Ace said:

peedub said:

it's about parents and children and how they function together and how everybody everywhere is everybody's child and parent simultaneously and we're all here to live and learn from and take care of each other and how flawed but wonderful that process is...ultimately, whether you want to call it coincidence or serendipity or luck or circumstance, it all matters about as much as if frogs fell from the sky...it don't matter a lick, you're not going to change it...it is what it is for everybody everywhere and the less time you spend trying to know the answers the more time you have to revel in beauty of it.

Now, this sounds right up my alley.

Another reason I'd avoided it is that I used to think Anderson was a twat. I'd seen interviews with him where I felt he came across as an incredibly arrogant ass.

BUT... I saw an interview with him recently that I thought was just charming and thought, 'Maybe the guy's mellowed with age and learned a few things.'

But that runtime, dude... Oy! I'd say that that's my main sticking point at this juncture.

well, he was only about 30 (i think) when 'magnolia' was released...at which point he'd already experienced huge critical and commercial success. i can forgive whatever arrogance he might have exhibited in his 'youth'. ultimately, i've found his engagement with the public through interviews rather gracious. he seems a bit of a hardworking everyman to me. concerned with quality of craft above everything.

i think you could easily watch 'magnolia' in multiple sittings...the story jumps around quite a bit. but i'd certainly advise enduring its length in one (maybe with a break here or there for laundry or a snack on a rainy day).

peedub said:

Ace said:

Now, this sounds right up my alley.

Another reason I'd avoided it is that I used to think Anderson was a twat. I'd seen interviews with him where I felt he came across as an incredibly arrogant ass.

BUT... I saw an interview with him recently that I thought was just charming and thought, 'Maybe the guy's mellowed with age and learned a few things.'

But that runtime, dude... Oy! I'd say that that's my main sticking point at this juncture.

well, he was only about 30 (i think) when 'magnolia' was released...at which point he'd already experienced huge critical and commercial success. i can forgive whatever arrogance he might have exhibited in his 'youth'. ultimately, i've found his engagement with the public through interviews rather gracious. he seems a bit of a hardworking everyman to me. concerned with quality of craft above everything.

i think you could easily watch 'magnolia' in multiple sittings...the story jumps around quite a bit. but i'd certainly advise enduring its length in one (maybe with a break here or there for laundry or a snack on a rainy day).

Good advice. Why didn't I think of that?

I have still not watched it. Oddly I watched Caligula all the way.

2freaky4church1 said:

I have still not watched it. Oddly I watched Caligula all the way.

peedub said:

Ace said:

Now, this sounds right up my alley.

Another reason I'd avoided it is that I used to think Anderson was a twat. I'd seen interviews with him where I felt he came across as an incredibly arrogant ass.

BUT... I saw an interview with him recently that I thought was just charming and thought, 'Maybe the guy's mellowed with age and learned a few things.'

But that runtime, dude... Oy! I'd say that that's my main sticking point at this juncture.

well, he was only about 30 (i think) when 'magnolia' was released...at which point he'd already experienced huge critical and commercial success. i can forgive whatever arrogance he might have exhibited in his 'youth'. ultimately, i've found his engagement with the public through interviews rather gracious. he seems a bit of a hardworking everyman to me. concerned with quality of craft above everything.

i think you could easily watch 'magnolia' in multiple sittings...the story jumps around quite a bit. but i'd certainly advise enduring its length in one (maybe with a break here or there for laundry or a snack on a rainy day).

i don't have vast knowledge of pta, his personality & history and so on, but every time i've heard him speak he always came across to me as incredibly polite & level-headed, even humble. that's based on fairly limited exposure, of course, & i can completely believe that with all the success & acclaim there are points where he wasn't quite like that.

magnolia was a movie that i didn't really like much when i first saw it. after boogie nights, which i loved so much, thought it was such a knock-out punch of a film, sprawling, all over the place, yet somehow perfect, it seemed like an under-whelming, overlong mess. but every time i went back to it, i liked it more, and i now love it plenty. i wouldn't put it at the top of his films, but that's because the films that i slot above it - boogie nights, there will be blood, master, & punch drunk love (his best imo) are all truly great films i think, and magnolia is just slightly below them in my world, while still an extraordinary piece of work.

