14th Hall of Fame

technically, 9, haven't posted my review of Grand Illusion, but I DO need to knock my final 2 for the 40's before I move onward

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What I actually said to win MovieGal's heart:
- I might not be a real King of Kinkiness, but I make good pancakes

~Mr Minio

I've finally freed myself up from the 40s HOF and dissecting Coen movies with @seanc

Now I can focus on this.

We're awesome.

We'll have one more if I can stop procrastinating and actually write my review for Empire of Passion. I've had this word document open for over 4 hours now and have added nothing meaningful to it, unless you count "lighting great" haha.

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yeah I do like having this kind of opportunity to really go to work on one HoF. Which is why I do like waiting to the second, (and more likely) the third week of September for 70's HoF to keep some breathing room.

I just realized it's been 5 hours, not 4.

What have I even been doing? haha

Ed, I did get the premise of Black Snake Moan:

Spoilers***An ex bluesman who once enjoyed life to it's fullest, has grown self righteous and angry, which drives his wife away, leaving him with nothing but anger. By trying to force his own will and righteousness onto Rae and save her from himself, he ends up healing himself and realizing he has no right to tell others how to live their lives.

Third week is fine for your 70s Hof, or even longer. I'm not planning on starting any Hofs for a long while.

cool.
on both counts.

I'll comment on it around that time and see where everyone's head is at

I should watch Black Snake Moan so I can read what you people are talking about. That is, if I ever finish writing this review haha.

This was a heavy duty drama. I was annoyed from the first half an hour as it was too focused to show on camera all Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. It could be slightly shorter. Well, what we see is a widow mother having a troubled son in puberty, hormones shooting everywhere with ADHD on top of it. Also, a fictional Canadian government introduces a bill saying that a parent can basically throw their aggressive, ill child to an institution to submit him/her to a treatment. You could see Steve on heavy drugs and straitjacket at the end of the movie. As far as I know straitjacket is long prohibited in mental institutions and all aggression is now controlled by medicine but perhaps in some countries it is still used.

Sometimes I had a feeling that mother was pretty much hyperactive herself . However she was trying really hard to make it all better, struggling with money, with herself and Steve’s constant changes of mood. It was nice to see her love, patience and hope. It was interesting how Kyla, a neighbour, was also able to come out of her shell and could speak freely without a stutter. They were having really good times. Celebrating, Kyla tutoring Steve, mother working hard cleaning houses. I’ve experienced something similar and if ADHD is in combination with an incomplete family where mama cannot take care of her son full time it is very difficult to get a grip on things. On the other hand when ADHD is systematically managed by both parents and all that activity is channeled to some sports, regular counseling etc Obviously Diane could not afford all that so at the end of the movie she send her son to a system again. That’s why this movie was very sad for me and not easy to watch.

I must say Antoine-Olivier Pilon did an excellent acting as well as Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément. The story was powerful, directing was very good and the tight Aspect Ratio was an interesting idea that fits to the story. I’m not gonna watch it again however I found it as a very good nom. Thank you for introducing this @ Cricket

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You can call it the art of fighting without fighting.

that's it for today I'm probably gonna watch The Hurricane or
Contratiempo

Attachments

 

This is my nomination and it was my second time watching it. Although I still loved it, it did seem to feel a little long towards the end this time. Maybe that's because I watched it late at night. The plot is simple with a single mother trying to make a life with her troubled teenage son. This is not a movie for everyone, but it's a movie that I find to be emotionally powerful. I think a lot of it depends on how you feel about the characters. On the surface, the mother and son seem unlikable. How much you care about the characters may depend upon how redeemable you think they are. I don't think they are bad people, but obviously they have issues. The mother is immature, rude, doesn't appear to know how to be a mother, and has her hands full. The son can range from goofy, to a punk, to completely out of control. They lost their father and husband. It's hard for me to completely discount a 15 year old kid as long as he's not pure evil. There are times when these people are likable, and that gives a glimpse of their potential, a potential I rooted for them to reach. That's how I came to care about these characters. Their ups and downs are my ups and downs. There is a third main character who is very nice and I find kind of fascinating. She adds a different dimension to the film. Hopefully nobody hates it.

I've finished Black Snake Moan. Now time for a write-up which consists of more than just "Samuel L. Jackson"

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Letterboxd

Now I'm off to watch Passengers.

You guys are cruising

I need to re-write my review for The Invisible Guest. I needed time for that one to sink in. I think the next time I write it up, it'll be more favorable. So far, I see this kicking some assnick in this HOF.

Lol, yup! Horrid habit of a lot of older films. Glad it finally burned itself out. It's actually a big joke to be on the lookout for between me and two of my movie buddies.

Black Snake Moan (Craig Brewer, 2006)
Imdb

Date Watched: 8/29/17
Cinema or Home: Home
Reason For Watching: 14th Hall of Fame, my nomination
Rewatch: Yes

Although the posters for this film - with the tagline "Everything is Hotter Down South" and their emphasis on Christina Ricci's chain - would have you believe that Black Snake Moan is a soft core interracial bondage porn, it really is nothing of the sort. That said, it is about an old black man who chains a young white nymphomaniac to his radiator in order to cure her of her wickedness. But this is no porno.

Black Snake Moan is a fable. It's not meant to be taken literally. The viewer is not meant to believe every detail of the story. But what you are meant to do is connect with its characters - with all their damages, flaws, and weaknesses. And in that, I think the film succeeds admirably.

Its greatest strength is in its central performances. Samuel L. Jackson turns in what I believe is the finest performance of his career - even doing his own singing and learning to play the guitar for the role. He gives his bluesman Lazarus an authenticity unlike any other character I've seen him play. Sure he still drops a "motherf***er" or five in the film, but I almost forget who I'm watching. I believe the hurt when he confronts his wife, I believe the barely leashed rage when he confronts his brother, and I believe the terror when he is witness to Rae's fits. And on that note, Christina Ricci is a wonder as Rae. She is absolutely fearless with this performance. She puts forth an explosive combination of sexuality, madness, and vulnerability. And though the story itself is hard to believe, the bond these two characters form is, for me at least, very easy to buy into. The two actors work wonderfully together and the supporting cast, including Justin Timberlake as Rae's anxiety ridden boyfriend, are also solid.

But there's more to love than just that. The cinematography and the incredible soundtrack work together to create a thick atmosphere that completely immerses you in this world of sex, God, pain, and redemption.

This film was once in my top ten and, while it has slipped a few places, it is still to me an incredibly moving and unforgettable movie watching experience.

+

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