All Consuming : als26

A story about "Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:18:31 GMT

Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series

beautiful AND smart. it’s got its problems, but overlook them.

How "Night Moves" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:41:53 GMT

Night Moves

by Arthur Penn

Now I know how Melanie Griffith became famous.

Why I recommend "Lonely Hearts"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:29:21 GMT

Lonely Hearts

by Todd Robinson

Creepy. In every way.

A story about "Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:19:59 GMT

Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)

by Alfonso Cuarón

I suspect this film is much less affecting on the small screen. The graphic violence didn’t bother me much. I didn’t really understand how the childlessness really mattered – everyone lives like we’re last people on earth anyway, and maybe that was the point. But, given that, then the end is meaningless.

I liked the way the film plot moved along on a smaller scale though. I like PD James’ mystery novels a lot and I think her genius storytelling is in here too. But I never read Children of Men because I don’t like future fantasy sci-fi stuff. I think I started it, maybe.

Anyway, I actually liked this and now I’m going to go read the book.

A story about "Welcome to LA"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:14:24 GMT

Welcome to LA

by Alan Rudolph

Not worth the time, but an early version of those coincidences-and-sad-lonely-lives-in-LA stories.

A story about "Tootsie"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:12:37 GMT

Tootsie

OK, this is an evil romantic comedy. But it says a lot about acting and how to use your face. Also, Bill Murray does his lovely dead pan.

Why I recommend "Shortbus (Unrated)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:11:10 GMT

Shortbus (Unrated)

It’s totally a romantic comedy, but not an evil one.

A story about "The Queen"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:09:59 GMT

The Queen

by Stephen Frears

OK, so it bothers me that The Queen gets a prestige picture, while all Diana gets is a bunch of trashy made-for-TV specials.

But I liked this. Does The Queen wear some kind of purple in every scene?

Didn’t love the heavy-handed deer symbolism, or the rather sudden transition in Blair’s attitude. Did love Blair performance. Mirren looked so lovely and now, post-surgery she looks less so.

Better silent. (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:58:53 GMT

Ratatouille

by Brad Bird

Would have liked this better if it were silent. Or a musical.

Dialog grated and I got tired of the “realistic” animation style.

See also Muppets Take Manhattan, The Great Cheese Conspiracy, versions of Charlotte’s Web.

Why I recommend "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:01:15 GMT

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

by Gore Verbinski

Blank white screen and giant nose.

A story about "The Wings of the Dove"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:40:51 GMT

The Wings of the Dove

by Iain Softley

Watched this after I read James’ What Maisie Knew, Daisy Miller and Turn of the Screw and decided that James really was a bad writer, it wasn’t just pretentious to say this. Anyway, film has no narration and little dialog, thank god and is therefore quite brilliant.

I don’t think I’ve seen any other films that are set at exactly this moment of fashion history. Klimt.

Why I recommend "Nights of Cabiria - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:25:22 GMT

Nights of Cabiria - Criterion Collection

by Federico Fellini

I’ve never seen anyone wear flats so well. Adorable.

Why I recommend "The Hoax"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:21:24 GMT

The Hoax

by Lasse Hallström

I like the way there’s that chapter exposing Nixon in Irving’s book, and that footage of Nixon praising Bush in Hallstrom’s film.

I also saw this, sort of unintentionally, the day after re-watching Stone’s Nixon. So the mix of footage in Hoax really appealed to me too.

I really liked The Aviator, but oddly, I didn’t know Hughes was so attractive (minus the mustache) until I saw the images in this film . . . The Aviator would have been a good movie, even if it was totally fictional and there was no real Hughes. This film maybe needed it’s historical referents a bit more – both Hughes and Irving.

But the Dick Suskind character steals the show. He’s not a coward and a sap, as they called him in TNY. He’s just a guy.

Why I recommend "Nixon - Collector's Edition"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 17:15:33 GMT

Nixon - Collector's Edition

I like the way the flashbacks and memory look like, not personal memories, but media-pastiche.

A story about the last time I consumed "La Strada - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:10:42 GMT

La Strada - Criterion Collection

by Federico Fellini

Scorcese in the Criterion Intro, on Fellini and the circus: “He loved the circus. He loved the circus. I, I don’t like the circus. (Nervously) I have, I have problems with it. But he (giggles) he really loved the circus. And he’s the only one I can watch. The only films I can watch, a circus seen through his eyes. You know.”

A story about "Old Acquaintance"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:56:42 GMT

Old Acquaintance

by Vincent Sherman

Ouch. Writing women. Wearing fur.

Why I like people who have consumed "Eat Drink Man Woman"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:55:33 GMT

Eat Drink Man Woman

Dad commands the film, his relationships are the best – with his old pal, with the kid, with the neighbors. Repressed daughter is also nice . . .

A story about "The Insider"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:53:34 GMT

The Insider

The whole time I was watching I thought it was directed by Oliver Stone and I thought, “This is really good, really restrained, really sophisticated Oliver Stone.”

Why I recommend "Dangerous Liaisons"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:51:59 GMT

Dangerous Liaisons

by Stephen Frears

Hot older woman. Better than Marie Antoinette. Nice outdoor scenes.

A story about "Blow Up"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:50:09 GMT

Blow Up

by Michelangelo Antonioni

I think I liked Eyes of Laura Mars better. This had about 12 good minutes – the actual blow up scenes and the tennis stuff at the end. Oh, maybe the original photo-taking scene.

And the appearance of two queers with poodles. And the line spoken re. two queers with poodles.

Why I recommend "Grand Illusion - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (als26) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 06:34:00 GMT

Grand Illusion - Criterion Collection

by Jean Renoir

Your life ends while you watch. Or it’s on hold. Or something good.