December 8th, 2009 / 3:36 pm
Snippets
Snippets
Blake Butler—
Not sure I agree with a single film on the New Yorker’s Best of 2009 list, at least of the ones I’ve seen. Judd Apatow? Really? Actually, I can’t remember seeing much of anything good in the theater not only this year, but recent years before. Antichrist is the only exception, my list of one for 2009. What are some other films worth seeing from this’n?
This year and last year were both terrible. I’m holding out for The White Ribbon. The only movie I’ve paid full price for in the past few months was part of a Roger Corman retrospective.
This year and last year were both terrible. I’m holding out for The White Ribbon. The only movie I’ve paid full price for in the past few months was part of a Roger Corman retrospective.
This is just some kinda random dude’s list, not really the New Yorker’s. Brody isn’t even one of their main film critics. But yeah, weird list and agree with David this eyar and last were pretty sub-par.
This is just some kinda random dude’s list, not really the New Yorker’s. Brody isn’t even one of their main film critics. But yeah, weird list and agree with David this eyar and last were pretty sub-par.
it’s on their blog, i’m callin it theirs :P
it’s on their blog, i’m callin it theirs :P
Blake, Funny People is actually very good.
Blake, Funny People is actually very good.
Adventureland exceeded my expectations. Was the new Wes Anderson not any good?
You guys and gals should have a movie recommendation thread (regardless of year).
Adventureland exceeded my expectations. Was the new Wes Anderson not any good?
You guys and gals should have a movie recommendation thread (regardless of year).
Funny People was better than his others by far, but still an uneven and not great film by any stretch, in my opinion.
Funny People was better than his others by far, but still an uneven and not great film by any stretch, in my opinion.
I’ve never even heard of most of these movies. Funny People was interesting though–not on my Top Ten, but interesting.
I’ve never even heard of most of these movies. Funny People was interesting though–not on my Top Ten, but interesting.
last year had a few good ones: gomorrah was good. ballast was good..
last year had a few good ones: gomorrah was good. ballast was good..
gomorrah is next in my netflix cue, excited about that one.
agreed on a list, here’s as good a place as any?
gomorrah is next in my netflix cue, excited about that one.
agreed on a list, here’s as good a place as any?
Yeah, that is a weird list. I liked Moon a lot (Sam Rockwell, directed by Duncan Jones), and Inglorious Basterds I thought was hilarious, but I can see how some people wouldn’t…
Yeah, that is a weird list. I liked Moon a lot (Sam Rockwell, directed by Duncan Jones), and Inglorious Basterds I thought was hilarious, but I can see how some people wouldn’t…
Some films people should check out…. Le Haine, The Honeymoon Killers, American Astronaut (a little goofy, but different), Down By Law, The American Soldier, Pickup on South Street, obviously Blue Velvet (but who hasn’t seen that?…….?), City of God… just a few off the top of my head to get it rolling. Taxidermia was interesting too.
Some films people should check out…. Le Haine, The Honeymoon Killers, American Astronaut (a little goofy, but different), Down By Law, The American Soldier, Pickup on South Street, obviously Blue Velvet (but who hasn’t seen that?…….?), City of God… just a few off the top of my head to get it rolling. Taxidermia was interesting too.
yeah, i’ve heard of two of them. saw none of them.
star trek
yeah, i’ve heard of two of them. saw none of them.
star trek
Not to mention I Stand Alone and The River’s Edge. The last decent “Hollywood” films I’ve seen were The Savages and The Squid and The Whale. I admired the ambition and creativity of Synecdoche New York, even though it was a little frustrating to sit through (not as frustrating as Trush Humpers).
Not to mention I Stand Alone and The River’s Edge. The last decent “Hollywood” films I’ve seen were The Savages and The Squid and The Whale. I admired the ambition and creativity of Synecdoche New York, even though it was a little frustrating to sit through (not as frustrating as Trush Humpers).
Rob, what was Trash Humpers like?
I love I Stand Alone
Revanche was amazing. Alle Anderen was pretty freaking good. As was Das weisse Band.
Rob, what was Trash Humpers like?
I love I Stand Alone
Revanche was amazing. Alle Anderen was pretty freaking good. As was Das weisse Band.
Yes.
Yes.
As much as I loved Gummo, Trash Humpers was an extreme disappointment. It was shot on VHS, and had ZERO storyline… shot after shot of people in creepy looking old-person masks, humping trash cans, mailboxes and trees… screeching in an annoying high pitched voice. It might have made a funny like seven or eight minute film, but it just went on and on. There was maybe 2 or 3 interesting short scenes, but still… yikes.
It reminded me of that scene in Infinite Jest, where the character invites an audience into the theater to see a film called THE JOKE… and the film ends up being just a shot of the audience and their disappointed faces, upon realizing that they’ve just been scammed.
As much as I loved Gummo, Trash Humpers was an extreme disappointment. It was shot on VHS, and had ZERO storyline… shot after shot of people in creepy looking old-person masks, humping trash cans, mailboxes and trees… screeching in an annoying high pitched voice. It might have made a funny like seven or eight minute film, but it just went on and on. There was maybe 2 or 3 interesting short scenes, but still… yikes.
