Undertow's Recent Activity

list Undertow's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Undertow on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg Undertow's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 Film:Undertow http://www.spout.com/films/Undertow/245800/default.aspx

Title: Undertow
Year: 2004
Director: David Gordon Green
Plot: Chris (Jamie Bell of Billy Elliot) is a volatile teen who lives with his father, John (Dermot Mulroney), and his little brother, Tim (Devon Alan). After the death of Chris' mother, his reclusive father moved the family to a shack in backwoods Georgia, where they raise hogs. Tim has an unusual eating disorder. He is constantly making himself sick by eating things like dirt and paint. One day, John's estranged brother, Deel (Josh Lucas), gets out of prison and shows up on the farm. John is less than thrilled to see him, but agrees to let him stay with the family as long as Deel helps him look after his boys. Chris is drawn to his wild-man uncle, but it soon becomes clear that Deel has more on his mind than a family reunion. Greed and years of resentment lead to violence, and Chris finds himself on the run, towing his sickly brother along, with Deel in pursuit. Undertow is writer/director David Gordon Green's third feature film, and features many of the same crew as his previous films, George Washington and All the Real Girls, including cinematographer Tim Orr. Green, who co-wrote the script with Joe Conway, has cited the influence of filmmaker Terrence Malick, who is credited as a producer. Green was also influenced by low-budget regional films of the 1970s (like Macon County Line and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and by Charles Laughton's classic The Night of the Hunter. Undertow was selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in the 2004 New York Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 17
Number of Lists: 6
Number of blog posts: 7
Number of discussion threads: 2
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:48:38 GMTUndertow2004David Gordon GreenChris (<a href="/players/P___279767/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jamie Bell</a> of <a href=/films/154723/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Billy Elliot</a>) is a volatile teen who lives with his father, John (<a href="/players/P____51293/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Dermot Mulroney</a>), and his little brother, Tim (Devon Alan). After the death of Chris' mother, his reclusive father moved the family to a shack in backwoods Georgia, where they raise hogs. Tim has an unusual eating disorder. He is constantly making himself sick by eating things like dirt and paint. One day, John's estranged brother, Deel (<a href="/players/P___187022/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Josh Lucas</a>), gets out of prison and shows up on the farm. John is less than thrilled to see him, but agrees to let him stay with the family as long as Deel helps him look after his boys. Chris is drawn to his wild-man uncle, but it soon becomes clear that Deel has more on his mind than a family reunion. Greed and years of resentment lead to violence, and Chris finds himself on the run, towing his sickly brother along, with Deel in pursuit. Undertow is writer/director <a href="/players/P___281321/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>David Gordon Green</a>'s third feature film, and features many of the same crew as his previous films, <a href=/films/151656/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>George Washington</a> and <a href=/films/219115/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>All the Real Girls</a>, including cinematographer Tim Orr. Green, who co-wrote the script with Joe Conway, has cited the influence of filmmaker <a href="/players/P___100893/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Terrence Malick</a>, who is credited as a producer. Green was also influenced by low-budget regional films of the 1970s (like <a href=/films/21287/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Macon County Line</a> and <a href=/films/34558/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</a>) and by <a href="/players/P____98862/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Charles Laughton</a>'s classic <a href=/films/24686/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Night of the Hunter</a>. Undertow was selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in the 2004 New York Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide17Tag Target (>10)6723http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t56938ysydj.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Undertow/245800/default.aspxFilm Spout Post: Not Quite a White guy in the 1700's. http://www.spout.com/blogs/captainryannn/archive/2008/12/4/37959.aspx

Post By: CaptainRyannn
Post To: CaptainRyannn Blog
Post Date: 12/4/2008 4:48:38 PM
Body: After falling in love with David Gordon Green’s Undertow, I checked out some of his other films. George Washington was first on the list because I saw that it was also part of the Criterion Collection. George Washington is not about a white man from the mid-1700’s, but rather a group of children set in a small, rural southern town. With not much to do, they spend their days wandering around the broken community and have conversations that form into a collage of innocence. After a tragedy happens amongst the group, they all come together and attempt to cover it up which leads to their individual quests for redemption. In one of the most poetically beautiful films I’ve seen recently, David Gordon Green tells the heartbreaking story of kids who are forced to enter the adult world early and make decisions that they shouldn’t have to make. Although I’m sure not everyone has had to go through what the kids in the film had to go through, I believe it is the perfect metaphor for teenage friendships. A group of kids who are as tight as can be part away from each other for something or another or perhaps no reason at all. Green manages to create some of the most real characters I’ve seen on film in everyway from their dialogue to their simple hand gestures and reactions. I think I might’ve been close to tears because of how magnificent this one was. Damn, it was good.
]]>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:48:38 GMTCaptainRyannnCaptainRyannn Blog12/4/2008 4:48:38 PM After falling in love with David Gordon Green’s Undertow, I checked out some of his other films. George Washington was first on the list because I saw that it was also part of the Criterion Collection. George Washington is not about a white man from the mid-1700’s, but rather a group of children set in a small, rural southern town. With not much to do, they spend their days wandering around the broken community and have conversations that form into a collage of innocence. After a tragedy happens amongst the group, they all come together and attempt to cover it up which leads to their individual quests for redemption. In one of the most poetically beautiful films I’ve seen recently, David Gordon Green tells the heartbreaking story of kids who are forced to enter the adult world early and make decisions that they shouldn’t have to make. Although I’m sure not everyone has had to go through what the kids in the film had to go through, I believe it is the perfect metaphor for teenage friendships. A group of kids who are as tight as can be part away from each other for something or another or perhaps no reason at all. Green manages to create some of the most real characters I’ve seen on film in everyway from their dialogue to their simple hand gestures and reactions. I think I might’ve been close to tears because of how magnificent this one was. Damn, it was good. Spout Post: Undertow on Reel 13 http://www.spout.com/blogs/jjgittes/archive/2008/9/17/35260.aspx

