list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around The Truman Show on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/The_Truman_Show/117385/default.aspx Title: The Truman Show
Year: 1998
Director: Peter Weir
Plot: Peter Weir directed this comedy-drama, a commentary on all-pervasive media manipulation. Scripted by Andrew M. Niccol (Gattaca), the film plays like a combination of the British TV series The Prisoner and Paul Bartel's The Secret Cinema. Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is unaware that his entire life is a hugely popular 24-hour-a-day TV series. In this real-time documentary, every moment of Truman's existence is captured by concealed cameras and telecast to a giant global audience. His friends and family are actors who smile pleasantly at Truman's familiar catchphrase greeting, "In case I don't see you later, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" Employed at an insurance company, Truman is married to merry Meryl (Laura Linney), and they live in the cheerful community of Seahaven, an island "paradise" where the weather is always mild and no unpleasantness intrudes. This is the basic situation of the series, which has grown over the years into a billion-dollar franchise for the TV network. As an unwanted pregnancy, Truman was adopted by the network and raised in the zoolike environment of a TV soundstage. Thus, the TV audience became hooked when Truman was very young. Now, at age 30, he still doesn't know he's a prisoner on an immense domed city-size soundstage, simulating Seahaven. Both the illusion and the ratings will collapse if Truman ever leaves Seahaven. In addition to elaborate events staged to make sure he stays put, Truman is given constant reminders of how wonderful Seahaven is compared to dangers in other parts of the world. However, his growing suspicions make him curious enough to try to leave, and the show's director and master manipulator Christof (Ed Harris) must constantly devise ways to thwart Truman's escape attempts. To enter the harbor, Truman must overcome his fear of water, intentionally instilled in him when his father "died" in a boating accident and was written out of the script. Exteriors were filmed in the Victorian-styled upscale community of Seaside, Florida. In addition to the Burkhard Dallwitz score, original music by Philip Glass and classical excerpts are also featured. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 61
Number of Lists: 63
Number of blog posts: 5
Number of discussion threads: 8
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:48:46 GMTThe Truman Show1998Peter Weir<a href="/players/P___116294/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Peter Weir</a> directed this comedy-drama, a commentary on all-pervasive media manipulation. Scripted by Andrew M. Niccol (<a href=/films/114551/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Gattaca</a>), the film plays like a combination of the British TV series <a href=/films/27417/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Prisoner</a> and <a href="/players/P_____3926/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Paul Bartel</a>'s <a href=/films/30445/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Secret Cinema</a>. Truman Burbank (<a href="/players/P____11257/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jim Carrey</a>) is unaware that his entire life is a hugely popular 24-hour-a-day TV series. In this real-time documentary, every moment of Truman's existence is captured by concealed cameras and telecast to a giant global audience. His friends and family are actors who smile pleasantly at Truman's familiar catchphrase greeting, "In case I don't see you later, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!" Employed at an insurance company, Truman is married to merry Meryl (<a href="/players/P____42589/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Laura Linney</a>), and they live in the cheerful community of Seahaven, an island "paradise" where the weather is always mild and no unpleasantness intrudes. This is the basic situation of the series, which has grown over the years into a billion-dollar franchise for the TV network. As an unwanted pregnancy, Truman was adopted by the network and raised in the zoolike environment of a TV soundstage. Thus, the TV audience became hooked when Truman was very young. Now, at age 30, he still doesn't know he's a prisoner on an immense domed city-size soundstage, simulating Seahaven. Both the illusion and the ratings will collapse if Truman ever leaves Seahaven. In addition to elaborate events staged to make sure he stays put, Truman is given constant reminders of how wonderful Seahaven is compared to dangers in other parts of the world. However, his growing suspicions make him curious enough to try to leave, and the show's director and master manipulator Christof (<a href="/players/P____30614/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Ed Harris</a>) must constantly devise ways to thwart Truman's escape attempts. To enter the harbor, Truman must overcome his fear of water, intentionally instilled in him when his father "died" in a boating accident and was written out of the script. Exteriors were filmed in the Victorian-styled upscale community of Seaside, Florida. In addition to the Burkhard Dallwitz score, original music by <a href="/players/P____91719/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Philip Glass</a> and classical excerpts are also featured. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide61Tag Target (>10)63583http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t62907mydgc.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Truman_Show/117385/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_July_20_Television/625/43196/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: mciocco
