Mar 29, 2016

Listen Up Philip (2014) ★★★★☆


As much as I'm getting sick of directors informed by their lives in New York/Los Angeles, yesterday I watched Listen Up Philip and enjoyed myself in a couple of different ways. The narration played into the literary focus. The visual comedy was a welcome throwback from the edit to the girl running away, the cut away from the punch and the wheelchair gag, The black comedy that is Philip's perspective on the world such as his response to an acquaintances' suicide or when he decides to cut the grass. The way the plot doesn't feel the need to resolve the daughter or Philip. The in depth look at narcissism while still somehow endearing us to these imperfect characters. I think everybody can see a little part of themselves in Philip and that really makes us uncomfortable.

Maybe not as clean as Queen of Earth, but Alex Ross Perry is definitely on my radar now. Not many directors have the kind of range to do a Woodie Allen anxious NY comedy followed by an Ingmar Bergman psychological chamber drama. Will definitely be checking out The Color Wheel (2011) soon. Also, I found an AMA he did on Reddit where he cites Sofia Coppola's Somewhere (2010) and Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master (2012) as two of his favorite films of the decade so far. This is an artist after my own heart.

http://boxd.it/98SVH

 

Mar 30, 2016

Alps (2011) ★★★★☆


As the case with Lanthimos' other pictures, the cold performances and surreal behavior both distance the audience and encourage them to examine social norms. His work functions as a comparative study of both the universe that he crafts and the one the audience inhabits. He casts a zoological eye on anatomy, mating, and violence. His stories are best experienced from a position of ignorance where you slowly have to piece together the rules of the world. Alps (2011) might contain the most dimensions of any of his works thus far, as it serves as a mission statement for his art while also examining grief much the same way that his later films examine indoctrination and love.

http://boxd.it/99Est

 

Mar 31, 2016

Goodbye to Language, The Assassin, and Horse Money are all on US Netflix for anybody interested.

 

Mar 31, 2016

As a Canadian with Netflix, all I can say is f--- you guys. Horse Money...

 

Mar 31, 2016

Quite liked 10 Cloverfield Lane, and I urge you all to see A Brighter Summer Day. Really fiending for the Criterion right now...

 

Mar 31, 2016

Been meaning to see Horse Money...I'll try to check it out soon.

Movies on my radar for April:
April 1- Everybody Wants Some (Richard Linklater), Francofonia (Aleksander Sokurov), No Home Movie (Chantal Akerman)
April 8- Louder Than Bombs (Joachim Trier), Neon Bull (Gabriel Mascaro)
April 15- Green Room (Jeremy Saulnier), The Measure of a Man (Stephane Brize)
April 22- Tale of Tales (Matteo Garrone)

 

Apr 2, 2016

I know REAL cineastes like @Dew and @Charlie will appreciate this:

I appeared on the Boston online film critics monthly repertory podcast. Take a listen @MovieSXN
http://bofca.com/bofca-repertory-podcast-april-2016/

 

Apr 3, 2016

Was looking through the thread and could not find your thoughts on Anomalisa...please share.

 

Apr 3, 2016

watched Franju's Eyes Without a Face the other day thanks to @Twan (Great pick bro), and it was fantastic!

A gentle ballet. a performative horror fantasy fairy-tale rife with quiet tension and haunting images.

92/100 - Amazing

and it has such a perfect soundtrack, fits the character so well. like a pretty music box but mysterious and potentially horrifying.

 

Apr 4, 2016

Ah, I never got around to it. Will mention you when I get a chance to go in more detail!

Glad you were a fan! It's really a beautiful, lyrical horror film in its own way. I've been meaning to rewatch it myself. While it's not especially graphic by today's standards, the measured, matter of fact manner in which the operation scene is performed and presented is downright chilling.

On another note, here's the sales trailer for James Gray's The Lost City of Z.

 

Apr 4, 2016

@FilmAndWhisky @Twan

Have either of you watched Teshigara's The Face of Another? I've heard Eyes Without a Face is very comparable though I haven't seen it yet.

 

Apr 4, 2016

It's pretty great. There are some similarities, but I was reminded more of Frankenheimer's Seconds.

 

Apr 4, 2016

I actually had it DVR'd for a while and caught some of TCM's expository preface on it. I really should get around to watching it.

 

Apr 4, 2016

Friend didnt like Blade Runner

whose man is this?

 

Apr 4, 2016

@Vahn out here tryin to defend BvS

srs whose man is this?

 

Apr 4, 2016

The last act is pretty dire and leaves a bad taste, but overall I thought it was more or less...fine.

 

Apr 4, 2016

it would be much better just to link this video because these are my pretty exact feelings

 

Apr 5, 2016

Welp, apparently Jeff Nichols is not Mike Nichols' son. I've probably thought that for 5 years now. Noice.

 

Apr 6, 2016

Doing a Brie Larson double bill today with Short Term 12 and Room

On another note, for @Twan really, i'm raising my rating of Eyes Without a Face to 95. The film really sticks with you...

@Charlie I have the Teshigahara ready to go.

 

Apr 6, 2016

@Charlie we should watch it together.. at the same time..

That reminds me... whatever happened to flickyoucrew film club? I know we got pretty slow and lame with that--low participation, but I don't even see it here. Does that mean it was pre-studio-leaks era?

If we got a solid 5 people into it I say we try it again. This time with less hassle... no voting, no beefing, just rotate between members and pick a film a week. Have a specific watchday and anyone can join discussion between that day and the following week.

If you're down with this, willing to commit to watching a single film per week chosen by your studio leaks peers, like this and let's dig in. I think if me, @Twan @Woody @Charlie Raz *I'll make him watch* @Old_Parr @Bleed @Rowjay Stan @Dew @Howie we can get a solid 5 ppl chatting per film.