Support NeoGAF

[xbhaskarx]

I do not want to deal with a world where I have to decide, Sophie's Choice style whether I love Blood Simple or No Country for Old Men more. That way lies madness.

Blood Simple, because of the amazing DVD commentary.

As we can observe on your chart John Turturro (T) is clearly not necessary as he is never seen in any film that does not feature John Goodman (G) or Steve Buscemi (B) while both of them appear in a greater number of awesome-level films.

Quality over quantity: Turturro plays an important role in 3 of the 4 films, Buscemi only in Fargo (even in Lebowski he's only slightly more significant than Turturro). I'd go Goodman > Turturro > Buscemi, but Turturro is the common denominator in my top three.

Burn After Reading I could see putting in the same category as O Brother, but I felt that it was much flatter in general. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good and it needs to be dropped into it's own sort of purgatory for that.

Clearly they put a lot more effort into O Brother than Burn After Reading, but a few scenes that miss their mark and make it harder to watch for me. But from a purely technical perspective obviously O Brother is far superior.

I hate Tom Hanks. I have always hated Tom Hanks. I always will hate Tom Hanks.

I hate Tom Hanks. I also hate Nicholas Cage, yet Raising Arizona is near the top.
The bottom line is the Coens manage to get great performances out of both.

The Man Who Wasn't There is given extra preference because of the gorgeous B&W cinematography and because the Coens are going back and giving us an almost straight noir film without their additional trappings and modifications like we see in Fargo (their third most noirish going by classical conventions).

I just thought it got derailed towards the end. Like O Brother, I punish it for not being as good as it could have been. Perhaps my expectations were too high for both, based on the trailers. Also, Tony Shalhoub's character should have been utilized more.

Ultimately your rating is interesting to me as it seems you prefer their widely-praised mid-period works (Barton Fink, Miller's Crossing), then their comedies, and lastly their more direct noirs. Interesting even if I disagree.

Miller's Crossing is one of the best films ever made. I think the plot is too intricate and some of the dialogue is too subtle for people to really appreciate it after just one viewing.

 

[Belgand]

This comment makes no sense next to all the others, there needs to be a separate thread for discussing Rock Band...

Not including this post there have been 13 posts on this page so far. Of those 3 concerned Rock Band directly and more or less exclusively. One post of mine involved replies to four different other posts of which only one reply was directed at Rock Band. The rest were largely concerned with ranking and discussing Coen Bros. films or lady make-outs. Thus the ratio of Rock Band discussion is 1:4. Not terribly bad actually.

Also we argued a lot earlier today about Nirvana, how good the chosen songs were, whether "Smells Like Teen Spirit" would be a good choice for Rock Band, and whether Nirvana (and by extension, perhaps, other early grunge bands) can be classified as punk (they cannot).

Edit: while I was writing this you put up another post and screwed up my ratio. I'm not including it because it would keep it from being a clean ratio.

 

[Belgand]

Quality over quantity: Turturro plays an important role in 3 of the 4 films, Buscemi only in Fargo (even in Lebowski he's only slightly more significant than Turturro). I'd go Goodman > Turturro > Buscemi, but Turturro is the common denominator in my top three.

I see your point and I have no problem with it. I was, however, not rating their individual contribution to the film, but rather how they serve as an indicator (or portent if you wish) of quality. Of their best films only two are missing either Goodman or Buscemi.

I'll agree that Buscemi is rarely so much an important part of the film as he is an additional injection of awesome.

I just thought it got derailed towards the end. Like O Brother, I punish it for not being as good as it could have been. Perhaps my expectations were too high for both, based on the trailers. Also, Tony Shalhoub's character should have been utilized more.

Hmm... I can agree, but at the same time a lot of the best of the classic noirs had the same problem. I actually didn't see the trailers IIRC. I just noticed that they had just opened a new film and went off right away to see it with my girlfriend. To date I believe that Blood Simple and The Man Who Wasn't There are her favorites.

More Shalhoub would be like oversalting it I think. We have just the right amount.

