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[Kadayi]

There are millions of films which make the bad guys lose or show moral condemnation of their actions. Personally, I do not need films to always assert what is morally right or wrong and find it refreshing when a film can show morally reprehensible characters without internal judgement from the narrative or filmmakers.

I'm not saying they do, but in particular with say Scorsese it a common omission, and there's this constant overboard glamorization of criminality that is almost Disney like in how OTT it is. Everything is turned up to 11 all the time. We're sold this idea that Leonardo DiCaprio character does more drugs than the Rolling stones on tour all the time, yet the guy is none the worst for wear for it. I'm not too sure how much exposure you've had to serious drug abusers, but they don't look good by any measure, and that abuse eats into their appearance permanently. Credit where credit is due at least Ray Liotta in Goodfellas looked like a guy on the edge when his world came crumbling down in that film, but with DiCaprio he looks as fresh faced at the end as he does at the beginning.

This is an interesting criticism and agree that it could have been more developed in this regards. But I enjoyed that Jonze took an entirely different direction

Spoiler

by making humans far intellectually inferior to the machines that a monogamous relationship to a human could never fully satisfy a OS, resulting in the machines deciding to abandon the human race and be together.

It was always going to be the case of the latter as a turning point (no limits after all), but it would of made more sense to accentuate the distinctness by highlighting the alien-ness and it just wasn't realized or brought home as fully as it could be. Sound and vision are just two of our senses. Perhaps maybe it's a bi-product of him being a film director, but it felt like a grave omission to forget about the others.

 

[Divius]

Putting together a satisfactory top 10 list of 2013 is turning out to be quite difficult, and it doesn't help there's still potential top 10 material I have yet to see.

---

Also besides TheKaeptain's insightful comment there hasn't been any discussion of this year's Golden Globes, what do you guys think of the winners?

Best Motion Picture, Drama
12 Years a Slave

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Matthew McConaughey

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
American Hustle

Best Actress In A Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Amy Adams

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Animated Feature Film
Frozen

Best Foreign Language Film
The Great Beauty

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Jennifer Lawrence

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Jared Leto

Best Director - Motion Picture
Alfonso Cuaron

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Spike Jonze

 

[Window]

I'm not saying they do, but in particular with say Scorsese it a common omission, and there's this constant overboard glamorization of criminality that is almost Disney like in how OTT it is. Everything is turned up to 11 all the time. We're sold this idea that Leonardo DiCaprio character does more drugs than the Rolling stones on tour all the time, yet the guy is none the worst for wear for it. I'm not too sure how much exposure you've had to serious drug abusers, but they don't look good by any measure, and that abuse eats into their appearance permanently. Credit where credit is due at least Ray Liotta in Goodfellas looked like a guy on the edge when his world came crumbling down in that film, but with DiCaprio he looks as fresh faced at the end as he does at the beginning.

You know I just don't understand this stance towards the film or the controversy surrounding it. I remember reading somewhere that this is Scorsese's funniest film but maybe also the most cynical. These people are awful, ugly (except DiCaprio), juvenile in their behaviour, pathetic addicts (of not just drugs) who often lose sense of their mental faculties. We're (at least I was) laughing at them, not with them. The Mcconaughey scene, the sales speeches by DiCaprio, even all of the narration where Jordan boasts about fucking people over. Not to mention the last 20 minutes. This is all obvious commentary about Wall Street however that's not all what it was about I think. The last shot is key here and which is why the claims of this being a cynical film are true. Scorsese's saying like the audience at Jordan's seminar we the viewing audience (and our society) are too in pursuit of the greatest drug of them all, money despite all the things we've witnessed (and the seminar audience maybe aware of). Which is where I think the film doesn't quite work for me (though I really enjoyed it on the whole) unless I've read it wrong. The pursuit of wealth may not be necessarily noble but it doesn't have to be necessarily ignoble either. I can see where the film was going as there are elements in Jordan's life which are no doubt appealing but I felt the he was presented (a lot of this for me was the narration) in such a way that I was never seduced by this lifestyle like in Goodfellas where I can in the end sit back and question my guilty pleasures. Obviously though this has not been the experience of the many people who think the film glorifies Jordan.

