RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013

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RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 10/3/2013 1:00:34 PM

elab49

Posts: 51571
Joined: 1/10/2005

I was watching a film where the writer had maybe seen Wall Street and, beyond that, knew bog all about finance or business - the script was that laughable (even beyond the actions of Finance Director Barbie, which actually got a few giggles). I felt so sorry for Roth - he and Sarandon phoned it in, as they say. Random emoting scenes with no coehsive motivation came out of nowhere other than it being the actors turn I guess, their shot in the script.

Gere? For me, a generally poor actor but even with that lack of agreement - surely it isn't up for dispute that his face was broadly immobile for vast chunks of the film? I wondered if it might be botox - the absurdly high level of blinking did also suggest that to me.

There's a film with a similarly extreme problem with it's star's face IMO - the Zellweger one New in Town. She's unrecognisable from one scene to the next.

Arbitrage - I love Stuart Margolin and Reg E Cathay, so it didn't get zero marks. But a very run of the mill film with a script steeped in ignorance and no real impression from the direction other than he wasn't particularly good at controlling actors.

< Message edited by elab49 -- 10/3/2013 1:02:26 PM >

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(in reply to ElephantBoy)

Post #: 31

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 10/3/2013 1:12:22 PM

ElephantBoy

Posts: 7321
Joined: 13/4/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: elab49

I was watching a film where the writer had maybe seen Wall Street and, beyond that, knew bog all about finance or business - the script was that laughable (even beyond the actions of Finance Director Barbie, which actually got a few giggles). I felt so sorry for Roth - he and Sarandon phoned it in, as they say. Random emoting scenes with no coehsive motivation came out of nowhere other than it being the actors turn I guess, their shot in the script.

Gere? For me, a generally poor actor but even with that lack of agreement - surely it isn't up for dispute that his face was broadly immobile for vast chunks of the film? I wondered if it might be botox - the absurdly high level of blinking did also suggest that to me.

There's a film with a similarly extreme problem with it's star's face IMO - the Zellweger one New in Town. She's unrecognisable from one scene to the next.

Arbitrage - I love Stuart Margolin and Reg E Cathay, so it didn't get zero marks. But a very run of the mill film with a script steeped in ignorance and no real impression from the direction other than he wasn't particularly good at controlling actors.

First off I am not saying I am the biggest Gere fan, but when cast in the right sort of roles, then I do find him a effective screen actor and this was one of those times. Where we seem to disagree is that you seem to just see his performance as just weak because he is imcapable of showing emotion, but I see it the other way as him underplaying the performance because that is what the coldness of the character required.

Also you seem to be caught between slamming the film for being a predictable genre piece and a rip-off of Wall Street. But that is a strength for me, because it is an old fashioned thriller which you don't see enough of now, but it is also a very contempary film, with relevent themes. And I found Roth's performance very entertaining, he knew the level of the character and did what he had to do great.

(in reply to elab49)

Post #: 32

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 10/3/2013 1:33:19 PM

elab49

Posts: 51571
Joined: 1/10/2005

You've misunderstood. I didn't compare it to Wall St, I'm saying it's presentation of business and finance is so cartoonishly silly one could believe the sole research was watching the odd business set film. And you've also misread my comment on Gere - the immobility was separate from a general comment on his acting. It looked like his face couldn't move, not that it was an acting choice.

It wasn't thrilling for me. A poor man's Michael Clayton from a writer that didn't properly think through his story - disappearing serious injury, hello? - and wasn't good enough to write character. Events were randomly included to create palpably silly attempts at tension - sadly, Roth's cliche of a cop was one of the worst victims of this. Although, luckily, Gere's character then turned into eagle-eyed super sleuth to confound him - hurrah! Dear heavens, I thought it was bad

_____________________________

Lips Together and Blow - blogtasticness and Glasgow Film Festival GFF13!

Films watched 2012

What are your top 10/25 films of 2012? Vote in the forum Annual Poll now! Deadline is Sunday.

(in reply to ElephantBoy)

Post #: 33

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 12/3/2013 11:42:27 AM

ElephantBoy

Posts: 7321
Joined: 13/4/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: elab49

You've misunderstood. I didn't compare it to Wall St, I'm saying it's presentation of business and finance is so cartoonishly silly one could believe the sole research was watching the odd business set film. And you've also misread my comment on Gere - the immobility was separate from a general comment on his acting. It looked like his face couldn't move, not that it was an acting choice.

It wasn't thrilling for me. A poor man's Michael Clayton from a writer that didn't properly think through his story - disappearing serious injury, hello? - and wasn't good enough to write character. Events were randomly included to create palpably silly attempts at tension - sadly, Roth's cliche of a cop was one of the worst victims of this. Although, luckily, Gere's character then turned into eagle-eyed super sleuth to confound him - hurrah! Dear heavens, I thought it was bad

So you don't think that caracters like the Gere one exist in real life? I would say they are very much real more than ever in fact. One of the key points of the film is what Gere said in an interview, that these big business men nowadays have no clue about what they are talking about, and just say anything, either to cheat someone or because they just don't have the facts.

