adamkemp
Posts 54
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5/18/2007 11:31 AM
posted awhile ago
Filmspotting #161: Waitress / Away From Her / Double Indemnity
Filmspotting reviews two Sundance movies expanding in limited release this weekend -- "Waitress" with Keri Russell, written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelly, and Sarah Polley's "Away From Her" with Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent. If you've seen either, please share your thoughts. Also, the Film Noir Marathon kicks off with a bang as Adam contemplates shooting Sam for his take on "Double Indemnity."
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MCMikeNamara
Posts 2
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5/18/2007 4:43 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Filmspotting #161: Waitress / Away From Her / Double Indemnity
So I held off on seeing 28 Weeks Later last week because of your split decision on it. I now realize I was wrong as I tune in today and hear Sam -- whom I tend to be more in agreement with -- COMPLETELY miss the train on Double Indemnity. Like Adam, I fell I can't even begin to respond. If someone asks the stupid question "What's your favorite movie?", I always give this one as my answer, so I'm obviously biased. But still, I want to respect Sam's opinion -- I like to think that his expectations were just set way too high, and am going to let this be a lesson for me to try to find films long before I start hearing about them in order to avoid this problem. But I must defend Fred McMurrary. Like Peter Parker as Venom, Walter Neff works as a character because he's such a schmuck but he thinks he's a bad-ass. He's an insurance agent, not a hardboiled P.I. The fact that the chemistry between he and Barbara Stanwyck works despite the fact that he's getting played is part of the film's genius. Just one of the things that makes this movie watchable again and again is the that most of the time he realizes he's getting played but either thinks he's giving as good as he's getting or doesn't seem to care until it all spins out of control. So is the fact that the greed, lust -- and even the betrayal -- seem to spring not from desperation but from boredom. That strength alone makes it a quintessential American classic. Okay, I can't possibly respond in a way that makes sense right now, so I'm just going to end my argument and get back to work. P.S. I haven't been listening long enough to know if you have a Chicago-centered audience, but don't forget that this movie will be at the Outdoor Film Festival at Grant Park this summer. Adam, you'd be invited to the picnic. Sam....we'll have to see. I just heard you sing the praises of Marie Antoinette, so you've won back many points.
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Luccawithcheese
Posts 3
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5/20/2007 1:59 AM
posted awhile ago
Re: Filmspotting #161: Waitress / Away From Her / Double Indemnity
I was enthusiastic upon hearing that the next Filmspotting marathon was going to be Film Noir, and that Double indemnity would kick it off. While I’ve seen many Noirs over the years, like Sam, I was always ashamed that I had never seen Double Indemnity. Luckily Filmspotting was there to help. I picked up Double Indemnity at my local video store and popped the DVD into my player, eager with anticipation. After all that I’d heard about Double indemnity on Filmspotting, I was fully expecting to love it, sadly I was under whelmed. Actually I was more than under whelmed, I was disappointed. Disappointed that I would listen to Adam and Sam praise one of there favorite films, while I sat there feeling like I had missed something. However this Friday I was pleasantly surprised, not only did Sam not praise the film, but also felt the same way that I did. MacMurray was miscast! Or at least he and Stanwyck had no chemistry. Not only did I not feel any fire between these two characters, but their lack of chemistry started to affect the way I felt about the dialogue. I have frequently enjoyed hard-boiled, creative language, and I can’t remember a film where it got on my nerves before, but without chemistry between the actors, hard-boiled scenes can become ridiculous. Example ) “Suppose you get down off your motorcycle and give me a ticket.” “Suppose I let you off with a warning this time.” “Suppose it doesn't take.” “Suppose I, Suppose I suppose I suppose I Suppose!!!” suppose you pick up a Thesaurus! I also do not want to come down on Double Indemnity and say it’s a bad film, it’s not, there is a lot too enjoy. Edward G. Robinson and MacMurray are great together, but as Sam pointed out, if the relationship between the two men is hotter than the one with stanwyck, then the motivations for the actions in Double Indemnity start to fall apart. Luke.
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mandarkzilla
Posts 7
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5/25/2007 10:10 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Filmspotting #161: Waitress / Away From Her / Double Indemnity
I've had the pleasure of seeing both of these movies (I love the local indie theater) and I had very similar responses. "Waitress" I LOVED LOVED LOVED. It was just as you stated a "sweet" movie, and nothing else can really describe it. You go through every emotion, from happyness to anger. I actually didn't know about Adrienne's death until after the movie, so I wasn't as distracted as you two were, but once I found out, it made me appreciate the film even more. As for "Away From Her", it's sad to say, but I fell asleep during this film. It was interesting at first, because they were setting you up, but the whole movie to me felt like a big set up. It's a beautiful story, don't get me wrong, but the fact that nothing really interesting happened made it a big bore for me. No amnesia, no explosions, no great comedy, no nothing! I'll try to watch this again when it comes out on DVD, so I can actually say i saw the whole thing, but would I want to pay another $6 for it? No sir.
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