Comments | monsterofmud: She Thinks She's Smart; She's Just Curious

monsterofmud

She Thinks She's Smart; She's Just Curious

Oct 29, 2007 12:07

Reconnected with my old best friend yesterday. After 10 years of trying to track him down I was successful. It was a great cap onto a good weekend.

Friday night was Scream Country! It wasn't quite as fun as last year due to the missing haunted hay ride, but the Myers' house with Halloween (1978) playing outside it pretty much made up for it ( Read more... )

oklahoma centennial, old friends, scream country, p.t. anderson, the five obstructions, cabernet, there will be blood, halloween (1978), class, pursuit of happyness, daniel day-lewis, wine, reconnecting, eulogy, citizen kane

Comments 10

lbangs October 29 2007, 17:31:06 UTC

That trailer looks great, but honestly, Anderson is far too backward-looking and pretentious to hammer out a Citizen Kane, in my book...

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

monsterofmud October 30 2007, 18:02:45 UTC

He IS pretentious, I'll give you that! Remember at the 2001 Oscars when his jaw dropped upon hearing that the award for Best Picture was going to a film that wasn't his? However, I think maybe Welles' ego eclipsed his, though I do contend Citizen Kane is indeed one of the top films ever, if not the best in relation to what had come before it.

How is Anderson backward-looking in your book? I'm not disagreeing, but just curious what you mean.

lbangs November 1 2007, 16:05:31 UTC

Welles certainly had the ego, but his films usually crackled with zip, zest, and electricity, shooting right past any ponderous over-worked sections. His inventions were exciting and innovative, where Anderson's pretensions are usually showstopping scenes calling back to cinematic classics. Nearly every one of his films seems built around a 70s director's style, be it Scorsese, Altman, or Malick.

One director was experimental and forward-looking, pushing limits and defying tradition, where the other is still studying the past and consciously trying to prove his place in the tradition by mimicking the classics and mining tradition. One was daring and novel, while the other, for all his nonmainstream nature, is essentially artistically conservative in nature.

That doesn't necessarily make one better than the other, but if we're looking for a new film in the spirit of Citizen Kane, I think other directors are more promising.

That's far too brief, but maybe long enough to explain. Let me know if not...

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

monsterofmud November 2 2007, 13:18:44 UTC

Oh yes, that is along the lines of what I thought you meant. I think it's too easy for directors nowadays to mine the past almost exclusively, rather than trying to be more forward-thinking and original. Thanks for the explanation!

lilbrigid October 29 2007, 20:05:18 UTC

I'm looking forward to There Will Be Blood. The preview looked excellent.

monsterofmud October 30 2007, 18:03:40 UTC

I find it interesting it's only based on the first 115 pages of the novel. I wonder if he'll pull a Godfather trilogy move and adapt different sections into sequels.

dracschick October 30 2007, 00:53:18 UTC

glad you had a fun weekend:)

(The comment has been removed)

monsterofmud October 30 2007, 18:04:06 UTC

Yep, made me think of Dead Alive!

lawpeeps November 1 2007, 00:37:51 UTC

A movie marathon would be fun. It has been a long time since we had one. But which movies? hmmmmm

monsterofmud November 1 2007, 14:23:32 UTC

I'm thinking a pot-luck one would have to be in order. Everyone could bring 2 titles to make all 24 hrs. work out.