list http://www.spout.com/ Butterknife recent group discussions Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_4_BONGO_BOARD/498/25261/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 4: BONGO BOARD
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: JoeSwanberg
Post Date: 2/18/2008 11:45:27 AM
Body: Up to this point the healthy relationship between the detective and his wife seemed to be a given, shown mostly as a foil to the stresses of the workday. For me this episode did a good job of examining an experience I've had: when something is going good (like a relationship) how can you share that with a friend in need, without sounding like a jerk?The two halves of this episode inform one another in a more overtly thematic way. In the course of their respective work days, they've each had to deal with people who are disabled in some way, and they are powerless to help. All they can do, literally, is laugh. Which on the surface seems cruel, but I don't think it plays that way on screen.What do you guys think? Does the episode draw paralells between the child with the broken leg and the forlorn partner?
]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:45:27 GMTEpisode 4: BONGO BOARDButterknifeUp to this point the healthy relationship between the detective and his wife seemed to be a given, shown mostly as a foil to the stresses of the workday. For me this episode did a good job of examining an experience I've had: when something is going good (like a relationship) how can you share that with a friend in need, without sounding like a jerk?The two halves of this episode inform one another in a more overtly thematic way. In the course of their respective work days, they've each had to deal with people who are disabled in some way, and they are powerless to help. All they can do, literally, is laugh. Which on the surface seems cruel, but I don't think it plays that way on screen.What do you guys think? Does the episode draw paralells between the child with the broken leg and the forlorn partner? 2/18/2008 11:45:27 AMUp to this point the healthy relationship between the detective and his wife seemed to be a given, shown mostly as a foil to the stresses of the workday. For me this episode did a good job of examining an experience I've had: when something is going good (like a relationship) how can you share that with a friend in need, without sounding like a jerk?The two halves of this episode inform one another in a more overtly thematic way. In the course of their respective work days, they've each had to deal with people who are disabled in some way, and they are powerless to help. All they can do, literally, is laugh. Which on the surface seems cruel, but I don't think it plays that way on screen.What do you guys think? Does the episode draw paralells between the child with the broken leg and the forlorn partner? http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_5_LAUGH_ATTACK/498/25572/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 5: LAUGH ATTACK
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: JoeSwanberg
Post Date: 2/25/2008 1:59:38 PM
Body: I've always thought that this series is about the little things that get overlooked in life (and motion picture media), that end up forming the substance of relationships. To me, this episode seems to push that even further. There's a way that small annoyances, both at home and at work, can add up to a sum greater than the parts. I've certainly had plenty of times when I'm in a really sour mood, but when I stop to think about what caused it, I find only a very trivial string of events.But there's also a way that this phenomenon can reverse itself, and a small series of annoyances can combine into something very funny. The interaction between Ron and Mary almost becomes a fight, until the humor of how petty the conflict is, and the phallic nature of the unfinished craft, cause laughter instead of conflict.The knitted phallus also ties in to the discussion of the last episode (Bongo Board) about the imporance of objects and lower extremities. An intersection of two themes? Or just a funny dick joke?
]]>Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:59:38 GMTEpisode 5: LAUGH ATTACKButterknifeI've always thought that this series is about the little things that get overlooked in life (and motion picture media), that end up forming the substance of relationships. To me, this episode seems to push that even further. There's a way that small annoyances, both at home and at work, can add up to a sum greater than the parts. I've certainly had plenty of times when I'm in a really sour mood, but when I stop to think about what caused it, I find only a very trivial string of events.But there's also a way that this phenomenon can reverse itself, and a small series of annoyances can combine into something very funny. The interaction between Ron and Mary almost becomes a fight, until the humor of how petty the conflict is, and the phallic nature of the unfinished craft, cause laughter instead of conflict.The knitted phallus also ties in to the discussion of the last episode (Bongo Board) about the imporance of objects and lower extremities. An intersection of two themes? Or just a funny dick joke? 2/25/2008 1:59:38 PMI've always thought that this series is about the little things that get overlooked in life (and motion picture media), that end up forming the substance of relationships. To me, this episode seems to push that even further. There's a way that small annoyances, both at home and at work, can add up to a sum greater than the parts. I've certainly had plenty of times when I'm in a really sour mood, but when I stop to think about what caused it, I find only a very trivial string of events.But there's also a way that this phenomenon can reverse itself, and a small series of annoyances can combine into something very funny. The interaction between Ron and Mary almost becomes a fight, until the humor of how petty the conflict is, and the phallic nature of the unfinished craft, cause laughter instead of conflict.The knitted phallus also ties in to the discussion of the last episode (Bongo Board) about the imporance of objects and lower extremities. An intersection of two themes? Or just a funny dick joke? http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_8_Smelly_Elly/498/26326/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 8: Smelly Elly
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: paul
Post Date: 3/17/2008 4:43:03 PM
Body: Looking at all of the Butterknife episodes, I think they have a way of being so loosely put together they almost taunt you to look for something deeper. The Smelly Elly episode seems like Ronnie hunting down a goofy guy on a smoke break then, randomly, ending the series with he and Mary looking toward the future: A baby.But there's another part of me that doesn't want it to be random. My mind starts to wonder if Ronnie as a detective is just a more interesting way of looking at a generation raised on movies, graduating college and entering dead-end jobs. If the decision to have a baby is the anti-climactic reality of becoming an adult and realizing the most exciting parts of your life may not happen in your career (or may happen in spite of your career). Is Butterknife all about a generation that grew up on TV reaching adulthood and realizing TV was lying? I don't know. Joe Swanberg's not one to hint at it one way or the other--and I've even personally asked him. But I like to think it's not random. It's a fun way to pass an afternoon, at least.
