okay this year i'm going to setup a few brief rules for this. you dont have to list TEN films, but you do have to list your films in order of how badly you're dying to see them, (even if its only 3 or 4.)
OR you can list one film that you're dying to see the most but in either case you should explain why. it can be brief. and PT will not have a film out in 06, if he did let's assume that tops everyone. try to keep it realistic. here's mine...
1. Inland Empire
because lynch has attained kubrick-like God status for me. (what a difference a few years makes!) when i first came to xixax, lynch was the only one of the directors with forums who i was not already in love with. but after seeing all his films (and especially his show Twin Peaks) i became a convert. so even though i saw Mulholland Drive in the theatre a few years ago i had no idea how special that was until much later. so now, i'm dying for whats next. a new lynch movie will trump all others this year, and the fact it's so 'secretive' makes it even more desirable. i hope it finds a release before 07.
2. The Fountain
because the delays have only made me want to see it more. it was on my list last year at #9 and i said "if there was a concrete date or a little more info it might be higher up!" and now that another year has passed and a teaser trailer has been unleashed the film is near-mythic for me. anything less than the best of the year will be a letdown.
3. Superman Returns
because unless a Kong-like overhype kills it, it should be huge. and even though Batman is my hero, i'm still interested to see if Bryan Singer can pull this off. the first Superman is arguably still the best superhero film of all time but it was a quarter century ago, and i hope Singer can give us a Superman to believe in.
4. Zodiac
because before he fell off the planet David Fincher was one of my favorite directors working today. and unless it's a Guero to Se7en's Odelay, it should be a welcome return. it seems like an eternity since Fight Club, and though Panic Room was a nice exercise it's been far too long without him. hopefully he can prove he still deserves his own forum.
5. Marie Antoinette
because sofia coppola is my favorite female filmmaker and she's two for two with landing movies in my top 3. she's working with dangerous material, but if the trailer is any indication she may break me from my fear of white wig movies. fingers crossed.
6. The Science Of Sleep
because i have not seen a better film since i saw Eternal Sunshine nearly 2 years ago. i think we all remember the last massive xixax love-in for a film and my hope is this is more Sunshine and less Nature cause it could really go either way.
7. A Scanner Darkly
because it still looks amazingly cool. but as Sin City and Sky Captain have taught me, looks can be deceiving. this one was also on last years list and somehow managed to fall a spot so my expectations are probably more realistic. which since i'm so mixed on linklater, is a good thing.
8. V For Vendetta
because i bought the hype. admittedly, there is NO WAY this would be on my 10 if it werent for the recent AICN screening and subsequent RIDICULOUSLY positive reviews. a march release delayed from november, a graphic novel by alan moore turned into a film, first time director, NO WAY. but here it stands. so let's hope it's good.
9. The Departed
because i'm about 80% in love with recent scorsese films and something always holds me back. being a remake is sort of a bummer, but the original being so good hopefully he can squeeze some new life out of it. jack nicholson playing evil in this is about all i needed anyway.
10. Southland Tales / Miami Vice / Cars / Grindhouse / Babel / Art School Confidential / Mission Impossible III / Sunshine / Monster House
because donnie darko ruled but domino was a letdown / because the trailer sells the style of the film over the action / because if it wasnt pixar, i would say it looks AWFUL :shock: / because anthology films almost never work, but the idea is still intriuging / because i dont know anything about this film yet / because i loved Ghost World but hated Bad Santa / because J.J. Abrams doing a movie (and using Simon Pegg) will be amazing for this Alias/Lost fan / because Danny Boyle in Space should be cool / because the creators of Scud had something to do with this!
1. The Fountain - Aronofsky was the first director I really latched onto. I saw Requiem on dvd and fell in love. It was before I really got into films, but even now it still holds up as incredible. Aronofsky is one smart fucker too. Just listening to him talk about films, it's enough to give one a film-induced erection. Also, like mod said, this script has been around FOREVER and I just wanna see what it's become. If it only sort of works, I'm fine with that, because I know Aronofsky would do something great someday. I'm sure this will be absolutely mind-blowing.
