Last Movie You Watched

[George]

After the mindmelter that was The Manchurian Candidate, it was time for another headtrip, this time in a different genre:



1998, Dir. Alex Proyas

Rufus Sewell awakens in a hotel bathtub with no idea who he is or how he got there. In the next room is a butchered prostitute. The phone rings, and a frantic voice warns him that men are coming for him and he must run--now. Sewell is soon chased by a group of deathly pale, bald men in black trench coats who can alter matter with their minds alone.

So begins this SF thriller that mixes the visual sensibilities of film noir, Metropolis, and Terry Gilliam with a plot that sounds for all the world like it's based on a Philip K. Dick premise, a premise that questions the conventionality or artificiality of memory and selfhood.

Dark City is memorable visually and raises some interesting philosophical questions, as all good SF does, and it has a wonderful "big reveal" towards the end. Some of the performances are interesting, too, particularly an almost unrecognizable Kiefer Sutherland as a psychiatrist with strangely halting speech, nervous mannerisms, and droopy eyes peering through spectacles. The notoriously subdued William Hurt is actually somewhat sympathetic here as an accordian-playing police inspector. Our buddy Bruce Spence, the gyro captain from The Road Warrior, has a small part, too, as one of the creepy beings pursuing Sewell.

For all the film's strengths, director Proyas lets much of its potential blow away in the wind. A lot of it feels rushed and matter of fact, with scenes that should have been given more time to unfold and resonate emotionally seemingly dropped into the film mechanically and then passed by as soon as possible. Perhaps the Blu-ray director's cut is stronger.

I saw the director's cut last night with my girlfriend. We both loved it, though I can't recall the differences between it and the theatrical release, as I saw it in the movies 15 years ago.

[Brian]

Episode 11 of the new Arrested Development is one of my favorite episodes from the entire series - yes, series. Just nonstop genius, firing on all cylinders.

- "I need believable arm candy... bean."
- the location of the fight scene
- the bit with Siri
- "Who wants to build a different wall?"
- way to plan, Ann
- all the incredible physical comedy with Ben Stiller
- the bit about the cross is ...incredible.

EDIT: Post #12,000!

[TheGSMoeller]

Alejandro Jodorowskys new film, The Dance of Reality, very high on my must-see list now, of course I won't be holding my breathe for it to screen in Georgia. 



http://www.youtube.com/v/YhkNFMwYd-Q

[CaughtintheGaze]

Alejandro Jodorowskys new film, The Dance of Reality, very high on my must-see list now, of course I won't be holding my breathe for it to screen in Georgia. 
http://www.youtube.com/v/YhkNFMwYd-Q

Seems so.l.. normal.

Watched the Doom extras today. That's a really fun movie with a cast that really had fun with the entire project.

[Parsifal]

Episode 11 of the new Arrested Development is one of my favorite episodes from the entire series - yes, series. Just nonstop genius, firing on all cylinders.

- "I need believable arm candy... bean."
- the location of the fight scene
- the bit with Siri
- "Who wants to build a different wall?"
- way to plan, Ann
- all the incredible physical comedy with Ben Stiller
- the bit about the cross is ...incredible.

EDIT: Post #12,000!

Firing on all cylinders?  A dead fish, I'd say.   I can't imagine persevering until episode 11.

[Brian]

Firing on all cylinders?  A dead fish, I'd say.   I can't imagine persevering until episode 11.

Well how can you disagree if you haven't seen it? I didn't say the whole season was firing on all cylinders, just 11 (though a few others have come pretty close).

[Parsifal]

I made it as far as episode 3.  I can't imagine spending any more time on it, given that life is finite and I feel it dripping away when AD season 4 is on.  Just two obsessive, hammering away interminably at the same idea.  And this bizarre format where all the episodes intersect in the same story line is impossible.  Nothing that I loved about the original series is left. 

Time to short Netflix, I think.  They are trying to follow HBO's lead by producing original content and they are not cutting it, IMO.

[CaughtintheGaze]

I made it as far as episode 3.  I can't imagine spending any more time on it, given that life is finite and I feel it dripping away when AD season 4 is on.  Just two obsessive, hammering away interminably at the same idea.  And this bizarre format where all the episodes intersect in the same story line is impossible.  Nothing that I loved about the original series is left. 

Time to short Netflix, I think.  They are trying to follow HBO's lead by producing original content and they are not cutting it, IMO.

House of Cards is superior to pretty much anything HBO has produced.

[Brian]

I made it as far as episode 3.  I can't imagine spending any more time on it, given that life is finite and I feel it dripping away when AD season 4 is on.  Just two obsessive, hammering away interminably at the same idea.  And this bizarre format where all the episodes intersect in the same story line is impossible.  Nothing that I loved about the original series is left. 

Time to short Netflix, I think.  They are trying to follow HBO's lead by producing original content and they are not cutting it, IMO.

Well, your loss. #1-3 are weak but there's a big rise in quality starting with 4 and continuing (mostly) steadily through to where I am now. If you think the format is impossible and everything you love is gone, I can't convince you otherwise.

House of Cards is superior to pretty much anything HBO has produced.

Funny, I thought House of Cards was just OK.

[George]

Well, your loss. #1-3 are weak but there's a big rise in quality starting with 4 and continuing (mostly) steadily through to where I am now.

I can't tell you how happy I am to read this. I will be continuing tonight with 4.

[CaughtintheGaze]

Well, your loss. #1-3 are weak but there's a big rise in quality starting with 4 and continuing (mostly) steadily through to where I am now. If you think the format is impossible and everything you love is gone, I can't convince you otherwise.
Funny, I thought House of Cards was just OK.

I'd rank it as above average, but it's better than everything HBO is currently running, and for it being their first foray into creating content, it's a pretty damn good first effort. It actually might be the best show out of the premium content channels.

[Brian]

I'd rank it as above average, but it's better than everything HBO is currently running, and for it being their first foray into creating content, it's a pretty damn good first effort. It actually might be the best show out of the premium content channels.

Oh oops, I thought you meant ever.

I can't tell you how happy I am to read this. I will be continuing tonight with 4.

I liked 1-3 more than you did, but not nearly as much as I've enjoyed 4, 5, 7, 10, and 11. I'm starting to think about rewatching, which is a healthy sign.

Imho, with regard to #4, everything involving Ron Howard was gold.

[Octave]

I'd rank it as above average, but it's better than everything HBO is currently running, and for it being their first foray into creating content, it's a pretty damn good first effort. It actually might be the best show out of the premium content channels.

I think there was that little series about the Springsteen/Sopranos gangster in Scandinavia; iirc that was the first, or at any rate before HOUSE OF CARDS.  I didna see it.

I did not like HOUSE OF CARDS much at all, though icy Robin Wright---an unfulfilled promise---was a treat, not just to look at.  I am now wanting to see more of her in more compressed and more fully-realized parts, i.e. movies not TV.

Can anyone confirm a noticeable difference in the two (?) Fincher-directed episodes?  Because I knew he directed them, I was seeing his signature all over the place, maybe most in this switchblade-crisp editing.  (The cinematographer seemed to be the same for most of the first season.)  But the conditions of foo-foo-auteurist observation can conjure up signatures.  Also, I think disappointment set in for me after the first couple episodes, so I was reaching for straws.

[TheGSMoeller]

Arrested Development episodes 1 - 3 are weak because it takes up to about 4 -5 to start realizing the connection between all the scenarios. There are moments early on that pass in a flash and seem to have no relevance to anything. Hence, not very funny. It's partly due to the new format of one character at a time episode. In the original series they would cut back and forth so often so nothing was left behind. But here it takes time, for example episode 11 reveals why Gob was shoving a "forget me not" in Michael's mouth back in episode 1. I'm starting to revel in the mastery of the writing and how everything comes full circle.

For those who have seen it, a favorite moment of mine is when Tobius is describing why Lucille is the Invisible Girl. The double meaning is brilliant.

[George]

Tobias's license plate is priceless. 

