What Movies Have You Seen, Part 8

[Jazzooo]

"That the accomplished pianist still uses a teacher..."

?

Accomplished players everywhere still have teachers. A learning man is alive; a learned man is dead and all that.

[steve(thelil)]

To grow up is to not grow anymore. To grow any more is to not grow a specified more. Tumor growth is bad.

[Pete C]

Subtly powerful.

[Pete C]

Jonah Goldberg on Groundhog Day & religion

[walto]

"That the accomplished pianist still uses a teacher..."

?

Accomplished players everywhere still have teachers. A learning man is alive; a learned man is dead and all that.

Yeah, except the teacher in question was a suburban lady who helps 5-year-olds learn how to read music.

[Pedantic Wretch]

I don't understand why this film is so beloved and popular. It's tedious and not very funny. I was tempted to quit after a half hour.

Actually, quite a lot of chin-stroking avant-gardist types have made the case for Groundhog Day - something about smuggling the formal device of extreme repetition into a Hollywood romantic comedy. I sort of agree with them, but haven't seen it in a while. It would have been better without the sentimental resolution; in fact, it would probably be one of my all-time favourite films if they rewrote it as more of a dark parable about the economic 'rationalisation' of modern life, in which Murray's character remained trapped in the loop forever, with an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Maybe with Cronenberg directing.

[Gordon B]

I enjoyed it as well, not so much as a comedy (though there are several pretty funny moments) but more to watch Murray's character come to grips with things. I do think it's one of Murray's first excellent performances and, as I've mentioned before, I'm not sure there's a US actor out there now who I'd rather watch. It is kind of a children's cautionary tale, but a good one, imho.

What did you think of "Lost in Translation"?

Another actor I like a lot is William H. Macy.

I just saw "The Cooler." He was superb. I also saw "Boogie Nights" for the second time. I quit with about a 30-40 minutes to go because it ends badly but Macy was good and the resolution of his character was very believable.

Of course, there's also "Fargo," much better than the other two films.

[Monte Smith]

The condescension about Groundhog Day here really needs to be leavened by a defense of Meatballs.

Scott?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I recently saw Groundhog Day again, too. I still enjoyed it a lot, although not as much as I did the first couple of times I saw it (in the theater and about a year later). What struck me this time were the little theme-focused riffs -- killing himself, winning Rita -- which seemed refreshingly unorthodox for such a Hollywood movie. Overall, I think it's a great premise and they do an entertaining and credible job of exploring it, but since they never reach all that high there's an inevitable sense of unfulfilled possibilities.

My favorite line, during the dying sequences: "I'm A god. I'm not THE God. At least I don't think so."

[Rob C]

Actually, quite a lot of chin-stroking avant-gardist types have made the case for Groundhog Day - something about smuggling the formal device of extreme repetition into a Hollywood romantic comedy. I sort of agree with them, but haven't seen it in a while. It would have been better without the sentimental resolution; in fact, it would probably be one of my all-time favourite films if they rewrote it as more of a dark parable about the economic 'rationalisation' of modern life, in which Murray's character remained trapped in the loop forever, with an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Maybe with Cronenberg directing.

Perhaps something like this (from the J. Goldberg article Pete linked to above)?

"If this were a French film dealing with the same themes, it would be in black and white, the sex would be constant and depraved, and it would end in cold death."

[patricia]

Perhaps something like this (from the J. Goldberg article Pete linked to above)?

"If this were a French film dealing with the same themes, it would be in black and white, the sex would be constant and depraved, and it would end in cold death."

In other words, a feel-good, date film.

[Dr Dave]

Speaking of the "Feel-Good Movie Of The Year" --



Impeachment? Fuck impeachment. These guys should be horsewhipped all day every day for the rest of their miserable lives. Every night, on every major TV network, an excerpt of their daily punishment...what was their crime? These guys couldn't walk and chew gum, and they proposed to rule the world. Arrogant idiots, all of them...

[walto]

Just took the kids to Enchantment. Really hated it.

[Root Doctor]

"Crime Wave" is a first-rate film noir, while "Decoy" is an above-average melodrama. Both made for an entertaining evening.

[Brian Olewnick]

What did you think of "Lost in Translation"?
.

Liked it a whole lot, thought Murray was note perfect. Johansson too, though aside from this and the Girl with Pearl Earrings, have pretty much disliked her since.

Agreed with PW that Groundhog could've been better--darker--and didn't need the happy resolution but for what it is, it's fine.

[Gary Sisco]

If the groundhog sees it shadow, it means six more weeks of basketball.

