24th Hall of Fame [Archive] - Page 6

Wyldesyde19

03-20-21, 03:15 PM

Hard Times

Charles Bronson is much like John Wayne, in so much they weren’t primarily great actors (although they were both decent) but were described more as a presence. In Hard Times, we see Bronson show he could be both.

Of course, having seen him in The Great Escape, I already knew he could act when called upon to do so. Here, he doesn’t have to do as much as Escape. He just scowls, fights and watches everyone else. And it works.*

Particularly his scene with his fling Lucy, played by his real life wife Jill Ireland, in such a small role it could have been entirely cut out, when she tells him she’s moving on. His face is a mixture of sadness and understanding. He knows it’s a wise decision.

Bronson plays Chaney, a drifter who seems to make nothing but wise decisions, good with his fists, and tough as nails. He gets involved with a gambler, Speed, played by James Coburn, and make money off of these fights. It isn’t long before Speed blows his winnings and fal into debt with a bookie.

The story is basic but works, and the fights are fun to watch even if one does wonder how they can take so many punches to the face without nary a bruise, black eye and barely any bloody nose or lip.

But really, it’s the mood it seems to capture. A sense of of the times. Hard Times (eh? Eh??) sorry, couldn’t resist.

This is my second film from the director Walter Hill this month, having watched 48 Hrs a few weeks ago, and his fourth film overall. I enjoyed The Warriors, didn’t like Last Man Standing. But I’ve enjoyed these last two outings so much (particularly 48 Hrs) that I’m eager to check out more of his films. Nice hidden germ here.

cricket

03-20-21, 03:27 PM

For Walter Hill, I'd also recommend The Driver, The Long Riders, Southern Comfort, and to a lesser extent Trespass and Bullet to the Head.

Wyldesyde19

03-20-21, 03:27 PM

For Walter Hill, I'd also recommend The Driver, The Long Riders, Southern Comfort, and to a lesser extent Trespass and Bullet to the Head.

The first 3 absolutely have my attention, as does Street of Fire.

cricket

03-20-21, 03:34 PM

The first 3 absolutely have my attention, as does Street of Fire.

I only saw Streets of Fire once when it came out.

Wyldesyde19

03-20-21, 03:38 PM

I only saw Streets of Fire once when it came out.

How was it? It looks.....interesting.....?

cricket

03-20-21, 03:41 PM

How was it? It looks.....interesting.....?

I hardly remember it but I wasn't a fan, but I was just a kid.

Thief

03-21-21, 01:10 PM

Laser focused on my schedule cause if I don't do it that way, with this, the Personal Rec HOF, and my own monthly challenge, I know I'll mess up :laugh:

Anyway, started The Whisperers last night; couldn't finish it cause I was tired. Still need to see the second half, but I was enjoying it. The performance from Evans? Damn!

SpelingError

03-21-21, 01:46 PM

Just for the record, I don't know if I'll be able to finish this challenge, because sadly, my college semester is really stressing me out a whole lot. Or, at least, one of my classes is as my professor is trying to give us two unit exams in the span of 1.5 weeks (plus a third one 2 weeks later). I will try though, and I'll maybe make my reviews a bit shorter if that helps me finish this in time.

If I don't finish this one though, I'll join the next one, which I assume will go up around the start of May as I should have more free time then.

Thief

03-21-21, 03:09 PM

https://i.gifer.com/3kK2.gif

Siddon

03-21-21, 03:12 PM

SpelingError

03-21-21, 04:32 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I'll see what I can do.

Takoma11

03-21-21, 04:42 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I'll see what I can do.

Just do what I do and watch everything while also working on schoolwork. ;)

Citizen Rules

03-21-21, 05:36 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I'll see what I can do.If it's the review writing that's taking your time, challenge yourself to write a short paragraph for your review, say under a 100 words or even 50.

There's no requirement for members to write long reviews. Sometimes I write a long review, other times it's very brief. Anyway hope you can stick around🙂

Siddon

03-21-21, 06:44 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I'll see what I can do.

You only have three movies left....

Vampyr 1.10 (your nom)

The Whisperers 1.46
Secret in Their Eyes 2.09
Shame 1.43

The Sea Inside is likely out

SpelingError

03-21-21, 07:53 PM

If it's the review writing that's taking your time, challenge yourself to write a short paragraph for your review, say under a 100 words or even 50.

There's no requirement for members to write long reviews. Sometimes I write a long review, other times it's very brief. Anyway hope you can stick around🙂
Yeah, I'll probably go for that if time begins running too short.

SpelingError

03-21-21, 07:54 PM

You only have three movies left....

Vampyr 1.10 (your nom)

The Whisperers 1.46
Secret in Their Eyes 2.09
Shame 1.43

The Sea Inside is likely out
I'll probably do my nomination last since it will be easier to write about it.

rauldc14

03-21-21, 09:39 PM

Well he has more than 3 left, but yeah people seem to be dropping like flies in this. I guess I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated.

Takoma11

03-21-21, 09:48 PM

Well he has more than 3 left, but yeah people seem to be dropping like flies in this. I guess I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated.

This has been a rough year for a lot of people, and spring can be a tough transition time for people even in a normal year. I'm sorry that you feel frustrated. This has been a well-run HoF and there have been lots of great write-ups and discussion. I think there are many positives to celebrate. I'm not mad about any of the films I saw that are no longer in the running.

Thief

03-21-21, 09:48 PM

Well, to be fair... Agrippina and Thursday never really got into it, so we knew they were out early on, which leaves only MovieGal. I'm confident Speling can make it, but even if he dropped, that's only 2 out of the ones that were really into it. For what it's worth, I'm enjoying it a lot.

SpelingError

03-21-21, 09:52 PM

Yeah, I'll try my best to finish this.

For what it's worth, I'm really enjoying this and I think you did a great job with hosting it.

Citizen Rules

03-21-21, 10:11 PM

Well he has more than 3 left, but yeah people seem to be dropping like flies in this. I guess I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated.I remember when I hosted the Virgin HoF (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=51935&highlight=virgin) for first time members. We started with 7 first time members and only three people finished. The only one of them that still participates in HoFs is Siddon.

rauldc14

03-21-21, 10:41 PM

I'm probably taking it too seriously since I've been committed to 22/24 of these and love looking at that archives thread.

We really are building something cool here

Thief

03-22-21, 12:01 AM

Anyway, started The Whisperers last night; couldn't finish it cause I was tired. Still need to see the second half, but I was enjoying it. The performance from Evans? Damn!

Finally finished it and damn, that was a rough watch :( I walked in more or less blind, but I should've prepared a bit. I don't respond well to films about the elderly, mostly because I get memories of my grandmother whose death still hurts me, even though it was 10-11 years ago. This was no exception. Anyway, proper review later, but I loved it.

Wyldesyde19

03-22-21, 12:28 AM

Finally finished it and damn, that was a rough watch :( I walked in more or less blind, but I should've prepared a bit. I don't respond well to films about the elderly, mostly because I get memories of my grandmother whose death still hurts me, even though it was 10-11 years ago. This was no exception. Anyway, proper review later, but I loved it.

Yeah, it’s a tough watch. I picked it specifically because it isn’t a film I see mentioned often. When looking at the BFI top 100 British films, and looking at what’s included, I’m somewhat baffled The Whisperers was excluded, while a film like The Go Between was included.

Anyways, response to it has been largely positive, so I’m happy for that. My next pick will be far less depressing haha

Citizen Rules

03-22-21, 02:43 AM

I enjoyed The Whispers and didn't find it depressing at all. I thought the old lady was pretty interesting. But her ex husband and son were asses!

rauldc14

03-22-21, 10:43 AM

I pick "depressing" movies a lot now that I think of it, like The Descendants. And Manchester by the Sea.

Citizen Rules

03-22-21, 12:07 PM

I pick "depressing" movies a lot now that I think of it, like The Descendants. And Manchester by the Sea.Both good movies too!

Wyldesyde19

03-23-21, 01:25 PM

How anyone heard from Neiba Lately?

rauldc14

03-23-21, 02:39 PM

How anyone heard from Neiba Lately?

He always disappears but finishes at the end!

edarsenal

03-23-21, 10:34 PM

https://www.reelingreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/antwonefisherpic.jpg.webp

Antwone Fisher

Jerome Davenport: "Who will cry for the little boy, lost and all alone / Who will cry for the little boy, abandoned without his own"
Antwone Fisher: "Who will cry for the little boy, he cried himself to sleep / Who will cry for the little boy, who never had it for keeps / Who will cry for the little boy, who walked on burning sands / Who will cry for the little boy, the boy inside a man / Who will cry for the little boy, who knew well hurt and pain / Who will cry for the little boy, who died and died again / Who will cry for the little boy, a good boy he tried to be / Who will cry for the little boy, who cries inside of me"
Jerome Davenport: Who will cry for the little boy Antwone?
Antwone Fisher: I will, I always do.

I have always found a kind of security when watching a Denzil Washington film. There's a calmness in that man that tells you, it's gonna be alright. You're okay. We. Are okay.
Which sometimes is a two edged sword because there are films I would love to feel the tension that is presented, but the "voice" in my head knows, hey, it's Denzil, he's got this.
Still, the man is a professional and it's a given that at any given point you will be caught up in the story presented and it shows when the final act comes around and you have several tears of joy of how things are turning out.

Arguably, there are a number of tropes that do get used, though they are done very well; this films does, and did, draw me in enough that when Fisher finds his father's family it did get me to shed some happy tears.

edarsenal

03-24-21, 11:26 PM

Finished Shame, will get a review posted tomorrow night. Interesting film.

pahaK

03-24-21, 11:49 PM

Finished Shame, will get a review posted tomorrow night. Interesting film.

I watched the first hour, and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't enjoyed what I've seen this far. I will continue my shameful journey with Shame either later today or tomorrow.

Thief

03-25-21, 12:39 AM

I watched the first hour, and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't enjoyed what I've seen this far. I will continue my shameful journey with Shame either later today or tomorrow.

https://media.giphy.com/media/5gw0VWGbgNm8w/giphy.gif

rauldc14

03-25-21, 06:33 AM

I watched the first hour, and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't enjoyed what I've seen this far. I will continue my shameful journey with Shame either later today or tomorrow.

Cool, then maybe I'll get another list soon! I think that's your last one now that MG is out.

SpelingError

03-25-21, 01:34 PM

I will write something on The Secret in Their Eyes this weekend. Fortunately, things have been shaping up for me.

Thief

03-25-21, 02:39 PM

I'm currently writing a review for The Whisperers and will rewatch Vampyr probably during the weeked. I'm on my way, raul!

Wyldesyde19

03-25-21, 02:43 PM

I’ll be watching Shame tomorrow

Thief

03-25-21, 04:23 PM

THE WHISPERERS
(1967, Forbes)

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd39f80b91449614c55bcb4/1607849047325-1803L8K18YKFXHZYVWHE/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kLtVLYkon3M3Xo1NM_JBSwB7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLf rh8O1z4YTzHvnKhyp6Da-NYroOW3ZGjoBKy3azqku80C789l0v6DBRSr_UJKZgxKgWb2TL_VNkTwWyazwhwJ1zjCiyuu5CcJOP7roC_45NsGXlf2rQ/Screen+Shot+2020-12-13+at+12.28.36+AM.png?format=1000w

Radio: "The problem, the major problem of old age is undoubtedly loneliness. A great many old people live entirely alone, unvisited and unwanted, living day in and day out in small rooms without company or friends."
Margaret: "Poor old souls."

The above quote comes from a news article that Margaret Ross (Edith Evans) listens to. A report she dismisses a bit condescendingly while standing alone, unvisited, in her small apartment, as if it had nothing to do with her. Because, even though Ross lives impoverished and alone, in a rundown street of England, she lives mostly detached from her reality, either consciously or subconsciously. That is the focus of 1967's The Whisperers.

I admit I walked into this more or less blind. Various plot synopsis made it sound as if the film was some sort of spooky drama because Ross seems to be haunted or bothered by "voices" she hears around her apartment, the so-called "whisperers". As a matter of fact, one of the first scenes of the film is her going to the police station to inquire about the police "investigation" on this "voices", an inquiry which the police officer dismisses by assuring her that they have a "brave" man "always on the job".

But I was surprised to see that the film was a more dramatic exploration at the life and mind of an elderly woman who has been essentially abandoned by everyone, from her no-good husband and her criminal son to maybe even God? (another early scene features Ross in a small church service for poor people where she's mistreated by other attendants that mock her and call her "dozy old cow").

But Ross carries on, somewhat oblivious to her surroundings, claiming that she'll eventually receive a substantial amount of money from some alleged businesses, while signing her letters to the National Assistance government office as "Countess of Erde, Dame of the Order of the Garter, Doctor of Law". It was initially hard to peg Ross cause she does behave somewhat obnoxiously and condescendingly during the first half. But as the plot progresses, and you see what she's actually been through, her life and situation becomes more heartbreaking.

The real highlight of the film is Evans' performance. A performance that, even before finishing the film, I felt was among the best female performances I've ever seen. The way Evans conveys the solitude and loneliness of Ross, hidden behind the facade of pretensions and false hopes was nothing short of impressive. The scene where she suddenly comes upon a money stash that was hidden by her son is a spectacle of emotions and non-verbal acting.

But her performance is not the only one that shines. Every performance is spot on; from the sleaziness of her husband (Eric Portman) and her son (Ronald Fraser) to the cunning of the woman that cons her (Avis Bunnage) or the genuine worry from Mr. Conrad (Gerald Sim), the employee at the National Assistance that seems to be the only one to actually care about Ross.

The film does seem to wander a bit in the last act, as we see Ross' husband get mixed up with the wrong crowd. But it serves the purpose of getting things back to the main theme, which is the abandonment and disregard of the elderly from pretty much everybody, and the effect it has in their mental health. As someone who usually finds himself affected by this kind of film, this one hit me in the right spot. Among the best I've seen recently.

Grade: 4.5

edarsenal

03-25-21, 05:48 PM

Cool, then maybe I'll get another list soon! I think that's your last one now that MG is out.
just to review, if I may, the films that are out are:
Deer Hunter
The Sea Inside
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

correct?

If so that'll leave me:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
In a Glass Cage
along with my write up for Shame tonight

rauldc14

03-25-21, 06:22 PM

just to review, if I may, the films that are out are:
Deer Hunter
The Sea Inside
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

correct?

If so that'll leave me:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
In a Glass Cage
along with my write up for Shame tonight

Correct!

Wyldesyde19

03-25-21, 06:30 PM

rauldc14

03-25-21, 07:17 PM

Getting to crunch time....
TheUsualSuspect 3/14 neiba 5/14 Thief 7/14 Wyldesyde19 9/14 SpelingError 10/14 edarsenal 11/14 Siddon 8/14 pahaK 13/14

6 have finished.

Wyldesyde19

03-25-21, 07:39 PM

Getting to crunch time....
TheUsualSuspect 3/14 neiba 5/14 Thief 7/14 Wyldesyde19 9/14 SpelingError 10/14 edarsenal 11/14 Siddon 8/14 pahaK 13/14

6 have finished.
Deadline is April 20th iirc?
Planning on a review a week

rauldc14

03-25-21, 07:41 PM

Deadline is April 20th iirc?
Planning on a review a week

Correct!

Wyldesyde19

03-25-21, 07:52 PM

Correct!
Excellent!

pahaK

03-25-21, 08:04 PM

I just finished Shame, so I've watched all the noms. A review in nearish future. As a teaser, it's the worst Bergman I've seen this far.

I may end up rewatching La Dolce Vita. It depends if I can comfortably place it on my ballot or not. In other words, it may take a while before I submit my votes.

edarsenal

03-25-21, 10:37 PM

What? Ed is ahead of me? This I can’t abide....

https://i.imgur.com/IcwKvJC.gif

TheUsualSuspect

03-26-21, 02:14 AM

Correct!

Plenty of time.............

pahaK

03-26-21, 04:09 AM

Skammen (1968)
aka Shame

I've seen way too few Bergman movies considering that he's done one of my favorites, The Seventh Seal. Shame is probably just the fourth, and unfortunately the worst, as well. It has lots of the trademark goods you'd expect from the legendary Swede, like beautiful black-and-white cinematography and great performances by his staple actors.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/TiredDamagedHagfish-small.gif

What Shame lacks, in my opinion, is a solid script. I don't know if the film is meant to happen in Sweden, but I can't really think otherwise. The civil war that sets the background of the film doesn't make any sense. It feels like a war written by someone who doesn't have any grasp of warfare. Someone who just wants to transfer the images of distant conflicts into a more familiar environment without paying attention to whys or hows. Sweden of the late 60s wasn't some Far Eastern agricultural society where the civil war would be fought over the control of small and isolated villages.

The main characters are interesting enough, but the time jump in about an hour to the film is too abrupt. Even though the change in their relationship is retroactively explained (at least partially), it felt odd decision to make the skip. Other members of the community remain rather unknown; just like the war, they're only background noise for the central couple. Like many films about war, Shame is too interested in its anti-war message and doesn't bother with "unnecessary" details.

I found the film shamefully average. It looks good, it's well-acted, but it can't overcome a weak script.

pahaK

03-26-21, 04:22 AM

Also, decided not to rewatch La Dolce Vita right now. In other words, I sent my ballot.

neiba

03-26-21, 12:35 PM

Sorry not being around. Have a masters thesis to get done till Monday but I'll bing watch this after that!

Thief

03-27-21, 01:01 PM

What?? This is more important than a measly masters thesis, pfff!

(good luck!)

Wyldesyde19

03-27-21, 02:41 PM

Can I get a link to Shame?
Please and thank you

Wyldesyde19

03-27-21, 03:08 PM

Thank you Hashtag!

Wyldesyde19

03-27-21, 07:21 PM

Starting up The Day of The Jackal, which is a welcome rewatch from a years ago, and then Shame tomorrow.
Expect 2 reviews soon.

rauldc14

03-28-21, 06:59 PM

Starting up The Day of The Jackal, which is a welcome rewatch from a years ago, and then Shame tomorrow.
Expect 2 reviews soon.

Does now count as soon? :)

SpelingError

03-28-21, 09:40 PM

Just to clarify, I might make my reviews a bit shorter to ensure I finish this in time.

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) - 4

This film is at its best when it explores the impact Liliana Colotto's murder has on the various characters. There are direct effects such as Ricardo waiting at a train station every day in hopes of catching the killer and indirect effects such as the long-term effects the case has on Esposito, which lasts for decades. And, of course, there's Isidoro Gomez's shocking fate which I can't talk about without spoiling it. Watching how the murder case effected the three characters was one of the film's main highlights for me. I found their stories thought-provoking and tragic, specifically Esposito's since his relationship with Irene was handled really well. In addition to their on-screen chemistry, I found their inability to express their attraction to each other quite tragic. Unlike other films I've seen with a romance sub-plot, this aspect didn't feel unnecessary or tacked on. I was also impressed with the camerawork and editing. While the soccer stadium sequence that unfortunately didn't involve a helicopter was the main setpiece for me, I appreciated other scenes as well like the dreamy opening or the way the film handled the flashback structure. Though the film jumped back and forth between 1999 and the mid-1970's a number of times, these cuts were edited into the film quite seamlessly, showing subtle visual cues that the setting changed such as the de-aging effects in Esposito's hair. Overall, not sure how often I would want to revisit this film, but I enjoyed quite a bit about it.

Next up: Shame (I take it MovieGal dropped out)

Wyldesyde19

03-28-21, 10:12 PM

The Day of the Jackal

Fred Zinnemann is a director you rarely hear spoken about. Yet, looking at his filmography, it’s one that stand on its own merits and accomplishments. This is a director of such films like High Noon, From Here to Eternity, A Man for all Seasons. And Of course, The Day of the Jackal.

Jackal starts off grabbing you and never really letting go. It doesn’t have much in the way of action, but rather is a slow burning thriller that builds up right until the climax.

The Jackal, An assassin, is hired to kill De Gaulle, and most of the film features him planning it. Somehow, this makes for an interesting approach, with Zinnemann taking some Interesting camera shots and scenes such as one following behind a biker delivering a message and another of the Jackal testing out his new gun. But of the Intrigue is the mysterious nature of The Jackal. We never really learn his true identity.

A detective is hired to catch him, and their game of cat and mouse is fascinating to watch, with The Jackal somehow always staying one step ahead. It isn’t done with intense actions scenes, but rather a sense of foreboding.

The film isn’t without its issues. There’s about 20 minutes that involves a woman The Jackal meets to keep himself hidden, that really doesn’t serve the film well and drags it down somewhat. But once we’re past that, it picks itself back up. And we watch as it slowly winds it’s way to the inevitable showdown between the detective and The Jackal. One worth the wait.

rauldc14

03-29-21, 10:27 AM

Wylde and Speling getting there!

Thief

03-29-21, 10:47 AM

I rewatched Vampyr last night so I'm well on my scheduled track.

SpelingError

03-29-21, 11:14 AM

Wylde and Speling getting there!

I'm going to keep pushing on!

75518

SpelingError

03-29-21, 11:15 AM

I rewatched Vampyr last night so I'm well on my scheduled track.

Since that's my rec, make sure to put it at number 1 :D

Thief

03-29-21, 11:50 AM

Since that's my rec, make sure to put it at number 1 :D

https://media.giphy.com/media/1ZnG4lkimX28Wwbq48/giphy.gif

:D

Wyldesyde19

03-29-21, 07:05 PM

Shame to come tonight. There was an accidental.....mix up.....with another film called Shame.

SpelingError

03-29-21, 07:25 PM

Shame to come tonight. There was an accidental.....mix up.....with another film called Shame.

Hey, no copying me. Watch a different film :D

HashtagBrownies

03-29-21, 07:26 PM

Shame to come tonight. There was an accidental.....mix up.....with another film called Shame.

Did you receive my (correct!) link?

Wyldesyde19

03-29-21, 07:47 PM

Did you receive my (correct!) link?
I did thank you 🙂

rauldc14

03-30-21, 08:28 AM

3 WEEKS UNTIL THE DEADLINE. HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT APRIL 20TH. THE UNVEIL WILL BE WEDNESDAY APRIL 21ST.

Thief

03-30-21, 10:01 AM

3 WEEKS UNTIL THE DEADLINE. HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT APRIL 20TH. THE UNVEIL WILL BE WEDNESDAY APRIL 21ST.

https://media.giphy.com/media/xThuW4relAm8H2qaRi/giphy.gif

Siddon

03-30-21, 03:18 PM

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8ED6VKLQ3A8PGGbb66Wxkh-IJVvmCWzErVg&usqp=CAU

Beasts of the Southern Wild(2012)

Beasts of the Southern Wild is an expertly made coming of age film about post Katrina life in Louisiana . It tells the story of a community and of a father and daughter in this remote area. Everything about this film is elevated, it doesn't feel like a film made for less for 2 million dollars. You have a large cast that's well used, CGI that looks great, fantastic music (the score is the best part) and great performances from the two leads.

Not to say the film doesn't have it's flaws so much of the story is familiar almost cliche'd. But is a cliche'd story a bad thing when it's well executed. If I have a criticism of the film it would be the third act isn't great.

edarsenal

03-30-21, 06:06 PM

Wyldesyde19

03-30-21, 07:08 PM

Complete agreement with pretty much everything. One minor exception was that I enjoyed the scenes with the woman. It served, for me, as an additional layer to the cunning/ruthlessness of the Jackal along with his determination to do what needs must.

Also, like you, it does seem like Zimmerman is not often spoken of even with the accomplishments you listed.
Yeah, I get that point. But on the other hand, the scene with the man he had met in the Turkish Bath accomplished that determination and ruthlessness much more effectively.
I felt a certain pity for the man, who had clearly liked The Jackal, and added more to their “relationship”, such as shaking a lobster in his direction in a flirty way, while the woman was plain lust, as she knew he was wanted by the police, yet allowed him to enter her home just so she could bang him again.
How each scene is handled is a stark difference.
But that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent film. Sometimes films don’t hold up on a second viewing, but this one actually improved upon it.

Siddon

03-30-21, 10:20 PM

https://www.joblo.com/assets/images/oldsite/posters/images/full/2002-antwone_fisher-3.jpg

Antwone Fisher

I really miss the mid budget drama, it's just such a welcome return to see one of these as it's been so long. Antwone Fisher is Denzel Washington's directorial debut film based on a novel and centers around an angry young man and the psychiatrist that helps him. And while the film is far from perfect it is very well made and engaging.

The story jumps from several points in Antwone's life from his childhood (the powerful scenes) to his teenage years, to the present. It's a very thoughtful film. I admire the attempt to capture the AA experience for a man/boy in the system even if the execution doesn't always work. We get several fairly impactful scenes near the end, Denzel knows drama and he's very good at catching it.

My big issue with the film is Denzel gives the same sort of performance he always gives in this. He's got that cadence in his speech and often times I wish I wouldn't hear it. I think the psychological issues of Luke's character could have been handled better. I don't feel like Fisher is the same character in the liquor store as he is during his fights.

I didn't love it but I would recommend it...don't know where I'm going to place it.

edarsenal

03-31-21, 01:05 AM

Yeah, I get that point. But on the other hand, the scene with the man he had met in the Turkish Bath accomplished that determination and ruthlessness much more effectively.
I felt a certain pity for the man, who had clearly liked The Jackal, and added more to their “relationship”, such as shaking a lobster in his direction in a flirty way, while the woman was plain lust, as she knew he was wanted by the police, yet allowed him to enter her home just so she could bang him again.
How each scene is handled is a stark difference.
But that’s a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent film. Sometimes films don’t hold up on a second viewing, but this one actually improved upon it.
Quite valid and excellent observation. I wonder if it may have been a judgment call for the year that it was made in '73 and how the necessity for an American public dictated the woman as well. Or, on a simpler note, it's an added note that even sexual preference has nothing to do with his professional agenda.

This one was also more enjoyable during my second viewing, and I can imagine building on subsequent views.

edarsenal

03-31-21, 01:11 AM

Wyldesyde19

03-31-21, 01:44 AM

Quite valid and excellent observation. I wonder if it may have been a judgment call for the year that it was made in '73 and how the necessity for an American public dictated the woman as well. Or, on a simpler note, it's an added note that even sexual preference has nothing to do with his professional agenda.

This one was also more enjoyable during my second viewing, and I can imagine building on subsequent views.

It’s possible. And I agree with his sexual preference. People are used only as far as they can advance his agendas. *
I will say, For a film with such little action, it really had a way of ratcheting the suspense up. It had a been a few years years since I had seen this, but rewatching it was almost like watching it all over again. And I was able to catch what I might have missed the first time.

edarsenal

03-31-21, 01:52 AM

It’s possible. And I agree with his sexual preference. People are used only as far as they can advance his agendas. *
I will say, For a film with such little action, it really had a way of ratcheting the suspense up. It had a been a few years years since I had seen this, but rewatching it was almost like watching it all over again. And I was able to catch what I might have missed the first time.
I had mentioned that in my review and I remember gandalf26 addressing the same thing when he had it as a one-pointer in the All-Time Refresh Countdown, inspiring me to watch it finally, then nominate it here. I found it pretty amazing that a film that focused purely on the practical aspect of planning kept the tension better than one where a constant barrage of action kept the pace moving along.

Wyldesyde19

03-31-21, 01:56 AM

I had mentioned that in my review and I remember @Gandalf addressing the same thing when he had it as a one-pointer in the All-Time Refresh Countdown, inspiring me to watch it finally, then nominate it here. I found it pretty amazing that a film that focused purely on the practical aspect of planning kept the tension better than one where a constant barrage of action kept the pace moving along.
Tension! Yes! That’s a great word for it!
Also, have you seen The American? An excellent film with a similar vibe, although a little more action. It owes a debt to Jackal in my opinion.

edarsenal

03-31-21, 02:01 AM

Tension! Yes! That’s a great word for it!
Also, have you seen The American? An excellent film with a similar vibe, although a little more action. It owes a debt to Jackal in my opinion.
Yes I have, LOVE that flick! And yeah, a very similar vibe to The Jackal.
Ben Affleck in The Accountant (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140479/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) is another one.

Wyldesyde19

03-31-21, 02:10 AM

Yes I have, LOVE that flick! And yeah, a very similar vibe to The Jackal.
Ben Affleck in The Accountant (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140479/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) is another one.
Oh yeah! I've been meaning to watch The Accountant.

edarsenal

03-31-21, 02:16 AM

It was very much a surprise watch, at how well it was done. Like The American, there is more action but it addresses the practical side like the other two, so I'd totally recommend it for ya.

gandalf26

03-31-21, 10:53 AM

Glad you like The Day of the Jackal Wyldesyde19. I could talk about that masterpiece all day.

The "tension" really goes up a notch at the end when the Jackal disappears after killing his Turkish Bath friend, and we're left with the entire apparatus of France's security services fumbling around trying to find him on Liberation Day, and despite having a few clues we the audience are left in the dark as to his final moves until he appears at last. Filming a lot of that sequence on the actual Liberation Day itself makes it all feel so much more real.

In regards to the woman taking up too much time perhaps, but it's the one time the Jackal suffers a bit of a mishap having a car accident, I read the book once and I don't think he intended to revisit the woman at her house, it's more of a plan B because he has a car accident. He's so good that he's setting up back up plans along the way.

I enjoyed the American too, what a horrible existence Clooney's assassin has not knowing who to trust or if he has been marked for death and who by.

Wyldesyde19

04-01-21, 01:02 AM

A review for Shame will be up sometime tomorrow.

SpelingError

04-01-21, 01:28 PM

I'm sorry guys, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this HoF. I don't think I'm going to be able to finish it. Too overwhelmed right now. I might join the next one though.

April Fools lol!

Citizen Rules

04-01-21, 01:44 PM

Banned from the 25th HoF!

Kidding! Happy April 1st!

Wyldesyde19

04-01-21, 07:15 PM

cricket

04-01-21, 07:46 PM

........don’t judge me.....

Too late.

"Hey he's alright"

edarsenal

04-01-21, 08:56 PM

Started to write out a review for Shame, and it started out something like this:

“Any film that begins with a topless Liv Ullmann already starts with a passing grade from me”

I promptly deleted it, and will write a more proper review tonight. I may still make a reference about them, however.
........don’t judge me.....
That was me too.

Hmm, okay, I'm invested.

I still haven't written my review for Shame either :rolleyes:
actually, I have about three total for varying HoFs.

edarsenal

04-01-21, 09:05 PM

I'm sorry guys, but I'm going to have to withdraw from this HoF. I don't think I'm going to be able to finish it. Too overwhelmed right now. I might join the next one though.

April Fools lol!

Banned from the 25th HoF!

Kidding! Happy April 1st!

Oh, you mischievous sprites and your humorous hijinks

https://media.tenor.com/images/e515280432e9f8c867c8a37db55509c1/tenor.gif

:D:D

Wyldesyde19

04-01-21, 09:13 PM

That was me too.

Hmm, okay, I'm invested.

I still haven't written my review for Shame either :rolleyes:
actually, I have about three total for varying HoFs.

Yeah, I tend to take a day or so after watching certain films before I post a review because I want to think more on them, such as is the case with Shame and even La Dolce Vita before that.
But never more then one film at a time.

edarsenal

04-01-21, 11:27 PM

Yeah, I tend to take a day or so after watching certain films before I post a review because I want to think more on them, such as is the case with Shame and even La Dolce Vita before that.
But never more then one film at a time.

Sometimes, I can knock out a few but not enough additional time to follow up with reviews.

I do agree certain movies do take a day or more to ponder over. Shame is an excellent example of that.
On the flip side, there are those hard-hitting emotional films that demand an instant write-up moments after the end credits.

Citizen Rules

04-02-21, 02:17 AM

For me, the longer I take to review a movie, the more my passion wanes. I liked to write a review immediately after watching it while I'm still fired up from the viewing...but usually I have to wait until the next day to write.

Wyldesyde19

04-02-21, 04:43 AM

Shame

A marriage that’s already frayed unravels even further set to the backdrop of a unspecified war. As only Bergman can direct. Filmed gloriously in black and white.

Liv Ullmann and Max Von Sydow play the unhappy husband and wife, Eva and Jan respectively. They are former musicians in a Orchestra. Eva seems unhappy, holds resentment over Jans affairs during a break, and can not stand his childishness and his procrastination. Jan seems to lament the disbandment of the orchestra many years ago. He can’t stand the way she is often times terse towards him. An early exchange has him in tears over her telling him, sternly I guess, to get his leather jacket. He may be a little sensitive.

They’re caught up in war, where their differences with each other is brought to the surface, forcing them to deal with their issues. Complicating matters is a General Jacobi, who insists on making things difficult for them. He clearly imposed himself on them, and is interested in Eva. She makes a decision involving Jacobi that makes little sense to me. She clearly doesn’t want him around. So was it out of spite for her husband? Whatever it was, that decision sets in motion events that change their dynamic.

I didn’t particularly care too much for this film much, surprisingly. I found the camera angle to be too close up at times. But despite those close up angles, there were many other great scenes that only his long time cinematographer, Sven Nyquist, is capable of capturing. Scenes like the burning of their house, and their subsequent travel to escape their dire situation.* And who can forget the sea of corpses?

The acting was ok, but nothing about this film really resonated with me. I found it interesting at a few points, the idea of the marriage unraveling as the war raged on around them, mimicking their own hostility. Their sudden role reversal. But Bergman never really fully delivers. Maybe I expected too much considering how much I love The Seventh Seal.

That’s not to say it isn’t a good film. I liked parts of it. But I get the suspicion that this is a film that will improve on a rewatch.

rauldc14

04-03-21, 10:35 AM

With the ballots I have I usually kept a running tally but I haven't calculated anything yet so it will be a total surprise even to me who's winning.

pahaK

04-03-21, 10:44 AM

With the ballots I have I usually kept a running tally but I haven't calculated anything yet so it will be a total surprise even to me who's winning.

I heard In a Glass Cage is -200 favorite in Las Vegas.

edarsenal

04-03-21, 03:48 PM

With the ballots I have I usually kept a running tally but I haven't calculated anything yet so it will be a total surprise even to me who's winning.
I do that when I Host. Since I'm normally one of the stragglers, I don't want my vote influenced even on a subconscious level. Though, for those who enjoy it, I'll do a series of counts according to when votes come in at the very end to show how the votes affected the count throughout.

edarsenal

04-03-21, 04:12 PM

https://iv1.lisimg.com/image/3879531/498full-ingmar-bergman.jpg

Shame aka Skammen (1968)

It does appear that, like others, this would definitely benefit from a second viewing. A definite solid Bergman film that I did remain engaged throughout, I was never entirely captivated. (OK, there was that opening when Liv Ullman shrugged her way out of bed). And, of course, that boat ride at the very end. I was very captivated with the occasional momentum entrenched scenes that spoke outward involving the diminishing relationship, their switching of personas, and the military's interference and insistence that their side is the Right Side. Yet, both acted like selfish, insecure teenagers with guns.
Of course, the cinematic aspect was the usual quality work by Sven Nyquist, and Bergman does deliver, not at the top of his game, but significantly.
As I write this, I am very much aware that this could change on a second viewing of this film. Not extensively, but enough to raise the enjoyment a few notches, thereby bringing the gap a bit closer between Enjoyment and Respect. With a mutual Appreciation growing a little stronger across the board.

Still, I do welcome another opportunity to explore further a Director that I fully respect. Even though I lack the learned knowledge to appreciate in-depth fully, I am thankful for these opportunities to discover.

Thief

04-03-21, 10:57 PM

Still sticking to this for the most part...

With the deadline set at April 20, this is my tentative schedule to which I will not subject...

March, Week 1: In a Glass Cage
March, Week 2: The Whisperers
March, Week 3: The Secret in Their Eyes
March, Week 4: Vampyr
March/April, Week 5/1: La Dolce Vita, Hard Times
April, Week 2: The Day of the Jackal
April, Week 3: Barry Lyndon, The Sea Inside
April, Week 4: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Will try to catch up with The Secret in Their Eyes and maybe Hard Times this week.

rauldc14

04-04-21, 11:58 AM

There are 17 days left! Happy Easter!

Thief

04-04-21, 02:53 PM

VAMPYR
(1932, Dreyer)
A film from the 1930s

https://i.blogs.es/3741ea/vampyr-f1/1366_2000.jpg

"Who can solve the riddle of life and death or fathom the dark secrets hidden from the light of day?"

Death has always been a mystery. What awaits for us after has been the subject of studies, theories, beliefs, and fantasies, particularly because, well, there's no way to tell. From established religions to cults, from attempts to bring people back from the dead or avoid it altogether. Perhaps those were some of the questions in the mind of Allan Gray, the main character in this film from Carl Theodore Dreyer.

Vampyr follows Gray (Nicolas de Gunzburg) as his studies of devils and vampires take him to the village of Courtempierre. It is there that he finds himself immersed in a dreamlike journey where death is not only a matter of investigation, but a constant threat to him, and everyone around him; especially the family that he's trying to protect.

Early in the film, as Gray arrives at an inn, we see a ferryman that's traveling across the river. His silhouetted image, with the sickle in hand, reminded me of the mythical Charon, the ferryman that carried the souls of the deceased through the river Styx and into Hades. And that image made me wonder about the reality of what we're seeing, how much of it is actually in Gray's mind while in an afterlife dreamlike state.

But that's the thing. Just like death itself, it is never clear what is real and what is a dream. Through the film, Gray himself steps in and out of his body, and experiences hallucinations of his own death. But even if the film doesn't really try to answer its own questions, what really stands out is the imagery that Dreyer presents; from the sickled silhouette that adorns most of the film's promotional pictures, to the images of ghastly soldiers and people marching or dancing; death is everywhere.

This is my second time watching this film and, even though I still find it hard to peg down, I still find it visually mesmerizing and captivating anyway. Much like Gray himself seemed eager to dive into this journey, I was looking forward to rewatching it myself.

Grade: 4

SpelingError

04-04-21, 10:05 PM

Shame (1968) - 4

This war drama is another impressive addition to Bergman's large body of films. Though some of the themes it boasts (dehumanization) aren't the most original for the genre, I really appreciated the way it handled this aspect. The various struggles that Eva and Jan experienced influenced their connection to each other and their willingness to commit heinous acts to survive. Early on in the film, for example, Jan was unable to kill a chicken, but later developed the stomach to kill another person. By contrast, while Eva was more sympathetic, Jan's actions lead to her despair and her feeling of disconnection from him later on. While the characterizations were effective though, I was mainly drawn to how the film appeared to be anti-war. For instance, we never learn what war was going on in the film. It might as well be a fictitious war. We also don't learn much about why the war is going on. Given the lack of insight over those details, Bergman didn't appear to glamourize either side. While the invading forces obviously caused problems for the two protagonists and other people around them, the army on their side wasn't depicted in a positive light either. In addition to a couple scenes of the soldiers mistreating their own citizens, Col. Jacobi also took advantage of and used Eva and Jan for his own purposes, just like the invading forces who interviewed the couple did. For the most part, I really loved this film, though I wasn't sure what to make of the ending sequence. While it contained some of the most horrifying imagery in the film, the tonal jump from war drama to survival thriller felt like a strange culmination to the film's themes. In spite of that, I really enjoyed my time with this film.

Next up: Vampyr

Thief

04-05-21, 05:33 PM

Might try to check out Hard Times today. We'll see.

rauldc14

04-05-21, 08:52 PM

Might try to check out Hard Times today. We'll see.

Do it!

SpelingError

04-05-21, 08:57 PM

Hard Times is pretty awesome. It landed in my top 10 favorite sports films when I wrote it up for this thread. Thanks to whoever recommended it (Torgo, I think).

Thief

04-05-21, 09:53 PM

Do it!

On it right now

Torgo

04-05-21, 10:22 PM

Hard Times is pretty awesome. It landed in my top 10 favorite sports films when I wrote it up for this thread. Thanks to whoever recommended it (Torgo, I think).Glad you liked it.
Let's just hope Thief also finds it podcast-worthy.

SpelingError

04-05-21, 10:26 PM

Glad you liked it.
Let's just hope Thief also finds it podcast-worthy.
If he doesn't like it, let's give him a Hard Time-s about it.

rauldc14

04-06-21, 08:42 AM

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Thief 6 left
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I won't be extending the deadline, which is April 20th at 11:59 PM CT.

Thief

04-06-21, 11:05 AM

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I won't be extending the deadline, which is April 20th at 11:59 PM CT.

Make that 5, pal!

Siddon

04-06-21, 11:41 AM

@Siddon (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=95448) 5 left
@Thief (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=109353) 6 left
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I won't be extending the deadline, which is April 20th at 11:59 PM CT.

I count 4 what am I missing ? Whispers, Secret in Their Eyes, In a Glass Cage, Hard Times....

rauldc14

04-06-21, 11:46 AM

I count 4 what am I missing ? Whispers, Secret in Their Eyes, In a Glass Cage, Hard Times....

I missed your Antwone Fisher review. Fixed now!

SpelingError

04-06-21, 12:25 PM

I won't be extending the deadline, which is April 20th at 11:59 PM CT.

Could you extend it for five more seconds? I want to make sure I have enough time to finish it.

rauldc14

04-06-21, 12:31 PM

Could you extend it for five more seconds? I want to make sure I have enough time to finish it.

Last exception!

Torgo

04-06-21, 12:32 PM

When it's over, I'll celebrate with some champagne...in a glass Cage.

https://i.imgur.com/1UOBII3.jpg

SpelingError

04-06-21, 12:33 PM

That means the deadline is now April 20th at 11:59:05 PM CT.

Thief

04-06-21, 12:46 PM

When it's over, I'll celebrate with some champagne...in a glass Cage.

https://i.imgur.com/1UOBII3.jpg

Ahh, that'll be the end of the hard times, and we're gonna have la dolce vita :shifty:

Wyldesyde19

04-06-21, 01:56 PM

Antwone Fisher will be next. Plan on watching it the next day or so

Thief

04-06-21, 03:00 PM

Raul is putting the pressure on us... :shifty:

Anyway, I'll see if I can post my Hard Times review later today. Meanwhile...

With the deadline set at April 20, this is my tentative schedule to which I will not subject...

March, Week 1: In a Glass Cage
March, Week 2: The Whisperers
March, Week 3: The Secret in Their Eyes
March, Week 4: Vampyr
March/April, Week 5/1: La Dolce Vita, Hard Times
April, Week 2: The Day of the Jackal
April, Week 3: Barry Lyndon, The Sea Inside
April, Week 4: Beasts of the Southern Wild

My options for today are either La Dolce Vita, The Secret in Their Eyes, or The Day of the Jackal. One of those will go down... TONIGHT! [cue fanfare]

Thief

04-06-21, 03:01 PM

BTW, what happens if one participant doesn't see all the films? Does he/she get eliminated, and therefore his/her film?

Siddon

04-06-21, 03:02 PM

BTW, what happens if one participant doesn't see all the films? Does he/she get eliminated, and therefore his/her film?

If it's one or two films the deadline typically gets pushed back till they finish. If not they are out as is the film

Citizen Rules

04-06-21, 03:31 PM

If it's one or two films the deadline typically gets pushed back till they finish. If not they are out as is the filmRaul sounds pretty serious about not extending the deadline.

Siddon

04-06-21, 04:00 PM

Raul sounds pretty serious about not extending the deadline.

He doesn't have the balls to set a hard limit...not in these

https://i2.wp.com/projectedfigures.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/iu-14-2.jpeg?resize=810%2C540&ssl=1

Hard Times (1975)

Well this was a nice little noir period piece. Hard Times tells the story of gambling and boxing during the depression era. It has a certain Peckinpah quality to it. Apparently Hill wanted someone young for the lead role...boy I'm glad he was talked out of that one because Bronson is fantastic in this. Bronson is 52 at this point...looks fantastic and adds a depth and quality to the fight scenes.

James Coburn is the costar and it's nice to see him as a wormy type fellow. If you can't get Lee Marvin grab James Coburn and he'll do in a pinch. What I love about this film is that it's a solid period piece. This is a movie that moves from set piece to set piece and feels like the 30's

I don't know if I'm going to score this highly but it was a fun watch.

Thief

04-07-21, 01:34 AM

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I won't be extending the deadline, which is April 20th at 11:59 PM CT.

Make that 4, pal!

Seriously, though... I still have 4 films to watch, but considering I've already seen 2 of them, I guess it's as good a time as any to say that this has been a really great batch of films you've all recommended. It's my first HOF here and it has been a real joy. I'm already puzzling over how the hell I will rank 3 or 4 at the top. Thanks to everybody.

rauldc14

04-07-21, 10:48 AM

Thief

04-07-21, 12:17 PM

I have two pending reviews here, but after seeing The Secret In Their Eyes last night, I have to get this off my chest... that stadium long take was pretty insane, wasn't it?

Citizen Rules

04-07-21, 01:29 PM

Make that 4, pal!

Seriously, though... I still have 4 films to watch, but considering I've already seen 2 of them, I guess it's as good a time as any to say that this has been a really great batch of films you've all recommended. It's my first HOF here and it has been a real joy. I'm already puzzling over how the hell I will rank 3 or 4 at the top. Thanks to everybody.I'm rooting for you! You can do it too. I see that you watch movies all the time and post about them in the Rate the Last Movie you Saw thread, so you'll be fine and finish in time:) Good to have you! And all the new people here! Hope everyone joins the 25th which yours truly is hosting:p

rauldc14

04-07-21, 02:09 PM

I'm rooting for you! You can do it too. I see that you watch movies all the time and post about them in the Rate the Last Movie you Saw thread, so you'll be fine and finish in time:) Good to have you! And all the new people here! Hope everyone joins the 25th which yours truly is hosting:p

I've settled in on a nomination for that one already. Really excited to hear everyone's opinion on it!

Thief

04-07-21, 02:32 PM

HARD TIMES
(1975, Hill)
A film with a title that starts with the letters G or H

https://moviesanddrinkscom.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/ht10-fi.jpg?w=1050&h=379

"I don't look past the next bend in the road"

That's how hardened and stoic street fighter Chaney (Charles Bronson) describes himself to Lucy. Simply put, there's not much to say about Chaney, but he gets the job done, quick and efficiently. Which is something we can say about Walter Hill's debut film.

Set in the 1930s, Hard Times follows the struggles of Chaney, who moves from town to town making ends meet in illegal street fights. His pedigree and schedule sorta ramps up when he pairs up with Speed (James Coburn), a shady hustler that wants to make money off of him, which also puts him at odds with some dangerous elements.

Like Chaney, there's a simplicity to the film that I think works to its advantage. There's not a lot of figuring out what's going on. We just see this man go from fight to fight, and be supremely cool about it. There are attempts to flesh him out, particularly with his interactions with Lucy (Jill Ireland), a married woman with whom he gets involved. But there's not much around that bend for them either.

Speed, on the other hand, felt like a more complex character. I really liked how hard it was to peg him down, and I thought Coburn played that ambiguity really well. They are joined by Strother Martin, who plays Poe, a disgraced doctor that becomes Chaney's cutman, but as good as Martin is, he doesn't have much to do.

As Chaney moves up the ranks, he is often described as reliable and efficient. My experience with Hill's work is limited, but it seems that he abides by that same rule. Hard Times is not a complex film at all; it's rather simple. But it's as reliable and efficient as it can be, and much like those fights, a lot of fun to watch.

Grade: 3.5

SpelingError

04-07-21, 02:38 PM

I have two pending reviews here, but after seeing The Secret In Their Eyes last night, I have to get this off my chest... that stadium long take was pretty insane, wasn't it?

Sadly, the opening bit didn't involve an actual helicopter :(

But yes, I agree. It's a terrific sequence.

Thief

04-07-21, 04:50 PM

Sadly, the opening bit didn't involve an actual helicopter :(

But yes, I agree. It's a terrific sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBeYm2aPKCw

Wyldesyde19

04-08-21, 04:54 PM

Review for Antwone Fisher will be up later tonight.
Barry Lyndon is next.

Is Neiba still in this? I literally haven’t seen him post in about a month now

Thief

04-08-21, 05:26 PM

THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES
(2009, Campanella)
A drama film

https://i.imgur.com/2iFRO6P.jpg

"If you keep going over the past, you're going to end up with a thousand pasts and no future."

That's the advice that agent Benjamín Esposito (Ricardo Darín) gets at one point on this film from Argentina. And yet, many of the characters seem to be caught up in the past for different reasons: from the desire for revenge, their quest for answers, or their longing for love. Will they be willing to leave the "jurisdiction" of the past and look forward instead?

The Secret in Their Eyes uses a nonlinear narrative moving back and forth between the 1970s and the 1990s. It follows Esposito, a former deputy in Buenos Aires who investigated the rape and murder of a young woman that didn't end up the way he would've wanted. Two decades later, he's still haunted by it and starts writing a novel about it.

Esposito is assisted in his investigation by Pablo Sandoval (Guillermo Francella), an alcoholic but dependable friend, and Irene (Soledad Villamil), his superior who reluctantly helps him at first, but eventually realizes that he might be right about the investigation. Even though Esposito and Irene are obviously smitten with each other, they never dare to share their feelings to each other.

I didn't know much about this film before I started watching it, but it certainly wasn't what I expected, in a good way. The film manages to tread along different genres without losing a beat: whether it's a psychological thriller, a crime drama, or even tinges of historic epic, with how it weaves Argentina's historical and political history into the plot.

The thrilling aspect of it is evident all through the film, particularly during two scenes: a breathtaking sequence in a soccer stadium, which features a 5-minute long shot that had me on the edge of my seat all the way, and a supremely tense elevator ride. But the care that director and co-writer Juan José Campanella gives each character makes for an extremely rewarding experience in terms of their development and depth, and the actors' performances back that up.

I do think that the film is perhaps 10-20 minutes too long, and my cynical self thinks that the epilogue wasn't entirely necessary, but the truth is that after 2+ hours of following this characters as they keep going over the past, it was earned to see them move on and look forward to a future.

Grade: 4

Thief

04-08-21, 05:26 PM

Is Neiba still in this? I literally haven’t seen him post in about a month now

I think somebody said that he usually swoops in late and completes it, but I don't know. MoFo's know him better than I do.

Wyldesyde19

04-08-21, 07:03 PM

I think somebody said that he usually swoops in late and completes it, but I don't know. MoFo's know him better than I do.
He usually does yeah, but with about 12 days to go and about 7 or 8 films to review yet, it’s pushing it.

Thief

04-08-21, 09:56 PM

La Dolce Vita and The Day of the Jackal being almost 3 hours is really messing up my schedule :laugh: Not to mention Barry Lyndon being a little over 3!

SpelingError

04-09-21, 08:17 PM

La Dolce Vita and The Day of the Jackal being almost 3 hours is really messing up my schedule :laugh: Not to mention Barry Lyndon being a little over 3!
You can do it!

Thief

04-09-21, 09:05 PM

You can do it!

I've seen Barry Lyndon before, so there's that too... and I have plenty of time, I guess, for the 4 ones I have left, but being 3 hours means I have to either split it in two nights or wait for the weekends :laugh:

rauldc14

04-09-21, 09:06 PM

Review for Antwone Fisher will be up later tonight.
Barry Lyndon is next.

Is Neiba still in this? I literally haven’t seen him post in about a month now

Between him and Suspect I wouldn't hold my breath at all. I'm really hoping everyone else can make it.

rauldc14

04-09-21, 09:09 PM

I've seen Barry Lyndon before, so there's that too... and I have plenty of time, I guess, for the 4 ones I have left, but being 3 hours means I have to either split it in two nights or wait for the weekends :laugh:

If you can knock out like 2 this weekend I'd say your in good shape!

Wyldesyde19

04-09-21, 09:38 PM

Between him and Suspect I wouldn't hold my breath at all. I'm really hoping everyone else can make it.
Yeah, I have Antwone Fisher finished. Just need to do a review (incoming) and then watch Barry Lyndon, which I own, this week. I’ll probably watch Beast of the Southern Wild regardless, as it’s been on my watch list for years

Citizen Rules

04-09-21, 10:01 PM

I've seen Barry Lyndon before, so there's that too... and I have plenty of time, I guess, for the 4 ones I have left, but being 3 hours means I have to either split it in two nights or wait for the weekends :laugh:La Dolce Vita might be even better when it's split into 2 or even 3 parts.

Wyldesyde19

04-09-21, 10:08 PM

Antwone Fisher

The true story of a young man, with a bright future, a dark past and anger issues. He’s enlisted in the Navy, and after an early skirmish, he’s forced to undergo counseling with a therapist, played by Denzel Washington who also directed.

What follows is a familiar film, covering the same themes as Good Will Hunting, although not as good as GWH. It’s a still a good film though.

What centers it is two decent performances from Derek Luke as Fisher, and Washington himself. Washington does well in his debut as a director. It’s nothing particularly amazing, but there are a few scenes worth noticing. In particular, the scene where Fisher recounts a moment from his childhood and Washington faded into the darkness as he does so.

There are some issues. The ending is too long and tries a little too hard to establish the happy ending for Fisher.
I also felt that there wasn’t nearly enough attention towards Denzels marriage, of which there were clearly issues. It would have been nice to see more of that and not a simple glossing over at the end.
Still, it’s a decent film.

rauldc14

04-10-21, 09:01 PM

Wylde and Speling closing in!

rauldc14

04-10-21, 09:02 PM

Siddon and Ed are close too

SpelingError

04-11-21, 12:27 AM

Wylde and Speling closing in!

I should have my review of Vampyr up tomorrow.

SpelingError

04-11-21, 12:37 AM

Also, Wylde and I should have a contest over who finishes first.

Wyldesyde19

04-11-21, 12:54 AM

Also, Wylde and I should have a contest over who finishes first.

I would normally accept but I know how that would end. 😆
*spoilers*: I’d lose.

Was supposed to watch Barry Lyndon today, but opted to hang out with my brother today instead. Will start it up tomorrow.

SpelingError

04-11-21, 12:58 AM

I would normally accept but I know how that would end. 😆
*spoilers*: I’d lose.

Was supposed to watch Barry Lyndon today, but opted to hang out with my brother today instead. Will start it up tomorrow.
I'll win the contest right now:

Vampyr: I liked it.

The Whisperers: I liked it.

:)

All kidding aside, good luck to you with the rest of the films. Barry Lyndon is one of my favorites of this HoF.

Wyldesyde19

04-11-21, 01:17 AM

I'll win the contest right now:

Vampyr: I liked it.

The Whisperers: I liked it.

:)

All kidding aside, good luck to you with the rest of the films. Barry Lyndon is one of my favorites of this HoF.
I’m glad you liked The Whisperers 😎

Vampyr was so visually stunning with its shadow work.

Barry Lyndon I own and have seen it twice over the years. A third viewing is most welcome. It’s, to me, Kubrick's most underrated film, and I rate it higher then The Shining. I’d watch it more often if it wasn’t for that 3 hour run time haha.

SpelingError

04-11-21, 01:23 AM

I’m glad you liked The Whisperers 😎

Vampyr was so visually stunning with its shadow work.

Barry Lyndon I own and have seen it twice over the years. A third viewing is most welcome. It’s, to me, Kubrick's most underrated film, and I rate it higher then The Shining. I’d watch it more often if it wasn’t for that 3 hour run time haha.

I actually haven't gotten to The Whisperers yet. I'm looking forward to it though. Vampyr was my rec. I've seen it a few times already and it has impressed me more with each viewing.

Wyldesyde19

04-11-21, 01:58 PM

*settles down comfortably to watch Barry Lyndon*

Thief

04-11-21, 02:02 PM

No word from neiba yet? I'm gonna push Beasts of the Southern Wild for last, just in case.

I'm recording a podcast episode tonight, but if I have time, I might start La Dolce Vita or Barry Lyndon. We'll see.

rauldc14

04-12-21, 07:08 AM

Just for the record, I will NOT be accepting ballots if all reviews aren't in. Everything due next Tuesday at 11:59:05 CT PM :)

neiba

04-12-21, 07:23 AM

Thief

04-12-21, 12:23 PM

I've been watching stuff, I'll review what I have later today

https://66.media.tumblr.com/9c23db33e0465a65e426e2691a55631f/tumblr_pxmmgkGK141sqsyybo10_r1_500.gif

Good to see you're still around!

SpelingError

04-12-21, 01:41 PM

Just for the record, I will NOT be accepting ballots if all reviews aren't in. Everything due next Tuesday at 11:59:05 CT PM :)

I'm going to use the extra five seconds at the very end.

Torgo

04-12-21, 01:44 PM

I'm using my five seconds to complement the blue filter in In a Glass Cage.

Wyldesyde19

04-12-21, 09:25 PM

Barry Lyndon

Kubrick films have always been a great for me. When I first delved into films waaaaay back in 1996, A Clockwork Orange was his first film I watched. It captivated me. And after seeking our almost all of his films over the preceding years, only his very early films have escaped me. So far.

Barry Lyndon was a much later film of his I watched. This would be around sometime in 2006 or 2007. I had bought this box set off of a friend, it gave me the chance to watch this and Lolita. BL surprised me at how effortlessly it flows, even if other people have knocked it for its pace. (Crazy talk!)

It tells the life of a scoundrel, a man who seeks to become something he hasn’t earned rightly. He wants to be a lord. Somehow, he thinks that will bring him the respect he so desperately craves. But when he finally does achieve his goal, via a marriage with a wealthy widow, he finds it is itself not without its own pitfalls.

For one thing, he doesn’t behave like a gentleman, according to their society, should. He lack the required skills to be considered as such, no doubt due to his being an adulterer, his callous treatment of his step son, and his handling of his family’s finances that he has come into.
Ryan O’Neal is a strange choice for the role, but he accomplishes his task by not trying to overact. He remains steady enough to deliver his role as directed by Kubrick. He mostly succeeds.

But this is completely Kubrick’s film. His camera work is evident throughout, as he alternated between loathing and pitying Barry, a man who isn’t so much as evil as opportunistic, regardless who he hurts in the process. I don’t particularly think he cares for anyone, other then his mother, and of course his own son. And here we see a tender side to him that we wouldn’t have thought possible. And we think that perhaps maybe he isn’t so bad afterall. His tragedy is felt al the more. Even up until the final duel, where he takes pity on his step son, we too feel some pity for his circumstances.

And that’s where this films succeeds. It draws us in on Barry, a character full of contradictions. A person who isn’t really all that bad, but just didn’t have a proper role model to teach him how to behave like a gentleman. His father dying in a duel while Barry was at a young age. Really, his only father figure was a officer in the Royal Army, perhaps the only real one who treated him with any real kindness whose death is felt even by me, and a fellow rogue who teaches him the life of a gambler. Circumstances determined Barry’s lot longer ago, even if he could have made better decisions.

Wyldesyde19

04-12-21, 09:26 PM

That leaves me with just Neiba’s film, Beast of the Southern Wild right?

I’ll wait until this weekend to watch it, to see if he can finish it out or not, but until then, I’m basically done

Thief

04-12-21, 09:30 PM

Starting Day of the Jackal right now...

Thief

04-12-21, 11:09 PM

Starting Day of the Jackal right now...

If they had Internet back then, the film would be an hour shorter :laugh:

pahaK

04-12-21, 11:27 PM

If they had Internet back then, the film would be an hour shorter :laugh:

Internet, mobile phones, and technology, in general, are such huge obstacles to storytelling. Maybe that's why we have so many 80s retro films these days.

rauldc14

04-13-21, 09:46 AM

8 days for the slackers to finish!

Thief

04-13-21, 10:17 AM

Siddon 5 left
Thief 6 left 5 left 4 left 3 left
TheUsualSuspect 11 left
neiba 9 left
SpelingError 2 left
Wyldesyde19 3 left
edarsenal 2 left

I won't be extending the deadline, which is April 20th at 11:59 PM CT.

Make that 3, pal!

Thief

04-13-21, 10:22 AM

8 days for the slackers to finish!

https://media.giphy.com/media/rpRVLhPHMbK1ILfPmE/giphy.gif

rauldc14

04-14-21, 06:26 AM

https://media1.tenor.com/images/54630dd62d191cf941ecc6d6313cd41c/tenor.gif?itemid=7817466

Thief

04-14-21, 12:44 PM

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL
(1973, Zinnemann)

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--sN7Qcg_i--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/jgdvxipehu8qt3o0mrp3.jpg

"In this work, you simply can't afford to be emotional. That's why you've made so many mistakes."

That's the advice that the assassin codenamed The Jackal (Edward Fox) gives to his potential clients. They want to hire him to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle after one failed attempt from their part, and the Jackal is more than willing to oblige; for the right price, of course.

The Day of the Jackal follows the meticulous attempts of the assassin to achieve his task, and he goes at it with careful planning, a lot of patience, and no emotion. Meanwhile, law enforcement makes numerous attempts to locate him and stop him. The main efforts are led by skilled investigator Claude Lebel (Michael Lonsdale), who has a similarly meticulous and careful approach to his work.

Much like the Jackal himself, there is a cold and distant approach to the film from director Fred Zinnemann, but for the most part it works. Like a great procedural, we see the contrast between the Jackal and Lebel as each one tries to outsmart the other. But the focus is on the Jackal all the way (for contrast, Lebel is introduced around the 50 minute mark, which is halfway through the film), as we see the extent of his skills. I don't think I'm alone, but in a weird way, we want to see him succeed.

There are a lot of twists and turns as the Jackal evades the police, some of them are pretty cool and surprising, a few of them not so much? But through it all we see his focus on the mission and his lack of care for other human beings. The coldness with which he disposes of everyone or anyone that threatens the mission is excellently portrayed by Fox. As for the technical aspects, they are mostly top notch. Zinnemann's direction is tight and tense, and the editing is superb.

In the end, I'm a bit conflicted. Even though I greatly appreciate the "bare bones", emotionless approach of Zinnemann, part of me wishes that Lebel was a bit more fleshed out, or that the climax and ending wasn't as abrupt as it is. On the other hand, I remember other similar thrillers that try to make more out of something and fail by adding too many variables, too many emotions. Maybe that's why they make so many mistakes.

Grade: 4

edarsenal

04-14-21, 02:11 PM

NICE!

edarsenal

04-14-21, 02:56 PM

https://images.static-bluray.com/reviews/7204_1.jpg

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Hushpuppy: Sometimes you can break something so bad, that it can't get put back together.

Benh Zeitlin's directorial film debut, BotSW shifts effortlessly between natural disaster and fanciful references to Greek mythology. Young Hushpuppy, played exceptionally by Quvenzhané Wallis lives with her father, Wink (Dwight Henry), on a soon-to-be-flooded island nicknamed The Bathtub, south of New Orleans. Populated by very proud and rather content bayou folks, they "Beast it" when it comes to life. Simply put, life is too hard to be a p@ssy, so toughen up. And considering all that occurs, it's a solid mentality if you wish to survive the bayou and the rising waters.

Since my time had been very limited in the past week, it took about four very short visits to this film to see its entirety causing me to back out and then slip back into the film. Which, in its way, was a great testimony of how effortlessly it was capable of bringing you into both the world that Hushpuppy lives and the world within her creative imagination. Since each time I returned, it was scarcely any transition to get back into the film, though I do wish, very much, upon a full revisit to ensure time to remain immersed in this very captivating film.

Using actual folks from the bayou instead of actors really made the difference in The Bathtub citizens. Adding a more realistic feel to every day and thereby a strong contrast to the mystical aspects while keeping both on an equal keel. The transition between the two is so smooth to the point of complete coexistence.

Like so many films previously and for the ones to come, this is a film I would never have heard of or had the opportunity to experience.
THANK YOU for that!

Wyldesyde19

04-14-21, 07:10 PM

So, I’m holding off on Beasts for the time being until I know for sure if Neiba is still in. If he hasn’t chimes in by Friday, I’ll go ahead and send my ballot in.

Is this ok, Raul?

rauldc14

04-14-21, 09:54 PM

So, I’m holding off on Beasts for the time being until I know for sure if Neiba is still in. If he hasn’t chimes in by Friday, I’ll go ahead and send my ballot in.

Is this ok, Raul?

Ya. A bit maddening since he said he would post his reviews later today 2 days ago.

I think for future HOFs they should have better guidelines of reaching a certain amount of reviews at certain timeframes, so I blame myself for that.

Thief

04-14-21, 10:03 PM

I understand that as a host or participant, it can be a bit "maddening", perhaps? But to be fair, we can't control the viewing habits of people. What I mean is, some people can spend two weeks not watching anything for whatever reason, work or whatnot, and then go and cram 10 films in a week. If that's the case, I'll say let them be. If anyone hasn't voluntarily bowed out or actively voiced some apprehension about making it (like Speling did a couple of weeks ago), then let's assume they're in and that they will deliver. I know I'm new here, but I feel putting hurdles through the timeframe only ends up being more restrictive. Those are my two cents.

Wyldesyde19

04-14-21, 10:45 PM

Neiba normally finches these in my experience, and I know he was pretty busy. So I get it.
That said, I’ll give it until Friday and see what occurs. On Saturday, I’ll just send the ballot in as is

Citizen Rules

04-14-21, 10:50 PM

I've hosted a lot of HoFs in the past and had dropouts many, many times. The most frustrating situation is when a member is not active at all, yet keeps saying they're in the HoF. That then causes the other members to wonder what they should do. If they go ahead and watch that person's movie they can be wasting their time and even money if they have to pay for the movie. That's not right...as this is a group activity and one of the principals of an HoF is group participation and if someone avoids the HoF until the last week and then dumps a bunch of reviews on the thread then that's not participation...and it's not really fair to the other members.

Thief

04-14-21, 10:56 PM

For what it's worth, I'm starting La Dolce Vita right now. I'm in the middle of editing a podcast episode, which I want to be done soon, but I have to start this some day.

SpelingError

04-14-21, 11:27 PM

Vampyr (1932) - 4.5

Initially, I struggled with Dreyer quite a lot, often being left cold by his films. This was the first film of his I saw which I really warmed up to though. By my second viewing, I found myself taken in by the shadow techniques which were utilized in all kinds of inventive ways, the consistently creepy set pieces and sequences which added to the film's atmospheric power, the overall surreal and often indescribable tone of the whole film, or how it felt like a silent film given how barely any dialogue and sound effects were in it. With my third viewing, I realized that this film does a better job at establishing a creepy mood than just about all horror films I've ever seen have. As for the story, I'm still not sure I understand everything which happened in it. Like, I get the general outline of the plot, but I don't know why everything in the film happens. Normally, I would be bothered by this, but I actually didn't mind that at all with this film. Since the stylistic elements of the film are so strong and diverse, I think that was all the film needed to be great. The sensory techniques this film utilized caused it to be a highly surreal and strange tale. Simply feeling the power of those elements came with their own set of rewards which moved me in ways which few films I've seen have, so I'm not sure I want the story to be more coherent. It was already impactful. As I watched one highly surreal, often indescribable set piece go by after another, I found myself becoming more involved with the mysterious beauty of the film, even if I didn't understand what was going on half the time. Overall, this is a fantastic horror film and I'm glad I was able to revisit it for this thread.

Last up: The Whisperers

edarsenal

04-14-21, 11:47 PM

SpelingError

04-14-21, 11:54 PM

that was my happy experience as well. Was a little lost at times with the storyline but was far too involved in the atmosphere and the clever use of shadows for it to truly matter or be any kind of negative.

I think it also helped that the atmospheric elements contributed to the surrealism, as opposed to feeling secondary or unrelated to it. One thing which really impressed me this viewing was how some characters appeared to pop into the frame in rather unconventional ways in certain scenes.

edarsenal

04-15-21, 12:02 AM

I agree. I had did the same thing and watched it a second time simply because of the "atmospheric elements" and how intriguing I found them.

SpelingError

04-15-21, 12:34 AM

Unrelated, but didn't somebody mention that this is the largest HoF we've had so far (or it's one of them)?

Citizen Rules

04-15-21, 03:12 AM

Unrelated, but didn't somebody mention that this is the largest HoF we've had so far (or it's one of them)?Nope not the largest. The 7th HoF had 18 members but three people dropped out, the films stayed in so there was still 18 movies to watch.

rauldc14

04-15-21, 06:23 AM

Unrelated, but didn't somebody mention that this is the largest HoF we've had so far (or it's one of them)?

It was on track to be tied at one point. It will be quite far off of that for the end result.

SpelingError

04-15-21, 02:23 PM

Darn, let's amend that with the 25th HoF :)

Citizen Rules

04-15-21, 02:53 PM

Darn, let's amend that with the 25th HoF :)I'm offering a free door prize for everyone who joins the 25th:p

SpelingError

04-15-21, 05:41 PM

I'm offering a free door prize for everyone who joins the 25th:p

I'll join, get the free door prize, and leave right afterwards.:D

Citizen Rules

04-15-21, 06:11 PM

I'll join, get the free door prize, and leave right afterwards.:DIn that case you get the booby-trap:p

Thief

04-16-21, 02:03 AM

Well, I just finished La Dolce Vita so, technically I can say I finished, considering I've already seen the two that I'm missing (Barry Lyndon and Beasts of the Southern Wild). But I want to rewatch them cause it's been a while, so I'll probably do that during the weekend.

rauldc14

04-16-21, 06:48 AM

5 days!!!!! Wednesday will hopefully unveil the results. I haven't added anything up yet so will even be a surprise to me.

Siddon

04-16-21, 06:33 PM

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd39f80b91449614c55bcb4/1608540330601-VYER0CM04P22TSASF7BD/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kJ7qCJnd-9dUFi-EBo_swvp7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z4YTzHvnKhyp6Da-NYroOW3ZGjoBKy3azqku80C789l0tEc0dhFwWyW51JVwKVxSG9fYp4QLJrOs2tsvf7I-gd_Ua5KNO1j-jqccxIqaMqNDw/Screen+Shot+2020-12-05+at+10.10.56+PM+%281%29.png?format=500w

The Whisperers (1966)

Sometimes you just get a nomination that you just don't get. This is a by the books boilerplate british melodrama about an elderly woman. The neglect from her husband and son is clear and she's likely just a little crazy.

Really I don't even know what to say about this nomination. The performances were fine but nothing special seems like all three characters had different accents so that was a mistake. Visually not really that impressive, no score another poor shortcut.

Visually the film is fine, we get a couple powerful visuals but frankly if I remember I watched this film in a year I'll be shocked.

neiba

04-16-21, 06:51 PM

Antwone Fisher (2002)

A pretty straight forward drama that wants to be just that.
Denzel does a good job not focusing on the cinematography too much, and allowing the actors and the script to take central stage. The film isn't about racism or violence, it's about the story of one man who managed to recover from racism and violence and in that regard and the movie shows it perfectly.
The cast is pretty good all around, but Derek Luke takes it to another level!
There's not much else to say about it, only that I really enjoyed it!

3.5

----------------

Vampyr (1932)

I've been wanting to watch something by Carl Dreyer for ages.
This film is the opposite of Antwone Fisher in a way. It focuses tremendously on the cinematography and the symbology behind every image but the story is not engaging. As I'm a sucker for good scripts, I was left a bit disappointed.
However, what this films does well, does reaaaaaally well! The cinematography is tremendous, you can see that this was the beggining of the type of storytelling that guys like Hitchcock used. There are many scenes you could turn into a gif and it would still be a great film!

3 -

Wyldesyde19

04-16-21, 07:06 PM

He’s back! Now I can dig into Beast of the Southern Wild comfortably.

Siddon

04-16-21, 08:29 PM

https://kalafudra.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/traselcristal1.jpg

In a Glass Cage (1989)

When I select films for nominations I often ask myself a question of worthiness. Is this a style that isn't typically seen in other halls, is this a filmmaker other fans might discover, is this a personal fave that hasn't gotten a fair shot. Pahak seems to head down the creepy kid sex route every time. I suppose if you wish to be defined as that person it's fine. Frankly this was a mush better film than say Child Bride or the one where the audio was so messed up you couldn't even tell whats happening.

This is basically a Passolini meets Almodovar film telling the story of a young nurse who decides to torture a former Nazi in an Iron Lung. It's a gross film but it's well made, I think watching this after watching the dull Whisperers increased my enjoyment of the film. I like horror films, I think I likely saw this once before. At the end of the day I see it's value.

Wyldesyde19

04-17-21, 03:31 AM

I’ll have my final film watched this weekend.

Siddon

04-17-21, 11:11 AM

https://top250imdbfilms.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/elevaror.jpg

I've watched this mystery three times now....and while I admire the elements of the work I just didn't care for. For 90% of the film it's a procedural but then it sprinkles in some elements of the thriller yet for me at the end of the day I just can never connect to the story.

This is the story of a man during his mid-life crisis basically trying to find a second act. It's a good idea, it's likely was a major selling point for the lead. The problem is the mystery has to also be good and this just felt like a sanitary Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's also a little embarassing this film won an Oscar for best foreign film in 2009 when you had a field that included classics

The White Ribbon - Michel Hanake
Mother - Boon Jong-ho
White Material - Claire Denis
Valhalla Rising - Nicholas Winding Refn
Broken Embraces - Pedro Almodovar
Dogtooth - Yogos Lanthimos
I am Love - Luca Guadagino
Sin Nombre - Cary Fukunaga
The Girl who played with Fire/kicked the hornets nest - Daniel Alfredson

But even though it's clearly a mistake that it won the Oscar...clearly it's still a good enough film. It didn't really spark joy in me but If I see it on Cable when I'm 65 maybe I'll give the story a fourth chance to hook me.

