The cinema thread

[mass]

bergman also had a lot to say on welles, apparently. and welles disliked both bergman and antonioni.

I know that directors find serious and sensitive audiences for films where people sit around peeling potatoes in the peasant houses – but I can't read that kind of novel either.

hoho

[MASUGNEN]

bergman also had a lot to say on welles, apparently.

Bergman: For me he's just a hoax. It's empty. It's not interesting. It's dead. Citizen Kane, which I have a copy of – is all the critics' darling, always at the top of every poll taken, but I think it's a total bore. Above all, the performances are worthless. The amount of respect that movie's got is absolutely unbelievable.
Interviewer: How about The Magnificent Ambersons?
Bergman: Nah. Also terribly boring. And I've never liked Welles as an actor, because he's not really an actor. In Hollywood you have two categories, you talk about actors and personalities. Welles was an enormous personality, but when he plays Othello, everything goes down the drain, you see, that's when he's croaks. In my eyes he's an infinitely overrated filmmaker.
Masugnen: Othello is bad. Citizen Kane is also boring but perhaps worthy of reevaluation; possibly I watched in a too early stage of my film interest. What interests me is Kristian Petri's documentary of Welles's well tomb: Brunnen (2005). Then seen Lady from Shanghai is a marvellous movie. The ending multi-mirror scene is genius.

[MASUGNEN]

In the series of contemporary French cinema I will add yesterday's effort by Maurice Pialat: L'enfance nue (1968). It was also an effort to watch it. Pialat is a bit of a drag. Previously, I've seen Loulou (1980) with similar feelings. In that film, I had severe problems with Depardieu's character. Pialat's importance for later French movie makers is regarded as underestimated. Perhaps true. Just a slight impression: the ignorant playboy Thomas Seyr in De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté (2005) reminds me of Loulou. It's not a good influence. Pialat should however be recognized for his discovery and regular use of Sandrine Bonnaire.

[mass]

oh and the other side of the wind may still come out, although i won't get my hopes up. there is also another clip of a sex scene in a car with kodar.

[Fuuma]

Good to hear Visconti speak about Antonioni and Bergman!

I'm not at all familiar with this Nuri Bilge Ceylan and overall not of Turkish cinema (with the exception of co-German Fatih Akin). Nice to hear him have his intelligent fans! The Antonionian connection interests me.

You know, by the way, Bergman hated Antonioni...

I've only seen the one about the two brothers or cousins and, aside from a few excellent touches, was bored to death and its not like I dislike unconventional narratives or mood pieces. This was yrs ago when it was doing the international film circuit so I might give his newer works a go.

[Fuuma]

In the series of contemporary French cinema I will add yesterday's effort by Maurice Pialat: L'enfance nue (1968). It was also an effort to watch it. Pialat is a bit of a drag. Previously, I've seen Loulou (1980) with similar feelings. In that film, I had severe problems with Depardieu's character. Pialat's importance for later French movie makers is regarded as underestimated. Perhaps true. Just a slight impression: the ignorant playboy Thomas Seyr in De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté (2005) reminds me of Loulou. It's not a good influence. Pialat should however be recognized for his discovery and regular use of Sandrine Bonnaire.

I think Pialat is infinitely better than any of the new crop mentioned in this thread earlier...just sayin'

[polishmike]

Few years ago I got invited to see Sous le soleil Satan by a girl who said it was her favorite movie. I only read about the movie, and since anyone who says that it's their favorite clearly has to be deranged, I of course went. Total fucking bore. Movie was so slow, that if I would fall asleep I'm sure it would stop my heart. (the girl was also a fraud, nothing crazy about her).

How did it win the Palme d'Or? I heard there was some controversy and Pialat got pissed off. Anyone remembers that?

[Fuuma]

Few years ago I got invited to see Sous le soleil Satan by a girl who said it was her favorite movie. I only read about the movie, and since anyone who says that it's their favorite clearly has to be deranged, I of course went. Total fucking bore. Movie was so slow, that if I would fall asleep I'm sure it would stop my heart. (the girl was also a fraud, nothing crazy about her).

How did it win the Palme d'Or? I heard there was some controversy and Pialat got pissed off. Anyone remembers that?

Press people booed him when he went to get his prize and he basically told them to fuckoff (more politely). It's def. not one of his great films and more miss than hit. Bernanos is a great writer though...

Getting booed in Cannes isn't that rare though, I mean Antonioni also had to go through that for L'Avventura.

[MASUGNEN]

Why was he booed (besides justice)? I haven't seen the film, but reading a brief IMDb review I don't find it quite that spectacular. Or was the manifold sex disturbing in '89?

The IMDb reviewer:

Someone makes a point about Bonnaire being no "attractive" lass and here i have to agree ( she's not "ugly", yet not attractive as well). The point, however, is that (see the other Pialat's movie "à nos amours" where Bonnaire stars again ) that proves the director's dedication to portraying "real" people within reasonable circumstances, without Hollywood gimmicks and porn stars wanna-be's eager to show some skin ( i always think: skin is OK, but then got for true porn).

[MASUGNEN]

Cf. Artur Lundkvist's and Nils Beyer's critique of Lena Nyman in I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967). They found her body »unintelligent« and granted Börje Ahlstedt someone nicer to fuck.

[polishmike]

I think there were protests against the movie, so I guess sex was disturbing. I read that he showed them some gesture. I would love to know what it was.

[MASUGNEN]

I thought Blue Velvet (1986) was the last fight for sex protectionists...

[polishmike]

I thought Blue Velvet (1986) was the last fight for sex protectionists...

sex+priest+france in late 80s... you get the point

[Fuuma]

Pialat told the journalists "You don't like me but I don't like you either." while showing them his fist. Keep in mind "wings of desire" was the favourite and not "under the sun of Satan". I like Pialat more than Wenders but yeah, this particular movie of his just isn't as good as Wings.

http://mauvaise-reputation.blogspot.com/2007/08/le-poing-leve-de-maurice-pialat-cannes.html

For a pic of him lifting his fist. It was probably a victory gesture but along the way he might have made a semi "fuck you" one (bras d'honneur). Dude could be a fucking pain in the ass, he often fought with people working on his films although he also created some close relationship with many prized collaborators.

[polishmike]

I just looked at the list and both, Wings of Desire and Dark Eyes are better films. But it looked like it was a slow year and we all know how Cannes jury likes to surprise.