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Post by MartinT on May 16, 2024 10:32:06 GMT
Have either of you seen Under the Skin? What did you think?
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Post by Tim on May 16, 2024 14:59:13 GMT
Have either of you seen Under the Skin? What did you think? Yes, a number of times Martin. That's about as close as you can get to pure cinema . . . absolutely zero exposition, virtually no dialogue and an enigmatic conclusion.
Jonathan Glazer is a genius and very brave film-maker, telling a story with just strong visuals and great sound isn't something many would attempt, let alone be able to pull off. The sound design from this film and techniques he uses is very apparent in his latest film, The Zone of Interest, which is an absolute masterpiece, but that's been mentioned before by myself and Jules. It's been very interesting watching his trajectory from Sexy Beast, to Birth, this and now The Zone of Interest. He's a true artist, almost recreating himself with each film, instead of just re-wrapping an idea and flogging it to death!
His use of symbolism in Under the Skin is very thought provoking and does tell you a lot of the protagonists change of path. You probably know this already, but not only is there virtually no dialogue but most of what you hear is unscripted as the majority of the people Johansson interacts with are not actors, just random people off the street. They rigged the van with hidden cameras and drove it around filming and after capturing scenes they liked, the crew jumped out of the back of the van and asked the people if they could be used in the film and to sign agreements . . . again, that hidden camera technique is used in The Zone of Interest, to try and recreate realism.
A brilliant film from a visionary film-maker . . . what does it mean to be human?
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Post by julesd68 on May 16, 2024 16:37:04 GMT
So you liked it then Tim!  I've only seen Sexy Beast and Zone of Interest ... |
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Post by Tim on May 16, 2024 16:44:23 GMT
It's visual poetry Jules . . if you ever needed an example of film as art, Under the Skin is most definitely one. I'm a Glazer fan as you probably know.
TBH honest though, I am rather surprised Martin likes it . . . maybe it's Scarlett revealing all!
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Post by petea on May 16, 2024 16:49:14 GMT
I doubt he even noticed!  |
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Post by julesd68 on May 16, 2024 16:53:07 GMT
It's visual poetry Jules . . if you ever needed an example of film as art, Under the Skin is most definitely one. I'm a Glazer fan as you probably know. I always preferred David Soul back in the day ...  Ok it's on the watchlist then ...
Have you seen Perfect Days? Might watch tonight... |
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Post by Tim on May 16, 2024 17:03:59 GMT
Have you seen Perfect Days? I have once at the theatre and again on MUBI.
I really like it, very little dialogue in that one too and Japanese toilets are amazing! You could transpose my quote from above for this film too . . . what's it like to be human, although it's not as relevant as it is for Under the Skin. More like the simple joys of being human.
Perfect Days has that very quiet, gentle and contemplative style that features so much in Asian cinema, especially Japanese films - it's simplicity is it's beauty. Not for everyone though, as not a great deal actually happens - a few people walked out when I saw it at the cinema.
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Post by MartinT on May 16, 2024 17:23:37 GMT
Yes, I'm going with that. Incredibly memorable visually and that goes for the highly unusual score, too. A supremely effective story with no explanation given - just work it out for yourself. Some of the 'actors' were just taken off the street. |
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Post by MartinT on May 16, 2024 17:26:25 GMT
TBH honest though, I am rather surprised Martin likes it . . . maybe it's Scarlett revealing all!
Hey, I also adore 2001: A Space Odyssey and that has precious little dialogue and zero explanation. Spot the similarities? Kubrick was a visionary, too. |
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Post by Tim on May 17, 2024 7:18:17 GMT
Well, I suppose trying to second guess what people like is nigh on impossible, a bit like music . . . I fancy watching it again after all this natter  |
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Post by julesd68 on May 17, 2024 10:08:27 GMT
"Burning" (2018) is a fascinating slow burn of a film set in South Korea, it really needs to be seen.
On the surface it's a "whodunnit" thriller that moves at a very sedate and considered pace but dig further down and it's an incredibly rich film that says a lot about modern society. What strikes me most is the way it shows the malaise of two opposite ends of South Korea - the seemingly indolent and intensely bored rich and a working class that works at a subsistence level. Male rage and a deeply rooted mysoginy both simmer throughout the film. The performances are just immaculate, you feel so drawn into these disparate lives. How is it that South Korea manages to produce such superior acting talent? I have no idea but I'll need to see this again for sure.
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Post by Tim on May 17, 2024 14:18:48 GMT
With all the layers, symbolism and subtext in Burning, you can watch it many times Jules and still be transfixed - flawless cinema. I try not to wax too lyrical about it as I think it should be seen without many expectations, just the trust that it's very highly regarded by both critics and public alike, which you've just endorsed. I think it's his best film
I saw Lee Chang-dong being interviewed at Cannes after it was screened and he was being asked some really dumb ass questions by the press. I don't remember the questions, but I do his reply as I sent it to my film buff nephew. I thought it was brilliant;
"In this film not many explanations are given, much remains very ambiguous, so the viewer has an important part to play . . . so it involves a lot on the part of the spectator"
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Post by julesd68 on May 17, 2024 15:14:23 GMT
Indeed Tim, I was glad that I saw the film without much in the way of background or expectation, save your recommendation. I think anyone with an enquiring mind who likes to get a glimpse into distant cultures will be very well rewarded by this film.
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Post by Tim on May 17, 2024 15:44:09 GMT
Have you seen many of Park Chan-wook's films;
Oldboy, the Vengeance films, JSA (Joint Security Area) and his latest masterpiece, Decision to Leave?
Edit: Maybe I could start a South Korean/Japanese cinema thread if there's any interest?
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Post by julesd68 on May 17, 2024 19:40:51 GMT
Maybe I could start a South Korean/Japanese cinema thread if there's any interest?
That's an excellent idea Tim, I would love it ... |
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Post by MartinT on May 17, 2024 20:32:05 GMT
Tremendous film with a style all its own. |
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Post by Slinger on May 18, 2024 12:54:07 GMT
Tetsuo: The Iron Man? Onibaba? Ju-On? Ringu? Noroi? Are you sensing a theme yet? |
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Post by Tim on May 19, 2024 11:05:47 GMT
I've only seen Sexy Beast and Zone of Interest ... I rewatched Under the Skin Jules, still a great film but not IMO as good as the two you've seen, which for me are both 5/5
Birth would be a 3/5 and UtS would be a 4/5
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Post by Tim on May 19, 2024 11:15:12 GMT
Tetsuo: The Iron Man? Onibaba? Ju-On? Ringu? Noroi? Are you sensing a theme yet? And 1999's Audition, possibly my favourite Japanese horror. |
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Post by rfan8312 on May 19, 2024 21:30:22 GMT
I heard about Audition ages ago and heard that it was bonkers. Somehow I've never found it anywhere.
For years I've wondered which film this is: a girl sitting on her bed realizes that her sister who she shares a room with is not in her bed then moments later the sister comes crawling into the room and you don't see the sister face its turned away. Then she stops and slowly turns her head and the other girl is frightened out of her mind by something.
I thought it was also a Japanese horror but not sure which one.
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