Post By: jjgittes
Post To: jjgittes Blog
Post Date: 9/17/2008 4:40:41 PM
Body: I was very much against UNDERTOW when I first saw it in theaters back in 2004, thinking that director David Gordon Green's flares of lyricism don't mesh well with the cat and mouse cross-country chase plot of the film. While that is still true and is ultimately the film's fatal flaw, I was able to recognize more of the film strengths while watching it again recently on Reel 13, particularly as it pertains to the performance of Dermot Mulroney. I do not remember being impressed with him, but upon rewatching it, I found him to be extremely subtle and grounded – a gratifying emotional center of the story. Unfortunately for both me and the film, the lion's share of the screen time goes to the growling, scenery-chewing Josh Lucas (supposedly, at one point, he was a serious dramatic theater actor in plays like Terence McNally's "Corpus Christi" – what happened???!?). On the whole, the stylistic elements that Green incorporates in the film – freeze frames, zooms, using the interpositive and internegative prints – don't seem to be motivated by anything in particular. It just seems like a director trying to mix things up. Green is at his best when he doesn't try so hard. There is a wonderful scene in which he dissolves between dolly shots of Mulroney sitting in a chair and Jamie Bell crafting a wooden airplane in the garage for his brother's birthday (normally I don't like dissolves, but with the slow motion of the camera and the haunting music, Green makes it a thing of beauty). Overall, the first hour of the film is pretty solid – deliberately paced and moody – very similar to previous Green efforts GEORGE WASHINGTON and ALL THE REAL GIRLS (an exception is the annoying opening title sequence). After the catalytic event midway through the film, however, Green's usual style no longer seems to apply and the tricks I refer to above are just that – smoke and mirrors. Nothing seems to fit anymore. Lucas' overacting and the high stakes plot seems like it's in a different film than Green's poetic imagery or the slow, ethereal (and much too loud) Philip Glass score. As a result, the second half of the film – when the "action" begins - feels false, forced and was utterly unenjoyable to watch. (For more information on this or any other Reel 13 film, check out the their website at www.reel13.org)
]]>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:40:41 GMTjjgittesjjgittes Blog9/17/2008 4:40:41 PMI was very much against UNDERTOW when I first saw it in theaters back in 2004, thinking that director David Gordon Green's flares of lyricism don't mesh well with the cat and mouse cross-country chase plot of the film. While that is still true and is ultimately the film's fatal flaw, I was able to recognize more of the film strengths while watching it again recently on Reel 13, particularly as it pertains to the performance of Dermot Mulroney. I do not remember being impressed with him, but upon rewatching it, I found him to be extremely subtle and grounded – a gratifying emotional center of the story. Unfortunately for both me and the film, the lion's share of the screen time goes to the growling, scenery-chewing Josh Lucas (supposedly, at one point, he was a serious dramatic theater actor in plays like Terence McNally's "Corpus Christi" – what happened???!?). On the whole, the stylistic elements that Green incorporates in the film – freeze frames, zooms, using the interpositive and internegative prints – don't seem to be motivated by anything in particular. It just seems like a director trying to mix things up. Green is at his best when he doesn't try so hard. There is a wonderful scene in which he dissolves between dolly shots of Mulroney sitting in a chair and Jamie Bell crafting a wooden airplane in the garage for his brother's birthday (normally I don't like dissolves, but with the slow motion of the camera and the haunting music, Green makes it a thing of beauty). Overall, the first hour of the film is pretty solid – deliberately paced and moody – very similar to previous Green efforts GEORGE WASHINGTON and ALL THE REAL GIRLS (an exception is the annoying opening title sequence). After the catalytic event midway through the film, however, Green's usual style no longer seems to apply and the tricks I refer to above are just that – smoke and mirrors. Nothing seems to fit anymore. Lucas' overacting and the high stakes plot seems like it's in a different film than Green's poetic imagery or the slow, ethereal (and much too loud) Philip Glass score. As a result, the second half of the film – when the "action" begins - feels false, forced and was utterly unenjoyable to watch. (For more information on this or any other Reel 13 film, check out the their website at www.reel13.org) Spout Post: Week 30. http://www.spout.com/blogs/captainryannn/archive/2008/8/11/33880.aspx

