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TIFF! Daniel Kurland Weighs In On The New Ones From Woody Allen and Brian De Palma!
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I love it. It’s like the late ‘70s, early ‘80s all over again as some of these reports come in from the various fests right now. Hearing people talk excitedly about new films from Francis Ford Coppola or Woody Allen or Brian De Palma gives me a warm feeling as fans of their filmographies.
I’m looking forward to checking both of these films out very soon... in fact, I think I’m seeing REDACTED next week... but for now, check out these reviews:
Hello, again. I was very fortunate today to check out two fantastic films at Toronto by two incredibly influential directors: Woody Allen's "Cassandra's Dream" and Brian De Palma's "Redacted".
Cassandra's Dream makes for a very nice companion piece to "Match Point" and it carries a lot of the same themes that were present there, such as luck, family, and risks. The film is about two brothers (Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell) who, to solve their financial problems, decide to kill a man for their uncle, who would put him in jail otherwise. That's a very basic setup for the film, but there's a lot more going on. I thought the acting was just great by McGregor, and surprisingly, Farrell (who I have never really cared for) even manages to outshine him. Farrell does a terrific job dealing with stress and depression, and the plummets someone can take, whereas McGregor's character continually rationaizes. These are very real characters. Tom Wilkinson also has a moderate role as the uncle of the two, where he also does a very nice job. What's particuarly engaging about this movie is that you really don't know where it's headed, and the pace of the film really captures how the characters in the movie are lost and confused themselves. I didn't feel the film dragged at all, and I was genuinely drawn in to what these two brothers needed to do, regardless of what they were comfortable with. There's a wonderful scene with McGregor, Farrell, and Wilkinson's characters under an umbrella tree in the rain that is a good example of some of the winning cinematography also present in Allen's piece. There are some moments of comedy peppered throughout the movie (particularly a toast "To Life"), but the audience was laughing at a lot of stuff which wasn't funny, which is never a good sign. However, when I saw "Match Point" the same thing happened, and I still feel that was a powerful movie. Overall, while I had no real problems with the movie, I felt it was a little lacking when compared to "Match Point" just because "Match Point" had a much more powerful ending, and a nice "twist" to it. Regardless though, this is a very effective suspense movie, with wonderful performances all around.
Afterwards, I saw Brian De Palma's "Redacted" which I feel was the most powerful movie I've seen at the film festival so far. For starters, I am a huge De Palma fan, but this really doesn't feel or look like a De Palma movie. The film is about a bunch of US soldiers in the Iraqi war, and their story is told through various forms of media (one of the character's video camera, internet videos, security tapes, news reports). This was obviously a huge task to undertake to not only be creative with these forms of media, but also make all of them seem authentic (the film, while based on a true event, the rape and murder of a 15 year old in Samarrah, the film is entirely scripted, and all crafted by De Palma). The cast, which is basically rounded out by "nobodies" all do a great job at creating three-dimensional characters, and managing to be restrained through it all. There's some viciously brutal stuff in this movie, and it's nice to see De Palma not shy away from any of it. There's an image at the end of the movie of an actual murder that creates one of the most disturbing and meaningful endings I've seen to a movie in a while. While I am a De Palma apologist, I really am not a fan of war movies at all (the exceptions being "Apocalypse, Now", "Three Kings", and "Full Metal Jacket"), but I absolutely loved this and felt that it's probably De Palma's most important film.
My one complaint is that obviously, with the filming style employed here, De Palma can not utilize his usual visual styles of split screen, split diopter lenses, long tracking shots, etc., but you can still tell that everything is very meticulously placed and blocked out. The film is very anti-Iraq war, so if you don't share this opinion, or feel strongly about the opposition, this may not be the film for you. However, it's clear that De Palma is not stating that ALL soldiers are like the characters in the movie, but that many are. De Palma and the cast were present at the screening and he revealed that the film will get a US release, which is very good news, and that the entire thing was also just shot for 5 million dollars in 14 days. I have no idea when this film will be coming out, but please give it a shot when it does, as I really think this is not only a creatively told story, but one that should be seen by many, and enlighten the uninformed.
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because it got super uncomfortable by the end. No one could believe the audacity of the main character. That's what made it so wonderful.
