59 response about Cinecast 74 - Year End Special »

1. 

   Inland Empire eh? I thought that was actually an 06 movie…

   I’m having a tough time dragging myself to see it. I’m not not a Lynch fan. I mean, I can tolerate him, but I’ve never been enthusiastic about a single thing he’s ever done.

   Comment by Goon — January 2, 2008
2. 

   Oh man! I still have 10 minutes on show 73!!! I better get on with it!

   Comment by Marina Antunes — January 2, 2008
3. 

   Not in my ‘market’ it wasn’t. IE didn’t open in Canada until Feb. 2007. That makes it a 2007 film for me, despite the bulk of the North American film community considering it last years film. Really though, outside the critics and NY/LA not many folks saw IE in 2006. I guess the same could be said for There Will Be Blood in 2007. And technically, “M” hasn’t had a release in North America and it likely never will. So yes, these things are quite arbitrary!

   Comment by Kurt — January 2, 2008
4. 

   I also consider IE a 2007 also. Living in L.A., excluding the film festival/press crowd, we get to see things as soon as they become available and this movie wasnt released till early ‘07.

   Andrew’s list, I havent seen 4,7,8,9,11,13,15,16,19,22,23. From Kurt’s I haven’t seen 3,4,7-10,13,15,17,20,22. I made a pretty huge effort to see as many good movies, but many of the movies on your lists probably only had 1 week runs or haven’t been out here at all. There Will Be Blood and The Orphanage is out, but its about a 45minute drive to the ArcLight. You think its worth the drive to go see it? Otherwise I hear its going to expand on the 11th and can wait till then.

   Andrew, thats cool you put Black Book on your list. A movie not many people have seen. Did you get a chance to review the film on a previous cinecast?

   Comment by Primal — January 2, 2008
5. 

   Goon, you will appreciate this:
   movie blog

   As for INLAND EMPIRE, non Lynch fans need not apply. Check out my reveiw from a year ago

   Comment by Rusty James — January 3, 2008
6. 

   THERE WILL BE BLOOD is easily worth the 45 minute drive (for the record, last week my commute to see that film was about that!)

   Comment by Kurt — January 3, 2008
7. 

   We never did talk about Black Book I don’t think. I’m not sure Kurt got around to seeing it. It had a pretty limited release I think. Carice Van Houten and… uh.. the guy from Lives of Others are both terrific in it though. Good spy thriller.

   45 minute drive to There Will Be Blood or The Orphanage? Maybe, but if it’s opening in one more week, closer to you, it’s probably worth the wait too. Depends on your devotion to cinema.

   Comment by Andrew James — January 3, 2008
8. 

   As a shameless Paul Verhoeven fan, I hang my head in shame for missing Black Book despite several opportunities! It’ll eventually enter into my to-watch pile which is starting to occupy its own full 3-row shelf in my home theatre!

   Comment by Kurt Halfyard — January 3, 2008
9. 

   I just watched Soldier of Orange yesterday and I’d have to say that in many ways Black Book is an updated version of that movie where the protagonist is female instead of male and it is also more exploitive but both are great movies.

   Comment by John Allison — January 3, 2008
10. 

    I’m guessing your’e referring to your rebuttal to Marla Singer, Rusty.

    NOICE

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
11. 

    That comment from Marla had to be a sarcastic joke right?

    Comment by Andrew James — January 3, 2008
12. 

    I’ve encountered that ridiculous kind of thing enough before to doubt it.

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
13. 

