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Post by rfan8312 on Feb 3, 2020 20:12:47 GMT
Tim - no Kurosawa ? Seven Samurai one of my favourites of all time I thought that would have been far too obvious a suggestion for someone interested in FL films, but I agree, a fantastic film  A full list of the FL films I like would run on for many pages Mike and send most people to sleep.
Saw The Lighthouse yesterday, my goodness, that's a film and a half! I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like it - I'm still ruminating over just what I witnessed in an attempt to make full sense of it.
Extraordinary cinema and a film that really has to be seen in a theatre, in order to experience the full on visceral impact.
A couple of weeks ago I watched this film for the first time, during a flu, at home with a massive soundbar behind me really kicking in, and I ended up becoming a little obsessed with this film. I had to rent it on prime, but the effect of the setting was so potent, that I felt the need to keep re-experiencing it, paying $5 each time to rent it a total of 3 times over the course of a week or so. It's not a life changer but if you like this kind of thing it's a real hoot. Both actors imo completely disappear. |
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Post by petea on Feb 3, 2020 21:18:08 GMT
"Gundermann" a superb biopic of the East German singer / songwriter with a twist: exploring his role as a Stasi informant. And on Saturday we are going to see his band at Lindenpark, Babelsberg, but sadly without the man himself as he died in '98 at the age of 43.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 3, 2020 21:26:56 GMT
That sounds most interesting.
Couple of old FL favourites of mine -
The 400 Blows
The Seventh Seal
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Post by MartinT on Feb 3, 2020 21:34:16 GMT
The Lives of Others. Absolutley superb but very depressing story of everyone watching everyone else in East Germany, where you would be shopped to the secret police for the slightest infraction.
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Post by petea on Feb 3, 2020 21:42:03 GMT
Yes, it's interesting talking with our friends here about those times.
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Post by Tim on Feb 7, 2020 18:45:38 GMT
A couple of weeks ago I watched this film for the first time, during a flu, at home with a massive soundbar behind me really kicking in, and I ended up becoming a little obsessed with this film. The Lighthouse is quite something and I know what you mean, it really gets under your skin.
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I saw Parasite for the third time this morning and without any reservations I can say it's the best film I have ever seen - as close to perfection as it gets IMO.
I'm in awe of every single element, the script, acting (by the entire cast), cinematography, directing, editing, score and sets. It's a true work of art, bravo Bong Joon-ho.
It absolutely should get best picture on Sunday night, but it won't, 1917 will. Also an exceptional film and the best of 2019, but Parasite is the film of the decade. Director Bong should get best Director as well, but he won't!
It's won 177 awards so far, that's quite something for what could possibly be considered a niche Korean film.
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Post by Tim on Feb 7, 2020 18:51:47 GMT
Oh, by the way . . . this is absolutely awful - really bad and a very poor rip off of Alien. It's Alien underwater.
Nasty film!
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 8, 2020 1:03:06 GMT
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Post by Tim on Feb 8, 2020 8:13:56 GMT
Yup, considered and dismissed as just another film critics opinion. Interesting read though and as valid an opinion as anyone else's, but I think he's missed the point about why it's been hailed as ground-breaking - it's not the story that's ground-breaking? He's also neglected to mention Lance Corporal Alfred H. Mendes (the director's Grandfather) who served in the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corp and is a good part of why the film exists.
I do find a lot of today's Guardian Media Group plc journalists perplexing. Recently two reviewed the film JoJo Rabbit, Peter Bradshaw (Guardian) gave it 1 star and Simran Hans (Observer) gave it 5 stars. Now that's head scratchingly confusing!
As an aside, there are apparently 61 edits in 1917 (Hitchcock's Rope has 10) - I think I can spot around half of them, but they've managed to cover them up very well indeed.
Does it deserve all the hype? . . . I think so, as Roger Deakins cinematography is stunning and for me that's the real star of the film, not the story or the faux 'long take', it's the actual craft of the film as a visual medium. If he doesn't win the Oscar for that? . . . . well.
An easy script to read as the film doesn't have a lot of dialogue.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 8, 2020 12:48:40 GMT
When it comes down to it, a film critic is just a bloke who's seen loads of films and has seen them all through the lens of his own personal tastes, likes, and dislikes. We also have the "cult of personality" merchants who believe that they're far superior to the actual films, actors, actresses, directors... They're a bit like the "bloke down the pub" who could pick a far better footy team than the national manger. Tossers.
There are a few exceptions, I think we both appreciate Mark Kermode, but they are few and far between. There aren't many critics who, if they recommended a film (or branded it a stinker) would actually influence my decision to see it or not.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 8, 2020 13:12:16 GMT
I like Mark Kermode but even he doesn't always get it right - in my opinion, of course!
