Good Day for a DVD

[Yeti]

Today is a very good day for DVD releases............

The Departed...I saw it at the theater and it is a very worthwhile rental.
Half Nelson...I am off to the store at 10am to rent this film.
Infamous...some call it "the other Capote film" although it was a critical success.
Marie Antoinette...historical accuracy...blah!...powdered wigs and Versailles.

Today I am going to rent....Half Nelson, Infamous and Running with Scissors.

[abcdefz]

Ryan Gosling is great in that. The little girl is awfully good, too. They kind of make that a better movie than it had any right to be.

Yeah, I'm ready for another run at The Departed, too. (y)

[Yeti]

I have not seen Internal Affairs. I will check it out.

A to the Z, I knew this thread would draw you out of your hole. How are you doing?

I am getting ready to hit the video store. Internal Affairs? Joel and A to the Z give me some details. Who is in the film? What is it about?

[abcdefz]

I haven't seen it, so I couldn't say, other than to link you to IMDB (http://imdb.com/find?s=all&q=infernal+affairs) or something.

You know they're working a sequel to The Departed? I think Infernal Affairs had two sequels.

Yeah -- InFernal. I think Internal Affairs is something else.

Wahlberg's said the sequel is about how the corruption winds through the police and into the government, then they might make a prequel that brings the original cast back. I dunno, but that's what he says.

But Scorsese's got stuff going on now -- The Silence, and The Last Duel, and something else.

[abcdefz]

I am getting ready to hit the video store.




You know what? Take a look at Lonesome Jim. Steve Buscemi directed it, and Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler and Mary Kay Place are in it. It's worth seeing.

[abcdefz]

It has a sequel and a prequel.


I stand corrected. (y)

[Yeti]

I will check it out. I will watch films with subtitles although I do not like missing certain nuances of a film due to rapid eye movement. No worries with Infernal Affairs since I am prolific in the language of Cantonese. I am also fluent in Hindi, Arabic, Farsi & Hillbilly.

I already rented my films for the next couple of days.

Half Nelson, Running with Scissors & Infamous.

[Yeti]

Haih m haih kéuihdeih ge.

[abcdefz]

Infamous.




Let me know if this is worth one's time.

[The Notorious LOL]

the best part about The Departed is how whenever anyone discusses it and they discuss Mark Wahlbergs part in it, they reference him as Marky Mark.


He will never ever live that one down.

[Yeti]

Let me know if this is worth one's time.

Will do....my wife is in Vegas and just informed me not to watch until she gets home Friday. I am required to watch Sandra as Harper Lee. One of my best friends is tight with her and I am invited to her restaurant in Austin for his 40th bday. She would probably like to hear that I watched Infamous instead of Miss Congeniality 2.

[abcdefz]

God. She can be sooooo good and she picks such shitty, shitty movies to be in. :(

I've got a pretty big crush on her.

[Yeti]

I will tell her to look you up when she is in LaLaLand. Ha!
I have only met her one other time. She was the Maid of Honor in my friend's wedding. I gave a toast at the rehearsal dinner and I made her sigh. She was sitting next to my table and she is very nice. She was dating some scraggly singer at the time. She always picks bad boys. I would suggest that you get some gnarly tattoos and doc martins. There is always the chance that she will get tired of loud motorcycles.

[abcdefz]

She'll love me just as I am, believe me.

[Videodrome]

I haven't seen The Departed yet. Is it worth buying the dvd without seeing it first?

[Yeti]

It is worth buying but I am more of a renter. I only buy old films that I consider classics. I do not know if The Departed will become a classic. My guess is it will not..........but it is a very good film.

[Videodrome]

Excellent. I'll buy it today before I get home.

[abcdefz]

It's probably about a B+ movie. That's why I want to watch it again -- I want to see if there's more going on underneath that I didn't see on first viewing.

Martin Sheen has a nice little cameo, too. Good to see him have a chance these days to not play President Bartlett. (y)

[abcdefz]

I don't know what it's like watching if you've seen Infernal Affairs, but the ending of The Departed really worked for me. I thought it was dandy. (y)

[abcdefz]

Yeah -- don't spoil anything.

You're right about Nicholson, I think. An actor might've had the exact same lines and business to do and made it work, but all he did was call attention to his Acting, and it bogged things down. Mostly.

[Yeti]

Let me know if Infamous is worth one's time.

OK, A to the Z, I finally watched Infamous on Saturday night. I really enjoyed the film. The acting and story is outstanding. I barely remember Capote but I do recall that I enjoyed the film. Philip Seymore Hoffman garnered an Oscar for his portrayal of Truman Capote but Toby Jones deserves to be recognized for his turn as Capote. Jones is flamboyant, thoughtful and heartfelt in his role as Capote.
Infamous uses interviews with various friends and acquaintances to recall his turbulent career. The interviewees were the actors in the film and were used at the beginning and end of the film. I was not sure about the use of these interviews but in the end I liked how they tied the film together.
Both films focus on Capote's creation of In Cold Blood.
I do remember the film Capote portraying Truman as manipulative and disingenuous, willing to say or do anything to get Perry Smith to spill his story of the murders. Infamous is more kind and actually touches on a deep relationship with the murderer Perry Smith (Daniel Craig gives a forceful peformance as Perry). The cast is outstanding...Sigourney Weaver as Babe, Gwyneth Paltrow as Kitty, Jeff Daniels as the Sheriff, Peter Bogdanovich as Bennett, Isabella Rossellini as Marella and Sandra Bullock as Nelle Harper Lee.
Sandra Bullock is understated yet classy in her role as Harper Lee. She accompanies Capote on his initial trip to Kansas and helps him gather ideas and interviews for his book.
This film is based on a book written by George Plimpton in which he interviewed 150 people who knew Capote. Infamous deals with situations like his relationship with the killer (Perry) and shows details of the hangings. We see why Truman Capote was tortured by the experience of writing In Cold Blood. I think Philip Seymore Hoffman's portrayal was more complex and understated than Toby Jones' flamboyant turn as Truman.
I really enjoyed this film and would give it an A. You should give it a look if you liked Capote or enjoy his writing.

Oh, A to the Z, you were spot on about Half Nelson. The story was so so but the acting of Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps gave the film life. I felt for the characters and what more could you ask for in a film.

...........and Running with Scissors was a waste of 2 hours. It was simply horrible and I felt sorry for Annette Benning, Gwyneth Paltrow and Alec Baldwin. They must have cringed when they saw the screening for this debacle of a film.

[abcdefz]

I might have to rent Infamous, then.

Yeah -- Running with Scissors looked pretty twee and shrill in the trailers; I kind of had a hunch about that one.

Glad you got something out of Half Nelson. The scene where she delivers to the hotel room just killed me.

[Yeti]

I plan on returning Infamous tomorrow and give Babel a try.

[steve-onpoint]

Legend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIT2HODiGm8). I thought the director's cut was nice. But now, after wacthing the two side by sizzle, I gotsta be goin' wit da US theatrical release. :eek:

[Yeti]

I watched Jesus Camp. Ted Haggard was preaching at a mega evangelical church located in Colorado Springs. He was on a homosexual satan Hell rant and I busted out laughing. My wife wondered about my reaction not knowing that he had boinked a young man then went to rehab and 3 weeks later said he was cured of his homosexual cravings.

Jesus Camp was a very good documentary. It was shot cinema vertite and let the interviews and footage speak to the subject at hand. It was really strange watching kids being indoctrinated into what I would call a cult. I felt sad for some of the kids. It is a must see.

Next up--Casino Royale. I also hear Shortbus is good.

[abcdefz]

Casino Royale's too long, but it's good. (y)

[Otis Driftwood]

I watched "The Minusman" (hope that's the original title) with Owen Wilson as a well mannered, polite poisoner of random people. Good movie, not for the very faint of heart, maybe. He shows great acting skill but has a weird, freakish nose when you see him directly from the front...

[Yeti]

So give me the scoop on Zodiac because it is released today. I hear it is long.

[abcdefz]

See it see it. One of the few haunting/favorite movies I've seen so far this year.

