Cool News
Claire Standish ponders Steven Soderbergh's TRAFFIC
Hey folks, Harry here... Last night here in Austin Steven Soderbergh had his first test screening of TRAFFIC... a film that really... well, for now I'll let Claire Standish, long time spy here at AICN... and a new spy named The Straight Man. I wrote a 2200 word review last night, but... it sucked, I was trying to say too much and somewhere in there the review was lost... so I'll begin again. For now, here's Claire and Mr Man...
Hello to everyone out there surfing Harry-land, Claire Standish here. I
know I have been silent for a while, but I personally feel that my selection
of movies this summer has been a steaming pile (some exceptions of course)
and nothing has tempted me to open my big mouth until now....
I have had the pleasure of weaseling my way into the first test
screening of Steven Soderbergh's new movie TRAFFIC. I enjoyed this film, no I
loved this film. Reason number one: Benicio Benicio Benicio. Benicio
Del Toro owns this film. His performance was outstanding. It makes FEAR AND
LOATHING look like a trial run for him. He is just so cool, calm and
captures this magnificent presence on screen. I overheard someone after the
show saying he is like a Spanish Brad Pitt (we all had to snicker under our
breath a bit). But the really funny thing is he is sooooo much better. In
TRAFFIC we basically follow four different but interrelated stories about
the drug traffic between the US and Mexico. Benicio plays the part of
Javier, a Mexican police officer who gets involved trying to breakdown the
Tijuana drug cartel. He nails it so effortlessly you forget he is acting at
all, as if all of it is really going on and the audience is the fool.
And that is another thing I liked about this film. It didn't preach or
talk down to its audience. So many films today dance around big issues.
They like to condense teen sex, and drug use into a nice little sugar coated
pill parents can swallow. Not this movie. Soderbergh slaps it on our plate
and says "digest". And I say thank you. Parents need to see this. They need
to know what kids are subjected to, and it is not just the weed/beer
"harmless fun" out there anymore. Kids have access to hard drugs, that is
the reality of it. I wish my parents had seen this when I was a teen, and
maybe they would have known what I was around. I know these parents. They
think only kids on the streets are doing crack, cocaine and heroin. Nope.
"Good" kids who have money are bored, ready and willing. The more dangerous,
the better. I had a frat boy once ask me if I wanted to smoke some crack
because it was "fun". Get real people.
Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'll climb down from my soapbox now. It is just
this film got me worked up, and that is very very good. Soderburg has balls
and I salute him. The actress who played Michael Douglas's daughter (she is
new, I have never seen her before) was perfect. Her and Topher Grace (That
70's Show) did a great job portraying the good teens gone bad, and I pray
none of their scenes get cut. I look forward to seeing more of the two of
them in the future. Michael Douglas gave his usual A performance as well.
The parent in denial. He shows his true colors here I think. He has some
really good moments with his daughter. Pretty moving stuff. He is the
father, loyal countryman, man of integrity, the backbone of the story.
Ahhh Don Cheadle, I love this guy. What an actor. He plays an
undercover cop who gets high on taking down people involved in drug crimes.
I won't spoil anything, but I love it when this guy tells people off. You
just want to give him a high five.
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays the obviously pregnant wife of a drug
smuggler. Her little wine, cheese and garden party life gets turned upside
down when her husband is taken down. I love her excuse for everything
throughout the movie: "...but I'm three months pregnant!!". Ha Ha, I love
it. She does a swell job too, although she pretty much plays herself.
Dennis Quaid plays Zeta's husband's lawyer. He is pure slime. He is
good at playing pure slime. In the end the story is at it's rightful place.
No holes, rather impressive. I overheard another dude (I was eavesdropping a
lot) say that this movie reminded him of a movie from the 70's, the straight
story - no bullshit. He was right, and I would have claimed the insight for
myself, but I'm just not that kind of girl.
There were some slow spots, especially in the beginning the film felt
particularly rough. I was a bit worried at first, but was reassured as the
film quickly began to pull me in. The most important thing was this was a
good story + good acting/cast + good filmmaking = good movie. I enjoyed the
score, I wasn't blown away, but it did add something instead of taking away
anything from the film. My two main problems, and most everyone agreed, were
with two scenes. One there was a small insignificant scene with Selma Heyek
that seemed to confuse people. I my opinion it should be flushed. Another
one was when Robert (Douglas) addresses the American people. It almost gets
too cheesy- Hollywood. It should go or be amended as well. It goes against
the idea and grain of the film.
