What is the last movie you saw? and rate it.

[Virgil]

I just saw Gran Torino in the theatre last weekend, and I must say that I enjoyed it. I mean, the acting from some of the minor roles could have been better, but the Clint's character was amusing and the contrast between all of his other roles and this one was interesting. I could appreciate it.

I saw Gran Torino last weekend also AJ and thought it was great. I actually wrote a blog entry for those that may want to read what I thought of the movie. Here: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=7232

[Joreads]

I saw Gran Torino last weekend also AJ and thought it was great. I actually wrote a blog entry for those that may want to read what I thought of the movie. Here: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?b=7232

Oh I want to see that I will check out the blog. Thanks Virgil

[Alexei]

[/SIZE]


If you are interested in more French cinema, I highly suggest the work of Robert Bresson (Tarkovsky was a great admirer of his work).

Work to check out: Diary of a Country Priest, Mouchette, Au hasard Balthazar, Trial of Joan of Arc

I would also highly recommend the work of Eric Rohmer (notably his Six Moral Tale films, ie: Claire's Knee, My Night At Mauds.) I also strongly suggest the work of Jacques Rivette if you are into "slow films", he likes to work in real time. La Belle noiseuse is a great example of this process. You will literally watch the artist sketch a full drawing in one continuous shot. La Belle noiseuse is based on a story by Honore de Balzac

I also suggest Tarkovsky's other work. (I worship the man too much that I insist on mentioning him again )

Saba, thank you for the recommendations. Right now I don't have the time to watch the films, but I will see them as soon as I can. The thing is I need more energy and concentration to watch them so it will take me some time. I hope I'll be able to see some of them soon and eventually discuss them with you. I hope you won't mind. I like discussing films because it gives me points of view others of my own. This not only helps me to reach deeper level of understanding, it makes the experience even better.

I like Tarkovsky too. I am planing to keep watching his works, but they need lots of time and effort, too. I find it hard to watch film like this any time. I am easily distracted and this makes it necessary for me to be in the right mood for seeing it. Otherwise it's a shame. I can't simply start fidgeting on the 5th minute, it would be like an act of desecration

[MattG]

Most recently, I've watched:

There Will be Blood (4/10) and the four stars are directly attributable to Daniel Day Lewis (who I don't like much but was rather good in this one).

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (7/10): I loved the southern charm of this one, it's near and dear to my heart and Kevin Spacey brings it off so well. I would have rated this higher but for some forced and tedious dialog mid stream.

Wuthering Heights (1992) (6/10): Some great performances, especially by Fiennes. The score I gave it generally represents my score for the novel. I like it but it's not my usual cup of tea. It's a serviceable film and tells the story well. No fireworks for me though.

The Bad Seed (1956) (8/10): The more I watch this the more electrifying it becomes. The cat and mouse game between the groundskeeper and the girl was extremely well done. Great performances. I didn't give it a 10 because of a weak-ish ending. It was a cop out. But still.

Burn After Reading (6.5/10): If you like the Coens you'll like it. Brad Pitt + Frances McDormand + George Clooney + John Malkevich together on screen just couldn't stop me from grinning if they tried. The story wasn't bad, the characters (as portrayed by these fine actors) drove it home.

Bunch more but I don't feel like typing about them anymore.

[kandaurov]

By the way, let me try and save two hours from your lives and possibly your mental health with this review, which also servers as a public service announcement:

In the Cut (2003): 0/10. The worst film I've seen in years. It's supposed to be an erotic thriller. It may not scare you, but it will definitely scar you. Not one character to relate to, all are one-dimentional idiots who think they're too cool for school. Only Kevin Bacon (was he needing the money so badly?) is decent, but the existence of the eccentric character he portrays doesn't make sense at all. The amount of sex is unnecessary, its kind is positively appalling - at times it becomes pornographic for no apparent aesthetic reason. An atrocious collage of clichés (with a ridiculously obvious happy ending and all) glued together with sexual depravation, this film is pure brain poison.

MattG, first time I've seen someone not love "Burn After Reading" (I haven't yet seen it myself). How do you think it compares to the other Coen brothers' films like, say, "The Big Lebowski"?

[MattG]

MattG, first time I've seen someone not love "Burn After Reading" (I haven't yet seen it myself). How do you think it compares to the other Coen brothers' films like, say, "The Big Lebowski"?

It's actually somewhat comparable to Lebowski in that it's really character driven versus plot driven.

Fargo is my favorite followed very closely by Blood Simple. The underpinning stories of these two were far more interesting to me than other efforts by the Coens. If Lebowski rates high for you then you might like it more than I did.

[NickAdams]

Has anybody watched Inland Empire?

[mono]

The Science of Sleep
I own it, and watch it every few weeks. Amazing film - Gael Garcia Bernal at his very best, even better than Bad Education, Amores Perros, and Y Tu Mama Tambien combined, in my opinion! Admittedly, despite how many times I have watched it, I tear up more than an emo kid listening to The Dashboard Confessionals in the dark.

Rating: 11/10.

[JacobF]

Wall-E: 8.5/10

I generally dislike Disney but I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Its message was profound for a movie that's supposed to be for kids. I didn't care for the fact that the director tried to mimic R2-D2 a little bit with Wall-E, but it was a fun and interesting movie.

[Janine]

I watched a Kultur film of a Broadway play by Tennessee Williams

Eccentricities of a Nightingale ~ Tennessee Williams

I really liked this production. I copied some parts of this synoposis off the back of the DVD, adding my own words at the end.
Blythe Danner portrays the sensitive spinster, Alma Winemiller, in this emotional drama. Alma is frustrated with her longing for the socially prominent young doctor next door (Frank Langella)...I won't devulge anymore of the DVD text, since I think it gives away the storyline and ultimate climax. She lives with her strict minister father and a mother who has lost touch with reality. This is a sad story of a woman who is highly creative, inwardly beautiful; an emotionally charged, passionate person about life, who is trapped in a family, a sociey, a life she has no way to escape. I think the performances in this production were truly commendable and very nuanced. I liked the contrast between the very energetic and somewhat flamboyant (sometimes eccentric) mannerisms of Alma, as compared to the soft-spoken thoughful, intelligent personality of the young doctor. Some of their interchanges of thought are truly beautiful. A fine play and a great DVD to own; proud to add this one to my other fine Kultur films and plays. I love their offerings. I would have to give this a 10/10 in the play category on film. Very well done indeed!

[manolia]

Has anybody watched Inland Empire?

Yep

[Chava]

Easy Rider 10/10

Xenophobia, naivity, excitement about living, intellectual discussion, and a bad acid trip, what could be better?

[wasel]

I think that the production of Hollywood is rather moving back . I saw a nice movie for Al Bachino it was the Godfather it is really interesting and he was a big star

[GX4146]

Halloween (1978)
Psycho (1960)

great mother and daughter scream tandem

[Niamh]

Niamh, what Hayley said: part of its beauty is its unfathomableness. It's open to interpretation. Basically, however, it seems that the first 'world' is a dream and the second is reality, as dreams basically consist of the jumbling of real elements and the recasting of them in an unreal order, very much dictated by our primal fears and hopes. That's for the overall picture - some little odd details, however, are quite harder to explain.

Thats what i thought! Then i was like... did i miss something? maybe i'm wrong? Just very surreal.

Today's film was *drum roll* The Battleship of Potemkin, 1925

9.5/10

Indeed, a masterpiece. Unlike what I had discussed earlier about silent films, this one had me on the edge of my seat. Masterful story telling, with plenty of suspense and memorable moments, from depictions of savage atrocities to unabashed displays of joy. If it occasionally lulls you sometimes it's just to shake you up in the next moment. I decided not to give it the maximum rating mostly because it's blatantly propaganda, and as a general rule I don't like to be told what to think.

EDIT: Just found out this film is available at the Internet Archive as well: http://www.archive.org/details/BattleshipPotemkin

That is one of the best Silent movies I have ever seen! I will never forget the scene where the mother fleeing mother with her baby gets killed and she leans on the pram by the stair and the baby dies when the buggie gets to the end of the stair. Such a famous scene!