]]>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:43:03 GMTEpisode 8: Smelly EllyButterknifeLooking at all of the Butterknife episodes, I think they have a way of being so loosely put together they almost taunt you to look for something deeper. The Smelly Elly episode seems like Ronnie hunting down a goofy guy on a smoke break then, randomly, ending the series with he and Mary looking toward the future: A baby.But there's another part of me that doesn't want it to be random. My mind starts to wonder if Ronnie as a detective is just a more interesting way of looking at a generation raised on movies, graduating college and entering dead-end jobs. If the decision to have a baby is the anti-climactic reality of becoming an adult and realizing the most exciting parts of your life may not happen in your career (or may happen in spite of your career). Is Butterknife all about a generation that grew up on TV reaching adulthood and realizing TV was lying? I don't know. Joe Swanberg's not one to hint at it one way or the other--and I've even personally asked him. But I like to think it's not random. It's a fun way to pass an afternoon, at least.3/17/2008 4:43:03 PMLooking at all of the Butterknife episodes, I think they have a way of being so loosely put together they almost taunt you to look for something deeper. The Smelly Elly episode seems like Ronnie hunting down a goofy guy on a smoke break then, randomly, ending the series with he and Mary looking toward the future: A baby.But there's another part of me that doesn't want it to be random. My mind starts to wonder if Ronnie as a detective is just a more interesting way of looking at a generation raised on movies, graduating college and entering dead-end jobs. If the decision to have a baby is the anti-climactic reality of becoming an adult and realizing the most exciting parts of your life may not happen in your career (or may happen in spite of your career). Is Butterknife all about a generation that grew up on TV reaching adulthood and realizing TV was lying? I don't know. Joe Swanberg's not one to hint at it one way or the other--and I've even personally asked him. But I like to think it's not random. It's a fun way to pass an afternoon, at least. http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_7_COMPLICATED_MAZES/498/26045/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 7: COMPLICATED MAZES
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: peterfecteau
Post Date: 3/10/2008 2:10:27 PM
Body: Tell us what you though
]]>Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:10:27 GMTEpisode 7: COMPLICATED MAZESButterknifeTell us what you though3/10/2008 2:10:27 PMTell us what you though http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_6_BEDROOM_BULLY/498/25803/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 6: BEDROOM BULLY
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: porcupine
Post Date: 3/3/2008 11:41:47 AM
Body: All of the episodes obviously contrast the annoyances of Ronnie's workday with the comparative bliss of his home life, but this one may be the most direct in dealing with relationships. It seems to me that Ronnie's success in marriage gives him the ability to see what's going on in others' relationships more clearly. The moment when he explains how people hiring PI's to spy on spouses often sabotage the mission to protect their own denial was particularly telling.As far as the scene where they're in bed together, I saw it as simply a way of showing that their conflicts aren't really conflicts at all. Unless I'm missing something?
]]>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:41:47 GMTEpisode 6: BEDROOM BULLYButterknifeAll of the episodes obviously contrast the annoyances of Ronnie's workday with the comparative bliss of his home life, but this one may be the most direct in dealing with relationships. It seems to me that Ronnie's success in marriage gives him the ability to see what's going on in others' relationships more clearly. The moment when he explains how people hiring PI's to spy on spouses often sabotage the mission to protect their own denial was particularly telling.As far as the scene where they're in bed together, I saw it as simply a way of showing that their conflicts aren't really conflicts at all. Unless I'm missing something? 3/3/2008 11:41:47 AMAll of the episodes obviously contrast the annoyances of Ronnie's workday with the comparative bliss of his home life, but this one may be the most direct in dealing with relationships. It seems to me that Ronnie's success in marriage gives him the ability to see what's going on in others' relationships more clearly. The moment when he explains how people hiring PI's to spy on spouses often sabotage the mission to protect their own denial was particularly telling.As far as the scene where they're in bed together, I saw it as simply a way of showing that their conflicts aren't really conflicts at all. Unless I'm missing something? http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_3_KEY_WITNESS/498/24995/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 3: KEY WITNESS
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: dickbuist
Post Date: 2/11/2008 4:45:32 PM
Body: In the discussion of the last episode, there were some interesting questions raised about the connection (or lack thereof) between the working scenes and the at-home scenes. The two halves of episode 3 seem to have a link, although not a narrative one, in that they both feature a camera.To me, photographing his wife while she's stuck under the bed seems to vindicate his failure at work, but also reads as slightly sadistic. There's nothing to suggest real cruelty in their marriage (they're always so happy, after all). But there is something about how the scene is shot, particularly the shot from behind as she struggles to dislodge herself, that raises questions about the voyueristic aesthetic of the series as a whole.What do you guys think? I was talking to a friend who didn't see it that way at all. He saw the bed scene as simply another quirky moment of domestic bliss. Am I reading too far into this?
