Last Movie You Watched? 6.0

Seven

The three male leads are pretty mediocre, Spacey even being less than that. Apart from some bits in the back of the car, he's playing a cartoon character (and even those bits I have in mind aren't strictly convincing). Another thing I don't like is the shock moments that give the strong impression they were conceived to cater to the audience' lust for sick violence. They are a bit exaggerated for my liking, to say the least.
These issues aside, I quite enjoyed it. It must have been around ten years since I watched it the last time . I already don't remember what I intended to write about it, so I'll say that I like the idea of having the film/Doe show how deeply entrenched amoral behaviour is in modern society. It's well-handled, not too obvious or primitive the way it is presented. Also, the way in which Doe sets up and executes his plan that involves punishing Mills and even himself for their respective "sins" is very well conceived. I am glad Fincher did not opt for a tacky happy end (as other "great" directors certainly would have done ;) ). It is pretty tense in many parts, has a dense atmosphere and some good and original dialogue. I wouldn't call it one of the ten best films of the 90s, though. Just a mostly well-made thriller that could have been (even) better. It (sadly) inspired many other films/TV show episodes.


Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant

Excellent film. I loved the characters, the acting, and the dialogue. It is hilarious in places. My second Fassbinder (the first cinema film of his I've seen). I'm looking forward to more.


The Ninth Gate

This time, the last third did not annoy me anywhere near as much as the first time I watched it. It's the old problem of having to decide whether to make a serious horror thriller in the vein of the utterly brilliant ROSEMARY'S BABY, or to go for a comedy á la THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS. Gate is neither here nor there.It is perfectly possible to have some humorous scenes in a serious film, like the one with the two twin antiquarian book traders, but somehow I do not like the revelation of the girl's "super powers". But, truth be told, most of the mocking undercurrent worked fairly well this time- take Balkan ridiculing the pathetic satanic convention, before he himself is cheated on by a mysterious power, and Corso is being lured to find out the secret of the ninth gate. It is a pretty well thought-out film. I did enjoy the scenes which focus on the girl's eyes. The sex scene in the end should have been expanded, though.
All in all, not a great, but a very enjoyable film.

Did you like Kilar's score?

I watched the first hour of PEYTON PLACE. I'll try to get back to it at some point, but Jesus that was Dullsville.

The Lineup (1958)

I found it pretty dry, but Siegel is an excellent technician, Wallach gives it some spark, and it's a good time capsule of late 50's San Francisco. Plus, it has one truly great moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgjSwBspX1Y#t=56s

Now I'm gonna watch it again with what is sure to be a lively commentary by noir historian Eddie Muller and crazed genius James Ellroy.

Largo's Shark wrote:

j7wild wrote:

Largo's Shark wrote:

Neveldine/Taylor are brilliant avant-garde filmmakers.

Avant-Garde or Avant-Trash?

Like you'd know.

Arabesque (1966)

As with CHARADE, a disappointment. I liked some of it early on, but I eventually lost most of my interest. Donen is no Hitchcock. He's got lots of fancy shots, and they largely don't mean anything.

Fab score, though. This video is more enjoyable than the film itself.

One of my favourite wannabe-Hitchcock thrillers is 1965's MIRAGE with Gregory Peck. Same screenwriter as CHARADE. I love how utterly bizarre the events are and seem, like some early 60s version of The Matrix. Ultimately it all turns out to be a hoaky twist, but for a while it explores some ideas that have really stuck with me -- like the idea that Peck's character has been working the same job, same routine, day in day out for so long that he can't really remember any specific details about his life since he started that job.

Hey!

I'd rather did enjoy Charade.

:cheers:

Largo's Shark wrote:

j7wild wrote:

Largo's Shark wrote:

Neveldine/Taylor are brilliant avant-garde filmmakers.

Avant-Garde or Avant-Trash?

Like you'd know.

This is Avant-Garde:




This is Avant-Trash:



(including any entry in the following 2 film franchise):



Any more questions?

Hey!

j7, you should just stick to titty pictures, while you still can.

AVATAR is Avant-Garde? Other than the tech, it's kinda the most standard sci-fi story ever, pretty much identical to a book written like a hundred years ago.

I hear they have a great selection of Avant-Garde films at the FEMA camps.

CJB wrote:

I hear they have a great selection of Avant-Garde films at the FEMA camps.

Makeshift Python wrote:

Hey!

j7, you should just stick to titty pictures, while you still can.

Avant-Garde: work that is innovative and experimental, pushing the status quo, advancing the field of art, culture and movies.

These 5 films changed the adult film industry and brought it out of the dark "trench-coat theaters" into the acceptable mainstream and turning it into a $14 Billion a year business.

j7wild wrote:

Makeshift Python wrote:

Hey!

j7, you should just stick to titty pictures, while you still can.

Avant-Garde: work that is innovative and experimental, pushing the status quo, advancing the field of art, culture and movies.

These 5 films changed the adult film industry and brought it out of the dark "trench-coat theaters" into the acceptable mainstream and turning it into a $14 Billion a year business.

Bless your heart, j7.

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

One of my favourite wannabe-Hitchcock thrillers is 1965's MIRAGE with Gregory Peck. Same screenwriter as CHARADE. I love how utterly bizarre the events are and seem, like some early 60s version of The Matrix. Ultimately it all turns out to be a hoaky twist, but for a while it explores some ideas that have really stuck with me -- like the idea that Peck's character has been working the same job, same routine, day in day out for so long that he can't really remember any specific details about his life since he started that job.

I've heard of that one. I'll check it out.

I found it very dull. Not even Walter Matthau saves it.

Largo's Shark wrote:

Did you like Kilar's score?

Yes, the parts that caught my attention while watching I liked a lot.
I hope this does not put me on the death list. :cyclops:

Jaws (digitally remastered cinema re-release) - an opportunity to see Spielberg's suspense classic on the big screen? Oh, go on then :) .

And don't worry ... the remastering doesn't mean there's a CGI shark in it now.

Largo's Shark wrote:

I found it very dull. Not even Walter Matthau saves it.

I just liked the very unnerving sense of Kafkaesque paranoia it builds up in the second act or so.

Blunt Instrument wrote:

Jaws (digitally remastered cinema re-release) - an opportunity to see Spielberg's suspense classic on the big screen? Oh, go on then :) .

And don't worry ... the remastering doesn't mean there's a CGI shark in it now.

only saw it was out yesterday. I only got the DVD not long ago and not even watched the thing. Pay £9 for a cinema ticket or just try the DVD and have done with it...?

Fairbairn-Sykes wrote:

Largo's Shark wrote:

I found it very dull. Not even Walter Matthau saves it.

I just liked the very unnerving sense of Kafkaesque paranoia it builds up in the second act or so.

And it has a young Diane Baker.

Chronicle (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706593/

3 High School teenagers get superpowers and what they do with it?

Stupid things!

This movie could had been so much better with so much potential wasted!

1.5/5