    Andrew Andrew Andrew Andrew… Zodiac & Rescue Dawn in your top ten? If so, then 2007 would be exactly the opposite of which you describe being a strong year in film. However, credibility & opinions are two different things, and you have credibility given your experience. However, the fact that OCEANS 13 made into your honorable mention makes me think you were making out with someone in theatre for most of the flick & not paying attention. How about we go out for a romantic date @ Applebees, then go shopping @ the Mall of America, get married in Las Vegas, have our registry @ IKEA, go to 6Flags for our honeymoon, and buy bulk products @ Costco where we can most likely purchase the OCEANS trilogy? I can’t rip OCEANS 11, but come on dude, 13? Really? I mean… really? I’m sure plenty O soccer moms may have thought it was super super scary & suspenseful and that George is so handsome and Brad Pitt & Jolie are so adorable together, I mean, didn’t you see their new venture in New Orleans, they are such great people… I love OCEANS 13 and I also love all mass pop culture sell-out marketing campaigns that generate lots of money with very little value. Did you hear the new Spice Girls album, I heard its amazing…

    Comment by Adam Z — January 3, 2008
14. 

    ^Is there really any room for posts like this?

    Does anyone feel like debating a series of shitty one liners? Anyone?

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
15. 

    You can get married at the MoA, Vegas need not be brought into this.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — January 3, 2008
16. 

    “^Is there really any room for posts like this?

    Does anyone feel like debating a series of shitty one liners? Anyone?”

    NOW who has the elitist attitude?

    Comment by Henrik — January 3, 2008
17. 

    I’m not going to overly defend Ocean’s 13. It’s not worth it. It was a fun movie that brought back the spirit of the Ocean’s series after the shite that was Ocean’s 12. A good time at the theater, ntohing more. I like my arthouse films, but it can be equally as entertaining to watch the biggest stars banter with each other under the direction of the great.. yes GREAT, Steven Soderbergh.

    I’ll defend Zodiac and Rescue Dawn all day long though. While Zodiac has its weaknesses, they’re minor and ultimately inconsequential. Rescue Dawn on the other hand is quite flawless and gorgeous.

    As to Adam Z’s post, though a little condescending, I think it’s pretty amusing.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 3, 2008
18. 

    oh get bent, I don’t feel one bit upset about making fun of troll posts.

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
19. 

    ^directed at Henrik.

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
20. 

    Okay, I want both of you (Goon and Henrik) to head off to the corner and relax a bit.

    I’ll stand with Andrew on Ocean’s 13, Rescue Dawn and Zodiac as being good movies I simply preferred the movies on my list over them. If three of my moves weren’t made this year one of those 3 might have made it on.

    This was just too strong of a year.

    Of course, I really liked the Sleuth remake…

    Comment by John Allison — January 3, 2008
21. 

    Of course, I really liked the Sleuth remake…

    Stupid! You’re so stupid!

    Comment by Matt Gamble — January 3, 2008
22. 

    moving on…

    Kurt, how come you pronounce it as A Fleck instead of AFF leck?

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
23. 

    WTF? I have NO idea what Wheel of Fish has to do with anything (though it was pretty funny) but I actually did enjoy the “Sleuth” remake. It’s no where near any of my “top” lists of the year but I enjoyed the film immensely.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
24. 

    Hmmm, Marina has to go back and brush up on her UHF. the wheel of fish bit is a fun form of not-so-subtle mocking! It’s all right there in the URL text though.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — January 3, 2008
25. 

    Oh, and on the A-Fleck vs. AFFleck, Not sure. I don’t own TV, do most of my pop culture absorption in print, so I suck at pronouncing just about everything.

    Comment by Kurt Halfyard — January 3, 2008
26. 

    I can’t see the video (I’m at work) but I know the one and I’m fine with being mocked over Sleuth since I haven’t seen the original but I really enjoy to good actors just riffing on each other and that is what I got out of the remake of Sleuth. Sure its a bit far fetched and takes a couple of really weird turns but I really dug every scene where Caine and Law interacted.

    Oh I also love the way its filmed at several points. The opening scene between the two with the top down view sold me on the movie by itself.

    Comment by John Allison — January 3, 2008
27. 

    As for Atonement I’ll once again go with a big meh whatever with a strong dislike of the beach scene.

    Comment by John Allison — January 3, 2008
28. 

    Not a big comedy fan. Will stay away from more UHF and yes, the link text does say a lot.

