pericles, many thanks for the 1080 trailer and the poster. I guess I'm into "masturbatory" "vanity" projects, but I find his movies tremendous, like nothing else really. I've watched The New World quite a few times.
I too like "masturbatory" "vanity" projects. :grin: I like a director that shoots for the moon, flaws included.
yeah, it's like he's literally NEVER watched another movie, at all. Nothing in his films refers to the way anyone else films anything or tells a story in film. I just can't figure it out, but I love it. Thank all that is holy that this is coming out in a matter of weeks.
Not to say it's good (I haven't seen it yet), but every movie has negative reviews. The bulk of reviews so far are positive. It's 90% fresh on rotten tomatoes right now, with 100% of their "top critic" category giving it favorable reviews so far. Ebert finds a sort of transcendence in it: " ... Many films diminish us. They cheapen us, masturbate our senses, hammer us with shabby thrills, diminish the value of life. Some few films evoke the wonderment of life's experience, and those I consider a form of prayer. Not prayer "to" anyone or anything, but prayer "about" everyone and everything. I believe prayer that makes requests is pointless. What will be, will be. But I value the kind of prayer when you stand at the edge of the sea, or beneath a tree, or smell a flower, or love someone, or do a good thing. Those prayers validate existence and snatch it away from meaningless routine... " http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/05/a_prayer_beneath_the_tree_of_l.html
[Tears off shirt.] I am one of those people! Earn this! Once you get past the beach landing, what's so great about Private Ryan? The characters in Thin Red Line would have said to themselves, "Risk eight guys for one sadsack, just 'cause his brothers are dead? WTF?" Then they would have deserted--to a tropical island. And on that tropical island they would have realized that even the tropical islanders were warlike, while looking at/thinking about Nature. Boom. Better movie.
I have never seen a Malick movie. I'm going to watch Thin Red Line later today possibly. I'm very intrigued by the transcendentalist style. Eagerly awaiting the release of Tree of Life.
The Malick canon: Masterpieces: 1a. Badlands 1b. Thin Red Line 1c. Days of Heaven Pretty darn good film: 2. The New World Can't wait for Tree of Life.
Oh, ----. Thought to myself, where is one of my other favorite directors, who disappeared after making a handful of great movies? Whit Stillman Wkipedia Stillman has filmed three comedies of manners (or "comedies of mannerlessness"): Metropolitan (1990), Barcelona (1994), and The Last Days of Disco (1998); he also published a novel based on the last of these films. A fourth film, Violet Wister’s Damsels in Distress, is expected to be released in 2011.[3] Sweet!
Winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes usually doesn't mean much. I'm interested in this movie but the r****dATION of Sean Penn cast in this movie totally is a BIG turn off for me. Just like bad casting of Matthew McConaughey in CONTACT.
I didn't think Thin Red Line was better than Saving Private Ryan but I felt it was on par. Its too bad they both came out in the same year leading to comparisons, like Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, but they are almost completely different movies in terms of what they are about. Saving Private Ryan is a much more accessible movie that is primarily about telling a story while Thin Red Line is primarily about asking questions. They are both very good movies but different.
Actually it has a better record than the Academy awards of rewarding masterpieces and recognizing new talent. To name a few of the top winners Pulp Fiction Taxi Driver Apocalypse Now Sex, Lies and Video Tape Barton Fink The Pianist Wild at Heart MASH Blow-Up Also, there's a monetary gain that winners get via international distribution. So yes it does mean a lot to win. Nicolas Winding Refn won Best Director for Drive. If you're a Batman fan then you know him because everyone references his Bronson when defending Tom Hardy. Well now he is in talks to remake Logan' Run at WB. I gaurantee you he doesn't get a call back if he doesn't score a hit at Cannes. BTW Drive looks like an early Mann neo noir. That is to say it looks fawking amazing. <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FvRl2OB5PBk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Academy Awards usually doesn't mean much to me. But what critics love/chosen it usually because it's artsy. I'm sure I'm going to like but I'm pretty sure it won't do well at the BO. All his movies are usually good in my book but never great. They usually tend to be slow and are mostly character study type approach.