[Parsifal]

Arrested Development episodes 1 - 3 are weak because it takes up to about 4 -5 to start realizing the connection between all the scenarios. There are moments early on that pass in a flash and seem to have no relevance to anything. Hence, not very funny. It's partly due to the new format of one character at a time episode. In the original series they would cut back and forth so often so nothing was left behind. But here it takes time, for example episode 11 reveals why Gob was shoving a "forget me not" in Michael's mouth back in episode 1. I'm starting to revel in the mastery of the writing and how everything comes full circle.

You've pretty much convinced me to give up on the series.  Watching 11 episodes to get a joke in episode 1 is not worth it.  Evidently they've made the series to cater to binge-watchers, and that is not me.

[TheGSMoeller]

You've pretty much convinced me to give up on the series.  Watching 11 episodes to get a joke in episode 1 is not worth it.  Evidently they've made the series to cater to binge-watchers, and that is not me.

The beauty is that you're not waiting 11 episodes to get a joke, it sneaks up on you unknowingly, and becomes a piece of the many puzzles in the plot. It utilizes the entire season exploring scenarios rather than serving up 24 minutes of one liners and punch lines like most sitcoms.

[Parsifal]

The beauty is that you're not waiting 11 episodes to get a joke, it sneaks up on you unknowingly, and becomes a piece of the many puzzles in the plot. It utilizes the entire season exploring scenarios rather than serving up 24 minutes of one liners and punch lines like most sitcoms.

Sounds good in theory, in practice I was bored and it was a chore to sit through the first three episodes (despite being an enthusiastic fan of the original series).  I also feel sitcoms have come along way since AD, and their bit doesn't seem so cutting edge anymore.

[Wakefield]

I think there was that little series about the Springsteen/Sopranos gangster in Scandinavia; iirc that was the first, or at any rate before HOUSE OF CARDS.  I didna see it.

I did not like HOUSE OF CARDS much at all, though icy Robin Wright---an unfulfilled promise---was a treat, not just to look at.  I am now wanting to see more of her in more compressed and more fully-realized parts, i.e. movies not TV.

Can anyone confirm a noticeable difference in the two (?) Fincher-directed episodes?  Because I knew he directed them, I was seeing his signature all over the place, maybe most in this switchblade-crisp editing.  (The cinematographer seemed to be the same for most of the first season.)  But the conditions of foo-foo-auteurist observation can conjure up signatures.  Also, I think disappointment set in for me after the first couple episodes, so I was reaching for straws.

How many episodes did you watch, Octave? I watched the first season in one breath. I mean it's a not a masterwork, and the storyline can sometimes be a bit "gross", but it's very, very entertaining. Additionally, the performances of Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey are really good. 

[Octave]

Re: HOUSE OF CARDS:

How many episodes did you watch, Octave? I watched the first season in one breath. I mean it's a not a masterwork, and the storyline can sometimes be a bit "gross", but it's very, very entertaining. Additionally, the performances of Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey are really good. 

Gordo, I blasted through all of Season 1 at quite a clip, probably too fast.  (I think I do this too often with television shows because it worked so well, for me, with THE WIRE; I wonder if I'd enjoy more TV if I watched a couple episodes a week instead of ~2-3 in each sitting.  I'm too used to movies!)
I guess I thought that the opening promise of Underwood's Macchiavellianism---and the repeated, identical promise of the opening credit sequence, with all its forboding about the "state of the union"---seemed to flatten out and turn into water-treading and note-spinning, which I thought should not happen until at least the ~third season or so.  And of course the problem of the writing taking a dive every time Spacey addresses us and starts chewing on the lens.  Maybe because the production team knows they have a second season guaranteed, there is not much hurry to detonate all the floating charges?  I will almost certainly watch the second season, so I guess they got me.

The show looks good and I remember liking the music.  And Robin Wright was serious business; I am sure it's not just the lines she's reading.  Philo might be right about HC still being superior to premium-cable shows; I usually just watch 2-6 episodes of such shows and get fed up and quit, so it's hard for me to know how good they are on the long arc.  Three cheers for long story arcs (sic?) and corresponding character development, btw....that is a trend that I am very happy with.