    That first scene in Sleuth rocks. I love the way that overhead shot of Law and Caine shaking hands, one inside the house and the other outside, sets up the film.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
29. 

    Ooops. I have to disagree on the Dunkirk scene in Atonement. I think that scene is brilliant in so many different ways. I’m sure I’ve said it before but technical prowess aside, it’s an excellent reflection of the confusion and pain in Robbie’s life. Here he is in a foreign place where things don’t feel quite right and he hasn’t heard from Cecilia, doesn’t know if there’s anything to go home to or if he’ll even make it home and all of those emotions are reflected at various points in that scene. It completely worked for me.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
30. 

    fans of UHF must see this:
    http://choice.ytmnd.com/

    (may require a refresh if off sync)

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
31. 

    For me the beach scene was just another example of pushing the big huge emotional hammer button in Atonement. There was just no subtlety in Atonement for me.

    This is definitely going to be one of those times that I’m going to really disagree with you and Andrew.

    Comment by John Allison — January 3, 2008
32. 

    I didn’t feel that way about Atonement. I’m not saying it’s subtle but the emotional hammer button was certainly being pushed and it worked for me. Worth mentioning that my top 10 list was extremely difficult to put together so I went with the films that hit me with the biggest emotional hammer. Some did it better than others but I walked away with some heavy emotional response from all of them.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
33. 

    Listening to the show again, I didn’t defend No Country hard enough when I said it’s arguably their best film. I think it could be. A couple more viewings might convince me of this.

    It’s a stellar cast, a stellar story, stellar dialogue, maturely directed (in opposition to Lebowski in which they’re just having fun - which is fine) and really has things to say while being daring and taking chances. Fargo is way too lighthearted and is just a parody of life in the Coens home town to be taken too seriously. Don’t get me wrong… I love love LOVE Fargo, but there’s something about No Country that outshines anything else the Coens have done.

    I can’t wait to see this again and I can totally understand why it’s near the top of everyone’s top ten list and why it WILL win best picture.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 3, 2008
34. 

    Do me a favour Andrew and go watch Miller’s Crossing again before you decide which one is your favourite.

    Comment by John Allison — January 3, 2008
35. 

    I JUST watched Miller’s Crossing a week or two ago. That’s the ONE Coen film I think might be better.

    FYI - favorite and best are two different things.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 3, 2008
36. 

    Listening to show and so far just a few comments (since they seem to disappear as new ones form):

    1) Kurt - you must catch up on 12:08 East of Bucharest. I actually brought it up on another thread yesterday (something to do with replacement movies). It’s absolutely hysterical and now available on DVD.

    2) Bug was fantastic. Happy to see it on both of your secondary lists (it also made mine).

    Bugger. I got sidetracked and now can’t remember the rest. It’ll come to me.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
37. 

    One more:

    “Killer of Sheep” is a fantastic film but one that I must admit I don’t think I could ever watch again. I’ve picked it up on more than one occasion on DVD, contemplating a purchase, but I know I’ll never see it again. It’s certainly a piece of film history and now that I’ve seen it, I can see similarities in a number of other films and with other film makers (particularly Portugal’s Pedro Costa who has been making films - and essentially an entire career - in this vein for years) but I can’t bring myself to watch this one again, at least not any time soon. That said, if the price was right, I’d be up for adding it to the collection solely as a loner piece. I think it’s well deserving of its spot in American film history and well worth at least one viewing.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
38. 

    (Damn I hate it when I haven’t checked my regular websites for a while and a post I want to comment on already has tons of comments:P) Anyway I just thought I’d say something kind of interesting:

    Kurt - you put my FAVOURITE film of 2007 as your number 1 film and Andrew - you put the BEST film of 2007 as your number 1. Spooky!:P

    Comment by Ross Miller — January 3, 2008
39. 

    @ “I’m guessing you’re referring to your rebuttal to Marla Singer, Rusty.”

