What Movie Did You Watch This Weekend?

[doodler]

I no longer watch awards shows although I used to LOVE the Oscars and the Emmys. But if I had to choose between seeing a bunch of doctors or lawyers or teachers prattle on with their thanks for whatever or watching Maria, Francois and Trigger preen on stage, I'd take the later.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

An interesting take on Hugo and The Artist from Adam Cooke: Past/Not Past: A Tale of Two Cinemas

http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/pastnot-past-a-tale-of-two-cinemas?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digest41

It's interesting, as such, but quite cynical and Scorcese is becoming the most worshipped and over-rated
film maker with his legions of scorned fanboys who genuflect whenever his name is mentioned.  The ideas in the
article are opinion, of course, but the author never even mentions the fact that Hugo is a mess in the first half hour
and only redeems itself later on.  The casting of the two child leads is a minus--two of the dullest child actors in recent
memory on screen.

Also--why do these films have to be pitted against one another--that one is better or worse.  I liked both of them pretty equally.
The statement that Scorcese's film is more likely to make an audience member see a silent film neglects the fact that those watching
The Artist just SAW one.

Anyway--there is another viewpoint posted one hour ago, as of my viewing the article, that is worth reading if anyone
reads the original article.  That post comment begins: "I think you’re misinterpreting The Artist."

[oilgun]

^^I haven't seen The Artist yet so I can't compare them.  I haven't liked Scorcese's films after Kundun, hated Shutter Island, but I was completely seduced by Hugo.  I thought the young leads were fine.^^
_________________________


Now for something completely different.  Look what I found in the bad taste department.  The SHAME poster to end all SHAME posters:

 

[Lyle (Mooska)]

I saw FRIENDS WITH KIDS starring Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt
and Maya Rudolph, Kirsten Wiig, Jon Hamm, Chris O'Dowd, Megan Fox
and Ed Burns.  The premise is that Jennifer and Adam want to have a kid
but they don't want to do it like their married couple friends did, so they
come up with their own way of doing it.

Although I felt really distanced from this film throughout,
there was a lot of amusing material in it.  And it worked well enough
up until the climax point at which time I felt the writer didn't know what to
do with the ending or denouement and so it started getting very cliched.
(Or the powers that be didn't like the ending and made her change it, who
knows?)

[tfferg]

I caught up with a very impressive 2007 Australian film the other night, Romulus, My Father.  It was adapted from moral philosopher Raimond Gaita's memoir of his boyhood.

Rai arrived in Australia at the age of 4 with his Romanian father, Romulus, and German mother, Christina. The family was sent to a tiny town 107 kilometres north of Melbourne and led tough lives on an isolated farm.
 
Rai's parents' marriage broke down and they suffered mental illness, which was not well understood nor effectively treated in the 1960s.

Director Richard Roxburgh's film, like the original book, depicts without pathos, sentimentality or sensationalism, Romulus' goodness and the enduring love of father and son through all the traumatic events.

A fine feature of the film for me was the strong friendship between Romulus and his fellow-immigrant friend Hora who also takes care of Rai and mentors him when Romulus cannot.

Kodi Smit-McPhee acts the huge role of Rai very credibly indeed. Romulus is played in a nuanced performance by Eric Bana. The Central Victorian landscape which was very dry at the time of filming is beautifully photographed by Geoffrey Simpson.

[ingmarnicebbmt]

Also--why do these films have to be pitted against one another--that one is better or worse.  I liked both of them pretty equally.
The statement that Scorcese's film is more likely to make an audience member see a silent film neglects the fact that those watching
The Artist just SAW one.

Excellent point.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

I saw WANDERLUST this weekend starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston.
It had some laughs, but I just wasn't into it.  The new age/hippie theme seemed
way off to me and a little out of place.

[Cally]

Oh, I was wondering about that one - had a reasonable review and sounded nice and upbeat.

[ingmarnicebbmt]

As a German, this title makes me giggle.

[Cally]

As a German, this title makes me giggle.

Warum?

[ingmarnicebbmt]

Because it's such an oldfashion word, totally out of use. And still meaningful, of course. It's like an evocation of good ol' times.

[Cally]

OK

[Nikki]

Saw 'Midnight in Paris' last night.  One of the few Woody Allen films I liked. The opening scenes of Paris by day/night/rain were gorgeous!  I actually liked Owen Wilson as the lost, bumbling, starstruck writer.  He was very Woody-esque and appealing.  Loved the bevy of starts in cameo roles, especially Adrian Brody as Dall-eee and Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein.  I also enjoyed the score and wonder if it's on CD.  Anybody know?

[garyd]

Saw 'Midnight in Paris' last night.  One of the few Woody Allen films I liked. The opening scenes of Paris by day/night/rain were gorgeous!  I actually liked Owen Wilson as the lost, bumbling, starstruck writer.  He was very Woody-esque and appealing.  Loved the bevy of starts in cameo roles, especially Adrian Brody as Dall-eee and Kathy Bates as Gertrude Stein.  I also enjoyed the score and wonder if it's on CD.  Anybody know?

Hey Nikki,
Yes the soundtrack is available.  Amazon has it or it can be downloaded from itunes and other places I assume.  A charming film, I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of "Everybody Says I Love You" which I also enjoyed. 

[daannzzz]

 "8"
Did anyone else watch this on Youtube.  It was very good considering they were most all reading the play as they want. I noticed a couple people had committed their part to memory. It was quite interestingly put together though I would really like to have seen the trial done straight forward (though condensed). "8" seemed to have some of the information juxtaposed in a manner to help push the point of view of the writer. Also cut in were snippets of private conversations that were placed to punctuate portions of the trial. I understand that this is a play and liberties are taken for dramatic effect but I would have preferred just seeing the trial to truly see how everything was presented in the courtroom