2. The Untitled Oliver Stone/September 11 Project - Because this will be so controversial, and probably not very good. I just want to see what kind of techniques/tact Stone utilizes.
3. Mission: Impossible 3 - I love the first film. I hated the second film. This looks good.
4. A Scanner Darkly/V for Vendetta - These have equal weight in my mind, for some reason. Not the biggest fan of Linklater or the Wachowskis, but these look way better than their other stuff.
5. Casion Royale - Bond needs some revamping, though I'm not sure if Daniel Craig will kill his career like Dalton. Hell, Brosnan is a bad actor, and his career basically is dead. Craig seems pretty good. Dalton was good too, just in bad movies. We'll see. I like Craig.
6. The Lady in the Water - A great actor in a movie with probably the most-likely-to-be-the-next-Ratner director. I mean, I like Shyamalan. But most think that, after The Village, he's on the steepest decline one could imagine. I think The Village is very good and very flawed. I think a lot works, but the twist is so insane and a lot is so hokey, if you don't buy into it. The film makes a hard sell. The Lady in the Water sounds like the dumbest movie to me. Like an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? We'll see. Bryce Dallas = hot and awesome
7. Marie Antoinette - Lost in Translation was awesome. This trailer was awesome. But I'm very uncertain.
8. Southland Tales - I think Kelly might be a one-hit wonder.
9. Nacho Libre/Tenacious D - Pick of Destiny - I think Hess will prove if he sucks really bad or just kinda with this one. And let's see how well JB does after King Kong (he's got it going on)
10. Superman Returns/X-3 - They've both got SO much going against them. Beit a bad lead and bad outfits, or a bad director and Halle Berry. These will probably disappoint.
1. The Fountain
- No explanation needed.
2. A Scanner Darkly
- Because Philip K. Dick is a god. The book is awesome. The casting is awesome. Linklater is awesome.
3. The Science of Sleep
- Same reason as Mod.
4. Sunshine
- Cause I know little about it and 06' seems to be the year of Sci-Fi.
5. Marie Antoinette
- Some perverse fascination about Dunst having her head chopped off.
6. Zodiac
- Fincher is great and Mark Ruffalo is one of my favorite working actors.
7. The Black Dahlia
- De Palma back to goodness? I hope so. Casting Johansson doesn't hurt.
...
Tideland / The Departed / Southland Tales / Inland Impire / Babel / Apocalypto / All the King's Men (is this out?)
All look/sound interesting and are made by Filmmakers that I admire.
I'll also give The Santa Clause 3 special mention because the second one was one of my favorite theater experiences of 2002.
1.) Oliver Stone 9/11 Project - My favorite filmmaker. Hopefully Alexander was just a hiccup.
2.) L'Enfant - Dardennes have yet to hiccup for me
3.) Volver - Bad Education proved that relying on visuals can be a weakness for Almodovar these days but a misfire by him is still fascinating.
4.) Cars - Pixar has been managing to top themselves every movie. The Incredibles was #1 for 2004 for me. Can they top that?
5.) Inland Empire - Weakness is now his empirical trust for digital but has last two films have been excellent.
6.) Apocalypto - Gibson has sparks of talent directing. Can he rough those edges out with a film of unlimited control and extravagance?
7.) Casino Royale - The weakness is that I am a Bond fan. Will this one have flair that none of the previous ever had?
8.) Miami Vice - Collateral was a train wreck. Has Mann lost sense of entertainment as well? I'm still rooting for him.
9.) The Sound of Sleep - Was Eternal Sunshine a fluke?
10.) Thank You For Smoking - Two of my favorite people, Robert Duvall and Dennis Miller, together at last.
I'm sure I'm overlooking some movies.