[Edited 3/1/18 13:43pm]

peedub said:

so, i did indeed re-watch 'magnolia' the other night. it's probably my most watched movie of the past 10 years, and a thing of utter beauty in my estimation. everybody's always 'what's with the frogs?' and 'what's this about?'...i'll give you my take, briefly....

it's about parents and children and how they function together and how everybody everywhere is everybody's child and parent simultaneously and we're all here to live and learn from and take care of each other and how flawed but wonderful that process is...ultimately, whether you want to call it coincidence or serendipity or luck or circumstance, it all matters about as much as if frogs fell from the sky...it don't matter a lick, you're not going to change it...it is what it is for everybody everywhere and the less time you spend trying to know the answers the more time you have to revel in beauty of it.

12/5...the greatest film of the past 25 years; and i look forward to every next viewing.

ridiculously, i also watched 'the lovers' the same night as part of my melora walters mini film fest. it, too, is about the flawed nature of self imposed relationship structures and how one couple chooses to escape them...great performances, especially from tracy letts.

4/5

i've been meaning to check out 'the lovers.' i've heard really good things about it, but i was really put off by that title. every time i hear it, i picture will ferrell & racehl dratch in a hot tub.

damosuzuki said:

peedub said:

well, he was only about 30 (i think) when 'magnolia' was released...at which point he'd already experienced huge critical and commercial success. i can forgive whatever arrogance he might have exhibited in his 'youth'. ultimately, i've found his engagement with the public through interviews rather gracious. he seems a bit of a hardworking everyman to me. concerned with quality of craft above everything.

i think you could easily watch 'magnolia' in multiple sittings...the story jumps around quite a bit. but i'd certainly advise enduring its length in one (maybe with a break here or there for laundry or a snack on a rainy day).

i don't have vast knowledge of pta, his personality & history and so on, but every time i've heard him speak he always came across to me as incredibly polite & level-headed, even humble. that's based on fairly limited exposure, of course, & i can completely believe that with all the success & acclaim there are points where he wasn't quite like that.

magnolia was a movie that i didn't really like much when i first saw it - after boogie nights, which i loved so much, thought it was such a knock-out punch of a film, sprawling, all over the place, yet somehow perfect, it seemed like an under-whelming, overlong mess. but every time i went back to it, i liked it more, and i now love it plenty. i wouldn't put it at the top of his films, but that because the films that i slot above it - boogie nights, there will be blood, master, & punch drunk love (his best imo) are all truly great films i thnk, and magnolia is just slightly lesser, but still great.

I value your opinion, so I'll try and check it out.

I'm not a PTA fan. The only film of his that intrigued me was Boogie Nights and I thought that was a well-made and entertaining film. But it didn't hit me in the feels, ya know? Magnolia sounds like it might.

damosuzuki said:

peedub said:

so, i did indeed re-watch 'magnolia' the other night. it's probably my most watched movie of the past 10 years, and a thing of utter beauty in my estimation. everybody's always 'what's with the frogs?' and 'what's this about?'...i'll give you my take, briefly....

it's about parents and children and how they function together and how everybody everywhere is everybody's child and parent simultaneously and we're all here to live and learn from and take care of each other and how flawed but wonderful that process is...ultimately, whether you want to call it coincidence or serendipity or luck or circumstance, it all matters about as much as if frogs fell from the sky...it don't matter a lick, you're not going to change it...it is what it is for everybody everywhere and the less time you spend trying to know the answers the more time you have to revel in beauty of it.

12/5...the greatest film of the past 25 years; and i look forward to every next viewing.

ridiculously, i also watched 'the lovers' the same night as part of my melora walters mini film fest. it, too, is about the flawed nature of self imposed relationship structures and how one couple chooses to escape them...great performances, especially from tracy letts.

4/5

i've been meaning to check out 'the lovers.' i've heard really good things about it, but i was really put off by that title. every time i hear it, i picture will ferrell & racehl dratch in a hot tub.

Ace said:

damosuzuki said:

i don't have vast knowledge of pta, his personality & history and so on, but every time i've heard him speak he always came across to me as incredibly polite & level-headed, even humble. that's based on fairly limited exposure, of course, & i can completely believe that with all the success & acclaim there are points where he wasn't quite like that.

magnolia was a movie that i didn't really like much when i first saw it - after boogie nights, which i loved so much, thought it was such a knock-out punch of a film, sprawling, all over the place, yet somehow perfect, it seemed like an under-whelming, overlong mess. but every time i went back to it, i liked it more, and i now love it plenty. i wouldn't put it at the top of his films, but that because the films that i slot above it - boogie nights, there will be blood, master, & punch drunk love (his best imo) are all truly great films i thnk, and magnolia is just slightly lesser, but still great.

I value your opinion, so I'll try and check it out.

I'm not a PTA fan. The only film of his that intrigued me was Boogie Nights and I thought that was a well-made and entertaining film. But it didn't hit me in the feels, ya know? Magnolia sounds like it might.