 

[Expendable.]

how're Cary Fukunaga's movies? Thought the first ep of True Detective tonight had a good look to it and I feel like someone in here might've been a big fan of his Jane Eyre but I can't recall who

I love both of his films a great deal. Sin Nombre takes the edge, but each are wonderfully realized and acted.

 

[Kadayi]

You know I just don't understand this stance towards the film or the controversy surrounding it. I remember reading somewhere that this is Scorsese's funniest film but maybe also the most cynical. These people are awful, ugly (except DiCaprio), juvenile in their behaviour, pathetic addicts (of not just drugs) who often lose sense of their mental faculties. We're (at least I was) laughing at them, not with them. The Mcconaughey scene, the sales speeches by DiCaprio, even all of the narration where Jordan boasts about fucking people over. Not to mention the last 20 minutes. This is all obvious commentary about Wall Street however that's not all what it was about I think. The last shot is key here and which is why the claims of this being a cynical film are true. Scorsese's saying like the audience at Jordan's seminar we the viewing audience (and our society) are too in pursuit of the greatest drug of them all, money despite all the things we've witnessed (and the seminar audience maybe aware of). Which is where I think the film doesn't quite work for me (though I really enjoyed it on the whole) unless I've read it wrong. The pursuit of wealth may not be necessarily noble but it doesn't have to be necessarily ignoble either. I can see where the film was going as there are elements in Jordan's life which are no doubt appealing but I felt the he was presented (a lot of this for me was the narration) in such a way that I was never seduced by this lifestyle like in Goodfellas where I can in the end sit back and question my guilty pleasures. Obviously though this has not been the experience of the many people who think the film glorifies Jordan.

I suspect it's likely a cultural thing. I'm not American, so 'the dream' isn't something I'm motivated/inspired by versus being comfortable. Beyond a certain threshold personal wealth becomes kind of pointless, and just tends to result in vulgarity of expenditure for the sake of it. Roof over head, food on the table, someone to share your life and interests with. Everything after that is a bonus.

 

[Emarv]

Putting together a satisfactory top 10 list of 2013 is turning out to be quite difficult, and it doesn't help there's still potential top 10 material I have yet to see.

---

Also besides TheKaeptain's insightful comment there hasn't been any discussion of this year's Golden Globes, what do you guys think of the winners?

Pretty standard stuff, imo. Dug some of their choices, for sure. I was surprised to see Dallas Buyers take the two big acting awards. Interested in in the rest of awards season is handled.

 

[Inferno313]

Inside Llewyn Davis is one of those films that probably won't stick around in your thoughts for very long, but that's oddly fitting, given the subject matter. The Coens did a rather great job of capturing the looping listlessness of Llewyn's existence, who has his "live in the now" philosophy blow up in face at nearly every corner. The joke has been that you can tell that it's a Coen Brothers film because everyone hates the main character, but it's easy to believe that no one hates him more than himself, and Oscar Issac does a great job in selling the prideful, deeply damaged, and self-defeating nature of Llewyn without going too overboard with the self-loathing or anything remarkably cringe-worthy. The rest of the cast is a bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately: for every victory there is, such as someone finally realizing that Justin Timberlake's acting talent is put to better use by having him just sing earnestly, and the always dependable F. Murray Abraham showing up to dole up some much needed reality checking for our hero, there's Carey Mulligan around to offer little beyond shouting obscenities and John Goodman almost quite literally sleepwalking in his role.

The Coens do capture the era beautifully, with an aesthetic that renders just about every frame of the film as a possible album cover from an actual artist from the folk music scene from that era, and with the help of T-Bone Burnett, they do a great job of replicating the music of that time, in all its banal but well-meaning glory without making the mistake of presenting the entire genre as such.