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 8, 2020 13:14:44 GMT
I linked to that review purely as it raises some intelligent points in the context of the film being so widely and wildly applauded.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 8, 2020 14:06:19 GMT
I've mentioned it before, but do see The Lives of Others if you can. Intellectually horrifying and repulsive, but a must-see if you want any inkling of what it must have been like to live in East Germany during the Cold War. It's the lengths that the authorities went to, to spy on ordinary people, that beggars belief.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 8, 2020 14:50:47 GMT
I've just heard, on BBC's Talking Pictures, that HBO is to make a TV series based on the film Parasite. If anyone is going to do it, they're possibly the best bet. They're not known for pulling their punches.
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Post by Tim on Feb 8, 2020 19:10:35 GMT
When it comes down to it, a film critic is just a bloke who's seen loads of films and has seen them all through the lens of his own personal tastes, likes, and dislikes. We also have the "cult of personality" merchants who believe that they're far superior to the actual films, actors, actresses, directors... They're a bit like the "bloke down the pub" who could pick a far better footy team than the national manger. Tossers. There are a few exceptions, I think we both appreciate Mark Kermode, but they are few and far between. There aren't many critics who, if they recommended a film (or branded it a stinker) would actually influence my decision to see it or not. Agreed.
I suppose I'm expecting the impossible, but I kind of feel a paid professional should at least be marginally objective, but a swing of 1 star to 5 stars seems rather extreme when reviewing the same content and employed by the same media group - or am I being naive?
I think as my normal point of reference is Mark Kermode, I expect the same level of objectivity he seems capable of. He will often review a film he's not that keen on, but is still able to objectively summarise it and give a balanced opinion highlighting it's strengths - or it seems that way to me. He's also not averse to admitting he got it wrong.
Hey ho, as you say I rarely let that influence me as my MO is to often see the film and then read/watch the reviews, as I prefer to go in cold. Not ideal, as I get caught out by some real stinkers and have to walk out. The flip side I find preferable though, as I often discover some absolute gems without knowing anything about them beforehand, so there's a real wow factor as I have no expectations. Parasite is a case in point, as I deliberately avoided all the reviews and closed my eyes during any trailers, so I didn't have the faintest idea what it was about, apart from seeing the movie poster. But I am a Bong Joon-ho fan, so I felt safe it wasn't going to be a stinker.
I did however see Cats after knowing about it beforehand and rather than putting me off, made me want to see it even more. It really is a stinker of a film, but I thought it wasn't quite as bad as portrayed and I often see much worse films!
Yup The Lives of Others is in my FL movie recommendation list to rfan8312 Martin. It's a cracker for sure |
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Post by Tim on Feb 8, 2020 19:14:57 GMT
I linked to that review purely as it raises some intelligent points in the context of the film being so widely and wildly applauded. I'm glad you did, as it does raise some interesting points. I don't totally agree with them, but it was interesting nonetheless, so thanks |
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Post by Slinger on Feb 8, 2020 20:31:41 GMT
Before the 2020 Oscars, come The 2020 Razzies. Nominations for Worst Picture are... Cats – Debra Hayward, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tom Hooper The Fanatic – Daniel Grodnik, Oscar Generale, Bill Kenwright The Haunting of Sharon Tate – Lucas Jarach, Daniel Farrands, Eric Brenner A Madea Family Funeral – Ozzie Areu, Will Areu, Mark E. Swinton Rambo: Last Blood – Avi Lerner, Kevin King Templeton, Yariv Lerner, Les Weldon A full list of categories and nominees can be found here |
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Post by Tim on Feb 10, 2020 8:24:57 GMT
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Post by Slinger on Feb 10, 2020 9:20:38 GMT
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Post by Tim on Feb 10, 2020 10:26:49 GMT
Indeed, I'm really chuffed for Bong Joon-ho, he's such a fantastic film maker and comes across as a really great human being too.
It is clearly the best film of 2019 and I really hoped it would win, but I wasn't sure the Academy was about to make history. As good as the top tip 1917 is, it's just not in the same league as Parasite as a complete work. All four of those wins were without doubt deserved.
In fact all the major categories I pretty much agree with, apart from Renée Zellweger. It was a very good performance, but every other nominee in her category I thought was better, especially Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson. That's Hollywood awarding Judy Garland IMO.
There were I thought some glaring nomination omissions too, Greta Gerwig, Uncut Gems and Adam Sandler to name 3. But overall one of the better years for the Academy ...... still a lot more work to do regarding diversity though.
Well must dash, I'm off to the movies . . . .
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