Since Sam Raimi's strongly related to the Coens and we're also indirectly talking about Billy Bob Thornton as well we should probably also talk about A Simple Plan. A tough film for me to rank. It was good, but I couldn't help but think it could have been better. I like to rate on a curve, but I'd probably give it a 6 (above-average) not quite enough to get a 7 though. I think the main character's relationship with his wife, especially at the end, is fucking wonderful.

 

[The Jer]

The Hudsucker Proxy is such an awesome movie

 

[The Jer]

Fuck Perfect Insanity on expert drums. FUCK IT. I beat it. But fuck that last part. So stupid.

one of my favorite drum songs.
<3

 

[xbhaskarx]

More Shalhoub would be like oversalting it I think. We have just the right amount.

WTF. No, not nearly enough. I don't consider myself a big fan, but Shalhoub is brilliant in both The Man Who Wasn't There and Barton Fink, he does so much with what little screen time he gets:

Man:
Freddy Riedenschneider

Fink:
Ben Geisler

 

[Belgand]

The Hudsucker Proxy is such an awesome movie

I've never been able to understand how it's become so underrated. Well, I guess I can, but that doesn't mean it isn't great.

WTF. No, not nearly enough. I don't consider myself a big fan, but Shalhoub is brilliant in both The Man Who Wasn't There and Barton Fink, he does so much with what little screen time he gets.

I agree he's great, but I think it might be like taking, say, the Jesus and giving him more screen time. It could take a character that's so great and cause them to drag because of overuse. It's a rare case where I think that I'm happy with not having more of a good thing.

Then again when I was watching No Country For Old Men I anticipated the ending at exactly where it occurred and I left feeling very satisfied with it. I still think it ended at the perfect point. It seems I'm one of the few people to feel that way.

Reading the book after seeing the film (for once I'm almost glad I didn't read the book first when normally I really hate not knowing if something was based on a book before seeing it because I would have read the book earlier if I'd known) it was a really great adaptation that allowed the Coens to put their stamp on it and make it their film, but, at the same time, remain astoundingly faithful.

 

[ravien56]

so are there any places in Ontario selling rock band 2 for ps3 early?

 

[xbhaskarx]

The Hudsucker Proxy is such an awesome movie

I've never been able to understand how it's become so underrated. Well, I guess I can, but that doesn't mean it isn't great.

It's definitely the most underrated Coen film. It was supposed to be their big commercial breakthrough and it bombed hard:

The budget was officially reported to be $25 million (USD), although, some trade papers reported that it increased to $40 million. This was the largest budget of any Coen brothers film until Intolerable Cruelty, but it was a box office flop, grossing less than $3,000,000 in the US.

Who could have guess that moviegoers would not be interested in a screwball comedy homage to the films of Frank Capra...

 

[Belgand]

so are there any places in Ontario selling rock band 2 for ps3 early?

Like, anywhere in Ontario? Cause that's kind of a large place to ask about. I know of a place in Winnipeg that has it early for PS3, but that's it.

 

[Flynn]

I just got home after being gone for three weeks. Bought around $50 worth of DLC. Crazy.

 

[ravien56]

Like, anywhere in Ontario? Cause that's kind of a large place to ask about. I know of a place in Winnipeg that has it early for PS3, but that's it.

specifically guelph, but I can drive to toronto for it

 

[Belgand]

Who could have guess that moviegoers would not be interested in a screwball comedy homage to the films of Frank Capra...

Especially one that sucked hard. There was basically nothing enjoyable in that film at all.

They obviously tried very hard, but I think a big part of the problem is that they didn't write it. I mean, yeah, they re-wrote it a bit apparently, but it wasn't their project from the beginning. I think the re-make nature of the Ladykillers was also a big problem with it. It wasn't until No Country for Old Men that they really found something where they could work with it to fit what they do best.

Based on Burn After Reading, however, it seems like they really want to do more comedy, but they might not have the knack for it anymore.

 

[TheGreatDave]

the Sarah Palin sex doll

Hmm...

But not only do you get to pick the girl (and ChapStick flavor), but this could well be not just some chaste little peck, but a full-on make-outy snog that lasts for a good five to ten minutes. Even if it doesn't move on to second base*.

