Last Seen Movie - The Latest Movie You Have Seen; ratings
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19339
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 3:22 pm
- Location: Jersey Shore
-
- Emeritus
- Posts: 4312
- Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 8:49 pm
7th Heaven (1927; Frank Borzage) 8/10
Young love blooms in the sewers of Paris, then World War I comes along. A bit silly and sentimental at times, but marvelously done.
Young love blooms in the sewers of Paris, then World War I comes along. A bit silly and sentimental at times, but marvelously done.
"...it is the weak who are cruel, and...gentleness is only to be expected from the strong." - Leo Reston
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
"I am such a clever movie. Don't you just love how clever I am? You can tell a lot of thought went into me and you should be grateful. So clever am I."
But a lot of thought did go into Memento. Memento is right to think that about itself. Memento makes a very good point about Memento.
Although I can never watch the movie again for the first time, I did not feel overwhelmed by its self-satisfaction. If anything, Irreversible announces itself as a clever film.
"How's the despair?"
- Eric
- Tenured
- Posts: 2749
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 11:18 pm
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Contact:
It says, if memory serves, "I am such a clever movie. Don't you just love how clever I am? You can tell a lot of thought went into me and you should be grateful. So clever am I."Sabin wrote:That within such an astonishing structural gimmick, Gasper Noe has nothing left to say is embarrassing. Recall what Memento ultimately says about Leonard and how he impacts his condition.
Irreversible, in contrast, is just strongly intuitive.
Irreversible (Noe) - 7/10
The operative thesis is "There are no bad deeds. Just deeds." Because we do not know the context, we can only judge what happens in Irreversible by its visual moment-to-moment experience. We do not know which man is Alex's husband even. I would posit that by ending in a state of idyllicism, Irreversible short-changes its own morality by placing a counter-ellipses of heterosexual eden on the other end. The true masterpiece moves further down the story to the ellipses past the exhaustion to when boyfriend and girlfriend pass out in each other's arms after exchanging niceties that evaporate upon declaration. As it is, Irreversible is a brazen gesture that falls short of great moviemaking.
How the fuck did I write this last night?
When I'm not drunk off my ass, I'd be more inclined to give it...I don't know actually. I love treatises on memory even if this isn't one. The problem with Irreversible is that it's gauche to "begin" a movie in a state of heterosexual hope and "end" in sexually confused death. I read a review that likens The Rectum to a place of confused sexuality rather than a gay club, and this a preferred interpretation. Certainty --> Confusion. But is life a straight line from certainty to confusion? I don't believe so. Only a dimestore provocateur like Noe would, even if he happens to be right. I wanted more from Noe and Irreversible, another fifteen minutes. There is a laziness to his work in the final half, but the first half while an endurance test is pretty interesting as the audience is forced to interpret the meaning of deeds beyond morality. Beyond liking Irreversible for fear of endorsing it, it has merit. A lot of merit. But it's makes a grossly negligent statement in its final moments. That within such an astonishing structural gimmick, Gasper Noe has nothing left to say is embarrassing. Recall what Memento ultimately says about Leonard and how he impacts his condition.
Edited By Sabin on 1243104285
"How's the despair?"
-
- Adjunct
- Posts: 1457
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:22 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
- Contact:
JCVD (Mabrouk El Mechri) 7/10
An unusual quasi-docu-drama wherein the real Jean-Claude Van Damme is caught in a robbery in Brussels, and his celebrity is exploited for leverage for the robbers. A great performance from Van Damme, definitely a worthwhile movie.
Star Trek (JJ Abrams) 8/10
I have never been into any of the Star Trek series/movies, so I suppose I am the major demographic for this movie - I have a negligible knowledge of Trek lore, but I had a blast, it was a good up-standing movie of its own, even though the time travel (which Abrams seems to be all over these days) can get you lost (bad pun).
Terminator Salvation (McG) 3/10
I suppose you can't expect greatness from a series written off after a campy third installment, which is directed by the man who brought us "Charlie's Angels" and "The O.C." Visually and technically it is fantastic, but the story is weak, the acting questionable, and it is as serious as a heart attack - any lighter moments seen in T2 or T3 are eradicated for a self-important tone epitomized by Bale's black hole of a performance. Not the movie to see with conjunctivitis, that's for sure.
