Last Movie You Watched

[Cato]

It is possible, but, I think, it would be good, first, to clarify what exactly "the problem" is: too long? trivial? pretentious? boring? unstructured? all of the above? 

Check the review mentioned earlier:

http://www.evanboyajy.squarespace.com/blog/2015/1/5/boyhood-thoughts

[Brian]

It is possible, but, I think, it would be good, first, to clarify what exactly "the problem" is: too long? trivial? pretentious? boring? unstructured? all of the above? 

As an unapologetic Boyhood lover, who has seen the movie twice, I don't think there is a problem, but in answer to your adjectives: it is fairly trivial and unstructured, because it is a realist portrayal of an American childhood and also of divorced parenting. There's no big dramatic plot or climax - just a mom watching her kids grow up and go to college. Some people may think the movie is long or boring, but nobody could possibly think it's pretentious!

[Todd]

The Grand Budapest Hotel was great fun, but yes, was somewhat spoiled by the sex stuff.  And I believe the last time a comedy won a major Oscar was Kevin Kline's Best Supporting Actor win for A Fish Called Wanda.

The last win for a comedy was when Marissa Tomei won best supporting actress for My Cousin Vinny in 1992.  Nestled in between her win and Kline's was Jack Palance's win for City Slickers, one of those rare comedies almost devoid of laughs.

As an unapologetic Boyhood lover, who has seen the movie twice, I don't think there is a problem, but in answer to your adjectives: it is fairly trivial and unstructured, because it is a realist portrayal of an American childhood and also of divorced parenting. There's no big dramatic plot or climax - just a mom watching her kids grow up and go to college. Some people may think the movie is long or boring, but nobody could possibly think it's pretentious!

Trivial?  Yes.  Unstructured?  Most definitely.  (That's part of the point.)  Too long?  Maybe, but probably not.  Boring?  Nope.  Pretentious?  I didn't see it, but even if it is, it competed against other academy award bait, so in relative terms, nope. 

I would not doubt that some of the dialogue was ad-libbed.  That's a technique Linklater used in several of his films.  Sometimes unscripted responses are better than scripted ones.  Would anyone want to hear Tommy Lee Jones utter the scripted line instead of his famous, ad-libbed one in The Fugitive?

[Wakefield]

Check the review mentioned earlier:

http://www.evanboyajy.squarespace.com/blog/2015/1/5/boyhood-thoughts

Thanks! I must recognize, anyway, I didn't read entirely the article because in my case all the assumptions of the reviewer were wrong. I watched "Boyhood" with no previous information and I immediately loved it and I thought by myself that it was a masterpiece. 

[Brian]

I would not doubt that some of the dialogue was ad-libbed.  That's a technique Linklater used in several of his films.  Sometimes unscripted responses are better than scripted ones.  Would anyone want to hear Tommy Lee Jones utter the scripted line instead of his famous, ad-libbed one in The Fugitive?

This is also why I love a lot of Mike Leigh movies. Topsy-Turvy, Happy Go Lucky, Life is Sweet - in some way they all benefit from the improvisation and ad-libbing.

And, of course, the best line in the entire Star Wars trilogy was improvised.

[Todd]

And, of course, the best line in the entire Star Wars trilogy was improvised.

If Obi-Wan caught me doing that, he would be very grumpy. ?

[Wakefield]

This is also why I love a lot of Mike Leigh movies. Topsy-Turvy, Happy Go Lucky, Life is Sweet - in some way they all benefit from the improvisation and ad-libbing.

And, of course, the best line in the entire Star Wars trilogy was improvised.

I love this line from Dazed and Confused:

Cynthia: "You know, I'd like to quit thinking of the present, like right now, as some minor insignificant preamble to something else."

I'm not sure if, finally, "Boyhood" says something different.

[George]

I love this line from Dazed and Confused:

Cynthia: "You know, I'd like to quit thinking of the present, like right now, as some minor insignificant preamble to something else."

Wow. What an amazing line!!

[Wakefield]

Wow. What an amazing line!!