I think I've picked my girl. Or in this case, the milf who just can't resist the power of Perry's titty antics. I will go above my Guitar Hero offer and pay £50 for this event. £100 if they can add a roleplay for my titillation. Tittietittietitties.

 

[Belgand]

specifically guelph, but I can drive to toronto for it

Ah, I was lying. I've never been to Canada nor do I know of anyplace anywhere that is selling early. I just wanted to yank your chain a bit in a friendly fashion. Winnipeg is both an amusing name and it's close enough to the border to be unhelpfully outside of the specific boundary you specified.

Nice degree of commitment to be willing to drive that far, but yeah... isn't it the second-largest province? I'd have been more specific myself. Then again, I'm unwilling to go to the suburbs to do... well, just about anything. If something isn't within San Francisco city limits it might as well not really exist. "The Bay Area" seems like more of a myth used by people who live in the suburbs or Oakland and San Jose who we all know are not relevant.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Especially one that sucked hard. There was basically nothing enjoyable in that film at all.

I'm confused, you're saying Hudsucker sucked hard and there was nothing enjoyable in it?

 

[2DMention]

 

[bigdaddygamebot]

so are there any places in Ontario selling rock band 2 for ps3 early?

Toys R Us is usually a good source for leaked games.

Also, try a local "Play N Trade".

They get a bit generous at times. Oh, and Zellers. You can't get much more apathetic or ignorant than Zellers.

 

[Belgand]

Hmm...

<disturbing mentions of Sarah Palin>

I think I've picked my girl. Or in this case, the gilf who just can't resist the power of Parry's titty antics. I will go above my Guitar Hero offer and pay £50 for this event. £100 if they can add a roleplay for my titillation. Tittietittietitties.

Creepy man. She's not quite attractive enough for me and I just plain find her scary otherwise. Plus if you knock her up she's totally keeping it. Not worth the risk.

Not to mention the unpleasant accent.

And it all eventually returns to the Coen Bros.

 

[ravien56]

Ah, I was lying. I've never been to Canada nor do I know of anyplace anywhere that is selling early. I just wanted to yank your chain a bit in a friendly fashion. Winnipeg is both an amusing name and it's close enough to the border to be unhelpfully outside of the specific boundary you specified.

Nice degree of commitment to be willing to drive that far, but yeah... isn't it the second-largest province? I'd have been more specific myself. Then again, I'm unwilling to go to the suburbs to do... well, just about anything. If something isn't within San Francisco city limits it might as well not really exist. "The Bay Area" seems like more of a myth used by people who live in the suburbs or Oakland and San Jose who we all know are not relevant.

lol yea i think its maybe? the 3rd largest province or something? theres nunavut, bc, quebec...yea so 4th largest, and largest in terms of population, but the drive is only 45mins to toronto

 

[Belgand]

I'm confused, you're saying Hudsucker sucked hard and there was nothing enjoyable in it?

I misread where it said "until Intolerable Cruelty". I thought it was confusing that you'd switch discussion of it in mid-stream. I can also see how my comments might have sort of supported that. Even if they don't since they wrote the script with Raimi whereas IC was the only one where they took it from someone else.

 

[Belgand]

lol yea i think its maybe? the 3rd largest province or something? theres nunavut, bc, quebec...yea so 4th largest, and largest in terms of population, but the drive is only 45mins to toronto

The idea of driving that long to go somewhere is utterly foreign to me. Then again our local public transit regularly takes that long and is not at all reliable.

Seriously, this city is seven miles on each side and the subway/streetcar (it's fucked, don't ask) system will take you about an hour to go from the outer reaches where I live diagonally across town to downtown. Yet I still would find driving 45 minutes to somewhere in the suburbs absolutely absurd.

The way I computer "too far to drive" is intensely weird and complex with areas of equal distance or time required being determined to be acceptable (or sometimes even trivial) and completely unacceptable.

Wikipedia says it's the largest in population and second in total area after Quebec (Nunavut is a territory, not a province... I can't believe I even knew that either).

Right now my girlfriend is up in Ft. McMurray, Alberta and all I really know is that it's absolutely fucking nowhere and likely freakishly cold up there. SF is weird so we're having our spring/summer weather right now after summer's cold winter weather. I've got the windows open.

