Filmmaking/Acting advice and film reviews

[realsmoothie]

Hey, I like Casablanca too. But we're talking about it being rated #1 or #2 of the BEST FILMS OF ALL TIME.

I wasn't saying it "sucked" or anything... I just thought it was overrated, as per the discussion of Citizen Kane being overrated.

Heh... not that this discussion hasn't been done to death for fifty-odd years.

 

[KarmaSutra]

Yo Karma,


I'm noticing a theme developing here. And the theme is POLITICS. But I'm not talking about GOVERNMENTAL politics, I'm talking about HOLLYWOOD politics---REVISIONIST Hollywood politics at that. Sometimes Hollywood, like some women, tend to backward rationalize and crown certain movies IMPORTANT, when SOME were NOT actually "good".

Casablanca is a movie that I did enjoy---and far better than Citizen Kane. But OTHER than it's obvious historical fame and it's relevance for it's time (the spreading encroachment of NAZISM into the lives of people who'd RATHER not have to choose sides), what do you feel actually makes THIS movie worthy of note? Or is just THAT alone enough?

Also, it's my opinion that movies, like other things in pop culture are ONLY as "good" critically as the spin HISTORY puts on them. One quick example in music would be GRUNGE. NIRVANA's fame seemed to be more tied to their cutting the legs out from under Glam Rock and Classic Rock as opposed to leaving any really LASTING musical contribution to the art form. Where is GRUNGE now?

But back to movies:

In Film we have Quentin Tarrantino. His fame tends to be more tied to his love for using ensemble casts to tell stories out of sequence----and all the other director copycats who jumped on his bandwagon afterwards as a result. But to me, as a director, he's more just a great DIALOGUE writer.

Sure he's a big fan of ALL brands of 70's exploitation films and it shows in his work. But other than that, what do you think the LASTING value of his work REALLY is to the film world?

The analogy between music and film is quite close. I concur with you Sarge that film is best analyzed when looked at in reflection. I think Casablancas' importance is credence to what it shed light on. The plight of the world in the midst of WWII. Is it one of the most important films of all time? No.

Regarding QT, I believe he peaked with Pulp Fiction. Regarding the use of fractured sequential narrative, what he used was the same format (in essence) as Kubrick's The Killing. What seperates QT from other Writer/Directors is his range. He can adapt almost anything to fit damn near any genre. Quentin ,like Scorsese, Kubrick, Billy Wilder and Soderbergh each have made hollywood stop and rethink the direction films need to be routed both in thought and process.

 

[martinshernwood]

Well, it's hard for me to trust a list that's missing Julia Roberts. This is what I got. Ratings added by yours truly.

http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2004/12/top_10_highest_paid_actresses.html

1. JULIA ROBERTS - $20 MILLION - HB 6.5
2. CAMERON DIAZ - $20 MILLION - HB 7.0
3. NICOLE KIDMAN - $15 MILLION - HB 6.5
4. REESE WITHERSPOON - $15 MILLION - HB 6.0
5. DREW BARRYMORE - $15 MILLION - HB 5.5
6. HALLE BERRY - $14 MILLION - HB 7.0
7. SANDRA BULLOCK - $12-15 MILLION - HB 7.0
8. ANGELINA JOLIE - $12-15 MILLION - HB 6.0
9. RENEE ZELLWEGER - $12 MILLION - HB 4.5
10. JENNIFER LOPEZ - $12 MILLION - HB 5.5

So I guess you can't be TOTALLY ugly, but as far as I know #1, 4, and 5 are the only ones on here to get Academy Award consideration.

EDIT: I just realized that your list only discusses actresses' fees from 2006, whereas mine averaged multiple movies. BTW, could you find a top 10 actor list? I sure as hell couldn't.

Drew barrymore? - Academy Award consideration? You are a fool. What movie was she nominated for?

And just for your information, Zellweger, Jolie, Berry, and Kidman have all won or been nominated. Sorry that Berrymore wasn't nominated for "Never Been Kissed." But it's cool, continue to talk about sh'it that you have no knowledge about.

