tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post7762627725231266224..comments2023-07-23T09:45:33.199-05:00Comments on the last lullaby (and) peril: 2002: Funny Ha Ha (Andrew Bujalski)Jeffrey Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-18235283561719342062010-04-23T18:06:37.499-05:002010-04-23T18:06:37.499-05:00John, your top pick is also one I still need to se...John, your top pick is also one I still need to see. I definitely feel bad that I haven't seen it yet and will do something about that soon. From your list, I also still need to see THE QUIET AMERICAN, THE MAGDALENE SISTERS, and FRIDA. And I struggled a little with MINORITY REPORT, ABOUT SCHMIDT, and THE HOURS the one time I saw them. <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-13398982512144113062010-04-23T18:03:52.343-05:002010-04-23T18:03:52.343-05:00Dave, great to hear from you! I still need to see...Dave, great to hear from you! I still need to see your top pick. It's one I should have seen by now, but for some reason it's eluded me. I'll rectify that soon though.<br /><br />Thanks, Dave! Always great to have you here.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-43188048306223727662010-04-23T17:59:15.358-05:002010-04-23T17:59:15.358-05:00Jeffrye, I have to admit I am unfamilar with your ...Jeffrye, I have to admit I am unfamilar with your pick. One to look out for. My # 1 was Polanski's The Pianist <br /><br />...and the rest<br /><br />Far From Heaven<br />Gangs of New York<br />Minority Report<br />About Schmidt<br />The Hours<br />The Quiet American<br />Whale Rider<br />Chicago<br />The Magdelene Sisters<br />Road to Perdition<br />Frida<br />Catch Me If You CanJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-58675230397346720272010-04-23T17:56:10.252-05:002010-04-23T17:56:10.252-05:00Sam's passion for Far From Heaven and Doniphon...Sam's passion for Far From Heaven and Doniphon's for Gangs of New York are both stunning. Oddly enough, I re-watched both of them in the last week. Far From Heaven I like, but don't see it measuring up even to classics from Douglas Sirk. Gangs of New York, which like you Jeffrey I struggled with on a first viewing, worked significantly better for me this second time around. Cameron Diaz is still at times cringe-worthy, but the filmmaking prowess of Scorsese is certainly on display. And Daniel Day Lewis is incredible.<br /><br />Still, my #1 for 2002 has to remain the Brazilian crime epic CITY OF GOD. It shows it's American influences prominently, but morphs everything into a stylishly gritty film.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-1348636483698196072010-04-23T17:20:17.707-05:002010-04-23T17:20:17.707-05:00Donophon, I was nearly remanded for a mental insti...Donophon, I was nearly remanded for a mental institution back in 2002 for that dubious "feat" where I was even getting a head-count of people in attendance in a floundering art house multiplex that closed down maybe a year later. But I am a sick puppy, no doubt about it.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-48406465237327697012010-04-23T17:09:08.030-05:002010-04-23T17:09:08.030-05:00Doniphon, great to hear from you! I admit to havi...Doniphon, great to hear from you! I admit to having struggled the one time I saw GANGS OF NEW YORK, but that was upon its release. I definitely owe it another look.<br /><br />Great stuff! Thanks, Doniphon.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-50037139262821338972010-04-23T17:05:32.599-05:002010-04-23T17:05:32.599-05:00Sam saw Far From Heaven twenty times in the movie ...Sam saw Far From Heaven twenty times in the movie theater? Wait, seriously? That's just nuts, ha. I'm not even a fan of the film (or Haynes as a filmmaker), but that kind of conviction is goddamn admirable. I'll echo Drew's votes for Vendredi Soir and Punch-Drunk Love and Femme Fatale, but for me the movie of 2002 is Gangs Of New York. It's Scorsese's greatest achievement, and actually is similar to Far From Heaven in that it reframes a 20th century filmmaker's system of values. But while Far From Heaven remains rather academic in my mind, Gangs Of New York is a celebration of the historical mythology introduced by John Ford in an incredibly alive way, and really blows the movies wide open. One of my absolute favorites.Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-74044949802488924572010-04-23T17:04:29.983-05:002010-04-23T17:04:29.983-05:00Drew, I'll be curious to hear how this one tre...Drew, I'll be curious to hear how this one treats you!<br /><br />From your list, I still need to see MORVERN CALLAR, LA VIE NOUVELLE (I did see SOMBRE), DEMONLOVER, and I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART. I struggled a little with PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE the one time I saw it and should have had VENDREDI SOIR in my post and am adding it now.<br /><br />Thanks, Drew. Always great to have you here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-49506967685620051022010-04-23T17:00:42.339-05:002010-04-23T17:00:42.339-05:00Sam, FAR FROM HEAVEN 20 times in the theater. Now...Sam, FAR FROM HEAVEN 20 times in the theater. Now that's awesome! I'm a huge fan of the film, too, and believe I saw it at the Egyptian Theater with Elmer Bernstein in attendance. That was a real treat. <br /><br />I also love TALK TO HER!<br /><br />I'll be curious to hear if this Bujalski does anything to change your opinion. Thanks, Sam! Always great to have you here.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-81458345058416774062010-04-23T16:04:16.608-05:002010-04-23T16:04:16.608-05:00I've never seen one of Bujalski's films, b...I've never seen one of Bujalski's films, but my feelings do mirror Sam's in that the couple of mumblecores I have seen have just done nothing for me. But the comparison to Rohmer and Eustache here excites me, and Bujalski's stuff is from what I can tell widely regarded as the cream of the mumblecore crop, so I am now intrigued to give this one a shot.<br /><br />My choice for this strong year would be Lynne Ramsay's visionary <i>Morvern Callar</i>, with Phillip Grandrieux's masterpiece <i>La vie nouvelle</i> right behind it. I also love Claire Denis' <i>Vendredi Soir</i>, Haynes' <i>Far From Heaven</i>, Van Sant's <i>Gerry</i>, Assayas' <i>Demonlover</i>, PTA's <i>Punch-Drunk Love</i>, Sam Jones' <i>I Am Trying to Break Your Heart</i>, and your runner-up De Palma's <i>Femme Fatale</i>.Drew McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07054307044280470117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-21316328775656217032010-04-23T13:48:55.211-05:002010-04-23T13:48:55.211-05:00Ah Jeffrey, I have not seen this film, but I did s...Ah Jeffrey, I have not seen this film, but I did see Bujalski's BEESWAX, and I was not a fan, but I am generally indifferent to most 'mumblecore' entries. As always you make an excellent case, and really do need to see this, regardless.<br /><br />My own #1 film of this year, FAR FROM HEAVEN, which I have ceaselessly promoted and saw over 20 times in the movie theatre, is to this point my #1 film of the decade. Almodovar's greatest film, the deeply-moving TALK TO HER, the Thail film BLISSFULLY YOURS, and the spectacular musical, CHICAGO are the greatest of the long runners-up list.<br /><br />My Own #1 Film of 2002:<br /><br />Far From Heaven (Haynes; USA)<br /><br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br />Talk To Her (Almodovar; Spain)<br />Chicago (Marshall; USA)<br />The Hours (Daldry; USA/UK)<br />The Quiet American (Noyce; USA)<br />10 (Kiarostami; Iran)<br />Spider (Cronenberg; Canada)<br />City of God (Meirelles; Brazil)<br />The Son (Dardennes; France)<br />The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Jackson; NZ)<br />Distant (Ceylan; Turkey)<br />Hero (Yimou; China)<br />Waiting For Happiness (Sissako; France/Mauitania)<br />The Magdelene Sisters (Mullan; Ireland)<br />The Pianist (Polanski; France; Poland)<br />Blissfully Yours (Weeasethakul; Thailand)<br />Gangs of New York (Scorsese; USA)<br />The Isle (Ki-Duk; Korea)<br />Catch Me If You Can (Spielberg; USA)<br />Mostly Martha (Nettlebeck; Germany)<br />The Secret Life of Altar Boys (Care; USA)<br />Whale Rider (Caro; NZ)<br />Sunshine State (Sayles; USA)<br />Road to Perdition (Mendes; USA)<br />In America (Sheridan; Ireland/UK)<br />Bowling For Columbine (Moore; USA)Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com