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 7/20/2009 1:13:40 PM
Body: A few come to mind: Network - At the time, Paddy Chayefsky tried to imagine the most ridiculous and absurd things that could happen on TV news... Frighteningly, it doesn't seem as ridiculous or absurd these days. Groundhog Day - TV weatherman caught in a space/time loop. Great movie. The Truman Show - Jim Carrey in a semi-serious role? Decent movie, though I'm not sure it's aged that well... The Insider - Or, how everyone lost faith in 60 Minutes. Anchorman - I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. And some horror TV films: Poltergeist, Ringu, and Videodrome
]]>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:13:40 GMTmcioccoWeekly Theme7/20/2009 1:13:40 PMA few come to mind: Network - At the time, Paddy Chayefsky tried to imagine the most ridiculous and absurd things that could happen on TV news... Frighteningly, it doesn't seem as ridiculous or absurd these days. Groundhog Day - TV weatherman caught in a space/time loop. Great movie. The Truman Show - Jim Carrey in a semi-serious role? Decent movie, though I'm not sure it's aged that well... The Insider - Or, how everyone lost faith in 60 Minutes. Anchorman - I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany. And some horror TV films: Poltergeist, Ringu, and Videodrome http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_January_19_Neighborhood_Watch/625/39728/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Smooth_J
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 1/20/2009 8:48:54 PM
Body: What if it's drug-induced? Raoul Duke seems to think everyone's out to get to get him--not just people he knows, but stuff that he can't even comprehend. Costa-Gavras' Missing (can't find the link) has some of the emerging-regime-in-South America spooky stuff, with people getting taken to a giant stadium and interrogated/killed. I guess neighbors could turn people in here. If I remember correctly, The Conversation is pretty focused on the paranoia of the surveillance trade--the ending instantly comes to mind. I guess Truman Show might be thrown in here as well, because his whole life is watched...especially by the actors that play his neighbors...
]]>Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:48:54 GMTSmooth_JWeekly Theme1/20/2009 8:48:54 PMWhat if it's drug-induced? Raoul Duke seems to think everyone's out to get to get him--not just people he knows, but stuff that he can't even comprehend. Costa-Gavras' Missing (can't find the link) has some of the emerging-regime-in-South America spooky stuff, with people getting taken to a giant stadium and interrogated/killed. I guess neighbors could turn people in here. If I remember correctly, The Conversation is pretty focused on the paranoia of the surveillance trade--the ending instantly comes to mind. I guess Truman Show might be thrown in here as well, because his whole life is watched...especially by the actors that play his neighbors... http://www.spout.com/groups/Forever_Young/Re_Top_5_Films_of_the_90s/85/35726/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: pippin06
Post To: Forever Young
Post Date: 9/30/2008 4:56:32 PM
Body: [quote user="filmgal81"] ( Originally posted on the 80s Movies board, but i think it fits better here) Picking up where Seely left off, I'd like to start a list of the Top 5 Films of the 90s. Again, not necessarily cinematic genius, but films that epitomize how you remember the 90s ( or a particular part of the 90s). Here's mine: 1) Edward Scissorhands - does anything scream 90s like this film? Early Johnny Depp, the Rebel Without a Cause like angst of the early 90s personified in Tim Burton's creation about a man forever on the outside of the "perfect" world ( a theme that also reverberates throughout many of his later films) 2) Singles - A film complete with long hair, plaid shirts, and the Seattle grunge music scene- classic! 3) House Party- on the lighter side, there was this fun film featuring a very popular rap duo named Kid n Play. The fashion, the music, the dancing, blatant sexual references...also classic! 4)Dances with Wolves - & 5) Wyatt Earp - 90s actors of the moment paying tribute to our frontier past. [/quote] Ah, thank you for posting! This group has been sleepy lately, so it's nice to know people are still interested. And a good topic...but... I have a question: are we talking our five fave films in general from the 90s? Or our five fave teen flicks? Since this is the group devoted to those guilty pleasures we call the teen movie, I'll approach it from both vantage points, but if you like Top 5's, the Top 5 group is the best place to play this game. Still, we're open to all here - So: top 5 teen flicks from the 90s (not as good as from the 80s...but yeah). 1. 10 Things I Hate About You - I admit it. I like it. I mostly like Heath before his superstardom, but the whole massively guilty pleasure is just fun to watch. Even when you're sick! 2. Clueless - As if! Whatever happened to what's her name? You know, the star? 3. Never Been Kissed - Is Drew Barrymore believable as Josie Grossie? Hard to say, but another massively guilty pleasure. 4. Election - Overachiever hell by Reese Witherspoon. 5. Now and Then - The female version of Stand By Me for the 90s! Now, to pick my favorite movies of the 90s. That's considerably harder - I mean, it was a good decade and all, but I don't think my favoritest films include many from the decade. I'm trying to think back to my movie collection; ironically, it dances around the 90s quite dramatically. Let's see if I can pick five... 1. Forrest Gump / Apollo 13 - I put these Tom Hanks movies together because this was during the Tom Hanks era, when he couldn't escape a year without an Oscar nod. I like Philadelphia too, but I liked these movies more. Forrest sees it all - it's funny and touching and yes, he's not a smart man, but he knows what love is! And Apollo 13 still tenses me up, and I already know the outcome (I have seen it a few times, after all, in addition to, well, history). 