An unusual quasi-docu-drama wherein the real Jean-Claude Van Damme is caught in a robbery in Brussels, and his celebrity is exploited for leverage for the robbers. A great performance from Van Damme, definitely a worthwhile movie.
Star Trek (JJ Abrams) 8/10
I have never been into any of the Star Trek series/movies, so I suppose I am the major demographic for this movie - I have a negligible knowledge of Trek lore, but I had a blast, it was a good up-standing movie of its own, even though the time travel (which Abrams seems to be all over these days) can get you lost (bad pun).
Terminator Salvation (McG) 3/10
I suppose you can't expect greatness from a series written off after a campy third installment, which is directed by the man who brought us "Charlie's Angels" and "The O.C." Visually and technically it is fantastic, but the story is weak, the acting questionable, and it is as serious as a heart attack - any lighter moments seen in T2 or T3 are eradicated for a self-important tone epitomized by Bale's black hole of a performance. Not the movie to see with conjunctivitis, that's for sure.
Irreversible (Noe) - 7/10
The operative thesis is "There are no bad deeds. Just deeds." Because we do not know the context, we can only judge what happens in Irreversible by its visual moment-to-moment experience. We do not know which man is Alex's husband even. I would posit that by ending in a state of idyllicism, Irreversible short-changes its own morality by placing a counter-ellipses of heterosexual eden on the other end. The true masterpiece moves further down the story to the ellipses past the exhaustion to when boyfriend and girlfriend pass out in each other's arms after exchanging niceties that evaporate upon declaration. As it is, Irreversible is a brazen gesture that falls short of great moviemaking.
The operative thesis is "There are no bad deeds. Just deeds." Because we do not know the context, we can only judge what happens in Irreversible by its visual moment-to-moment experience. We do not know which man is Alex's husband even. I would posit that by ending in a state of idyllicism, Irreversible short-changes its own morality by placing a counter-ellipses of heterosexual eden on the other end. The true masterpiece moves further down the story to the ellipses past the exhaustion to when boyfriend and girlfriend pass out in each other's arms after exchanging niceties that evaporate upon declaration. As it is, Irreversible is a brazen gesture that falls short of great moviemaking.
"How's the despair?"
I started with his most cerebral puzzle of a film, Virgin Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors, and it's still one of my favorites.
Woman On The Beach and Turning Gate are probably his most accomplished films so far.
I haven't seen his latest two though yet. I'm seeing Night And Day tonight though, as it screens at a local cinematheque.
Woman On The Beach and Turning Gate are probably his most accomplished films so far.
I haven't seen his latest two though yet. I'm seeing Night And Day tonight though, as it screens at a local cinematheque.
Woman is the Future of Man (Hong) - 5/10
This is my first excursion into the world of Hong Sang-soo. I adore this man's aesthetic and this has to be one of the best scores of 2006. However, this film is beyond innocuous. I was busying forgetting it while it was going on. Rhythmically, I'm down. It just sucks he was playing the xylophone the whole time.
(speaking of help...this girl needs a hug that doesn't end in a blow job.)
Where should I journey next?
This is my first excursion into the world of Hong Sang-soo. I adore this man's aesthetic and this has to be one of the best scores of 2006. However, this film is beyond innocuous. I was busying forgetting it while it was going on. Rhythmically, I'm down. It just sucks he was playing the xylophone the whole time.
(speaking of help...this girl needs a hug that doesn't end in a blow job.)
Where should I journey next?
"How's the despair?"
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19339
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 3:22 pm
- Location: Jersey Shore
Catching up on British films:
The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) Frank Launder 7/10
Side splitting comedy of boys school forced to share quarters with girls school during World War II and the two schools keeping each other hidden from tours of the boys' school by the board of directors and the girls' school by the girls' parents while the authorities sort it all out. Alastair Sim as the headmaster of the boys' school and Margaret Rutherford as the headmistress of the girls' are at their hilarious best.
