As I said, "depends on levels of distribution and promotion ."
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As I said, "depends on levels of distribution and promotion ."
You did and you are right.
THE HEART OF THE EARTH (Spain/UK)
BELLE TOUJOURS.
It was shown at the NYFF last fall and I wrote a review of it.A good question is whether it meant much to anyone not familiar with Bunuel's "1967 masterpiece." It shows great command but is rather slow to say the least, though the private dinner sequence is memorable, and the bar scenes. Fred Scheck, Hollywood Reporter:Quote:
It's a magnificent film, best enjoyed by those familiar with Bunuel's 1967 masterpiece.
I likeed watching Ogier, Piccoli, and Oliviera's relative as barman, as well as the elegant Parisian locales, but it was not, for me, a highlight of the festival.Quote:
unlikely to have much resonance for those who have not seen its inspiration.
It's taken me over an hour, but I managed to make it through this post, following up with all its links...
I must say I adamantly admire you and Chriss for your dedication to film and bothering to keep this site afloat. Posts like this one, with such valuable contributions to criticism and commentary, legitamize the rest of our ramblings. It's a shame the public is not privy to these monumental posts, whose insight arguably reach further into the psychology of film than is posted on the majority of the internet.
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy this thread, cinemabon. There's a lot of movie prattle online. It's an honor to share this forum with you, Chris, Johann, bix, mouton, Tab, and others and go "deeper into movies" (to borrow the title of Kael's book).
*I'm one of those people who start conversations with strangers at the end of films. I do this a lot during the festival because the atmosphere is conducive to discussion. I talked to several people after Toujours, most of whom had not seen or did not remember the 1967 film. Some liked it, others found it "slight". I find it difficult to rate Tojours from the perspective of someone who didn't watch the early film. Like most of Bunuel's films, I've seen it several times. For me, the appearance of the chicken is more than a surrealist touch, it immediately brings to mind scenes from Viridiana and L'Age d'or. When Henri tells the story to the bartender, I know when he's lying or embellishing or providing a valid but personal interpretation. I don't think someone without the previous experience can enjoy Tojours as much as I did. I think that person can derive some enjoyment from the film though. I did not find it "slow" at all, but I can't speak for others. Since Bunuel's film is so great, I would tell someone planning to watch Toujours to rent the nice dvd of Belle de Jour prior to watching what I called an "epilogue".
I agree with cinemabon.
Some praise is due here.
I count what, 50 film reviews in a very short time?
50 awesome, well-written, highly focused reviews from someone who is a real cineaste.
I drop a knee my friend.
And you do it without pay.
You are arguably the lifeblood of this site Oscar.
*Don't pout Chris- you know you rule too...*
We're lucky to have you Mr. Jubis.
Film Comment, as great as it is as a magazine, cannot be this comprehensive with their coverage of festivals- not even close.
And they publish long after the dust settles.
Online publishing is great, isn't it?
Standing-O for this great collection of viewpoints.
Hope you do it for many years to come.
Or, since I don't remember that film that well, haven't watched Ogier and Piccoli in many films before and don't know who Oliveira is. I'm sure for me knowing this one is by a very old, very mellow director using remarkable French actors with long careers made me sit up and take notice. Otherwise, I might well have said, What the heck is this all about? If I said it was "slow" I don't mean it was boring. Van Sant's Gerry is "slow," --very, very slow -- but I happen to have really enjoyed it.Quote:
I find it difficult to rate Tojours from the perspective of someone who didn't watch the early film.
Point well taken.Quote:
For me, the appearance of the chicken is more than a surrealist touch, it immediately brings to mind scenes from Viridiana and L'Age d'or.
Originally posted by Chris Knipp
If I said it was "slow" I don't mean it was boring.
I apologize. Even though I didn't specify that you called it "slow", I admit I wrote my reply under the false impression that you had written that.
Originally posted by Johann
I drop a knee my friend.
And you do it without pay.
I don't know that I deserve such amazing comments but I thank you. You've provided all the motivation I could need to write the six reviews pending. I must confess that without this outlet and these readers I could not afford to watch more than a handful of films. It's not only that the press screenings precede the festival, but as a low-income person I could never afford to watch 56 films at $12 each.
I don't know what your impression was, but slow is not boring. It's slow, that's all. Fast could be boring too, very easily in fact.Quote:
Originally posted by Chris Knipp
If I said it was "slow" I don't mean it was boring.
I apologize. Even though I didn't specify that you called it "slow", I admit I wrote my reply under the false impression that you had written that.
Let's hope online reviewing is growing in respect as politics blogs seem to be doing. I don't think you have to be low-income to find $672 a lot to spend for a few weeks of movie-going. I just went to only 10-15 in the SF festival till I started getting a press pass.Quote:
as a low-income person I could never afford to watch 56 films at $12 each.
The SFIFF will announce their lineup soon. I'm curious. That 10-ticket pass for $80 is a good deal. There's no equivalent at the MIFF.
BEAUTY IN TROUBLE (Czech Rep)
Emmanuel is a boy's name. It's Emmanuelle. In French Danielle, Marcelle, etc. are the female versions of names that have a masculine form. Or not, as in Isabelle.Quote:
Julien gets a respite from her when he receives piano lessons from his grandmother (Emmanuel Riva)
That's what I think about The Page Turner, but you seem to like this better. Why? I would like to see this. Apart from my usual interest in French films, I like Baye, though the films I've seen her in have been uneven. I personally think she's terrific in Le petit lieutenant, and love the film (SFIFF, NYFF, and limited US distribution) though the US reviews were mediocre (Metacritic 72); she got the Best Actress César for that one, I believe.Quote:
They establish a tense mood from the start and sustain it. . .