 

[Alen-Delon]

What are you top ten movies of all time ?

not by order

All the god fathers movies
Amadeus
Apocalypse now
21 grams
Gladiator
requiem for a dream
talk to her
once upon a time in america
ray
Amelie

post yours!

 

[KarmaSutra]

What are you top ten movies of all time?

I've been waiting for this question. Here ya go:

The Apartment
When Harry met Sally
Glengarry Glen Ross
Pulp Fiction
The Killing
JFK
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity
Oceans Eleven (Soderbergh)
Evil Dead

Watching these films you can learn everything about film you'd ever want to know.

 

[Victory Unlimited]

Yo Karma,


Not sure if you're UP on this (but I THINK you are...):

I've been checking out a lot of Hong Kong Cops and Robbers type flicks. So far, my favorites are:

HARD-BOILED
FULLTIME KILLER
THE KILLER

Can you, or any of the other DJs steer me to more good pics of the SAME flavor?????

 

[e-lie]

It's all about who u know I live in miami lots of shows ,models,and soaps here.But u got to get in where u fit in most guys here do extra work and don't work in bars or restaurants like in cali.Keep focused and remember its all about who u know

 

[KarmaSutra]

Yo Karma,


Not sure if you're UP on this (but I THINK you are...):

I've been checking out a lot of Hong Kong Cops and Robbers type flicks. So far, my favorites are:

HARD-BOILED
FULLTIME KILLER
THE KILLER

Can you, or any of the other DJs steer me to more good pics of the SAME flavor?????

All of John Woo's early hong kong work is immaculate. I would also advise:

City on Fire by Ringo Lam
A better tomorrow I -II
Once a Thief by Leslie Cheung
Oldboy - Min-sik Choi

These will get you revved up.

 

[KarmaSutra]

"Glengarry Glen Ross"

I liked that too but the ending was a bit too abrupt IMO

Abrupt in what way? Mamet completely made "The Machine" completely accountable and reversed his role in two sentences?

I think it ended perfectly. Although in the play, Ricky Roma asks for Shelleys' leads when he's carted into the office.

Cold hearted pr1ck!

 

[KarmaSutra]

KarmaSutra: I happen to think Satan is the greatest antagonist ever imagined"

HAIL SATAN!

I agree. Keyser Soze said it best: "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

McQuarrie earned the Oscar with that line of dialogue only.

 

[ER!C L!VE]

Who you know = yeppers. This helps more people get ahead than anything. You can have the most kickass video, but if you don't have immediate distribution channels, you're left sitting on your thumb. Sure, you get your occasional word of mouth smash success that occurs without advertisement.. See music industry's, NWA.

I wouldn't be anywhere without a the help of one nice man in Belgium who showed my video work to the world. IMO, my footage isn't any different than other videographers. :cheer:

KarmaSutra, we should talk about the industry sometime. I'll IM you my contact info.

 

[penkitten]

Top Ten Highest Paid Actresses in Hollywood

these people have one thing in common... symmetrical faces.

 

[STR8UP]

Hoping to be able to get your opinions on some of my stuff when you roll this way next week. Constructive criticism is always welcome......

 

[KarmaSutra]

Hoping to be able to get your opinions on some of my stuff when you roll this way next week. Constructive criticism is always welcome......

My complete attention. See ya Monday. Call ya Sunday.

 

[WhitePimp]

I'm starting to really get into film and the actual creation of them. Me and my friend have some amazing ideas but putting them into a workable script is insanely challenging. Hitchcock, Wilder, and Aronofsky are probably my favorite directors...and I love the Danish filmmakers too. I am very much against any kind of effects in movies, the more natural looking the better

 

[KarmaSutra]

I'm starting to really get into film and the actual creation of them. Me and my friend have some amazing ideas but putting them into a workable script is insanely challenging. Hitchcock, Wilder, and Aronofsky are probably my favorite directors...and I love the Danish filmmakers too. I am very much against any kind of effects in movies, the more natural looking the better

The fact that you even threw Billy Wilder into the mix piqued my interest. I do script consultations as well as my other talents. If you want an objective ear let me know.

