Author Topic: 1990s US Bracket: Verdicts  (Read 712403 times)

pixote

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #730 on: July 20, 2008, 05:26:36 AM »
I had a longer list of things to talk about with both my films, but was rushing to get my verdict out.  For one thing, I'd also forgotten how monologue-heavy the Good Will Hunting script.  The characters are constantly telling long stories or jokes, or just riffing on something at length.  It generally works, not always, but it's interesting for being unusual and unexpected in a film of this sort.  Also, the still I posted for Good Will Hunting says a lot about the movie.  It's just a quick shot in the film, and my first impression was probably, "Hmm, decent shot."  But a half second later, I was thinking about how there's no good reason for Will to be working out this problem on the mirror — it's actually kind of stupid — except for the fact that it looks vaguely cool.  And there's a metaphor in that for the film as a whole.

Back-to-back upsets, by the way.  The 49th seed (Good Will Hunting) lost to the 156th seed (Poison), and the 100th seed (Apollo 13) lost to the 120th seed (Joy Luck Club).  Poison is the seventh-lowest seeded film to advance to the second round (so far).  The six lower seeded winners are Clerks, Affliction, Little Women, Serial Mom, Kids, and Safe, another Todd Haynes film.

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« Last Edit: July 20, 2008, 05:47:49 AM by pixote »
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secondcitywolverine

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #731 on: July 20, 2008, 09:09:14 AM »
Two of my favorite films have been cut  :'(

I haven't seen Poison and I watched Good Luck Club when I was maybe 15 and can't remember much about it. So I could end up agreeing with these well written reviews, but it still hurts  ;)

Winrit, I'm surprised you said you didn't feel the stakes of Apollo 13. The final scene where they're waiting to hear from the astronauts as they enter the atmosphere, I remember bawling when they finally do and everyone's cheering. I also think the soundtrack, both the classic 60s songs and the score, was great and some of the best movie music out there.

winrit

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #732 on: July 20, 2008, 11:06:51 AM »
The final scene where they're waiting to hear from the astronauts as they enter the atmosphere, I remember bawling when they finally do and everyone's cheering. I also think the soundtrack, both the classic 60s songs and the score, was great and some of the best movie music out there.

Oh and I did too. I cried at the end of both films, but my tears at the end of Joy Luck Club felt more authentic to me. It wasn't just swelling music that got me in Joy Luck Club, it was genuine catharsis.
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skjerva

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #733 on: July 20, 2008, 12:16:15 PM »
The final scene where they're waiting to hear from the astronauts as they enter the atmosphere, I remember bawling when they finally do and everyone's cheering. I also think the soundtrack, both the classic 60s songs and the score, was great and some of the best movie music out there.

Oh and I did too. I cried at the end of both films, but my tears at the end of Joy Luck Club felt more authentic to me. It wasn't just swelling music that got me in Joy Luck Club, it was genuine catharsis.

great observation.  while i think there is something understood as superior craft for being able to evoke emotion using film technique (score, etc.), i much prefer films that tap into something real with their stories, that have something more to say about what it means to be human.
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Junior

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #734 on: July 20, 2008, 06:51:36 PM »
Braveheart
VS.
Casino

I'm getting tired of these movies with mobsters in it. And I'm getting tired of Joe Pesci. Feel free to stop reading if you don't want to hear about how good Braveheart is.

Braveheart.
There hasn't been a Mel Gibson directed movie that I didn't at least admire if not enjoy. He brings something to the table that I don't see very often, but I can't quite put my finger on it. The characters, especially Gibson's Wallace and Gleeson's Campbell, are a lot of fun to watch. Until the end, that is. Then there is the torture and violence that some people don't like about Gibson's movies. I can certainly understand the criticism, but I thought it was well done and effective. And screw historical accuracy. This is a movie, not an essay.

Casino.
I enjoy Scorsese movies. Really, I do. But this and Goodfellas just irk me. I can't explain, really. Maybe it's just Joe Pesci. I can't stand him. And he wasn't any help in this one. Sure DeNiro and Stone were good and the story was at least passable, but I just couldn't get going with this one. Sorry.

Braveheart moves on to the next round.
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roujin

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #735 on: July 20, 2008, 06:53:41 PM »
Casino sucks. Good choice!

pixote

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #736 on: July 20, 2008, 06:55:59 PM »
And screw historical accuracy. This is a movie, not an essay.

You know how sometimes you read something and then laugh — out loud?  I did that here.

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Tequila

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #737 on: July 20, 2008, 07:14:09 PM »
And screw historical accuracy. This is a movie, not an essay.
I hear you. Whenever I ask a certain friend of mine why he hates that that film so much, the answer has something to do with chain mails ::)
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Junior

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #738 on: July 20, 2008, 07:30:12 PM »
Thanks. Glad to know I'm not alone on that front.

PS. It's mostly British people that get pissy. Dunno why... they won.
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secondcitywolverine

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Re: 1990s US Bracket commentary
« Reply #739 on: July 20, 2008, 07:38:36 PM »
Good choice. Casino was the lousy step-brother of GoodFellas.