Interference Random Movie Talk X: Dogs and Cats Living Together... Mass Hysteria!

[monkeyskin]

First, I'll acknowledge that Joseph Gordon Levitt is a better actor. He's hard not to like in 500 Days. But Jesse Eisenberg also perfectly nailed the awkwardness of his character (in a way that I think surpasses what someone like Michael Cera would have done with it), and I was cringing through a good portion of the film because of it. I consider this comparison a bit of a wash because of the different things they were aiming for.

And while I'm a big fan of THE DESCH!, I have to refer to what Lance posted and say that Stewart is a VERY talented actress who hints at depths that I really haven't seen from Zooey (maybe with the exception of her work in All The Real Girls). I think she gives a significantly better performance.

As for the humor, I'm pretty sure I laughed more during Adventureland. 500 Days was structurally more creative (which was your third point), but I don't know that the jokes or funny moments were overall better. Obviously we're talking about two different films here; we're not talking simply about two rom-coms directed at young people. One was trying to do something different with the genre, and I applaud its efforts in that regard. Adventureland was, as you say, more conventional, but gave us something very truthful that you don't often find in these types of films. Also, I'd add that because 500 Days is trying to stand out, things like Gordon-Levitt's VERY conventional (not to mention obvious) speech at the greeting card company ring false. And I'd still love to know where there's a karaoke bar in downtown L.A. where you can sing The Pixies.

Lastly, the music. If you consider what was used in Adventureland, yes, there's Lou Reed/VU material that isn't from the time period. But MOST of that soundtrack was. With 500 Days, it seemed that the music that tended to be highlighted was stuff made in the 80's, when the main characters (who appear to be somewhat recent college grads, maybe 23-25) were either not even born yet, or only a few years old. It's as if the screenwriter wanted all the music he listened to when he was younger to be in it, and forced those tastes on that characters. It's not as if there are no people nowadays who are into The Smiths, but I didn't get a sense that most of this music was from THEIR lives.

Jesse certainly nails his character, and after seeing him previously in Roger Dodger and The Squid and the Whale I'm most pleased to see his profile on the up. I'll agree though that the comparison is a bit moot as JGL had so much more to work with in terms of story and arc, but then again for me that's another plus for (500).

And yes Adventureland was more focussed (as LMP says, more of a coming of age story) and truthful to that particular age, but it still falls back on guy likes girl, both screw around on each other a bit, guy finds out about girl's misdemenours right after she's sworn them off due to her love for him, eventual reconcilliation. Bit flat really. Maybe I prefer (500) because they don't live happilly ever after and you can't force love with even the most romantic gesture. That to me is more honest, as well as the expectation / reality scene. I've mentioned this before but it really is one of the most effective relationship scenes I've watched in a long time. Who hasn't been there? Yes there were cliched moments but then so do most films.

I'll concede on the music, the probable character ages you brought up is something I hadn't considered. But I bet if you asked around in this forum you'd find a lot of guys and gals the same age with the same tastes.

But I love boths films, so it's all good.

 

[Lancemc]

I think the story of 500 Days might have worked more for me if Webb's direction hadn't felt so weak. Honestly, the longer it's been since I've seen that film the less I find truly memorable about it. It certainly a lot of creative excess thrown up on screen, which I know you said you kind of liked, Monkey, but when I left a lot of it sort of felt like simple posturing. That's why I think the authenticity of Adventureland is so important to me here, especially for these sorts of stories.

I really do think this is a far more interesting and appropriate comparison than LMP seems to assert if you look at the narrative arcs. As Monkey pointed out, the arc of Adventureland is really well worn territory and very Hollywood in structure. Meanwhile 500 Days lives to upset that very same convention and in the end they do end up separated. However, I think through the honesty and authenticity of Adventureland, the fairly flat story becomes something far more revealing. It's really telling the same old story the best way it can possibly be told, which I think it even more rare these days than what 500 Days accomplishes. I found it really surprising at the end of the film when the two leads actually make up and get together. It seems to jive against everything that came before, and I think I was expecting an ending more like 500 Days. But I sort of feel as though this film really earns its happy ending. As though through its careful and honest storytelling for the majority of the film it builds a degree of trust and richness that gives it permission to revel in its final moments of happy wish-fulfillment, which isn't something less responsible films of this type really deserve.

And I should say while I don't love both films as Monkey does, I am really glad the year saw both of them come to release. I think it's a good sign. I'm really happy to see a film like 500 Days see a certain degree of success in a quasi-mainstream market.

 

[lazarus]

Not sure what makes the Time Out list "obnoxious" and this one "great" when they aren't terribly different. But I'm glad this guy included some Assayas at any rate. And I bet you're pleased as punch at the two Eastwood picks.

Sorry, for some reason I was thinking of a list I saw earlier when I said "obnoxious":

CBC News - Film - Thai film tops TIFF list of decade's best

The Time Out one is actually very good, aside from its unforgivable omission of No Country For Old Men.

Maybe I prefer (500) because they don't live happilly ever after and you can't force love with even the most romantic gesture. That to me is more honest, as well as the expectation / reality scene. I've mentioned this before but it really is one of the most effective relationship scenes I've watched in a long time. Who hasn't been there? Yes there were cliched moments but then so do most films.

Yes, but then at the end of the film it IS implied that he's now met his real perfect match, isn't it? To me that was another eye-roller, even if it was funny. In Adventureland, yeah they're together but they're obviously both at turning points in their lives; who knows what their future is. He "gets" the girl (and gets laid as well, to be specific) in the conventional sense, but I don't think a happy ending is necessarily a fairy tale one.

Also, YLB gets bonus points for not writing the title with those insufferable (not to mention pretentious) parenthesis. Every time I see that I think of people who refer to Fincher's Seven with a 7 replacing the "v".

 

[Lancemc]

Sorry, for some reason I was thinking of a list I saw earlier when I said "obnoxious":

CBC News - Film - Thai film tops TIFF list of decade's best

Alright, that's a bit more obnoxious. Though still, major points for all the Weerasethakul love.

Am I the only person who prefers Volver to Talk To Her?

Yes, but then at the end of the film it IS implied that he's now met his real perfect match, isn't it? To me that was another eye-roller, even if it was funny. In Adventureland, yeah they're together but they're obviously both at turning points in their lives; who knows what their future is. He "gets" the girl (and gets laid as well, to be specific) in the conventional sense, but I don't think a happy ending is necessarily a fairy tale one.

This is a valid argument too, I think. I thought that final scene in 500 was a bit lame, though as you say, good for a laugh.

 

[LMP]

Yes, but then at the end of the film it IS implied that he's now met his real perfect match, isn't it? To me that was another eye-roller, even if it was funny. In Adventureland, yeah they're together but they're obviously both at turning points in their lives; who knows what their future is. He "gets" the girl (and gets laid as well, to be specific) in the conventional sense, but I don't think a happy ending is necessarily a fairy tale one.

Also, YLB gets bonus points for not writing the title with those insufferable (not to mention pretentious) parenthesis. Every time I see that I think of people who refer to Fincher's Seven with a 7 replacing the "v".

Very much agreed there. I had a hard time stomaching the ending to 500 Days, it skirted the balance between semi-realism and genre schmaltz up until then (the musical sequence being a great example of this) but full-on went into lame territory with the ending. No joke is worth this.

Hell yes.

I'm guessing I'm the only one here who thinks The Foot Fist Way is beyond hilarious, seeing as how you all seem to dislike Danny McBride. It's not as polished as Eastbound & Down or Observe and Report, but goddamn if it doesn't have some of my favorite one-liners in any comedy from this decade.

 

[lazarus]

Am I the only person who prefers Volver to Talk To Her?

