What's The Latest Film You Have Seen?

dankrsta · 12-26-2010, 05:10 PM

Pi by Darren Aronofsky

Ugh, I don't know, I didn't really like this. It's interesting to look at with its beautiful black and white cinematography, but I didn't like what I saw as an exercise in editing that came of dangerously close to music video aesthetics especially coupled with a 'cool' soundtrack. The ideas presented are interesting, like is there a pattern to everything around us, can a number be a key to universe secrets etc, big themes that weren't explored, just thrown in a pot, undercooked. What could have been even more interesting is the exploration of how constant search of this mathematician (or humans in general) for a pattern, a number, trying to give a meaning to the senseless world can make him a madman or a genius. Now, it's fairly obvious that Aronofsky went for this, but, imo, he didn't really show it. The end result is all flash, very little substance. I felt this film was pretty pointless. Ha...maybe that's the point, but since Aronofsky is very literal (judging by this and Requiem for a Dream), I highly doubt it.

Oldboy

This was pretty good, but not really mindblowing as I expected. The whole twist, a revelation was somewhat contrived when you think about it, bit it's rendered with such intensity that I can overlook it. The premise is very strong, but barely touched beyond surface. But, since this film doesn't pretend to be anything more than basically a revenge flick, I can forgive it and enjoy it for what it is.

bob. · 12-27-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dankrsta

Pi by Darren Aronofsky

Ugh, I don't know, I didn't really like this. It's interesting to look at with its beautiful black and white cinematography, but I didn't like what I saw as an exercise in editing that came of dangerously close to music video aesthetics especially coupled with a 'cool' soundtrack. The ideas presented are interesting, like is there a pattern to everything around us, can a number be a key to universe secrets etc, big themes that weren't explored, just thrown in a pot, undercooked. What could have been even more interesting is the exploration of how constant search of this mathematician (or humans in general) for a pattern, a number, trying to give a meaning to the senseless world can make him a madman or a genius. Now, it's fairly obvious that Aronofsky went for this, but, imo, he didn't really show it. The end result is all flash, very little substance. I felt this film was pretty pointless. Ha...maybe that's the point, but since Aronofsky is very literal (judging by this and Requiem for a Dream), I highly doubt it.

Oldboy

This was pretty good, but not really mindblowing as I expected. The whole twist, a revelation was somewhat contrived when you think about it, bit it's rendered with such intensity that I can overlook it. The premise is very strong, but barely touched beyond surface. But, since this film doesn't pretend to be anything more than basically a revenge flick, I can forgive it and enjoy it for what it is.

when Pi first came out i went and saw it on a whim....i simply thought the name was great....and i have to admit at that time it blew me away....i made everybody i knew go see it....years later it lost a bit of it's luster....but i still think its a worthy movie

glad you enjoyed Oldboy....did you watch the other two in the trilogy yet?

Black Swan

by far one of the best films for this year.....a wonderful juxtaposition of "Repulsion", ballet, early Cronnenberg body horror, and Red Shoe Diary's....not nearly as graphic as i was lead to believe which was good...the sexual tension throughout the film was handled quite well much like in "Belle de Jour"...if Potman does not get some major recognition for this the world is going to hell in a hand basket....just the scene where she calls her mom about the part while in the bathroom stall.....should win her every award on earth for achievement in acting....it had me in tears

and now for something completely different.....

Get Him To The Greek

i love "Forgetting Sarah Marshal" and especial Brand's rock star character....so i went into this with high hopes of a lude, dumb laugh out loud comedy....and that is exactly what i got

**Janszoon** · 12-27-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dankrsta

Pi by Darren Aronofsky

Ugh, I don't know, I didn't really like this. It's interesting to look at with its beautiful black and white cinematography, but I didn't like what I saw as an exercise in editing that came of dangerously close to music video aesthetics especially coupled with a 'cool' soundtrack. The ideas presented are interesting, like is there a pattern to everything around us, can a number be a key to universe secrets etc, big themes that weren't explored, just thrown in a pot, undercooked. What could have been even more interesting is the exploration of how constant search of this mathematician (or humans in general) for a pattern, a number, trying to give a meaning to the senseless world can make him a madman or a genius. Now, it's fairly obvious that Aronofsky went for this, but, imo, he didn't really show it. The end result is all flash, very little substance. I felt this film was pretty pointless. Ha...maybe that's the point, but since Aronofsky is very literal (judging by this and Requiem for a Dream), I highly doubt it.

I disagree about Aronofsky being literal. I could see where you'd describe Requiem for a Dream as very literal but both Pi and The Fountain are very non-literal IMO and both excellent as well.

Sparky · 12-27-2010, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I disagree about Aronofsky being literal. I could see where you'd describe Requiem for a Dream as very literal but both Pi and The Fountain are very non-literal IMO and both excellent as well.

I was just about to say this.

The fountain i couldn't even get into it was so up to interpretation.

Black Swan was also pretty loose.

My films of the year in order:

Inception
Black Swan
Toy Story 3.

What are others?

dankrsta · 12-28-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob.

glad you enjoyed Oldboy....did you watch the other two in the trilogy yet?

Not yet, but I'm planning to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob.

Black Swan
if Potman does not get some major recognition for this the world is going to hell in a hand basket....just the scene where she calls her mom about the part while in the bathroom stall.....should win her every award on earth for achievement in acting....it had me in tears

I haven't watched the film yet, but looking a bit at this award season, she has A LOT of buzz and is maybe even a front runner for the Oscar win.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I disagree about Aronofsky being literal. I could see where you'd describe Requiem for a Dream as very literal but both Pi and The Fountain are very non-literal IMO and both excellent as well.

I haven't seen The Fountain, so I can't comment on that, but I'll probably see it soon. Actually I've only seen Requiem and Pi, so my impression of Aronofsky as literal comes from these two. It didn't bother me in Requiem, I thought that was pretty effective for showing the horrors of drug addiction. But, here, in Pi everything felt so transparent and fake, the way these big philosophical themes were handled, the decent into madness. So it's quite possible to take such a broad subject that just gives itself for many interpretations and turn it into something very transparent and literal by the way it's handled. I am now very curious to see how he does it in The Fountain. After all, Pi was his first film and it very much feels like a student film lacking in experience on every level.

**Janszoon** · 12-28-2010, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dankrsta

I haven't seen The Fountain, so I can't comment on that, but I'll probably see it soon. Actually I've only seen Requiem and Pi, so my impression of Aronofsky as literal comes from these two. It didn't bother me in Requiem, I thought that was pretty effective for showing the horrors of drug addiction. But, here, in Pi everything felt so transparent and fake, the way these big philosophical themes were handled, the decent into madness. So it's quite possible to take such a broad subject that just gives itself for many interpretations and turn it into something very transparent and literal by the way it's handled. I am now very curious to see how he does it in The Fountain. After all, Pi was his first film and it very much feels like a student film lacking in experience on every level.

I just can't relate to this take on Pi at all. It's such an open-ended, open-for-interpretation movie I have a hard time seeing how someone would describe it as extremely literal. I do agree that it feels like a student film, but mostly because of it's extremely low-budget and the fact that it was shot guerilla-style with no permits. To me these things are assets, as they give it a very raw, gritty feeling that works well with the movie. In that sense The Fountain is very different, as it's very lush and polished.

crash_override · 12-28-2010, 09:35 AM

...and the totem is STILL spinning.

Kaimon · 12-28-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash_override

...and the totem is STILL spinning.

Nah, it was just Nolan being a douche.

simplephysics · 12-28-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaimon

Nah, it was just Nolan being a douche.

dankrsta · 12-28-2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I just can't relate to this take on Pi at all. It's such an open-ended, open-for-interpretation movie I have a hard time seeing how someone would describe it as extremely literal. I do agree that it feels like a student film, but mostly because of it's extremely low-budget and the fact that it was shot guerilla-style with no permits. To me these things are assets, as they give it a very raw, gritty feeling that works well with the movie. In that sense The Fountain is very different, as it's very lush and polished.

I really can't find many interpretations in it, nor did I find it especially open ended.

Spoiler for pi:

What I mean by literal is that handling of ideas (mathematical and philosophical), depiction of and metaphors for his madness are very obvious to the point of feeling literal. There are no scenes and symbols that subtly reveal many layers of meaning. I think that's important for this ambitious subject. That's one of the reasons why this film feels like a work of a student who wants to be artsy and bites more than he can chew. As for the raw and gritty look of the film, I actually liked that, but it also feels like a conscience choice and so it's part of the style. I can even call it stylish with some obvious nods to Lynch's Eraserhead and early surrealist films like Bunuel's Un Chien Andalou. Well, those are true open to interpretation movies.

EDIT: Now, I understand that this is not a surreal film, but a sci-fi/psychological thriller. But for a thriller it's too repetitive with no real build up and tension, not to mention that it needs a tighter story for that.

12-26-2010, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
dankrsta ... Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,776	Pi by Darren Aronofsky Ugh, I don't know, I didn't really like this. It's interesting to look at with its beautiful black and white cinematography, but I didn't like what I saw as an exercise in editing that came of dangerously close to music video aesthetics especially coupled with a 'cool' soundtrack. The ideas presented are interesting, like is there a pattern to everything around us, can a number be a key to universe secrets etc, big themes that weren't explored, just thrown in a pot, undercooked. What could have been even more interesting is the exploration of how constant search of this mathematician (or humans in general) for a pattern, a number, trying to give a meaning to the senseless world can make him a madman or a genius. Now, it's fairly obvious that Aronofsky went for this, but, imo, he didn't really show it. The end result is all flash, very little substance. I felt this film was pretty pointless. Ha...maybe that's the point, but since Aronofsky is very literal (judging by this and Requiem for a Dream), I highly doubt it. Oldboy This was pretty good, but not really mindblowing as I expected. The whole twist, a revelation was somewhat contrived when you think about it, bit it's rendered with such intensity that I can overlook it. The premise is very strong, but barely touched beyond surface. But, since this film doesn't pretend to be anything more than basically a revenge flick, I can forgive it and enjoy it for what it is. __________________ Last.fm