I'd be sort of sad if I had to start my annual year-end film detrius thread here.

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Whatever happened to all the buzz around The Good German and The Good Shepherd? I thought these were both poised to be major Oscar/Globe contenders.

jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 14 December 2006 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Reception for both has been middling to bad, across the board. TGS has Matt Damon in one Skull & Bones mud wrestling scene, I can wit for DVD for that.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 December 2006 16:32 (seventeen years ago) link

TGS has Matt Damon in one Skull & Bones mud wrestling scene, I can wit for DVD for that.

Well, I can't.

21 Grams was such a terribly executed film of a terrible idea to begin with that I doubt Brad Pitt's 256th shot of proving he's got "real" acting chops is enough to entice me.

Alfred Soto (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 14 December 2006 16:42 (seventeen years ago) link

dude, you can't use freezeframe at the multiplex.

I didn't mind 21 Grams all that much, but I've had quite enough of Innaritu's template.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I love how Peter O'Toole didn't get jack for mentions until now, but somehow the GG have validated him to the point that he's considered a viable frontrunner to Whitaker, simply by virtue of he is one of the only actors unfashionable enough to actually admit to wanting an Oscar.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Losing seven nominations and being his generation's (purportedly) het version of Ian McKellen doesn't hurt either.

Alfred Soto (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:18 (seventeen years ago) link

If Oscar-nominated, I have a feeling the category will go down Bacall-Binoche-'96-style.

jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:21 (seventeen years ago) link

ie, Pretty Leo will win?

O'Toole is 74 I think, so it depends how many interviews and lunches he feels like doing in LA.

(oh pls don't compare that one-note ham McKellen to PO'T)

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:24 (seventeen years ago) link

If Oscar-nominated, I have a feeling the category will go down Bacall-Binoche-'96-style

I thought about that too. Expect O'Toole to fake graciousness a lot better than Betty Bacall (and he'll probably drink Leo or Forest under the table in the post-ceremony gropefest).

Alfred Soto (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Gah, my last post makes it sound like *I* expect to be nominated.

ie, Pretty Leo will win?

No, Penelope Cruz will. :-)

jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, you are a queen, jaymc ;)

Alfred Soto (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:42 (seventeen years ago) link

the category will go down Bacall-Binoche-'96-style.

Actually that works much better for Cruz-Mirren (ever since Binoche, the Oscar geezers have been voting frequently for babes).

I've read some good stories involving "Bacall" and "go down."

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 December 2006 17:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Results 1 - 1 of about 2 for "Lauren Bacall blew"

milo (milo), Thursday, 14 December 2006 19:39 (seventeen years ago) link

awesome, mark wahlberg : D

bohren un der club of gear (bohren un der club of gear), Thursday, 14 December 2006 19:45 (seventeen years ago) link

he was hoovered by Bacall?

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 14 December 2006 19:47 (seventeen years ago) link

she was the fluffer on boogie nights. joke's on her, it was a prosthetic cock.

bohren un der club of gear (bohren un der club of gear), Thursday, 14 December 2006 19:53 (seventeen years ago) link

The Departed is Travers' #1 film. Dreamgirls is number two.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 16 December 2006 07:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Stephen King's ten:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1569937_1472578_0_,00.html


Oscar shortlist, visual effects (3 nominees):

"Casino Royale," "Eragon," "Night at the Museum," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "Poseidon," "Superman Returns" and "X-Men: The Last Stand."


Dr M (Dr Morbius), Monday, 18 December 2006 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Thomson sez Eastwood's two films are his best ever:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,1972299,00.html

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:32 (seventeen years ago) link

And here he is making two films at a time, filled with a profound uncertainty over the nature of war such as might have astonished the Man With No Name, that instant icon he fashioned for Sergio Leone.

'i've never seen so many men wasted so badly.'

bohren un der club of gear (bohren un der club of gear), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Is that from GoodBadUgly?

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:54 (seventeen years ago) link

yes indeed

bohren un der club of gear (bohren un der club of gear), Monday, 18 December 2006 21:57 (seventeen years ago) link

jaymc, is your film critic friend a member of the Chicago Critics group?

Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 04:09 (seventeen years ago) link

The apex and embodiment of this thread:

Rex Reed's best and worst:

The 10 Best Films of 2006

1. Babel
2. Notes on a Scandal
3. The History Boys
4. The Painted Veil
5. The Queen
6. Flags of Our Fathers/Letters from Iwo Jima
7. The Illusionist
8. Infamous
9. Dreamgirls
10. Volver

Honorable Mentions: Water, Scoop, Find Me Guilty, Deliver Us from Evil, The Last King of Scotland, Kinky Boots, Our Daily Bread

THE 10 WORST FILMS OF 2006

1. Borat
2. The Fountain
3. Apocalypto
4. Lucky Number Slevin
5. The Black Dahlia
6 All the King’s Men
7. Lady in the Water
8. Brick
9. Inland Empire
10. Fur

Extra hisses and boos to: The Da Vinci Code, A Prairie Home Companion, Déjà Vu, The Prestige, Rumor Has It, Freedomland, For Your Consideration, Perfume

Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 19:15 (seventeen years ago) link

jaymc, is your film critic friend a member of the Chicago Critics group?

