their stories intertwine.

It's not a teen movie, nor is it a movie just for adults. Go past suburbia gone wrong setting and find that it's a movie about how people deal (or in most cases, don't deal) and the relationships that we have - father/son, mother/daughter, friends, romantic relationships and the like. Great acting from Jamie Bell and Glenn Close especially. Good music, too - especially Phantom Planet's cover of "Our House".

 

[melt977]

oolie coco great thread! Karma worthy me thinks

Most people I know tend to be really excited about Ben Stiller-esque comedies and such. And that is...not me. Definitely not me. I love a laugh, but too much of a slapstick phenomena going lately and it's really starting to irritate me. Nothing can beat great acting and realistic dialogue. Realistic being the key word!!
Prob. won't post in here much but will def. read.

Although I do watch this kind of comedy when I want to see something light, I have to agree with you. They are over-rated and sometimes can be quite forced.

My favourite comedy of all times (and one of my favourite films ever) is "The Big Lebowski" by the Cohen Brothers. Every time I watch it I find it even funnier than the previous time and I never get bored of watching it (I must have seen it more than 30 times by now).

Everything about it is so well thought of. The lines, the characters, the little details, the music, the wardrobe.... the dreams (one of the few times I really enjoyed dreams in a movie). Their humour is amazing and of the sort where you have to think about it in order to realize the comedy behind what has just been said or happened...Few movies have managed to entertain me this much.

Jeff Bridges makes an exceptionally amazing Dude ("a lazy time wasting slacker"), as well as John Goodman playing the Vietnam Veteran still stuck in that time.

But the truth is that the movie belongs to the secondary roles: Steve Buscemi is incredible, while John Turturro has the scene which is mostly remembered in the film. The biggest revelation of it all (at the time) was Philip Seymour Hoffman, who despite holding just a secondary part, in my opinion he managed to steal the movie. The guy is magnificent!

This is one of my favourite things regarding this movie: each character is extremely well casted and the supporting parts are not just fillers (as in many films and especially comedies). They are the basis of the whole film.

I rememeber when the film came out, there was a poster in the London Underground promoting it, saying just this: "If the world was made by the Cohen Brothers, it would be an amazing world!"

I still remember it because this is how I feel everytime I watch their movies. The Big Lebowski is probably their best. To me, this is amazing film-making in every sense.

 

[yogini108]

One of my favorites is School of Rock! I really relate to Jack Blacks humor, and I find the movie entertaining each time I watch it!

 

[boho_babe]

but I have a thing for Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn...

Me too

 

[Hana_N]

My favourite comedies are
This is Spinal Tap!
Dr. Strangelove (if this qualifies as a comedy)
The great dictator
A fish called Wanda

and of course Monty Python!

 

[susie_bubble]

June Gloom: You're lucky that you get to see all the American indie flicks coz films like Junebug and Chumscrubber haven't even been released here yet!

I may have to get the US dvds....

 

[DreamsAreMade]

While I really don't think Ben Stiller is funny in his own films (Zoolander? Dodgeball? Meet the Parents? and the millions of others) and I really don't see the appeal, he thankfully did a great job in Tenenbaums.

But actually comedies are actually my favourite type of film, by far I loved 'Wedding Crashers' ...but I have a thing for Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn...

Hmm.... Owen Wilson doesn't bother me. He's funny actually. Not trying to offend anyone...I just don't see how anyone can like Vince Vaughn. He's *ok* in interviews, but I....ugg...his films....

Lol, I loved Meet the Parents. It was probably b/c I just love Robert DeNiro though. Now....Meet the Fockers is another story.

 

[oolie coco]

DreamsareMade, I liked "meet the Parents" too. My point was I just didn't think Ben Stiller was funny in the film at all.

melt977, "The Big Lebowski" is one of my favourite comedies too. Jeff Bridges is amazing and I think John Goodman is one of the greatest actors of our time...

I've said this a bunch of times on different threads, but my favourite film of all-time is a comedy... "Office Space". I love everything about it - to me it's perfect!