I haven't like a De Palma film in 10 years I think. Hope this one is as good as people are saying. Maybe it was the tight budget and shooting schedule that pushed to up his game? Not to mention the subject matter. -
Because they've all sucked for about 20 years now.
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I was at the screening. The film is powerful and horrific.
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Time and again, I've found that people laugh at moments in films that they are deeply uncomfortable with, or deeply disturbed by. It's sort of like an instinctual reaction to disgust, or terror, or even, though rarely will people admit it, as a sudden, nearly unconscious reaction to a recognition of the dark aspect of a character onscreen that they share.
No doubt, many times unintentional audience laughter during a movie happens because the film is literally laughably bad. Surely, this is the case most of the time.
But you can tell when someone is laughing because they are being shocked--it has a slightly desperate edge, usually followed by self-conscious titters from a few other patrons nearby. -
At least, that's what EW said. On the other hand, people automatically think all Woody Allen's movies are supposed to be comedies. But he ran out of material 15 years ago. These days, how do you know when it's an Allen movie that's SUPPOSED to be a comedy? Nobody laughs. (Loved MATCH POINT, btw.)
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His statements in interviews regarding this film make him sound like a bigot. He's anti-Iraq war? Fine. Okay. Some of his opinions about soldiers, however, are pretty ignorant and he speaks in general terms to describe all soldiers.
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for Redacted, and I guess those interviews dissuaded people towards the film. I can only speak for myself, but I thought it was great, and it's best to just go in with an open mind, and not let his agenda or anything else influence you. I mean, it's not like he made up what happened, it's a true stoy. And it's not like you can say that the rape and murder of a 15 year old ISN'T a complete horror. Also, he didn't HAVE to shoot in 15 days with 5 million dollars; he wasn't held to that, that's just how fast, and inexpensively he did it, due to the camera setups necessary for the film.
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If EW said Redacted is awful, then they are fools. The most disturbing and powerful movie I have seen in years and I hope to god the academy has the balls to nominate it.
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Censored, basically. You know when letters come back home from the army, and stuff is repeatedly blacked out? That's redacted. You see the theme carried out in the movie, by how much of what the soldiers do is tried to be hidden, etc. Mastidon, I'd also love to see this film get nominations. It's obviously going to divide people, but the sheer brutality and focus of it makes it powerful as hell, and deserving of attention.
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I have a quote in my review from de Palma on it - http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33866
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Great review BTW! Glad you felt the same way about it as I did. COuld not imagine it being one minute longer without pushing the story over the top. 90 minutes I think is all anybody could take. Now if only the mainstream press realize this is a must see movie, people may actually go see it.
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match point because it was awful. who didn't laugh when woody allen tried to do a sexy scene with the two leads pouring hot oil over eachother, it looked so posed and stunted it was terrible, everybody in my theatre laughed. just a cheap copy of Crimes and Misdemeanors, if you have never seen it check it out, you'll be astonished at how the mighty have fallen. i love woody but he has no more left and is just rehashing his old stuff with some cheesy tricks and lame twists. seems like he just needs the cash and his heart isn't really into it.
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I felt weird admitting that ?? Strange.
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As a soldier who has been to Iraq 3 times I can't wait to see "Redacted". I miss all the killing and baby eating that De Palma knows we're all so fond of. MMMmmmmmm... babies.... Why, when I was over there I must have had a 2-3 baby a day habit. Know what's better than eatin' a baby? Rapin'. De Palma's right. That's why "many" of us joined.
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I'm glad De Palma's telling this story because it is so important to realize the dehumanizing capacity of war, but to believe most soldiers or even "many" are really like those portrayed is ignorant. I have been in the military for 19 years now as both an enlisted paratrooper and now as an officer and physician. To believe that these actions are representative of even 0.1% of American Servicemen and Women is a travesty. Make the film and let us debate it. That's what free speech is all about. Comments about soldiers that reflect personal beliefs which are patently untrue should be kept to oneself. The sad thing is that now his film will be viewed in the context of his comments rather than the true merit of this work and that's a shame. Let the art stand on its own for the viewer to decide.
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I skimmed alot of the Cassandra's Dream part because I don't want to know too much but I'm glad to see people are liking it, even if they're comparing it to Match Point which I wasn't that fond of. And with Redacted the idea that it doesn't look like a De Palma movie kinda bums me out because that's what I love about De Palma's movies. But I'll make sure to see both of them. I'd love it if they got released wide but somehow I have the feeling I'm going to be making lots of long trips to the movies in the coming months.