As for Roth's cop, I just think he is a classic trait of this kind of thriller, and as such should be taken on that level, fact is Roth is good in those kind of roles and I found him entertaining.

(in reply to elab49)

Post #: 34

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 27/3/2013 3:12:42 PM

ElephantBoy

Posts: 7321
Joined: 13/4/2006

Oz the Great and Powerful (Sam Raimi,130mins) 7/10
After a pretty ropey first twenty minutes, this actually turned out much better than anyone had any right to expect. Visually it was perfect, and because of his background in horror, Raimi was able to deliver some truly creepy and jump out of your sit moments. As 3D goes this was not bad. My main issue was with Franco who just proved once again what a smug and dull actor he is to watch, some would say he was well cast in that case, but I just feel it was a mistake to cast someone so unlikeable as the lead in a family film. Anyway Rachel Weisz stole the film performance wise, sadly there were some clitched lines restricting Michelle Williams from doing much, still pretty entertaining on the whole.

Beyond the Hills (Dupa dealuri) (Cristian Mungiu,150 Mins) 8/10
I didn't quite warm to this film like I did 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days, a film I felt was pretty much flawless. At times Mungiu's latest was so grim and a heavy going than I did leave the cinema feeling like I had been based over the head with a sledgehammer, and like Melick's recent work unless you have a keen interest in religon you may struggle. Putting that aside, this is another piece of breathtaking, pure cinema, with note perfect performances, and powerful cinematoghy, plus a chilling sense of atmoshpere and location. It is unforgettable whether you like it or not.

Robot & Frank (Jack Schreier,89 Mins) 7/10
This novel and charming little film, is mostly carried by Frank Langella's engaging, funny performance and just how low budget it looks at times. Filled with funny lines, and nicely observed moments, it is only really let down by how limtied the marterial is which does start to show later on, but there is a twist which I felt was handled very well.

Caesar Must Die (Cesare deve morire) (Paolo Taviani,Vittorio Taviani,76 Mins) 9/10
Stunning black and white photography, mixed with engaging, oddly moving performances, this is at times a very raw and dry piece, but also dramatic when it needs to be. A vividly written and directed film with some thought provoking ideas at the heart of it.

To come I hope to finally see Wreck it Ralph, alone with Sidev Effects and may Compliance.

< Message edited by ElephantBoy -- 27/3/2013 3:13:19 PM >

(in reply to elab49)

Post #: 35

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 29/3/2013 12:29:56 PM

Qwerty Norris

Posts: 3145
Joined: 26/10/2005
From: Edinburgh

After 3 months & 30 films, I've finally reached what could be considered a top 10 for 2013.

1. Zero Dark Thirty (Bigelow)
2. No (Larrain)
3. McCullin (D & J Morris)
4. Wreck-It Ralph (Moore)
5. Beyond The Hills (2012, Mungiu)
6. Shell (2012, Graham)
7. Stoker (Chan-Wook)
8. Lincoln (Spielberg)
9. Side Effects (Soderbergh)
10. The Sessions (Lewin)

How much of this stays there for the rest of the year remains to be seen.

April viewings to look forward to...Mea Maxima Culpa, I Wish, Good Vibrations, Lore & Caesar Must Die. Hopefully the likes of Oblivion, Olympus Has Fallen, Dark Skies & Iron Man 3 will be a lot of fun as well.

_____________________________

Qwerty's Top 10 of 2013 (so far)

1. Zero Dark Thirty
2. No
3. In The Fog
4. Good Vibrations
5. McCullin
6. Beyond the Hills
7. The Place Beyond the Pines
8. Wreck-it Ralph
9. Shell
10. In The House

(in reply to ElephantBoy)

Post #: 36

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 2/5/2013 6:55:36 PM

Dr Lenera

Posts: 3447
Joined: 19/10/2005

My top 10 so far after 31 films! [Lincoln is third from the bottom in my list so far

]

1/ Cloud Atlas
2/ Trance
3/ The Seasoning House
4/ Django Unchained
5/ The Impossible
6/ Iron Man 3
7/ Flight
8/ Mama
9/ The Last Stand
10/Stoker

< Message edited by Dr Lenera -- 2/5/2013 7:01:08 PM >

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Post #: 37

RE: Top 10 Films Of 2013 - 18/5/2013 9:49:57 PM

Whistler

Posts: 2274
Joined: 22/11/2006

Just watched Les Mis again; god I love that film. Had to move it up a notch.

< Message edited by Whistler -- 18/5/2013 10:50:15 PM >

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Post #: 38