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Thought it was sensational--a workmanlike tribute, somehow, to both classic gangster flicks of the '30s as well as the grittier ones of the '70s.

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Much more scholarly and sobering than a Moore investigation... and what I liked is how its main gripe isn't with warmongering so much as plain old incompetence.

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This was fantastic. After one viewing, I think this is my new favorite Coen Brothers film and, in all likelihood, my film of the year. A few of the scenes are as intense as anything put to film in recent memory.The direction, editing, performances, sound, cinematography, story, etc are all truly top notch - and in the end it all comes together to create something even greater than the sum of its parts. I could see some aspects where others could find fault, all likely the result of its staying rather true to the literary source material (a wonderful novel by one of my favorite authors Cormac McCarthy) rather than cop out and create a run-of-the-mill Hollywood crowd pleaser. But I absolutely loved every minute of it. Highly, highly recommended.

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This was fantastic. After one viewing, I think this is my new favorite Coen Brothers film and, in all likelihood, my film of the year. A few of the scenes are as intense as anything put to film in recent memory.The direction, editing, performances, sound, cinematography, story, etc are all truly top notch - and in the end it all comes together to create something even greater than the sum of its parts. I could see some aspects where others could find fault, all likely the result of its staying rather true to the literary source material (a wonderful novel by one of my favorite authors Cormac McCarthy) rather than cop out and create a run-of-the-mill Hollywood crowd pleaser. But I absolutely loved every minute of it. Highly, highly recommended.

 

I'm really looking forward to that.

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This was fantastic. After one viewing, I think this is my new favorite Coen Brothers film and, in all likelihood, my film of the year. A few of the scenes are as intense as anything put to film in recent memory.The direction, editing, performances, sound, cinematography, story, etc are all truly top notch - and in the end it all comes together to create something even greater than the sum of its parts. I could see some aspects where others could find fault, all likely the result of its staying rather true to the literary source material (a wonderful novel by one of my favorite authors Cormac McCarthy) rather than cop out and create a run-of-the-mill Hollywood crowd pleaser. But I absolutely loved every minute of it. Highly, highly recommended.

That was one of my favorite films at the Toronto Film Fest and it's definitely in my top 5 of the year. I think it might be my favorite Coen Brothers film, okay 2nd behind Fargo, but that's a tough one to beat. This one was a nice return to the film noir elements of Blood Simple, with excellent mood and suspense throughout the film. I really thought that Javier Bardem was great in it, I hope he gets an Oscar nom.

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Watched We Don't Live Here Anymore today, hungover. Not a fun one.

No, but I really liked it. As two couples circle around various layers of betrayal, the movie focuses not on adultery itself but on the subtle, bottomless character motivations that accompany indiscretion. It also boasts extraordinary performances from all four leads, and by now everyone must know that Mark Ruffalo is the closest thing to Montgomery Clift the screen has witnessed since, well, Monty himself.

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It was excellent.

Yeah, Ceylan is really interesting. Have you seen his earlier Distant? Out of obligation, a professional photographer invites his unrefined country cousin to lodge with him in Istanbul, and we watch, slowly and silently, as these two spinning wheels fail to connect--to each other, to others, to anything beyond their apartment walls. Ceylan maintains a mood of melancholy and loneliness so unrelenting that it's borderline inhospitable; at times, I felt like leaping into a set of jumping jacks. Still, I was engrossed by the way he complements the quotidian with beautiful visual symmetries, especially when photographing the city's cool exterior. The expansive vistas accentuate the pettiness of these men, who permit life's tiny dramas (a lost tool, an invasive mouse, a sloppy guest) to amplify the distance between them. Good stuff.

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No, but I really liked it. As two couples circle around various layers of betrayal, the movie focuses not on adultery itself but on the subtle, bottomless character motivations that accompany indiscretion. It also boasts extraordinary performances from all four leads, and by now everyone must know that Mark Ruffalo is the closest thing to Montgomery Clift the screen has witnessed since, well, Monty himself.

I liked it too - "not fun" films are usually shoo-ins for me. I thought it was a little full of itself (the soundtrack in particular), but the performances were all great. I wish Peter Krause didn't have to be in a TV show now; his onscreen presence is just as commanding as the others (Laura Dern was my favorite in this one).

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Yeah, Ceylan is really interesting. Have you seen his earlier Distant? Out of obligation, a professional photographer invites his unrefined country cousin to lodge with him in Istanbul, and we watch, slowly and silently, as these two spinning wheels fail to connect--to each other, to others, to anything beyond their apartment walls. Ceylan maintains a mood of melancholy and loneliness so unrelenting that it's borderline inhospitable; at times, I felt like leaping into a set of jumping jacks. Still, I was engrossed by the way he complements the quotidian with beautiful visual symmetries, especially when photographing the city's cool exterior. The expansive vistas accentuate the pettiness of these men, who permit life's tiny dramas (a lost tool, an invasive mouse, a sloppy guest) to amplify the distance between them. Good stuff.

 

I haven't seen that one, but I will go looking for it. I was really glad I saw Climates on the big screen, it was shot so beautifully. I didn't realize until after I saw it that the star was also the writer/director. is he in Distant also?

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I didn't realize until after I saw it that the star was also the writer/director. is he in Distant also?

No, he isn't. But the woman who played his wife in Climates was Ebru Ceylan, his real-life wife.

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This is a great thread for filling my NetFlix queue... and catching up on some old favorites! I have all next week off to do nothing but play music and watch movies :D

 

Recent views:

 

The 300 -- did not live up to the hype, thought it was boring, big disappointment

Ratatouille -- ok, good animation, but not worth 97% on RottenTomatoes, again a disappointment

This Filthy World -- if you're a John Waters fan, you'll like it (I enjoyed it, my husband read discussion boards throughout)

28 Weeks Later -- incredibly frustrating movie, stupid people, stupid choices

Hot Fuzz -- recently re-watched, best comedy of 2007 for me, needed something rewarding after so many disappointing films

 

And, now rewatching the box set of Firefly -- with the writer's strike and such a disappointing TV season, I'm relying on old favorites to fill the void...

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