For me it was Synecdoche, New York. Just couldn't finish it. I left it on and I'd tune in and out, but never finished it. I vowed to watch it again, but never did. I said fuck it. As of now it's just a fragmented mess of a film in my head. I would wake up and everyone would be different ages with horrible make-up and nothing would make sense and it was just awful. Fires would randomly start and it It made my head want to explode.
I also fell asleep during Once upon a Time in America. And The Mirror by Tarkovsky, but that was more because I was on pain pills and beer. What an experience.
I've fallen asleep with every single Wim Wenders film I've ever seen except Paris, Texas.
I also fell asleep with Julien Donkey Boy the first time I saw it.
A lot of films I now love made me sleep when I was younger, like Persona, Rashomon, a lot of old films. Mean Streets was another.
In recent years, at the cinema, King Kong did it for me. Tried to rewatch it on dvd later and it happened again.
Lawrence of Arabia. It's effing long! Spirited Away, the first time. Still loved it, and falling asleep during a movie like that makes for such pleasant dreams! Was so tired going into it, though. First movie I ever remember seeing in a theatre, Pinocchio, I fell asleep for. Though I remember the whale, so I guess I must've made it through a lot of it. Lampwick turning into a donkey scared the crap outta me. But I was 5. Heh.
Quote from: ono on November 11, 2010, 01:41:42 AM
First movie I ever remember seeing in a theatre, Pinocchio, I fell asleep for.
hah same here, except the first movie I remember seeing (and falling asleep in) was La Bamba. RITCHIEEEEE!
I fall asleep during Songs from the Second Floor every time I try to watch it. I'm on my second strike with that movie so if I swing and miss again, fuck..
I reckon my father probably has never not fell asleep during a movie. Then he acts like nothing happened and dares talk about the story. He'll even say that things didn't make sense.
I fell asleep a bunch of time during Lawrence of Arabia and also Runaway Train, for some reason
Pirates of the Caribbean 3, PJ's King Kong, I forget others... I've fallen asleep in about 5 films in the cinema since Pirates. Don't recall any before that though.
One of my best mates fell asleep during CMBB. To be fair though, it was a midnight screening and he'd just got off a transatlantic flight earlier in the day. Needless to say that Christmas he got the DVD and a 4 pack red bull.
every malick film the first time i've seen it, but NEVER on subsequent viewings.
same goes for every Bresson film, and as i've said before especially his later ones, they are so short tho that you can watch them again immediately and not waste too much time -- i can't think of any other director that i do this with. last time this happened was Lancelot du lac.. GREAT the second time, first time was a snoozefest with a lot of clip-clopping and general horsing around (literally, i thought the whole film was about a couple of horses :shock: ).
and bergman, especially the seventh seal.. this however was not fixed with further viewings, the movie is just not that great.
Fell asleep during The Phantom Menace in the theater.
I watched Network twice and fell asleep 3 times. :sleeping:
If I fall asleep in the theater, I try to always see the movie again just to give it the benefit of the doubt.
I fell asleep during a midnight sneak of Hellboy during SXSW years ago. I felt bad because some friends and I met up with Del Torro and Ron Perlman afterward (at a diner). I lied and said I really liked the movie because at that point, I assumed I would have really liked it if I hadn't fallen asleep.
Oh boy, the second viewing was hard not to sleep through too.
Wow, this is funny... I never fall asleep during movies, but Synechdoche NY is one of the few I can remember that did put me to sleep.
though ive been known to doze off during opening credits these days, recents for me (blind boughts at that!): Synechodoche NY and I'm Not There (this is the title of the stupid Bob Dylan movie not the stupid Joaquin Phoenix movie right?). both CHORES to get through.
last theater snoozer i recall: Return of the King
recent kiddie movie snoozers (also blind boughts): Where the Fanastic Wild Foxes Are
never finished coma inducing crapfest (as of late): Happy Go Lucky
former go to movies to drunkenly doze off to in the late night hours: The Godfather 1&2, Kub/Malicks...
oh yeah, most of PTA's recommendations were ultimate snoozefests for me. Putney Swope...more like Putme Sleep!
