the LAST FILM YOU'VE SEEN thread

I'm stealing this idea from our contributor, wpqx, who has successfully engineered threads like this on other sites. (I'm sure he wouldn't mind since he probably stole it from someone else.) Anyway, the idea is pretty simple, please write a few words about the last film you've seen. The only rule that I can think of right now is if another thread already exists on a specific film then please add your thoughts there (you can also add them here if you like/start a new thread later on if there is none), and, of course, any specific info provided - whether it's the name of the director or the year etc. will be appreciated by the readers. Feel free to post whenever you like and unless you want to, it's not required that you write about every single film you see (I certainly won't be doing that because I simply see too many). This is a great site and I believe there are reasons why it's not being utilized the way it should be, so, I hope this thread gives you the opportunity to contribute on a regular basis.

I'll start us off with

Kansas City
This is a Robert Altman film released back in 1996. I originally rented it for the soundtrack, which is one of the best I have ever heard. The film is about a woman who kidnaps a woman named Mrs. Stelton to use for leverage to get her husband back from some black gangsters. The gangster runs the Hey Hey Club, which is a jazz club, and supplies the entire movie's soundtrack.

I found the acting weak, but Altman's directing is very well done. In this he effectively used mirrors to show things that you otherwise wouldn't see. Other than that though, there wasn't much there. There were a few metaphores for playing off the top of your hat, which is what jazz is, but other than that, it was hollow. My suggestion, get the soundtrack if you like jazz, but otherwise there isn't anything very good about this movie other than a scene or too in the club...

Bad on the spot review...

Thanks for sharing you thoughts, Fan of Kubrick. Sometimes, on the spot reviews are the best. I hope you contribute regularly.

The Village. A great idea with crappy writing and atrocious execution. Shame on Shyamalan.

Thanks for contributing, Horseradish Tree. As for the film itself, I looked at as more of an allegory of the principles this nation was found on so I ended up appreciating it a lot more. I also thought that Bryce Dallas Howard was brilliant.

Triple Agent (2004) R2 DVD

A second viewing of this latest film from Eric Rohmer convinced me of its numerous pleasures. Rohmer is a "triple agent" himself and he fooled me initially while I tried to follow every single narrative strand not realizing that the important things sometimes don't get said. Sergo Renko plays a White Russian living in France before WWII but we slowly find out that he could be a Red Russian, a French leftist, a Nazi, or a Franco loyalist. Perhaps all of them at once or none at all. His beautiful wife, played by Katerina Didaskalu, is a naiveté but at the same time she stays step-by-step with him. As always with Rohmer, art & literature are well on display, and the word-play is phenomenal. Will add more here.

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Originally posted by Fan of Kubrick
Kansas City
My suggestion, get the soundtrack if you like jazz

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There is a companion piece to Altman's homage to his birthplace and its place in jazz history: Jazz '34: Remembrances of Kansas City Swing. It's all jazz except for very brief, informative narration between musical numbers. It's 72 minutes long. It played mostly at Film Festivals in the mid-90s. This one's only available on vhs. I like Kansas City more than most viewers because Jennifer Jason Leigh is my favorite actress.

Yeah I was actually tempted to start this thread here myself, but I've already got at least two of these running, so I was leery on making a third, especially when it's the same basic film. Nevertheless I'll still contribute since I found this is the best way to actually keep track of what the hell I've watched.

I just watched A Winter's Tale (1994), which makes me have something in common arsaib, in the fact that our last films were both from Rohmer. I'm no expert on his work, but I admired this film. I'm interested to see the other films in this series to see how they all connect if at all, or if not then just to compare them based on quality.

I have recently found a new haven for oddball films ironically titled odd obession. This place is a godsend for people like me, and I'm getting some great filsm from there, most notably Four Nights of a Dreamer from Bresson.

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Originally posted by wpqx
I'm interested to see the other films in this series to see how they all connect if at all, or if not then just to compare them based on quality.

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It's funny that now when I think of the quadrilogy, they all somehow blend in with each other; the characters, the situations etc. It certainly been a couple of years at least but as I've said elsewhere, may be that was what Rohmer intended. The series certainly ranks among his best work. Share your thoughts as you move along.

Hellraiser


The Cotton's are moving into a new house.

The house becomes a temple/gateway to evil when Larry's brother Frank seduces his wife Julia and has her become a serial killer in order to become "whole again".

You see, Frank bought a mysterious box that "opens doors", and it summoned the Cenobites, a tribe of creatures who dole out equal amounts pleasure and pain to it's summoners.