Written by Mr. Linklater. 


http://www.youtube.com/v/9XnOsFgNIdo

[Ken B]

Apparently every line of Casablanca was ad libbed. Every single line.
So were the camera placements. And the costumes.

[Wanderer]

It is possible, but, I think, it would be good, first, to clarify what exactly "the problem" is: too long? trivial? pretentious? boring? unstructured? all of the above? 

All of the above. It's a shame, really.

[drogulus]

      This was an odd group of best picture nominees. Between Birdman, Boyhood and The Grand Something Something there was enough pretentionhood and borehood for a lifetime. No doubt that's why I liked all of them.

[SonicMan46]

Today, I received a handful of BD replacements for DVDs - tonight, watched the two below:

Petrified Forest, The (1936) w/ Leslie Howard & Bette Davis; Bogart in one of his early defining roles - wonderful restoration, 4.8/5 for video & 4.5/5 for audio (HERE) - cannot emphasize the remarkable AV restoration of this film - and Bogey in one of his 'break-throught' roles, and a great collection of character actors.

Rio Grande (1950) w/ John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara - part of the John Ford trilogy, so a MUST have if you're into that collection - again, the blu-ray restoration is well done, i.e. 4.2/5 for both video & audio (HERE) - if you're into this trilogy, then another MUST consideration - Dave

 

[Bogey]

Today, I received a handful of BD replacements for DVDs - tonight, watched the two below:

Petrified Forest, The (1936) w/ Leslie Howard & Bette Davis; Bogart in one of his early defining roles - wonderful restoration, 4.8/5 for video & 4.5/5 for audio (HERE) - cannot emphasize the remarkable AV restoration of this film - and Bogey in one of his 'break-throught' roles, and a great collection of character actors.



 

This one holds up for the era.  Great design IMO.

Got that BD in the Gangsters set and have been saving it for dessert, Dave.  Glad to hear you agreed with the restoration reviews I have seen.

Thread duty:

[Ken B]

Today, I received a handful of BD replacements for DVDs - tonight, watched the two below:

Petrified Forest, The (1936) w/ Leslie Howard & Bette Davis; Bogart in one of his early defining roles - wonderful restoration, 4.8/5 for video & 4.5/5 for audio (HERE) - cannot emphasize the remarkable AV restoration of this film - and Bogey in one of his 'break-throught' roles, and a great collection of character actors.

Rio Grande (1950) w/ John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara - part of the John Ford trilogy, so a MUST have if you're into that collection - again, the blu-ray restoration is well done, i.e. 4.2/5 for both video & audio (HERE) - if you're into this trilogy, then another MUST consideration - Dave

 

Bogart only got that role because Leslie Howard insisted. Warners fought the idea.

Howard btw had the reputation as Hollywood's greatest seducer.

[SonicMan46]

Bogart only got that role because Leslie Howard insisted. Warners fought the idea.

Howard btw had the reputation as Hollywood's greatest seducer.

Hi Ken - I can certainly imagine that being true - Bogie just 'exploded' on the scene after that film - Leslie Howard was an extremely attractive and seductive actor - his roles in Of Human Bondage, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Pygmalion, & Gone w/ the Wind are just some examples of his allure - died @ the age of 50 y/o in 1943 over the Bay of Biscay, likely shot down by the Germans - Dave

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights, some more BD replacements for my DVDs - these are all well rated films so will not make my usual comments - check the Blu-ray Site for comments about the restorations - some outstanding movies - Dave

   

[Bogey]

Watched again.   I know this was Bogie's marking role.  I believe this is the one that had other actors sneaking over to the set to see him do his thing.  But hey, we would be remiss and forgetting Bette Davis.  The more of her movies I take in, the bigger fan I become. 

[Linus]

But hey, we would be remiss and forgetting Bette Davis.  The more of her movies I take in, the bigger fan I become.

Same here. I'll come off as a dilettante, but I honestly can't think of a better actress throughout the history of film.

Got any favourite performance of hers?

[Bogey]

Same here. I'll come off as a dilettante, but I honestly can't think of a better actress throughout the history of film.

Got any favourite performance of hers?

Indeed: