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[AlternativeUlster]

also, seriously? you are going to give me mumblecore over all the diverse range of movies of the early 90s? do you think posion or léolo could be made today?

I am talking about what the kids are doing today. It is easy and fun for the filmmakers to make and seems to be paying off for these young directors. I of course would take Poison or Léolo over the likes of another Harmony and Me, The Puffy Chair, or Beeswax (which I actually enjoyed all of them somewhat) but sadly, the current crop of kids don't have to try as hard as filmmakers from 2 decades ago since digital filmmaking has broke through and made it cheap and accessible to anyone to make a film.

 

[HiResDes]

Just because they aren't many truly independent movies being, doesn't mean that the spirit and aesthetics of independent film have been lost. Movies like Dogtooth and Enter the Void are great examples of how experimentation is still being implemented, and there are numerous more films (especially of the foreign variety) that showcase true auteur vision.

 

[afternoon delight]

True Grit - Quality all around. Also, beautiful to look at and always interesting. Coens can't be stopped.

The Thin Red Line - Sixth viewing, yeah, it's not for everyone, but I fucking love it. What's wrong with bloodsoaked poems?

Moon - Fourth time watching it, and I'll never cease to be amazed at the feats this film offers. One: Double performance. Two: The

Spoiler

clone's deterioration is excruciating to watch.

A Prophet - 2nd viewing, just as amazing as the first. Knowing the plot doesn't change it's power and tempo/pace.

All the President's Men - 2nd viewing, really wonderful to just watch the story unfold.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

Just because they aren't many truly independent movies being, doesn't mean that the spirit and aesthetics of independent film have been lost. Movies like Dogtooth and Enter the Void are great examples of how experimentation is still being implemented, and there are numerous more films (especially of the foreign variety) that showcase true auteur vision.

Who will stand up for the American front though? Where are our George Kuchars and Stan Brakhages of the new generation? Is Cory McAbee the savior for truly wonderfully strange independent American cinema?

Hey Swoon, have you seen the American Astronaut by the way?

 

[sf2fanatic]

Equilibration- Kinda cheesy but it was enjoyable, I expected a twist at the end, but it was pretty tame.

The Fighter- Another Bale flick, very well acted. Whalberg was pretty stiff but that could be a proper imitation, I wouldn't know. I liked it enough to check out some of the history on these fighters, Ward was actually on the cover of Fight Night! And Sugar totally tripped.

I went last night to see it and it was good. I wished they threw in a fight with him and Gotti. Those were Epic...

 

[swoon]

I am talking about what the kids are doing today. It is easy and fun for the filmmakers to make and seems to be paying off for these young directors. I of course would take Poison or Léolo over the likes of another Harmony and Me, The Puffy Chair, or Beeswax (which I actually enjoyed all of them somewhat) but sadly, the current crop of kids don't have to try as hard as filmmakers from 2 decades ago since digital filmmaking has broke through and made it cheap and accessible to anyone to make a film.

i guess it doesn't seem any different to me than a hollywood drama made with dv gear. that's barely a new genre and barely an alternative regardless of my disdain for the films. it also how isn't it just an extension of what korine was doing made by people who grew up on tv instead of film?

also how isn't this proof of the problem? pick any couple of years since return of the secaucus 7 and we wouldn't be able to have this conversation. why since 2002 or so has there been a shift away from alternative narratives and storytelling expect for maybe one genre? i think a better culture critic could ties this to the death of viable subcultures in america, the death uniqueness and the rise of a pan culture with the internet.

 

[Danielsan]

Somewhere - ZZZzzzzzz
My god I haven't been this bored in ages I'd rather watch Enter the Void another 5 times. That movie became somewhat boring due to it's length, but at least the visuals kept you enticed. I can't believe Sofia Copolla also made my favorite movie. Guess all the stars must have aligned properly when she made Lost in Translation.

 

[swoon]

Who will stand up for the American front though? Where are our George Kuchars and Stan Brakhages of the new generation? Is Cory McAbee the savior for truly wonderfully strange independent American cinema?