2. Schindler's List - It's hard to watch, but it's the artistic pinnacle of the decade without question. 3. Pulp Fiction - QT exploded onto the map with this quintessential film, and John Travolta had a second coming. It's violent, profane, and overtly sexual (not to mention the unadulterated cocaine use), but it's one of the best told yarns on film. 4. American Beauty / The Usual Suspects - Two of my favorite movies starring one of my favorite actors. Kevin Spacey, playing the duplicitous Verbal Kint or hysterically sardonic Lester Burnham, pretty much rocked my world, and I've watched these movies multiple times and own them both too. 5. The Sixth Sense - Shyamalan seems to offend many nowadays, but no one can deny the thrills and chills factor of this, his very first film, about seeing dead people. And for good measure, my top 5 honorable mentions for the decade: Wayne's World / Austin Powers - It was Mike Myers' decade, after all. Toy Story - A masterpiece but oddly not my favorite Pixar anymore. The Mask / The Truman Show - It was Jim Carrey's decade too, and these two films exemplify his wacky acting schizophrenia. The Silence of the Lambs - Almost made my top 5, but I can't watch it repeatedly. Hannibal scares me. And he should. Titanic - Oh shut up. You know you loved it the first time you saw it. It was only after Celine Dion's painfully worded ballad and James Cameron's self-indulgent "I'm the king of the world" nod that you decided you were too cool to like it. Besides, the production values on the film are astounding. I get cold just watching those poor people drown in the icy Atlantic.
]]>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMTpippin06Forever Young9/30/2008 4:56:32 PM[quote user="filmgal81"] ( Originally posted on the 80s Movies board, but i think it fits better here) Picking up where Seely left off, I'd like to start a list of the Top 5 Films of the 90s. Again, not necessarily cinematic genius, but films that epitomize how you remember the 90s ( or a particular part of the 90s). Here's mine: 1) Edward Scissorhands - does anything scream 90s like this film? Early Johnny Depp, the Rebel Without a Cause like angst of the early 90s personified in Tim Burton's creation about a man forever on the outside of the "perfect" world ( a theme that also reverberates throughout many of his later films) 2) Singles - A film complete with long hair, plaid shirts, and the Seattle grunge music scene- classic! 3) House Party- on the lighter side, there was this fun film featuring a very popular rap duo named Kid n Play. The fashion, the music, the dancing, blatant sexual references...also classic! 4)Dances with Wolves - &amp; 5) Wyatt Earp - 90s actors of the moment paying tribute to our frontier past. [/quote] Ah, thank you for posting! This group has been sleepy lately, so it's nice to know people are still interested. And a good topic...but... I have a question: are we talking our five fave films in general from the 90s? Or our five fave teen flicks? Since this is the group devoted to those guilty pleasures we call the teen movie, I'll approach it from both vantage points, but if you like Top 5's, the Top 5 group is the best place to play this game. Still, we're open to all here - So: top 5 teen flicks from the 90s (not as good as from the 80s...but yeah). 1. 10 Things I Hate About You - I admit it. I like it. I mostly like Heath before his superstardom, but the whole massively guilty pleasure is just fun to watch. Even when you're sick! 2. Clueless - As if! Whatever happened to what's her name? You know, the star? 3. Never Been Kissed - Is Drew Barrymore believable as Josie Grossie? Hard to say, but another massively guilty pleasure. 4. Election - Overachiever hell by Reese Witherspoon. 5. Now and Then - The female version of Stand By Me for the 90s! Now, to pick my favorite movies of the 90s. That's considerably harder - I mean, it was a good decade and all, but I don't think my favoritest films include many from the decade. I'm trying to think back to my movie collection; ironically, it dances around the 90s quite dramatically. Let's see if I can pick five... 1. Forrest Gump / Apollo 13 - I put these Tom Hanks movies together because this was during the Tom Hanks era, when he couldn't escape a year without an Oscar nod. I like Philadelphia too, but I liked these movies more. Forrest sees it all - it's funny and touching and yes, he's not a smart man, but he knows what love is! And Apollo 13 still tenses me up, and I already know the outcome (I have seen it a few times, after all, in addition to, well, history). 2. Schindler's List - It's hard to watch, but it's the artistic pinnacle of the decade without question. 3. Pulp Fiction - QT exploded onto the map with this quintessential film, and John Travolta had a second coming. It's violent, profane, and overtly sexual (not to mention the unadulterated cocaine use), but it's one of the best told yarns on film. 4. American Beauty / The Usual Suspects - Two of my favorite movies starring one of my favorite actors. Kevin Spacey, playing the duplicitous Verbal Kint or hysterically sardonic Lester Burnham, pretty much rocked my world, and I've watched these movies multiple times and own them both too. 5. The Sixth Sense - Shyamalan seems to offend many nowadays, but no one can deny the thrills and chills factor of this, his very first film, about seeing dead people. And for good measure, my top 5 honorable mentions for the decade: Wayne's World / Austin Powers - It was Mike Myers' decade, after all. Toy Story - A masterpiece but oddly not my favorite Pixar anymore. The Mask / The Truman Show - It was Jim Carrey's decade too, and these two films exemplify his wacky acting schizophrenia. The Silence of the Lambs - Almost made my top 5, but I can't watch it repeatedly. Hannibal scares me. And he should. Titanic - Oh shut up. You know you loved it the first time you saw it. It was only after Celine Dion's painfully worded ballad and James Cameron's self-indulgent "I'm the king of the world" nod that you decided you were too cool to like it. Besides, the production values on the film are astounding. I get cold just watching those poor people drown in the icy Atlantic. http://www.spout.com/blogs/smooth_j/archive/2008/3/29/26744.aspx Post By: Smooth_J
