Aja on 10/2/2011 at 03:12
How it destroyed you I'm not really sure. I also don't know how that movie managed to make its commentary both incredibly heavy-handed and yet mostly irrelevant, but there you go. The scenario was too silly to take seriously, it can't be chilling or portentous because there's no way it would ever happen, the science-fiction-y elements made a mockery of the supposed drama, and I couldn't ignore the logical inconsistencies. What world is this in which everything is supposedly the same as ours except that everyone's inexplicably indifferent to an obvious, ubiquitous injustice? If they were trying to portray the horrors of the black organ market (which is the only real-life circumstance I can vaguely connect the film to, unless I'm missing something obvious... the perils of cloning? Some sort of class commentary?), they could've done it with a more plausible, realistic scenario (yes there's the whole "humanity turns a blind eye to suffering" current, but again, the illogical and often ridiculous plot handily undermines this). So I never really knew what the film was supposed to be about, I just sat there feeling very detached and uninvolved.
Scots Taffer on 22/2/2011 at 04:26
If True Grit had been the output of any other filmmaker(s), I'd be recommending it strongly for its cinematography, command of actors and thrilling bursts of action punctuating the lengthy (beautiful) digresses of trekking through the countryside.
For the Coens I register it as a mild disappointment, however the most negative thing I can say about it is that it's relatively pedestrian.
Don't get me wrong, this is unjustifiable nit-picking... considering dogshit like I Am Number Four being served up as mainstream cinema's next big thing when it's the most puerile and blatant example of the by-the-numbers film-making yet... but I've reached the stage where I honestly don't give a fuck about 95% of hollywood output and only really pay attention to the handful of filmmakers who have wowed me over time, or any of those out-of-left-fielders who shock the game with something new.
However, for that 5%, I want to love the ever-living shit out of those movies and hence will come across as harsher than most. The Coens are probably at the top of my list, or jostling for pride of place alongside Nolan and others.
The Coens have been so consistent in their output and so masterful at delivering their vision for so long that I'm just struggling to see where their indelible stamp on the material is. It's worth pointing out that I haven't seen the original, but have it sitting on DVD to watch soon, and perhaps after doing so I might see where they've really redirected things but from here it's a very simple and streamlined narrative A-B-C movie that doesn't really play to any of their strengths - beyond the occasional drop of pitch black humour and sudden acts of extreme violence.
FWIW everyone was great, from the bit-players to the main characters (Damon included, it's hard to be an asshole yet still deliver a character with noticably more integrity played off against a loveable anti-hero like Cogburn) and the action scenes were brilliantly staged and the cinematography jaw-droppingly beautiful (though still second to previous Coens work Deakins did on No Country). I thoroughly enjoyed it, but was left wanting.
fett on 22/2/2011 at 05:13
Quote Posted by dethtoll
I need new friends.
I've been telling you that for years, dude. :erg:
Tocky on 22/2/2011 at 05:48
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
The Coens have been so consistent in their output and so masterful at delivering their vision for so long that I'm just struggling to see where their indelible stamp on the material is. It's worth pointing out that I haven't seen the original, but have it sitting on DVD to watch soon, and perhaps after doing so I might see where they've really redirected things but from here it's a very simple and streamlined narrative A-B-C movie that doesn't really play to any of their strengths - beyond the occasional drop of pitch black humour and sudden acts of extreme violence.
There is no Coen stamp on this one. I'm not sure but I think they appreciated the original novel enough to play it as stated which was more than the original movie did. I don't know if the actors just did not get an understanding of the characters or if Wayne and Campbell were just never able to play anything other than themselves but this latest version is far superior in capturing the humor and actual grit of rough old buzzard and stilted talking self-consciously superior Texan. But what this latest gets right more than the first is the humor strong willed Mattie unconsciously produces. The first tried, bless it's heart, but this latest rings true.
The cinematography captures the grit in true grit as well. The earlier version looked worn but clean. You'll see.