Post By: CaptainRyannn
Post To: CaptainRyannn Blog
Post Date: 8/11/2008 9:08:45 PM
Body: Titles in bold represent a first time viewing. 346. Magnolia (Anderson, 1999)----------I thought that this was a pretty great collage-type film with the likeness of a more familiar title, Crash. Aside from Julianne Moore's performance, one of the few things I didn't like was the fact that the characters didn't connect with each other other than the bizarre finale at the end of the film. (7.5 / 10) 347. Stuck (Gordon, 2007)----------Based on a true story, stuck follows a wannabe-ghetto woman (Mena Suvari) after she hits a homeless man and drives him into her garage. The acting was terrible, the premise was good though. Towards the end, it began to pick up in terms of entertainment. (6 / 10) 348. Equilibrium (Wimmer, 2002)----------Christian Bale? Sweet. Reviews relating it to The Matrix? Awesome. This is why I initially checked out Equilibrium. The action was pretty sweet but every few minutes, I couldn't help but see a blatant plot-hole. Also, can someone answer me why do the people have dust fly out of them when they get shot? (7 / 10) 349. The New World (Malick, 2005)----------It seems that whenever Malick puts out a new movie, I become less and less interested. To me, Badlands was his best and his vast collection of movies since then have just seemed to have gone downhill. I appreciated the beautiful cinematography and music along with the great acting. But the pacing was just a little too slow for me. (7 / 10) 350. The Terminator (Cameron, 1984)----------It's funny to think that The Terminator, one of the most masculine movies of all time, came from the same guy who made Titanic, one of the most popular love stories of all time. I basically watched this for mere entertainment and it satisfied that. (7 / 10) 351. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Cameron, 1991)----------Again, I just watched this purely for entertainment. I think it did a better job at doing that than the first one. The best thing about watching these movies is just pausing it at certain testosterone-filled moments and thinking, This is the governor of California. (7.5 / 10) 352. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Mostow, 2003)----------This got quite a bit of negative reviews. I wouldn't say that it was especially bad, but rather on par with the first one. The best part was how they ended it. It got me excited for Terminator Salvation. (7 / 10) 353. A Home at the End of the World (Mayer, 2004)----------Although the subject matter may not be something many of us can relate to, the themes definitely are. The overall mood and and portrayals of friendship and love make this worth watching alone. (7 / 10) 354. Undertow (Green, 2004)----------When I first watched this, it was decent. Once I delved into some reviews and analysis' I watched it again and fell in love with it. The story follows two brothers who live with their dad out in the southern forests. Their mysterious uncle comes around and suddenly a game of cat-and-mouse begins. The tone of the film stays consistent and I think that that is it's strongest point along with great performances by Jamie Bell and Josh Lucas. (8 / 10) 355. Antikörper / Antibodies (Alvart, 2005)----------Antibodies is a film that follows closely in the footsteps of The Silence of the Lambs. Our protagonist is a village cop and the antagonist is a serial killer whose finally been caught. The cinematography was good and the acting was average. The basic story-line is something that's been done plenty of times before but the sheer intensity that this takes it to puts Antibodies a little bit above the rest. (7.5 / 10) 356. Cidade de Deus / City of God (Meirelles, 2002)----------I've seen City of God countless times as it is my favorite film along with Once Upon a Time in America. It takes us through two decades in the lives of a handful of children / teenagers in the slums of Rio de Janerio. Most grow up to be hoods and murder and robbery isn't something uncommon in their lives. Our protagonist, Rocket, is an aspiring photographer and just so happens to be there as all of the violence breaks out. If you're okay with subtitles, be sure to check this one out. (10 / 10) 357. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (Hurwitz, 2008)----------The whole 'Escape' part only really lasts about five minutes. The rest of the film is basically slapstick comedy executed in an non-comedic way. (5 / 10) 358. Shotgun Stories (Nichols, 2007)----------I have been looking forward to seeing this one for quite some time. After falling in love with the trailer, I had to see it. There are two sets of step-brothers. Their father just died. One set knew him as a loving man and the other knew him as a violent, neglecting one. A feud erupts between them and their egos don't allow themselves to stop until irreversible damage has been caused. This movie had some of the most real characters I've ever seen portrayed and it was as if I were watching this unfold in real life. (8.5 / 10) 359. My Bodyguard (Bill, 1980)-----------I rented this based off of Roger Ebert's shining review but found it to be just average in comparison to other tough-time-in-high-school films. The main kid is a rich boy who starts going to a public school. The bullys don't like this and pick on him. After getting pushed around he gets the tough-guy bodyguard and they become friends, but not after finding out a few secrets about each other. (6 / 10) 360. Kicking and Screaming (Baumbach, 1995)----------Unlike the 2005 comedy, this one is actually good. But it's not about a children's soccer team, but rather a group of friend who have just graduated from college and don't know what to do next. This has some of the most subtly humorous dialogue I've ever experienced and I couldn't help but laugh virtually the entire way through. The plot really isn't there, there's no character development or twists. This movie basically stands up on the dialogue and it's characters. The friendship that exists reminds me slightly of that of the American Pie trilogy. Great movie. Worthy of its Criterion stamp. (8 / 10) 361. Schizopolis (Soderbergh, 1996)----------What did I just watch? (?? / 10) 362. Children of Men (Cuarón, 2006)----------Featuring probably some of the best camera work and choreography in film in recent years, Children of Men was superb. To be able to shoot such busy scenes all in one shot takes a certain amount of skill. Watching the special features and commentary definitely gave me an idea of how much work went into this. Children of Men takes place about twenty years in the future where women are infertile and no one knows why. Immigrants are killed and the world is in chaos. An immigrant is found bearing a child and Theo (Clive Own) is in charge of getting her to safety. (8 / 10) 363. The Chumscrubber (Posin, 2005)----------Set in a 'Desperate Housewives' kind of neighborhood, shy-boy Dean, through a series of events, is in charge of getting drugs for the popular kids. With an all-star cast, The Chumscrubber is entertaining, dark, and comedic all at the same time. (7.5 / 10)
]]>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:08:45 GMTCaptainRyannnCaptainRyannn Blog8/11/2008 9:08:45 PMTitles in bold represent a first time viewing. 346. Magnolia (Anderson, 1999)----------I thought that this was a pretty great collage-type film with the likeness of a more familiar title, Crash. Aside from Julianne Moore's performance, one of the few things I didn't like was the fact that the characters didn't connect with each other other than the bizarre finale at the end of the film. (7.5 / 10) 347. Stuck (Gordon, 2007)----------Based on a true story, stuck follows a wannabe-ghetto woman (Mena Suvari) after she hits a homeless man and drives him into her garage. The acting was terrible, the premise was good though. Towards the end, it began to pick up in terms of entertainment. (6 / 10) 348. Equilibrium (Wimmer, 2002)----------Christian Bale? Sweet. Reviews relating it to The Matrix? Awesome. This is why I initially checked out Equilibrium. The action was pretty sweet but every few minutes, I couldn't help but see a blatant plot-hole. Also, can someone answer me why do the people have dust fly out of them when they get shot? (7 / 10) 349. The New World (Malick, 2005)----------It seems that whenever Malick puts out a new movie, I become less and less interested. To me, Badlands was his best and his vast collection of movies since then have just seemed to have gone downhill. I appreciated the beautiful cinematography and music along with the great acting. But the pacing was just a little too slow for me. (7 / 10) 350. The Terminator (Cameron, 1984)----------It's funny to think that The Terminator, one of the most masculine movies of all time, came from the same guy who made Titanic, one of the most popular love stories of all time. I basically watched this for mere entertainment and it satisfied that. (7 / 10) 351. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Cameron, 1991)----------Again, I just watched this purely for entertainment. I think it did a better job at doing that than the first one. The best thing about watching these movies is just pausing it at certain testosterone-filled moments and thinking, This is the governor of California. (7.5 / 10) 352. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Mostow, 2003)----------This got quite a bit of negative reviews. I wouldn't say that it was especially bad, but rather on par with the first one. The best part was how they ended it. It got me excited for Terminator Salvation. (7 / 10) 353. A Home at the End of the World (Mayer, 2004)----------Although the subject matter may not be something many of us can relate to, the themes definitely are. The overall mood and and portrayals of friendship and love make this worth watching alone. (7 / 10) 354. Undertow (Green, 2004)----------When I first watched this, it was decent. Once I delved into some reviews and analysis' I watched it again and fell in love with it. The story follows two brothers who live with their dad out in the southern forests. Their mysterious uncle comes around and suddenly a game of cat-and-mouse begins. The tone of the film stays consistent and I think that that is it's strongest point along with great performances by Jamie Bell and Josh Lucas. (8 / 10) 355. Antikörper / Antibodies (Alvart, 2005)----------Antibodies is a film that follows closely in the footsteps of The Silence of the Lambs. Our protagonist is a village cop and the antagonist is a serial killer whose finally been caught. The cinematography was good and the acting was average. The basic story-line is something that's been done plenty of times before but the sheer intensity that this takes it to puts Antibodies a little bit above the rest. (7.5 / 10) 356. Cidade de Deus / City of God (Meirelles, 2002)----------I've seen City of God countless times as it is my favorite film along with Once Upon a Time in America. It takes us through two decades in the lives of a handful of children / teenagers in the slums of Rio de Janerio. Most grow up to be hoods and murder and robbery isn't something uncommon in their lives. Our protagonist, Rocket, is an aspiring photographer and just so happens to be there as all of the violence breaks out. If you're okay with subtitles, be sure to check this one out. (10 / 10) 357. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (Hurwitz, 2008)----------The whole 'Escape' part only really lasts about five minutes. The rest of the film is basically slapstick comedy executed in an non-comedic way. (5 / 10) 358. Shotgun Stories (Nichols, 2007)----------I have been looking forward to seeing this one for quite some time. After falling in love with the trailer, I had to see it. There are two sets of step-brothers. Their father just died. One set knew him as a loving man and the other knew him as a violent, neglecting one. A feud erupts between them and their egos don't allow themselves to stop until irreversible damage has been caused. This movie had some of the most real characters I've ever seen portrayed and it was as if I were watching this unfold in real life. (8.5 / 10) 359. My Bodyguard (Bill, 1980)-----------I rented this based off of Roger Ebert's shining review but found it to be just average in comparison to other tough-time-in-high-school films. The main kid is a rich boy who starts going to a public school. The bullys don't like this and pick on him. After getting pushed around he gets the tough-guy bodyguard and they become friends, but not after finding out a few secrets about each other. (6 / 10) 360. Kicking and Screaming (Baumbach, 1995)----------Unlike the 2005 comedy, this one is actually good. But it's not about a children's soccer team, but rather a group of friend who have just graduated from college and don't know what to do next. This has some of the most subtly humorous dialogue I've ever experienced and I couldn't help but laugh virtually the entire way through. The plot really isn't there, there's no character development or twists. This movie basically stands up on the dialogue and it's characters. The friendship that exists reminds me slightly of that of the American Pie trilogy. Great movie. Worthy of its Criterion stamp. (8 / 10) 361. Schizopolis (Soderbergh, 1996)----------What did I just watch? (?? / 10) 362. Children of Men (Cuarón, 2006)----------Featuring probably some of the best camera work and choreography in film in recent years, Children of Men was superb. To be able to shoot such busy scenes all in one shot takes a certain amount of skill. Watching the special features and commentary definitely gave me an idea of how much work went into this. Children of Men takes place about twenty years in the future where women are infertile and no one knows why. Immigrants are killed and the world is in chaos. An immigrant is found bearing a child and Theo (Clive Own) is in charge of getting her to safety. (8 / 10) 363. The Chumscrubber (Posin, 2005)----------Set in a 'Desperate Housewives' kind of neighborhood, shy-boy Dean, through a series of events, is in charge of getting drugs for the popular kids. With an all-star cast, The Chumscrubber is entertaining, dark, and comedic all at the same time. (7.5 / 10) Spout Post: 10 Great Movies About Brothers http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/7/22/32892.aspx

