Fest

[talktooloose]

Five movies in four days:

1. The Line King. A beautiful, entertaining and surprising documentary on the life of the great caricaturist of American entertainment, Al Herschfeld, whose pen was finally torn from his grasp at 99! He drew both Jolson and Madonna when they were the hot thing. His line makes me want to cry with joy.
   
2. The Night Listener. What a great idea for a story. And all the plot points were there and in the right order. It just never worked. Toni Collette did fine work in crafting her character but she was lost in a void. And she could have been Parker Posey by the end of the film. Sad waste of potential excellence.
   
3. Babel. Is this the first truly international movie? It's perspective does not belong to any one culture or language and thus truly embraces shared humanity. Our differences are seen as part of a mutually comprehensible continuum. Unsentimental and compassionate. Must have been shot on digital which is now developing its own unique and luxuriant look. Bye bye, celluloid.
   
4. The Departed. Damn it was funny. Scorsese may be a virtuoso of complex action and plot, but his great, great genius is making his actors understand what the scene is really about. The two-scenes in the movie were unparalleled. Acting! Acting! Acting! I was in heaven. Damon, DiCapprio, Wahlberg, Sheen all hit their notes. Nicholson didn't do anything special, but he was in fine form. Last line of the movie was perfection. Yowza.
   
5. The Illustionist. Don't get me started. What a steaming pile. Okay, I've started. Do these people know anything about history and the social rules of the world they're creating? How the fuck did they think the Duchess could have spoken to the Prince like that? Furthermore, she would not have been traipsing around and hanging out unchaperoned with him before their marriage. Her virginity and her family were her only worth! And the butcher's son is going to arrest the Prince for killing someone? Wow! Monarchs kill people? THIS ISN'T EVEN ENGLAND! IT'S THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE!
   
   
   Wankers. Paul Giamatti pulled out some charm, at least. grrrrrrrrrr. See The Prestige instead.

Comments

[a-trick-mind.livejournal.com]

Good revues. The Night Listener had some much potential, most of it unfulfilled. Still, it was more watchable than the Illusionist.

[kuriadalmatia.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the first three, but Babel is on my list to see.

4. The Departed. Having seen the original Hong Kong flick, I was wary. However, I was pleasantly surprised -- stunned even -- at how well this was made. diCaprio continues to impress me as an actor -- I guess I'm one of the few who thought his turn in The Man in the Iron Mask was really on the mark, because he had to hold his own against Jeremy Irons, John Malcovich, Gabriel Byrne, and Gerard dePardieu. Hard-ass Mark Walhburg (oh, yes. Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch!) was surprising as well. It's a shame that Matt Damon was passed over by the awards because he turned in a strong performance. I'm not exactly a Nicholson fan, because he loves to chew scenery, but it is a credit to the director that he could keep such a personality in check. It is one of the few movies, J has said, "I want to watch again. Tomorrow."

5. The Illusionist. Total suspension of belief is required for this movie. Paul Giamatti is wasted in this film (became a fan of his from Sideways. It was okay.

Agreed -- The Prestige is much better, much more complex and dark.

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

::whimpers::

I liked The Illusionist, though that might have been the history nerd in me appreciating the remix of the Mayerling affair.

[triospleasure.livejournal.com]

It's all good luv,

The conversation started with the statement he made before I replied.

I basically told him that I find it irritating for people to categorize others so that THEY can feel comfortable, It puts many people into a position where they feel that they should be ashamed of what they are (how ever the mix) and have to defends themselves.

No one should have to defend themselves on something that needs no defense.

You are what you are.

Embrace it all.

It's posted in his journal. Under the cold sore post...:giggle: