tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post1637670412931186002..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My pick for best movie of the year is...By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7826883883177263432014-01-12T09:39:52.125-08:002014-01-12T09:39:52.125-08:00I thought the back story was the weakest part of G...I thought the back story was the weakest part of Gravity, and the physics was so lame I'm not going to wait for Sir Isaac Newton's cut to come out on DVD. The great part for me was the portrayal of the vast indifference of space and the sheer strangeness of near earth orbit, of being so close, yet in another world. The story of the two characters has been told quite often, the old professional and the newcomer in a hostile environment, with the newcomer surviving having absorbed the wisdom of the old professional. There's a reason that story comes up again and again.<br /><br />----<br /><br />re: Bullock: "No please! You can't go! I... I don't want to die alone!" (breaks down)<br /><br />Clooney: "Ha, ha, fooled you there. There's no wind in space, bet you didn't know that science lady."Kaleberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283840743310507878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9325003586070926052014-01-11T17:13:15.821-08:002014-01-11T17:13:15.821-08:00Alfonso Cuaron is a master and this is his masterp...Alfonso Cuaron is a master and this is his masterpiece -- audio/visually at least. Technically brilliant in all the right ways: Every bit of precise Kubrick-esque creativity was used to move the audience, not just to show off... and it worked. Brilliantly.<br /><br />That said, I was a little frustrated by the script. The dialogue felt clam heavy and unrealistic to me. E.g. Desperately hoping to elicit signs of life: "Say something. Say anything! I don't mind!" <br /><br />Yeuch. <br /><br />Before that, I really wanted to Bullock to scream at Clooney: "Don't go. Please don't go! I need you..."<br /><br />Clooney: "You'll be fine, kiddo."<br /><br />Bullock: "No please! You can't go! I... I don't want to die alone!" (breaks down)<br /><br />*Clooney slips away*<br /><br />Isn't that what her character would be screaming in her core? I know it would have broken my heart to hear her say that -- to admit defeat in such a brutally honest way.<br /><br />And given it was all green screen, with very simple scenes, it just felt like it would have been an actor's dream to focus and obsess on all the nuances and dialogue... to REALLY knock it out of the park the way Cuaron did audio/visually.<br /><br />One helluva a gripping and emotional ride, though. Loved it!Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67191659379430909832014-01-10T10:49:31.911-08:002014-01-10T10:49:31.911-08:00Incidentally, 2001 wasn't three hours plus, bu...Incidentally, 2001 wasn't three hours plus, but a smattering over 2 ½ hours. Wouldn't even place in a lot of 2013's running times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19175095348663989902014-01-10T10:43:33.039-08:002014-01-10T10:43:33.039-08:00I DON"T UNDERSTAND THE ENDING!!
Not even the...I DON"T UNDERSTAND THE ENDING!!<br /><br />Not even the distant whomp whomp of a helicopter? They're just going to leave her there, and not let us know that the rescue people manage to turn up? <br /><br />Sure, I liked the movie. I think it went a couple of levels too far on things that went wrong (when the water rushed into the spacecraft I was just.. no.. seriously? And then when she had to get out of the spacesuit underwater.. I was like enough already with putting obstacles in her way, can't just one darn thing go right for this poor laydee?<br /><br />I liked the bit where George miraculously reappeared, though. If only all of us could have George suddenly show up and tell us how to get out of our life threatening situations.. way cool.<br /><br />I have to agree with Greg, you put Oprah up there in space with Sandra, you got a best picture, 100% guaranteed. Maybe she could have been a wacky astronaut left behind in the ISS a bit too long.. beedoo747http://beedoo747.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30583494979092889532014-01-08T17:02:27.676-08:002014-01-08T17:02:27.676-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.TDGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09811474069782767037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37668283419591939312014-01-08T16:44:28.463-08:002014-01-08T16:44:28.463-08:00I guess you had to be in the right frame of mind t...I guess you had to be in the right frame of mind to see Gravity. Yes, it requires a suspension of belief in the realities of space, but that's like not liking Star Wars because there aren't really Wookies.<br /><br />I actually wasn't dying to see Gravity but went with a friend to a 3D screening and was blown away by the originality of the movie. The story is fine, to me it's <i>Cast Away</i> set in space, but visually it's one of those films like <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>, <i>Star Wars</i>, <i>Terminator 2</i> and <i>The Matrix</i> that really moved the bar in terms of what's possible to achieve in cinema. It's also one of the few films I've seen that really does benefit from 3D.