No one seems to have metioned this movie: it's probably my favourite Soderbegh - really really fucking funny, and one of the strangest films I've seen Anyone like it...?
I'm sure I would love it if I could find it anywhere.
Really? It's readily available on video in the UK - released under the American Independants banner...
I'll admit I haven't been searching extensively for it, but I've never actually seen a physical copy of it in real life. I could probably get it online without too much trouble, though.
I started a thread on the DVD board concerning what the next seven titles from Criterion would be (as they near Spine # 200) and somebody mentioned that they'd aquired (sp?) a few Soderbergh titles. The only names mentioned were Gray's Anatomy and Schizopolis. Perhaps a Criterion release? I hope so, 'cause I sure as hell can't find this movie anywhere on DVD.
Long live Nameless Numberhead Man and mayonaise! Yes, I love humanity, but hate people! Generic greeting! And if you don't understand what I'm saying, this is your fault!
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I LOVE Schizopolis. Just LOVE it, without end. I put it second in his filmography, behind only The Limey. Just the scene of Soderbergh in front of the mirror alone makes it a classic.
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No it hasn't made it to R1 DVD yet (the Criterion treatment will be ideal), but the U.S. VHS is in fact letterboxed. However, now that I realize it's out on R2 DVD (and has been for a couple months!!! How did I miss THAT?!?), well, I'm ordering it right....NOW. Not gonna wait any longer. My VHS cassette is wearing thin. :-D
Bought it for relatively cheap at $15 (it was still priced to rental) off Ebay last year.
And yes, that scene where he is making faces in front of the mirror and his boss/coworker walks in and he just goes totally blank and rudely walks out is probably one of the better scenes in the movie...
aw
The DVD's still not up at the Criterion site... not even with "the secret code." This means it'll probably be beyond August when we finally see its release.
not sure if the specs have been posted yet for the Criterion DVD, but if not...
Last but not least is Steven Soderbergh's little-seen Schizopolis, which gets a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and English mono soundtrack. Supplements include two audio commentaries, one with Soderbergh interviewing himself, the other with producer John Hardy, actor and casting director David Jensen, production sound mixer Paul Ledford, and actor Michael Malone, deleted scenes, the original theatrical trailer and a new essay by Village Voice critic Dennis Lim. Schizopolis is set for release on October 11th. Retail is $39.95.
Criterion Schizopolis! Finally! I only wish they would have had a 2 disc set w/ Gray's Anatomy b/c Soderbergh made both films pretty much at the same time and were both instrumental in his rebirth-of-sorts.
Oh well, I can only imagine what oddities are in store on the actual disc. Here's hoping the design is as wonderful and crazy as the movie itself.
And if you love those two movies, read his interview book w/ Richard Lester, it features journal entries from the period. Funny stuff.
And yeah, Schizopolis is my fave in the filmography. It's certainly not the most technically proficient or perfect, but there's a punk-rock-don't-give-a-fuck-and-throw-in-every-damn-idea-I've-ever-had attitude that is refreshing. It's much more fun watching somebody strike out as they swing for the fences than play it safe-- though I don't think it was a strike out... oh nevermind. It rocks.
What I really love about the movie is the music. The muzak, the fast-motion music, the odd melodies-- as diverse and crazy as what we're watching.
"Your brother, fifteen thousand dollars, eight hours"
i dont like this movie
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SPINE # 199
sigh, i'll never afford all these criterion titles.
my best chance is if i "happen to come across" a whole lot of them "in a dark alley" like mac does.
One of my great dreams in life is to one day own a complete set of the Criterion Collection. That would be awesome.
Even this?
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Quote from: Onomatopoeia
Even this?
Hmmm. I guess. Trust me, I've got worse left over from when I still lived with my ex.
