Hulk and Refn
I'm a big fan of Film Crit Hulk. As a film professional he views and discusses cinema in a different manner than I approach narrative forms as a classicist-slash-historian. Last week he had a series of articles in EW about Comic-Con. The one I found most interesting was on the phenomena that is Comic-Con panels (THE ANATOMY OF A COMIC-CON PANEL, July 13, 2012). I've never attended Comic-Con, mostly because I go to cons to do things, not to consume things, but I've seen several panels online afterwards. His comment on audience questions hit the nail on the head for me.
"MOST OF THE TIME THERE REALLY ISN’T A QUESTION AT ALL AND THE COMMENT TAKES THE FORM OF GLOWING COMPLIMENTS TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE LIKE THE MOSTEST BEST FAN EVER."
While these panels (and film Q&As in LA) sometimes produce feel-good moments or the occasional thoughtful or thought-provoking exchange, I've never felt that there was anything that justified the time and money required to experience the event first-hand rather than several months later when the full panel inevitably makes its way online. However, in the comments on the article, an excellent sounding panel was mentioned.
I liked and admired Bronson (2008) and Valhalla Rising (2009) a great deal, but it wasn't until Drive (2011) that I really got into Nicholas Winding Refn as a director I like rather than as a director who made movies I like.* I've since solidified that opinion by watching the Pusher trilogy. Thus, it was with interest that I noted a panel from last year's Comic-Con that apparently transcended the usual superficiality of the medium.
Of course, it's online: You Can Finally Watch That Refn/Del Toro Comic Con Panel Everyone Was Talking About, September 20, 2011. It's good.
* Following the work of directors seems to me to be a very LA thing.
"MOST OF THE TIME THERE REALLY ISN’T A QUESTION AT ALL AND THE COMMENT TAKES THE FORM OF GLOWING COMPLIMENTS TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE LIKE THE MOSTEST BEST FAN EVER."
While these panels (and film Q&As in LA) sometimes produce feel-good moments or the occasional thoughtful or thought-provoking exchange, I've never felt that there was anything that justified the time and money required to experience the event first-hand rather than several months later when the full panel inevitably makes its way online. However, in the comments on the article, an excellent sounding panel was mentioned.
I liked and admired Bronson (2008) and Valhalla Rising (2009) a great deal, but it wasn't until Drive (2011) that I really got into Nicholas Winding Refn as a director I like rather than as a director who made movies I like.* I've since solidified that opinion by watching the Pusher trilogy. Thus, it was with interest that I noted a panel from last year's Comic-Con that apparently transcended the usual superficiality of the medium.
Of course, it's online: You Can Finally Watch That Refn/Del Toro Comic Con Panel Everyone Was Talking About, September 20, 2011. It's good.
* Following the work of directors seems to me to be a very LA thing.