Act Passively, Pass Actively (http://h2so4.net/politics/magnolia.html) by Jill Stauffer [via GreenCine (http://daily.greencine.com/)].
Heavy, but worth the time it takes to get through it.
"it insists there are some mistakes we never should have made: we knew better, even at the time. Magnolia explores all this in the form of an implicit question: what does it take to do good?"
this sounds like a good'un.
Also,
http://www.ptanderson.com/featurefilms/magnolia/articlesandinterviews/thatscene.htm
THIS IS THAT SCENE.
Has anyone finished this monster yet. I started with the Punch Drunk Love review like she says and its one of the best I've read.
Quote from: The Silver BulletHeavy, but worth the time it takes to get through it.
Jeez...
I gotta go get a new dictionary.
What does "hubris" mean?
Anyway, this is the kind of stuff I love.
Thanks for the link.
I wanna read the whole essay, with all the theory and everything in tact... will Greg be posting that too, or just the "slimmed down" one?
Quote from: The Silver BulletAct Passively, Pass Actively (http://h2so4.net/politics/magnolia.html) by Jill Stauffer [via GreenCine (http://daily.greencine.com/)].
Heavy, but worth the time it takes to get through it.
Great essay. I would just like to point out one thing that's incorrect: when Donnie's in the bathroom, he's not reciting Exodus 8:2. The "sins of the father" line is from earlier on in Exodus (chapter 5, I believe... ). As we all know, the 8:2 bit is about the rain of frogs. Don't know why I felt the need to write this.
BTW, I own one of those prop frogs. A buddy got it for me off ebay for Christmas. Yay.
Quote from: fultyWhat does "hubris" mean?
It means "aspiring to something you aren't capable of," I believe.
EDIT: Just looked it up, and yeah, I was pretty much right: it's overbearing pride, presumptuousness, or arrogance.
Quote from: Onomatopoeia"aspiring to something you aren't capable of," .
Well, that would be me....... trying to read this article.
I've only gotten through 5 paragraphs,
and already spent more time looking up words than reading..!!
Ellipsis...I can use that.
So, maybe hubris is TJ Mackey at his seminar.?
Hope to be smarter in a few days.
Thanks :)
Well, it's more like thinking you can do something that you really can't. So yeah, well, Frank T.J. Mackey may be an example. But we've never seen him in "action" -- that is, trying to get the ladies.
QuoteI wanna read the whole essay, with all the theory and everything in tact...
Me too, the auteur theory is one of my favourite topics, and I was really disheartened when I realised the 74 page thesis was, well, long but nevertheless incomplete [not that I didn't download it anyway...going to read it when I get home from where I am currently at]. Maybe we should shout out to Greg about it...?
Quote from: The Silver BulletAct Passively, Pass Actively (http://h2so4.net/politics/magnolia.html) by Jill Stauffer
I thought this was a nice observation:
Quote from: Jill StaufferDavid Strauss pointed out to me that Stanley pees his pants at the 2 hour mark, which is precisely when everyone else in the theater really needs a bathroom break.
:lol:
And yes, I'm about 28 pages into her 72-page ordeal, and I'd love to read the full work.
my fucking mac wont let me download it...........someone wanna post it here......it would be long but greatly appreciate.........nah u dont havta
Just finished reading This Is That Scene, the thesis, and I loved it. It really isn't as long as you'd think [it's double-spaced, and on size twelve], but still, some of it is quite analytically heavy, but if you're a real fan of Magnolia [although I think she really nails her section of Boogie Nights more than any other], you should be able to get through it quite easily. Definitely worth the effort.
Just quickly, two points: one where I agree with what she's said, the other with which I don't.
Firstly, I think she's completely right about Punch-Drunk Love feeling, more than the other films I think, like it's completely Paul Thomas Anderson, no frills. Secondly, I disagree with her when she says that "Jim and Donnie are friends." Now, I'm assuming that she means they were friends previously, before the rain of frogs, which I don't think they were. Maybe, slightly, afterwards, but definitely not before.
Meanwhile, more summer reading, this time from myself [shameless plug]. I wrote a short piece (http://esotericrabbit.blogspot.com/2003_08_01_esotericrabbit_archive.html#105971768340977883) about the current irrelevance of the Sight & Sound poll, and why and how the S&S system needs to change. Check it out [you know, if you want, I mean...]
