tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post197665641728550143..comments2023-07-23T09:45:33.199-05:00Comments on the last lullaby (and) peril: 1978: Straight Time (Ulu Grosbard)Jeffrey Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-36896545208421187272010-03-31T06:38:03.416-05:002010-03-31T06:38:03.416-05:00Wow, Anonymous, what a fantastic post!
I partic...Wow, Anonymous, what a fantastic post! <br /><br />I particularly love this:<br /><br />"This is how I mean 'pedestrian', just as you used the word earlier - you feel the weight of reality rise from the frame, often making you feel like a witness rather than an audience. Considering his penchant for the 'well made script' (The Subject Was Roses, True Confessions, even much of Georgia), his creation of this atmosphere is even more of an achievement."<br /><br />And I never knew that about his involvement in SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS. That's a fascinating tidbit.<br /><br />Thanks so much, Anonymous. Wonderful addition to the post with this one!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-68148418267843238762010-03-30T23:00:31.359-05:002010-03-30T23:00:31.359-05:00I had the good fortune of speaking to Ulu Grosbard...I had the good fortune of speaking to Ulu Grosbard several years ago about this film. I explained to him that I had great affection for it, and it had had a terrific influence on my own work. He seemed surprised by this, and went on to say that much of the film had been improvised (which in turn had forced him to do a bit of improvisation with the directing). My sense was that the experience was not the best for him. Grosbard's directing style here and elsewhere can be best described as "pedestrian" -- he stays out of the way and allows the story to tell itself. I found this even more fascinating after he cited Grand Illusion and Raging Bull as two of his favorite films (both of which draw one's eye to the director's hand, not always a bad thing). Grosbard, whose background is in theater, has been underrated over the years for his film work. In this film and many of his others, he is shows he is particularly expert at a kind of atmosphere. This is how I mean "pedestrian", just as you used the word earlier - you feel the weight of reality rise from the frame, often making you feel like a witness rather than an audience. Considering his penchant for the "well made script" (The Subject Was Roses, True Confessions, even much of Georgia), his creation of this atmosphere is even more of an achievement. Finally, it's interesting to note that Grosbard was the young AD on another film from your list, Splendor in the Grass.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-83983903604626167112010-03-30T21:55:21.782-05:002010-03-30T21:55:21.782-05:00Dave, I absolutely owe DAYS OF HEAVEN more looks! ...Dave, I absolutely owe DAYS OF HEAVEN more looks! And plan to watch it again in the near future. <br /><br />I'll be very curious to hear your take on STRAIGHT TIME. As someone who knows noir as well as you do, I'll be curious to hear how you rank this one.<br /><br />Thanks, Dave. Always wonderful to hear from you!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-77488993614108622772010-03-30T21:48:24.225-05:002010-03-30T21:48:24.225-05:00John, I'm really looking forward to seeing tha...John, I'm really looking forward to seeing that Ashby! I love SHAMPOO and THE LAST DETAIL and can only imagine I'll really like this one, too.<br /><br />Thanks, John. Always great to have you here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-62209546736184309642010-03-30T21:46:27.021-05:002010-03-30T21:46:27.021-05:00Sam, you made my day with this comment:
"You...Sam, you made my day with this comment:<br /><br />"Your passion here is palpable, and your bold comparison with RIFIFI speaks volumes. These are the kind of choices that make this polling so worthwhile."<br /><br />And it's a response like that that makes it totally worthwhile on this end, too. Thanks, Sam!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-67355468646340745102010-03-30T21:44:11.609-05:002010-03-30T21:44:11.609-05:00JD, yeah Mann totally worked on this. And I belie...JD, yeah Mann totally worked on this. And I believe part of his push in making THIEF came as a result of being snubbed on this one.<br /><br />Thanks, JD! Always a treat to hear from you.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-61720516438366274042010-03-30T21:36:41.327-05:002010-03-30T21:36:41.327-05:00Samuel, so glad to hear that you love this one, to...Samuel, so glad to hear that you love this one, too! I appreciate the kind words. <br /><br />Always great having you here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-73441764652836253942010-03-30T21:35:13.735-05:002010-03-30T21:35:13.735-05:00Tony, I have a hunch you'll really like this o...Tony, I have a hunch you'll really like this one. But you'll have to let me know. <br /><br />And thanks for the heads-up on the Criterion release of DAYS OF HEAVEN. I definitely need to see that at some point. <br /><br />Thanks, Tony! Always great to have you here.