I definitely recommend this film to all of you in cyberspace out there.
Soderbergh fans don't fret, this is a good one. To all you aint-it-cooler
critics out there who will say I sold out, raving too much about the movie,
can it. I am honest and I write what I feel. By the way, the post-movie
session with the spies was very positive, a thumbs up around the table. I am
just sorry you guys have to wait until winter to see it, but it will be
worth it, trust me.
Arrivederci,
Claire S.
Next up is the Straight Man... someone that hasn't reviewed here before, but who expresses his take and opinion thoroughly... I disagree with his final take, but agree on many points of praise here... but you'll see in my review... which I'm not quite happy with yet. Here ya go...
Harry,
hey, LONG time reader, first time spy. Just got back from the Austin test
screening of Soderbergh's latest, Traffic. My brother said you were there
but I didn't see you. Anyhow, here's my take, hope it gets to you in time
and if you do use it, please include the last part. It's why I wrote the
review.
Alright, I lucked into passes to the test screening and I guess I am exactly
who they want to keep out. I debated though whether I would write a review
but since the test screening process is a joke anyway and I felt like I
would expect the same from, I decided to.
I will talk a little about the story but I HATE spoilers so I will only
touch on only what I feel is important to the review. Let me start by saying
I am a Soderbergh fan and have been since the Underneath. This will affect
my review but not how you think. He was there tonite but I didn't say
anything since I wasn't sure if I could kicked out for that. They clearly
wanted John Q. Average moviegoer. I ain't. Who is that reads this site?
Traffic is a multi-character story about drug distribution in the U.S. and
Mexico. The stories are as follows:
1. Micheal Douglas is the newly appointed U.S. drug czar who discovers his
daughter is in the midst of a nasty drug habit.
2. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a rich trophy wife left to fend for herself when
her husband is arrested for being the U.S. distributor for a massive Mexican
drug cartel.
3. Benecio del Toro is a Mexican state policeman sucked into the morally
muddy world of a powerful Mexican general intent on decimating one of the
cartels.
4. Don Cheadle and Luiz Guzman (together again!) are DEA agents trying to
bring down Zeta-Jones's husband.
Those are the main plot threads with several other characters weaving in and
out and branching off into smaller subplots. All these plots and their
various subplots affect each other in some way whether directly or
indirectly, none is completely independent of the other, even if the players
themselves do not always meet.
Now, the good stuff. What's usually right with Soderbergh's stuff is all
there. The stunning direction is in full force. Almost the entire movie is
in the washed out tones and handheld camera on display in the Limey and Erin
Brockivich. All his usual stylish storytelling is here too: jump cuts,
playing with time, offbeat and exciting sequences. Of course, the trademark
sly, subtle humor is there as is the pathos he can find in any story.
And lest I forget, his penchant for creative casting is on parade here,
especially with so many roles to fill. Who else would put Miguel Ferrer,
James Brolin, Dennis Quaid, and Amy Irving in the same movie? And as is also
typical of his work, the performances are almost universally stellar.
Everybody does a bang up job. Del Toro is particularly good in a part mostly
done in Spanish. Cheadle and Guzman stand out for their director once again.
And watch Mr. Teflon himself, Micheal Douglas show some geniune fear outside
a crack house.
So okay, looked great, seemed great but...the bad. The stories themselves
just lacked. It was a film that had great scenes and moments but overall
failed to gel. The sum never became greater then the whole. Why? I think
it's because these aren't new takes on the drug movie. You've seen them
before: the dad searching for his runaway rich bitch daughter (who I never
really felt for), the cops up against red tape and corruption, the star
witness for the prosecution signing his own death warrant as he rots away in
a shitty motel. And there's more. I mean another scene of teenagers doing
drugs or the cop's partner in grave danger.
Truthfully after reading so much about this grand script I didn't think it
was anything that Steven Bochco or David Kelley hasn't done before. And all
the flashy direction, big stars, and even the great moments can't really
disguise that it isn't very fresh or even really complex morally. I
struggled to connect with the movie. I was surprised to find myself detached
from a Soderbergh film and at times I was involved but overall, I just
really didn't care that much, especially about the daughter (aside from one
gut wrenching scene with her but mostly it wasn't like that).