Post To: Smooth_J Blog
Post Date: 3/29/2008 1:10:21 PM
Body: …of my list. I’m keeping the blurbs short on this one. 11. The Godfather Part 1 & 2 As close to perfect as films get. There is not much to be said about these films that hasn’t already been said. Completely timeless classics. 12. The Fisher King Another great Gilliam film. Robin William’s performance is amazing, as are Jeff Bridge’s and Mercedes Ruehl’s. The emotional power of this movie is phenomenal. 13. Children of Men Cuaron’s bleak vision of the future is excellently original. It is a poignant, provocative, and disturbing masterpiece. 14. The Departed I know it’s a little bit sloppy, but it’s just so fricken cool. The superb performances by the entire cast perfectly portray Monahan’s razor sharp script. 15. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Peter Jackson perfectly adapted Tolkien’s classic series and created a few of the most breathtaking movies ever put on film. 16. The Proposition Easily my favorite western. Nick Cave’s poetic score and script along with John Hillcoat’s desolately beautiful direction makes this film unlike anything I have ever seen before. 17. The Truman Show This is such a great movie. It is awesome as both a commentary on our media driven culture and as an uplifting human story. 18. The Big Lebowski/The Man Who Wasn’t There I grouped these together, as they’re both Coen Brothers neo-noir masterworks. The Dude is one of the greatest characters ever created, and the latter film is an obscenely underrated work of art. 19. Once Upon a Time in the West While The Man With No Name Trilogy may be regarded as Leone’s greatest work, I firmly believe that this film outshines those films in almost every way. A starkly poetic western. 20. There Will Be Blood Destined to become a classic of cinema. It is an outstanding portrait of American greed and ambition, an absolute masterpiece. And I still believe that Anderson’s best is yet to come.
]]>Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:10:21 GMTSmooth_JSmooth_J Blog3/29/2008 1:10:21 PM&hellip;of my list. I&rsquo;m keeping the blurbs short on this one. 11. The Godfather Part 1 &amp; 2 As close to perfect as films get. There is not much to be said about these films that hasn&rsquo;t already been said. Completely timeless classics. 12. The Fisher King Another great Gilliam film. Robin William&rsquo;s performance is amazing, as are Jeff Bridge&rsquo;s and Mercedes Ruehl&rsquo;s. The emotional power of this movie is phenomenal. 13. Children of Men Cuaron&rsquo;s bleak vision of the future is excellently original. It is a poignant, provocative, and disturbing masterpiece. 14. The Departed I know it&rsquo;s a little bit sloppy, but it&rsquo;s just so fricken cool. The superb performances by the entire cast perfectly portray Monahan&rsquo;s razor sharp script. 15. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Peter Jackson perfectly adapted Tolkien&rsquo;s classic series and created a few of the most breathtaking movies ever put on film. 16. The Proposition Easily my favorite western. Nick Cave&rsquo;s poetic score and script along with John Hillcoat&rsquo;s desolately beautiful direction makes this film unlike anything I have ever seen before. 17. The Truman Show This is such a great movie. It is awesome as both a commentary on our media driven culture and as an uplifting human story. 18. The Big Lebowski/The Man Who Wasn&rsquo;t There I grouped these together, as they&rsquo;re both Coen Brothers neo-noir masterworks. The Dude is one of the greatest characters ever created, and the latter film is an obscenely underrated work of art. 19. Once Upon a Time in the West While The Man With No Name Trilogy may be regarded as Leone&rsquo;s greatest work, I firmly believe that this film outshines those films in almost every way. A starkly poetic western. 20. There Will Be Blood Destined to become a classic of cinema. It is an outstanding portrait of American greed and ambition, an absolute masterpiece. And I still believe that Anderson&rsquo;s best is yet to come. http://www.spout.com/blogs/immabohemian/archive/2007/10/14/20822.aspx Post By: immaBOHEMIAN
Post To: immaBOHEMIAN Blog
Post Date: 10/14/2007 11:46:41 AM
Body: I watched this film during my Jim Carrey phase. Up until then it'd been comedy, as everyone knows, but I was intrigued. I hated it the first time I saw it. Now, as I've gotten older and my taste in comedy has changed, I find myself incredibly annoyed with a lot of Carrey's antics that he still uses today (Fun with Dick and Jane...he should've just called his compilation of past characters) but I really love The Truman Show. I can watch it again and again and never grow tired of it. It's such a great concept. I also love the way that it was ahead of it's time with the whole reality show thing. I hate reality shows and I think I like the fact that The Truman Show exposes it for it's injustice. Yeah...reality shows aren't that bad...yet. But I really can't handle that stuff. That's why I stick to DVDs.
