David Gordon Green's "Undertow"

[modage]

it was a mixed bag.

[Alethia]

oh okay, i thought you meant nowhere near as forgettable, forced or shitty as SBM.  my bad.

while i will say that i really like stand by me, i will also say that the puking scene makes me cringe, not because its gross - no, its so over the top you cant think its gross - but because....what the fuck?

but i do think the movie is quite affecting, and i fucking love richard dreyfuss.

yeah, eward.  what are you talking about?  you're letting your film snobbery get out of hand when you start hating on sbm.  there are much worse things out there, so i cant say i understand this 180.

...he's on to me....

no, but seriously....stand by me was a childhood favorite of mine, and i guess that still does give it some merit, but i decided to revisit it not too long ago and...it was just like a whole 'nother movie this time around...i don't know, i don't think it's snobbery, it's just growing up, i guess.  i still love richard dreyfuss no matter what movie it is!  and also, at the time i posted that, i hadn't seen the film in quite some time, so yeah....i shouldn't have revisited it, shouldn't have ruined my fond memories of it...and you're right, there are much worse things out there...it's not awful, it's got two or three okay moments...but it is pretty mediocre in my eyes (as of late)...

and undertow is nowhere to be found 'round my area, nor brown bunny...fucking hell!

[Pozer]

and undertow is nowhere to be found 'round my area...fucking hell!

Same here. I was so looking forward to seeing this and the closest cities to me that had it, only did for a week like wantautopia? said and now it is nowhere to be found.

suuucks.

[ono]

So here's a funny story about trying to see Undertow.  Not funny "ha-ha," mind you, but funny "boo-hoo."

So I missed Undertow the whole week it was playing in the town where I attend university.  I get ready to head home for Christmas break, and see that it's playing there (at a 22-screen multiplex, of all places).  So I make plans to drive an extra 30 minutes away from where I'm staying to get to that theatre for a 9:40 showing.  I get there, and I see on the marquee it says "Sold Out."  I hesitate for a bit, standing in line, then leave, a bit dejected, not wanting to look like an idiot, asking for a ticket to a movie that's "Sold Out."

I get in my car and starts to leave and it dawns on me: this is a big city with over a half a million people, only one art house and this film isn't playing at it.  There's virtually no advertising, so why would this possibly be sold out, especially on the last night it's playing?  I headed back to ask.  The cashier told me I needed to go in to buy my ticket at the guest register.  Okay, now we're getting somewhere.  I figure that maybe attendance is so low they're waiting to start the film until they have some people to watch it, and maybe they put "Sold Out" on that movie to dissuade people from buying tickets for it so they wouldn't have to show it.

Inside, there's a couple there wanting to see it, too.  The girl taking tickets was whispering something to them before the manager came up and they said something like "oh, really?"  Perhaps this confirmed my guess that attendance was low.  I wasn't sure, but it seemed as if it could be the case.  Anyway, the manager comes up to the desk and I say "One for Undertow, please."  She frowns and tells me they're having problems with the projector and/or the print and they won't be showing it (or Bridget Jones 2 -- haha) tonight, and I could see another movie if I liked.  I said, "nah," and left, cursing my bad luck.  (This was the last showing on the last night the film would be at this theatre.)

[The Perineum Falcon]

So here's a funny story about trying to see Undertow.  Not funny "ha-ha," mind you, but funny "boo-hoo."

So I missed Undertow the whole week it was playing in the town where I attend university.  I get ready to head home for Christmas break, and see that it's playing there (at a 22-screen multiplex, of all places).  So I make plans to drive an extra 30 minutes away from where I'm staying to get to that theatre for a 9:40 showing.  I get there, and I see on the marquee it says "Sold Out."  I hesitate for a bit, standing in line, then leave, a bit dejected, not wanting to look like an idiot, asking for a ticket to a movie that's "Sold Out."

I get in my car and starts to leave and it dawns on me: this is a big city with over a half a million people, only one art house and this film isn't playing at it.  There's virtually no advertising, so why would this possibly be sold out, especially on the last night it's playing?  I headed back to ask.  The cashier told me I needed to go in to buy my ticket at the guest register.  Okay, now we're getting somewhere.  I figure that maybe attendance is so low they're waiting to start the film until they have some people to watch it, and maybe they put "Sold Out" on that movie to dissuade people from buying tickets for it so they wouldn't have to show it.

Inside, there's a couple there wanting to see it, too.  The girl taking tickets was whispering something to them before the manager came up and they said something like "oh, really?"  Perhaps this confirmed my guess that attendance was low.  I wasn't sure, but it seemed as if it could be the case.  Anyway, the manager comes up to the desk and I say "One for Undertow, please."  She frowns and tells me they're having problems with the projector and/or the print and they won't be showing it (or Bridget Jones 2 -- haha) tonight, and I could see another movie if I liked.  I said, "nah," and left, cursing my bad luck.  (This was the last showing on the last night the film would be at this theatre.)

ha-ha.




sorry.

[modage]

hey, dont worry about it.  that story was more entertaining than the movie.  just kidding all you DGG fans, sheesh.

[ono]

Not funny "ha-ha."  Funny "boo-hoo."

[MacGuffin]

Ha Ha!

[Ghostboy]

On Thursday nights, it's not uncommon for projectionists to cancel the last shows of movies (by locking the show in the schedule program, resulting in a 'sold out' display on the marquee) that will be leaving the theater that night so that they can test screen the new prints for the evening and get the old (canceled) movies torn down...otherwise, they have to wait until the very end of the night to do it. It's purely selfish, since the only reason they do it is to get off work earlier. I used to do it all the time, though. And I used the 'problem with projector/print' excuse all the time.

[cine]

There's a sucker born every minute.

[Pozer]

On Thursday nights, it's not uncommon for projectionists to cancel the last shows of movies (by locking the show in the schedule program, resulting in a 'sold out' display on the marquee) that will be leaving the theater that night so that they can test screen the new prints for the evening and get the old (canceled) movies torn down...otherwise, they have to wait until the very end of the night to do it. It's purely selfish, since the only reason they do it is to get off work earlier. I used to do it all the time, though. And I used the 'problem with projector/print' excuse all the time.

Ghostboy, you of all people should not be one to deny others of cinema. shame on you.

[SHAFTR]

Undertow is DGG's Malick influence fused with the french new wave.  I'm still undecided on my thoughts of the film.  I can say this:

I enjoyed the film.
It is certainly not a masterpiece.

[modage]

the masterpiece finally comes to dvd...

Title: Undertow
Released: 26th April 2005
SRP: $26.98

Further Details
MGM Home Entertainment has officially announced Undertow which stars Jamie Bell, Josh Lucas and Dermot Mulroney. From the acclaimed writer-director of All the Real Girls comes this haunting and evocative thriller about two generations of brothers embroiled in a violent past they cannot escape. The disc will be available to own from the 26th April, priced at around $26.98. The film itself will be presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Extras will include an audio commentary by Director David Gordon Green and Jamie Bell, an Under the Undertow feature With Optional Introduction by Josh Lucas, deleted scenes, an animated photo gallery and the films trailer.

[pete]

Undertow is DGG's Malick influence fused with the french new wave.  I'm still undecided on my thoughts of the film.  I can say this:

I enjoyed the film.
It is certainly not a masterpiece.

french new wave?  how's so?

[ono]

Whichever store I go to will probably tell me they're closing early to take inventory and they can't sell me a copy.