Xander ,'Him'
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
So sad to see the Black Swan disappointment. I am dying to see it, but trying to lower my expectations.
It's very well done, but it's not exactly mindblowing. I liked it, though.
RIP Pete Postlethwaite.
He was one fine actor.
I remember being surprised and pleased to see him in Inception.
I just read this morning that he was in Inception. Always nice to see the old guard working. Apparently he has another film coming out Killing Bono.
Except for Strother Martin, I can't think of another actor who was so, incredibly evocative. He made my skin crawl in so many creepy roles. And warmed my heart in others.
Despite his small role in The Lost World, I felt he owned that movie.
Always nice to see the old guard working.
He wasn't old! Or maybe I am. He was only 64.
No, of course you are right.
I wasn't referring to his age...tragically young. But, rather, to that well seasoned cadre of English actors who can always be counted on to give a world class performance.
I remember a particular scene in one of the early Sharpe films where Postlewaite was uber-uber creepy. His enraged fit (with bits of boiled egg on his face) truly turned my stomach. I thought he must be an awful person until I saw an interview with him. He was, in fact, soft-spoken, kind-hearted and impressively well-read.
Bless him.
Good thing actors don't have to be like their characters. or we'd have too few villains. And probably too few heroes.
Timeline of Technical Filming Innovations please.
David, the newest edition of Monaco's "How to Read a Film" has a whole chapter on technology that could be pretty much what you're looking for. Also, Barry Salt's "Film Style & Technology: History & Analysis" goes in that direction, though the focus is more on style than technology. It's fascinating stuff, though:
If you find anything else please do let me know!
Thanks, Fiona!
Went to see Another Year. Loved it, but then I am a total sucker for Mike Leigh's deeply observed character studies. If you like a lot of plot, this will not be your cup of tea. I found it fascinating, entertaining, challenging, disturbing and profoundly moving.
In conclusion, may I say that Jim Broadbent is God.
As it happens, I just saw the original True Grit and I like the Coen Brothers version a lot more. It is funny, but the complaint I had about TG (2010) is the ending. It felt really abrupt. I still believe this to be true, but the ending for TG 1969 is worse. Too tidy.
The changes from one movie to the other are interesting. I think 1969 TG has a better plot. There were a couple of improbabilities in TG 10 that were resolved in the original movie.
Nevertheless, I thought Jeff Bridges out-acted John Wayne (pause), no lightning strike, so I guess I'm safe, and the young woman actress was fantastic in the new movie, not so much in the original. Hell, Damon was great too and better than the original.
TG 1969 is 2 hours, where Coen Brothers is 90 minutes. I think the shorter movie helps the plot along a whole lot better.
Hell, Damon was great too and better than the original.
Well, I'd hope Matt Damon could out-act Glen Campbell.
But can Matt sing "Wichita Lineman"?