Hey Swoon, have you seen the American Astronaut by the way?

i liked amercan astronaut, but that's almost 10 years old now has he even doing anything else? him and guy maddin are doing fun things but i'd sell them both for something like ju dou or even sex lies and videotape or lovers on the bridge.

i'll stop going to cinema if our only hope is dogtooth and enter the void.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
After enjoying Baraka so much i had to watch this one too. These movies are just perfect to think about stuff and to just sit back and relax. And this one also felt a bit like travelling back in time to the early 80's.

Videodrome (1983)
Typical Cronenberg stuff. I enjoyed it but as in most of his films it felt as if something is missing. It also has this for him typical low budget TV-movie look that i don't like.

The King of Comedy (1982)
One of the best from Scorsese that i have seen. Great actors, great story, great characters. The standup humor felt a bit aged but that added to the charisma of the film.

Berlin Calling (2008)
Turned out to be one of the better German films of the recent years. Really liked how authentic it felt. It's about a DJ who struggles with drugs and ends up in psychiatry. The soundtrack is fantastic if you like electronic stuff. The lead also did a great job considering that he's not actualy an actor but a real DJ from Berlin's club scene.

Trailer

 

[AlternativeUlster]

i guess it doesn't seem any different to me than a hollywood drama made with dv gear. that's barely a new genre and barely an alternative regardless of my disdain for the films. it also how isn't it just an extension of what korine was doing made by people who grew up on tv instead of film?

also how isn't this proof of the problem? pick any couple of years since return of the secaucus 7 and we wouldn't be able to have this conversation. why since 2002 or so has there been a shift away from alternative narratives and storytelling expect for maybe one genre? i think a better culture critic could ties this to the death of viable subcultures in america, the death uniqueness and the rise of a pan culture with the internet.

I think mumblecore is in a way destroying fine American art house cinema piece by piece for making filmmakers getting lazier, don't get me wrong on that. Mumblecore to me feels like a new(ish) neo-realism genre that isn't overtly tragic since nothing really all that terrible occurs to these filmmaker's lives so they mostly whine about relationships, coffee shop philosophies, and small mishaps that came along the way. I think the difference between this and Hollywood drama is that its approach to the characters who feel like peers and its comedy lifted from Woody Allen but without the snappy wit and replaced with silent tensions and misspoken words.

I think they defer from Korine for he had a strong unique voice (key word "had" since Mister Lonely felt too produced and pandered to a typical narrative and Trash Humpers felt like someone trying to make a Harmony Korine film without understanding his works) which many critics at the time didn't understand but are now considered to be great films (just talking about Gummo and Julien Donkey Boy). You can sort of look at it like a flip version of chill wave. Chill wave was greatly influenced by Ariel Pink for it being this lost AM pop music that was recorded in someone's bedroom but instead of being focused on the way his songs were filled with bubble gum, a lot of chill Wave feels distilled and distraught. Call mumblecore being the band that was influenced by chill wave who was influenced by Ariel Pink and in the end, sounds like a Ariel Pink knock off who didn't even know Ariel Pink existed. It is watered down but it is what the kids like and as we get older, we stop understanding the kids. I would love some filmmaker to rise out of the wake of mumblecore and be the newest Peter Greenaway but I suppose we do have time on our side. Like I said earlier, if you want change, you have to try and do it yourself.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

i liked amercan astronaut, but that's almost 10 years old now has he even doing anything else? him and guy maddin are doing fun things but i'd sell them both for something like ju dou or even sex lies and videotape or lovers on the bridge.

i'll stop going to cinema if our only hope is dogtooth and enter the void.

He did a serial called Stingray Sam which is quite great actually. He just finished a microbudget film which hopefully we be shown in festivals soon and has finally secured cash for his Werewolves from the Midwest film.

I would never trade My Winnipeg for anything in the world by the way.

 

[HiResDes]

What about Haneke? You don't think the stuff he's doing is unique?

 

[Joe Prodigy]

Just finished "The Good. The Bad. The Weird." It was really good. I was digging most of the shots in the movie. I also really like the three main characters. The ending of the movie was so intense.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

What about Haneke? You don't think the stuff he's doing is unique?

I am just looking at American filmmakers. There is also Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Roy Andersson if you wanted to find current filmmakers who supply unique narratives.

 

[HiResDes]

I am just looking at American filmmakers. There is also Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Roy Andersson if you wanted to find current filmmakers who supply unique narratives.

Oh yeah America is kind of fucked, but at least we're not constantly getting barraged by Friedberg and Seltzer parodies anymore. Those guys are to film-making what KFC is to chicken.

 

[TheKaeptain]

Just finished "The Good. The Bad. The Weird." It was really good. I was digging most of the shots in the movie. I also really like the three main characters. The ending of the movie was so intense.

Do you know which cut you watched?

 

[Net_Wrecker]

Just finished "The Good. The Bad. The Weird." It was really good. I was digging most of the shots in the movie. I also really like the three main characters. The ending of the movie was so intense.

Is it crazy that I've seen this like 4 times since last year, and every time I see it mentioned I STILL want to go watch it again? I absolutely love it.

 

[swoon]

He did a serial called Stingray Sam which is quite great actually. He just finished a microbudget film which hopefully we be shown in festivals soon and has finally secured cash for his Werewolves from the Midwest film.

I would never trade My Winnipeg for anything in the world by the way.

yea i regret saying that already. my winnipeg is brilliant.

stingray sam isn't where i have a good ratio, that's bumming me out.

haneke doesn't light my world on fire. we watched the fourth man tonight. made me hate black swan even more.

 

[TheKaeptain]

Is it crazy that I've seen this like 4 times since last year, and every time I see it mentioned I STILL want to go watch it again? I absolutely love it.

I'm the same way with A Bittersweet Life. Looks like I am going to be that way with I Saw The Devil too. :lol

 

[Drewsky]

Just watched The People Under The Stairs on Netflix Instant. It was a pretty fun movie, kinda dumb.

 

[big ander]

Iron Man 2
Watched it again after seeing it in theaters because I got it on BD and my brothers wanted to watch. It's a dumb but fun action flick. I feel like it gets more hate than it deserves. I like it better than the first because it's got better action. And that's all I'm looking for. Plus, ScarJo. MMMMMMMM

Buried
The trailers for this enthralled me, but I never saw this in theaters. Well, I just checked it out now, and god fucking damn. Spectacular film. Cortes nails the feel of the claustrophobia, but the camera movement is still diverse enough to stay fresh throughout the 90 minute run time. He does a lot of cool stuff with the camera, actually. The music was maybe a bit overdone, but still enjoyable. The forced practical lights were awesome, and did a lot to help the mood. Dialogue in all the phone calls was well written. The plot served to make some cool statements on the place of individuals in world affairs and commented on how we communicate now a days. But what holds this all together is the amazing performance from Reynolds. The man can fucking act. He walks a line between panicked and despaired very well with many subtle cues that make the performance feel complete.

Spoiler

And that ending :,,( so fucking heartbreaking

 

[Count Dookkake]

yea i regret saying that already. my winnipeg is brilliant.

stingray sam isn't where i have a good ratio, that's bumming me out.

haneke doesn't light my world on fire. we watched the fourth man tonight. made me hate black swan even more.

The awesome Verhoeven flick?

 

[AkuMifune]

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) - Great film easily recommended to any fan of the famous consulting detective. Smarter than it seems to be for a long time, it kind of masquerades as a lighthearted affair until the final act of the film when it becomes really clever and emotional, an awesome representation of the Holmes character highlighted by great chemistry between Holmes/Watson as well (I particularly like this Watson). Bonus points for Christopher Lee as Mycroft!

 

[Jay Sosa]

Watching the "Family Jewels" with Jerry Lewis, I saw all his films when I was young and he heavily influenced my sense of humor.

Now watching it 20 years later the movie has not lost anything of its hilarity or charm.

And wtf at the 5.8 on imdb.com..

Also saw the first half an hour of Avatar, wasn't that interesting to keep me watching(saw it on Pay TV) and those blue thingies looked ridiculous.

And watched Ratatouille, nice movie with stunning visuals (maybe thats why I thought these avatar people looked shitty) and nice design, although it was a bit I dunno, there wasn't anything happening (rat helps cooking, guy gets girl and critic loves the food) and it hardly was funny at all. Seems that I had wrong expectations watching it.

 

[Fallout-NL]

Buried
The trailers for this enthralled me, but I never saw this in theaters. Well, I just checked it out now, and god fucking damn. Spectacular film. Cortes nails the feel of the claustrophobia, but the camera movement is still diverse enough to stay fresh throughout the 90 minute run time. He does a lot of cool stuff with the camera, actually. The music was maybe a bit overdone, but still enjoyable. The forced practical lights were awesome, and did a lot to help the mood. Dialogue in all the phone calls was well written. The plot served to make some cool statements on the place of individuals in world affairs and commented on how we communicate now a days. But what holds this all together is the amazing performance from Reynolds. The man can fucking act. He walks a line between panicked and despaired very well with many subtle cues that make the performance feel complete.

Spoiler

And that ending :,,( so fucking heartbreaking

I agree, it was really good. Some of those phone calls had me gasping in disbelief.

 

[swoon]

The awesome Verhoeven flick?

yup. so good.

 

[thehillissilent]

Splice: The first 3/4 was very good. I didn't care much for the ending, but you could predict where it was going anyway half-way through the film. I'm glad that they did focus a lot on character development.

 

[kharma45]

Finally got round to watching Gran Torino after having had it recorded for months, awesome film.

 

[The Gaming Gamer]

I tried to watch some of my movies that were expiring on Netflix instant:

Die Hard 2 and 3: Finally watched them all, love the original and these 2 were better than I expected.

Stardust Memories: I'm a Woody Allen fan so I enjoyed it, great comedy and characters and interesting autobiographical satire.

Love Me If You Dare: Brilliant, I loved it. I usually can not stand romance movies but this was such a fresh take on the genre. I liked the imagery and whimsical feel of the movie and how the story was not cliche or predictable. Reminded me of Amelie which I also loved, I really need to watch more French films any recommendations?

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

Nice to see somebody else on the Stardust Memories train. I would probably put that as my #2 Woody Allen joint, just behind Crimes and Misdemeanors.

 

[Leatherface]

I cannot recall the last film I saw...maybe it was "Amores Perros", which I thought was good. Or maybe "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"...which I thought was decent, too.

But today...today, I took the morning off to see one film I've been anxious to see for a long time:

Should be great.

LTTP. But I wanted to say that this movie is fucking FANTASTIC. I urge all to watch this!

 

[JumpJeff84]

Questions for you guys like Swoon, Alternative Ulster, Snowman etc...

You guys obviously watch a lot of movies. I'm curious...what's your lifestyle like? How many movies do you watch in a week? How old are you guys? Do you have jobs? Do you have kids? What other hobbies do you have? Do you rent your movies? Download them? Stream them?

If it comes off as condescending or judgemental, I don't mean it that way. I'm just honestly curious as to the lifestyle of someone who watches so much film.

 

[Expendable.]

Questions for you guys like Swoon, Alternative Ulster, Snowman etc...

You guys obviously watch a lot of movies. I'm curious...what's your lifestyle like? How many movies do you watch in a week? How old are you guys? Do you have jobs? Do you have kids? What other hobbies do you have? Do you rent your movies? Download them? Stream them?

If it comes off as condescending or judgemental, I don't mean it that way. I'm just honestly curious as to the lifestyle of someone who watches so much film.

I've watched well over 300 films this year. I'm recently out of college (w/ a gf). Age 22. My hobby/passion is my film website. I have another job. I see nearly everything new in theaters. For everything else, Netflix Watch Instantly is very useful and the occasional renting. Because of my site and my love for doing it, I live, breathe, sleep film pretty much 24/7.

I hope that answers some questions about my sad existence.

 

[Decado]

Is it crazy that I've seen this like 4 times since last year, and every time I see it mentioned I STILL want to go watch it again? I absolutely love it.

I desperately wantn the Japanese Blu-ray (with both cuts)...but it costs a fortune

Why can't they release it in NA? Bastards :mad

 

[JumpJeff84]

I've watched well over 300 films this year. I'm recently out of college (w/ a gf). Age 22. My hobby/passion is my film website. I have another job. I see nearly everything new in theaters. For everything else, Netflix Watch Instantly is very useful and the occasional renting. Because of my site and my love for doing it, I live, breathe, sleep film pretty much 24/7.

I hope that answers some questions about my sad existence.

Well, if you get that much joy out of film, that's not really sad. I'm pretty obsessive about funk music myself; I'm always making it/listening to it.

 

[Expendable.]

Well, if you get that much joy out of film, that's not really sad. I'm pretty obsessive about funk music myself; I'm always making it/listening to it.

Yeah, I absolutely love it. I can just see it being considered that by others.

 

[TheKaeptain]

I desperately wantn the Japanese Blu-ray (with both cuts)...but it costs a fortune

Why can't they release it in NA? Bastards :mad

This one has both cuts?

 

[Az987]

I watched Salt the other day. I bought the steelbook blu-ray and it has 3 versions so I decided to watch the director's cut. I liked it, it reminded me a lot of the Bourne movies.

Also watched Die Hard. I've seen it a bunch of times and it never gets old. Great action movie.

Finally, I watched A Christmas Carol. It was the one with Jim Carrey in it. I liked it more then I thought I would.

Next up is the A team. Anyone know which version is better, Extended or theatrical?

 

[JumpJeff84]

Yeah, I absolutely love it. I can just see it being considered that by others.

As someone who's seen so much film, what do you think of Boogie Nights? It's my favorite movie ever. I used to watch a lot of film, but now I only see between 5-10 movies a year maybe. That includes theatre, DVD, everything.

For some reason though, I always get joy from Boogie Nights. I watch it once or twice a year.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

Questions for you guys like Swoon, Alternative Ulster, Snowman etc...

You guys obviously watch a lot of movies. I'm curious...what's your lifestyle like? How many movies do you watch in a week? How old are you guys? Do you have jobs? Do you have kids? What other hobbies do you have? Do you rent your movies? Download them? Stream them?

If it comes off as condescending or judgemental, I don't mean it that way. I'm just honestly curious as to the lifestyle of someone who watches so much film.

I am 28, work full time at a Buffalo Exchange, I have a girlfriend, no kids, I make art and will have some pieces being shown in February, I used to make music but I am on a slight hiatus for I am too broke to buy new equipment (last show I played at was at a International Noise Conference earlier this year), I watch at least 5 movies per week at least, I mostly rent them from I Luv Video (best video selection maybe ever) but will download them if they are OOP or go see them at the Alamo if I get the chance (saw Holy Mountain on a film print for the first time last night, I love Austin, TX by the way), and yeah, my biggest hobby with the girl is watching movies but sadly, she has poor vision and can't read the subtitles on foreign films so I have to find time on my schedule to watch them (she is Russian however so I can at least fill my quota on Tarkovsky in the upcoming months). It took me a week to find time to finally get around to Wild Grass and I just rented Dillinger is Dead but I don't think I will be able to get around to it until maybe early morning before I have to go to work. I also go out to bars about twice per week with various sorts of friends. My new year's resolution for 2011 is to start writing again since this entire year all I have been doing is touching up on old stories and I also want to try and trick my friends into letting me borrow their film equipment so I can start making ultra-modernist film.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

As someone who's seen so much film, what do you think of Boogie Nights? It's my favorite movie ever. I used to watch a lot of film, but now I only see between 5-10 movies a year maybe. That includes theatre, DVD, everything.

For some reason though, I always get joy from Boogie Nights. I watch it once or twice a year.

Ever see I Am Cuba? The pool scene in Boogie Nights is pretty much completely lifted from I Am Cuba. I loved Boogie Nights when I was younger but I haven't seen it since it was first released on VHS well over a decade ago. Punch Drunk Love is still my favorite PT Anderson film though.

 

[HiResDes]

As someone who's seen so much film, what do you think of Boogie Nights? It's my favorite movie ever. I used to watch a lot of film, but now I only see between 5-10 movies a year maybe. That includes theatre, DVD, everything.

For some reason though, I always get joy from Boogie Nights. I watch it once or twice a year.

IMO anything P.T.A. touched is certified gold. I think he's the second best director in American cinema today.

 

[JumpJeff84]

Ever see I Am Cuba? The pool scene in Boogie Nights is pretty much completely lifted from I Am Cuba. I loved Boogie Nights when I was younger but I haven't seen it since it was first released on VHS well over a decade ago. Punch Drunk Love is still my favorite PT Anderson film though.

I haven't seen I Am Cuba. I remember PT admitting that he ripped that scene from that movie on the commentary track. Also, a lot of the Dirk Digger documentary stuff shot by Amber Waves is amost 100 % lifted from 'Exhausted', a John Holmes documentary.

Try watching Boogie Nights again, especially if you haven't seen it in a while. There's so much stuff crammed into that movie, most of which you've likely forgot. The new BluRay looks pretty nice.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

IMO anything P.T.A. touched is certified gold. I think he's the second best director in American cinema today.

Who do you think is the first?

 

[-PXG-]

Unstoppable - Not nearly as good as Pelham, but I suppose a decent, somewhat suspensful train movie.

No Country for Old Men - Finally got around to seeing it. Enjoyed every second of it. I absolutely loved the tension and the constant, looming sense of danger.

True Grit - Another Coen success. Though the story was kind of weak, the characters and the dialogue especially, is what made this film worth seeing. Jeff Bridges was fantastic as Rooster Cogburn

Tron: Legacy - I was really surpised at how good this was. Sure, it's sci-fi, so there are going to be a lot of contradictions and things open to debate, but it was still a fun movie. It's not something to be taken too seriously. The art direction, CG and cinematography were superb. Of course, Daft Punk did an amazing job on the score too.

 

[TheKaeptain]

IMO anything P.T.A. touched is certified gold. I think he's the second best director in American cinema today.

IMO he is the best American director working right now.

 

[AlternativeUlster]

I haven't seen I Am Cuba. I remember PT admitting that he ripped that scene from that movie on the commentary track. Also, a lot of the Dirk Digger documentary stuff shot by Amber Waves is amost 100 % lifted from 'Exhausted', a John Holmes documentary.

Try watching Boogie Nights again, especially if you haven't seen it in a while. There's so much stuff crammed into that movie, most of which you've likely forgot. The new BluRay looks pretty nice.

I might just buy it from Amazon. I have a 50 dollar gift card and I am not sure what to use it on. What do you guys think? I need some popcorn films so I can just put it on the background for all I have is about 14 Criterion Blu-Rays and Observe and Report :lol. Sort of want to get Santa Sangre when it comes out but I might just get that when Army of Shadows finally comes out and see if I can buy it in store.

My cart so far has:

The Fountain
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Speed Racer
Kung-Fu Hustle
Time Bandits
Fargo
A Clockwork Orange
Dr. Strangelove
Sex, Lies, and Videotape

I need to cut it down to 50 bucks but if there are some other cheap Blu-Rays I should consider getting, let me know. I also sort of want to buy Tetro but it seems to be too expensive at the moment. I have never ordered from Amazon (haha, yeah) so what is the deal from Amazon sellers? I am not sure how this works.

 

[StuBurns]

A Clockwork Orange is an awful transfer.

Keep The Fountain at all costs.

 

[TheKaeptain]

Army of Shadows is coming out on blu-ray?

 

[swoon]

Questions for you guys like Swoon, Alternative Ulster, Snowman etc...

You guys obviously watch a lot of movies. I'm curious...what's your lifestyle like? How many movies do you watch in a week? How old are you guys? Do you have jobs? Do you have kids? What other hobbies do you have? Do you rent your movies? Download them? Stream them?

If it comes off as condescending or judgemental, I don't mean it that way. I'm just honestly curious as to the lifestyle of someone who watches so much film.

my wife and i generally watch a movie after dinner if we aren't going out. we went to to over 50 concerts this year, have plenty of friends and hold down pretty ok jobs. i may watch a couple of movies during the afternoon without her, but mainly it's our post dinner thing as we don't watch tv.

it's like 90 - 120 mins a day it's not that big of a deal. sometimes we watch two! it helps to have a partner who has good taste even if we don't always agree.

pta is an awful director, though i have a slight fondness for his last film. he may never outgrow his influences.