Clive Barker's first feature film (1987) is a masterpiece of neo-horror. It was very different and had an impact on pop culture (Pinhead is just as famous as Jason or Freddy) and the horror film genre.

Fuckin' great movie



Nightbreed

Nightbreed is the film adaptation of Cabal, a Barker novel.
The Nightbreed are monsters who live in Midian, Alberta Canada, at a huge gothic cemetary. Aaron Boone is inadvertantly enveloped in their world when he cannot remember murders he committed.

David Cronenberg plays Dr. Decker- Boone's psychiatrist. Cronenberg is not exactly a guy who lights up the screen with his thespian skills but he's actually not bad. He's what you'd think Cronenberg would act like.

This film was a box-office flop, and Barker was dissappointed with it's reception. I love it as well- consider it a guilty pleasure film.




Lord of Illusions

Scott Bakula, Famke Jannsen, swords, fire, illusions, strange strange visions: echoes of Cocteau, Blake, etc.
Lovely, low-key Los Angeles art film.

Song "Magic Moments" is used effectively;
"You are on the threshold of a miracle".
I like it a lot- a perfect "midnight movie:.

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Originally posted by Johann
Hellraiser
Fuckin' great movie

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You're right. Hellraiser typified the Horror films from the 80's...atleast the kind I've seen...and you could always count on at least one gratuitous sex scene. Too bad this series went to shit!

Constantine
Well. What should I say about this? Luckily, I didn't have to pay for it. I have to comment on several things about it. Firstly, it was a lot like The Matrix in the outline. Both Neo and Constantine are disturbed people who where dark clothing and fight otherworldy beings while traveling through different worlds.

Fortunately or unfortunately, The Matrix was much better. The writing in Constantine was sorely lacking. The worst writing was the scene in the hospial, in which Constantine yells at Angela to tell him what Isabel left behind. The pace of the entire movie is switched up, Angela forgets that she is helping Constantine and in the end, she helps him anyway.

I think that Keanu Reeves, has the capability to be a good actor, but his style doesn't allow him to do that. Rachel Weisz is shaky anyway, but Max Baker and Shia LeBouf were pretty good. I thought that casting Tilda Swinton as Gabriel was a very bold statement on the bible. Francis Lawrence tried to make it hard to tell if Gabriel was a man or a woman. But it was rather obvious. I think that Lawrence was commenting on womens' roles in the bible and different gospels.

Just a few thoughts and another on the spot review. Hopefully I'll watch a good movie in the next couple of days.

Speaking of Altman, I recently re-watched "Nashville", his masterpiece from 1975. I don't have the film knowledge or background that the rest of you guys do, but this is at the top of my list for brilliant filmmaking. Altman's a genius, not just in crafting a pretty looking picture, but in peeling back the layers of our complex selves and society. I don't know of a more intelligent and discerning voice in the world of film.

Also, I just bought the new Criterion release of "Short Cuts", which is up there with "Nashville" and "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" on my Altman shrine.

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Originally posted by JustaFied
Speaking of Altman, I recently re-watched "Nashville", his masterpiece from 1975.

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Well, I probably don't know as much about Altman as you do, but there's no other way to describe Nashville; it's one of the most poetic American films ever made. The Player certainly has to be ranked if not for anything else then just for the fact that it's been one of the most influential films in recent years. I haven't seen the likes of The Gingerbread Man, Dr. T, and The Company, but something tells me that they aren't the kind of films this man should be making.

It was good to hear from you and hopefully you'll continue to add when possible.

Nice thread! Just saw Rivette's "Pond du Nord" at the Walter Reade. I think I need to understand the political context a bit better... A very interesting film to say the least. Bulle Ogier stars opposite her daughter as a revolutionary just released from prison trying to figure out her philosophical place in a politicized, impersonal world.

Bulle Ogier introduced the film along with Film Comment's Gavin Smith. In a funny moment, the translator mistranslated "un peut preverse" as "a bit of pervert" with regards to Rivette....oh well. Anyone seen this one?
P

From the film description:
"The cinema consists first of all of capturing something that happens at a certain time and place," Jacques Rivette once said, "and that will never happen again." Said impulse lies at the heart of this seldom seen, utterly hypnotic film (shot by William Lubtchansky). Marie (Bulle Ogier) has been released from prison. Baptiste (Bulle's late daughter, the ethereally beautiful Pascale Ogier) has just arrived in Paris. Fate brings them together, and for four days this oddly touching duo out of Lewis Carroll lives out a kind of board game, as if "Chutes and Ladders" had mysteriously merged with real life. A strangely unsettling film, and, thanks to the luminosity of mother and daughter, an oddly touching if not enchanted one. With Pierre Clémenti and Jean-François Stévenin. Music by Astor Piazzola."

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Originally posted by pmw
Nice thread! Just saw Rivette's "Pond du Nord" at the Walter Reade. P

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Thanks...I believe this one played as part of the Film Comment select, didn't it? I wish I was there. Did you catch anything else?

I saw Clean! Im a huge Assayas fan and this one did not disappoint. Im sure it will be written off by audiences, because Assayas teeters on the edge of hipster-dom, but I think its a very smart line to take, and Nolte is really great. His performance alone is worth the ticket. An honest and very touching story of a mother getting on with her life (chung). How about you? See anything at Selects?
P

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Originally posted by pmw
I saw Clean! Im a huge Assayas fan and this one did not disappoint. Im sure it will be written off by audiences, because Assayas teeters on the edge of hipster-dom, but I think its a very smart line to take, and Nolte is really great. His performance alone is worth the ticket. An honest and very touching story of a mother getting on with her life (chung). How about you? See anything at Selects?
P

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Great...now I really can't wait (the French DVD comes out April 21st). Did see the Oscar nominated German film about Hitler called Downfall (DER UNTERGANG); it's big and bold but doesn't offer much in terms of analysis, unless one doesn't know anything. Bruno Ganz is there doing his best Depardieu and the carnage scenes rival those of Schindler's List. It should do well theatrically (it is now officially out also).

Just finished Bad Timing (A Sensual Obsession). Long unavailable here, I found a copy of a DVD from who knows where. Damn good print, and a very interesting film. If you are a fan of Nicholas Roeg, then you will love this film, if not, then beware.

Just watched Two or Three Things I Know About Her (1966). Godard at the peak of his creative power, somehow this film just didn't blow me away quite like some of his others, but still well worth your time.

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Originally posted by wpqx
Just watched Two or Three Things I Know About Her (1966). Godard at the peak of his creative power, somehow this film just didn't blow me away quite like some of his others, but still well worth your time.

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Where did you see it? on vhs?

I'm thinking about checking out Masculine Feminine which is playing at Film Forum until Feb 24th. New 35mm print/subs!

I watched a VHS of it. It's not the New Yorker release, but one released in Europe. I got it letterboxed so good to go. I would recommend Maculin/Feminin although I'm assuming you've already seen it before, I personally like it more than Two or Three Things. I also got a copy of La Chinoise, which I'll probably get to later today. Right now I'm watching Titicut Follies, so I'll let you all know how that turns out.

Watched Titicut Follies (1967), my first Wiseman film, and I believe I'll need to see much more of his work, to get a firm grasp on it. But it was certainly enough to encourage me to pursue the rest of his catalogue.

This is the third time I've mentioned it but I just watched La Chinoise (1967). Again from some undisclosed source I got a copy, and I must say this film was absolutely brilliant, one of his best, and it's been awhile since a Godard film really moved me.

I also recommend these films produced by Clive Barker (it's been a gothic few months at my place):

Gods and Monsters

A shining moment for Sir Ian McKellen.
It's like watching a magician slowly reveal his secrets.
It's about the later-years life of James Whale, the director of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein.
Whale was a homosexual artist who was basically shunned by Hollywood after his horror film sucess.
Brilliant movie. Very compelling.

Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh

Bill Condon also directed this Clive Barker story (another expansion of the short story "The Forbidden"), about the Candyman, a guignol that appears when you say his name 5 times...
"Sweets for the sweet..."


and Barker's latest feature film project has been postponed- the studio backed out because "We're already making a picture with demons". He should get another studio soon, because TORTURED SOULS could be his piece de resistance

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Originally posted by wpqx
I watched a VHS of it. It's not the New Yorker release, but one released in Europe. I got it letterboxed so good to go. I would recommend Maculin/Feminin although I'm assuming you've already seen it before, I personally like it more than Two or Three Things. I also got a copy of La Chinoise, which I'll probably get to later today. Right now I'm watching Titicut Follies, so I'll let you all know how that turns out.

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I've seen Masculin but only on video so I'm looking forward to it (I'm going there tomorrow). Rialto has heavily promoted their new 35mm print so I wanna see what they got.

What issues does the Wiseman film deals with?

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Originally posted by arsaib4


Well, I probably don't know as much about Altman as you do, but there's no other way to describe Nashville; it's one of the most poetic American films ever made.

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If there's some equivalent in film to The Great American Novel, I'd consider it to be Nashville. Possibly outdated, yes, after 30 years, but still mostly relevant to our time. I pick up on something new every time I watch it.