[Pete C]

Actually, quite a lot of chin-stroking avant-gardist types have made the case for Groundhog Day - something about smuggling the formal device of extreme repetition into a Hollywood romantic comedy.

I'll wait for Hollywood to tackle a Gertrude Stein vehicle.

[me wag]

A film about the nightmare of getting an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania before the collapse of communism. A bleak, but intense experience. It's interesting not only from the one false move and your life is over intensity but also just to see a slice of communist life from that era.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I'll wait for Hollywood to tackle a Gertrude Stein vehicle.

So the tune which is there has a little piece to play. And the exercise is all there is of a fast. The tender and true that makes no width to hew is the time that there is question to adopt.

To begin the placing there is no wagon. There is no change lighter. It was done. And then the spreading, that was not accomplishing that needed standing and yet the time was not so difficult as they were not all in place. They had no change. They were not respected. They were that, they did it so much in the matter and this showed that that settlement was not condensed. It was spread there. Any change was in the ends of the centre. A heap was heavy. There was no change.

[Pete C]

So the tune which is there has a little piece to play. And the exercise is all there is of a fast. The tender and true that makes no width to hew is the time that there is question to adopt.

To begin the placing there is no wagon. There is no change lighter. It was done. And then the spreading, that was not accomplishing that needed standing and yet the time was not so difficult as they were not all in place. They had no change. They were not respected. They were that, they did it so much in the matter and this showed that that settlement was not condensed. It was spread there. Any change was in the ends of the centre. A heap was heavy. There was no change.

How about Cate Blanchett?

[Root Doctor]

I'll wait for Hollywood to tackle a Gertrude Stein vehicle.

Are you familiar with W.C. Fields' jab at Stein ("Gertude Smung") in "The Man on the Flying Trapeze"?

"And the most wonderful thing is there's no punctuation!"

"Oh, that's marvellous!"

[patricia]

Eastern Promises. See it, if you are into gritty crime/character-driven drama.
This, IMO, is the role that Viggo Mortenson was born to play.
He is very easy on the eyes and if you want to know how a man should wear a suit..................
I'm always a little wary of David Cronenburg's work, but this was excellent.
Perfect supporting cast.
Don't be afraid of the blood. None of it is gratuitous.
Russian mob story, taking place in London with a very interesting plot.
Recommended.

[Rob C]

Eastern Promises. See it, if you are into gritty crime/character-driven drama.
This, IMO, is the role that Viggo Mortenson was born to play.
He is very easy on the eyes and if you want to know how a man should wear a suit..................

A birthday suit?

[patricia]

A birthday suit?

Now that you mention it, there is a scene...

[groover]

The Bicycle Thief (1949)

Starring: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola Director: Vittorio De Sica Rating

Nice to see a film set in Europe that doesn't feature Matt Damon, or any other over-exposed Hollywood actor, for a change.

[patricia]

Have been eyeing that one in the store since forever. Glad to hear you recommend it. (In agmt re Viggo - rowrr)

One provisio, Tippy. Rob joked earlier, when I mentioned Mortenson's near perfect tailor's model body. But, there is one scene in which he is totally naked while engaged in a knock-down, drag-out fight with two totally clothed badguys. The nudity is the least gratuitous that I ever remember seeing.
The violence in that scene, along with Mortenson's character's vulnerability is quite intense, with a fair amount of blood everywhere.

But, as for Viggo Mortenson, I would see a film in which he just stood there. As you say,....rowrr!!

[patricia]

oh no - he's NAKED.

Thanks for the warning, Patricia.




p.s. I hope "nothing got messed up" in the fight.

I felt I should mention it, though if anyone was going to be naked, I was relieved that it was Viggo. Not erotic at all. Russian mob tattoos and a lot of naked. Just the most jolting depiction of total vulnerability in the face of impending death. Very effective.

And no, apart from some cuts and bruises, our guy came out OK in the end.

[Rob C]

It's a great, visceral scene. I certainly cringed when Viggo was getting a knife swung near his junk.

[patricia]

It's a great, visceral scene. I certainly cringed when Viggo was getting a knife swung near his junk.

Absolutely. I don't think I've seen a scene in which of a character's vulnerability was so effectively conveyed. He had to win that fight and you in the audience actually felt that I think.

[Surfer]

A film about the nightmare of getting an illegal abortion in 1987 Romania before the collapse of communism. A bleak, but intense experience. It's interesting not only from the one false move and your life is over intensity but also just to see a slice of communist life from that era.

Man, people wont shut up about this movie, I really want to see it.