tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post5847062876138198405..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Revisiting 1999: The Top 10 Films of the Year, #10 --- The Limey (Steven Soderbergh)Kevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-75765479603580779052010-11-12T01:43:59.972-08:002010-11-12T01:43:59.972-08:00Great Information ! I enjoyed reading of it. You a...Great Information ! I enjoyed reading of it. You are looking to be great fan of this film. I haven't seen it but I love watching it.celebritieshttp://www.moviesplanet.com/search-results.asp?searchType=5&pageSize=25noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-29240537321481571682009-08-28T18:12:47.708-07:002009-08-28T18:12:47.708-07:00Tommy:
Great to hear that you're a fan of thi...Tommy:<br /><br />Great to hear that you're a fan of this film, too. I agree with what you have to say about Luis Guzman. He was great in <i>Traffic</i>, too.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-58757051465600317022009-08-28T17:08:40.092-07:002009-08-28T17:08:40.092-07:00Ah, my favorite Soderbergh. Just watched Superman ...Ah, my favorite Soderbergh. Just watched Superman II (Donner cut) with a friend, and told him we'd have to watch The Limey next. Yes, one of Bill Duke's more memorable recent roles; he had a nice one in The Go-Getter with Zooey Deschanel & Lou Taylor Pucci last year.<br /><br />Also one of the times Luis Guzman really gets to shine; I think Soderbergh gave him two of his best breakouts, with Out of Sight and this.Thomas Pluckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008022962076648740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-52626969285011640692009-08-28T13:14:14.553-07:002009-08-28T13:14:14.553-07:00Tony:
I thought of Point Blank, too. Boorman'...Tony:<br /><br />I thought of <i>Point Blank</i>, too. Boorman's film using editing brilliantly to show characters putting the pieces together. There's that great scene where Carrol O' Conner knows who is in his office before he even turns around and sees that it's Lee Marvin's character. <br /><br />I also like what you say about the cut-up technique, also. I'm aware of it...but lazily didn't mention it in my post about Soderbergh's film. Thanks for pointing that out. <br /><br />I think the reason I mention the French New Wave is because a lot of what Soderbergh does stylistically is very much indebted to the French New Wave. He talks about that a lot on the commentary track for <i>Out of Sight</i>...which is obviously inspired by Truffaut with its brief freeze frames. <br /><br />I do want to see <i>The Limits of Control</i>...but it hasn't even reached Portland yet. I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and for commenting with those great links. I've read your piece at The House and I love what you say about the "affinity" that <i>The Limey</i> and <i>Point Blank</i> share...especially since they are, as you so aptly state, both films about "one named protagonists, their stories viewed though the prism of the minds eye."<br /><br />Great stuff. Thanks again for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-45587681509756138422009-08-28T12:38:17.733-07:002009-08-28T12:38:17.733-07:00"...the interesting editing technique (obviou..."...the interesting editing technique (obviously influenced by one of Soderbergh’s favorite movements The French New Wave)..."<br /><br />Though I think it may tangentially owe the French New Wave some credit, in truth, I think there are some more direct influences. One would be Boorman's <i>Point Blank</i>, and the other would be the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut-up_technique" rel="nofollow">cut-up technique</a> by way of Nicolas Roeg's films.<br /><br />Specifically speaking of <i>Point Blank</i> there seems to be a sort of lineage that even Soderbergh acknowledges through denial in his commentary for <i>The Limey</i>. I recently spoke of it in a <a href="http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2009/06/solitary-man-lineage-of-loners-from.html" rel="nofollow">post</a> for The House Next Door that tracks that lineage all the way up to Jarmusch's <i>The Limits of Control</i>, an odd movie I think you'd like.<br /><br />PS: I think many of us are in agreement here that <i>Kafka</i>, and <i>Out of Sight</i>, are also among Soderbergh's best films, along with <i>The Limey</i>.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-75061540638745549232009-08-28T10:44:06.543-07:002009-08-28T10:44:06.543-07:00Ha! Alienate those Roberts fans, I say! Haha. Y...Ha! Alienate those Roberts fans, I say! Haha. You're right about <i>King of the Hill</i>. I only refer to it as a "lesser" film in terms of audience reception. I love it. <i>Out of Sight</i> remains my favorite Soderbergh closely followed by <i>Traffic</i> and <i>The Limey</i>. Thanks for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-77950569233659608522009-08-28T10:23:36.387-07:002009-08-28T10:23:36.387-07:00My favorite Soderbergh film of them all is also ge...My favorite Soderbergh film of them all is also generally regarded as a "lesser" film - KING OF THE HILL, about two kids set in the Depression era. But it's fair to say that THE LIMEY would be next up. Fine, comprehensive consideration of teh film. It's fair to say that Terrence Stamp delivered the most towering performance in any Soderbergh film, at the risk of alienating the Julia Roberts fans. Ha!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-89063911176468813822009-08-27T19:54:36.543-07:002009-08-27T19:54:36.543-07:00PIPER:
Thanks for stopping by! What a great stor...PIPER:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by! What a great story! I agree with you that revenge pictures are extremely entertaining, and Soderbergh (like Tarantino) understands that you don't need a lot of unnecessary plot development in these kinds of films. Just show us what we know we're supposed to be seeing. And I love the way Soderbergh shows me his take on the revenge picture. <br /><br />You should see <i>Kafka</i>...oddly enough the other Soderbergh film penned by Dobbs...it's a good film. Flawed, but good.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-23953520394149065902009-08-27T18:56:41.402-07:002009-08-27T18:56:41.402-07:00Oh, and I've got to see Kafka and Schizopolis....Oh, and I've got to see Kafka and Schizopolis. I've been leery, but everyone seems to say that they're both interesting to watch.PIPERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13054305230216613759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-91712435920387703762009-08-27T18:53:14.857-07:002009-08-27T18:53:14.857-07:00I worked with the DP of this, Ed Lachman. One of t...I worked with the DP of this, Ed Lachman. One of the nicest guys I've worked with. Every day, he came to the set dressed in a white t-shirt with usually a black leather vest and a panama type hat. <br /><br />After we worked with him, we were cutting our work and just coincidentally, the editor decided to edit it much like The Limey. I had not seen the film at the time, but immediately had to since my commercials were cut like it and I had worked with the DP. <br /><br />About 1/2 way through when they're on the TV set, the camera pans the TV crew and while I was watching it, I wondered if Ed might be in the shot. And there he was, dressed in his usual garb. <br /><br />Anyway, it's a fantastic film. And you hit it on the head that on the surface, it's not much. But because all of the elements work so well, the film works as a whole. <br /><br />I am no fan of Peter Fonda, but he was masterfully cast in this film. And it's brilliant storytelling that we get to experience the generation gap between Fonda and his young girlfriend. Fonda's description of the 60s is excellent. <br /><br />But mostly I love this film because plain and simple, it's a revenge film. And I do love them so.PIPERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13054305230216613759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-9833856930750788492009-08-27T13:33:12.690-07:002009-08-27T13:33:12.690-07:00I agree. Kafka is one of his most interesting fil...I agree. <i>Kafka</i> is one of his most interesting films. I really don't think it's bad at all. When I was discussing his "failures" I was strictly speaking in terms of what the populace thinks of his films. In fact most people probably won't have any idea as the plunk down ten bucks to see <i>The Informant</i> that it was directed by the guy who made <i>Kafka</i>, <i>The Limey</i>, or even more recent experiments like <i>Che</i> and <i>The Girlfriend Experience</i>. I love that Soderbergh is one of few directors who can please both cinephiles and the casual moviegoer.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-31856574730476923312009-08-27T13:28:06.251-07:002009-08-27T13:28:06.251-07:00Kevin J. Olson:
As for Soderbergh's lesser fi...Kevin J. Olson:<br /><br />As for Soderbergh's lesser films, I really dig KAFKA which seems to get little to no love, even from the Soderbergh faithful but visually it is a gorgeous film to behold. I've heard rumblings in various interviews the director that he is re-editing the film for a release on DVD. Man, if there were ever one for the folks at Criterion...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-61653638261538021532009-08-27T12:07:02.367-07:002009-08-27T12:07:02.367-07:00Haha! There we go...we have Ed's blessing. H...Haha! There we go...we have Ed's blessing. Hehe.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-19847993824666124782009-08-27T12:05:30.462-07:002009-08-27T12:05:30.462-07:00Hah! Jason and I hardly have a copyright on discus...Hah! Jason and I hardly have a copyright on discussions about film, especially since it wasn't even our idea to begin with, it was Keith Uhlich's. So go for it. Goofing on bad movies? I'm there.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-6209917276927832902009-08-27T11:47:20.021-07:002009-08-27T11:47:20.021-07:00Haha. Yes...that might be a good idea. Or we cou...Haha. Yes...that might be a good idea. Or we could just post something on Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2. Hehe.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-81876127812404945502009-08-27T11:46:01.099-07:002009-08-27T11:46:01.099-07:00Ahhh, a discussion on the films of Bill Duke -- fi...Ahhh, a discussion on the films of Bill Duke -- finally an excuse to unleash my treatise on race relationships and gender roles as experienced through <i>Sister Act 2</i>.<br /><br />I feel like we need to ask Ed permission for the new blog, since we are essentially taking he and Jason Bellamy's "discussions" concept and using it to lessen the discourse by goofing on bad movies.Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-3614774514914833842009-08-27T11:27:30.992-07:002009-08-27T11:27:30.992-07:00Troy:
