Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => The Vault => Topic started by: pete on August 08, 2005, 10:28:28 PM

Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: pete on August 08, 2005, 10:28:28 PM
it's about a young Jewish American man endeavors to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II in a Ukrainian village.  starring elijah wood.
trailer here (http://pdl.warnerbros.com/wip/us/med/everything_is_illuminated/mrt843_everything_is_illuminated_tlr1_qt_300.mov)

my buddy's band Devotchka did the music at the end of the trailer.
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: noyes on August 10, 2005, 07:38:03 AM
looks alright. i feel like i should read safran's book before watching this.
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: Ghostboy on August 26, 2005, 02:49:15 PM
It's okay. It really should have been longer - like, maybe even a mini-series on HBO or something. Or maybe it could have been told in 90 minutes, but either way, Liev Schrieber might not be the best director for the project. He's obviously passionate about the material, but I think perhaps he was too close to it - his approach assumes a familiarity with the story that leaves the movie feeling, to me, having not read the book, disjointed and uninclusive.

Good acting and Libatique cinematography, though. After Sin City, though, Elijah Wood can't help but be creepy. Especially when he wears glasses with thick rims.
Title: Re: everything is illuminated
Post by: Pubrick on August 26, 2005, 02:51:28 PM
Quote from: petemy buddy's band Devotchka did the music at the end of the trailer.
i don't recall that stuff u gave us to steal that one day being anything like that. as in, being any good. is this different stuff?
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: mutinyco on August 26, 2005, 10:15:05 PM
Quote from: Ghostboyhis approach assumes a familiarity with the story that leaves the movie feeling, to me, having not read the book, disjointed and uninclusive.

Sure that's not because it's by a Jew about Jews?...
Title: Re: everything is illuminated
Post by: meatwad on August 26, 2005, 10:20:23 PM
Quote from: petemy buddy's band Devotchka did the music at the end of the trailer.

your buddy is in devotchka? their album "how it ends" is excellent. more people should be checking them out
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: hedwig on August 26, 2005, 10:23:51 PM
i've been meaning to read the book for years..             edit - nevermind
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: Ghostboy on August 26, 2005, 10:55:02 PM
Quote from: mutinyco
Sure that's not because it's by a Jew about Jews?...

Of course I'm sure. It's narratively problematic, not culturally. I've seen plenty of movies by Jews about Jews that are just fine.
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: mutinyco on August 26, 2005, 11:13:42 PM
I have no doubt it was edited down to a manageable running time. That's how it felt. The movie's narrative is also, by the way, a small piece of the book, not unlike what The Door In the Floor was to A Widow For One Year.

But I do think Schreiber did a legitimate job of directing. Most actor/directors tend to focus too much on dialogue scenes for performances, but he seemed very comfortable telling a story with pictures.
Title: Re: everything is illuminated
Post by: Sal on September 20, 2005, 02:57:35 PM
Quote from: meatwad
Quote from: petemy buddy's band Devotchka did the music at the end of the trailer.

your buddy is in devotchka? their album "how it ends" is excellent. more people should be checking them out

I didnt know people outside of Denver knew about Devotchka.
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: cowboykurtis on September 20, 2005, 05:04:41 PM
Quote from: mutinycobut he seemed very comfortable telling a story with pictures.

I think this had to do mostly with mathew libatique
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: Ultrahip on September 21, 2005, 01:07:17 AM
when is this being released outside of NY and LA, specifically, in Dallas? does anyone know?
Title: everything is illuminated
Post by: Sal on September 22, 2005, 03:06:19 AM
I saw a screening tonight with friends and came away madly dissapointed.  This film is too self important and tries to weigh down the images with heavy drama...picture a house in the middle of a field of sunflowers and you're getting there.  No emotional arcs reached whatsoever.  It's quite funny in the beginning but the audience was pretty generous with the laughs tonight.  In reality the scenes didn't really carry such a funny bone.  Basically this is one of the more terrible films I've seen this year.