That being said, the meandering nature of the flow of the story, which I fully recognize as essential to what the Coens were going for, make it really difficult for me to want to revisit it any time soon, if ever. It very much makes it clear what it's going for and executes it just as it should, and doesn't shoot for much more than that. If it is a "one-and-done" kind of film, though, it's hard to imagine a more appropriate subject for it, and that's gotta count for something.

Ending spoiler talk:

Spoiler

Did anyone else groan a bit when they reveal the act that played after Llewyn at the end? Having "Young Bob" show up felt way too on the nose for an otherwise spectacular ending to the film.

Interesting, because Llewyn has lingered in my thoughts more than just about any other film this year. There's just so much going on under the surface, I've never really seen a film tackle ideas of artistic failure and giving up as well as this film does.

It's also interesting that this film came from The Coens, who appear to be two artists that have never really have had to compromise or give up on their artistic endeavors.

The driving theme of the loss of a creative partner really hit home for me. It almost seems like it could be about the partnership between the Coens. In hindsight, it seems to me that the real story in Inside Llewyn Davis is Llewyn trying to cope with the loss of his partner. Personally I can't wait to revisit the film.

Hopefully this doesn't sound all that rambly, typing on a phone.

 

[madkiller]

Branded to Kill (1967) by Seijun Suzuki

Yakuza ganster flick mixed with film noir and french new wave aesthetics. Jump cuts, femme fatales, dazzling black and white photography and a jazzy score. Recommended for cinephiles who like their films highly stylized.


4/5

 

[T Dollarz]

Inside Llewyn Davis is easily the best film of 2013 I have seen so far. First movie I have seen for the year to really touch me emotionally and make a connection with me. It has me feeling some kind of way. Definitely downloading the soundtrack which was beautiful. Exceptional movie.

 

[Ridley327]

Interesting, because Llewyn has lingered in my thoughts more than just about any other film this year. There's just so much going on under the surface, I've never really seen a film tackle ideas of artistic failure and giving up as well as this film does.

It's also interesting that this film came from The Coens, who appear to be two artists that have never really have had to compromise or give up on their artistic endeavors.

The driving theme of the loss of a creative partner really hit home for me. It almost seems like it could be about the partnership between the Coens. In hindsight, it seems to me that the real story in Inside Llewyn Davis is Llewyn trying to cope with the loss of his partner. Personally I can't wait to revisit the film.

Hopefully this doesn't sound all that rambly, typing on a phone.

Oh, you're making perfect sense. I just personally felt that it really did lay everything on the table, as it were, and I didn't feel that there was much else to chew on.

I will say that reflecting on it, Oscar Issac really does put everything he has into Llewyn, which really helps sell the pain he's feeling in scenes like

Spoiler

singing at the Gorfein apartment and when he's driving back from Chicago and he notices the Akron exit.

 

[bidguy]

watched grave of the fireflies yesterday

saddest movie ive watched in years. never thought animated movies could achieve that. need to watch more of studio ghibli

 

[Linius]

watched grave of the fireflies yesterday

saddest movie ive watched in years. never thought animated movies could achieve that. need to watch more of studio ghibli

Grave of the Fireflies is definetly the most 'heavy' film of the Ghibli bunch. So emotional.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

I watched that as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro.

That was a bad decision.

 

[Linius]

I watched that as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro.

That was a bad decision.

Grave of the Fireflies was my first Ghibli and I watched it at the end of a film marathon at like 3am with some friends. It's never been so quiet during these marathons as that time.

 

[Ridley327]

I watched that as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro.

That was a bad decision.

I'm guessing Totoro was first.

 

[jakncoke]

Yeah its a real downer.

Havent really watched anything in interesting in awhile, just got done marathoning Dexter.

The Last Stand - boring
Three Men and a baby - im not even sure why (i do actually it has more than 1k ICM views and Im trying to cut the amount I havent seen)

A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt: Actually this one was interesting. Documentary on this chef who was London raised, came to NYC. Got bounced around and screwed over. Finally got offered a deal to start up his own.