]]>Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:46:41 GMTimmaBOHEMIANimmaBOHEMIAN Blog10/14/2007 11:46:41 AMI watched this film during my Jim Carrey phase. Up until then it&#39;d been comedy, as everyone knows, but I was intrigued. I hated it the first time I saw it. Now, as I&#39;ve gotten older and my taste in comedy has changed, I find myself incredibly annoyed with a lot of Carrey&#39;s antics that he still uses today (Fun with Dick and Jane...he should&#39;ve just called his compilation of past characters) but I really love The Truman Show. I can watch it again and again and never grow tired of it. It&#39;s such a great concept. I also love the way that it was ahead of it&#39;s time with the whole reality show thing. I hate reality shows and I think I like the fact that The Truman Show exposes it for it&#39;s injustice. Yeah...reality shows aren&#39;t that bad...yet. But I really can&#39;t handle that stuff. That&#39;s why I stick to DVDs. http://www.spout.com/blogs/qflw/archive/2007/3/31/6605.aspx Post By: QFLW
Post To: QFLW Blog
Post Date: 3/31/2007 10:37:30 PM
Body: Didn't want to see this film but my brother talked me into it. I will concede the idea behind the plot was interesting, but Carrey never stops annoying me. Even while playing a "straight" role, Carrey has this smug, self-conscious look going on. It removed all credibility from the film. For me, leastways.
]]>Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:37:30 GMTQFLWQFLW Blog3/31/2007 10:37:30 PMDidn&#39;t want to see this film but my brother talked me into it. I will concede the idea behind the plot was interesting, but Carrey never stops annoying me. Even while playing a &quot;straight&quot; role, Carrey has this smug, self-conscious look going on. It removed all credibility from the film. For me, leastways. http://www.spout.com/blogs/hairylime/archive/2007/1/25/5102.aspx Post By: HairyLime
Post To: HairyLime Blog
Post Date: 1/25/2007 9:20:00 AM
Body: A couple of years ago my son introduced me to a movie that I probably would never have discovered on my own. It was odd, unconventional, quirky, and made me laugh harder than I have laughed at any movie in a long time. That was 'Napoleon Dynamite'. I've tried introducing it to others with glowing enthusiasm, but apparently it is an acquired taste, you either get it or you don't get it. I suppose this next movie will have the same reaction from people. So I looked forward to seeing Jared Hess' next project with eagerness and a touch of trepidation. Trepidation because of the presence of Jack Black, one of a long line of 'over the top' funnymen that populate the movie screens these days like so many overripe pimples. I'd seen 'High Fidelity', I'd seen 'School of Rock' and his persona just left me flat. I was pleasantly surprised that the director is one of those who know how to rein in their 'comedy superstar' and actually get a decent performance out of them rather than letting them run rampant and mug for the camera at every opportunity (I only noticed a couple of short scenes where he slipped and let Jack Black do his 'Jack Black Schtick'). Absolutely hilarious movie because of it. A truly original concept and story, filled with many colorful oddball characters (I love the wrestling sidekick and his high girlish screams). Was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face at one point. For other suggestions of movies where the director got good performances out of 'over the top performers' by reining in their mugging: "Punch-Drunk Love" (Adam Sandler), "The Truman Show" (Jim Carrey), "Lost in Translation" and "Broken Flowers" (Bill Murray), "About Schmidt" (Jack Nicholson)
]]>Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:20:00 GMTHairyLimeHairyLime Blog1/25/2007 9:20:00 AMA couple of years ago my son introduced me to a movie that I probably would never have discovered on my own. It was odd, unconventional, quirky, and made me laugh harder than I have laughed at any movie in a long time. That was &#39;Napoleon Dynamite&#39;. I&#39;ve tried introducing it to others with glowing enthusiasm, but apparently it is an acquired taste, you either get it or you don&#39;t get it. I suppose this next movie will have the same reaction from people. So I looked forward to seeing Jared Hess&#39; next project with eagerness and a touch of trepidation. Trepidation because of the presence of Jack Black, one of a long line of &#39;over the top&#39; funnymen that populate the movie screens these days like so many overripe pimples. I&#39;d seen &#39;High Fidelity&#39;, I&#39;d seen &#39;School of Rock&#39; and his persona just left me flat. I was pleasantly surprised that the director is one of those who know how to rein in their &#39;comedy superstar&#39; and actually get a decent performance out of them rather than letting them run rampant and mug for the camera at every opportunity (I only noticed a couple of short scenes where he slipped and let Jack Black do his &#39;Jack Black Schtick&#39;). Absolutely hilarious movie because of it. A truly original concept and story, filled with many colorful oddball characters (I love the wrestling sidekick and his high girlish screams). Was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face at one point. For other suggestions of movies where the director got good performances out of &#39;over the top performers&#39; by reining in their mugging: "Punch-Drunk Love" (Adam Sandler), "The Truman Show" (Jim Carrey), "Lost in Translation" and "Broken Flowers" (Bill Murray), "About Schmidt" (Jack Nicholson) http://www.spout.com/groups/Totally_Over_rated/Re_Your_overrated_list/170/4060/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Totally Over-rated
Post Date: 12/6/2006 12:22:12 PM
Body: [quote user="Rock"][quote user="Risselada"] I Am Sam - WOW...why was this on your list?Shrek - Must not like animated movies?Selena - Didn't like J-Lo doing the film? I thought it was a great biopic on her life.Million Dollar Baby - GREAT FILM. What didn't you like?The Wedding Singer - Good film. But not sure that it was hyped to begin withMeet The Parents - Good film. Hilarious sceens. again I'm not sure there was alot of hype to begin withTrue Lies - Personally my favorite film of both Arnolds. I thought both Arnolds interacted well together. I'd like to see a return of those charactersBad Boys II - While it was a decent film. I too didn't think it lived up to the original filmToy Story - I really think you don't like animated moviesThe Whole Nine Yards - Great film. Almost as good as the Hudson HawkMen In Black II - I thought it was a worthy sequelThe Truman Show - I believe that film showcased Jim Carrey's best acting abilitiesLiar Liar - Again, Jim Carrey's best acting but in a comedic role. I thought it was his best comedy.Fahrenheit 9/11 - I soo dislike Michael Moore.Meet the Fockers - Funny film. Field of Dreams - You must not be a dreamerAlien Vs. Predator - They must continue this series. I loved it.Gladiator - WHY is this on your list?[/quote] [/quote] A lot of these I don't like because they are what I usuaully call manipulative. I am watching them and I can feel the filmmakers trying their hardest to make me feel a certain emotion. Sometimes they succeed. However if I can feel them doing it, then it seems false. It seems like it's a trick and there's no reason for it. I Am Sam is probably at the top because I give it the worst rating possible. Let's get some sweet innocent mentally challenged people, a precocious, lovable child, people that want to fight for a cause against those darned courts. And of course lots of Beatles music. Who the hell doesn't love the Beatles? When you look at the cirumstances of the movie it's so untrue. Things never could or ever would happen the way they ever do in that film. But they put you in the most emotionally reactive situations possible. Why? As an exercise? Weird that you mentioned Hudson Hawk. I've never seen it, but my impression was that it was in the same category as Ishtar and Waterworld as movies that had a lot of hype and budget to them, but then totally tanked.
]]>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 17:22:12 GMTRisseladaTotally Over-rated12/6/2006 12:22:12 PM[quote user="Rock"][quote user="Risselada"] I Am Sam - WOW...why was this on your list?Shrek - Must not like animated movies?Selena - Didn't like J-Lo doing the film? I thought it was a great biopic on her life.Million Dollar Baby - GREAT FILM. What didn't you like?The Wedding Singer - Good film. But not sure that it was hyped to begin withMeet The Parents - Good film. Hilarious sceens. again I'm not sure there was alot of hype to begin withTrue Lies - Personally my favorite film of both Arnolds. I thought both Arnolds interacted well together. I'd like to see a return of those charactersBad Boys II - While it was a decent film. I too didn't think it lived up to the original filmToy Story - I really think you don't like animated moviesThe Whole Nine Yards - Great film. Almost as good as the Hudson HawkMen In Black II - I thought it was a worthy sequelThe Truman Show - I believe that film showcased Jim Carrey's best acting abilitiesLiar Liar - Again, Jim Carrey's best acting but in a comedic role. I thought it was his best comedy.Fahrenheit 9/11 - I soo dislike Michael Moore.Meet the Fockers - Funny film. Field of Dreams - You must not be a dreamerAlien Vs. Predator - They must continue this series. I loved it.Gladiator - WHY is this on your list?[/quote] [/quote] A lot of these I don't like because they are what I usuaully call manipulative. I am watching them and I can feel the filmmakers trying their hardest to make me feel a certain emotion. Sometimes they succeed. However if I can feel them doing it, then it seems false. It seems like it's a trick and there's no reason for it. I Am Sam is probably at the top because I give it the worst rating possible. Let's get some sweet innocent mentally challenged people, a precocious, lovable child, people that want to fight for a cause against those darned courts. And of course lots of Beatles music. Who the hell doesn't love the Beatles? When you look at the cirumstances of the movie it's so untrue. Things never could or ever would happen the way they ever do in that film. But they put you in the most emotionally reactive situations possible. Why? As an exercise? Weird that you mentioned Hudson Hawk. I've never seen it, but my impression was that it was in the same category as Ishtar and Waterworld as movies that had a lot of hype and budget to them, but then totally tanked. http://www.spout.com/groups/Totally_Over_rated/Re_Your_overrated_list/170/4052/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Rock
Post To: Totally Over-rated
Post Date: 12/6/2006 9:21:17 AM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] I Am Sam - WOW...why was this on your list?Shrek - Must not like animated movies?Selena - Didn't like J-Lo doing the film? I thought it was a great biopic on her life.Million Dollar Baby - GREAT FILM. What didn't you like?The Wedding Singer - Good film. But not sure that it was hyped to begin withMeet The Parents - Good film. Hilarious sceens. again I'm not sure there was alot of hype to begin withTrue Lies - Personally my favorite film of both Arnolds. I thought both Arnolds interacted well together. I'd like to see a return of those charactersBad Boys II - While it was a decent film. I too didn't think it lived up to the original filmToy Story - I really think you don't like animated moviesThe Whole Nine Yards - Great film. Almost as good as the Hudson HawkMen In Black II - I thought it was a worthy sequelThe Truman Show - I believe that film showcased Jim Carrey's best acting abilitiesLiar Liar - Again, Jim Carrey's best acting but in a comedic role. I thought it was his best comedy.Fahrenheit 9/11 - I soo dislike Michael Moore.Meet the Fockers - Funny film. Field of Dreams - You must not be a dreamerAlien Vs. Predator - They must continue this series. I loved it.Gladiator - WHY is this on your list?[/quote]
]]>Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:21:17 GMTRockTotally Over-rated12/6/2006 9:21:17 AM[quote user="Risselada"] I Am Sam - WOW...why was this on your list?Shrek - Must not like animated movies?Selena - Didn't like J-Lo doing the film? I thought it was a great biopic on her life.Million Dollar Baby - GREAT FILM. What didn't you like?The Wedding Singer - Good film. But not sure that it was hyped to begin withMeet The Parents - Good film. Hilarious sceens. again I'm not sure there was alot of hype to begin withTrue Lies - Personally my favorite film of both Arnolds. I thought both Arnolds interacted well together. I'd like to see a return of those charactersBad Boys II - While it was a decent film. I too didn't think it lived up to the original filmToy Story - I really think you don't like animated moviesThe Whole Nine Yards - Great film. Almost as good as the Hudson HawkMen In Black II - I thought it was a worthy sequelThe Truman Show - I believe that film showcased Jim Carrey's best acting abilitiesLiar Liar - Again, Jim Carrey's best acting but in a comedic role. I thought it was his best comedy.Fahrenheit 9/11 - I soo dislike Michael Moore.Meet the Fockers - Funny film. Field of Dreams - You must not be a dreamerAlien Vs. Predator - They must continue this series. I loved it.Gladiator - WHY is this on your list?[/quote] http://www.spout.com/groups/Totally_Over_rated/Your_overrated_list/170/4033/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Totally Over-rated
Post Date: 12/5/2006 4:50:55 PM