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on January 02, 2006, 04:43:22 AM
5.) Inland Empire - Weakness is his now empirical trust for digital but has last two films have been excellent.
dude, don't count that as a weakness yet. it's Lynch we're talking about here, i trust that he'll completely OWN the format and elevate digital filmmaking to a level beyond our wildest dreams :inlove:
1. The Science of Sleep -- I hated Human Nature, and I absolutley adore Eternal Sunshine. I just hope he doesn't keep rehashing the same old visual tricks.
2. The Departed -- Scorsese. I know it's kinda cliche, but he's my favorite filmmaker. Aviator wasn't great, neither was Gangs of New York. This would have been first, but I'm slightly less excited because of those pictures that were recently posted.
3. The Fountain -- I have a feeling that this movie will be awesome. All his movies to date have been awesome, but not "masterpiece" quality. I think he's got it in him.
4. Zodiac -- I'm not a big Fincher fan. I think his best movie was his first, and it's been downhill ever since. However, I still think Fincher has tons of potential and I think he can make a great film. This looks good.
5. Grindhouse -- I wasn't really a Rodriquez fan until Sin City, but now I'm eager to see what he will do. It's a guaranteed fun night at the movies.
6. Marie Antoinete -- Could be really great or really bad. She's a good filmmaker.
7. Oliver Stone Project -- he's made some pretty bad movies but he gave us a few masterpieces. I'll always go see his movies.
8. Miami Vice -- I'm a big supporter of Collateral. I thought it was a visual feast.
9. Cars -- Pixar.
10. Mission Impossible III/Pick of Destiny -- cause I saw Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the trailer/cause I use to love Tenacious D.
- Superman Returns: Its my favorite superhero always and I've been waiting for this remake for years. I also want to see what Singer does. He did very good wit X-Men so I feel confident this will rock.
- The Departed: I loved the original Infernal Affairs. I even like the sequels, which were not as great as the first one but the whole story was excellent. Scorsese is one of my favorite directors and never lets me down, so I think this will be very good.
- Southland Tales: Not much to say about this but I've been waiting to see something new from Kelly since Darko. We'll see...
- The Fountain: This looks super cool.
- Inland Empire: I'm not the biggest David Lynch fan, but he hardly dissapoints.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: The first one rocked, and I think this will be very good too. Depp is the best pirate ever.
- Mission Impossible 3: Cause Tom Cruise is still #1 and even though he lost his mind, he has every right to do whatever the fuck he wants!
- A Skanner Darkly: Dont know what to expect, but makes me very curious.
- Miami Vice: Trailer looks good. And Mann is always something to pay attention to.
- Da Vinci Code: The book is very good, but overrated. I think Hanks will make this movie good.
Others... Nacho Libre, Marie Antoinete, Cars, Casino Royale, V for Vendetta
I'm seeing Herzog's Wild Blue Yonder in a few weeks, that's my most anticipated 2006 film so far.
End Game- some big budget b-movie thriller starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and directed by my favorite studio stunt coordinator right now, Andy Cheng (his hollywood works include The Rundown and The New World).
Dragon Tiger Gate - Donnie Yen is choreographing this film.
The Lady from Shanghai - wong karwai's first film without doyle.
inside man - spike's studio thriller.
and I'd like to see my own little movie finished soon.
Damn, I totally forgot Apocalypto. I think Mel Gibson is absolutely insane, like Riggs style, and directing is where we'll see it happen. It's weird, but I think the notion of Gibson as this crazy sonbitch really appeals to me. After the Fountain, this is the one.
Quote from: Hedwig on January 02, 2006, 04:51:15 AM
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on January 02, 2006, 04:43:22 AM
5.) Inland Empire - Weakness is his now empirical trust for digital but has last two films have been excellent.
dude, don't count that as a weakness yet. it's Lynch we're talking about here, i trust that he'll completely OWN the format and elevate digital filmmaking to a level beyond our wildest dreams :inlove:
I don't give Lynch that much credit. When I say his last two films were excellent I mean they are the only films of his I even like.
1) The Departed -- Scorsese is my favorite director.
2) A Prairie Home Companion -- Altman is my 2nd favorite director
3) Flags of Our Fathers -- Eastwood has been on a hot streak lately
4) Inland Empire -- I'll see anything by Lynch
5) The Fountain -- It'll be interesting to see what Aronofsky does with a big budget. Plus, he's been absent for a long time.
6) Fast Food Nation -- I'll see anything by Linklater
7) A Scanner Darkly -- I respect Linklater because he tries different things.
8) Southland Tales -- Looking forward to follow up to Donnie Darko.
9) Bubble -- Soderbergh is always worth a look
10) Marie Antoinette -- Loved Sofia Coppola's first 2 films.
Quote from: JimmyGator on January 02, 2006, 10:00:33 AMI'm not a big Fincher fan. I think his best movie was his first, and it's been downhill ever since.
Alien3? :saywhat:
Quote from: modage on January 02, 2006, 01:49:54 PM
Quote from: JimmyGator on January 02, 2006, 10:00:33 AMI'm not a big Fincher fan. I think his best movie was his first, and it's been downhill ever since.
Alien3? :saywhat:
Sorry, I forgot about Alien. I meant Se7en. And I wasn't really thinking about
The Game either.
everyone forgot Fantastic Mr. Fox.
imdb says status on that is "preproduction" and stop motion animated films usually take a looong time to film (corpse bride took over a year!), add onto that editing and scoring and marketing and i doubt there's any chance of that being out in the next 12 months.
inland empire: this is what being a film buff is all about...the announcement of the new film by your favorite director...going through all the pre-release hype then finally seeing the finished product on the screen...cant wait to pick apart another mystery about "a woman in trouble"....i was watching eraserhead the other day and while looking through the booklet about the screenplay... its pretty damn astounding reading the beginning of the screenplay and seeing what lynch imagines and brings it to life...alot of his writing is simplistic [imo] but the ways he transforms this words to images and sound is why he is the fucking shit....that shit comes from deep man...i cant wait till he legitimizes the dv medium...i cant wait to see new imagery from him...i wonder if angelo has anything left in him to rival the mulholland dr. "love theme"...i cant wait to see theroux achieve cult star status and irons back from the dead...go back again and read mod's first post..
the fountain: after years of buildup we finally get to see it...although lynch is my fav-aronofsky planted the seed into my brain that "hey, maybe i can direct films too"...although i know i will not be a filmmaker.... in my spare time i watch pi and requiem and i get all motivated again....i am curious to see how darren silences his critics who say his two flaws are.....1.]gimmicky camera tricks....and...2.]bad/poorly written/no character development....this film should shut those fuckers up...from what we know-gone are the flashy shit and here comes a story/script dealing with life, death, and the afterlife....if he pulls this off and i know we are all rooting for him...then the Kubrick comparisons are justified...plus libatique and a fresh new score...
hostel: from david lynch's protege to tarantino's bitch....i still love cabin fever and think its the best horror/comedy film...[imo] it shits on the evil dead series.....and this fucking film looks gruesome..i've seen clips on the net...seen the alternate trailers...and read shit....i hope it lives up to my hype...i dont ask for much either...
world trade center: this is a big one...i hope stone does this jfk style...gimme some mythos, conspiracy, and do it tasteful for the victims and their families....and do America justice oliver...if done right this should be the Oscar's best pic....and i never doubted stone...fuck...i thought alexander was great....[nice new banner]........
miami vice: love the show..i am tearing up those dvds...the 80's nostalgia is incredible...i still get chills during the pilot when sonny and tubbs are cruising at night to "in the air tonight"...i am fucking so happy that michael mann is behind this..he was the stylistic force for the tv show..so why not direct the film...and the tv show creator yerkovich is producing...so, we are all family ...i like colin as sonny....but i hate Jamie fox...i wish they casted some no name...but i hope its slick as hell..mann does this shit so right..and i always thought he's underrated....go back and watch mohicans, heat, and insider..
apacolypto: wow!, riggs made my must list...after watching passion...he single handedly devastated me, and renewed, and empowered my faith..i owe him first in line day 1....plus..i like the comparisons of the picture being of a little bit of malick w/ a little bit of aronofsky....
babel:amores perros, 21 grams....even though douche pitt is in it...innaritu deserves/[has earned] me there...
da vinci code: history does repeat itself....few years back howard's beautiful mind...lynch's mulholland dr....both directors received oscar noms and howard walks away w/ the trophy...now, here we are again....i really like th cast.....awesome trailer....the story should work as a great film..and i finally get to see amelie speaky english...
a scanner darkly: this just looks cool....but i still dont know why people put keanu "whoa!" reeves in films..maybe linklater can do what no other director could...make him act believable
zodiac: downey and ruffalo..dont give a shit about jake..but fincher back to serial killer material....word
Hot Fuzz and Hail Caesar are still in pre-production so I'm not sure if there's any way they can be out this year. if they are put Hot Fuzz at #4 and Hail Caesar at #10 on my list. :yabbse-grin:
1. V for Vendetta. I'm not thrilled about the direction, I guess I'm just anxious to see what happened to one of my favorite graphic novels. Sin City had the same effect (and turned out rather well). If this isn't a direct translation of book to screen, it has very low chances of not fucking it up entirely. This is #1 on my must see list simply because the wait is killing me.
2. Inland Empire. Have you guys heard of this yet? Lynch's new film. Looks good.
3. A Scanner Darkly. I'm curious to find out if Rotoscope is more than a one trick pony in a feature length film.
4. The Fountain. I loved Pi and Requiem, but they followed a very similar technique. I want to find out if Aronofsky can handle more aspects of directing than stylized eye candy. They were both great films, but I hope he doesn't apply this to all his films and it gets played out.
5. Thank You For Smoking. It's been a while since I've seen a good comedy, and this sounds like it just might be it.
6. Bubble. I follow Soderbergh as much as I can and am yet to really be let down. (Ocean's 12 wasn't great, but otherwise very consistent.
7. Science of Sleep. Gondry is one of the most imaginative directors out there. I'm excited to see what he'll do with what he's written.
8. Tideland. I've only heard bad things about the Brothers Grimm, but since Garam just compared this to Brazil, I have to see it. Thanks a lot.
9. Zodiac. Sounds a lot like Se7en, but no matter how many times I've seen it, it still creeps me out a little.
10. Oliver Stone (9/11). Very off and on for me. His pieces on recent conspiracies or untold stories usually seem to be my favorite of his. JFK, Nixon, The Doors, Platoon... and my favorite which doesn't fit those two categories Natural Born Killers. Since my favorite of his movies seem to be those that uncover hidden meanings (with credence or not) this one looks like a winner to me.
Quote from: Walrus, Kookookajoob on January 09, 2006, 03:00:27 PM
4. The Fountain. I loved Pi and Requiem, but they followed a very similar technique. I want to find out if Aronofsky can handle more aspects of directing than stylized eye candy. They were both great films, but I hope he doesn't apply this to all his films and it gets played out.
From what AICN and other websites were reporting back in late summer, it sounds like Aronofsky has left his visual "tricks" behind for this film. In interviews he was all about doing what works best for the story.
Quote from: killafilm on January 09, 2006, 03:46:19 PMIn interviews he was all about doing what works best for the story.
Zzzzz...
Elaborate on that buzzsawin'? Sure. Aronofsky was one
director filmmaker who got it. He was making films that did more than just tell a story, and has seemingly bowed to some sort of perceived criticism that his visual trickery is just that. But it's more. And if he cops out, pulls back, and does without all that style in The Fountain, we'll be left with just-another-storytellin' film. He knows film is more than that. I was anticipating great things from The Fountain, and still am, but his desires to "grow up" are admirable yet misplaced.
Inland Empire - Because Lynch can't tell a story to save his life (not that that's even important all the time, mind you), but he sure knows how to make films that are works of art. Here's hoping he'll eschew some of the obfuscation that plagued Mulholland Drive.
Science of Sleep, V For Vendetta - Just because their premises sound extremely promising.
Southland Tales - Because Richard Kelly is either the next Aronofsky (closest comparison I can think of) or the next Ratner, and this one will let us know which it is.
Cars - Pixar. That's my reason. That's all that's needed. One word.
The Black Dahlia - DePalma + Johansson = :shock:
All The King's Men - Sean Penn + Robert Penn Warren = Well, I'm intrigued. The book said so much. Will the movie be able to encapsulate it? No, but still, there's hope when Penn's involved.
ono, since when did you become a story hater?
it makes no sense at all.
Not a hater, but I just don't see it as some holy grail. I realized film is capable of much more than telling a story. Given it a lot of thought. Most filmmakers who think this way are theorists who have little to show for it yet. You told me yourself Tulse Luper was one of the most important films you've ever seen. Whether it's great still remains to be seen. Worth a look? Definitely. Greenaway is one of the biggest advocates of this philosophy. I'm not a fan of most of his work, but am a great admirer of how he approaches it. ZOO is decent, and Tulse is his best attempt by far (of what I've had a chance to see). He's said if you want a story, read a book. I'd have to agree. Film is still a young medium with much yet to be discovered, and it's too limiting to insist that a story be told for a film to be a worthwhile endeavor. I'm more interested in character and in juxtaposition of images and sound to evoke feeling. That's more powerful than any straightforward story, and more challenging a task to take on.
All stories have already been told. What it comes down to is a matter of "how." That's why most films that just tell a story are uninteresting, and the ones that break the mold (Kaufman's work comes to mind), have to be careful. He forged new paths, and you can see the evolution of his work, from Malkovich (a mess by the end), Adaptation. (a mess by the end), Eternal Sunshine (brilliantly written, yet directed coldly [and I will elaborate on what this means if needed], leaving it lacking that extra umph). This is why Kaufman is of such value to the film industry. He's shaken up the very idea of "story." Diaz, though a bit of a ditz, said one smart thing (on Malkovich), though who knows if someone told her to say it: "it's been said that in Hollywood there are only 14 different scripts. Well, this is number 15."
that was like a very coherent GT post.
Quote from: onomabracadabra on January 09, 2006, 07:10:55 PM
Since I realized film is capable of much more than telling a story. Given it a lot of thought. Most filmmakers who think this way are theorists who have little to show for it yet. You told me yourself Tulse Luper was one of the most important films you've ever seen. Whether it's great still remains to be seen. Worth a look? Definitely. Greenaway is one of the biggest advocates of this philosophy. I'm not a fan of most of his work, but am a great admirer of how he approaches it. ZOO is decent, and Tulse is his best attempt by far (of what I've had a chance to see). He's said if you want a story, read a book. I'd have to agree. Film is still a young medium with much yet to be discovered, and it's too limiting to insist that a story be told for a film to be a worthwhile endeavor. I'm more interested in character and in juxtaposition of images and sound to evoke feeling. That's more powerful than any straightforward story, and more challenging a task to take on.
All stories have already been told. What it comes down to is a matter of "how." That's why most films that just tell a story are uninteresting, and the ones that break the mold (Kaufman's work comes to mind), have to be careful. He forged new paths, and you can see the evolution of his work, from Malkovich (a mess by the end), Adaptation. (a mess by the end), Eternal Sunshine (brilliantly written, yet directed coldly [and I will elaborate on what this means if needed], leaving it lacking that extra umph). This is why Kaufman is of such value to the film industry. He's shaken up the very idea of "story." Diaz, though a bit of a ditz, said one smart thing (on Malkovich), though who knows if someone told her to say it: "it's been said that in Hollywood there are only 14 different scripts. Well, this is number 15."
