Talk About Movies: Part 4
Somehow threads merged, so here's part 4 of our ongoing movie discussion.
Let me respond with one story.
One time at a dinner party with a few people we didn't know, my friend was asked if she wanted to sit next to her husband (me). We told her we are not married, just friends. She said to my friend, "Oh, but you seem so attached to him."
I understand your criticism of Past Lives. I love the way it begins with someone asking who are these people, what's their story? Then the film answers those questions the best it can.
I guess we ask these same sorts of questions when we see people in a bar or restaurant. We might make up a story about them. We might stumble upon the truth even if we will never know.
Like that observer in the bar at the beginning of the film, we wonder and create our own stories. And what do we know of these things that bind us and keep us apart? I love the way Past Lives lets us know.
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I won't write this one up, but if you have Kanopy, I highly recommend Monsieur Hire. Don't see anyone mention Patrice Leconte, but he has made some great films, including Man on a Train, The Hairdresser's Husband, and The Widow of Sainte-Pierre.
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Monsieur Hire is great. The Hairdresser's Husband is one of my favorites, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere.
I can only find Monsieur Hire now on Kanopy. I saw the rest many years ago when Netflix sent DVDs.
Today I watched Kiarostami's Where Is the Friend's House? and And Life Goes On. These are the first two films of the Koker Trilogy. I will watch the third tomorrow.
Criterion has a huge collection of his films, including many early ones and shorts I haven't seen. Since I still have two more weeks before classes begin, I have plenty of time to fill with movies.
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SALTBURN
Director: Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Anticipation Level: Medium
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Thoughts:
Saltburn is one of those movies that I recognize as being extremely well made but just can’t say I genuinely loved. There’s plenty to like here. The cast is tremendous, from top to bottom, with Barry Keoghan proving he can carry a film with his weird ass. Jacob Elordi floored me though. I’ve only ever seen him in Euphoria and his performance is a 180 here. Dude has range! My interest level in Priscilla just skyrocketed and I can now say I approve of his inclusion on the short list for the next Batman. Music is great, direction is solid, and the production design is top tier. But I didn’t connect much with the story and some of the scenes legit repulsed me. Every time I think of the bathtub drain, it makes me gag a little. Saltburn is definitely not for causal movie watchers but serious film fans will probably find more value here than I did.
Rating: 6+ (Mixed Recommendation)
Replay Value: I think I owe this another viewing but I usually have a hard time revisiting difficult films I didn’t love the first time around.
Sequel Potential: None.
Oscar Potential: Saltburn is on the fringes of a lot of categories but doesn’t seem likely to get many nominations. I think it’s best chances are Cinematography or Production Design.
SALTBURN
Director: Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Anticipation Level: Medium
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Thoughts:
Saltburn is one of those movies that I recognize as being extremely well made but just can’t say I genuinely loved. There’s plenty to like here. The cast is tremendous, from top to bottom, with Barry Keoghan proving he can carry a film with his weird ass. Jacob Elordi floored me though. I’ve only ever seen him in Euphoria
I watched the first maybe 10 minutes and decided I would rather go get a root canal than watch the rest.
I actually made it to 45 minutes and dropped it. I heard enough from a few friends that I figured why not give it another shot…. Wasn’t necessary. Don’t exactly regret it but I probably shouldn’t have bothered lol
Infinity Pool directed by Brandon Cronenberg (yes, it's his son) is a horror film that's much in line with films such as Saltburn and Parasite. All offer some sort of commentary on the idle rich, but this one is definitely a horror film.
All three films contrast the upper class with either the working class or interlopers as in Saltburn. While all three are very good films, I can't help thinking that Bunuel explored these themes better in his satires years ago.
The film is available on Kanopy in the uncut version.
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Is the version on Hulu different?
SALTBURN
Director: Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
Anticipation Level: Medium
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Thoughts:
Saltburn is one of those movies that I recognize as being extremely well made but just can’t say I genuinely loved. There’s plenty to like here. The cast is tremendous, from top to bottom, with Barry Keoghan proving he can carry a film with his weird ass. Jacob Elordi floored me though. I’ve only ever seen him in Euphoria
All of the gross out scenes make zero sense at the end of the movie. They are just thrown in there for shock value and nothing more.
Infinity Pool directed by Brandon Cronenberg (yes, it's his son) is a horror film that's much in line with films such as Saltburn and Parasite. All offer some sort of commentary on the idle rich, but this one is definitely a horror film.
All three films contrast the upper class with either the working class or interlopers as in Saltburn. While all three are very good films, I can't help thinking that Bunuel explored these themes better in hi
I really liked the first half or so of Infinity Pool and then it went off the rails. I liked Possessor quite a bit more but I think I am in the minority.
re: Saltburn - I have similar feelings as TheDarkKnight on this one. I think the biggest problem is the movie is simply a bit of a slog to sit thru and the characters are thoroughly unlikable. It just wasn't entertaining (to me at least).
re: Infinity Pool - My understanding of uncut vs. theatrical version is that the sex-related scenes are much longer and graphic. I saw the theatrical version so can't confirm for sure. But, if those differences are true, I would watch the theatrical version for a first viewing as the sex stuff really isn't central to the plot. Unlike Saltburn, where the protagonist
Spoiler
is obsessed with becoming the guy he is "stalking" & dismantling the rich family so the sex-related stuff is more relevant
also I loved Infinity Pool (a minority opinion it seems). Mia Goth really has developed a screen presence with her performances in this & PEARL. Can't wait to see her again in MAXXXINE.
if it has Urine and Penis Manipulation... it's uncut.
That made me chuckle... now the wife wants to know what I am laughing at.
Imagine my discomfort when I say, uncut weiners and film.
i watched that early part of the movie about 2-3x per week when i was 16
downloaded that song as well and would play it a bunch, people always thought it made me a weirdo but it's such a well put together piece of cinema, and in a war movie no less
The 1st scene with Caviezel and Sean Penn.
He says we can't all be smart(referring to himself). Then a bit later that he's seen a better world. Like a child. That's how you attain the spiritual discernment. ♥
I interpret it that way anyway, parallel with the teaching in the Bible.
Really enjoyed Theater Camp
Knew nothing at all going into it and was very happy with the choice.
Theater Camp was a lot of fun. What a great final scene. I didn’t even know I was a huge Molly Gordon fan but I clearly am. She was Claire in The Bear and also the ex-gf in Shiva Baby. And she can write and direct? Yeah, she’s one to watch.
My top 20 of 2023
Notable Omissions:
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Iron Claw
Asteroid City
Bottoms
Yet to see:
Zone of Interest
Anatomy of a Fall
Maestro
Dead Reckoning
American Fiction
All of Us Strangers
BlackBerry
Priscilla
Beau Is Afraid
Ferrari
Nimona
Infinity Pool
My top 20 of 2023
Notable Omissions:
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Iron Claw
Asteroid City
Bottoms
Yet to see:
Zone of Interest
Anatomy of a Fall
Maestro
Dead Reckoning
American Fiction
All of Us Strangers
BlackBerry
Priscilla
Beau Is Afraid
Ferrari
Nimona
Infinity Pool
How many movies did you watch this year?
130. 48 from 2023.
