Comments on: That's The Way It Crumbles, Cookie-Wise

By: MDF

MDF — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:01:22 +0000

When people say “I don’t like Mahler” or “I don’t like Faulkner” or “I’m bored by Buster Keaton,” they think they’re saying something about Mahler or Faulkner or Keaton. What they’re really talking about are their own tastes or prejudices or limitations.

And all you can say is well, okay, too bad for you.

By: cult of basebaal

cult of basebaal — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:02:21 +0000

It’s good man – It’s pretty middle-brow, I suppose, and I’m sure it’s historically suspect, but it’s really well played. Rush and Firth are such good actors and they really make the thing play. I liked Helena Bonham Carter and Guy Pearce a lot in it as well. It didn’t strike me as a great film (Tom Hooper, the director, seemed oddly hooked on extreme wide-angle lenses), but its a good story well told and genuinely moving in spots.

That’s pretty much my reaction.

Have you seen “I Love You, Phillip Morris”, Matt?

By: Matt Blankman

Matt Blankman — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:17:35 +0000

[52] I can’t agree that Hitchcock’s films lack substance. I think they were often way ahead of their time in dealing with sexuality, violence, neuroses, the subconscious. The style was intrinsic to the substance, to be sure, but there’s meat there.

By: The Mick536

The Mick536 — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:54:46 +0000

Rudy Guiliani and rutabaga.

By: williamnyy23

williamnyy23 — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:45:02 +0000

[22] I like some odds and ends…early Madonna and Billy Joel, a (very) little bit of Elvis, just off the top of my head. Really have no use for metal, country, hard rock, rap or hip hop.

[46] AH Presents was an excellent show at the beginning, but it seemed like they kept making them even as they ran out of ideas.

[52] “No substance” in Rope? I can’t agree with that. So much of the genre is boilerplate, so the substance is the style that goes into presenting it.

By: Alex Belth

Alex Belth — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:34:44 +0000

“Rope” was a stunt for Hitchcock. I thought the material was boilerplate melodrama but for Hitch the material was secondary to his tricks, which in that case was to film the movie in one seemingless flawless shot. The only cuts in the movie are at the end of a reel when the film ran out. Style over substance, which was his calling card.

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:02:21 +0000

[50] it’s never too late for me, boat – i’m always up! please say hi to Mr. OK Jazz Tokyo for me! : )

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:59:09 +0000

It’s probably too late for yous guys, but I’ll take a stab anyway. Alex, The Apartment is as perfect as it gets, movie wise.* It’s funny. It’s sexy. It’s witty. It’s sad. It’s tragic. And it features great performances by some of the best actors America ever produced.

I know you know this, but Hitchcock is the originator of a wide array of styles and techniques that we now take for granted in cinema. There’s not enough space or time to write about how important he is to film making.

Of course, that doesn’t me you have to like him, but first please check out “Rope” for a chilling taste of Hitchcock and Stewart. If that movie doesn’t rattle your cage, nothing will.

And Meryl Streep? Well, she’s a Jersey Girl, from my schoolboy football district, no less. ‘Nuff said.

By: Chyll Will

Chyll Will — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:43:00 +0000

[46] Actually... he did introduce the famous concept of the Maguffin this way:

"Imagine two men in a room, talking about baseball. Suddenly a bomb goes off under the table. We get a few seconds of surprise. Now imagine the same scene, but this time the audience are aware of the bomb under the table, about to go off. The same idle conversation about baseball is now charged with suspense, because we know something that the on screen characters don't."

Further investigation revealed that Hitchcock did have a concept in mind involving baseball as the backdrop for a murder mystery some time in the late 1940's, but he never completed it; though a weak line was made from that to movies like The Natural and perhaps I can add The Fan... so Bruce, it wasn't as offhand as you thought!

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:35:27 +0000

[47] uncle woodrow is a wise man! that’s pretty much exactly how i feel… i wish i could live exactly where i am now, just out of eye – and especially, ear – shot of anyone…

By: Chyll Will

Chyll Will — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:13:47 +0000

[40] I don’t hate my neighbors, I hate the fact they moved in next to me. I had a conversation with my uncle about neighbors and I said it would be nice to have a small house with enough land on each side to run around freely and not bump into anyone or hear their noise. When he asked me how much land that would be, I pointed towards the trees behind the parking lot behind his building. He was astonished and said, “You want that much?” and I said, “yeah, well they can keep Cleveland…” >;)

By: Bruce Markusen

Bruce Markusen — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:34:13 +0000

So many great Hitchcock movies: The Birds, Psycho, Strangers on a Train, Frenzy, Rear Window.

Also, a very good television show that is now forgotten, Alfred Hitchcock Presents…

Now he was not the most handsome man, I’ll give you that. Not exactly an athlete. Don’t believe he did any baseball films.

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:11:43 +0000

[43] i noe.

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:11:13 +0000

[42] oh, good! Yale – outta my league, buddy; i went to a football school (penn state)! ; )

listening to more Sibelius now. he’s wonderful!

By: weeping for brunnhilde

weeping for brunnhilde — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:08:49 +0000

(No, not know.)

By: weeping for brunnhilde

weeping for brunnhilde — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 05:08:33 +0000

[38] Oh, dear Lord, know! I *adore* Mahler! He’s at the very top of my pantheon. I was quoting from Manhattan! That was Yale and Mary’s list!

By: Matt Blankman

Matt Blankman — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:59:29 +0000

[37] 15 might be a little young for As I Lay Dying. But I read it at 17 and it got me hooked on Faulkner. Granted, I had a really good teacher at the time and we discussed the hell out of it.

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:53:04 +0000

[39] while we’re all purging here, you should mention how much you hate your neighbors!

By: Chyll Will

Chyll Will — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:50:40 +0000

[26] “MY EYES!!!” >;)

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:47:28 +0000

[16] Mahler is NOT overrated!!! i actually listened to his 1st & 5th symphonies yesterday. i listened to Sibelius’ 2nd & 7th symphonies tonite. boy, there’s a contrast there. i love ‘em both though. been on a BIG Sibelius kick the past few months…

speaking of things one hates…

i abhor smoke (of all kinds). i loathe hip-hop (and it’s many sub genres). and whilst i don’t dislike dogs, i’m certainly no fan.

now that you all hate me, i should quit while i’m behind… ; )