Altman's put out a lot of mediocre films, admittedly. I just ordered California Split off of Netflix; it was recently released on DVD after being out of print for years. My expectations are not as high for this film, but I"m still looking forward to seeing it. As I said before, Nashville, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and Short Cuts are his three films that just blew me away when I first saw them; no better way to describe them. Guess I'm fascinated by the sociological and psychological perspectives that Altman provides.

Well the Wiseman film deals with the treatment of the mentallly ill. A bit jarring film, that was only permitted to be released after 25 years provided they put a disclaimer saying that changes and improvements have been made in the institution. But if you like hearing psychotic people try and rationalize everything, and make the claim to be normal, this film might be of interest. I'll watch any film regardless of what it's about, so I don't even need a good subject.

As for Altman, I need to watch McCabe again, I really think I missed something there. From the same era I would recommend The Long Goodbye, which is my second favorite film from him. I'm no expert, but I have seen 16 of his films, so a little more knowledgable than the average filmgoer. 17 if you count Popeye, which I haven't seen since I was a kid, and I can't remember anything about it.

Well it took a couple of days, but I finished watching Hitler, a Film From Germany last night. Arguably one of the strangest films I have seen, it is half documentary, half fiction, and completely avant-garde. There are two major flags however: 1. It is nearly impossible to find and 2. It is 7 hours long.

Now most people frequenting this site would have no problem sitting through a 7 hour film, or even one twice as long, but it's hard to recommend a film to someone of the general public by adding that disclaimer. I still know people who refuse to watch Andrei Rublev because it's four hours long.

As for the film itself, I can't say I was blown away. Was it worth watching, certainly it was. Would I watch it again, probably not. My subtitles were horrible, and half of them were cut off. Granted the dialogue consisted of extremely long sequences of people reading about Hitler, or excerpts from Hitler's speeches. Granted some of this dialogue would have been quite useful, but 7 hours about Hitler, you can pretty much assume what is being discussed.

Had this film been shrunken down to about half the length, it might be quite a bit stronger, but the full film, just seems to be a little redundant.

The Chronicle of a Love (1950), Antonioni's first film, worth watching, but his style as an auteur was still in the early stages of development.

High School (1968), my second Wiseman film, this one I liked a little more, and am certainly going to get some more, probably tomorrow.

I used to think that I watch too many films but you (wpqx) not only watch more but you find the time to mention all of them (or most of them) on various sites. Good for you!

Also, if you wanna watch a "fun" film about Hitler, check out the recently released (and Oscar nominated) Downfall from Germany.

I'll check that out.

I watched Thieves Highway (1949), earlier, I thought I mentioned it here, but I guess not. Not exactly one of Dassin's best, but a good transfer.

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), pardon me, but I don't feel like divulging details.

Les Choristes
I was blown away by the beauty of the music, and the simple but effective shots that Christophe Barratier used... Not much else to say.

American Beauty
After putting it off for so long I finally watched it. It was funny but it wasn't a masterpiece... I did like Kevin Spacey's performance though...

Masculine Feminine (1966) Theatrical Screening

Finally got a chance to see this on the big screen and what a treat it was. The new print is immaculate. In this film about "the children of Marx and Coca-Cola" (godard), a young army veteran (Jean-Pierre Léaud) begins a love-affair with a singer (Chantal Goya). Léaud remains as ambivalant about politics as Goya about their curiosity. Godard incorporates many experimental forms in his narrative and his directorial style to depict the confusion, the excitement associated with the era. J. Hoberman said it best, "Directed by anyone else, Masculine Feminine—one of three movies that Godard made in his peak year, 1966—would be a masterpiece. For the young JLG it's business as usual."

Watched Padre Padrone (1977), which I believe is the first Taviani brothers film, correct me if I'm wrong. Nothing too extraordinary here, but I tend to get bored extremely quickly with neorealism, espcially when it's post neorealism.

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Originally posted by wpqx
Watched Padre Padrone (1977), which I believe is the first Taviani brothers film, correct me if I'm wrong.

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Padre Padrone wasn't their first film but it was the first which truly brought them some attention. Films including A Man for Burning, Under the Sign of Scorpio and St. Michael Had a Rooster were made before. Besides that it's "neo-neorealism" what else you didn't like about it?

As far as Padre Padrone, it just bored me. I don't like to think that I need action, but this movie just did nothing for me. I felt nothing for the characters, or the way it was filmed.

An even worse film that I just watched was Spooky Bunch. Just stay away from this please, do a search on http://www.allmovie.com their rating was pretty accurate.

Hypothesis of a Stolen Painting (1978), damn good, and strange work from Raoul Ruiz. Be patient with it though.