Monday, May 4, 2009

Lazy Blogger Syndrome...

Today may be the most disgusting day I've lived through in Oregon. It's been dark and rainy non-stop since early this morning -- not the ideal weather to instill inspiration. I've been laggin' on the blog front, but I hope to get things going again soon. You can read my overview of the Salem Film Festival here, and when the film finally gets a wide release, I will give a full, proper review to Jeffery Goodman's The Last Lullaby. I have Le Cercle Rouge sitting on my desk right now (not to mention a million movies in my Netflix queue), so it's safe to assume that there will be some DVD reviews coming soon (I've also recently watched Rec and Dear Zachary). For the moment, however, I feel lazy and tired. More coming soon...next week I'll have my second review up for Film for the Soul's Counting Down the Zeroes project. Click on that link and read some of those entries...it's good stuff.

I recently watched Raging Bull, and as I was watching it I became more and more convinced that it's the greatest American film I've ever seen. Anyway, in lieu of being a contructive blogger, here ya go:

8 comments

  1. Everyone needs a break from blogging now and again, so take your time. I would like to hear what you thought of Rec, though.

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  2. And I would love to hear your appraisal of LE CIRCLE ROUGE!

    Yes, I do know the feeling Kevin, and I'm an old fart who has to "prepare" for boosts in energy. As far as the weather, it is drizzling and overcast today, and has been this way for about a week, and as of late I am getting somewhat burned-out by the blogging, much as Alexander Coleman (who has seemingly disappeared) has. It's fun, but still a major time investment.

    I look forward to your future contributions.

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  3. And as far as RAGING BULL, yes it's a great American film, which will surely finish very high in our upcoming 80's poll.

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  4. Troy:

    Thoughts on Rec might be a ways off. There's other stuff I have to write about first. The Q 'n D of it: it's a great, 80 min., horror flick that manages to shock and surprise (and suck the viewer in, what a rarity in horror today) without being to over the top. I can see why there were so quick to re-make it in America.


    Sam:

    Your comments, and the comments of others, are what make this fun. I do this because I love it, and whenever I feel that passion waning, I try to take a bit of a break and come back rejuvenated. I was expecting just that kind of break after what I was feeling last night, but then I popped in Melville's film, and viola (to keep with the French theme, here) -- it was exactly the shot in the arm I needed.

    I full DVD review is forthcoming, but I just have to say that the final heist scene, all 30 silent minutes of it, is one of the most brilliantly executed and taut scenes in any crime film; all without the aid of some hammer-the-suspense-home type of score or expository dialogue; minimalist cinema at its finest.

    As you well know I have an affinity for Melville and the way his Le Samourai ushered me into a more "serious" world of film-going -- so, naturally I feel like Melville stands the tallest when placed among the likes of Truffaut, Godard, and the other New Wave giants.

    I also love how one can see the influence of Le Circle Rouge all over Soderbergh's Ocean's Twelve. He even made Casey Affleck look like Corey. More on all of that later as I am in the process of writing a proper review for the film.

    As for Raging Bull: it's an undeniable classic, and I can't wait until Wonders in the Dark turn its attention to the 80's as I'm sure there is bound to be some amazing conversations in regards to Scorsese's film.

    Thanks for the comments guys.

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  5. Okay -- so I know it probably doesn't matter, but I have to correct what I said to Troy -- because I'm OCD like that.

    That should read "too" instead of "to", and "they" instead of "there".

    Whoo. Now I feel better.

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  6. Viva Le Cercle Rouge! I haven't seen that in a couple of years, but that heist scene still sticks in my head as being amazing. Melville was so incredibly good at taking standard genre tropes and breathing new life into them.

    I think I'll have to watch that again soon.

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  7. Yeah -- It's so amazing. I'm amazed that Hollywood hasn't tried to dig its claws into some of Melville's stuff. Of course, it would invariably suck, but still, everytime I watch one of his films I think to myself: this is essentially the kind of crime film America loves -- just, you know, it makes you actually use your brain.

    I have some of his others on the Netflix queue -- I am especially looking forward to Army of Shadows since it has been awhile since I've last seen it.

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  8. Kevin, that heist scene in LE CIRCLE ROUGE is indeed an orchestrated masterpiece of meticulous tension, and it's certainly the highlight of the film. Still, of course I look forward to your full DVD review! Excellent point there with the Soderbergh and Ido know well of your affinity for Melville.

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