]]>Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:45:32 GMTEpisode 3: KEY WITNESSButterknifeIn the discussion of the last episode, there were some interesting questions raised about the connection (or lack thereof) between the working scenes and the at-home scenes. The two halves of episode 3 seem to have a link, although not a narrative one, in that they both feature a camera.To me, photographing his wife while she's stuck under the bed seems to vindicate his failure at work, but also reads as slightly sadistic. There's nothing to suggest real cruelty in their marriage (they're always so happy, after all). But there is something about how the scene is shot, particularly the shot from behind as she struggles to dislodge herself, that raises questions about the voyueristic aesthetic of the series as a whole.What do you guys think? I was talking to a friend who didn't see it that way at all. He saw the bed scene as simply another quirky moment of domestic bliss. Am I reading too far into this? 2/11/2008 4:45:32 PMIn the discussion of the last episode, there were some interesting questions raised about the connection (or lack thereof) between the working scenes and the at-home scenes. The two halves of episode 3 seem to have a link, although not a narrative one, in that they both feature a camera.To me, photographing his wife while she's stuck under the bed seems to vindicate his failure at work, but also reads as slightly sadistic. There's nothing to suggest real cruelty in their marriage (they're always so happy, after all). But there is something about how the scene is shot, particularly the shot from behind as she struggles to dislodge herself, that raises questions about the voyueristic aesthetic of the series as a whole.What do you guys think? I was talking to a friend who didn't see it that way at all. He saw the bed scene as simply another quirky moment of domestic bliss. Am I reading too far into this? http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Episode_2_SICILIAN_STYLE/498/24876/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Episode 2: SICILIAN STYLE
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: b-ray
Post Date: 2/8/2008 2:03:21 PM
Body: I'm a big fan of the way the dialogue plays out in these episodes. The intimate moments between the couple seem to capture something that happens in my own life that I haven't seen on screen before. Little interactions that aren't exactly foreplay, nor conflict, nor any kind of drama, really. But they still ring true.Of course there's a trade-off, right? So far these episodes don't really have a plot. We have to enjoy how the private detective and relationship snippets play out enough to overlook the fact that there's no story to speak of. Here's the question: Does it work? Is it worth it to trade plot for naturalism?
]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:03:21 GMTEpisode 2: SICILIAN STYLEButterknifeI'm a big fan of the way the dialogue plays out in these episodes. The intimate moments between the couple seem to capture something that happens in my own life that I haven't seen on screen before. Little interactions that aren't exactly foreplay, nor conflict, nor any kind of drama, really. But they still ring true.Of course there's a trade-off, right? So far these episodes don't really have a plot. We have to enjoy how the private detective and relationship snippets play out enough to overlook the fact that there's no story to speak of. Here's the question: Does it work? Is it worth it to trade plot for naturalism? 2/8/2008 2:03:21 PMI'm a big fan of the way the dialogue plays out in these episodes. The intimate moments between the couple seem to capture something that happens in my own life that I haven't seen on screen before. Little interactions that aren't exactly foreplay, nor conflict, nor any kind of drama, really. But they still ring true.Of course there's a trade-off, right? So far these episodes don't really have a plot. We have to enjoy how the private detective and relationship snippets play out enough to overlook the fact that there's no story to speak of. Here's the question: Does it work? Is it worth it to trade plot for naturalism? http://www.spout.com/groups/Butterknife/Comment_on_Episode_1_Plastic_Hassle/498/24465/1/ShowPost.aspxPost Subject: Comment on Episode 1: Plastic Hassle
Group Name: Butterknife
Last Post By: paul
Post Date: 1/28/2008 5:33:20 PM
Body: If you're hankering to talk about "Plastic Hassle" or have any questions, post them here.-p
]]>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:33:20 GMTComment on Episode 1: Plastic HassleButterknifeIf you're hankering to talk about "Plastic Hassle" or have any questions, post them here.-p 1/28/2008 5:33:20 PMIf you're hankering to talk about "Plastic Hassle" or have any questions, post them here.-p