Shyamalan a ding-dong

When I saw Unbreakable, I had long stopped giving a shit what happened by the time that revelation came along.

 

Nope. I've got a problem with his movies. I basically have zero opinion about him as a person and didn't even realize he was arrogant and self-righteous until I read this thread.

He takes a different approach to storytelling, sure. But does different=good? Not at all. I get the feeling Syamalamalamalama WANTS desperately to be Hitchcock. Maybe he even thinks he is the Second Coming of ol' Hitch. But just making something original doesn't give you carte blanche to make anything and have us fawn over it.

"Signs" was preposterous. "Unbreakable" was watchable. "Sixth Sense" was a one-trick pony, a surprise ending with no meat on the bones. "The Village" was absolute dreck.

There are original film makers out there who make (Shock!) good movies (see: Brothers, Coen). Making something original isn't exactly ... er, original.

 

Spielberg, Soderbergh, Coens and Farrellys pretty much hit me the right way as true originals more often than not.

 

I like the Farrellys, but they haven't made a good movie in a while.
'Outside Providence' is the last one I remember.

 

Love Something About Mary... a comedy classic. And Kingpin, while uneven, has a bunch of killer scenes.

But, it has been a while.

 

'The Ringer' — didn't see it
'Stuck on you' — Didn't see it
'Shallow Hal' — awful
'Osmosis Jones' — didn't see it
'Say it isn't so' — Awful
'Me, myself & Irene — Bad. A very few laughs. Disappointing.
'Outside Providence' — I liked it, but I might be the only one.
'There's something about Mary' — Hysterical. Home run.
'Fever pitch' — Didn't see it.
'Kingpin' — Home run
'Dumb & Dumber — Home run.

By the way, Peter Farrelly wrote 'The Virgin' episode of 'Seinfeld.'

 

To all those who laud MNS for 'taking chances' and 'being different':

I could write my next gamer in iambic pentameter or as a nursery rhyme, right?

It would be different and it would be taking a chance, but it might not be very good. But if my editors are MNS fans, I suppose I'd get a free pass.

 

Soderbergh, especially. Damn, that guy's got an eye.
Michael Mann, too, IMHO.

 

I'd like to add Robert Altman to that list as well.

 

Speaking of the man behind the filmmaker, I hung out with the Farrellys in New Orleans (Halloween 2001) -- they hosted a party promoting "Shallow Hal" and only women were invited to the party.
Bobby was awesome to chat with but Peter -- he's a total prick, arrogant and totally flaunting his "I'm a major filmmaker so suck my jock" kind of guy.

That's the way I imagine Shammallama is.

 

Dog,

I know you're unhappy about Alberto Gonzales not returning your steaming passion, but try to move past it.

Also, I cut your part about the guy "trying so hard" because it was pure BS. Filmgoers don't give a shit about that. If they did, "The Two Jakes" would be the all-time top-grossing movie.

 

I always feel Mann's stuff is overly glossy and packaged, especially all the stuff he shoots at night. And the omnipresent musical accompaniment reminds me that what I'm watching is fake.

I may be the only one who thinks that Heat, Manhunter and Collateral are all strictly middle of the road efforts.

But I'm OK with that.