<br /><br />This year reminds me why it's so pointless to name a "Best Picture", <i>Gravity</i> and <i>12 Years a Slave</i> couldn't be more different and by most accounts both succeed brilliantly at delivering the film they set out to make. Why does one have to be best?mdv1959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58539165145364144182014-01-08T09:50:43.055-08:002014-01-08T09:50:43.055-08:00Gotta add myself to the vastly overrated camp on G...Gotta add myself to the vastly overrated camp on Gravity. Visual Effects were admittedly next level & beyond belief. But the writing was awful: George Clooney was asked to do a "George Clooney, Glib & Charming Moviestar in Space" turn from beginning to end. He quipped, flirted and grinned up to the moment of his death and then beyond. <br /><br />Sandra Bullock was one note, with her past trauma that explained the shutdown nature of her character feeling like it was tacked on in the final draft of the script for some backstory. <br /><br />The only arc in the movie to be found was the orbit trajectory. Ugh. But the visuals were indeed great....Jon Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53594068200171045882014-01-08T03:10:37.880-08:002014-01-08T03:10:37.880-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72272245000474408772014-01-08T03:02:06.757-08:002014-01-08T03:02:06.757-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82542145482850510742014-01-08T02:06:24.948-08:002014-01-08T02:06:24.948-08:00The BAFTA nominations are in and as usual they'...The BAFTA nominations are in and as usual they're a mixture of the expected and the hilarious. Oprah gets a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Her army will be happy. For now.<br /><br />The most laughable category this year is the one for Outstanding British Film, which is separate to their overall Best Film category. Included in the Outstanding British Film nominations are Gravity and Saving Mr Banks. Really?! A Hollywood movie made by Disney starring Tom Hanks but written by a British screenwriter makes it a British film? Gravity is apparently a British film because it's co-produced by David Heyman. They might as well have nominated The Wolf of Wall Street for Outstanding British Film. I think Dicaprio stayed at The Dorchester hotel in London a few times.Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24630665431332684792014-01-07T23:32:42.324-08:002014-01-07T23:32:42.324-08:00I'm not saying everyone has to agree with Cuar...I'm not saying everyone has to agree with Cuaron's minimal approach to narrative and character in GRAVITY, but is it really bad enough to kill one's sense of wonder at his amazing technical achievement? It's an experiment of sorts, and to my eyes he pulled it off. If this thing had a script by Ed Wood and starred Kim Kardashian, it would still be a supreme cinematic achievement. To me, complaining about the film's lack of narrative depth is like complaining that they don't serve meals on a roller coaster. jbryantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-67836202228280017472014-01-07T16:39:55.912-08:002014-01-07T16:39:55.912-08:00David,
I saw The Place Behind the Pines, but seri...David,<br /><br />I saw The Place Behind the Pines, but seriously, where was "the place?" I was expecting to see a little shack or something. Was it just that area where the characters talked at one point?<br /><br />Signed, <br />ConfusedGreg Ehrbarhttp://www.mousetracksonline.com/blog.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49754377394315552442014-01-07T16:04:53.165-08:002014-01-07T16:04:53.165-08:00Apparently they were originally going to have Robe...Apparently they were originally going to have Robert Downey Jr. and Blake Lively in the main roles, but they had to back out due to scheduling conflicts. Just goes to show how these things so often happen serendipitously: I don't think it would've been nearly as good with those two.Mitchell Hundredhttp://twitter.com/sackobooksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79557866136520964202014-01-07T15:20:55.710-08:002014-01-07T15:20:55.710-08:00Jan. 17 "Gravity" re-release<a href="http://www.thewrap.com/gravity-set-jan-17-re-release-warner-bros/" rel="nofollow">Jan. 17 "Gravity" re-release</a>Todd Everetthttp://toddeverett.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57149958324352394412014-01-07T13:58:27.024-08:002014-01-07T13:58:27.024-08:00I cannot argue with your gut reaction to a film, b...I cannot argue with your gut reaction to a film, but can only try to explain why MY gut feels that Gravity is the most overrated film this year.<br /><br />In general, I have little patience with films that are structured like video games, each segment a short-term objective that once solved throws the character into a series of escalating levels. (the recent Hobbit movies are another example of this).<br /><br />SPOILERISH:<br /><br />I was also pretty exasperated that the heroine <br />'solved' most of her problems not via ingenuity but dumb luck (or even worse, implications that 'god was on her side'). I consider this to be the height of lazy screenwriting. The similar "All Is Lost" was somewhat better in that there was a degree of skill and cleverness on the part of the hero that was actually set up and dramatized (although God seemed to come into play in that one too).<br /><br />Getting back to Gravity, I also found there to be an hint of sexism in the ultimate source of weakness/strength for a woman character being 'motherhood' - although that too could of just been lazy screenwriting using that as a crutch.<br /><br />--------<br /><br />My favorite film this year is Nebraska, although I could be biased because it was so recognizable to me on a personal basis.-beenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86790964393462911292014-01-07T13:29:00.319-08:002014-01-07T13:29:00.319-08:00RCP
To that I can only say: WHOO! YOU GET A CAR, ...RCP<br /><br />To that I can only say: WHOO! YOU GET A CAR, YOU GET A CAR, YOU GET A CAR! WHOO!<br /><br />One of my top films of the year was Ron Howard's RUSH. Absolutely brilliant filmmaking and powerhouse performances. Hamidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-47885527176735273942014-01-07T12:32:36.014-08:002014-01-07T12:32:36.014-08:00Hamid:
We know where you live.
