Ask a Maven

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

seely — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:29:08 GMT

mercurial:

My undergraduate studies mixed with a tendency for over-indulging in hops infused libations has warped my once humdrum suburbanite mind into an eclectic porifera of pseudo-intellectual qualities.

Are you my long-lost brother? I've been known to whet my wistle with a barley-pop once in awhile, and I most certainly posess pseudo-intellectual qualities! I've found your reviews pretty helpful, especially for Sukiyaki Western Django

I love westerns, and a lot of the "asian westerns", so it sounds liek a film I'd love. Can't wait to see it!

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

dibot — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:45:35 GMT

JimBell:

Mercurial,

Have you seen any of the following thrillers/dramas that you would recommend:

Insomnia (2002)

In the Bedroom (2001)

Read My Lips (2002)

Red Lights (French; 2004)

Bound (1996)

Tell No One (French; 2008)

Charade (1963)

The Last Seduction (1995)

Death and the Maiden (1995)

Red Rock West

Blindness (2008)

JIMBELL

I know I'm not Mercurial, but I have seen and would recommend, Insomnia, In the Bedroom (heartbreaking), Bound and Death and the Maiden.

But not Blindness (2008). There's just something missing from that film.

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

mercurial — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:59:02 GMT

JimBell:

Mercurial,

Have you seen any of the following thrillers/dramas that you would recommend:

Insomnia (2002)

In the Bedroom (2001)

Read My Lips (2002)

Red Lights (French; 2004)

Bound (1996)

Tell No One (French; 2008)

Charade (1963)

The Last Seduction (1995)

Death and the Maiden (1995)

Red Rock West

Blindness (2008)

JIMBELL

Sadly, I have not seen any of those films you listed. I'll let you know when I do.

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

unclefestering — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:44:20 GMT

JimBell:

Mercurial,

Have you seen any of the following thrillers/dramas that you would recommend:

Insomnia (2002)

JIMBELL

To drop my 2 cents in here. I liked Insomnia. I saw both the Al Pacino version and the original Swedish one. If you don't mind subtitles, go for the original. But Pacino's world weariness fits the American version without a single "Hoo-Hah."

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

mercurial — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:37:35 GMT

Dr_Gor:

I must say, Mercurial, that I like your list of "dark romantic comedies" ... I have seen about half of the movies you listed including Harold and Maude , Arsenic and Old Lace , The House Of Yes and Natural Born Killers . Good ones all and each is rather disturbing in it's own unique way. I would add to this list Heathers and Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands . And, no, I am not a total Wynona Ryder freak but she WAS in a few very good "dark and disturbing romantic comedies" .

Three great films that I also own and love immensely. I would say that for a good while growing up I was a Winona Ryder fanatic - there's just something about her in those pre-millennia films that's just so . . . yummy.

Dr_Gor:

Also, unlike you Mercurial, I AM entirely unrefined. I quit school when I was 15 (with my Mom's permission) and began working full time in a warehouse driving a forklift. I have been working ever since and I now work 10 hours a day in a machine shop to earn a living. But I CAN read and write, as you can see, and I did get my GED. I received most of my education from reading and writing (I am an unpublished author with several short stories and about half a novel that I am still working on under my belt) ... I have been called 'caveman' , 'barbarian' and even 'bigfoot' ... These names do not hurt me at all. I am proud of what I am and what I have become.

< GOR >

Well, I'd say that all of that has made you pretty refined. I've more or less done nothing with my life and the only thing worthwhile I've done since college is substitute teach (which made me hate children) and write for a local magazine that doesn't pay. I'm a hermit that only leaves his mundane dwelling to get smashed at my nearby Irish pub. Count me as green with envy of your life.

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

Dr_Gor — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:45:09 GMT

I must say, Mercurial, that I like your list of "dark romantic comedies" ... I have seen about half of the movies you listed including Harold and Maude , Arsenic and Old Lace , The House Of Yes and Natural Born Killers . Good ones all and each is rather disturbing in it's own unique way. I would add to this list Heathers and Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands . And, no, I am not a total Wynona Ryder freak but she WAS in a few very good "dark and disturbing romantic comedies" .

Also, unlike you Mercurial, I AM entirely unrefined. I quit school when I was 15 (with my Mom's permission) and began working full time in a warehouse driving a forklift. I have been working ever since and I now work 10 hours a day in a machine shop to earn a living. But I CAN read and write, as you can see, and I did get my GED. I received most of my education from reading and writing (I am an unpublished author with several short stories and about half a novel that I am still working on under my belt) ... I have been called 'caveman' , 'barbarian' and even 'bigfoot' ... These names do not hurt me at all. I am proud of what I am and what I have become.

< GOR >

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

mercurial — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:17:01 GMT

SkyPilot:

What are some good dark romantic comedies?

Harold and Maude - Undoubtedly the most lauded dark romantic comedy.

Arsenic and Old Lace - One of the earliest dark romantic comedies.

Sweethearts - If you're not a fan of Janeane Garafalo then probably avoid this.

The Living End - About two men, so if that freaks you out then not for you. And very light on the comedy, but nonetheless an interesting view.

The House of Yes - About incest, but if Parker Posey was your sister . . .

The Rules of Attraction - Bret Easton Ellis. Romantic. Scary. Funny.

Welcome to the Dollhouse - The most endearing Todd Solondz film.

Natural Born Killers - True love mixed with spastic humor and homicide.

Secretary - I thought it was funny, but others might just get weirded out.

American Beauty - No explanation needed.

Lost in Translation - Again, fairly mainstream.

So my definition of romantic comedy is a little skewed, but I am more than willing to argue why these films fit the bill.

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

SkyPilot — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:52:32 GMT

What are some good dark romantic comedies?

Re:Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

JimBell — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:33:51 GMT

Mercurial,

Have you seen any of the following thrillers/dramas that you would recommend:

Insomnia (2002)

In the Bedroom (2001)

Read My Lips (2002)

Red Lights (French; 2004)

Bound (1996)

Tell No One (French; 2008)

Charade (1963)

The Last Seduction (1995)

Death and the Maiden (1995)

Red Rock West

Blindness (2008)

JIMBELL

Mercurial Yet Not Entirely Unrefined

mercurial — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:29:11 GMT

Like the reviews I have posted on Spout, I'm prone to terse and haphazard blurbs about the films I decide to watch. My undergraduate studies mixed with a tendency for over-indulging in hops infused libations has warped my once humdrum suburbanite mind into an eclectic porifera of pseudo-intellectual qualities.

I've never put too much credence in professional critics reviews of films but refuse to say a negative word about Roger Ebert after years of noticing our congruent views on countless films.

I'm in my mid-twenties and am more than willing to give any film a chance. My rather sedate lifestyle is continually infused with thoughts of what could be by the myriad films I watch and the infinitesimal windows into different walks of life I would otherwise never be part of.

For a comprehensive idea of what films I enjoy, scroll through the films I own because for the most part, I can watch any one of them at any time and be thoroughly captivated. Dark Romantic Comedies, Low-Budget Hollywood Flops, Bastardized Indie Gems, & Straight-To-Video Oscar Winners That Were Never Nominated tend to be my favorite genres.

Message me anytime. Day or night. I'm lonely . . .

- Chris / Mercurial