peter greenaway can go to hell. i'm also a big big fan, but he has to eat his own words when you watch his films, even the narrator of the tulse luper suitcases acknowledges the fact that the trilogy is a story that can be told 'as a series of narrative episodes'.i don't mean to sound arrogant but i've been where you are about disdaining the story thing, and unless you're working plastic , it won't take you anywhere. what you say about juxtaposition of images, well, there's always great documentaries about nature, you know. and i'm not being sarcastic. see stuff by filmmakers like richard copans, paris garcia. and the fact that you implicitly talk about lynch as a member of the story haters club makes no sense, he has said stuff about moving from paintings to films because the canvas had not enough space for his ideas. and it's not an isolated thing cos all the masters talk like that. chris cunningham said it best when it was easy for him to do some abstract bullshit film as a first feature but he really does love stories, that's a quote. why not just read the vendetta grovel instead of watching the film, then ? and aronofsky will rape our butts this year, all of them.
Never said Lynch was a story hater. Said he can't tell a story well, and doesn't care to, which may be a boon for him, though it disappoints a lot of people. Blue Velvet was a pretty mess, Lost Highway had some great ideas and imagery but didn't quite come together. I hated Mulholland Drive when I first saw it, but my recent post in that thread explains where I stand on it now.
As for the "I've been where you are..." we'll see. I could continue to hate on every film that is too caught up in its story, its plot, or I could offer solutions. That's a big undertaking, one I am also giving a lot of thought to. Most people here will agree that it's tiresome to predict where a film will go, that the three-act structure itself is tired, that they like to be surprised, that a series of episodes has much more potential to be effective and moving. Hence, Magnolia.
Funny you mention documentaries about nature. Some of those are more moving than films that try to pull at the heartstrings. I'd rather watch Winged Migration, Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, or Rivers and Tides than Crash any day.
Also... "vendetta grovel?" That s'posed to be graphic novel or something?
how can you say that wild parrots of telegraph has no story? you mean you hate studio narratives with contrived arcs and strucutres? rivers and tides had a ton of storytelling--they weren't merely just images, each installation displayed the motivation, inspiration, the process, and the decomposition of his art. winged migration, too, captured events over time, as the crew followed the journey of the birds in attempts to make their plights intriguing and accessible to humans. I mean, unless you're talking about loving only films by Jon Jost and Stan Brackage and those "lyrical" experimental filmmakers, it's kinda silly to call documentaries "anti-stories". I do think Hollywood's idea of "story" is severely narrow-minded, but that doesn't mean good non-Hollywood movies are storyless.
I didn't say it had no story. I said I'd rather watch it than Crash. I said before that yes, I hate contrived arcs and structures. Said it both here and in another thread (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=5118.msg107938#msg107938) a long time ago. I said above I don't hate story. I just don't think it's a holy grail, and that's why these other films I mention are so refreshing. They're episodic, so you have no clue where they're going, no real clue when they're going to be over, and that's why it's so easy to get sucked in and enjoy them.
Quote from: modage on January 09, 2006, 07:24:57 PM
that was like a very coherent GT post.
without the substance.
despite GT's occasional lack of coherence and overwording, what i like about his posts is he talks as if people know something. he doesn't offer hackneyed gems like this..
Quote from: onomabracadabra on January 09, 2006, 07:10:55 PM
All stories have already been told. What it comes down to is a matter of "how."
that's deep man.
ono's coherence must be why all his replies on the previous page were to clarify what he originally meant. i still have no idea what he means when he says Lost Highway "didn't quite come together", does he mean like a series of abstract ideas forming a rich tapestry of emotion, mood, and psychological intrigue? or does he mean like a 'story' (which he doesn't approve of anyway)?
he may well have solid ideas in his mind but he's not putting them in writing, he just decorates the space around them with vague indications of what he probably means. hence the neverending clarifications.. "i didn't say it didn't quite come together"
I'll add:
The Children of Men
In 2027, as humankind faces the likelihood of its own extinction, a disillusioned government agent agrees to help transport and protect a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea where her child's birth may help scientists to save the future of mankind.
From Alfonso Cuarón with Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Sir Michael Caine.
julianne moore is on a pretty irrelevant streak, so i hope this is, like, a good movie.