Hamid:<br /><br />We know where you live.<br /><br />RCPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251247613686669877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7197459988218101572014-01-07T12:10:09.105-08:002014-01-07T12:10:09.105-08:00Boy, I also couldn't get behind GRAVITY. One-...Boy, I also couldn't get behind GRAVITY. One-dimensional characters, obvious back story. I hate to sound like the guy who flips his nose up at studio fare, but I thought THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES and MUD were the two best films of the year.David Kukoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74573470076241624382014-01-07T11:07:03.127-08:002014-01-07T11:07:03.127-08:00Well Ken, Cuaron also directed the overlooked exce...Well Ken, Cuaron also directed the overlooked excellent film "CHILDREN OF MEN" (Best Film of 2006 IMO) and the Potter film you mentioned was one of the best of the franchise.<br /><br />Of the 70 movies I saw this year "12 YEARS A SLAVE" was the best I saw. "GRAVITY", "ALL IS LOST","CAPTAIN PHILLIPS" and "ENOUGH SAID" would round out my top five.<br /><br />I'm going to guess Ken, the movie you're going to talk about tomorrow. The film the critics loved (and I wanted to love) but was a big… meh. "AMERICAN HUSTLE". Richard J. Marcejhttp://www.theblabbingbaboon.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43333250663149841172014-01-07T10:46:21.852-08:002014-01-07T10:46:21.852-08:00GRAVITY left me cold, emotional. Sure, it's a ...GRAVITY left me cold, emotional. Sure, it's a mesmerizing technological achievement, but I needed more in terms of character, or apparently God forbid, story. The Cuaron's had said that they weren't out to tell a story in the usual sense, but more interested in the character study. Since that didn't resonate with me, I didn't have anything but Clooney's considerable charm (yes, I'm one of those!) and even that wasn't enough. <br /><br />Plus, they never bothered to explain one crucial thing to me. With all that space debris hurtling by in sizes large to microscopic, how is that nothing ever pierced the spacesuits? If something was mentioned about how super-duper resistant the suits were, I missed it. This was something I just couldn't get past.<br />Sharonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1926877526344199282014-01-07T10:40:55.390-08:002014-01-07T10:40:55.390-08:00I am a huge Cuaron fan and I enjoyed GRAVITY but d...I am a huge Cuaron fan and I enjoyed GRAVITY but do not think it should win Best Picture. Of all the films i've seen this year (and I have not seen American Hustle yet) - HER and PRISONERS are the best films I have seen. I know PRISONERS is beyond grim - but I thought it was so well acted and directed and it raises interesting questions about morality and justice. And HER was a very well made film for our times. Phoenix gives an amazing performance and the script tackles important issues about technology and loneliness and how difficult it is for many people to express themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-79535445138957536342014-01-07T09:40:08.487-08:002014-01-07T09:40:08.487-08:00I agree, Ken. It's been a long time since I&#...I agree, Ken. It's been a long time since I've been so engrossed in a film. I actually found myself talking to the screen at times, trying to cheer her on. I'm usually not a Sandry B fan, but she was fantastic in this movie.404https://www.blogger.com/profile/00064577649967514295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20066971069488853742014-01-07T09:20:07.018-08:002014-01-07T09:20:07.018-08:00Afraid I must disagree about Gravity. I did not fi...Afraid I must disagree about Gravity. I did not find the characters compelling. I like Bullock (and Clooney), but I just didn't care about them. Looking back on it I think I would have sympathized with Bullock if the explanation of her years-before trauma was all talkie-talkie and almost treated like a throw away. I saw no character development, and as she moved from one thing to another I felt like I was watching her level up in a video game (and she wouldn't give me a turn to play). I thought 12 Years A Slave was wonderful, with far more interesting characters. Just my two cents.Lancenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26506216786518410002014-01-07T09:03:33.161-08:002014-01-07T09:03:33.161-08:00Gravity? As the best movie? Maybe the best movie t...Gravity? As the best movie? Maybe the best movie the week it was released? Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable and spectacular to look at... but likable Sandy B made the atrocious writing bearable!<br />Jimmyjimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07836563723646310182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54733743988769460212014-01-07T08:32:47.273-08:002014-01-07T08:32:47.273-08:00There are quite a number of possible candidates I ...There are quite a number of possible candidates I haven't seen, but Gravity is definitely the best movie I've seen this year. Of all the 3D movies I've seen, only two were memorable for their 3Dness: Avatar and Gravity. <br /><br />"I just think GRAVITY is groundbreaking, no matter how many D's you see it in."<br /><br />There is definitely a joke about Sandra Bullock's boobs there. Or maybe that WAS the joke.Tim W.noreply@blogger.com