Not only do I prefer Volver, but it may actually be my favorite of the Almodovars I've seen, and on top of that, Talk To Her may be my least favorite. Though I still loved it.

I'm guessing I'm the only one here who thinks The Foot Fist Way is beyond hilarious, seeing as how you all seem to dislike Danny McBride.

I love McBride, though I haven't seen him in much. His work in All The Real Girls and The Pineapple Express alone put me on his team.

 

[LMP]

I love McBride, though I haven't seen him in much. His work in All The Real Girls and The Pineapple Express alone put me on his team.

Oh, then just Lance hates him. My bad.

The Foot Fist Way and Eastbound & Down are essential.

 

[Lancemc]

I'm pretty sure The JEW! hates him as well. And at least one other poster around here.

 

[Lancemc]

It really bears repeating how terrible all the promotion for this film was.

 

[lazarus]

Not the worst trailer, but they should have used better music. And they should have put "from the director of Superbad" earlier. I imagine that's a big DVD favorite.

Also, how did they fail to capitalize on Twilight's popularity? Didn't it come out before this? Having a title card with "STARRING BELLA ZOMG!!!1!!!1!" couldn't have hurt.

 

[Lancemc]

I just hate how it makes it out to be another sort of Apatow-esque goofy college comedy, only it doesn't look funny. Which is why I avoided it like the plague initially. And if I remember many of the TV spots were far worse.

500 Days on the other hand had one of the best teaser trailers of the last couple years.

 

[Lancemc]

Paul (2010)

And how fun is this going to be?

 

[LMP]

Paul (2010)

And how fun is this going to be?

This and Your Highness have pretty much all of my favorite people in it.

 

[Lancemc]

Asian Trailer Watch: 'Bodyguards and Assassins' - Cinematical

So many good-looking martial arts flicks coming out in the next year.

 

[lazarus]

Well, I just took the Blu-Ray plunge. I needed some retail therapy after my car was broken into last night.

I was looking into Region-Free players, and stumbled upon a support page for a player that not only is easily hackable (something very rare with BR), but is also a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD combo player. Check this thing out:

Amazon.com: LG BH200 Super Blu Blu-Ray HD DVD Combo Player: Electronics

This may be a risky purchase, but $245 for an "open box" model was just too good to pass up. I'm now going to get $25 worth of HD-DVDs (which are insanely cheap) and get Free Shipping. The seller has a few left, too.

Exciting times.

 

[lazarus]

I just scrolled though all 600+ of the HD-DVDs that Amazon listed. My criteria were that the ones I bought had to be eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping (with $25 or more total), that the price offered by Amazon was as cheap as the lowest used price from private sellers (incl. the standard $3.00 shipping), and that I didn't already own the disc in the regular DVD format.

I made one exception on that last point for Warren Beatty's Reds, which I already own. However, I should be able to get up to $5 for selling it, which is what I'm paying for the HD-DVD. FREE FUCKING UPGRADE. I also picked up Casino (fuck yeah!), Paul Schrader's remake of Cat People (SHOSHANA!), and the Blu-Ray Watchmen Director's Cut (which was going new for $9.99 for a few hours today in a special "lightning" deal).

Also, from a private seller I ordered Fincher's The Game (which apparently isn't very good in the HD video dept., but I've never owned it and love the film), which was going for $0.97 + shipping.

Happy fucking Thanksgiving.

 

[Lancemc]

Sweet. I've always considered picking up that cheap HD-DVD add-on player for Xbox and picking up a shit load of cheap HD-DVDs. I might do that for myself this x-mas if the price is still right.

 

[lazarus]

Is there a hack to make the Xbox region-free? Apparently the problem with most RF players is that the firmware upgrades tend to reset everything. But this LG player has a simple code you can enter with the remote...supposedly. Worst case scenario I still got a combo player for less than $250.

I really wanted that B. Button Blu Ray, but Amazon only had a sale on the standard DVD today.

 

[Lancemc]

I'm pretty sure there's a hardware mod to region-break the xbox, but I'm not about to do that any time soon considering I just had to buy a brand new one a few weeks ago.

 

[the tourist]

Just watched Star Trek with my brother and dad (neither of whom had seen it). My dad's only beef is that Old Spock and Young Spock conversed. "My understanding, as educated by Doc Brown," my father said without hint of smirk, "is that such a thing should have caused a time paradox and destroyed the universe."

I love my dad.

 

[LMP]

Just watched Star Trek with my brother and dad (neither of whom had seen it). My dad's only beef is that Old Spock and Young Spock conversed. "My understanding, as educated by Doc Brown," my father said without hint of smirk, "is that such a thing should have caused a time paradox and destroyed the universe."

I love my dad.

Worst case scenario. He did say that it may just cause the other party (Old and Young Jennifer) go into shock and pass out, and that's exactly what happened.

 

[monkeyskin]

He didn't seem to have any difficulties conversing with himself towards the end of part 2 though.

 

[LMP]

He didn't seem to have any difficulties conversing with himself towards the end of part 2 though.

Never made eye-contact, but you'd think '50s Doc would know the sound of his own voice, you know?

I think he took his wallet.

 

[lazarus]

I got a little tech question that I need to figure out if I'm going to be able to use this new HD player.

I don't have an HDTV, and was planning on watching all my BR/HD-DVD stuff through my digital projector. The only thing is, it's an older projector that doesn't have an HDMI input. However, the manual says it will accept up to 1080i images. There's a VGA port on the back, as well as a DVI-I port. Now I found a cable for sale that goes from HDMI to DVI-I, but is that going to work? It's advertised as more of a computer hook-up cable. Also, doesn't HDMI carry both audio and video? Will I be able to have a separate cable out of my combo player that can go into my amp?

 

[Lancemc]

I think you need seperate audio cables in either case, though I'm only sure abou VGA

 

[lazarus]

Yeah, from what I've been able to tell it should work, and then I can use my digital coax for the sound, which there should be a port for.

Also, I REALLY want to buy Darkman on HD-DVD. God knows when it will ever hit Blu-Ray. Raimi's best film, in my opinion.

 

[LMP]

I think you need seperate audio cables in either case, though I'm only sure abou VGA

Yeah, you'd need audio cables in either case.

Yeah, from what I've been able to tell it should work, and then I can use my digital coax for the sound, which there should be a port for.

Also, I REALLY want to buy Darkman on HD-DVD. God knows when it will ever hit Blu-Ray. Raimi's best film, in my opinion.

Do it.

I can't wait for Mask of the Phantasm to hit HD. That's the best Batman movie outside of the Nolan series.

 

[Dalton]

I just tried watching 88 Minutes (awful) and it got me thinking - has Al Pacino done a decent movie this decade? I can't think of one. What's the deal? Has he lost it, has he decided to quite acting, anyone?

 

[RedRocksU2]

I remember seeing that at the movie theater and I wanted to walk out, but waited to see if it would get better......it did not, what a piece of s.

Same with Robert De Niro btw.

 

[RedRocksU2]

I got a little tech question that I need to figure out if I'm going to be able to use this new HD player.

I don't have an HDTV, and was planning on watching all my BR/HD-DVD stuff through my digital projector. The only thing is, it's an older projector that doesn't have an HDMI input. However, the manual says it will accept up to 1080i images. There's a VGA port on the back, as well as a DVI-I port. Now I found a cable for sale that goes from HDMI to DVI-I, but is that going to work? It's advertised as more of a computer hook-up cable. Also, doesn't HDMI carry both audio and video? Will I be able to have a separate cable out of my combo player that can go into my amp?

What about Component cables? Does it have that connection available?
Btw, that HDMI to DVI cable will work, I have my set connected that way.