I should clarify that, by "the only film of his that intrigued me...", I mean that none of the others appealed to me based on their loglines, synopses and/or trailers, so I've never watched any of his others.

The Academy Award-Nominated Live Action Short Films 2018:

DeKalb Elementary (2017) - Inspired by an actual 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia. 3.5/5

The Silent Child (2017) - The Silent Child centres around a profoundly deaf four year old girl named Libby who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication. 4/5

My Nephew Emmett (2017) - Based on the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Louis Till. 4.5/5

The Eleven O'Clock (2016) The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other the session gets out of control. 3.5/5

Watu Wote: All of us (2017) - For a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, Muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail. 4/5

sexton said:

The Academy Award-Nominated Live Action Short Films 2018:

DeKalb Elementary (2017) - Inspired by an actual 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia. 3.5/5

The Silent Child (2017) - The Silent Child centres around a profoundly deaf four year old girl named Libby who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication. 4/5

My Nephew Emmett (2017) - Based on the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Louis Till. 4.5/5

The Eleven O'Clock (2016) The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other the session gets out of control. 3.5/5

Watu Wote: All of us (2017) - For a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, Muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail. 4/5

Substitute "Israel" for "Kenya" and "Hamas" (and/or "Hezbollah" and/or "the PLO" [and/or "etc."]) for "the Al-Shabaab", and "Arabs and non-Arabs" for "Muslims and Christians", and this could very well be describing another situation.

These things are so sad and unnecessary and are accomplishing nothing except death and destruction. Where's the film like this about the other conflict I mention?

[Edited 3/2/18 1:33am]

Brendan said:

Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2017)

I left the theater from this movie much like I suspect a zombie would. No drooling, just mentally incapacitated. This is the state I suspect we’re all in much of the time, even if we desperately try to conceal it beneath the sprezzatura of Bond—James Bond.

I try not to be too judgmental in this state, even if someone puts an ax through my forehead. After all, they couldn’t have known. They were just protecting theirs.

I drove home to the Olympics and tried to put to rest that part of my mind the ax didn’t take. Or so I thought. That’s when our crowded subconscious quietly goes about doing most of the work for us.

My thoughts were on double cork 1080s, cross-country ski tips lunged across photos, and deciphering the difference between the athleticism required of curling and that of billiards. Answer: Minnesota Fats never vigorously did anything with a stick outside of the state fair.

Seeking private confirmation against a mirage, there I was at the very next opportunity fluttering my way around this film’s spiral centerpiece all the way back up to the top where the doors swing open to the rarest of properties.

This is reportedly Daniel Day-Lewis’s last performance, and it certainly might be his finest. An idolized dressmaker, Reynolds Woodcock’s well-worn routine for always turning out the highest ideals of independent creation are delivered with such nauseous exactitude you could use a metronome to cue their arrival on the catwalk. Even the way he holds his jaw and adjoins his teeth seem born of endless conflict, and probably genius.

Time to lay the law down at breakfast? Time to meditate on the measurements of another? Time to shed the old skin until you make yourself so sick you start to feel your own mortality?

At times as exhilarating as an intimate jaunt through darkened backroads in an exotic two seater, curiously pulsating with two massively separate ideas of potential. Most of the rest is a misconnect of epic proportions, and eventually a chess match of diabolically twisting wills in the hands of masters.

Stubborn, controlling, and selfishly sickening in their attempts to win at nearly any cost. Once I walked back through all the moves that led to this unnerving checkmate, it became fascinating watching how each pulled their own thread through to a finished masterpiece of caustic dysfunction.

The second film I have seen in as many months that has people hiding secrets in places unlikely ever to be found. The first time in A Ghost Story was within the walls of houses being vacated. This time it’s sewn inside some of the designer coats and dresses.

The thinking in both being that if they should ever forget, it’s always somehow remembered, like some perpetual echo ringing throughout the silence of the universe.

And if ever by chance located, a selfie that managed the most intimate of insights.

Perhaps in some ways how much this movie is stomached is based on how much it also gets viewed as a metaphor for the sometimes incongruent nature of romantic love.

What I’m more sure of at this point is that someone must’ve sewn a trinket from Stanley Kubrick into the lining of my non-designer jacket that held my secret box of M&Ms.

5/5

I have to watch this movie again.

Loving Vincent (2017) - In a story depicted in oil painted animation, a young man comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist's final letter and ends up investigating his final days there.