    I was talking about her post in general and the ire it stirred. I feel kind of bad about it in retrospect. Especially after she apologized for her obliviousness. I’m glad Rodney deleted my post. I’m not quite sure why her comment was deleted but it may be for the best.

    Comment by Rusty James — January 3, 2008
40. 

    Marina - There is a fair number of connections between KILLER OF SHEEP and Spike Lee’s films. right down to almost recreations of individual scenes (I believe). Just FYI.

    Comment by Kurt — January 3, 2008
41. 

    “I’m glad Rodney deleted my post.”

    well, I’m not. What is and isn’t allowed on that site is a joke, and their ability to delete is frequently abused.

    Comment by Goon — January 3, 2008
42. 

    Thanks Kurt. I must admit my knowledge of Spike Lee films is limited (I’ve only seen a few) but I never did put two and two together - it might be that his incorporation is much less obvious.

    Comment by Marina Antunes — January 3, 2008
43. 

    Goon, I did call her a bitch and tell her to drop dead. That certaintly constitutes an ad hominem attack.

    Kurt, that’s an interesting observation.

    Comment by Rusty James — January 4, 2008
44. 

    “That certaintly constitutes an ad hominem attack.”

    On a site that says the same or worse about Chris Tucker, Peter Jackson, and whoever else they feel like.

    Doug gets it, he thinks that site should be anything goes, just as the way they talk on the show. However he doesnt make the rules - its one standard out of one persons mouth, and one standard for everyone else.

    Comment by Goon — January 4, 2008
45. 

    Guys! Well I went ahead and took the long drive to see There Will Be Blood today. The film was fantastic and I totally loved it. It would of been 2nd best film I saw in 2007 if I had seen it then. I agree with you Kurt that the baptism scene was powerful, but the 1st time Daniel goes to church totally kicked ass too. Anyway, I can’t wait to see TWBB again. Definitely not a movie that spoonfeeds you all your entertainment in one viewing.

    Comment by Primal — January 4, 2008
46. 

    Andrew: what part of Paris Je T’Aime did you not like?

    I just watched it, and really really enjoyed it. I think Alexander Payne and the Coen’s segments were my faves, and the Mime Ass one was up there too.

    The only one I didn’t care for at all was the one with Willem Dafoe - it was awful random pretentious, instead of awesome random pretentious like that bizarre hairdresser part…

    But yeah, seriously, the Payne segment alone bumped the movie up for me from a 4 star to a 4.5 or 5 star, and it would maybe now be in my top 10. I felt like I was watching my mom on vacation in a strange land, it was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.

    Comment by Goon — January 5, 2008
47. 

    Great to hear it Goon. Yeah, LOVE that movie. It’s been a long while since I saw it, but I remember not caring too much for the weird dancing one. Was that the hairdresser one too? I think it had some military references or something as well.

    Pretty much loved the rest of - Nolte one was great, the Binoche one was powerful as hell, Portman and deaf guy, the nany singing songs to the baby - I even liked the old couple meeting in the bar. This is a must own for me, just haven’t gotten around to it yet. - I want the special edition.

    This movie was similar to ONCE for me. Just so full of heart and charisma and beauty. Why anyone wouldn’t like this baffles me.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 5, 2008
48. 

    @ Primal

    I thought the baptism scene was not all that powerful… more like confounding with a touch of humor (”gimme the water lord - I’m ready for the cleansing”) - the way he says it is pretty funny. My theater was chuckling anyway.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 5, 2008
49. 

    It was the Binoche one that I hated, in fact I said “that fucking sucked” to the screen after it was over.

    whats the difference betwen the single disc and special edition? is the SE longer? I was really pissed watching the DVD at times, theres is no ‘official’ subtitled track that matches what would have been with the theatrical version, its a completely DVD-centric for the hard of hearing subtitle track that includes anytime anyone coughs, puts up music notes for the soundtrack, throws up IN ENGLISH: and IN FRENCH: for when people are switching between languages. parts like with Buscemi shouldnt be watched with subtitles.. basically, i was flipping around with the DVD remote turning the subtitles on and off throughout watching it. sucks.