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 7/22/2008 12:00:34 PM
Body: If there’s one thing I relate to on the big screen, it’s the depiction of fraternal relationships. I’m the middle of three brothers (excluding the half-brother I only knew as a toddler and the former stepbrother I only knew briefly as an adult), and at different points in my life I’ve either hated them or considered them my best friends. So, yeah, I can’t wait to see Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as new siblings who go from being enemies to BFFs when forced to live together. Choosing a handful of favorite movies about brotherhood is really tough. After all, tales of brothers go all the way back to almost the beginning, with the story of Cain and Abel. And a number of favorites can’t exactly be discussed, because the revelation of brothers, especially twin brothers, is often the surprise twist in films. So, before you start naming a thousand other films about brothers that I’ve forgotten (such as The Brothers McMullen and Legends of the Fall), keep in mind that I’ve actually left out a whole pile of brother films, and this is more of a personal favorites list. Coupe de Ville – If there’s one movie that seemed to define my brothers and I growing up, it’s this underrated road movie about three estranged siblings (played by Patrick Dempsey, Arye Gross and Daniel Stern) delivering the titular automobile to their father (Alan Arkin). As kids, my brothers and I couldn’t have been any more different, just like the guys in the movie. For at least half a decade, until he seemed to disappear after he left the sitcom Ellen, Gross was like my cinematic alter ego, just because I felt a kinship with his middle-brother character in Coupe de Ville so much. Twins – While I’m on the subject of identification, here’s another movie I was able to relate to, as my older brother was (in my young, confused mind) like Schwarzenegger and I was a fat kid. Now that we’re in our 30s, we’re fortunately more physically balanced (or is it just that my perception has matured?). The Godfather Part II – At one time or another, to one degree or another, most of us with brothers have unfortunately had fratricidal thoughts. Again, murdering one’s brother is a plot that goes back to The Book of Genesis, and the theme shows up in some of the greatest of stories, from Shakespeare’s Richard III to the Shakespearean animated film The Lion King. But as I never wanted to murder either of my brothers for gain of power, I’m including this film instead. Oh, wait, I guess I never actually struggled with the idea of whether or not to kill my brother because he’s a liability and an embarrassment, either. The Public Enemy – In fraternal stories, if brothers aren’t trying to kill each other, they’re at least following separate paths, morally and occupationally. Typically, one is a criminal and the other is a cop, politician or priest. This particular gangster film doesn’t portray the divergence as clearly as subsequent films, such as Johnny Dangerously, We Own the Night or any number of Bollywood films, including the classics Deewaar. But it’s the scene in which the brothers argue about their differences and, ultimately, their similarities, that makes the film that much more interesting. Amar Akbar Anthony – Like Deewaar, this film stars Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan and is also about brothers. This time, though, there’s three of them, and each one allegorically represents a different prominent religious group of post-colonial India. Bachchan plays the Catholic one, and the film is worth checking out just for his musical number involving a giant Easter egg. The Best of Youth – Another film about brothers that also represents its nation’s history, this six-hour saga is even longer than the mere three hour Amar Akbar Anthony. If you’re ever in a fraternal mood, you can fill up a whole day of loosely learning about India and Italy via these movies. Or you can simply enjoy two great movies about brothers. American History X – After fratricide and divergence, another common plot involving brothers is the one found here: elder brother tries to keep younger from following in his footsteps. Interestingly enough, Edward Furlong plays the younger in both this film and in Little Odessa. Adaptation – My younger brother and I are differently creative, and in the past we’ve been mistaken for being twins (unlike me and my older brother being like Twins). So, of course, I had to be a sad sack and identify with the protagonist of the story, while viewing the character’s more popular, more successful brother as my own brother. I guess that would put the third act into a sort of wish fulfillment of fratricide. Maybe I need to stop this list before it upsets my currently great relationships with both my brothers. Big Night – Though differently creative, my younger brother and I have at times worked really well together. As many brothers in history have. Though we never attempted to operate a business together, we were in a band together. I guess for that reason I could have used The Blues Brothers here instead, but I like Big Night a whole hell of a lot more. The Darjeeling Limited – Return of the brotherly trio on a trip. Only this time the father has died (good ol’ Oedipal patricide is almost as popular as fratricide – not that any of the brothers killed Dad; I’m merely talking about wish fulfillment for the audience again) and the brothers are even more different (who would ever believe Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody as actual siblings?). I wonder if Wes Anderson ever saw Coupe de Ville. Or Amar Akbar Anthony. And here’s 10 more favorite brother films: Simple Men; Rain Man; La Bamba; Undertow; The Brothers Grimm; The City of Lost Children; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Thirteen Days; The Funeral; The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:00:34 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com7/22/2008 12:00:34 PM If there’s one thing I relate to on the big screen, it’s the depiction of fraternal relationships. I’m the middle of three brothers (excluding the half-brother I only knew as a toddler and the former stepbrother I only knew briefly as an adult), and at different points in my life I’ve either hated them or considered them my best friends. So, yeah, I can’t wait to see Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as new siblings who go from being enemies to BFFs when forced to live together. Choosing a handful of favorite movies about brotherhood is really tough. After all, tales of brothers go all the way back to almost the beginning, with the story of Cain and Abel. And a number of favorites can’t exactly be discussed, because the revelation of brothers, especially twin brothers, is often the surprise twist in films. So, before you start naming a thousand other films about brothers that I’ve forgotten (such as The Brothers McMullen and Legends of the Fall), keep in mind that I’ve actually left out a whole pile of brother films, and this is more of a personal favorites list. Coupe de Ville – If there’s one movie that seemed to define my brothers and I growing up, it’s this underrated road movie about three estranged siblings (played by Patrick Dempsey, Arye Gross and Daniel Stern) delivering the titular automobile to their father (Alan Arkin). As kids, my brothers and I couldn’t have been any more different, just like the guys in the movie. For at least half a decade, until he seemed to disappear after he left the sitcom Ellen, Gross was like my cinematic alter ego, just because I felt a kinship with his middle-brother character in Coupe de Ville so much. Twins – While I’m on the subject of identification, here’s another movie I was able to relate to, as my older brother was (in my young, confused mind) like Schwarzenegger and I was a fat kid. Now that we’re in our 30s, we’re fortunately more physically balanced (or is it just that my perception has matured?). The Godfather Part II – At one time or another, to one degree or another, most of us with brothers have unfortunately had fratricidal thoughts. Again, murdering one’s brother is a plot that goes back to The Book of Genesis, and the theme shows up in some of the greatest of stories, from Shakespeare’s Richard III to the Shakespearean animated film The Lion King. But as I never wanted to murder either of my brothers for gain of power, I’m including this film instead. Oh, wait, I guess I never actually struggled with the idea of whether or not to kill my brother because he’s a liability and an embarrassment, either. The Public Enemy – In fraternal stories, if brothers aren’t trying to kill each other, they’re at least following separate paths, morally and occupationally. Typically, one is a criminal and the other is a cop, politician or priest. This particular gangster film doesn’t portray the divergence as clearly as subsequent films, such as Johnny Dangerously, We Own the Night or any number of Bollywood films, including the classics Deewaar. But it’s the scene in which the brothers argue about their differences and, ultimately, their similarities, that makes the film that much more interesting. Amar Akbar Anthony – Like Deewaar, this film stars Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan and is also about brothers. This time, though, there’s three of them, and each one allegorically represents a different prominent religious group of post-colonial India. Bachchan plays the Catholic one, and the film is worth checking out just for his musical number involving a giant Easter egg. The Best of Youth – Another film about brothers that also represents its nation’s history, this six-hour saga is even longer than the mere three hour Amar Akbar Anthony. If you’re ever in a fraternal mood, you can fill up a whole day of loosely learning about India and Italy via these movies. Or you can simply enjoy two great movies about brothers. American History X – After fratricide and divergence, another common plot involving brothers is the one found here: elder brother tries to keep younger from following in his footsteps. Interestingly enough, Edward Furlong plays the younger in both this film and in Little Odessa. Adaptation – My younger brother and I are differently creative, and in the past we’ve been mistaken for being twins (unlike me and my older brother being like Twins). So, of course, I had to be a sad sack and identify with the protagonist of the story, while viewing the character’s more popular, more successful brother as my own brother. I guess that would put the third act into a sort of wish fulfillment of fratricide. Maybe I need to stop this list before it upsets my currently great relationships with both my brothers. Big Night – Though differently creative, my younger brother and I have at times worked really well together. As many brothers in history have. Though we never attempted to operate a business together, we were in a band together. I guess for that reason I could have used The Blues Brothers here instead, but I like Big Night a whole hell of a lot more. The Darjeeling Limited – Return of the brotherly trio on a trip. Only this time the father has died (good ol’ Oedipal patricide is almost as popular as fratricide – not that any of the brothers killed Dad; I’m merely talking about wish fulfillment for the audience again) and the brothers are even more different (who would ever believe Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody as actual siblings?). I wonder if Wes Anderson ever saw Coupe de Ville. Or Amar Akbar Anthony. And here’s 10 more favorite brother films: Simple Men; Rain Man; La Bamba; Undertow; The Brothers Grimm; The City of Lost Children; The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Thirteen Days; The Funeral; The Wind that Shakes the Barley. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog Spout Post: Re:Top 5 Films about Brothers http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmspotting/Re_Top_5_Films_about_Brothers/304/27450/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: leeroy711
Post To: Filmspotting
Post Date: 4/18/2008 12:59:04 AM
Body: Films about brothers word assosiation = Twin Falls Idaho, Boondock Saints, American History X Adaptation, & Rain Man Honorable mention to Undertow , The Royal Tenenbaums and Mac
]]>Fri, 18 Apr 2008 04:59:04 GMTleeroy711Filmspotting4/18/2008 12:59:04 AMFilms about brothers word assosiation = Twin Falls Idaho, Boondock Saints, American History X Adaptation, & Rain Man Honorable mention to Undertow , The Royal Tenenbaums and Mac Spout Post: "Snow Angels" Director David Gordon Green Tonight at Apple Store Soho http://www.spout.com/blogs/thefilmpanelnotetaker/archive/2008/3/5/25903.aspx