 

[WhitePimp]

I actually got into him in the past year when my film class showed Sunset Boulevard and Double Indemnity. I loved them both! I'm really getting into the noir stuff...any suggestions?

An objective ear would be great, basically the movie is about the place we work at and how day in, day out it always sucks yet we never want to leave because making fun of it is too much a part of our lives; a definite comedy yet an underlying sense of complete and total desperation and futility. Think Clerks meets Requiem For A Dream and there's the general idea of where we want to go with it.

 

[KarmaSutra]

I actually got into him in the past year when my film class showed Sunset Boulevard and Double Indemnity. I loved them both! I'm really getting into the noir stuff...any suggestions?

An objective ear would be great, basically the movie is about the place we work at and how day in, day out it always sucks yet we never want to leave because making fun of it is too much a part of our lives; a definite comedy yet an underlying sense of complete and total desperation and futility. Think Clerks meets Requiem For A Dream and there's the general idea of where we want to go with it.

Clerks is what popped into my head when I read your synopsis.

If you want really good Noir films these will cook your noodle:

The postman always rings twice
The Killing
The maltese falcon
Psycho
Dark City
Blade Runner
Touch of evil
Sin City
The big sleep
The Grifters

Watch these and you'll have a solid foundation for true, gritty noir filmmaking.

 

[Victory Unlimited]

Ahh...NOIR, huh?

Now you're speaking MY current language, guys.

I'm currently writing another book, a detective thriller with some DARK undertones running throughout. So I've been rediscovering this genre lately. So I'll add to COLONEL KARMA'S list and suggest these as well:

Back in the day:

Detour
This is about all the shyt that can happen to a guy who decides to go hitch hiking to make a better a life for himself on the west coast...TRAGIC.

DOA
Any movie that starts off with a guy a going to the police station to report a murder, and when they ask whose, and he says "MY OWN." is definitely a story you want to see unfold. A classic. It was actually based on a french movie that predated it, but that's ANOTHER story...

Kiss me deadly
Gotta love Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer". This book was originally about greed and big time corruption, the film version is about Cold War politics. As an author, I HATE it when they do shyt like this, but as a movie lover, I gotta admit it's STILL very enjoyable. Mike Hammer is STILL a no nonesense mutherfukker though. This movie was kinda controversial for that time period. And once you see it, you'll look at Quentin Tarrantino's whole Pulp Fiction "glowing briefcase" thing a totally different way.

Murder, My Sweet
This is a film version of Raymond Chandler's book, Farewell my Lovely. It's a detective Phillip Marlowe story. Although it's been made and remade a bunch of times...THIS one is closest to the book and probably the best. It's about Marlowe helping a recently release ex-convict search for his old "girlfriend"-----and a lot of folks get killed in the process.



Modern Day Examples:

Brick
( an updated version of many elements of the hardboiled noir films of the past. Except everything takes place in a high school. All the femme fatales, the villains, and even the "detective" is a high school kid. See this one just to see the paralels to "classic" noir.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
(Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. play miss-matched partners. It is part comedy, part tragedy, a bawdy pulp parody and a heartfelt hardboiled homage.

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of right now.


Peace...one day.

 

[KarmaSutra]

As a Noir nut, both of the written and filmed varieties, noone has given me more inspiration and the desire to write than Jim Thompson.

His dialogue alone changed pulp fiction as a valid cource of mystery / hardboiled fiction.

V.U., I really really like Brick and I concur wholeheartedly that Murder, my sweet is truly Chandlers best adaptation to date.

What about Dial M for murder and Strangers on a train? You want to talk about classic noir films those are the motherfvckers there!

And if you're looking for neo-noir I really like A perfect murder ( remake of Dial M for murder ) with Michael Douglas and Viggo Mortenson. Excellent film.

I've been writing short hard boiled stories since I was 14 and emulating Jim Thompson built a solid foundation.