Yup. He sez:

I am SO happy with these nominees. I don't agree with all of them, I can't imagine anybody does, that's the nature of democracy, but I think we made some great choices, ignoring several recent disturbing trends like Dreamgirls for pic and Blood Diamond for anything. Babel had a much stronger showing than I thought it would and that makes me happy too. Seeing Brick, Children of Men, and The Fountain score their nominations is great too - they've been underepresented in critics awards so far. They deserve each and every one of them. I love the tech nods for The Fountain. A few categories, including our great choices for breakthrough performer, score, and cinematography include five of my ten (in the first round we voted ten in each category). That's cool.

And here are the Chicago Film Critics nominees (winners to be announced on Dec. 28):

BEST PICTURE
Babel
The Departed
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen
United 93


BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM
Apocalypto
Letters From Iwo Jima
Pan's Labyrinth
Tsotsi
Volver


BEST DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood: Letters From Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears: The Queen
Paul Greengrass: United 93
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu: Babel
Martin Scorsese: The Departed


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Babel: Guillermo Arriaga
Letters From Iwo Jima: Iris Yamashita
Little Miss Sunshine: Michael Arndt
The Queen: Peter Morgan
United 93: Paul Greengrass


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Departed: William Monahan
Little Children: Todd Field & Tom Perrotta
Notes On A Scandal: Patrick Marber
A Prairie Home Companion: Garrison Keillor
Thank You For Smoking: Jason Reitman


BEST ACTOR
Leonardo DiCaprio-The Departed
Ryan Gosling-Half-Nelson
Peter O'Toole-Venus
Will Smith-The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland


BEST ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz-Volver
Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal-Sherrybaby
Helen Mirren-The Queen
Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet-Little Children


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ben Affleck-Hollywoodland
Jackie Earle Haley-Little Children
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson-The Departed
Brad Pitt-Babel
Michael Sheen-The Queen


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Adriana Barraza-Babel
Cate Blanchett-Notes On A Scandal
Abigail Breslin-Little Miss Sunshine
Toni Collette-Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi-Babel


BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Babel: Gustavo Santaolalla
The Fountain: Clint Mansell
Letters From Iwo Jima: Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens
Notes On A Scandal: Philip Glass
The Queen: Alexandre Desplat


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Babel: Rodrigo Prieto
Children of Men: Emmanuel Lubezki
The Departed: Michael Ballhaus
The Fountain: Matthew Libatique
Letters From Iwo Jima: Tom Stern


BEST DOCUMENTARY
Deliver Us From Evil
An Inconvenient Truth
Jesus Camp
Shut Up and Sing
Wordplay


MOST PROMISING PERFORMER
Ivana Baquero-Pan's Labyrinth
Sacha Baron Cohen-Borat & Talladega Nights
Shareeka Epps-Half-Nelson
Rinko Kikuchi-Babel
Keke Palmer-Akeelah and the Bee


MOST PROMISING DIRECTOR
Rian Johnson-Brick
Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris-Little Miss Sunshine
Gil Kenan-Monster House
Jason Reitman-Thank You For Smoking
James McTeigue-V For Vendetta

jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 19:19 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost re Rexy

Gee, maybe All the King’s Men is worth a look after all.

The Painted Veil and Children of Men are getting more praise than I would've expected, but given Curran and Lubezki (resp) I guess I'm seeing both.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 19:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Children of Men edged into the Film Comment critics' poll's Top 20, just sneaking past Casino Royale (?!)

http://filmlinc.com/fcm/poll/2006pollcritics.html

Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 21:23 (seventeen years ago) link

well, I guess you're right about Scorsese vs Lynch in polls to come.

That top 10 isn't THAT much more middbrow than Rex Reed's! Half Nelsom, The Queen andeven Borat -- this is the magazine in which Schrader's canon was too safe for the room?

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 21:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm hoping that with Regular Lovers, Children of Men, Painted Veil, Letters from Iwo Jima, Pan's Labyrinth all opening in NYC in the next 2 weeks, it just might be a Happy Old Year after all.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 21:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, Film Comment's poll has always been at least three big steps towards the center from VV's, hence the Sideways/Before Sunset split in 2004. But, yeah, Half Nelson higher than Hou Hsiao-hsien is sort of a wtf.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 20 December 2006 21:34 (seventeen years ago) link

i don't get FC's 'unreleased films' list -- some of those are going to be released soon, so it's not like they're being kept from the punters.

temporary enrique (temporary enrique), Thursday, 21 December 2006 09:46 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm really baffled by the absence of Children of Men from most of these lists. It was the best movie I saw this year, I think - dinky in a way but on the whole very, very compelling. Certainly more so than something like The Departed! Is it because it's not opened wide in the US yet?

sean gramophone (sean gramophone), Thursday, 21 December 2006 10:42 (seventeen years ago) link

i don't get FC's 'unreleased films' list -- some of those are going to be released soon

And some won't. I don't have a handle on the state of foreign-film distrib in the UK, but many of their choices on that list in past years have still never, ever been released in the US. So they most certainly are being kept from the ever more miniscule number of punters who are interested in world cinema that doesn't have an easy genre hook.

Philippe Garrel's Regular Lovers (two years old) is opening in NYC next week -- he's been making features since the '60s, and I'm pretty sure this is his first commercial release in America.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 21 December 2006 14:35 (seventeen years ago) link

that makes sense only

14. Southland Tales (Richard Kelly, Germany/U.S.)* 53

UH

i mean that so has a distribution deal right?

temporary enrique (temporary enrique), Thursday, 21 December 2006 14:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Does it? When its Cannes screening was a 'disaster'? Kelly himself has said he doesn't think the version he showed will be distributed.

Also, directors of cult movies starring Jake Gyllenhaal are much higher on the arthouse foodchain than, say, Raul Ruiz or Tsai ming-Liang.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 21 December 2006 14:41 (seventeen years ago) link

that's because of that crazy thing called capitalism.

kelly's film will see the light of day in 1x form or another -- trimmed maybe but that's not unusual. cannes is like a test audience of rich media folk.

temporary enrique (temporary enrique), Thursday, 21 December 2006 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm really baffled by the absence of Children of Men from most of these lists.

Bounces back from being "only" nineteenth on the FC poll to slam into ninth-place on the IndieWire nee VV poll.

http://indiewire.com/critics2006/

Neither Departed nor Inland Empire at #1 (though the latter feel within a 10-point margin of the former, good enough for #3 and #4 respectively). The blue ribbon goes to Lazarescu ... presuming that the voting body is more or less the same as it was in the VV poll days, that has to count as the most surprising winner in the poll's history, in my opinion.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:09 (seventeen years ago) link

there's no solid art-house tradition to get with now (ie since the 70s) -- so these random films (that turkish one the other year, or that russian one the same year) somehow get to the top of the pile and stay there.

temporary enrique (temporary enrique), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, and Children of Men cleaned up in the cinematography category, which I expected (and is the main reason I'm excited to see it ... the promise of good cinematography, I mean, not that it won the category).

Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:14 (seventeen years ago) link

I guess Lubezki is the new Chris Doyle.

I didn't think charges of obscurity/annoyance vs Lynch would disturb the VV poll's core given their past love for the likes of Safe.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Haha... I presume by virtue of a new venue, Armond is forced to reveal his hand.

http://ballot.indiewire.com/ballots/display_ballot/127

Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:33 (seventeen years ago) link

My charge wasn't that the new Lynch was either obscure that people were tired of Lynch but that a significant proportion of his usual VV-allied demo actively disliked Inland Empire. Didn't turn out to be entirely the case, and it ended up on only a couple less ballots than the I thought widely liked The Departed.

Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, I think you read a wider spectrum of people than I do; didn't catch all that much of the active dislike.

Wish I had caught up with Broken Sky, I feel in my gut the DVD may not appear til summer.

I'm pleased with the high finish of Nolte in Supporting Perf, who would be my runaway choice at the moment.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 21 December 2006 15:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Rosenbaum's year-end; he like cow "liberation" scene in FFN (as did I as metaphor for the narcotized US public) and Bobby:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/criticspicks06/movies/


I've never been a big Melville fan, but I don't remotely get the Army of Shadows mania. I recall maybe two scenes from it.

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Friday, 22 December 2006 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm more than pleased with all the Nolte and Wahlberg mentions.

Eric or Morbs -- seen The Painted Veil yet? It hasn't opened here yet. At present I'm deciding whether to catch The History Boys or re-screen Withnail & I; doesn't Richard Griffiths give the same perf?

Alfred Soto (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 December 2006 15:40 (seventeen years ago) link

not yet. Will likely see TPV and THB in next 2 weeks.

enrique might want to glance at all 200 of these:

http://ballot.indiewire.com/ballots/scores#best_undist

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Friday, 22 December 2006 15:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I like Rosenbaum's excuse for a Vin Diesel legal comedy tanking - HOLLYWOOD HATES LIBERALS.

milo (milo), Friday, 22 December 2006 16:25 (seventeen years ago) link

He says the film has a "leftist slant," and you should know that is different from liberal by the way ILX libs shout "NADER 2008" at me all the time.

(ie libs are exulting that the Dems are now the party in Congress who will do nothing about Iraq)

Dr M (Dr Morbius), Friday, 22 December 2006 16:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Is Regular Lovers only opening in NY or did it get a real distribution deal?

C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 22 December 2006 16:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh man, that J.R. Jones list...

C0L1N B... (C0L1N B...), Friday, 22 December 2006 16:58 (seventeen years ago) link


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