I think the length works for it, if you're willing to go with it.

If you know your history, this next paragraph has no spoilers to speak of:











It's an investigation that turns up clues but IS long and (so far) has no criminal conviction.* That's what happens, though the movie
leans pretty hard on one theory, so there's a sort of gloomy sense of frustrating non-closure. If you can accept that, it's pretty nifty.

There's some graphic stuff in it, but one scene in particular I still see vividly and it may not leave until Alzheimer's stops by. Both how
it's filmed plus what actually happens -- like, the reality that a human being would do a certain thing. Kind of like the curb stomping in
American History X -- sort of in that territory.





*The production got some envelopes returned to the Vallejo police who were supposed to have recovered DNA samples by now.

[Yeti]

Fincher is a quality filmmaker so I am sure it is worth a look. I was just on Rotten Tomatoes reading some reviews and it garnered an 88%.

I will go get it now.

[abcdefz]

I hope they did the extras up right. There should be tons of great material.

Ione Skye has a small role in it, by the way. Maybe you knew that.

[TAL]

I hope they did the extras up right. There should be tons of great material.

You have to wait for that.

The Extras
The only extras here are a couple of previews, including one for a special edition director's cut of the film due out next year. As DVD producer David Prior told the DVDTalk forums, a couple of different factors went into this being a bare bones release, but at least we know for sure a double-dip is coming.

[Lex Diamonds]

I saw Infernal Affairs a few years ago as soon as it was released, because my friend who is into Asian cinema took me to see it plus I had read a lot about it. It's a well made and clever film and I rewatched it a few times as soon as it came out on DVD. However, The Departed is just as good if not better, and while Lau and Leung are probably the best Chinese actors around at the moment, Di Caprio, Damon and Nicholson put in amazing performances, not to mention the flawless supporting cast (a facet in which, I felt, IA was lacking). Though the denouement is pretty different, Scorsese's version is much more than a "remake" and I prefer the bleak, ruthless tone of his ending. It just feels Scorsese, and for me this is his first truly great film in over a decade.

So yeah, see it.

[abcdefz]

You have to wait for that.



Thanks for the warning.


I'm kinda glad I don't buy DVDs anymore.





























The cover is bad, too. :)

[Yeti]

Padster, I have seen The Departed. I was asking about Zodiac. I just got back from renting it and we will watch tonight.

[abcdefz]

I just got back from renting it and we will watch tonight.




...I think that the less you expect it to be a movie movie, the better off you'll be.

[Lex Diamonds]

Padster, I have seen The Departed. I was asking about Zodiac. I just got back from renting it and we will watch tonight.
I know, I was addressing people who haven't seen it, and just generally voicing my thoughts about it and Infernal Affairs.

Sorry, won't express my opinions again. :(

*crawls under table in corner, hugs knees and shivers*

[abcdefz]

mmmm... I saw Zodiac and The Departed both when they came out in the theaters.

Unless you're referring to Infernal Affairs?


REVISED: Ah, you are. Now I get it. (y)

[Lex Diamonds]

Yeah, I got confused, but I already edited it anyway.

You snooze you lose!

And yeah, IA is definitely worth a look. (y)

REVISED: Argh you already edited again. When will this torturous circle of farce ever end?!!

[Yeti]

It is OK Padster....you are board rusty and your veins are full of liquor.

Actually, I really liked The Departed and I want to see Infernal Affairs. Thanks for reminding me about that film.

[abcdefz]

*bump*


...so did you guys wind up watching Zodiac?

[Yeti]

We did watch Zodiac. I enjoyed the film but it was a bit long. The pacing was important to show the time that elapsed during the case and getting to know the characters. I understand the length but I started nodding off near the end. The cast was great and Robert Downey Jr was excellent as the flamboyant reporter. Overall it give it a solid grade of B+.

[TAL]

I just finished watching Zodiac. Brilliant! And it didn't feel long at all.

[Yeti]

I wake up at 6 am with my 11 month old boy so anything over 2 hours seems long to me lately. I did think it was a very good film.

How about The Host. Have you seen it? It is wild.