Body: Swingers's detail pageI thought I wouldn't like participating in this group at first because it get's frustrating complaining about movies, but I can't seem to hold myself back. Puhnner, you asked me to list some of my overrated movies, referring to my definition of overrated by ratio. Well I'm not sure if this is going by the same criteria, but I've come up with a list from another source. I also rate movies at the website movielens. It will give you recommendations based on your ratings and whatnot. It also gives some interesting statistics. For one, it tells me which movies I have rated the lowest compared to the average rating on their site. So I have looked at that list and picked several of them. The thing about this method is that I am not using what my impression of the ammount of acclaim a movie has received for the ratio but rather what the ammount of acclaim a website thinks a movie has based on the votes from it's users. Some of these movies I have not seen for a long time, so my feelings about them are not as immediate in my memory, but maybe it will give some dicussion. I Am SamShrekThe CoolerCrash (2005)In AmericaSelenaMillion Dollar BabyThe Wedding SingerChungking ExpressThe Lion KingEmpire RecordsAnything ElseMeet The ParentsTrue LiesBreathlessThe Nutty Professor (1996)Bad Boys IIJules and JimOpen WaterWhale RiderAmerican PieToy Story10 Things I Hate About YouSwingersGrand CanyonRuthless PeopleHappy, TexasWhat the #$*! Do We Know?!BanditsA Fish Called WandaThe Whole Nine YardsHigh FidelityMen In Black IIVanilla SkyE.T.The GameThe Truman ShowLiar LiarFahrenheit 9/11CollateralMeet the FockersField of DreamsLawrence of ArabiaBig DaddyThe GraduateHaiku TunnelAlien Vs. PredatorArlington RoadLa Femme NikitaGladiatorThe Motorcycle Diaries Also, I have added the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to the overrated list for this group. I also want to say I often hope my list in this area will stay short. Many of these movies I have had an impression from the start that I would not like it. I usually have a good sense ahead of time about what movies I will like more or less. I can't tell exactly how much I will like a movie, but I'm usually pretty close on the general range of how much I may like it. Most of these movies I was coerced into seeing. Some of you may argue that the fact that I told myself I didn't want to see it in the first place may have had an effect on how much I liked it. Such as if I go in telling myself I won't like it, I'll probably find more reasons not to like it. That may be true to some extent, but not enough to really effect my decision that much. Go ahead and ask me about these selections and make a list of your own using whatever criteria you feel is appropriate.
]]>Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:50:55 GMTRisseladaTotally Over-rated12/5/2006 4:50:55 PM<a href='http://www.spout.com/films/Swingers/93403/default.aspx'>Swingers's detail page</a>I thought I wouldn't like participating in this group at first because it get's frustrating complaining about movies, but I can't seem to hold myself back. Puhnner, you asked me to list some of my overrated movies, referring to my definition of overrated by ratio. Well I'm not sure if this is going by the same criteria, but I've come up with a list from another source. I also rate movies at the website movielens. It will give you recommendations based on your ratings and whatnot. It also gives some interesting statistics. For one, it tells me which movies I have rated the lowest compared to the average rating on their site. So I have looked at that list and picked several of them. The thing about this method is that I am not using what my impression of the ammount of acclaim a movie has received for the ratio but rather what the ammount of acclaim a website thinks a movie has based on the votes from it's users. Some of these movies I have not seen for a long time, so my feelings about them are not as immediate in my memory, but maybe it will give some dicussion. I Am SamShrekThe CoolerCrash (2005)In AmericaSelenaMillion Dollar BabyThe Wedding SingerChungking ExpressThe Lion KingEmpire RecordsAnything ElseMeet The ParentsTrue LiesBreathlessThe Nutty Professor (1996)Bad Boys IIJules and JimOpen WaterWhale RiderAmerican PieToy Story10 Things I Hate About YouSwingersGrand CanyonRuthless PeopleHappy, TexasWhat the #$*! Do We Know?!BanditsA Fish Called WandaThe Whole Nine YardsHigh FidelityMen In Black IIVanilla SkyE.T.The GameThe Truman ShowLiar LiarFahrenheit 9/11CollateralMeet the FockersField of DreamsLawrence of ArabiaBig DaddyThe GraduateHaiku TunnelAlien Vs. PredatorArlington RoadLa Femme NikitaGladiatorThe Motorcycle Diaries Also, I have added the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to the overrated list for this group. I also want to say I often hope my list in this area will stay short. Many of these movies I have had an impression from the start that I would not like it. I usually have a good sense ahead of time about what movies I will like more or less. I can't tell exactly how much I will like a movie, but I'm usually pretty close on the general range of how much I may like it. Most of these movies I was coerced into seeing. Some of you may argue that the fact that I told myself I didn't want to see it in the first place may have had an effect on how much I liked it. Such as if I go in telling myself I won't like it, I'll probably find more reasons not to like it. That may be true to some extent, but not enough to really effect my decision that much. Go ahead and ask me about these selections and make a list of your own using whatever criteria you feel is appropriate. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
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