Ahahaha Putme Sleep
This is a great thread, because I fall asleep during movies ALL THE TIME. Ironically enough, though, not during Synecdoche, NY. Saw all of that.
The most notorious films have been Smiley Face (because I'm typically stoned as balls when I see it, I think I've fallen asleep all 3 or 4 times I've seen it). Attack of the Clones midnight show, Ichi the Killer, Science of Sleep (which I think improved thru sleeping), and many many others.
Fuck, I fell asleep at a Mastodon concert once. Standing up. No joke.
I fell asleep during Avatar, and everyone in the world likes Avatar, but i think Avatar was dumb. I'm torn on whether i should give it another shot or not.
When I was in high school, I got a hand-me-down TV/VCR from my brother that had a sleep timer and it automatically rewound the tape once it hit the end. This was probably one of my biggest steps in watching movies because while I'd often put movies on and fall asleep to them (thus ending up in the most bizarre dreams). I began watching foreign films more because I'd get VHS's from the library and I found that the foreign ones had subtitles. Since I couldn't play the movies too loud, being in an old, quiet house, I began renting more and more silent and/or foreign films that I could more easily follow.
Since then, I've found sleep to be a most amazing way to engage in a movie, especially if you somehow manage to be half-asleep the whole duration of the film, you experience it in an utmost lucid way.
Yeah, it kind of blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, almost putting you into the movie as a result.
This thread reminded me of an article in The Believer a year or two ago, in their Film Issue. I tried to find it online, and tho you can only read an excerpt without purchasing the issue online (and I don't have it with me to transcribe), much of the sentiment is shared with Walrus, in that it's not neccessarily a bad thing:
THE VARIETIES OF CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE IV: On Sleeping Through Movies
by Jessica Winter
Falling asleep at the movies may seem like a passive-aggressive act against the work in question: the response as lack-of-response, the dozer's head jerking forward and back in nodding rejection of the cinema product. Under the right circumstances, though, it's an indicator that the sleepwatcher is deeply, palpably inside a well-maintained dream machine—she's falling into a movie, not out of it. Straight off a plane with my time zones jumbled, I conked out for almost the entire run-time of Carl Theodor Dreyer's witch-hunting tragedy Day of Wrath, jolting awake just in time to see old woman Marte tied to the stake and toppling into the flames. I watched the whole thing on DVD later, but that screaming shock-cut remains the eidetic, definitive experience of the film. David Lynch's Inland Empire was similarly concussive: I gasped awake to an extreme close-up of strobe-spangled Laura Dern, her smear of red mouth pulled into a rictus of disgusted terror. She and I enacted the quintessential morning-after nightmare: waking up next to a total stranger.
************
To be sure, I've conked out in my fair share of movies; in a variety of moods, settings and levels of inebriation. When I went to Paris for study, I fell asleep in almost every movie I saw there (Parisian movie-seats are commmmmfortable, and the temperatures inside were the perfect escape from a city embroiled in a heat wave [the trees were dying!]) This includes Batman Begins, which I've never been able to stay conscious for since, and probably never will. Other than that, there was some huge avant-garde blahblahblah going on, but who needs to stay awake for all of that?? Plus classic Hollywood westerns that i was FORCED to sit thru, tho it made it a bit more difficult to write an analysis of them.....
W. was another more recent pic that I just could not.... :sleeping:
when i was three my godmother took me to see aladdin. i fell asleep right after the magic carpet ride. every time i watched it on vhs afterwards, i stopped the movie at that point, thinking it was over. i remember the shock one day when my nana told me that the movie wasn't over, and i had to keep watching as jafar messed everything up. i had a hard time understanding why the movie didn't just end before things got bad for aladdin.
Quote from: Champion Souza on November 11, 2010, 11:55:33 AM
I watched Network twice and fell asleep 3 times. :sleeping:
you should be shot...
...though i dig your honesty.
Nacho Libre
The Bridge
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (I was six at the time)
Enemy of the State (thirteen or fourteen)
Quote from: JG on November 12, 2010, 04:01:38 PM
i had a hard time understanding why the movie didn't just end before things got bad for aladdin.
hahaha, kids are awesome.
my list@ home:- with every bergman
- with every godard
- just this week, rented criterion's bigger than life and saw it in three parts
- 2001, like five years ago intended to finally watch it and failed, i havent tried again since
@ the theater- gangs of ny
- sleepers (oh the irony!)
- re-release of empire strikes back, went with a friend and both fell asleep, we woke up in the middle of it and walked out
Quote from: The Perineum Falcon on November 12, 2010, 01:51:31 PM
This thread reminded me of an article in The Believer a year or two ago, in their Film Issue.
Off-topic:
The Believer is pretty amazing.
Quote from: The Perineum Falcon on November 12, 2010, 01:51:31 PM
THE VARIETIES OF CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE IV: On Sleeping Through Movies
by Jessica Winter
Falling asleep at the movies may seem like a passive-aggressive act against the work in question: the response as lack-of-response, the dozer's head jerking forward and back in nodding rejection of the cinema product. Under the right circumstances, though, it's an indicator that the sleepwatcher is deeply, palpably inside a well-maintained dream machine—she's falling into a movie, not out of it. Straight off a plane with my time zones jumbled, I conked out for almost the entire run-time of Carl Theodor Dreyer's witch-hunting tragedy Day of Wrath, jolting awake just in time to see old woman Marte tied to the stake and toppling into the flames. I watched the whole thing on DVD later, but that screaming shock-cut remains the eidetic, definitive experience of the film. David Lynch's Inland Empire was similarly concussive: I gasped awake to an extreme close-up of strobe-spangled Laura Dern, her smear of red mouth pulled into a rictus of disgusted terror. She and I enacted the quintessential morning-after nightmare: waking up next to a total stranger.
There are certain movies I actually like to watch when its 2am and I'm a little tired. It enhances the absurd, nightmarish qualities. After Hours, Bringing out the Dead, and Requiem for a Dream come to mind. Its like I'm the only person in the world and I'm trapped with the movie. I saw Eraserhead at a midnight screening. I should give Inland Empire a go when I'm in this state. Its a strange, almost masochistic, way to watch a movie. Does anyone else ever do this?
Quote from: Fernando on November 12, 2010, 11:29:35 PM
Quote from: JG on November 12, 2010, 04:01:38 PM
i had a hard time understanding why the movie didn't just end before things got bad for aladdin.
hahaha, kids are awesome.
my list
@ home:
- with every bergman
- with every godard
- just this week, rented criterion's bigger than life and saw it in three parts
- 2001, like five years ago intended to finally watch it and failed, i havent tried again since
@ the theater
- gangs of ny
- sleepers (oh the irony!)
- re-release of empire strikes back, went with a friend and both fell asleep, we woke up in the middle of it and walked out
MY GOD, have you heard about coffee?
I don't like coffee. :yabbse-undecided:
Fell asleep last night while watching 'Trouble Every Day' by Claire Denis with Vince Gallo.
I was tired and it got boring sometimes. Vampires and cannibalism is awesome, but this film wasn't going anywhere. The worst was that apparently it was on repeat, so I fell asleep around 1am, but the movie kept playing, so I would wake up every couple hours and it would still be on and I decided it was the longest movie ever.
Quote from: Stefen on November 22, 2010, 02:20:26 PM
Fell asleep last night while watching 'Trouble Every Day' by Claire Denis with Vince Gallo.
I was tired and it got boring sometimes. Vampires and cannibalism is awesome, but this film wasn't going anywhere. The worst was that apparently it was on repeat, so I fell asleep around 1am, but the movie kept playing, so I would wake up every couple hours and it would still be on and I decided it was the longest movie ever.
