I watched a lot of Kurosawa last year. The only one that didn't feel like homework was Rashomon.

Yeah, I remember liking that one well enough, since it was interesting to see the different perspectives. I think I fell asleep during Ran and/or Throne of Blood. Maybe I'm just not a Kurosawa person.

That's not how *I* remember it....

Snerk.

And yet, when Mifune walks down that street, hands on his hips, you can see him casting a shadow in the shape of Clint Eastwood. It's weird and amazing.

Heh. I also wanted to mention that in Seven Samurai, Toshiro Mifune's ass deserved its own credit.

So to finish off my Fourth of July Longass Movie Doubleheader, I watched Nashville. And I actually liked it quite a bit, even if it didn't hold my interest at every second. I loved how real it seemed, as if this Nashville were real and the people were real, and they were just doing real-people things. And even though I don't generally like plotless movies, I found that in a movie with 24 major characters, there's always something going on, plotwise, and even if you're not focusing on a movie-long trajectory, you're distracted enough by all the mini trajectories. I found it very interesting overall. Moreso because I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I was liking it.

Also, Opal is frickin' hilarious. The school bus monologue is priceless.

Okay, Roger Ebert basically says everything I'd want to say. (Although he refers to an "attempted" assassination. I thought it was successful. That was the impression I got, at least.)

Mmm, I just realized something. This is a movie where characters are defined by their actions, not their words.

Did I somehow miss the Woody Allen movies in the NY lists? I was sort of scanning, so it's possible. But talk about city-as-character...

Trailer for Jane Austen Book Club: [link]

Good cast, even though it looks kind of... well, fluffy. Also: Marc Blucas!

Someone mentioned Manhattan up there.

I would keep Dog Day Afternoon for the same reason Inside Man should be considered-- the city is not so much an antagonist as a third party creating a triangle among the police and the bank robbers.

I just watched Seven Samurai.

Just want to throw out that this is one of my favorites, if not my favorite. I've never been disappointed with Kurosawa and never found any of his movies slow. His movies are all about the particular experience of huge myths, and while I'm baffled by P-C's boredom at Seven Samurai and Laga's feeling that they were homework, I defy anyone to watch Ikiru and not be reduced to a puddle of tears by the end. I mean, DAMN, the man was the John Coltrane of moviemaking. Normal scale doesn't apply.

Massively great: Seven Samurai, Ikiru, High and Low, Yojimbo, Ran

Just regular great: Rashomon, Sanjuro, The Hidden Fortress, The Lower Depths, Throne of Blood, Red Beard, Stray Dog

Unseen: everything else he made, I think. I have The Bad Sleep Well at home, but haven't watched it yet.

I am Corwood with regard to Kurosawa.

The Hidden Fortress

Oh, I think this is elevated to the rank of greatness just for the fact that it stars Toshiro Mifune in short shorts and knee socks. That's what he wears, the whole movie through, and at no point does anybody at all say, "Dude, where's the flood? Dude, who are you, Daisy Duke?"

Also, there is an awesome duel with twelve-foot pikes.

High and Low is the kidnapping one, right? Interesting to see his take on a police thriller after seeing all his versions of westerns.

at no point does anybody at all say, "Dude, where's the flood? Dude, who are you, Daisy Duke?"

That's because it's fucking Toshiro Mifune!