1. Scoop- I've seen everything by Woody Allen, love most of them, and will see this too.
2. The Departed- loved The Aviator, (not to mention many of his early movies)
3. Marie Antoinette- I loved what Sofia Coppola said about her approach to this movie being to basically show that the people supposedly running the country were
a bunch of partying teenagers. Looks cool.
4. Apocalypto- Didn't see The Passion, but the trailer for this looks pretty amazing.
5. Miami Vice- Usually love Mann's movies. I grew up in Miami!
1. Inland Empire-Because it's been way too long and I can't get enough of everything he's done
2. The Departed-Jack and Scorsese, that's all I gotta say
3. Miami Vice-I love the show,the cheesy dialogue and great 80's music. and of course the real reason I want to see this is because of Mann.
4. The Fountain-Here's to expectations either being met or us being totally let down
5. The Children of men-Cuaron and Julianne Moore, my fav. actress
6. Southland Tales-Because I love ensemble films and having it written and directed by kelly sweetens the deal.
7. Thank You For Smoking-It's been a while since a really great original satire comedy has come out.
8. Zodiac-It could be the next movie assholes dig...:yabbse-grin:
9. Oliver Stone's 9/11: I'm crossing my fingers he'll go conspiracy on us, but if he doesn't he'll still make it interesting, he's one of my favorites.
10. The Black Delilia-I LOVE Noir
I have to say, the only movie that I'm really, really intrigued to see is American Dreamz, directed by Paul Weitz. I've seen the trailer twice now, and it's really something else. It stars Dennis Quaid as the president of the U.S., and Hugh Grant as a Simon Cowell/Ryan Secreast type "Americal Idol" type TV show (named "American Dreamz" I think) host. The president has gone sort of insane, and to boost his approval ratings his advisors make him appear as a special guest judge on the show. Meanwhile, Grant is sick with the same old contestants, and is pleased when a young middle-eastern man shows talent and gets him on the show. However, this young man is under threat of being tortured to death by a terrorist group if he doesn't win the competition, and be able to bring a bomb on the show to assassinate the president. There's more to it, but that's the jist of it. Oh, it's a comedy BTW.
Paul Weitz has made some fantastic movies IMO, but this one looks like the most complex and ambitious. It looks so absurd, so unconventional, that it has the potential to be a really great better-than-average movie, or just plain terrible. I hope for the former. I'm really looking forward to it.
im surpised there's not more excitement around Scoop and a Prarie Home Companion. I loved Match Point, and Prarie Home could very well be Altman' swansong.
old peoples movies arent as exciting as when they were younger. now young peoples movies are more exciting.
Quote from: modage on February 02, 2006, 05:54:16 PM
old peoples movies arent as exciting as when they were younger. now young peoples movies are more exciting.
cause we all know if Kubrick were still alive his movies would be unexciting crap
he died before he had a chance to get boring.
Inland Empire, Notorious Bettie Page, Manderlay, and I'm Not There (IF it's really going to happen. . .).
Quote from: JimmyGator on January 02, 2006, 02:10:22 PM
Quote from: modage on January 02, 2006, 01:49:54 PM
Quote from: JimmyGator on January 02, 2006, 10:00:33 AMI'm not a big Fincher fan. I think his best movie was his first, and it's been downhill ever since.
Sorry, I forgot about Alien. I meant Se7en. And I wasn't really thinking about The Game either.
JG, I'm not much of a Fincher fan, either. But for apparently different reasons: I like
The Game and
Panic Room much more than I like
Fight Club or
Se7en
Quote from: modage on February 02, 2006, 06:34:21 PM
he died before he had a chance to get boring.
He was 70!
No one at all is interested in Night Watch? Or are you counting it as a 05 release even though it starts in the US the end of this month?
I was reading about that yesterday... and Day Watch, which broke all the box office records in Russia... sounds interesting.
i was really interested, until i saw it, and then i became less interested.
Care to fill us in a bit? I didn't really have any expectations other than it seemed an interesting premise and the trailer made the cinematography look excellent. Does the plot lack or what?
http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=7480.0