 

[bigdaddygamebot]

The idea of driving that long to go somewhere is utterly foreign to me.

You wouldn't BELIEVE the commutes that some people take to Toronto each day. A 45 minute commute is a warm kiss compared to some of the nightmares that people go through daily.

Central Ontario traffic is full of suck.

 

[Belgand]

You wouldn't BELIEVE the commutes that some people take to Toronto each day. A 45 minute commute is a warm kiss compared to some of the nightmares that people go through daily.

Central Ontario traffic is full of suck.

Nah, Bay Area traffic is awful too. Two hours isn't uncommon here. I'd say most people have an hour commute. My girlfriend takes the train and counts on it taking about an hour just to get from about a block from our apartment (Daly City BART) to the station about three blocks from her office (Downtown Oakland/ 12th St. BART) even if it probably takes closer to 40 minutes or so.

Even when I lived in the suburbs growing up I wouldn't drive that far just to buy RB2 though. For a concert or something? Yeah, ok, that's doable. But not just for a run-of-the-mill purchase I could make in a day or so otherwise.

I certainly will never understand moving into the suburbs and then commuting in to work though. The sad thing is that despite living in the city it seems unlikely that I'll be able to find a job that's actually in the city and will end up doing like my girlfriend and having to commute out to the suburbs and surrounding area. Which is just cruel as there's fucking way I'd ever agree to move out of the city.

Then again I don't get rearranging your life because of your job. My life comes first in all things for me, a job is secondary to that.

--

I'd like to further state that at least this discussion about Canadian provinces, local traffic, commuting, and willingness to drive various distances is still fundamentally related to Rock Band. We are being very much on-topic.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Creepy man. She's not quite attractive enough for me and I just plain find her scary otherwise. Plus if you knock her up she's totally keeping it. Not worth the risk.

Not to mention the unpleasant accent.

And it all eventually returns to the Coen Bros.

Knocking up Palin would be worth the feelings of uneasiness and confusion that occur during the act. Who cares if she's actually attractive in a world not populated by ageing politicians, the important thing is she's running to be VP. Thus, fucking her would be worth the effort. Especially with the sweet sounds of Katy Perry in the background.

 

[DuckRacer]

 

[xbhaskarx]

I misread where it said "until Intolerable Cruelty". I thought it was confusing that you'd switch discussion of it in mid-stream.

Okay, because I couldn't figure out how Hudsucker could be awesome and underrated, yet suck hard and not be enjoyable...

 

[DuckRacer]

Hey duders, I did some more calculations.

Assuming the four remaining albums get their own weeks, HMX will only have to output one song a week to meet their 500 songs goal. One regular 6-pack and they'll have met it, with five weeks left for them to do whatever they want.

Pretty amazing how far they've come re: DLC.

 

[Crag Dweller]

They must have an army of people charting these songs.

 

[Hop]

They must have an army of people charting these songs.

I think the company size, like, tripled or something since GH2.

 

[TheGreatDave]

To think how little we used to expect.

 

[sc0la]

They must have an army of people charting these songs.

I actually wonder if they can't make a program to auto chart (at least a first pass) some of the tracks.

Its not outside the realm of possibility IMO.

 

[Hop]

To think how little we used to expect.

Though I clearly recall torches and pitchforks over April 1 and 8, when we were only used to 3 a week. I wonder what our new minimum is before we (as a whole) get riled up. 5 songs? 6? It's only been a little over a month since our last 3-week (All That Remains), and that was after the Moving Pictures fiasco shuffling things around.

 

[radjago]

Just the other day I started learning "Come As You Are".

Come As You Are was the first riff I ever learned on guitar. I must have played that over and over for hours on end.

 

[McBradders]

Dudes!

Dudes!

Nirvana is coming

Nirvana is coming


I am also going to see Burn After Reading tomorrow.

Also 'No Country for Old Men' was the shit! So was Lebowski. Also Nirvana.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

3 weeks until GH:WT!

 

[Staccat0]

Dudes!

Dudes!

Nirvana is coming

Nirvana is coming


I am also going to see Burn After Reading tomorrow.

Also 'No Country for Old Men' was the shit! So was Lebowski. Also Nirvana.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

3 weeks until GH:WT!

hrm?

 

[suffah]

Any updates on the 20-song free d/l pack?

 

[AMUSIX]

OK, after listening to the tracks, I still have a huge distaste for Nirvana, but I'll be picking up two tracks...
Lounge Act - The bass line sounds like it'd be a lot of fun. Can't stand the vocals, though.
Stay Away - Drums sound frantic and fun. I like heavy tom-based rhythyms.

also, I assume Polly will be the Demo version on With the Lights Out as the Nevermind version doesn't have drums or bass.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Though I clearly recall torches and pitchforks over April 1 and 8, when we were only used to 3 a week. I wonder what our new minimum is before we (as a whole) get riled up. 5 songs? 6? It's only been a little over a month since our last 3-week (All That Remains), and that was after the Moving Pictures fiasco shuffling things around.

I mean more in ye olde days. Where GH:2 came out with like, 50 or so tracks after a years development and it was a bullet point. Now we expect them to be able to make that many charts in a month.

 

[Belgand]

Come As You Are was the first riff I ever learned on guitar. I must have played that over and over for hours on end.

Learning it on bass. Not my first, but still, yeah, I need to practice a lot more. I'd like to be taking lessons if for no other reason than to give me more structure which will help keep me on track, but I don't have the money for it right now.

I am also going to see Burn After Reading tomorrow.

I'd strongly recommend waiting for video. I was super excited for it because 1)New Coen 2)Trailers looked wonderful. It was just very mediocre and lifeless. My girlfriend and most critics seem to agree. The plot just seemed like a bit of a mess and it wasn't really funny or particularly well-focused. I'd say that they probably ought to have spent a bit more time on it.

George Clooney, however, makes the best present for his wife ever. I swear it's going to become the hot new Christmas gift and every lady and teen girl is going to want one. The fact that he made it for her himself just makes it extra sweet.

I mean more in ye olde days.

Hail fellow! What news from the North? Be there a new supply of yon musical amusements that doth cause us to be filled with merriment and delight?

 

[Motion Picture Soundtrack]

Songs that would rock that I haven't seen mentioned:

Traffic - Dear Mr. Fantasy
Rory Gallagher - Cradle Rock
Funkadelic - Super Stupid
Eric Johnson - Desert Rose
Rainbow - Kill the King
Blackfoot - Highway Song

 

[birdman]

Any updates on the 20-song free d/l pack?

None so far com padre.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

They must have an army of people charting these songs.

They have a two-page spread in the latest issue of Game Informer that explains the process quite well.

OK, after listening to the tracks, I still have a huge distaste for Nirvana, but I'll be picking up two tracks...
Lounge Act - The bass line sounds like it'd be a lot of fun. Can't stand the vocals, though.
Stay Away - Drums sound frantic and fun. I like heavy tom-based rhythyms.

also, I assume Polly will be the Demo version on With the Lights Out as the Nevermind version doesn't have drums or bass.

You know, Incesticide is an album. But then, they did say Polly and not (New Wave) Polly.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

They have a two-page spread in the latest issue of Game Informer that explains the process quite well.

Which cover?

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

The one with that Bioware game on it.

 

[DuckRacer]

lso, I assume Polly will be the Demo version on With the Lights Out as the Nevermind version doesn't have drums or bass.

It's the Nevermind version, IGN says the drum chart has three notes in it. Silver, suck it!

The one with that Bioware game on it.

what

Summary please (of the Rock Band DLC article)!

 

[AndresON777]

The one with that Bioware game on it.

New Bioware game?

Man my GI is expired, dammit

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

There's a thread about the game here. As for the info, I can't post pictures obviously but I'll try and transcribe the page later today. I'm leaving in a few for the zoo with my son.

 

[Slacker]

Anyone know if Gamestop is doing a midnight thing for Rock Band 2? I wouldn't assume so but who knows.

 

[Zaphod]

Anyone seen the Rock Band 2 SE out early. I returned my SE 1 set back to Target a few weeks ago with a broken guitar and pedal. With out of town friends coming in tonight I'd love to have the fresh instruments in. I'm thinking of checking Wal and K mart.