Oct 22, 2015

I'm in an India diasporic English class this semester. Thought about bringing @Narsh in for show and tell

 

Oct 21, 2015

are u implying ur taste is like, prophetic or something? bc uve eaten crow countless times by overrating things and being declarative about s--- u dont know about

well said @Twan

 

Oct 21, 2015

Probably top 15-20 at the moment.

While I don't rank Spring Breakers quite as highly as @Vahn or @Pinhead, I do think it's a legit great movie and definitely in the discussion for best of the 2010s. Korine is a provocateur for sure, but I think Spring Breakers does in fact work as a constructive act of provocation. Aesthetically, it provides a certain cinematic bliss, but I found it to be just as thought-provoking as it is formally impressive. More than its superficial cultural signifiers, there's something that it captures in terms of mood and mentality that feels very of the moment and that I found to be especially astute in its depiction. I think this letterboxd review from Glenn Heath Jr. (a former Slant writer) succinctly captures it...

"In this postmodern acid wash nightmare called 21st century America, some of us no longer have the ability to register rock bottom. We just spiral deeper into the neon abyss, documenting our own demise by way of pop culture and ego and delusion. Complex emotion is meaningless. The momentum of deceit is unstoppable. Those contemplating the limits of excess are either delusional or weak, unnecessary, disposable. As a result, the Culture teaches us to be cold, unfeeling, and obsessive to the pursuit of nothing else but those boobies y'all. We are what we lust after, and we are lusting after self-destruction. Mission Accomplished."

 

Oct 21, 2015

Wolf is top 5 Scorsese and Dicaprio's best performance.

 

Oct 21, 2015

Still great...definitely the best of the Scorsese-Dicaprio collaborations.

 

Oct 21, 2015

stfu

 

Oct 21, 2015

godfathers trilogy is pure dog s---

Coppola u fat monkey

 

Oct 21, 2015

1.) The Tree of Life
2.) Spring Breakers
3.) Boyhood
4.) The Master
5.) To the Wonder
6.) Before Midnight
7.) Drive
8.) The Act of Killing
9.) The Assassin
10.) Mad Max: Fury Road
11.) The Place Beyond the Pines
12.) Mommy
13.) The Social Network
14.) Shame
15.) Under the Skin

Honorable mentions: Samsara, Cosmopolis, Only God Forgives, Beyond the Black Rainbow, Her, Post Tenebras Lux, Interstellar

The Look of Silence is finally online so I expect that to creep in here somewhere over the next couple of days. Holy Motors gonna be re-watched.

Spring Breakers is one of the best examples of a film's cinematography, score, and editing all working in unison with each other to reach visual metaphor. It's ridiculously layered, dripping with surrealism at any given point, and incredibly spiritual. Ten watches in, and each time I'm recognizing new scenes of foreshadowing, editing synchronizations (that people wrongly think of as repetition), and dialogue to latch myself onto on a personal level.

It's an experienced film that strives for vibe, thematic contemplation, and personal reflection. Sure, it might not be better than The Godfather if you're grading on some objective rubric that prioritizes acting, production design, etc, but that hardly matters. I try to rate based on what a film accomplishes in its chosen creative space, and I really feel like Spring Breakers accomplishes every single thing it sets out to do.

#14 all time.

 

Oct 20, 2015

FORCE AWAKENS

 

Oct 11, 2015

I saw Steve Jobs on Friday.

I kept thinking the entire time that this was a missed opportunity. I don't think this script is the right script for a Steve Jobs film. The structure limits itself and while we learn a great deal about the man in between these moments rather than significant life events, there is still potential for so much more. In the hands of someone like David Fincher, this would have had such energy, but in the hands of Danny Boyle, it's a one-note film for the most part (except for one masterful sequence which read amazing and looks amazing with the direction/performances/editing.

Michael Fassbender is good but I couldn't help but think this was Michael Fassbender playing Steve Jobs. I don't need an actor to look like the people they're playing (like Jesse Eisenberg with Mark Zuckerberg), but it's distracting in this case because he just doesn't become Steve Jobs. I'm also still wondering why Kate Winslet's accent appears in the second and third acts but is non-existent in the first act.

…now with all of this said, since Steve Jobs is such a fascinating figure, this is such a watchable film and I could have sat there for another two hours.

 

Oct 10, 2015

Okay let me drop sumthin

The Tree of Life
Taxi Driver
Close-Up
A Woman Under the Influence
Tropical Malady
The Double Life of Veronique
Mauvais Sang
Sansho the Bailiff
The Master
Persona

 

Sep 24, 2015

VIFF begins today. I have 61 films scheduled for these 16 days, starting with the red carpet gala screening of Brooklyn tonight!

 

Sep 20, 2015

I've decided to focus on my website and try to make something of it. It will still hold many reviews, but I want to now include other writing ventures, such as philosophy, expository (life experiences), photography etc.

Here is a philosophy one which is really film-philosophy so it fits with you guys quite well.

Aesthetics of the Mind


Rhythmic expression of time exists in three states: cinema, life, mind. When these expressions are in harmony, there is bliss. Rhythmic expression of film in harmony with man’s soul (implicit perception of time) equals acceptance of the aesthetic—declared art, love for the film. When film resembles life but not one’s soul, the aesthetic is rejected: not art. Clearly subjective, but art thus links those with similar spiritual convictions.