Citizen Rules

04-17-21, 01:36 PM

I've watched this mystery three times now....If I see it on Cable when I'm 65 maybe I'll give the story a fourth chance to hook me.You always impress me with the amount of movies you've watched and you've seen this three times too. How long until your 65?

cricket

04-17-21, 01:40 PM

It's better than those other movies you listed-if you get everything it's offering. If you don't or can't, there's not really a point of watching, especially for a 4th time.

Takoma11

04-17-21, 04:38 PM

It's better than those other movies you listed-if you get everything it's offering. If you don't or can't, there's not really a point of watching, especially for a 4th time.

I haven't seen everything on that list, but I would easily put both Mother and Dogtooth above Secret in Their Eyes on both technical merit and the daring of the storytelling.

I think that The Secret in Their Eyes is more of a crowd-pleaser and, while it is emotional, it provides an easier degree of closure and more comfortable themes than the others. I am not surprised it won the Oscar.

cricket

04-17-21, 04:55 PM

I haven't seen everything on that list, but I would easily put both Mother and Dogtooth above Secret in Their Eyes on both technical merit and the daring of the storytelling.

I think that The Secret in Their Eyes is more of a crowd-pleaser and, while it is emotional, it provides an easier degree of closure and more comfortable themes than the others. I am not surprised it won the Oscar.

I like both of those movies but I would rate them significantly lower, especially Dogtooth. I don't see it as a crowdpleaser, but I guess it would be a good thing if I did.

Wyldesyde19

04-17-21, 04:55 PM

Secrets in their Eyes is better then Mother for me. Really need to watch the others however.
I’ll be finishing this up today. Ballot will probably be sent tomorrow after my review.

cricket

04-17-21, 04:59 PM

The other two are definitely more wacky, I will give them that.

TheUsualSuspect

04-17-21, 05:21 PM

My apologies for not keeping up with this. Work during covid times is hectic, plus my terror that I call my son doesn't help.

I'm ashamed I won't be able to finish.

rauldc14

04-17-21, 08:54 PM

So no need to watch Rudderless, but I think everyone has except Neiba.

P.S. you've seen more movies this year than me. Just saying :)

Wyldesyde19

04-17-21, 09:05 PM

Rudderless would have been around #5 or #6 had it stayed in. I was glad to have seen it.

cricket

04-17-21, 09:10 PM

I had it 13th out of 15.

Citizen Rules

04-17-21, 10:11 PM

I had Rudderless at 8th place.

Citizen Rules

04-17-21, 10:15 PM

So no need to watch Rudderless, but I think everyone has except Neiba.

P.S. you've seen more movies this year than me. Just saying :)Does Suspect have a Letterboxd account?

SpelingError

04-17-21, 10:16 PM

I had it in 11th place out of 13 films (I still liked it though), but I still need to fit The Whisperers in there.

Thief

04-17-21, 10:31 PM

Thief

04-17-21, 10:40 PM

I had Rudderless at the bottom, but considering I really haven't disliked anything I've seen here so far, it's really not a bad spot to be at. Most of you read my review so you know how I feel.

Anyway, sorry that you couldn't finish, Suspect. Wish you the best at work.

Takoma11

04-17-21, 10:43 PM

I agree with this completely.

Which, just to elaborate, is no slam against crowd-pleasing films (even the more "prestige" form of crowd-pleasers).

Like, I thought about both Mother and Dogtooth for days/weeks after watching them. The Secret in Their Eyes was a really solid, well-acted, and at times wonderfully shot film, but I don't find myself turning over scenes from it in my head at night.

Also, I nominated my film specifically because I think it has a lot of crowd-pleasing elements. So, seriously, no shade toward those who really love Secret in Their Eyes or found it a more moving experience than I did.

Siddon

04-17-21, 11:36 PM

You always impress me with the amount of movies you've watched and you've seen this three times too. How long until your 65?

Well I watched this one, the remake and then for the hall...I turn 65 in 25 years

Wyldesyde19

04-17-21, 11:45 PM

Which, just to elaborate, is no slam against crowd-pleasing films (even the more "prestige" form of crowd-pleasers).

Like, I thought about both Mother and Dogtooth for days/weeks after watching them. The Secret in Their Eyes was a really solid, well-acted, and at times wonderfully shot film, but I don't find myself turning over scenes from it in my head at night.

Also, I nominated my film specifically because I think it has a lot of crowd-pleasing elements. So, seriously, no shade toward those who really love Secret in Their Eyes or found it a more moving experience than I did.

Dogtooth is one I’ve been meaning to watch for a good while now. That, and really, any film from Lanthimos

Takoma11

04-17-21, 11:55 PM

Dogtooth is one I’ve been meaning to watch for a good while now. That, and really, any film from Lanthimos

I've seen Dogtooth and The Killing of a Sacred Deer and liked both of them.

He's one of those directors who creates his own strange vibe. And fortunately he seems to have a knack for finding actors who can get their performances around the weirdness.

I'd say Dogtooth veers a bit darker and more bleak, while Killing of a Sacred Deer is more obviously (to me) dark comedy.

Wyldesyde19

04-18-21, 12:06 AM

I've seen Dogtooth and The Killing of a Sacred Deer and liked both of them.

He's one of those directors who creates his own strange vibe. And fortunately he seems to have a knack for finding actors who can get their performances around the weirdness.

I'd say Dogtooth veers a bit darker and more bleak, while Killing of a Sacred Deer is more obviously (to me) dark comedy.
I forgot he did Sacred Deer. Thanks for the reminder. I also am interested in The Favourite and The Lobster. I’m so behind the past decade it isn’t even funny though.

Takoma11

04-18-21, 12:07 AM

I forgot he did Sacred Deer. Thanks for the reminder. I also am interested in The Favourite and The Lobster. I’m so behind the past decade it isn’t even funny though.

Those are both on my watchlist as well, so you are not alone!

Thief

04-18-21, 12:18 AM

Dogtooth is one I’ve been meaning to watch for a good while now. That, and really, any film from Lanthimos

I've only seen Dogtooth and The Favourite, but I would recommend both. As different as they are, they both have a weird, awkward vibe of dark humor and emotionally disturbing events. Dogtooth leans more to the latter, whereas The Favourite leans more to the former, which makes it a bit more accessible.

rauldc14

04-18-21, 10:15 AM

3 days!

cricket

04-18-21, 10:25 AM

It's better than those other movies you listed-if you get everything it's offering. If you don't or can't, there's not really a point of watching, especially for a 4th time.

The bold part I was saying in jest, it's not something I would ever say with a straight face, and I only said it because I take issue when someone brings up a bunch of movies that have nothing to do with this HoF and use words like "embarrassment" and "clearly". How clear is it that it was a mistake that The Secret in Their Eyes won the foreign language Oscar? I'm wondering because to me it is better than those other films. If it's so clear that I'm wrong, do I just have no clue what I'm talking about? It's no big deal but I didn't care for the post.

I haven't seen everything on that list, but I would easily put both Mother and Dogtooth above Secret in Their Eyes on both technical merit and the daring of the storytelling.

I have no issue if you feel that way, but I wouldn't say it's cut and dry either way. Let's keep in mind that even though you use the word "easily", you did give The Secret in Their Eyes 4.5. For the record I gave Mother 3.5+ and Dogtooth 3. From a technical level, I would say each of the 3 movies are excellent. I would also say that the single most impressive technical moment of all 3 is the soccer stadium scene. The styles of the 3 movies are all different, and I happen to like all 3. A viewer could easily have a personal preference for style, I know I do, but I would have a very difficult time trying to decide which one was better.

As far as the daring of the storytelling, I find the content to be a dime a dozen for Mother and Dogtooth. Someone else may not feel that way, but those are the exact types of movies I seek out and generally prefer. I think they could be daring for a viewer who's used to playing it safe, but when I watched Mother it was exactly what I expected, and the same goes for when I watched Dogtooth, except it was less shocking than I expected. I liked it and thought it was made well but there was nothing that made me uncomfortable or say wow. Boundary pushing is commonplace these days. What I would call daring is Hitchcock killing off his leading lady or Lynch making the G rated Straight Story.

I think that The Secret in Their Eyes is more of a crowd-pleaser and, while it is emotional, it provides an easier degree of closure and more comfortable themes than the others. I am not surprised it won the Oscar.

I don't see it that way and I think one could argue it's more daring than the other two. While the other two were what I expected, this movie was not at all. The movie is packaged as a thriller, but I think anyone looking at it that way or expecting it will be let down. There is a certain risk involved with that. I read some of the write ups here and said to myself, they didn't even see the movie. Siddon said it was the 3rd time he's seen it and then later said that includes one time watching the remake, but they're nothing alike if you get all there is to get from it. It is a very introspective movie that will make some viewers think deeply about their own lives. It's far different from a crowd pleaser at least as I know them to be. Again, it's up to how much the viewer can take from it, but there's a lot there.

My only point of all this is that I think it's unwise to make such matter of fact statements when comparing movies that are all of high quality. I wouldn't ever say The Secret in Their Eyes is better than Dogtooth because I'm nobody to say that and neither is anybody else here, and vice versa.

Wyldesyde19

04-18-21, 02:01 PM

I’ll have my review up for Beasts shortly, heading to Frederick to watch The Courier though because I need to get back to going to the movies.

Thief

04-18-21, 05:48 PM

LA DOLCE VITA
(1960, Fellini)
A drama film

https://cdn2.highdefdigest.com/media/2014/12/02/660/Dolce_Vita_Marcello_Mastroianni.jpg

"The great thing is to burn, and not to freeze."

The above line is uttered by an artist, almost inadvertently, during a party showcased during the middle "episode" of Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita. But the relevance of that line and that philosophy is central to the film, which follows journalist and womanizer Marcello (Marcello Mastroianni), as he navigates through Rome's nightlife and lifestyle of the rich and famous.

The film's story, which is split into seven separate vignettes, is said to represent the Seven Deadly Sins, or the Seven Hills of Rome, or the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church. But while I try to make sense of all those symbolisms, on the surface the film features Marcello struggling with his relationship with volatile fiancée Emma (Yvonne Furneaux) as he also goes about his job as a gossip columnist and socialite, while mingling with celebrities and wallowing in the excesses of sex and drinking.

However, deep down Marcello craves a more meaningful life. He confesses as much to his friend and role model Steiner (Alain Cuny), who as opposed to Marcello, enjoys "partying" with intellectuals, poets, and philosophers instead. It is at this party that we hear the above quote, and up to this point, we've already seen Marcello flirt, engage, and possibly more, with sunbathers, a prostitute, a wealthy heiress (Anouk Aimée), and an actress (Anita Ekberg), not to mention Emma.

For the rest of the film, Marcello continues his descent as he visits a nightclub, an aristocrat party, and a decadent party in a beach house. He's restless, burning, as if constantly looking for something, anything to distract him or take him out of a life he doesn't want, while longing for a life that might not be as good as he thinks. Should he "freeze" or "burn" himself?

Marcello is a tough character to analyze. He's not entirely likable; after all, he's a womanizer, he's unfaithful, and has outbursts of violence and excesses. Putting aside whatever symbolisms each may have, to see every single woman he meets fall at his feet also made me roll my eyes often. But anyway, to add to his complicated persona, Marcello also works at a job that's not the most liked. Still, as a middle-aged man myself, I can't help but sympathize with his search for meaning and purpose, even if I disagree with the ways he goes about it.

At the end of the film, Marcello doesn't seem to be any more closer to finding out about his life as he was at the beginning of the film, but he does seem to be more at peace with just not knowing where "the sweet life" will lead him.

Grade: 4

Thief

04-18-21, 06:06 PM

I will watch something tonight. Was caught up with the podcast the last few days, but I will watch something tonight. It makes more sense to tackle Barry Lyndon tonight, but if not, I'll go with Beasts.

Takoma11

04-18-21, 06:26 PM

I have no issue if you feel that way, but I wouldn't say it's cut and dry either way. Let's keep in mind that even though you use the word "easily", you did give The Secret in Their Eyes 4.5.

I did really like it. I just thought that it did something really well that I have seen before.