Finally saw this today, and I was laughing all the way through. I was very impressed with Soderbergh, the actor. Maybe his performance came natural because I felt I was watching his personal life played out on screen. Seems like all the crisises that were going on in his life at that time, this film was his way in dealing with them (a lot a metaphors), even having his real-life ex-wife play his movie wife as they portray a couple unable to communicate. So many great/funny lines, and, like Weak2ndAct, I too loved the music.
I haven't gone through all the extras yet, but I look forward to listening to the commentary, as he always has the best tracks.
MacG--
I'm waiting for this one to arrive. What's the dish on the extras? And does he start the commentary with "welcome to another episode of a couple of white guys..."?
Quote from: Weak2ndActMacG--
I'm waiting for this one to arrive. What's the dish on the extras? And does he start the commentary with "welcome to another episode of a couple of white guys..."?
Maximum Busy Muscle is basically a compliation of deleted scenes, nothing much, but there are more funny nuggets there. The scene of him trying to pick up on his ex-wife is the best of the bunch though.
I started his commentary track, and it was pretty funny so far. He doesn't answer the questions asked by himself straightforwardly (he says this was a proposed David Lean project...after his death). So in a way, it's keeping in the spirit of the film.
Finally! I saw Schizopolis about a year ago and loved it, but was unable to obtain a copy to own. Picked up the Criterion DVD and just saw it again: whoa-daddy! What a knockout film...so out there and original. Jolt of audacity. Every fan of original cinema should rent it (or buy it if you have the $) as soon as possible. This is before Soderbergh went mainstream.
i just watched this tonite. :shock: so weird. really funny, but i dont think i'm smart enough for a movie like this. it was just too much weird.
For anyone who hasn't seen the Criterion, his commentary is almost as brilliant as the movie.
Quote from: Shaun DigiThis is before Soderbergh went mainstream.
oh yeah, he had dollar signs in his eyes when he made full frontal and solaris......
:wink:
Betrayed by my own words. Touche, eward.
By Solaris' box-office income, I bet Soderbergh wished he had had dollar signs in his eyes before making it. Then again, I'm glad he didn't. He probably is too. sigh. I need drugs. now.
If you picked up the dvd, take out the front cover and read the reverse side. Disclaimers and other nonsense keeping in the spirit of the movie.
And Soderbergh in an afro wig is the funniest thing I've seen in ages.
"Shut the fuck up, clown."
Quote from: Weak2ndActAnd Soderbergh in an afro wig is the funniest thing I've seen in ages.
Yes, that was great. Because his hair would never do that.
Quote from: Jeremy BlackmanFor anyone who hasn't seen the Criterion, his commentary is almost as brilliant as the movie.
I have this on my shelf, just waiting to be watched. It's at the end of a long line, but I can't wait. I bet it'll be even better than the commentary on
Blood Simple, which absolutely slays me.
Quote from: Shaun DigiBy Solaris' box-office income, I bet Soderbergh wished he had had dollar signs in his eyes before making it. Then again, I'm glad he didn't. He probably is too. sigh. I need drugs. now.
i'm glad he didn't either, it was a really terrific film...
I just watched this; it was pretty damn funny. Soderbergh should definitely make more silly comedies. The best parts of "Full Frontal" were the random weird scenes, like Catherine Keener tossing the globe to her employees and making them recite all the state capitals, or Nicky Katt as the guy rehearsing a play as Hitler. That's pretty much what "Schizopolis" is like, just an entire movie of non sequitir moments. I liked the "I very much enjoy your wife's big ass" conversation between Soderbergh and his neigbor, and the newscast about the US selling Rhode Island was the most LOL moment I've seen in a movie in a while. "The President responded, 'Well, at least we didn't sell it to the fucking Japanese."
I hope he does more movies like this and less like "Solaris" in the future.
:: Wondering what the fuck I'm doing in the Soderbergh thread... :shock: ::
Pretty funny and also "Poignant" in parts.
about 70% of it is good for watching but the other 30 is not so good
(sections I just didn't like and ideas being returned to too much)
but the idea of it is really inspiring. to just grab a camera and a couple of friends and just make a damn movie. take the most ridiculous ideas you have with a few personal feelings thrown in, write some scenes and shoot them. or even just make it up as you go along (you can always edit later)
the cast and crew commentary is about as good as the soderbergh commentary while were at it.
Just saw it, like everyone has said, it's such a funny movie. It flows so well, even though it's so nonsensical. And I LOVE how the dentist is so lame, he actually enjoys muzak.
the musak garbage can has been painfully overlooked. look for similar windows into your own schizophrenia everywhere in the continuing adventures of....your life
This is a very interesting movie to say the least. I got the Criterion DVD for Christmas. It doesn't make a bit of sense and it's very confusing. It's successfully weird, but I think it's weird just for the sake of being weird though. But it's still a good movie.
Nameless Numberhead Man is my favorite character name, ever.
Quote from: SoNowThenNameless Numberhead Man is my favorite character name, ever.
Though "T. Azimuth Schwitters" is no slouch either.
It's almost like a like a Monty Python movie, cracking jokes everywhere it can, no matter how irrelevant they are to the plot, and suddenly jumping to new characters and situations, that don't neccesarily have anything to do with the previous ones.
I just saw it for $32.00....worth it?
mod-age (and I) will probably tell you yes, and that if it's at Best Buy, the price may get reduced to $29.99 at the register, like it was for me. mod-age will also tell you that at dvdplanet.com it's $25.97. That is, unless I beat him to it.
Quote from: Onomatopaellamod-age (and I) everyone except cowboykurtis will probably tell you yes
Quote from: Onomatopitamod-age (and I) will probably tell you yes, and that if it's at Best Buy, the price may get reduced to $29.99 at the register, like it was for me. mod-age will also tell you that at dvdplanet.com it's $25.97. That is, unless I beat him to it.
I just bought it, but it rang up as $29.99.
Are all the Criterions at Best Buy marked this way, or just this one?
In Waking Life (I have a vague memory of his line) is he referring to Schizopolis. The "They gave me2 million dollars to make a film about a dream within a dream, and he told me: they just wasted 2 million dollars."
Something like that.
Or is that just some random line in the film?
Quote from: WIn Waking Life (I have a vague memory of his line) is he referring to Schizopolis. The "They gave me2 million dollars to make a film about a dream within a dream, and he told me: they just wasted 2 million dollars."
Something like that.
Or is that just some random line in the film?
Technically, the story goes like this. Billy Wilder runs into Louis Malle, this is in the late 50's, early 60's, and Louis Malle just made his most expensive film which has cost 2-1/2 million dollars, and Billy Wilder asks him what the film is about, and Louis Malle says well, it's sort of a dream within a dream, and Billy Wilder says you just lost 2-1/2 million dollars.
haha, and THAT is why Billy Wilder rules.
Thanks cron, I was a little fuzzy on the details.
I just got finished watching Schizopolis about an hour ago. Great, great flick. While it had immense comedic value, the film really came together dramatically for me at the end. Literally. First, I loved how the acts were bookended. Really thumbed its nose at any sort of convention while reminding of other films that used similar techniques. The most admirable thing about this film was how it all came together. The parallel(s) to Network are obvious. Most excellent was how Soderbergh played with language, revisiting scenes, revealing some bits of dialogue, while masking others through Spanish and Japanses (I think). Best line: the one about the gov't selling Rhode Island to pay off the debt, and turning the state into a mall. Can't wait to hear the commentary.
The commentary is the bomb...
uh.. alrite..
the best part about soderbergh's afro in schizopolis is that he actually had an afro at one point
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soderbergh and james spader on the set of sex, lies, and videotape
i scanned this myself out of a book i just found written by soderbergh containing his on set diary, the screenplay, and a lot of other things. my favourite quote of his so far:
"i heard it was bad luck to start a shoot on a monday. fug dat shit."
That's the best book ever.
Quote from: GhostboyThat's the best book ever.
Yeah, it's awesome and very inspirational.