Haha, I almost watched that last month. Glad I stayed away(ke).
Just got the latest MST3K box and I'm having trouble getting through the Bride of the Monster episode.
Not sure if I'm sleepy as result of the time change or I'm just not enjoying it.
Quote from: modage on November 22, 2010, 02:45:39 PM
Quote from: Stefen on November 22, 2010, 02:20:26 PM
Fell asleep last night while watching 'Trouble Every Day' by Claire Denis with Vince Gallo.
I was tired and it got boring sometimes. Vampires and cannibalism is awesome, but this film wasn't going anywhere. The worst was that apparently it was on repeat, so I fell asleep around 1am, but the movie kept playing, so I would wake up every couple hours and it would still be on and I decided it was the longest movie ever.
Haha, I almost watched that last month. Glad I stayed away(ke).
It just didn't have much going for it outside of atmosphere. It has some terrible acting by Vincent Gallo. The soundtrack by Tindersticks is really great, tho. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_fKlrzj6O4&feature=related
Inception, The Town, Attack the Block
overrated action movies.. :sleeping:
I didn't fall asleep, but this week the wife and I rented the new Harry Potter (part 1 of 2). We got close to two hours in before giving up on it. Neither of us had a clue what was going on. Scenes just suddenly cut from one to another with no explanation. It was obvious that there were just trying to include as much from the book as possible so satisfy those fans, with no thought to helping viewers that hadn't read the book what the story was. Absolutely awful.
I fell asleep when I was watching Captain America in 3D, it was during the high fight scenes near the end of the movie, *spoiler?* When I came- two, Cap was in a bed and than escaping into New York City.
Also, My father told me that when we were watching Empire strikes back when it first came out, I was hiding under the seat because I was scared of Darth Vader. :)
Here I go to throw myself at the mercy of the wolves...
2001: A Space Odyssey
I still maintain that I didn't doze off by any fault of the movie, but I was just at a susceptible time to be stricken with sleepiness and it was a relaxing kind of movie to watch.
Quote from: O on October 04, 2011, 09:26:20 AM
Here I go to throw myself at the mercy of the wolves...
2001: A Space Odyssey
that's nothing to be ashamed of, as i noted on the last page (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=11349.msg297969#msg297969) some of the greatest masters have a habit of putting me to sleep the first time round. i more than make up for it by rewatching a million times. i would add Tarkovsky to my original list, it's almost a sign of greatness.
i think PTA is going this way too, especially after Chere Mill Be Blood. i dozed off for a few scenes the first time i watched that movie, and now that i think about it, i'm glad i did.. it's pretty much confirmation that he's entered into the most masterful period of his career. expect more of the same from his next one.
Yeah, but I can't help but feel guilty.
Here are a few I forgot:
Bicycle Thieves
Wild Strawberries
Pickpocket (1957)
I think Murmur of the Heart might be on there too but I think I may just have stopped mid-viewing for a while.
eh, you'll get over it. I seem to fall asleep during everything I watch these days, I can only keep my attention going for 30 minute stints. I guess I need to start watching better movies.
Quote from: Reelist on October 05, 2011, 10:41:51 AM
eh, you'll get over it. I seem to fall asleep during everything I watch these days, I can only keep my attention going for 30 minute stints. I guess I need to start watching better movies.
Or maybe you just getting old. :)
That's true, I'll be 23 this friday. I succesfully completed watching one movie today, it was Fargo. The movies I didn't complete were Totally Awesome, Be Kind Rewind, and the Halloween remake. Which makes sense when you look at those last three because they pretty much suck.
It's not like I fell asleep during them, but that might as well have been the reason I stopped watching.
man fuck you guys. i'm closer to 30 than 23 and i never EVER fall asleep during movies. If i'm sleepy, guess what? i don't watch a fucking movie.
Except for Gosford Park. 19 tries later and that one puts me to sleep EVERY TIME.
I've tried to watch The Tree Of Life 4 times now... I don't think I'll ever get through it.