While the other two were what I expected, this movie was not at all. The movie is packaged as a thriller, but I think anyone looking at it that way or expecting it will be let down. There is a certain risk involved with that. I read some of the write ups here and said to myself, they didn't even see the movie. Siddon said it was the 3rd time he's seen it and then later said that includes one time watching the remake, but they're nothing alike if you get all there is to get from it. It is a very introspective movie that will make some viewers think deeply about their own lives. It's far different from a crowd pleaser at least as I know them to be. Again, it's up to how much the viewer can take from it, but there's a lot there.

I think that the film is careful to pace out expected beats. The stadium long-take is actually the perfect example of a crowd-pleasing moment done with remarkable technical proficiency.

For example, the opening sequence showing the attack of the woman. Because he was writing in that scene, I thought that the scene was meant to be a parody about how the rape and murder of a pretty young woman is like the easiest thing to write. Then I realized that, no, that is actually the crime they are using to start the film/story.

I appreciate that the film layered the main character's inner life into the story, and let the events drive his emotions/character arc and not the other way around. The movie might have bittersweet elements, but it ultimately offers up something generically satisfying (ie the evil smarmy rapist is punished (though conveniently not by the main character), and the main character rekindles his love affair..

Again, the film is really solid on a technical level, but I do not find it particularly daring. Just good.

My only point of all this is that I think it's unwise to make such matter of fact statements when comparing movies that are all of high quality. I wouldn't ever say The Secret in Their Eyes is better than Dogtooth because I'm nobody to say that and neither is anybody else here, and vice versa.

I mean, I said that I would easily place Mother and Dogtooth over it, not that they are objectively better films.

I do stand by my opinion that the easily-grasped nature of the story and the degree of satisfaction in the resolution makes it an easier "vote getter" than the other movies.

rauldc14

04-18-21, 06:34 PM

Missing.....

2 reviews from Thief
1 review from Wylde
1 review from Speling
6 reviews from Neiba
1 review from Ed

edarsenal

04-18-21, 06:53 PM

About to check out In A Glass Gage right now.
So I'll have a review and (hopefully) my votes in tonight

Thief

04-18-21, 07:37 PM

Missing.....

2 reviews from Thief
1 review from Wylde
1 review from Speling
6 reviews from Neiba
1 review from Ed

https://media.giphy.com/media/l4FATJpd4LWgeruTK/giphy.gif

neiba

04-18-21, 07:40 PM

I've seen Aniara, The Whisperers and Dolce Vita this weekend but I haven't been really into writing lately, I'll try to post my thoughts tomorrow

SpelingError

04-18-21, 08:36 PM

I'll see if I can finish up tomorrow.

cricket

04-18-21, 10:05 PM

I did really like it. I just thought that it did something really well that I have seen before.

I'll take your recommendations, but of course I'm not talking about the story, but other movies you've seen that would make me feel the same way.

I think that the film is careful to pace out expected beats. The stadium long-take is actually the perfect example of a crowd-pleasing moment done with remarkable technical proficiency.

So one thrilling scene earns the film the label of crowd pleaser? That would be selling the film short and ignoring what it's all about. I do understand why you would say that, but then you are not focusing on what the film has to say. To call it a crowd pleaser is to see it on a superficial level rather than to see it as intended.

For example, the opening sequence showing the attack of the woman. Because he was writing in that scene, I thought that the scene was meant to be a parody about how the rape and murder of a pretty young woman is like the easiest thing to write. Then I realized that, no, that is actually the crime they are using to start the film/story.

I appreciate that the film layered the main character's inner life into the story, and let the events drive his emotions/character arc and not the other way around. The movie might have bittersweet elements, but it ultimately offers up something generically satisfying (ie the evil smarmy rapist is punished (though conveniently not by the main character), and the main character rekindles his love affair..

The general story is meant as an analogy to a time in Argentina. It is a part of the movie I don't have a great understanding of.

Again, the film is really solid on a technical level, but I do not find it particularly daring. Just good.

I mean, I said that I would easily place Mother and Dogtooth over it, not that they are objectively better films.

I didn't have an issue with anything you said, most of those comments of mine were directed at a different post. I don't necessarily agree with you but that's ok.

I do stand by my opinion that the easily-grasped nature of the story and the degree of satisfaction in the resolution makes it an easier "vote getter" than the other movies.

Again I feel like this is to miss the point of the entire movie. I liked Dogtooth and Mother, but they didn't make me think or feel anything. Perhaps I should try them again. They made you think but you don't label them as crowd pleasers. Does that mean you don't find them to be entertaining films? What if you could have some depth and be entertained, more ideal or less?

This is a review I just looked up that I thought was pretty good as the dude touches on some, but not all of the themes-

https://youtu.be/--e67q7GC4I

Wyldesyde19

04-18-21, 10:35 PM

Beasts of the Southern Wild

I’m not sure why this film was nominated for best picture.

I found this film boring, and amateurish in its direction with its blurry close ups and somewhat clumsy script. I didn’t connect with the characters as I had hoped, and found myself just not invested in this film. The only scene worth remembering is the touching final moment between Wink and Hushpuppie, where they bear their emotions. But everything before that is just one girls adventure that never really amounts to anything, sadly.

Wyldesyde19

04-18-21, 10:35 PM

I’ll have my ballot sent shortly

Takoma11

04-18-21, 10:54 PM

I'll take your recommendations, but of course I'm not talking about the story, but other movies you've seen that would make me feel the same way.

I can certainly give a list of films that I felt took me on similar emotional journeys, though of course I can't say they'd have that same effect on you.

So one thrilling scene earns the film the label of crowd pleaser? That would be selling the film short and ignoring what it's all about. I do understand why you would say that, but then you are not focusing on what the film has to say. To call it a crowd pleaser is to see it on a superficial level rather than to see it as intended.

I am not using crowd-pleaser as some sort of insult, I'm using it as a categorization. I think that the movie is good and, even more than that, it's a film that I imagine most people who watched it would at least like. Who wouldn't love that stadium sequence?

But, and here's the part that is a bit of a criticism maybe, I do think that it neatly sidesteps the more complex nature of its own story and that the ending specifically is designed to soothe ruffled feathers.

1. My making the main character a passive participant in the torture and suffering of the rapist/murderer. We get the vicarious satisfaction of revenge without dirtying the main character's hands.

2. By giving him a romantic reconciliation with the woman he left and the source of much of his regret

At the end of the day it designs a happy ending, and kind of exorcises any negative emotions the viewer might have at that point.

The general story is meant as an analogy to a time in Argentina. It is a part of the movie I don't have a great understanding of.

I don't think it's meant to be all that analogous, is it? There was tremendous, widespread corruption and certain people were able to get away with crimes while others had to play scary touch-and-go games with the government.

Again I feel like this is to miss the point of the entire movie. I liked Dogtooth and Mother, but they didn't make me think or feel anything. Perhaps I should try them again. They made you think but you don't label them as crowd pleasers. Does that mean you don't find them to be entertaining films? What if you could have some depth and be entertained, more ideal or less?

What I'm getting at is that all those people in the Academy who wouldn't even watch Brokeback Mountain because "ew, gay people!", were probably fine with The Secret in Their Eyes. There is a safety and familiarity to the narrative and the characters. The film centers "a man trying to do the right thing against overwhelming odds". Again, the film does this REALLY WELL. The themes of regret and revenge/justice are well developed. It does a good job of telling a small-scale story (the murder investigation) and a large-scale story (the political corruption in Argentina) at the same time.

My personal appreciation for different types of film is that I will always give the slight edge to something that makes me uncomfortable (Dogtooth) or an unconventional character arc (Mother) over something familiar but well done (Secret in Their Eyes). (Also, I just checked and I gave all three of these films the same score, an 8/10, on IMDb).

edarsenal

04-18-21, 11:27 PM

https://64.media.tumblr.com/54601d9f33301c646994f8f6b904184b/02f58f9d3fd4dad1-a9/s500x750/675a51a7135474bfdd5c9076b6a27aacb58f1ea3.jpghttp://366weirdmovies.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/in_a_glass_cage.jpg
https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/vlcsnap2011111100h44m00s243.jpg

In A Glass Cage aka Tras el cristal

Angelo: Horror, like sin... can be fascinating.

Composition-wise, I was pretty caught up in the Cinematographer Jaume Peracaula's use of lighting, shadow, tints, and color schemes throughout this. . . well, f@cked up film.
Making for a kind of "safe place" when dealing with the more uncomfortable scenarios of this ex-child toy of an ex- Death Camp, Natzi child-murdering pedophile, and the even bizarre process that is the revenge of the now young man that "comes to care" for the, now dependant iron lung occupant.
The "safe place" was stepping out of the content and into the camera style. I am sad that I am unable to find an image that does it justice truly, but, for me, it was an involving study of basic camera setup that ended up being my central focal point and one I truly did enjoy.

edarsenal

04-18-21, 11:31 PM

Vote coming up.

RACE YA, Wylde!!

https://media3.giphy.com/media/6Z3D5t31ZdoNW/200.gif

edarsenal

04-18-21, 11:47 PM

and what a glorious, exciting finish to the Annual Slacking Off Grand Prix. With an astounding turnout. . . these two knuckleheads. And, YES, it's going to be a photo finish ---

https://media.tenor.com/images/66f95540b81671648307af2e15973ab9/tenor.gif

VOTE
IS
IN

Thief

04-19-21, 12:03 AM

Started Barry Lyndon tonight. I knew I couldn't finish it today, so I turned it off after an hour; will continue tomorrow. Beasts of the Southern Wild is a bit easier to tackle, so I'll see if I can get through it during the day tomorrow or on the last day.

Talk about photo finish :laugh:

cricket

04-19-21, 12:04 AM

I can certainly give a list of films that I felt took me on similar emotional journeys, though of course I can't say they'd have that same effect on you.

I was just messing around with my response there. You were saying something to the effect that it was nothing you hadn't seen before, and I assume you were talking about the general narrative. On the other hand, it's a movie that's packaged as a thriller, yet it touched me deeply and made me feel a wide variety of emotions. That's why I love it, and in that way it is completely unique.

I am not using crowd-pleaser as some sort of insult, I'm using it as a categorization. I think that the movie is good and, even more than that, it's a film that I imagine most people who watched it would at least like. Who wouldn't love that stadium sequence?

I agree with all that but just think the term sells it short.

But, and here's the part that is a bit of a criticism maybe, I do think that it neatly sidesteps the more complex nature of its own story and that the ending specifically is designed to soothe ruffled feathers.

1. My making the main character a passive participant in the torture and suffering of the rapist/murderer. We get the vicarious satisfaction of revenge without dirtying the main character's hands.

That's an interesting POV. Mine is different. First off, I believe an audience always wants sweet revenge by the main character. The other thing is that while Esposito is the main character of the movie, I believe Morales is the central figure of the story. He gets his revenge, but it's not gratifying at all due to the cost to him.

2. By giving him a romantic reconciliation with the woman he left and the source of much of his regret

I get what you're saying there, but for me it emphasizes even more what they've already lost, and it offers a stark contrast to what Morales has and emphasizes his suffering. It helps bring me conflicting emotions making it all the more powerful.

I don't think it's meant to be all that analogous, is it? There was tremendous, widespread corruption and certain people were able to get away with crimes while others had to play scary touch-and-go games with the government.

I think there's a lot politically with the story but I generally ignore it because it's beyond me.

What I'm getting at is that all those people in the Academy who wouldn't even watch Brokeback Mountain because "ew, gay people!", were probably fine with The Secret in Their Eyes. There is a safety and familiarity to the narrative and the characters. The film centers "a man trying to do the right thing against overwhelming odds". Again, the film does this REALLY WELL. The themes of regret and revenge/justice are well developed. It does a good job of telling a small-scale story (the murder investigation) and a large-scale story (the political corruption in Argentina) at the same time.

I would agree with that, but I don't think it's the reason it won.

My personal appreciation for different types of film is that I will always give the slight edge to something that makes me uncomfortable (Dogtooth) or an unconventional character arc (Mother) over something familiar but well done (Secret in Their Eyes). (Also, I just checked and I gave all three of these films the same score, an 8/10, on IMDb).

The movies you're talking about are the exact movies I seek out. I do enjoy crowd pleasers but they're not my ideal. I can't remember all of my past HoF nominations, but they include Christiane F., Pixote, Boys Don't Cry, Killer Joe, Out of the Blue (1980), and Joe (1970). I like to be crushed, either emotionally or by being shocked or disgusted. The Secret in Their Eyes is a very emotionally powerful film for me. Isn't it possible that the Academy voters felt the way I did?