Eat this New York: Also interesting, documentary on a group that struggles to open up a cafe/bar in nyc

 

[Blader]

I didn't really find Grave of the Fireflies too depressing. It's a sad story, sure, but the

Spoiler

almost immediate appearances of the ghosts kinda take the sting out of it. Had the story just progressed in chronological order without the ghost framing device, it would have been a hell of a lot sadder.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

I'm guessing Totoro was first.

indeed it was.

from some of the most sincerely rich and utterly joyful animated family entertainment around...to that

 

[Linius]

Waltz With Bashir is another animated feature that's quite rough by the way.

 

[Ridley327]

indeed it was.

from some of the most sincerely rich and utterly joyful animated family entertainment around...to that

It's been ages since I've seen it, but I'd have to think you'd want to take the day off of work before trying to watch that film.

 

[Net_Wrecker]

The Thief Criterion Blu is like experiencing the movie with a new set of eyes and ears. It's taken well over a decade since the 98 DVD to have a definitive version of this movie, and this does not disappoint. The color timing, on the whole, is cooler with a teal push to many scenes that used to be look much warmer (especially the TV version apparently), and all the neon reflections and lights pop like crazy. The big heist, in particular, is so clear now that it feels as if the shower of sparks is coming right out of the screen. Really great transfer. The audio has received a great upgrade and that Tangerine Dream score has never sounded so good. The first 10 minutes just drowns you in the music.

The magic of remastering is still not lost on me after all these years.

 

[b&jy77VjiKn$#F]

Was Dawn of the Dead 2004 the first movie to have running zombie? I think it was but I'm not sure.

 

[Count Dookkake]

Was Dawn of the Dead 2004 the first movie to have running zombie? I think it was but I'm not sure.

lol, no.

There are running zombies at least as far back as RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD from 1985.

 

[Ridley327]

Was Dawn of the Dead 2004 the first movie to have running zombie? I think it was but I'm not sure.

The very first zombie in the original NotLD ran after Barbara.

 

[Count Dookkake]

The very first zombie in the original NotLD ran after Barbara.

This is true.

 

[demon]

Was Dawn of the Dead 2004 the first movie to have running zombie? I think it was but I'm not sure.

Just go back a couple years and look at 28 Days Later, zombies runnin all over the place.

 

[b&jy77VjiKn$#F]

lol, no.

There are running zombies at least as far back as RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD from 1985.

The very first zombie in the original NotLD ran after Barbara.

Just go back a couple years and look at 28 Days Later, zombies runnin all over the place.

Thanks, guys.

 

[MidnightCowboy]

Inside LLewyn Davis was extremely depressing for me, but in a good way. As a creative type, it just hit home with me on so many levels. It was a realistic conceit that not everybody makes it no matter how much they want to. Oscar Isaac is brilliant in it, as is the whole cast all around. I love Carey Mulligan in everything she does. Some great instances of classic Coen humor to break up the dour tone. Thoroughly recommended.

 

[abolisher6812]

Oblivion - I thought the movie was ok, but some of the visuals were stunning. I was mesmerized by how gorgeous Andrea Riseborough looked.

 

[UrbanRats]

The Thief Criterion Blu is like experiencing the movie with a new set of eyes and ears. It's taken well over a decade since the 98 DVD to have a definitive version of this movie, and this does not disappoint. The color timing, on the whole, is cooler with a teal push to many scenes that used to be look much warmer (especially the TV version apparently), and all the neon reflections and lights pop like crazy. The big heist, in particular, is so clear now that it feels as if the shower of sparks is coming right out of the screen. Really great transfer. The audio has received a great upgrade and that Tangerine Dream score has never sounded so good. The first 10 minutes just drowns you in the music.

The magic of remastering is still not lost on me after all these years.

What about the rest of the world? Anything planned for us? i still have to watch the VHS.

 

[kurisu_1974]

I stand by my previous statements.

;p

That's not part of the definition or is it? I read somewhere that for example Andrew Bujalski's movies have hardly any improvisation - and his Funny Ha Ha is somewhat the mother of all mumblecore (not counting the proto mumblecore movie Slacker).

 

[strafer]

Oscar Noms to be announced tomorrow, January 16 at 5:30 a.m.

Is it to early to start a thread about it?

 

[b&jy77VjiKn$#F]

Oscar Noms to be announced tomorrow, January 16 at 5:30 a.m.

Is it to early to start a thread about it?

We could always speculated stuffs a bit early

 

[striferser]

Police Story 2013
It was different from Jackie Chan usual film, but i enjoy it.

 

[UrbanRats]

Police Story 2013
It was different from Jackie Chan usual film, but i enjoy it.

How does it compare to New Police Story? Cause i hated that one with a passion.

 

[Linius]

Saving Mr. Banks

What a delightful sweet movie this is. The story about how Mary Poppins went from a book to the big screen and that wasn't an easy journey. Writer P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) got Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) so far that he kept contacting her for almost twenty years to make a movie about Mary Poppins without ever granting him the rights to do so. Now also pushed by her agent because the money stopped coming in Travers is finally so far that she agreed to travel to Los Angeles to work with Disney's team to make the movie. Of course we'll never know how close to the actual events this movie is but it's safe to assume Disney blew some things up to bigger proportions for the sake of the movie. P.L. Travers shooting down every and each idea and acting like she's a queen seems a bit far fetched but it enables Emma Thompson to really shine in this movie. She's just perfect in every scene and so is Hanks as the obsessed Walt Disney. With actors like Paul Giamatti and Jason Schwartzman in supporting roles you can say that the acting in this film is top.

The film is structured in a way that we really come to learn more about P.L. Travers, flashbacks are used to shine a light on her not so perfect youth. My main complaint there would be that there are just too many flashbacks, a lot of them don't really add to the story. If they narrowed it down to the key ones the film would have been shorter and more fluent. Colin Farrell did a great job at portraying Travers father however. In the end this is a great and at times even emotional film supported by a well constructed soundtrack. Sherman brothers classic "East Wind" is wort a mention. The original music for this film is coming from magical composer Thomas Newman.

8/10

This is by the way one of those films that will be absolutely horrible for people who hate manipulative movies, Disney totally goes for it, but it works well for me

 

[thenexus6]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Thought was decent enough, pretty standard. Enjoyed the food-animal designs

 

[Johnlenham]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Thought was decent enough, pretty standard. Enjoyed the food-animal designs

Aww man this film is great! Watched it last night and the foodanimals reveal was amazing haha. These films are SO well animated. Amazingly so.

1 and 2 have to be up there as two of my fav animated films. My gf damn near died laughing at the "surprise party" invention bit.

 

[Inferno313]

Just watched Short Term 12 and I'm kind of blown away. It's an absolutely incredible film that deserves a best picture nomination more than half the films in the conversation. It's the one film that's really made me tear up this year. It's incredibly heart-breaking and touching at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone to check out this film.

 

[mxgt]

Just watched Short Term 12 and I'm kind of blown away. It's an absolutely incredible film that deserves a best picture nomination more than half the films in the conversation. It's the one film that's really made me tear up this year. It's incredibly heart-breaking and touching at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone to check out this film.

Watched it yesterday and I loved it. Brie Larson is great.

 

[luso]

The Thief Criterion Blu is like experiencing the movie with a new set of eyes and ears. It's taken well over a decade since the 98 DVD to have a definitive version of this movie, and this does not disappoint. The color timing, on the whole, is cooler with a teal push to many scenes that used to be look much warmer (especially the TV version apparently), and all the neon reflections and lights pop like crazy. The big heist, in particular, is so clear now that it feels as if the shower of sparks is coming right out of the screen. Really great transfer. The audio has received a great upgrade and that Tangerine Dream score has never sounded so good. The first 10 minutes just drowns you in the music.

The magic of remastering is still not lost on me after all these years.