And two more things. The opening scenes were dull. Hopefully this will
change after this screening, but I felt that set the tone for the rest of
the film. And this cut was LONG. And it had LULLS. I never did dig
multi-charcter pictures that much and this film shows why. It's really a
bunch of subplots, some more compelling then the others and when you leave
one you like you get bored and wrapping all of them up take so much TIME. I
never thought I'd complain about seeing a near three hour Soderbergh movie.
Especially since this his 3rd in a year. I should be so lucky. But I wasn't.
Here's my personal part. I wanted to grab Soderbergh and say "What
happened?" Why so much effort for THIS script? I have been nervous since the
spring about Soderbergh. I think his work from Sex, Lies, and Videotape
until The Limey is one of the finest, most consistent bodies of work for an
American director EVER. And I mean all of it. I feel he not only delivered
on the promise of Sex but far exceeded it. I always sought out his movies
because I knew they would be fun, intelligent, funny, you name it. And
always unique and innovative.
But Erin Brockivich while entertaining (as all his works are) lacked the
depth he usually brought to his other work. Now this and then Ocean's 11
which I know we're all excited about but if it's like those two, I...I just
really hope it's not. Has he entered his big Hollywood phase? I don't mean
Hollywood as an insult. I love big movies. I was just hoping that now that
since Hollywood had caught on to what the rest of us knew already we'd see
some great movies. I guess I was wrong. We got Out of sight and The Limey
that was it. Now I am going to have to be cautious with my praise.
I met Soderbergh (and Harry) at the Limey screening in Austin. Soderbergh
(and Harry too, for that matter) really is a nice guy. Funny, non-assuming,
open. It was cool he screened this movie here. But if he keeps making movies
like this then I will stop caring. I saw the Independant Focus where he
discounted his early work. Well, if this is what he was looking to evolve
to, then I have to tell him to look back. Those movies are perfect gems.
These lack the energy and spark there. I'm not nostalgic. And I am not dumb
enough to try to think I can(or will) influence such a smart creative
person. But I just want to say from an old fan that I feel like the guy that
made Schizopolis to find himself is lost again. And I hope he comes back
soon.
Harry, thanks for everything. You do good work. And everbody, I hope you
love Traffic. But I didn't. Maybe they'll find it in the cutting room. And
finally, call me Straight Man.
-
+ Expand All
-
Better than saying first
-
Since this is purportedly such a a political film, it's hard to gauge the quality of these reviews until I know how the movie comes down on the whole failed drug war escapade. I got a definite "drugs-are-bad-m'kay?" vibe from the first reviewer, which leads me to want to disregard her take on the movie. Then again, that could just be a misread on my part. I guess we'll see this winter...
-
Remember that The Limey was MADE in the editing room. If that film was shown chronologically it would have been crap. So let's hope Steve-O uses this screening to his advantage and fixes up some of the small problems it has. Also, I thought this film was not meant to be an anti-drug film, but was supposed to show the problems with America's War on Drugs and why it's not working. How about showing why having a Drug Czar who has no empathy or sympathy for drug addicts is the wrong way to run a system? I hate to bring up Bill Hicks again, but he went off on this subject a lot. If the Drug Czar was a former addict who understands what people go through and want to really help, there would be a little more compassion, and maybe the system would actually work.
-
If those two actors taking point in a film mean it is a big hollywood film than I say why aren't more hollywood films awesome? They KICK ass and are two phenomenal actors...I highly anticipate this film as any story with them and Sods story telling has my attention. Zeta Jones character sounds interesting and while I am not a huge Douglas fan he still turns in great peformances. Dennis Quade always had the aura to me of a hero but having him play a slimey lawyer has really got my attention...he is one guy I think should get more parts he reminds me of the Harrison Ford of a few years back...actually it would have been cool to cast him as the Drug Czar. Either way this sounds like a great cast, concept and story that can actually speak to people in a way that counts on an issue that is very urgent. Its not enough to just say drugs can destroy lives and show the evil cheese drug lord and the bright shiney police. The world and this issue have many gray areas and I think this film has a shot at delving into them.
-
This guy is the man for that movie alone!
-
Brokovich was entertaining but certainly nothing groundbreaking. I agree w/ the second reviewer that multi-character multi-storyline pieces just don't work for the same reason. In Magnolia, I found the Julianne Moore/Tom Cruise/Hoffman story the most interesting-leaving me bored to tears during the game show crap and the loser cop's love life. I expect nothing different here.
-
This script was boring as fuck!
-
Do yourselves all a favor and watch the original. Traffic was an absolutely kick-ass British TV mini-series from some years back and was the best damn thing I've ever seen in telling the story of drugs and how it impacts on families, economics (of 3rd world and Western countries), politics and individuals. It is fantastic. Also it presents the whole drug infrastructure and dare I say culture as a complex issue, not as a simple "drugs are bad" message. If this film comes even remotely close to capturing what this series conveyed, it will be an accomplishment.
-
Damn, script was the worst problem?!? What was all this stuff about "pulling no punches" and "brilliant script" and "the next godfather"? Note: those quotes didn't come from Harry, so I'm not calling him a hypocrite. But still, this is seriously depressing news. That WAS the first screening they have had, so there is still time to fine tune the film. Well, now that Traffic is going to end up not being one of the greats this year, I bet on ENEMY AT THE GATES or some lesser known indie film like Shadow of the Vampire to win best pic.
-
Aug 18, 2000 4:23:28 PM CDT
OH THANK GOD!! YES!! HE WAS ONLY TALKING ABOUT HIS REVIEW OF THE
by el duderino
VICTORY!!
-
You guys are getting worked up over some reviewer that reviewed his first film, and now some of you are saying that it will not be one of the great films this year...I have an idea...wait and see the film for yourself!!! Idiots! Make up your own freakin mind! I come to this sight to browse and maybe see a scoop or two, but no one will ever tell me that a movie is not worth seeing if I want to see it. You all are getting worried over someone who you have no idea what credentials he has to review a film substantially. Hell, Harry like Flintstones Viva Rock Vegas! I hope and believe that Traffic will be an important work, but this one review by the second fella isn't the end-all. And by the way, for all of you who covet Harry's reviews, if he has to rework his review of Traffic again, it probably means that he really likes it. Otherwise, he probably just would have posted it.
-
I have high hopes for this film, but I'm uncertain about it. Soderbergh can be really great, but I'm concerned that his last film was King Corporate Sellout Mainstream Erin Brockovich. I mean, c'mon, all artists need to make commercial films to keep producing art, but Erin Brockovich?! Geez, a freakin'Julia Roberts vehicle?! Come on! Plus his next movie's the Ocean's 11 remake, and I'm on the fence on that one. It could be great, but generally remakes are horrible. Let's hope the S-Man can pull it off.
BTW, Gordy is NOT dead, despite what Loser-Tony says. One person who IS dead however is Pasolini. He was MURDERED! UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, MANY YEARS PRIOR TO THIS TALKBACK POST! If you have ANY information on WHO murdered Pasolini and WHY, contact the Italian Police. Peace out! -
I don't think Soderbergh has sold out. I just think that the edge he brought to earlier work may have fallen off. I think he wants to affect the mainstream from the inside. That's good. But if he keeps picking toothless projects in a director for hire mold then he'll just add to the muddle of mediocrity. The stars are clamoring to work for him. That's great but I'd hate for him to end up just being another stylish director on star vehicles. He's a visionary, a subtle one, but one nonetheless. Perhaps he should write another film himself. He should use his clout to get his more personal projects off the ground.
-
Aug 18, 2000 10:26:19 PM CDT
I'm jealous of Soderberg. What a title for a film. What a perf
by lightstormer
He he hee. Ain't I funny? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OK, maybe I ain't. Uh. . . Lightstormer OUT.
-
Ocean's 11 was one of the best fucking scripts I've read in the past year. It has a ton of cool action, hip dialog and the characters are fucking sweet...much better than the Rat Pack one. That said, it doesn't seem like a Soderbegh pic...it's too glossy and straight forward. Then again, Traffic read like a Tom Clancy wanna-be...but I could be wrong. Ocean's needs someone with style and flash who can do action...Norrington, Ratner, etc. Also, why can't Clooney & Whalberg re-team for this...if I ever wanted to see them together again this would be the project. The only character Pitt would be right for would be the sidekick...like that's really going to happen (20 m for supporting...my ass).
-
Harry, saw ya at Russel Crowes gig tonight. Please tell us what you thought, and who you shared the upstairs VIP area with. I saw Sandra Bullock(get your hands off her, Bob Shneider), Ron Howard, and thought I glimpsed James Woods, plus a few others I recognized but couldn't name. But I never saw Jodie Foster(who somebody said was there) or Meg Ryan. Details, details.
-
Aug 19, 2000 4:39:18 AM CDT
Harry's "Traffic Review", for those of you who can't wait.
by benjamin horne
-
Aug 19, 2000 4:43:21 AM CDT
Here it is, straight from Harry's mouth. The "Traffic" review.
by benjamin horne
While laying in bed together the other night, Moriarty and I were discussing ways to add even more revenue to our awesome site!!!! So while we got a nice hunk of change from the studios for presenting ten movies you have to see this fall, we decided it would be wicked cool if we also listed ten snacky cakes you have to eat while sitting on your couch wasting your life away waiting for those flicks to come out! See, Robogeek and I thought that synergy with food companies would be a natural, since we're all experts on snacking foods, so here goes! 10. Dolly Madison Zingers! Now, these snacky cakes rock! It doesn't matter if you get the pink ones or the yellow ones, because they both rock hard!! As I said about Jar Jar Binks, "Meesa lubbed them!" 9. Ring Dings! Now, I know what you're thinking. That's just a cheap knockoff of Ding Dong's. I disagree!! See, Ring Dings are different because they use a different kind of chocolate while maintaining the Ding Dong shape! Don't you see the irony? Fuck!!! I love you Drake's Ring Ding's! I love you! 8. Oatmeal Cream Pies! Now, does this qualify as a cake? Well, in my book it does! Little Debbie paid me $10K to think of it as a cake, then it looks like a cake to me! Moist on the outside, gooey on the inside, like me when I finish climbing a flight of stairs! Plus the oatmeal. Maybe people have derided oatmeal before for it's performance in Quaker Instant (which I admit, I did not like), but it makes a stunning comeback here! 7. Twinkies! Now, I know it seems blasphemous to list Twinkies so low, but let me tell you a story. See, when I was young, Father Geek and I would go to Arby's together... (17 paragraphs have been expurgated)... so that's why Twinkies are hovering at the center of the list. Problems? I understand why, but this site is always about people and their opinions, so I'll never hold back your opinion! (Unless I censor you) 6. Drake's Coffee Cakes! Eight of these in the mid morning and I'm all set to go! Eight more after lunch and it's time to get ready for my daily watching of Killer Klowns! By the way, don't those Mystery Science Theatre guys ruin all those great old movies for you? These films aren't meant to be made fun of! They have a special place in my heart! 5. Swiss Cake Rolls/Ho Ho's! I know they're slightly different from each other, but it's really a question of quantity or quality. Do I go with the 60 cent pack of two Ho Ho's, with their rich chocolatey flavor, or the 99 cent pack of ten Swiss Cake Rolls, so I can go to town for cheap! Moriarty and I have argued for years about this, and I've written several essays about it that were turned down by Fangoria, but I'm goin' with the Ho Ho's! Style over substance! 4. Suzy Q's! I love Suzy Q's! Take two luscious pieces of cake, and slap 'em together with a shitload of creamy filling, and you've got yourself one dandy snack! I fucked a Suzy Q once. 3. Hostess Crumb Cakes! Like a Drake's Coffee Cake, but a little more moist! Plus, they come in three little bite size pieces, which is perfect for when I'm tooling around Austin in my '79 Dodge Dart! We had the backseat removed special and customized the seat belt! It was awesome! At night, I like to go around with a few packs of Crumb Cakes and hit on all the little boys... I mean, adult chicks... by offering them some! They can't resist! 2. Star Crunch! Little Debbie Star Crunch kicks major ass! Rich chocolate, crisp rice, it's the snack of Kings! Now, I admit Star Crunch isn't for everyone. Robogeek said I should have boulders stuck up my urethra for liking them, but I disagree! Star Crunch rules! You know what Little Debbie should do next? They should have a Star Crunch that has the peanut butter they use in Nutty Bars! That would be an awesome project! But they won't. They'll probably just try some coupon price reduction or something! Oh, Little Debbie, you've done all that before! Why can't you try something different! I run this site, so you must value my opinion in some way! Dammit, Little Debbie, don't disappoint us with another tired project! PEANUT BUTTER STAR CRUNCH! PEANUT BUTTER STAR CRUNCH! If you don't do it, I'll go up in the Austin tower and randomly shoot people! I heard about a guy who did that! I'd do it! That would rock! 1. Hostess Cup Cakes! Need I say more! Hostess Cup Cakes are the Martin Scorsese of snack foods! They rock! Even the low fat ones aren't half bad! If there's a heaven, it'll have me sitting naked on the couch, with a conveyor belt of cupcakes coming into my mouth (and their precious cream exploding through my oral cavity, oh baby!) with Flintstones 2, Viva Rock Vegas on the TV and two hands free so I reach under my folds and rub my special purpose! I love you God! I love you Hostess! And thanks for the 25 grand! Well, that's my list. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! (They gotta kick me off the site now)
-
It's nice to know the law of identity still holds, and that nothing can be greater or less than itself.
-
Now don't get me wrong, I usually don't make fun of someone's opinion, but I will now. Your wrong. I don't care what you say. Your wrong simply for the fact that you can't be right. Soderberg is a genius and I refuse to believe that this movie doesn't work.
-
Aug 19, 2000 9:19:20 AM CDT
Sorry, your name is Straight Man, not that it really matters cuz
by theredeyedgambit
-
i love this girl!!! loved her review of traffic!! made me want to see the film right now- can't wait until the movie come to " a theatre near you""- only claire r proofread your review--just a few gramatical errors-- just kidding!! she was dead on with her review!
-
"parents need to see this" ???
UGH. I disagree and hope he'll cut back the ABC-after-school-special parts of this film. The drug use scenes, the AA meetings...it's been done so many times. It was too much.
Parts of the documentary-like treatment of the drug war were also kind of tired--no news to anybody who's thought about the issue at all--but what a fantastic setting for exploring keeping the faith type life questions. I loved it, loved it, loved it.
what a fantastic film. not as stylish as the limey (or not yet, I should say), very little playing with chronology, very few of those cool sound edits. but it had that same hypnotic feel, so many amazing moments, and one beautiful shot after another.
except for michael douglas. michael douglas???!!! Why? Why?
benicio del toro is of course the coolest. somebody in the screening test group said "it's exciting just watching him walk" and it's true, some of the shots that stayed with me were of him just walking or sitting around.
don cheadle is also too cool. if this were my film I'd expand his role. -
Dude, that is one of the funniest posts i've ever read in talkbacks. It was a perfect harry rendition. You rock, man
-
The fucking movie finished shooting a month ago. A MONTH AGO! They have 4 more months to work on this thing and, besides directing actors, I think it's clear that Soderbergh's greatest strengths lie in the editing room. I have a feeling he screened this assembley of the film as a sort of pre-finecutting advice session, not a "the-movie-is-finished-now-what?" sort of thing. What I mean is, he has a helluva lot of material and characters to deal with and before really doing the detail work, he needs to find out what the biiger problems are. I guarantee every cyniuc on this site that Soderbergh will make a great film. I should also note that he has the guy who edited GO working on this film. I know a lot of people hated that film, but the editor really made the multi-story/multi-character thing work. And, by the way, I'm a fan of all things Soderbergh (except Kafka which I like but don't love). To say that he's selling out or losing his abilities is truly insane. There is a clear evolution in all of his films, including Brockovich which may not be innovative but its one hell of a movie. It really pisses me off when a filmmaker can pass any trash that seems unique off as innovative and someone like Soderbergh is focussing on the important qualities of filmmaking like character and storytelling and he gets bad-mouthed. Everybody thinks its cool to praise Howard Hawks, John Ford, and John Huston but as soon as a modern director makes a film in the same vein as them, he's criticized. Give the guy some credit. He's rock-n-rolling. This guy is making the best movies out there, more consistent and inventive than guys like David Fincher and Paul Thomas Anderson (I loved Magnolia but, formally, it was a complete show-off mess. The ridiculous style fucked up the substance, most of the time). I also want to say that Schizopolis needs to be seen to be believed. Everything about it is perfect and its Soderbergh's cheapest, yet best, movie. I'm not trying to be an obscurity fanatic but I have my own tape of this movie and I've seen it no less than 10 times and it is genuinely perfect. Everything you liked about the Limey and Out of Sight is here, multiplied by 10, funnier and with more substance. Soderbergh, if you or your inner circle reads this, your movies are the real deal and all this discouragement nonsense is being sent in the wrong direction.
-
I'm just sayint that I'm nervous. I expect great things from this film, but I can't say that I'm sold, yet. Yeah, Soderbergh does a helluva lotta work in the editing room, and it'll probably be fine tuned by the time it comes out, but I gotta wonder; of all the types of mainstream films S-Man could've made-why Erin Brockovich? I'm sure he could have directed something else commercial that would've made money, but he chose that. Oh well...Here's hoping Ocean's 11 rocks the Casbah!
-
Take the ball and run with it when it comes to you! Don't fuck around. Make movie after movie. That's what Stone did and that's what Steve is doing with this shot. He hasn't made a bad film yet.
-
Magnolia was my favorite film last year and one of my favorites of all time. I love the scene with Julianne Moore in the drugstore...I really felt sorry for her. Can you imagine how horrific it would be to walk into a drugstore to get prescriptions for your sick husband and to be JUDGED? Not to mention the whole twist the character goes through during the course of the film when you realize that she really LOVES her husband and she'll have no one to share it with now that he's dying. Everyone in the film was excellent. I haven't seem the Limey, so ready the tomatoes. But I like Soderberg's eye and his casting choices, so I'll check out Traffic. It sounds right up my alley, actually.
-
I agree Magnolia really had no "story" -- but that movie left me with so many emotions stirring in my head that it was one of the most worthwhile moviegoing experiences I've ever had.
-
I remember seeing the mini-series when PBS showed it some years ago. If it's available on video, check it out. As I recall, it's set in Britain and Pakistan and stars the guy who played Sarah Polley's father in Baron Munchausen. Or I could just be ripped to the tits on skank. Speaking of British mini-series, does anyone know if Waugh's "the Sword of Honour", starring Edward "the Equalizer" Woodward, is available on video?
-
Okay, Brokovich didn't have the quirky editing of The Limey or any other Soderberg movie, but it was still an excellent movie. It blew away the last six or more Julia Roberts movies, and anything Gary Marshall directed her in. So it was commercial, that doesn't make it bad. I watched Limey and Brokovich back to back for the first time and loved both! They're different animals, different genres, and different movies. Saying that Soderberg is losing his touch with Brokovich is silly. Frankly, The Limey's editing tricks(the stuff that made it so "deep") was unique. I don't want Soderberg using it in all his movies because then it would just be his style, regardless of what the movie itself needs. But again, Brokovich was an excellent turn for Julia Roberts, nice to see her playing something other than the fairy tale princess of her last several outings, and nice to see Soderberg taking on a commercial film and doing well. We now know his range extends beyond the quirky art house flicks. Before you say it, I know that "Out of Sight" had commercial value, but it didn't get the same advertising as Brokovich. Roberts, a big star, didn't overshadow Soderberg's presence, and that's not easy for most directors to pull off.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- A hot redhead (not Harry) is set to play lead in Fede Alvarez's remake of EVIL DEAD! -- 170 total posts 170 posts
- The Friday Docback Spelunks 'The Caves Of Androzani'!! DOCTOR WHO Story #136, And More!! -- 103 total posts 86 posts
- Here Comes THE GODMOTHER! -- 74 total posts 74 posts
- Rest In Peace Ben Gazzara -- 68 total posts 68 posts
- UPDATED: Talkbacker Bob Orci tweets STAR TREK old set pics! -- 244 total posts 51 posts
- ABC Has Cast The Lead In Its Future Nuclear Nation Pilot!! And They’ve Chosen Wisely!! -- 44 total posts 44 posts
- RIDDICK Sequel Details Via A New Press Release!! -- 88 total posts 40 posts
- AWAKE, This Season’s Best Broadcast Pilot, Gets NBC’s Old ER Slot March 1!! THE FIRM To Burn Off On Saturdays!! -- 38 total posts 38 posts
- INSIDIOUS-ER? -- 120 total posts 31 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day is going on an overnight drunk and in 10 days it’s going to set out to find the shark that ate its friend and destroy it. -- 31 total posts 31 posts