    Comment by Goon — January 5, 2008
50. 

    Andrew is completely wrong about the baptism scene. Metaphorically, it’s the scene where Daniel gives in and sells his soul knowing full well the consequences of it all. That he does it by being baptized makes the whole thing more devilish.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — January 5, 2008
51. 

    I found out that my problem with Paris Je T’aimes subtitles can be fixed by scrolling AFTER the Spanish option on the DVD remote… the proper subtitles are just not available on the DVD Menu

    someone fucked up.

    Comment by Goon — January 5, 2008
52. 

    Try living in a PAL area and stuff like that will become 2nd nature.

    Comment by Henrik — January 5, 2008
53. 

    its not the only fuck up on this disc. the official listed run time on both the DVD and the case is 155 minutes. the movie is more like 120 minutes

    Comment by Goon — January 5, 2008
54. 

    It’s a french release though, right? Sounds like PAYBACK TIME to me.

    Comment by Henrik — January 5, 2008
55. 

    THERE WILL BE BLOOD spoiler**

    potential spoiler** HERE**

    **just a description of a scene from THERE WILL BE BLOOD**

    I don’t know Matt. You think he’s definitely seeling his soul there? It seems to me he’s just doing what must be done in order to get the land. I thinkhe’s trying to placate the people in the church and the way in which he does it is humorous - I’m not wrong on the humorous account. I wasn’t the only one chuckling (Colin Covert).

    However, it seems that as the scene wears on, he does sort of get into it and start feeling “the power.” That’s what makes the scene confounding. Is he sincere or is he just going with the flow. It’s one of the better scenes in the film, but for me, “powerful” isn’t the word I would use to describe it.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 5, 2008
56. 

    @GOON

    that sucks about the subtitles, glad you figured it out though, I was prepared to not go buy the DVD because of that. Lame.

    Having a hard time finding the difference between the two DVDs online. I’ll take a look when I get to Best Buy one of these days.

    Comment by Andrew James — January 5, 2008
57. 

    Well I can say that Eli truly had a confounded look on him at the end of the scene. I’m not sure when he gave that priceless look after Daniel shakes off the holy water like a dog or when he said pipeline. One of the big reasons why I think it is powerful is because of the final scene of the movie. That scene makes the baptism scene really resonate because of the words being reiterated in both.

    Comment by Primal — January 5, 2008
58. 

    There are several moments throughout the film where people bring up religion with Daniel and he changes the subject as quickly as he can. Even when Bandy is talking with him he is repeatedly offering more money to avoid dealing with religion. There is even a bit of a throw away scene where Daniel asserts that religion is competition, in reference to the amount of time they would have to work and work fully rested.

    But when he gets baptized he does his best to do as little as possible to acquire the land, and when that doesn’t work he finally drops his guard and openly shows actual emotion. Those three lines he speaks about his son are powerful, and as quickly as he says them he throws his walls back up and attempts to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible. It’s a rare moment of honesty and vulnerability from a man that detests such actions out of anyone else. I think that clearly demonstrates that Daniel is willing to do anything simply to succeed.

    And every scene after that Daniel descends into a bitter vitriolic mess quicker then he could beg for the blood of Christ.

    ****HUGE SPOILER****
    It isn’t a coincidence that the second person Daniel kills is out of pure glee compared to the first, which was the result of Daniel being betrayed. The first occurred before the baptism, while the second was well after. Before the baptism Daniel had some semblence of self-control, while after he cared about no one but himself.

    Comment by Matt Gamble — January 5, 2008
59. 

    [...] Couple of Top Ten Lists for your amusement Over at Row Three they have each announced their Top Ten movies for [...]

    Pingback by A Couple of Top Ten Lists for your amusement « MovieGoat — January 7, 2008

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