Last movie you watched......

[Alma]

For the first time, I watched "Finding Forrester" from start to finish. Got me to thinking how many movies involve writing or reporting in plots but don't delve at all into the pains and labors of the work.

In their own way, Adaptation and Synecdoche, NY are about the creative process.

'Adaptation' is a wonderful representation. 'Synecdoche' is an interesting and ambitious attempt, but I think less successful.

Also, from different film-makers, 'Barton Fink.'

More than anything else, Synecdoche regards the implications of a creative process unchecked and fully realized. It's an existential horror film. I can't think of many films I've seen in the last decade that are more ambitious and more prepared to follow their premises to its logical end.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Finally cleaned up behind "Zero Dark Thirty."

Would it have killed them to give us one scene of Jessica Chastain naked?

No, just kidding. Well done.

Spoilers: Osama dies. Col. Mustard did it.

 

[GidalKaiser]

Saw Her. Scarlett should have been nominated for best actr. Agree w what RonClements said, too. Wasn't impressed with Amy Adams *waits for sky to fall on head*

 

[Buck]

For the first time, I watched "Finding Forrester" from start to finish. Got me to thinking how many movies involve writing or reporting in plots but don't delve at all into the pains and labors of the work.

In their own way, Adaptation and Synecdoche, NY are about the creative process.

'Adaptation' is a wonderful representation. 'Synecdoche' is an interesting and ambitious attempt, but I think less successful.

Also, from different film-makers, 'Barton Fink.'

More than anything else, Synecdoche regards the implications of a creative process unchecked and fully realized. It's an existential horror film. I can't think of many films I've seen in the last decade that are more ambitious and more prepared to follow their premises to its logical end.

It is hugely ambitious.
It really looks at the role of the artist in the Romantic tradition and blows it into absurdity - the Romantic artist so enamored with his own process of creation that he has little to no regard for the art actually being created.

 

[93Devil]

Finally cleaned up behind "Zero Dark Thirty."

Would it have killed them to give us one scene of Jessica Chastain naked?

No, just kidding. Well done.

Spoilers: Osama dies. Col. Mustard did it.

In the conservatory.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

For the first time, I watched "Finding Forrester" from start to finish. Got me to thinking how many movies involve writing or reporting in plots but don't delve at all into the pains and labors of the work.

In their own way, Adaptation and Synecdoche, NY are about the creative process.

'Adaptation' is a wonderful representation. 'Synecdoche' is an interesting and ambitious attempt, but I think less successful.

Also, from different film-makers, 'Barton Fink.'

More than anything else, Synecdoche regards the implications of a creative process unchecked and fully realized. It's an existential horror film. I can't think of many films I've seen in the last decade that are more ambitious and more prepared to follow their premises to its logical end.

It is hugely ambitious.
It really looks at the role of the artist in the Romantic tradition and blows it into absurdity - the Romantic artist so enamored with his own process of creation that he has little to no regard for the art actually being created.

Never seen these, but I'll check them out. I like these kinds of movies. The Words, with Bradley Cooper, was really good and would fit in this category.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Saw Her. Scarlett should have been nominated for best actr. Agree w what RonClements said, too. Wasn't impressed with Amy Adams *waits for sky to fall on head*

I was arguing with somebody about this the other day.
Amy Adams is not strong enough an actress to carry a movie.
She is simply not lead material.

 

[Buck]

Disagree very much. Amy Adams is very good.
She was fantastic in 'Doubt,' 'The Fighter' and 'American Hustle.'

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

It isn't indictment of overall talent.
She's a beautiful woman and fine in supporting parts.
I have noted that when she is paired with very strong actors, even while she is in a lead role, she tends to get lost.
Case in point is Julie & Julia. Think of how badly that movie suffers when it's Adams onscreen and not Streep.
My wife said Adams ruined the movie for her- and Fart tends to agree.
Everybody else brought very tight game to that film.

 

[Buck]

It isn't indictment of overall talent.
She's a beautiful woman and fine in supporting parts.
I have noted that when she is paired with very strong actors, even while she is in a lead role, she tends to get lost.
Case in point is Julie & Julia. Think of how badly that movie suffers when it's Adams onscreen and not Streep.
My wife said Adams ruined the movie for her- and Fart tends to agree.
Everybody else brought very tight game to that film.

I haven't seen 'Her' yet, so I can't speak to it.
I thought she was the best part of 'American Hustle' and 'The Fighter.' Both of those movies featured big-name stars with big, over-the-top performances.
But that was what was great about Adams. In both cases the other actors are doing caricature and she's making her character real.
I also think she holds the screen in those movies despite delivering a more subdued performance. (And I'd say a more real and better performance.)

 

[Alma]

Saw Her. Scarlett should have been nominated for best actr. Agree w what RonClements said, too. Wasn't impressed with Amy Adams *waits for sky to fall on head*

Amy Adams is not strong enough an actress to carry a movie.

The movies she has "carried" haven't been very good. I'm not sure it speaks to her ability to act -- she's pretty versatile and appreciated for that -- but it does speak to screen presence. The sheer ability to command attention.

That said, I liked her performance most of any actor in American Hustle. I think she "got" every aspect of that character. The desperation, fear, hope, sorrow, betrayal, all of it. Whereas Jennifer Lawrence eats some Doritos and peanut butter, walks to her spot, and swipes the rug right out from under Adams in the bathroom scene. Her character, as portrayed in every other scene, is too much of a blithering idiot to register that level of insight or comeback. But because David O Russell lets his actors so freely deviate from scene to scene -- I see that as a directorial weakness, personally -- Lawrence went movie star and stole the scene. She'll also win the Oscar Sunday because of it.

This interview, though brief and subtle, shows the difference between Adams and Lawrence. Notice who, of the bunch, gets the biggest reaction from the audience and the rest of the cast.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Thank you, interesting stuff.
I haven't seen the film in question.
But I consider Doubt a stellar piece of work, and she did not hit the same notes as the others.
She basically played Amy Adams.