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-36243715547571205902010-03-30T21:31:11.759-05:002010-03-30T21:31:11.759-05:00Jeremy: I totally agree. Hoffman as Max Dembo is...Jeremy: I totally agree. Hoffman as Max Dembo is absolutely fantastic. I love this one, too!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-57544396916978639302010-03-30T17:10:19.457-05:002010-03-30T17:10:19.457-05:00Jeffrey - This is one that has been on my Netflix ...Jeffrey - This is one that has been on my Netflix queue for quite some time and I need to watch it.<br /><br />The pick for me is a no-brainer - it has to be Malick's DAYS OF HEAVEN. It's quite possibly the most beautiful film I have ever seen (if it isn't, then another Malick is). And while those that don't like Malick are turned off by his narratives, I actually quite like the leisurely, take it is as it comes, pace to his films.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-47972963803086863412010-03-30T15:08:54.287-05:002010-03-30T15:08:54.287-05:00“Straight Time” is a film I saw at the time of its...“Straight Time” is a film I saw at the time of its original release and it has been too long for me to remember much about it. I really need to watch it again before rendering a verdict.<br />“Days of Heaven” is one of the most stunning and beautiful films ever made still I have to go with Hal Ashby’s “Coming Home.” Powerful and emotionally moving film about Viet vets. Jon Voight did a fantastic job and the use of real paraplegics made the film ever so more powerful. Ashby’s use of music on the soundtrack comes close to emulating Scorsese’s. <br /><br /><br />#1 Coming Home<br /><br /><br />Best of the Rest<br /><br />Days of Heaven<br />An Unmarried Woman<br />Fingers<br />Animal House<br />The Last Waltz<br />Blue Collar<br />VioletteJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-81275111612063907242010-03-30T15:02:49.157-05:002010-03-30T15:02:49.157-05:00Tony,
Theresa is really fabulous in this and she ...Tony, <br />Theresa is really fabulous in this and she shot it right around the time of BAD TIMING so she was really at the top of her game.Nostalgia Kinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506680500183270767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-27841202742474644812010-03-30T13:36:14.928-05:002010-03-30T13:36:14.928-05:00Well Jeffrey, you surprised me here. I wasn't...Well Jeffrey, you surprised me here. I wasn't an especially enthusiastic fan of this film, but this is one I haven't seen in many years, so this vaunted placement is as good a reason as any to re-examine. Your passion here is palpable, and your bold comparison with RIFIFI speaks volumes. These are the kind of choices that make this polling so worthwhile.<br /><br />My Own #1 Film of 1978:<br /><br />In A Year of 13 Moons (Fassbinder; Germany)<br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br />The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (Schipisi; Australia)<br />Days of Heaven (Malick; USA)<br />Tree of the Wooden Clogs (Olmi; Italy)<br />Perceval (Rohmer; France)<br />Gates of Heaven (Morris; USA)<br />Autumn Sonata (Bergman; Sweden)<br />Animal House (Landis; USA)<br />The Last Waltz (Scorsese; USA)<br />Jubilee (Jarman; UK)<br />The Deer Hunter (Cimino; USA)<br /><br />My own #1, a Fassbinder masterpiece and the follow-up Australian feature lead my own list in a fair year, with some superlative standouts.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-31070887679505933392010-03-30T10:30:24.933-05:002010-03-30T10:30:24.933-05:00Yeah, this is a really cool crime film. If memory ...Yeah, this is a really cool crime film. If memory serves, Michael Mann even worked on the screenplay for a time.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-15046443681783611872010-03-30T10:28:32.940-05:002010-03-30T10:28:32.940-05:00Jeffrey, I saw Straight Time last summer and was b...Jeffrey, I saw Straight Time last summer and was bowled over. You sum up its strengths quite nicely. It's a strong pick for a year I'm not so well versed in. Most of your to-dos are mine as well, though I can strongly recommend Empire of Passion and Dawn of the Dead. Right now it'd be between Straight Time and Deer Hunter for the top of my own list, but as I haven't seen the Cimino in a while I'm tempted to put Straight Time on top as well.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-12260012281028423092010-03-30T08:22:02.747-05:002010-03-30T08:22:02.747-05:00This is one I have to get around to see it. Espec...This is one I have to get around to see it. Especially since I'm a fan of Theresa Russell(isn't she in this?).<br /><br />But really, Jeff. You must revisit DAYS OF HEAVEN pretty quickly. It's a great occasion to, also, since Criterion just released it on Blu.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-69909369888474656562010-03-30T08:05:25.662-05:002010-03-30T08:05:25.662-05:00It's a masterpiece and it's a shame more f...It's a masterpiece and it's a shame more folks don't know about. It also contains perhaps my favorite performance from Hoffman, who is absolutely astounding. Great pick!Nostalgia Kinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506680500183270767noreply@blogger.com