You and Ed both bring up the meta touches -...Troy:<br /><br />You and Ed both bring up the meta touches -- which is something I allude to without using the word meta -- and I feel silly for not pointing that out more. But yes...that is one of the elements that Soderbergh employs that really freshens up Dobbs' script. <br /><br />And how could I not mention Bill Duke? I think we may have a blog post for our new blog? Hehe.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-43778069046617277522009-08-27T11:25:08.521-07:002009-08-27T11:25:08.521-07:00Ed:
Thanks! I think I am leaning more and more t...Ed:<br /><br />Thanks! I think I am leaning more and more towards the screencaps doing a lot of the talking for me, hehe. It's just so much fun to go through some of these scenes a shot at a time and grab the images.<br /><br />I'm glad you liked this write-up...I haven't seen the Denis movie you speak of. I will add it to the Netflix queue, though. Thanks for the DVD idea! Hehe. That's why I love doing this.<br /><br />Thanks again for the kind words. Like I told J.D., I'm still trying to get settled in and I haven't had a lot of time to read my favorite blogs (at least not all of them yet...I have a lot of catching up to do) but I plan on heading over to your place soon and catching up on a lot of French films I'm sure I haven't seen :)Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-43261693412884306852009-08-27T11:17:12.027-07:002009-08-27T11:17:12.027-07:00J.D.:
I'm glad you like bill Duke as much as ...J.D.:<br /><br />I'm glad you like bill Duke as much as my brother and I do! Hehe. He is awesome. And I agree with you about <i>Deep Cover</i>.<br /><br />I agree too with the fact that Soderbergh's failures are fun to watch. I remember thinking that as I was writing the list of experimental films in this review. <i>Kafka</i>, <i>Full Frontal</i>, <i>The Underneath</i> all are at least interesting aren't they? Only a handful of directors can make interesting failures and Soderbergh is one of them.<br /><br />And yes, I have listened to the audio commentary. Dobbs comes off sounding like a tool. It's a funny thing to listen to, though.<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words, J.D. I always enjoy hearing from ya. I'm still trying to get caught up with everyone's blogs...so I'll be over to yours soon.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-5460776937846351432009-08-27T10:36:57.546-07:002009-08-27T10:36:57.546-07:00Great writeup Kevin.
I think The Limey is Soder...Great writeup Kevin. <br /><br />I think <i>The Limey</i> is Soderbergh's best film (or at the very least, my favorite). It's not until you just pointed it out that I realized how perfectly he used the known archetypes of Stamp and Fonda to get around having to take the time to flesh out their characters. That, along with the use of old footage are both very fun meta touches for film lovers.<br /><br />As your screencaps show, Soderbergh has a great eye for the look of a scene -- his use of lighting and digital camerawork are great throughout the film.<br /><br />Also wanted to agree with you on A) The greatness of the scene on the patio and B) the greatness of Bill Duke.Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-89347901437307277342009-08-27T08:05:20.289-07:002009-08-27T08:05:20.289-07:00Great writeup and great screencaps. It's been ...Great writeup and great screencaps. It's been ages since I've seen this film but I remember it being as good as you say. I should definitely revisit it. I especially like the interpolation of footage from old Stamp films; I love that meta connection to the cinematic past, very similar to what Claire Denis would do with Michel Subor in <i>L'intrus</i>.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-71197778044579220252009-08-27T06:50:54.610-07:002009-08-27T06:50:54.610-07:00Nice shout out to Bill Duke! I love that guy. He a...Nice shout out to Bill Duke! I love that guy. He always turns in interesting performances in the film's he pops up in and I really love one of his directorial efforts, DEEP COVER, which is an underrated crime film.<br /><br />This is a fantastic post on one of my fave Soderbergh films. I really can't expand on all the excellent observations and analysis since you did such a good job! Soderbergh is one of my fave filmmakers and I find that even his failures are interesting to watch.<br /><br />Have you ever taken a listen to the audio commentary on the DVD? It a surprisingly argumentative track with screenwriter Lem Dobbs and Soderbergh. Dobbs grumbles about all the changes that Soderbergh made to his script. It's quite funny and a fascinating listen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-5410814718812750992009-08-26T21:10:23.018-07:002009-08-26T21:10:23.018-07:00Krauthammer:
Thanks! I hope you watch it soon. ...Krauthammer:<br /><br />Thanks! I hope you watch it soon. It's one of my favorite Soderbergh movies.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-33591884067340448502009-08-26T18:36:56.918-07:002009-08-26T18:36:56.918-07:00I haven't seen this before but your descriptio...I haven't seen this before but your description (and those screengrabs) are making my mouth water.Krauthammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14426806666095796310noreply@blogger.com