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I just read one article here: http://tinyurl.com/2zmzq8 that seemed okay. What has everyone up in arms? Because I was confused seeing Eli Roth talking about Redacted on Fox News where he had to take a position defending De Palma. I didn't know there was an issue. I guess I missed something.
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Sounds like a modern update of Casualties Of War ( one of his best also , I believe), but with multi-media, instead of the usual DePalma gloss. And I thought I heard this may be same-day date release like Bubble.
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To answer Cherry's question: DePalma has been making comments along the lines of American soldiers basically being bad. He believes that most American Servicepersons handle themselves like the characters in "Casualties of War" and "Redacted". This couldn't be further from the truth. When Abu Ghraib and the events depicted in "Redacted" occurred, every single soldier I served with wanted the death penalty for all involved in both incidents because we knew what would be the fallout. We also knew that it would make our jobs harder wherever we go. The vast majority strive to live up to the credo of being "ambassadors in green". We are the "good guys" and act accordingly. DePalma has made statements to the contrary. He believes that men and women join the American military to go to foreign countries so they may behave in an evil and lawless fashion.
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I can't imagine that he'd say that about everyone. But there have to be at least a few bloodthirsty bastards who sign up to do their worst. I'm not trying to make excuses for him. I just don't think anyone would make a blanket statement like that. But if he did, it's not right.
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...and I love Woody's best, which includes "Crimes and Misdemeanors" which is everything Match Point isn't, except for sharing the powerful guy kills mistress and gets away with it plot. The big twist is nothing but a giant mislead. The murders are a poor variation on Crime and Punishment's murders. And the plot positively hinges on the notion that forensic science is no better in modern day London than it was in 19th century Russia. Apparently not only don't they know how to trace DNA the cops don't even bother to talk with Johansen's co-worker, and coroners can't even figure out when a dead girl was pregnant. Lazy, lazy writing that was applauded by woody apologists the world over.
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Match Point was pathetic tripe. It was as if the Woodman swallowed Shyamalan and jerked them both off at the same time. Just plain bad. His best? Deconstructing Harry. I've seen them all, many repeatedly, but "Harry" was the absolute apex of his ingrown spiritual violence. Perfect.
Oh, and I agree with just about everything Happy Killmore said. I'm from a military family, and while I chose not to serve, I've got a brother and a brother-in-law who served in Afganistan and Iraq. The only thing I would say is that while "many" soldiers think of themselves as "ambassadors in green", I think it might be overkill to say that most do. Many enlisted guys, anyway, join up to make some sort of a living or to get away from an unsatisfactory neighborhood or family situation. They're certainly not baby-eaters or baby-rapers, but most of them are just normal guys, with flaws and strenghts, in chaos. -
And there are definately a few absolute assholes and one or two sociopaths who sign up, too. But to focus on them as a way to understand the whole, if this is what DePalma intended, is vile. I think, though, that he's probably shining a light at the beaurocratic processes in which truth is withheld or even eliminated from record because it would turn public opinion against those in power. That sort of behavior is even more vile, and more unAmerican.
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I know LOTS of guys who are active right now and who are about to head back. They are not what anyone with half a brain would call an asshole who wants to kill and rape women. This is not what Redacted is about. Redacted is about telling the full story of what is going on in Iraq as opposed to the censored version you read about and watch on TV.
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all his new stuff is pretentious crap. Badly directed and badly acted. I heard one of the production crew talking about Allen on directing one of his movies. Apparently the guy just falls asleep and he has to be woken. Says it all really!
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The dude is a living legend and Match Point was his comeback film. And yes, it was some of the same themes of C&M's. I've seen the majority of his films and know he can be hit or miss. Lord knows he had a streak of dimsal films after Celebrity. But Match Point wasn't one of them. He got three great performances out of the leads. Scarlet, Jonathan and Emily, who I thought was one hot piece of ass! Just sexy as hell to me.
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In my humble opinion is a terrible film. If you think he got great work out of the actors you're not actually watching. It has some of the worst dialogue, story and especially the acting. I absolutely detest that movie. By the way, the movie I was talking about when I said he fell asleep whilst directing is that one.
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