Geordie (1955) Frank Launder 7/10
Released as Wee Geordie in the U.S., a big art house hit in the day. Puny Scottish lad takes a correspondence course in body building and grows into strapping Bill Travers who becomes an Olympic champion at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 (a year into the future at the time). Wonderfully done with charming supporting performances by the entire cast, especially Alastair Sim as the local laird, Molly Urquhart as Geordie's mum and Norah Gorsen as his girl.
Passport to Pimlico (1949) Henry Cornelius 5/10
Cleverly done but somewhat tedious account of a portion of London that secedes from Britain. Ensemble piece has no real star and therefore no one character to really identify with. They're all a bit odd. Stanley Holloway, Hermione Baddeley, Margaret Rutherford (in too small a part) and Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford as the inept British government representatives are the best known of the many faces.
The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940) George King 6/10
Old fashioned but well done mystery of murders at an isolated mansion. Lovely Penelope Dudley Moore who married Carol Reed and promptly retired from acting after making only a handful of films is the imperiled heroine, Helen Haye (not to be confused with Helen Hayes) is the redoubtable lady of the manor, Marius Goring her only son, Patrick Barr the architect who uncovers the secret of the house, Felix Aylmer the lady's doctor and George Merritt the intrepid inspector. Film has allegedly been out of circulation for nearly 70 years.
Edited By Big Magilla on 1242997185
The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) Frank Launder 7/10
Side splitting comedy of boys school forced to share quarters with girls school during World War II and the two schools keeping each other hidden from tours of the boys' school by the board of directors and the girls' school by the girls' parents while the authorities sort it all out. Alastair Sim as the headmaster of the boys' school and Margaret Rutherford as the headmistress of the girls' are at their hilarious best.
Geordie (1955) Frank Launder 7/10
Released as Wee Geordie in the U.S., a big art house hit in the day. Puny Scottish lad takes a correspondence course in body building and grows into strapping Bill Travers who becomes an Olympic champion at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 (a year into the future at the time). Wonderfully done with charming supporting performances by the entire cast, especially Alastair Sim as the local laird, Molly Urquhart as Geordie's mum and Norah Gorsen as his girl.
Passport to Pimlico (1949) Henry Cornelius 5/10
Cleverly done but somewhat tedious account of a portion of London that secedes from Britain. Ensemble piece has no real star and therefore no one character to really identify with. They're all a bit odd. Stanley Holloway, Hermione Baddeley, Margaret Rutherford (in too small a part) and Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford as the inept British government representatives are the best known of the many faces.
The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940) George King 6/10
Old fashioned but well done mystery of murders at an isolated mansion. Lovely Penelope Dudley Moore who married Carol Reed and promptly retired from acting after making only a handful of films is the imperiled heroine, Helen Haye (not to be confused with Helen Hayes) is the redoubtable lady of the manor, Marius Goring her only son, Patrick Barr the architect who uncovers the secret of the house, Felix Aylmer the lady's doctor and George Merritt the intrepid inspector. Film has allegedly been out of circulation for nearly 70 years.
Edited By Big Magilla on 1242997185
- Precious Doll
- Emeritus
- Posts: 4453
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2003 2:20 am
- Location: Sydney
- Contact:
Vigo - Passion of Life (1999) Julien Temple 4/10
A Tale of the Wind (1988) Joris Ivens 7/10
Angels and Demons (2009) Ron Howard 1/10
Cargo 2000 (2007) Aleksey Balabanov 7/10
What Just Happened (2008) Barry Levison 4/10
The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951) George Cukor 7/10
A Tale of the Wind (1988) Joris Ivens 7/10
Angels and Demons (2009) Ron Howard 1/10
Cargo 2000 (2007) Aleksey Balabanov 7/10
What Just Happened (2008) Barry Levison 4/10
The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951) George Cukor 7/10
"I want cement covering every blade of grass in this nation! Don't we taxpayers have a voice anymore?" Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole) in John Waters' Desperate Living (1977)