Post By: thefilmpanelnotetaker
Post To: thefilmpanelnotetaker Blog
Post Date: 3/5/2008 4:01:11 PM
Body: Here's something I will be unable to attend, but definitely wanted to let you all know about. Tonight, indieWIRE presents a discussion with filmmaker David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow and the upcoming Pineapple Express) whose latest feature film Snow Angels opens in limited theatrical release on Friday. Along with Green, one of the film’s young stars, Olivia Thirlby (Juno) will also participate in the Q&A moderated by indieWIRE Editor-in-chief Eugene Hernandez.Last year, I saw Snow Angels at BAM, where Green and Thirlby were also accompanied by another of the film’s principal performers, Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind).Tonight's discussion at the Apple Store begins at 7pm. This is a free event and no RSVP is required, but I suggest an early arrival as seating is limited and first come, first serve. More details here. Originally posted on:The Film Panel Notetaker - Miss a panel discussion? Don't worry! We took notes for you.
]]>Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:01:11 GMTthefilmpanelnotetakerthefilmpanelnotetaker Blog3/5/2008 4:01:11 PMHere's something I will be unable to attend, but definitely wanted to let you all know about. Tonight, indieWIRE presents a discussion with filmmaker David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow and the upcoming Pineapple Express) whose latest feature film Snow Angels opens in limited theatrical release on Friday. Along with Green, one of the film’s young stars, Olivia Thirlby (Juno) will also participate in the Q&A moderated by indieWIRE Editor-in-chief Eugene Hernandez.Last year, I saw Snow Angels at BAM, where Green and Thirlby were also accompanied by another of the film’s principal performers, Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind).Tonight's discussion at the Apple Store begins at 7pm. This is a free event and no RSVP is required, but I suggest an early arrival as seating is limited and first come, first serve. More details here. Originally posted on:The Film Panel Notetaker - Miss a panel discussion? Don't worry! We took notes for you. Spout Post: Great Work of 'Sound' http://www.spout.com/blogs/minerwerks/archive/2007/9/26/20173.aspx

Post By: minerwerks
Post To: minerwerks Blog
Post Date: 9/26/2007 11:37:19 PM
Body: There's a lot of hope in this 'Great World of Sound.' A group of eager salesmen have been granted the title of "music producers" and turned loose on towns throughout the southern United States with the hope of finding new talent. Then there are the performers who answer the call for auditions, hoping to catch a break and record a hit song. Both groups, however, are unaware of the hope that carries the greatest weight here, hinted at by the film's first image of a regular old vinyl record being spray painted gold.The main character here is the honest yet naive Martin (Pat Healy), who comes into this story with a string of past jobs and past loves. After being hired by Great World of Sound Productions, he is genuinely excited by the prospect of finding undiscovered talent. The money could allow him to run a home office selling the homemade crafts his girlfriend (Rebecca Mader) produces in the garage. Martin buddies up with a charismatic new hire named Clarence (Kene Holliday), and soon the duo is sent on the road to "audition" hopefuls who dream of having a hit song, with the caveat that the prospects must provide some "investment" up front to help make that dream come true.Right off the bat, most viewers are going to find the whole operation suspicious (that record album shot pretty much sets the tone). Some might question why a guy like Martin wouldn't realize this, but he is indeed blinded by his hope at first. It's inevitable that Martin will discover the unsavory nature of the job, but how he deals with this realization carries some surprises. This is not a world of storybook optimism, yet it is not irredeemably cruel. There is an implication throughout that a little bit of personal responsibility and skepticism should help us avoid being coned ourselves.The film's plot is straightforward, but the running time is padded slightly by a string of audition scenes utilizing a bit of 'Borat'-inspired trickery. Real musicians were brought in for auditions and only told afterwards that the hard sell for cash was for the sake of a film denouncing the practice. I don't object to this ethically, but stylistically, it doesn't fit perfectly with the rest of the film. More savvy viewers will detect the subtle differences in camera movement and performance. It should be noted, however, that Healy and Holliday are excellent improvisers, and their interactions with the non-actors are completely convincing. Some of the performances are even good, but a little of this goes a long way, and all the material included ends up a tad redundant.Another reason the audition scenes are distracting is because the film surrounding them is quite well-crafted and performed. Director/co-writer Craig Zobel has perfectly cast this film and keeps the actors' performances very naturalistic. The supporting characters, particularly the bosses at Great World of Sound (Robert Longstreet and John Baker), all make the most of their limited time on-screen. Zobel has been a production manager on some of the films of David Gordon Green ('Undertow', 'All the Real Girls'), and 'Great World of Sound' shares his affinity for the south and intimate, understated human drama. Green returns the favor here by taking on producer duties.Like most debut features, 'Great World of Sound' isn't perfect, but it shows a great deal of promise. Zobel handles some tricky material thematically and even manages to keep things stylistically interesting. My hope is that he continues to make singularly challenging yet entertaining films like this one.
]]>Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:37:19 GMTminerwerksminerwerks Blog9/26/2007 11:37:19 PMThere's a lot of hope in this 'Great World of Sound.' A group of eager salesmen have been granted the title of "music producers" and turned loose on towns throughout the southern United States with the hope of finding new talent. Then there are the performers who answer the call for auditions, hoping to catch a break and record a hit song. Both groups, however, are unaware of the hope that carries the greatest weight here, hinted at by the film's first image of a regular old vinyl record being spray painted gold.The main character here is the honest yet naive Martin (Pat Healy), who comes into this story with a string of past jobs and past loves. After being hired by Great World of Sound Productions, he is genuinely excited by the prospect of finding undiscovered talent. The money could allow him to run a home office selling the homemade crafts his girlfriend (Rebecca Mader) produces in the garage. Martin buddies up with a charismatic new hire named Clarence (Kene Holliday), and soon the duo is sent on the road to "audition" hopefuls who dream of having a hit song, with the caveat that the prospects must provide some "investment" up front to help make that dream come true.Right off the bat, most viewers are going to find the whole operation suspicious (that record album shot pretty much sets the tone). Some might question why a guy like Martin wouldn't realize this, but he is indeed blinded by his hope at first. It's inevitable that Martin will discover the unsavory nature of the job, but how he deals with this realization carries some surprises. This is not a world of storybook optimism, yet it is not irredeemably cruel. There is an implication throughout that a little bit of personal responsibility and skepticism should help us avoid being coned ourselves.The film's plot is straightforward, but the running time is padded slightly by a string of audition scenes utilizing a bit of 'Borat'-inspired trickery. Real musicians were brought in for auditions and only told afterwards that the hard sell for cash was for the sake of a film denouncing the practice. I don't object to this ethically, but stylistically, it doesn't fit perfectly with the rest of the film. More savvy viewers will detect the subtle differences in camera movement and performance. It should be noted, however, that Healy and Holliday are excellent improvisers, and their interactions with the non-actors are completely convincing. Some of the performances are even good, but a little of this goes a long way, and all the material included ends up a tad redundant.Another reason the audition scenes are distracting is because the film surrounding them is quite well-crafted and performed. Director/co-writer Craig Zobel has perfectly cast this film and keeps the actors' performances very naturalistic. The supporting characters, particularly the bosses at Great World of Sound (Robert Longstreet and John Baker), all make the most of their limited time on-screen. Zobel has been a production manager on some of the films of David Gordon Green ('Undertow', 'All the Real Girls'), and 'Great World of Sound' shares his affinity for the south and intimate, understated human drama. Green returns the favor here by taking on producer duties.Like most debut features, 'Great World of Sound' isn't perfect, but it shows a great deal of promise. Zobel handles some tricky material thematically and even manages to keep things stylistically interesting. My hope is that he continues to make singularly challenging yet entertaining films like this one. Spout Post: Sundance Institute at BAM - "Snow Angels" http://www.spout.com/blogs/thefilmpanelnotetaker/archive/2007/6/5/10180.aspx

Post By: thefilmpanelnotetaker
Post To: thefilmpanelnotetaker Blog
Post Date: 6/5/2007 9:52:00 AM
Body: Sundance Institute at BAM - "Snow Angels" Saturday, June 2, 2007At the Sundance Institute at BAM, David Gordon Green, director of George Washington, All the Real Girls and Undertow, screened his latest feature, Snow Angels, that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Green adapted Snow Angels from the novel by Stewart O'Nan. Together with cast members Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Olivia Thirlby (United 93), Green addressed the audience during a Q&A after the screening. My knowledge of Snow Angels stems from my days attending SUNY Brockport about 10 years ago, where I took a class called The Writers Craft. If my memory serves me correct, it was actually O' Nan's The Speed Queen that I had to read for the class, and O'Nan came to do a reading at The Writers Forum . However, I read Snow Angels anyway on my own.After watching the movie Snow Angels at BAM, I recall at least one major difference, that being that there seemed to be a lot more interaction between the characters of Annie (played by Kate Beckinsale) and Arthur (played by Michael Angarano). The plot unwinds differently in the film than it does in the book, but they both seem to have the same traggic effect. Also in attendance at the screening were filmmakers Craig Zobell (Great World of Sound), Michael Tully (Silver Jew), Todd Rohal (The Guatemalan Handshake), and Aaron Katz (Quiet City). It was Tully's blog, Boredom at Its Boredest, where I was reminded about yesterday's screening of Snow Angels. Thanks for the reminder, Tully!Here are my notes from the Q&A with Green (DGG), Rockwell (SR), and Thirlby (OT):Q: What grabbed you about the story [Stewart O' Nan's novel]?DGG: I read it in a couple of sittings. Takes place in the 1970s. Don't know how autobiographical it was to O' Nan. It felt immediate to me. It haunted me. The book goes into greater depth. I made it more comtemporary, tried to cast it appropriately and bring a humantity to the roles.Q: How was it to adapt a novel?DGG: It was the first thing I got paid for. This book is so full of good stuff. I took out some of the characters like Arthur's sister. In the book, Arthur is grown up and looking back.Q: What made you cast Griffin Dunne [in the role of Arthur's father Don]?DGG: When I was writing the adaptation, I had him in mind. Everyone in the cast is funny. It was important to allow them to breath and laugh. Griffin has had a wonderful career balancing roles.Q: What was your favorite thing working on this film?SR: The collaboration. One of the best experiences of collaboration I ever had working with great actors. My acting coach is in the audience. David set a tone like movies in the 1970s, ie. Hal Ashby. It was just fun. David just let me do stuff most directors wouldn't let me do.OT: I second that. The entire crew were incredibly awesome people. That vibe translates onto the screen.Q: What was the hardest scene to do? ***SPOILER ALERT*** DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS? SR: The suicide scene for example. Got a lot of help from people. That scene was very technical. They put sardine oil on my neck to get the dog to lick my neck, but he wouldn't lick me. We had to deal with that. David let the last take go a long time before yelling "cut."Q: Showing the scenes of violence between Kate Beckinsale's character of Annie and her daughter were courageous.DGG: I wouldn't call it violence, just parenting. We didn't make it glamorous. Kate brought her own ideas into the reality of the situation, creating a more human portrait.Q: Who did you model your character after?DGG: People I probably shouldn't mention. A lot of the prototype anti-heroes of the 1970s. Have a friend who's a priest who helped him with "born-again" research. Originally posted on:The Film Panel Notetaker - Miss a panel discussion? Don't worry! We took notes for you.
]]>Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:52:00 GMTthefilmpanelnotetakerthefilmpanelnotetaker Blog6/5/2007 9:52:00 AMSundance Institute at BAM - "Snow Angels" Saturday, June 2, 2007At the Sundance Institute at BAM, David Gordon Green, director of George Washington, All the Real Girls and Undertow, screened his latest feature, Snow Angels, that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Green adapted Snow Angels from the novel by Stewart O'Nan. Together with cast members Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Olivia Thirlby (United 93), Green addressed the audience during a Q&A after the screening. My knowledge of Snow Angels stems from my days attending SUNY Brockport about 10 years ago, where I took a class called The Writers Craft. If my memory serves me correct, it was actually O' Nan's The Speed Queen that I had to read for the class, and O'Nan came to do a reading at The Writers Forum . However, I read Snow Angels anyway on my own.After watching the movie Snow Angels at BAM, I recall at least one major difference, that being that there seemed to be a lot more interaction between the characters of Annie (played by Kate Beckinsale) and Arthur (played by Michael Angarano). The plot unwinds differently in the film than it does in the book, but they both seem to have the same traggic effect. Also in attendance at the screening were filmmakers Craig Zobell (Great World of Sound), Michael Tully (Silver Jew), Todd Rohal (The Guatemalan Handshake), and Aaron Katz (Quiet City). It was Tully's blog, Boredom at Its Boredest, where I was reminded about yesterday's screening of Snow Angels. Thanks for the reminder, Tully!Here are my notes from the Q&A with Green (DGG), Rockwell (SR), and Thirlby (OT):Q: What grabbed you about the story [Stewart O' Nan's novel]?DGG: I read it in a couple of sittings. Takes place in the 1970s. Don't know how autobiographical it was to O' Nan. It felt immediate to me. It haunted me. The book goes into greater depth. I made it more comtemporary, tried to cast it appropriately and bring a humantity to the roles.Q: How was it to adapt a novel?DGG: It was the first thing I got paid for. This book is so full of good stuff. I took out some of the characters like Arthur's sister. In the book, Arthur is grown up and looking back.Q: What made you cast Griffin Dunne [in the role of Arthur's father Don]?DGG: When I was writing the adaptation, I had him in mind. Everyone in the cast is funny. It was important to allow them to breath and laugh. Griffin has had a wonderful career balancing roles.Q: What was your favorite thing working on this film?SR: The collaboration. One of the best experiences of collaboration I ever had working with great actors. My acting coach is in the audience. David set a tone like movies in the 1970s, ie. Hal Ashby. It was just fun. David just let me do stuff most directors wouldn't let me do.OT: I second that. The entire crew were incredibly awesome people. That vibe translates onto the screen.Q: What was the hardest scene to do? ***SPOILER ALERT*** DO NOT READ BELOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS? SR: The suicide scene for example. Got a lot of help from people. That scene was very technical. They put sardine oil on my neck to get the dog to lick my neck, but he wouldn't lick me. We had to deal with that. David let the last take go a long time before yelling "cut."Q: Showing the scenes of violence between Kate Beckinsale's character of Annie and her daughter were courageous.DGG: I wouldn't call it violence, just parenting. We didn't make it glamorous. Kate brought her own ideas into the reality of the situation, creating a more human portrait.Q: Who did you model your character after?DGG: People I probably shouldn't mention. A lot of the prototype anti-heroes of the 1970s. Have a friend who's a priest who helped him with "born-again" research. Originally posted on:The Film Panel Notetaker - Miss a panel discussion? Don't worry! We took notes for you. Spout Post: Re: NEW Group, Top 5 current directors. http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_NEW_Group_Top_5_current_directors/190/3802/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: paul
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 11/27/2006 4:13:06 PM
Body: Along the lines of David Gordon Green's Undertow, I saw Werner Herzog's newest film, Rescue Dawn, at the Denver Film Festival. It too was strangely accessible.I'm not sure what to make of either of these films. I liked them both. They both cover very distinct territory you'd expect from David Gordon Green or Werner Herzog. But when I'm watching a film by a director like David Gordon Green or Werner Herzog, I expect to have to work a bit. In a strange way, I was disappointed because the films asked so little of me. It's kind of the way you'd feel if you went to see a Michael Bay movie and it turned out to be an art film.Incidentally, I have a new director in my Top 5. Allan King blew me away in Denver. He's a Candian documentary filmmaker and if you can get your hands on any of his docs at a library (they're only for sale through allankingfilms.com), watch them. They will change what you thought film was capable of.
]]>Mon, 27 Nov 2006 21:13:06 GMTpaulTop 511/27/2006 4:13:06 PMAlong the lines of David Gordon Green's Undertow, I saw Werner Herzog's newest film, Rescue Dawn, at the Denver Film Festival. It too was strangely accessible.I'm not sure what to make of either of these films. I liked them both. They both cover very distinct territory you'd expect from David Gordon Green or Werner Herzog. But when I'm watching a film by a director like David Gordon Green or Werner Herzog, I expect to have to work a bit. In a strange way, I was disappointed because the films asked so little of me. It's kind of the way you'd feel if you went to see a Michael Bay movie and it turned out to be an art film.Incidentally, I have a new director in my Top 5. Allan King blew me away in Denver. He's a Candian documentary filmmaker and if you can get your hands on any of his docs at a library (they're only for sale through allankingfilms.com), watch them. They will change what you thought film was capable of. Spout Tag:Boring http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Boring/MemberTagFilms.aspxBoring
Number of films tagged: 177

Number of people who tagged: 105

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]]>Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:44:27 GMT177105207Tag Spout Tag:teenagers http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/teenagers/MemberTagFilms.aspxteenagers
Number of films tagged: 3025

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]]>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:42:10 GMT302597399Tag Spout Tag:fantastic http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/fantastic/MemberTagFilms.aspxfantastic
Number of films tagged: 106

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]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:19:21 GMT10674137Tag Spout Tag:moving http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/moving/MemberTagFilms.aspxmoving
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]]>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:15:30 GMT28668160Tag Spout Tag:brothers http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/brothers/MemberTagFilms.aspxbrothers
Number of films tagged: 79

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]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:09:23 GMT794296Tag Spout Tag:abuse http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/abuse/MemberTagFilms.aspxabuse
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]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:57:35 GMT7603874Tag Spout Tag:real http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/real/MemberTagFilms.aspxreal
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]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:28:21 GMT353841Tag Spout Tag:brother http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/brother/MemberTagFilms.aspxbrother
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]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:51:56 GMT23013082Tag Spout Tag:gold http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/gold/MemberTagFilms.aspxgold
Number of films tagged: 735

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]]>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:39:15 GMT7352435Tag Spout Tag:south http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/south/MemberTagFilms.aspxsouth
Number of films tagged: 144

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]]>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:15:30 GMT1442340Tag Spout Tag:surprising http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/surprising/MemberTagFilms.aspxsurprising
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]]>Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:18:03 GMT192229Tag Spout Tag:painful http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/painful/MemberTagFilms.aspxpainful
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]]>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:44:12 GMT261934Tag Spout Tag:ontherun http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/ontherun/MemberTagFilms.aspxontherun
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]]>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:02:37 GMT15461537Tag Spout Tag:complex http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/complex/MemberTagFilms.aspxcomplex
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]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:47:25 GMT91111Tag Spout Tag:runaway http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/runaway/MemberTagFilms.aspxrunaway
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