When reality doesn’t match one’s soul and life is disharmonious, one may use film to vicariously experience the expression of time which does harmonize with their soul—existing through art as expression from a kindred spirit (artist). Such film is transcendental; it takes on the forms of life and provides harmony to a viewer who is otherwise out of sync with the rhythmic pressures of their reality.

To find a place/setting/job etc. of life wherein one’s objective reality and one’s implicit sense of time are akin is to be in harmony with life. If one is lost, one either must find a reality that meshes with their sense of time—discovery of one’s self within reality. Or, one must use art—chiefly cinema—as a means of approximating that reality which meshes with one’s sense of time. Finding someone who lives in the same sense of time as you is to find love.

 

Sep 17, 2015

anything is possible, i highly doubt it. the entertainment landscape has changed so much, its rly not feasible regardless of whatever you may think is happening culturally right now. film is all about global markets now ultimately -- thats why "new hollywood" today is more about this current golden age of tv. telltale sign is how many leading men in film rn have the character actor shine of pacino, duvall, hackman, hoffman. v v few if any. (gorgeous he-men, typically bland, like chris hemsworth are getting the roles these guys used to.... or marketable pretty boys like ryan gosling and jake gyll)

between all that and the multitude of opportunities to have ur film seen now, everything non mcu/corporate product been kinda decentralized. so its not rly about black lives matter or the tea party but larger trends in business driving the industry and how ppl consume their entertainment

 

Sep 11, 2015

He's back, snitches! Did you see it?

I saw Breathe tonight by Melanie Laurent with a Q&A from her afterwards. Though not entirely successful, it's certainly a confident and assured sophomore feature. Laurent clearly has a thorough emotional understanding of her young characters and an acute sensitivity to just how quickly relationship dynamics can change among them. The film is at its best in the first half when depicting the characters' burgeoning friendship and its subsequent shift off its axis. Unfortunately, the film loses steam along the way and its appealing naturalistic quality gives way to moments that are less convincing and less organic. This is most glaring in its "shock" ending, which Laurent isn't quite able to pull off. Still, she's definitely talented and I'd be interested in seeing her future work (She also seemed pretty cool in the Q&A).

 

Aug 25, 2015

"Charlie Strangelove liked your post"

 

Aug 25, 2015

http://letterboxd.com/maximeproulx/list/aleksandr-sokurov-ranked/ hurts my booty to rank the first 10, first 2 cemented tho

 

Aug 12, 2015

I don't really have a list of favorite screenplays offhand but, to combine the last few posts, I would probably have a Billy Wilder film or two on there. @Old_Parr @Charlie Strangelove

The New York Film Festival just released its main slate for this year and it's a lot of Cannes carry overs. After a quick look, the ones I'm most interested in, pending screening dates are...

Cemetery of Splendour (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos)
Mountains May Depart (Jia Zhangke)
My Golden Days (Arnaud Desplechin)
Journey to the Shore (Kiyoshi Kurosawa)

I'm also looking forward to Carol, The Assassin, and Bridge of Spies but they all have set US release dates so I'll probably wait to see them in regular release.

http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2015/da...stival-sets-26-films-for-the-2015-main-slate/

 

Aug 7, 2015

It's dope, I wrote something on it last year:

Gia Coppola’s feature film debut has its problems but it’s one of the most honest films about high school life to come out of America in a long time. Palo Alto is an adaptation of the book “Palo Alto Stories” by James Franco, which is a series of short stories loosely based on his high school experiences. Coppola’s film feels like a series of vignettes intertwined to tell a story about high school teens experimenting with sex and drugs, facing legal troubles and pondering about what they’d like to do for the rest of their lives. April (Emma Roberts), who is quiet and a bit rebellious, is the central figure of the story; she has a crush on her friend Teddy (Jack Kilmer), who feels the same about her but both are too scared to confess their feelings for each other. Teddy is heavily influenced by his troublemaker friend, Fred (Nat Wolff), who tries to “live life dangerously” at all times. The last of the four teenagers on which the film focuses is Emily (Zoe Levin), the class “slut” who all the boys take advantage of. April is on the soccer team and on the weekends she babysits for her coach, Mr. B (James Franco), who manipulates her into pursuing a sexual relationship with him. Using each of these characters, Coppola explores several different themes surrounding the high school experience which can at times feel aimless and while the film keeps you interested, I’m not sure that there’s anything being said that will make a lasting impact.

The film isn’t breaking any new ground and the situations are a bit underdeveloped but Coppola’s sensibility toward each of her characters makes it all work. She’s not interested in making a social statement about anything, she truly cares for each of these teens and takes the time to try to understand them and what they’re going through. Instead of sending a message, Coppola would rather create a mood that lets the audience connect with the characters on an emotional level; this is done through some stunning cinematography from Autum Durald and a wonderfully fitting score from Dev Hynes. The film features notable performances from the likes of Emma Roberts and Nat Wolff as well as an impressive turn from first-time actor Jack Kilmer; the young actors accurately portray these troubled high school teens and give the film the natural feel that it depends on. It doesn’t seem like Coppola has developed her own style yet as her influences are on full display here, but that’s often the case with first time directors and at least it shows that she has great taste and technical skill. Overall, Palo Alto is a solid debut and while I wouldn’t call it a great film, it shows that Gia Coppola has lots of potential and we can expect to see exciting things from her in the future.

 

Jul 15, 2015

Mulholland Drive Blu Ray finally coming to the Criterion Collection in October!