Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Movies that Suck from People Who Don't

I recently saw the movie "Elephant" on DVD. For those of you who didn't see this film, it is the story of a day in the life of an American high school that turns tragic, but the most tragic thing about this movie for me was having to sit through it. I am usually a fan of Gus Van Sant's work (Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, etc.), but I really didn't get into this one. Van Sant's imagery and cinematography are usually dead on in my opinion, but this flick had too many drawn out scenes of people walking or doing nothing. There was one scene of a character slowly walking across a football field and into the school, then walking down the halls of the school. The entire scene was shot from behind and lasted for over 5 minutes. We get it, high school is a lonely place.

This movie got me thinking though, what other films were bombs, but either starred actors I admired or were directed by people I respected? Below are two other films that I had high expectations for, but left disappointed.
  • Eyes Wide Shut- This movie was built up to be Stanley Kubrik's Last Testament, his greatest cinematic slap in the face, going "where the rainbow ends". I liked the subtle references to his other films (Clockwork Orange and The Shining), but his casting of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman ruined the film for me. Don't even get me started about Tom Cruise, I have never liked his cheesy films (please tell me, what did people see in Jerry Maguire?), and now the world knows what a dip shit he really is.
  • Lost in Translation- What did I miss from this film? I thought the soundtrack (Air, My Bloody Valentine, and Jesus & Mary Chain) was way better than the actual movie. I usually love Bill Murray, and Scarlett Johansson is easy on the eyes, but I left this movie wanting more. Directed by Sophia Coppola, I think the only reason this movie was so popular was it was directed by a Coppola, the Hollywood elite will always stroke their own.
Please feel free to add to this list.

5 comments:

Rambling Canuck said...

Haven't seen Elephant, but heard about that 5-minute walk. Too much for me. I'll pass.

Agree with Eyes Wide Shut, but I have to disagree with Lost In Translation. I loved it.

I'd add to your list the Aviator. Martin Scorsese (sp?) should never have done it if Leonardo was in. He looks prepubescent! I can't take him seriously in anything (unless he's playing a 14-year-old heroin addict.) I actually thought the last half of the flick was good, but almost didn't get there.

JMH said...

I didn't hate LIT, I just didn't think it lived up to it's potential. I really wanted to like the main characters but found myself just annoyed with them. They are sitting around bored alone, then after meeting they sit around being bored together. I became bored with them, not buying their pre and post life slumps. Maybe I just wanted them to get it on.

Rambling Canuck said...

Now you're talking...hahaha.

Satisfied '75 said...

yeah, Elephant was assenine. I really enjoyed Lost In Translation.

I liked the scene in Eyes Wide Shut when they corner Dr. Bill and ask him to remove his mask. Very edge-of-your-seat.

JMH said...

satisfied- Thanks for stopping by, I've been digging the Aquarium Radio, haven't heard "Coming Down Again" in quite some time, nice. Keep on keeping on.

chw- I never saw The Aviator, I'm not a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, though The Basketball Diaries is one of my all time faves.