tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610074516299275060.post8004708551251450743..comments2024-01-21T11:18:54.087-05:00Comments on Lost in the Movies: The Millennial Mood 1999 - 2002 • "32 Days of Movies" Day 30Joel Bockohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610074516299275060.post-12261164566964999072011-10-31T18:56:09.810-04:002011-10-31T18:56:09.810-04:00The reason for that trend is that my more in-depth...The reason for that trend is that my more in-depth film explorations have occurred in the past 5 years, and during that time I have mostly ignored contemporary/recent cinema of all countries, focusing instead on the 30s - 70s. So what you're left with in these later sections is mostly stuff I've bought 10 years ago - hence not only the preponderence of American films but of, shall we say, not quite as vintage stuff (which I actually kind of like, the popcorn stuff gives the whole series more of an all-over-the-map flavor).<br /><br />I will say the last few sections make up for it somewhat. Even in today's you have a mixture of stuff I bought when I first bought DVDs - Requiem, Unbreakable, Fight Club (which was actually a present - even when it came out I was ambivalent, though the filmmaking is superb) and stuff I bought more recently - In the Mood and Platform, for example. Next chapter goes more heavily toward more recent purchases (which means more foreign & documentary than American mainstream, of which there are almost none), and the final chapter features I think only one American film, and not one you would suspect probably! (It's one I like, but mostly bought because it was $1 at the record store.) At that point you're pretty much seeing my disillusion with contemporary mainstream cinema.<br /><br />All in all, a timeline of this series in terms of purchases rather than historical chronology would yield interesting results and be autobiographically, in terms of my taste anyway, probably pretty revealing!<br /><br />Although by the same token I bought Braveheart a few months ago so who knows, haha.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610074516299275060.post-10868330693930986542011-10-31T17:09:33.472-04:002011-10-31T17:09:33.472-04:00There's absolutely no need to apologise for th...There's absolutely no need to apologise for the delays, Joel.<br /><br />One thing I've been sort of noting is, like your initial few compilations, the later few too heavily comprise of American movies. This trend was broken in the middle section when European cinema came to dominate your montages.<br /><br />Anyway, here's what I've seen:<br /><br />The Virgin Suicides - I quite liked this offbeat urban drama from Sofia Coppola. I've never been a big fan of her Lost in Translation though.<br /><br />Fight Club - When I first saw this movie, I'd absolutely loved it, and I still like it. That said, I know you're not that fond of this film.<br /><br />Requiem for a Dream - A very harrowing work, and consequently not the kind of movie I'd like to watch multiple times. Its not that I don't like movies that depress me; in fact a lot of my favourite movies are quite dark & disturbing. Yet I found this movie difficult to get through.<br /><br />In the Mood for Love - Stunning work by Wong Kar-Wai, one of my favourites among directors still working. There are quite a few movies of his which I absolutely love (Chungking Express, 2046, Ahses of Time, etc.)<br /><br />Mulholland Drive - A strange yet strangely hypnotic film. Its a damn difficult task to unravel all the plot angles, yet there's some mysterious charm that keeps you addicted to it. And Naomi Watts' performance was absolutely mind-blowing - especially her scary transformation from a innocent young woman to the angry, jealous lady.<br /><br />Y Tu Mama Tambien - What an entertaining ride this was! Yet another addition to the galore of fine movies made in Mexico during the 2000's (some have been calling it the Mexican New Wave).<br /><br />Training Day - Interesting film. What I remember most about it is Denzel Washington's powerful performance - though I still feel Russell Crowe was better in The Beautiful Mind.<br /><br />The Royal Tenenbaums - My favourite Wes Anderson movie. I really like his portrayal of dysfunctional families. I like his Darjeeling Limited too, though it has met with largely mixed reactions from most film writers.<br /><br />Why is it that dysfunctional families have been a pet subject for so many American movies? Is this really as prevalent a phenomenon as the movies portray? If yes, since how long? Sorry if I sound impertinent in asking this.Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610074516299275060.post-86191826211317107522011-10-31T12:58:49.313-04:002011-10-31T12:58:49.313-04:00I enjoy Sofia's films. Yes, Suicides is uneven...I enjoy Sofia's films. Yes, <i>Suicides</i> is uneven but stunning. And both <i>Lost in Translation</i> and <i>Marie Antoinette</i> are well made. She is a careful filmmaker.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610074516299275060.post-68824375559063838932011-10-31T09:42:52.696-04:002011-10-31T09:42:52.696-04:00Thanks, Hokahey - as I said to Shubhajit sorry for...Thanks, Hokahey - as I said to Shubhajit sorry for the weather-releated delays in publishing comments (I got your other one too).<br /><br />Since I decided to use my DVD collection as the basis for this, I worried some picks would see some raised eyebrows (since the early sections of this series SEEM to be pointing toward a canonical approach, even though that's not my overall intention). Unbreakable was one of the foremost - Shymalan is so despised these days, so I'm glad to hear you like it.<br /><br />I gave up on him after The Village and everything I've heard of his work since hasn't been encouraging, but I think like you this is his best work - an intelligent, imaginative screenplay and very astute direction: whatever his other failures, he really knows how to tell a story visually.<br /><br />I love Sofia Coppola too, though I think Virgin Suicides is somewhat uneven, it's just got such a great, palpable mood. Some people respond to it and some, well, respond to it, but do so by recoiling! I can't think of another talented director who is so viscerally LOATHED by the people who don't like her. She's really a love/hate figure. I love her.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610074516299275060.post-87302231677446748212011-10-30T22:35:54.650-04:002011-10-30T22:35:54.650-04:00Joel, I like this chapter a lot. I remember seeing...Joel, I like this chapter a lot. I remember seeing <i>The Virgin Suicides</i> at the movies and being blown away by it. Lots of powerful films here. Also love <i>Unbreakable</i> - Shyamalan's best film, in my opinion. What a labor of love this epic project is. I applaud you.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.com