About this I was thinking that many of the prejudice of older movies could be related to the presentation they have. General people may be aware of them only from older TV airings with poor transfers, or even worst from bad VHS and not so good qualities DVDs..
Afterall, with recent remasterings in HD, older movies looks as crispy as new or better, since newer ones may overuse filtering and image processing.

 

[Card Boy]

Just saw the first Hunger Games movie. wow what a piece of shit in terms of story.

I know it has books and fans but the whole notion in the future that kids aged between 12-18 are offered up as tributes and have to kill each other in some national televised game for punished for some past war in North America is ridiculous.

Loved the production values but the farfetched story dragged the whole movie down and this is coming from a Doctor Who fan.

 

[megamerican]

Caught Lone Survivor last night. It's up there with Hurt Locker as one of the top contemporary war movies. Kitsch did a nice job up front and I bought into the camaraderie quite a bit. The action was very well shot and it was able to maintain intensity without getting grating. I really like whatever squibs they were using as they seemed very realistic. If they were digital, they should look to this as the standard bearer going forward.

 

[robotrock]

I ended up taking my 8 year old son to "The Wolf of Wall Street" after we both enjoyed Martin Scorsese's previous effort of "Hugo" so much. Needless to say, we both thought The Wolf was much better! The pacing moved so fast for a 3 hour movie, and my son giggled like MAD at the

Spoiler

lemons and popeye

scene! People have been suggesting that I check out Goodfellas and Taxi Driver for more father/son bonding time so I'll probably go get copies of those tonight!

 

[Emarv]

what?

 

[brianjones]

father of the year

 

[Count Dookkake]

Watched the director's cut of RIDDICK. Plays more or less the same as theatrical, but with a few more minutes of Necromonger stuff toward the beginning and at the end. Fun nonsense.

I ended up taking my 8 year old son to "The Wolf of Wall Street" after we both enjoyed Martin Scorsese's previous effort of "Hugo" so much. Needless to say, we both thought The Wolf was much better! The pacing moved so fast for a 3 hour movie, and my son giggled like MAD at the

Spoiler

lemons and popeye

scene! People have been suggesting that I check out Goodfellas and Taxi Driver for more father/son bonding time so I'll probably go get copies of those tonight!

What did he think of the tits?

 

[3N16MA]

Inside LLewyn Davis was extremely depressing for me, but in a good way. As a creative type, it just hit home with me on so many levels. It was a realistic conceit that not everybody makes it no matter how much they want to. Oscar Isaac is brilliant in it, as is the whole cast all around. I love Carey Mulligan in everything she does. Some great instances of classic Coen humor to break up the dour tone. Thoroughly recommended.

Might check this out next Tuesday. Have heard nothing but good things.

 

[Femmeworth]

I ended up taking my 8 year old son to "The Wolf of Wall Street" after we both enjoyed Martin Scorsese's previous effort of "Hugo" so much. Needless to say, we both thought The Wolf was much better! The pacing moved so fast for a 3 hour movie, and my son giggled like MAD at the

Spoiler

lemons and popeye

scene! People have been suggesting that I check out Goodfellas and Taxi Driver for more father/son bonding time so I'll probably go get copies of those tonight!

On one hand

on the other

 

[Net_Wrecker]

What about the rest of the world? Anything planned for us? i still have to watch the VHS.

Yikes. Sorry, bruh, I have no idea. Based Criterion ended my suffering, but I have no idea who holds the rights outside of Murrica.

About this I was thinking that many of the prejudice of older movies could be related to the presentation they have. General people may be aware of them only from older TV airings with poor transfers, or even worst from bad VHS and not so good qualities DVDs..
Afterall, with recent remasterings in HD, older movies looks as crispy as new or better, since newer ones may overuse filtering and image processing.

I'm not sure how much a remastered presentation would do for those people, honestly. Even if the picture and sound are as good as they can be, I'm sure they'll find something else to complain about like the dialogue, the acting, the camera work, etc. Some people just find any excuse to not enjoy movies after 2009 before a certain decade.