Who cares about the flimsy narrative? It's all about the exquisitely-rendered animation, reportedly all hand-painted. Wow. 4/5

Ace said:

sexton said:

The Academy Award-Nominated Live Action Short Films 2018:

DeKalb Elementary (2017) - Inspired by an actual 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia. 3.5/5

The Silent Child (2017) - The Silent Child centres around a profoundly deaf four year old girl named Libby who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication. 4/5

My Nephew Emmett (2017) - Based on the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Louis Till. 4.5/5

The Eleven O'Clock (2016) The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other the session gets out of control. 3.5/5

Watu Wote: All of us (2017) - For a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, Muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail. 4/5

Substitute "Israel" for "Kenya" and "Hamas" (and/or "Hezbollah" and/or "the PLO" [and/or "etc."]) for "the Al-Shabaab", and "Arabs and non-Arabs" for "Muslims and Christians", and this could very well be describing another situation.

These things are so sad and unnecessary and are accomplishing nothing except death and destruction. Where's the film like this about the other conflict I mention?

[Edited 3/2/18 1:33am]

If I had time to research, I'm sure I'd find past nominated films about that. There just weren't any this year.

damosuzuki said:

peedub said:

so, i did indeed re-watch 'magnolia' the other night. it's probably my most watched movie of the past 10 years, and a thing of utter beauty in my estimation. everybody's always 'what's with the frogs?' and 'what's this about?'...i'll give you my take, briefly....

it's about parents and children and how they function together and how everybody everywhere is everybody's child and parent simultaneously and we're all here to live and learn from and take care of each other and how flawed but wonderful that process is...ultimately, whether you want to call it coincidence or serendipity or luck or circumstance, it all matters about as much as if frogs fell from the sky...it don't matter a lick, you're not going to change it...it is what it is for everybody everywhere and the less time you spend trying to know the answers the more time you have to revel in beauty of it.

12/5...the greatest film of the past 25 years; and i look forward to every next viewing.

ridiculously, i also watched 'the lovers' the same night as part of my melora walters mini film fest. it, too, is about the flawed nature of self imposed relationship structures and how one couple chooses to escape them...great performances, especially from tracy letts.

4/5

i've been meaning to check out 'the lovers.' i've heard really good things about it, but i was really put off by that title. every time i hear it, i picture will ferrell & racehl dratch in a hot tub.

there's nothing particularly special about it, but it's not hard to watch...i think this is the first time i've seen tracy letts act. i've read or seen most of what he's written, but he's a fine actor. i'll have to seek him out some more.

Death wish (2018) 4/5

red Sparrow 4/5

both highly recommenrd

peedub said:

Brendan said:

Two others that come to mind from that same period that I also watched 3 times in short succession were Eyes Wide Shut and Mulholland Dr.

I saw EWS when it came out and I really liked it. Except for the ending. I thought that was weak.

Ace said:

Brendan said:

Ace said:

I saw EWS when it came out and I really liked it. Except for the ending. I thought that was weak.

Yes, absolutely. Certainly one of the many things troubling my mind at the time. I was an absolute bundle of contradictions. 1. Slightly deflating feeling at the re-realization that I will ever again get to experience another Stanley Kubrick movie (he died just a couple months prior). 2. Despite my reservations, feeling like what I had just experienced might be incredible, even though I certainly didn’t understand it all yet. 3. How soon can I get back?

I thought it was an impressive film that was overshadowed by his death, the "lurid" subject matter, and his own oeuvre.

Cruise was great (as was the incredibly-underappreciated-as-an-actor Sydney Pollack). The suspense was built quite nicely and it certainly kept you riveted!

"I'm a doctor."

Ace said:

Brendan said:

I saw EWS when it came out and I really liked it. Except for the ending. I thought that was weak.

I actually loved the ending of Eyes Wide Shut--or more specifically, that final word by Nicole Kidman. If only more problems could be solved that way.

Loveless (2017) - A couple going through a divorce must team up to find their son who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments.

Long stretches of slow-moving beauty culminate to a final, emotionally-charged confrontation. 4.5/5

sexton said:

Loveless (2017) - A couple going through a divorce must team up to find their son who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments.

Long stretches of slow-moving beauty culminate to a final, emotionally-charged confrontation. 4.5/5

this is also at the top of my 'need to see' list.

are you going to get all the nominated films in this year?

Ace said:

damosuzuki said:

i saw that begin again popped up on netflix. never seen it, but i will definitely give it a watch fairly soon.

Curious to hear your thoughts!

i saw once years ago, and thought it was fine but didn't love it.