EDIT: Just fixing a broken link.
I'd love to read it, but I load up the page and can't see a thing. It's just blank, with the banner at the top. My guess is you have some funky HTML in there somewhere preventing the tables from showing; that, or the page isn't loading all the way. I view the source, and see a portion of it.
EDIT: Okay, it's finally come up in full. Never mind.
Also, this (http://esotericrabbit.blogspot.com/2003_08_01_esotericrabbit_archive.html) is the proper link. It's August now. ;)
Alright, I read it. Really good stuff. :) I agree with you about Memento, disagree about Fight Club and Fargo. But our tastes are rather similar, too.
Quote from: The Silver BulletMeanwhile, more summer reading, this time from myself [shameless plug]. I wrote a short piece (http://esotericrabbit.blogspot.com/2003_07_01_esotericrabbit_archive.html#105971768340977883) about the current irrelevance of the Sight & Sound poll, and why and how the S&S system needs to change. Check it out [you know, if you want, I mean...]
I liked it. Nice little essay. Though I did find it kind of odd that no Fellini or Godard were on either of your lists. Oh well.
But we definitely need to represent more contemporary films on the "best of" lists.
There is a perfectly logical [but by no means acceptable] reason behind the lack of Godard and Fellini on my lists. I haven't seen any Godard or Fellini.
My lists however are ever evolving, and I'm constantly consuming the material, so expect to see some there in the near future.
Quote from: The Silver BulletI wrote a short piece about the current irrelevance of the Sight & Sound poll, and why and how the S&S system needs to change. Check it out.
the sight and sound poll is broken up into two polls. one for critics and one for directors. on the directors poll....
1. Citizen Kane
2. The Godfather Part One and Two
3. 8 ½
4. Lawrence of Arabia
5. Dr. Strangelove
6. The Bicycle Theif
6. Raging Bull
6. Vertigo
9. Rashomon
9. La Regle Du Jeu
9. Seven Samurai
so, actually Raging Bull (1980) did make the cut. but its really up to the directors and critics to be more daring with their choices. if you look over who voted for what there are unique choices on there. however, they dont receive the unanimous acclaim as citizen kane, godfather, etc. so while 7 of the 10 pics on ones list may be quirky oddities, if those other 3 votes are for the popular films, they end up being the ones to make the cut.
Yeah. I was aware of the Director's Poll, but left it out of the entry. Not because is "disproved" my point so much, but because I didn't really have the time or desire to write about Raging Bull being an exception. Still, no masterpieces since 1981 onwards in that poll either. That's still twenty-two years. The point, I feel, still stands.
And yeah. I know that other films get "nominated" and so on and so forth, but, nyeh...what are you going to do?
The point of the matter is that the general consensus really needs to be less stringent...
I'm glad the list is for older films generally instead. The list is fact in nothing. It just is helpful in recommending movies for people trying to get into world cinema or older movies. For what it can do, it does its job fine. I'm just pissed L'Avventura is continuing to be a film that is absent from the list even if being on it 30 and 40 years ago or so. I'd have it in the top 5.
~rougerum
everytime you volunteer your opinion it reminds me (me) ... your current job making no cents doesnt pay...
classifieds : an opening that needs filling exists currently in the area between lowerback and upperthigh why oh mang...looking for head of deep part meant to increase volume and to maximize gayns...
sound lyke an interestng ca rear move for you...
happy hunting
QuoteIt just is helpful in recommending movies for people trying to get into world cinema or older movies.
Where does it say that anywhere, GT? Honestly?
"This poll was conducted so you know where to go in terms of older films. Enjoy!"
Anywhere? I'm not buying it. There has to be a place for newer films. To believe that the best is well behind us is pretty ridiculous. There has been fine work in each age of cinema, and this one is no exception.
You're right, Silver Bullet, good taste is in every age. The selection of the films on the list just mirror the average of people voting for it. It also doesn't endorse any Blockbuster deals, but what purpose can it serve besides getting people to see these films? Its just another list but at least has some older and more obscure films highlighted. Nothing wrong in that. Give the list another 40 years and finally movies of this generation will be showing up for the mere fact half of the voting team will likely be dead.
~rougerum
Did anyone ever get to read the full version of this essay? Does anyone know how I could get a copy of it?