movies

[thrill]

Pretty sure this has always been a thing. Alfred Hitchcock, Fritz Lang etc.

[go birds]

Don't most big name directors do that though?

Yup. Spielberg's been doing it for years.

Anyway, looks like "The Visit" is a successful comeback from Shamalama, already earned back its budget and quite a lot more on opening weekend.

It's very good.

And while the trademark "twist" is somewhat predictable, it's still very good and entertaining.

Lots of laughs and lots of scares.

If you're into the Ti West/mumblecore brand of horror, then this one's for you.

[ghostrunner]

It goes back to DW Griffith. It's a tough question - I feel less bothered by it with Hitchcock or Kubrick, or even Spielberg where you can argue there's some marketing value and a strong impression. But it's a collaborative effort. Just as an example, The Shining is "A Stanley Kubrick Film" but that's a big disservice to the cinematographer IMO. On that film in particular. The same guy - John Alcott - shot A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, and a lot of 2001.

[MrSaigon]

I hated Trent Reznor's music for Gone Girl a lot.

The movie itself was so-so. very odd to me tonally. I don't know how to demonstrate or articulate it or anything, but it almost felt like Fincher disliked his source material.

That's interesting about the soundtrack. I listened to that on the way to work today after reading this. I was kind of surprised that the Social Network music was so well liked because it seemed like something that viewers would mostly be indifferent about. It's very ambient in terms of style. I think Fincher has gotten more cold and clinical with age, and Reznor's music reinforces that. I'd say it's less emotionally manipulative than other soundtracks, but it does create a sense of dread or import (or both) that maybe isn't otherwise deserved. I actually listen to music very similar to this when I go to sleep or work just because it helps me clear my head.

It does surprise me that someone would be annoyed by it.

I've yet to watch it since seeing it in the theater, and I was too caught up in the setting to really enjoy the movie. I thought the score fit the movie well. I have it DVR'd, so I need to watch it again soon.

The tone of the movie played so weird for me--almost campy at times--maybe I would have disliked any music. But the ST was a little heavy and suggestive for me. Then again I was also watching this movie knowing there was at least one big twist and probably more, so maybe the test was rather unfair. I definitely didn't care for it.

On the topic of soundtracks, I'm a fan of big, orchestral movie music. Those goddam banjo and kazoo soundtracks that quirky indie movies all ran on, while fitting there, should stay there. Michael Giacchino, he's the [expletive]. Oh, and I rewatched Fletch, which has held up pretty well, really, but the soundtrack is almost a dealbreaker.

[Vidor]

It goes back to DW Griffith.

[Swirls]

The Visit is great. M night's best since the sixth sense.

The only thing that bothered me was at the very beginning, the first credit read "an m. Night shymalan film"

I couldn't stop wondering if that was grammatically correct and if not how that made the final cut.

Also a little egotistical.

Agreed. Did Spike start that?

Nah, it goes back decades.

At least putting it in the opening credits is better than making it part of the goddamn title, which is the case with Every. Single. Tyler Perry movie or TV show he directs. Luckily they're all giant piles of crap and everyone knows it.

The only good thing that comes out of it is when I'm browsing Amazon Prime for a movie to stream, I can immediately see "Tyler Perry's Pile of [expletive]" or "Tyler Perry's Pile of [expletive] #2" or "Tyler Perry's Pile of [expletive] #4" and know right off the bat that I don't even need to open up the entry to determine if I want to watch it. It makes for quicker browsing, but that's about it.

[Vidor]

"Intolerance" is pretty amazing BTW.

[ghostrunner]

William Becker, Who Transformed Janus Films, Dies at 88

Janus capitalized on an art-house revival, the growth in college enrollment and proliferation of university film courses. It also tapped into a growing market in home video by releasing its collection on laser disc, and later on DVD, with commentaries and other supplemental features. And it joined forces with Voyager, which evolved into the Criterion Collection, and eventually expanded into cable television and online videos

[Freed Roger]

Re: The Visit -

this may do for spend-the-nights at grandparents what Jaws did for the beach.

[go birds]

i cant even begin to describe how creepy that lady is in that movie