Same.

i watched begin again last night. liked it quite a bit, has the same guileless charm as sing street, but there were a few things that kept me from going head over heels for it. there were some contrivances that didn't really work for me, (though they were the kind of contrivances i'd look past in other movies if i'm being honest), and i thought james cordon was incredibly grating and annoying in every scene he was in - one long, wrong, horrible note all the time. and ultimately i just didn't care that much about model-beautiful keira and her rock star ex-boyfriend. certainly not the way i cared about those weird loser kids in sing street.

not to sound too negative, because i really did enjoy it, and i also thought the songs were mostly terrific. alexander definitely has a gift for making perfect pop. most of the music scenes in this film are truly great, and i especially liked ruffalo's bar fantasy.

3/5

[Edited 3/3/18 8:16am]

the perfume of the lady in black (1974) 3/5

most giallos i've seen are a bit puzzling, convoluted, if not flat out incoherent at times. but i think this one takes the prize for making not a single bit of sense.

it was still fun to watch, in the lovably trashy way these films can be when done properly.

damosuzuki said:

Ace said:

Same.

i watched begin again last night. liked it quite a bit, has the same guileless charm as sing street, but there were a few things that kept me from going head over heels for it. there were some contrivances that didn't really work for me, (though they were the kind of contrivances i'd look past in other movies if i'm being honest), and i thought james cordon was incredibly grating and annoying in every scene he was in - one long, wrong, horrible note all the time. and ultimately i just didn't care that much about model-beautiful keira and her rock star ex-boyfriend. certainly not the way i cared about those weird loser kids in sing street.

not to sound too negative, because i really did enjoy it, and i also thought the songs were mostly terrific. alexander definitely has a gift more making perfect pop. most of the music scenes in this film are truly great, and i especially liked ruffalo's bar fantasy.

3/5

This is awesome. I like to hear an honest opinion.

Yeah, it ain't exactly Citizen Kane*.

Corden was in it so little. But I found him believable as the supportive (gay?) friend.

I didn't care that much about Keira or her rock star ex-boyfriend, either. I think I mostly liked it for Ruffalo's character and his arc, and the music.

*If I've seen the whole movie, I don't remember it that well (except for "Rosebud", of course). It just seems to be the shorthand for "a great film".

Ace said:

damosuzuki said:

i watched begin again last night. liked it quite a bit, has the same guileless charm as sing street, but there were a few things that kept me from going head over heels for it. there were some contrivances that didn't really work for me, (though they were the kind of contrivances i'd look past in other movies if i'm being honest), and i thought james cordon was incredibly grating and annoying in every scene he was in - one long, wrong, horrible note all the time. and ultimately i just didn't care that much about model-beautiful keira and her rock star ex-boyfriend. certainly not the way i cared about those weird loser kids in sing street.

not to sound too negative, because i really did enjoy it, and i also thought the songs were mostly terrific. alexander definitely has a gift more making perfect pop. most of the music scenes in this film are truly great, and i especially liked ruffalo's bar fantasy.

3/5

This is awesome. I like to hear an honest opinion.

Yeah, it ain't exactly Citizen Kane*.

Corden was in it so little. But I found him believable as the supportive (gay?) friend.

I didn't care that much about Keira or her rock star ex-boyfriend, either. I think I mostly liked it for Ruffalo's character and his arc, and the music.

*If I've seen the whole movie, I don't remember it that well (except for "Rosebud", of course). It just seems to be the shorthand for "a great film".

ruffalo was great, absolutely, as was (as always) catherine keener. i think she is just gold. i briefly considered mentioning her in that 'under-rated' thread, but i actually don't think she's really under-rated. lots of people love her, and i actually think she gets used quite properly in a lot of things.

[Edited 3/3/18 7:06am]

damosuzuki said:

Ace said:

This is awesome. I like to hear an honest opinion.

Yeah, it ain't exactly Citizen Kane*.

Corden was in it so little. But I found him believable as the supportive (gay?) friend.

I didn't care that much about Keira or her rock star ex-boyfriend, either. I think I mostly liked it for Ruffalo's character and his arc, and the music.

*If I've seen the whole movie, I don't remember it that well (except for "Rosebud", of course). It just seems to be the shorthand for "a great film".

ruffalo was great, absolutely, as was (as always) catherine keener. i think she is just gold. i briefly considered mentioning her in that 'under-rated' thread, but i actually don't think she's really under-rated. lots of people love her, and i actually think she gets used quite properly in a lot of things.

I met Catherine Keener a few years back. She was delightful. And, yeah - not really underrated (unless we're talking about "underrated" in the sense that the average person in middle America probably wouldn't know her name).

I was one of the few who liked 8mm

Ace said: