I think a good movie can stimulate thought, but I don't know if there's any movie that I'd call profound in itself. I like Kubrick because I find it entertaining to watch his movies, think about them afterwards, and then watch them again; it's not that complicated. I like their humor, I like the topics he explores, I like his anthropological remove, and I like the pretty, pretty pictures. I do understand why a lot of people find his movies boring or sterile -- or nihilistic. I just don't. I think the Coens have a similar sensibility, although they're more visceral.
But I like Tarantino as well (speaking of viscera). I think the fact that he keeps making movies about movies is a bit limiting. I do enjoy that kind of thing immensely, but I still think it's time for him to do another Jackie Brown.
I so don't get Tarantino. I do love
Reservoir Dogs
to pieces and quite enjoy
Jackie Brown
but I feel that if I don't get
Pulp Fiction
I don't get the guy. And I
hate
Pulp Fiction.
I found it so deliberately hip and snappy. Just irritating.
::stands happily next to Tom::
but I feel that if I don't get Pulp Fiction I don't get the guy... I found it so deliberately hip and snappy. Just irritating.
On the contrary, ita, I think you get him just fine.
I liked Pulp Fiction, but I didn't love it. Much of the time, I love the concept of non-linear narratives, so that aspect was going to pre-dispose me to enjoying the film.
Otherwise, I didn't see what the big deal with the film was. I did want to know if Harvey Keitel went through a "cleaner" period in his acting career because he sure knows how to play that role.
I adore Pulp Fiction. It managed to wrap a pretty fierce morality tale in a flashy cinematic playground--and both worked.
wrod.
Jackie Brown was good too, but since then? we've grown estranged.
I really hate the facile nihilism of Trainspotting or, for that matter, Fight Club, especially when that sort of adolescent anti-philosophy is glorified as if it were actually about something.
That is the complete opposite of how I see those movies. For me, they expose the non-utility of nihilism while accepting that the superficial appeal is actually appealing.
That is the complete opposite of how I see those movies. For me, they expose the non-utility of nihilism while accepting that the superficial appeal is actually appealing.
Very well put. That's exactly how I feel about those two movies. I think that can come across to people as trying to have it both ways, but I didn't ultimately feel that way in either of those cases.