It reminded me of that scene in Infinite Jest, where the character invites an audience into the theater to see a film called THE JOKE… and the film ends up being just a shot of the audience and their disappointed faces, upon realizing that they’ve just been scammed.
Last great film seen in a theater was probably Happy-Go-Lucky in 2008. This year, hm. Adventureland and Star Trek were both really good mainstream pictures. Adventureland had the self-awareness thing going on– the hot girl felt like a person responding to the idea of being the hot girl, the bookish dork responding to the idea of being that person, etc. Star Trek was mostly excellently crafted, with well-defined elements, and as a bonus was fucking funny. Hurt Locker and Serious Man were the best film everyone already knew would be good, although it’s interesting how in a lot of ways they’re the same movie. The best film that was neither mainstream nor an anticipated underdog was probably Afghan Star, which was like a film of a person sedated and opened up on an operating table, watching their intestines try to digest candy, while the patient is having a nightmare.
Last great film seen in a theater was probably Happy-Go-Lucky in 2008. This year, hm. Adventureland and Star Trek were both really good mainstream pictures. Adventureland had the self-awareness thing going on– the hot girl felt like a person responding to the idea of being the hot girl, the bookish dork responding to the idea of being that person, etc. Star Trek was mostly excellently crafted, with well-defined elements, and as a bonus was fucking funny. Hurt Locker and Serious Man were the best film everyone already knew would be good, although it’s interesting how in a lot of ways they’re the same movie. The best film that was neither mainstream nor an anticipated underdog was probably Afghan Star, which was like a film of a person sedated and opened up on an operating table, watching their intestines try to digest candy, while the patient is having a nightmare.
that’s disappointing to hear. i honestly wasn’t that into Mr. Lonely either. some great scenes too, but overall didn’t hit me like his first two.
The Joke. loved.
I saw Kynodontas (Dogtooth) at the Toronto Film Festival this year, and I remember liking that.
that’s disappointing to hear. i honestly wasn’t that into Mr. Lonely either. some great scenes too, but overall didn’t hit me like his first two.
The Joke. loved.
I saw Kynodontas (Dogtooth) at the Toronto Film Festival this year, and I remember liking that.
Ponyo!
Ponyo!
i just saw the fantastic mr. fox and it was fantastic.
i just saw the fantastic mr. fox and it was fantastic.
Yes, Mr. Fox really was fantastic. A Serious Man was serious. And Inglorious Basterds was glorious.
So next year let’s just have a bunch of movies the titles of which tell us exactly their level of artistic merit, hm?
Yes, Mr. Fox really was fantastic. A Serious Man was serious. And Inglorious Basterds was glorious.
So next year let’s just have a bunch of movies the titles of which tell us exactly their level of artistic merit, hm?
I completely loved A Serious Man. My favorite of 2009. Although I can understand why that movie is so love it or hate it.
As far as hollywood children’s-type movies, Mr. Fox was pretty great, though I had some quibbles, and UP was fantastic.
I completely loved A Serious Man. My favorite of 2009. Although I can understand why that movie is so love it or hate it.
As far as hollywood children’s-type movies, Mr. Fox was pretty great, though I had some quibbles, and UP was fantastic.
Moon was outstanding–so well done and I gained a new appreciation for Sam Rockwell who I used to not really care for.
Moon was outstanding–so well done and I gained a new appreciation for Sam Rockwell who I used to not really care for.
Haven’t seen a bunch on that list – but the few things that impressed me this year:
-The Limits of Control
-Hunger
-Gomorrah
-Lorna’s Silence
Also really good: Summer Hours, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and A Serious Man (which I just saw and can’t shake; it’s so much stranger than advertised)
Haven’t seen a bunch on that list – but the few things that impressed me this year:
-The Limits of Control
-Hunger
-Gomorrah
-Lorna’s Silence
Also really good: Summer Hours, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and A Serious Man (which I just saw and can’t shake; it’s so much stranger than advertised)
forgot about Hunger, it was pretty good, yes
forgot about Hunger, it was pretty good, yes
White Ribbon isn’t bad. It’s not Cache, though.
Thirst and Bronson
White Ribbon isn’t bad. It’s not Cache, though.
Thirst and Bronson
I loved Fantastic Mr. Fox. Definitely one of my favorite movies of the year. Top five, for sure. And I’m not an Anderson fan.
I loved Fantastic Mr. Fox. Definitely one of my favorite movies of the year. Top five, for sure. And I’m not an Anderson fan.
Police, Adjective was a truly unreal movie. The most boring thing I have ever seen in my life. And that’s not hyperbole. They worked very, very hard to make that movie as boring as it was.
Police, Adjective was a truly unreal movie. The most boring thing I have ever seen in my life. And that’s not hyperbole. They worked very, very hard to make that movie as boring as it was.
oh, I meant Thirst. i didn’t see Hunger.
oink.
interestingly boring, or just boring?
oh, I meant Thirst. i didn’t see Hunger.
oink.
interestingly boring, or just boring?
Me too. I just saw it the other day and have been jonesing to see it again ever since.
Me too. I just saw it the other day and have been jonesing to see it again ever since.
oh man bronson looked awesome
oh man bronson looked awesome
the real question is: how does it compare to code unknown. and where did you see it? i thought it was releasing on the 30th
the real question is: how does it compare to code unknown. and where did you see it? i thought it was releasing on the 30th
A Serious Man and Inglorious Basterds were great. District 9 was a lot of fun. Loved the first ten minutes of Up, and I thought Humpday was majorly funny.
I really liked Fantastic Mr. Fox while I was watching it, but when I try to think about it now I can’t remember much. I keep confusing it with scenes from Wallace and Gromit.
Did anyone see Sugar? That was a good one.
A Serious Man and Inglorious Basterds were great. District 9 was a lot of fun. Loved the first ten minutes of Up, and I thought Humpday was majorly funny.
I really liked Fantastic Mr. Fox while I was watching it, but when I try to think about it now I can’t remember much. I keep confusing it with scenes from Wallace and Gromit.
Did anyone see Sugar? That was a good one.
Ditto on Limits of Control
Ditto on Limits of Control
i haven’t caught up with as much recent film as i’d like this year, and of what i’ve seen, nothing’s floored me.
in the last few years, ‘persepolis’ is one of my favourites, and i liked ‘this is england.’ shane meadows in general tends to be pretty great.
oh. and i really liked ‘encounters at the end of the world. the footage of under the ice in antarctica was amazing.
i still haven’t caught up with antichrist. von trier films always run the risk of making me want to shake the director until he stops being so simplistic.
i haven’t caught up with as much recent film as i’d like this year, and of what i’ve seen, nothing’s floored me.
in the last few years, ‘persepolis’ is one of my favourites, and i liked ‘this is england.’ shane meadows in general tends to be pretty great.
oh. and i really liked ‘encounters at the end of the world. the footage of under the ice in antarctica was amazing.
i still haven’t caught up with antichrist. von trier films always run the risk of making me want to shake the director until he stops being so simplistic.
Fox is very good.
Fox is very good.
Is Surveillance any good? Produced by David Lynch. Directed by Jennifer Lynch? Just noticed that it’s now on netflix watch it now. Might watch it tonight.
Is Surveillance any good? Produced by David Lynch. Directed by Jennifer Lynch? Just noticed that it’s now on netflix watch it now. Might watch it tonight.
I saw it at some screening in September or early October. I can’t remember if it was part of the New York Film Festival or a critic’s screening (I interviewed Haneke then but haven’t written the interview up yet) but it wasn’t in release. I didn’t like it as much as I remember liking Code Unknown, but it’s been a very long time since I saw Code Unknown.
I saw it at some screening in September or early October. I can’t remember if it was part of the New York Film Festival or a critic’s screening (I interviewed Haneke then but haven’t written the interview up yet) but it wasn’t in release. I didn’t like it as much as I remember liking Code Unknown, but it’s been a very long time since I saw Code Unknown.
Apparently interesting to some people. Absolutely excruciating to me. I warn people against seeing it. It felt like a robbery. (But, again, some people apparently like it. So in that sense, potentially “worth seeing.”)
Apparently interesting to some people. Absolutely excruciating to me. I warn people against seeing it. It felt like a robbery. (But, again, some people apparently like it. So in that sense, potentially “worth seeing.”)
A Serious Man.
A Serious Man.
We don’t really get that many good movies out here in Akron, Ohio.
I keep forgetting what came out this year that is worth thinking about.
‘Star Trek’ was a lot of fun. ‘Up’ was very colorful. ‘District 9’ would have been really good if it dropped the whole mockumentary thing from the very beginning and not just halfway through the movie, or maybe if it would have just kept it consistent throughout. Either way, the stylistic change was incredibly uneven.
The only movie that I really wanted to see was ‘A Serious Man’ (big Coen Brothers fanboy), and it wasn’t even released here. Maybe soon? Dang.
We don’t really get that many good movies out here in Akron, Ohio.
I keep forgetting what came out this year that is worth thinking about.
‘Star Trek’ was a lot of fun. ‘Up’ was very colorful. ‘District 9’ would have been really good if it dropped the whole mockumentary thing from the very beginning and not just halfway through the movie, or maybe if it would have just kept it consistent throughout. Either way, the stylistic change was incredibly uneven.
The only movie that I really wanted to see was ‘A Serious Man’ (big Coen Brothers fanboy), and it wasn’t even released here. Maybe soon? Dang.
‘hurt locker’ was the best 2009 film i saw. ‘a serious man’ was a very close second. i agree with those who say ‘funny people’ was better than they expected, but not as good as it could’ve been if it had omitted the romantic subplot and concentrated on the clawing and biting of comics to succeed (it kind of reminded me of poets).
‘hurt locker’ was the best 2009 film i saw. ‘a serious man’ was a very close second. i agree with those who say ‘funny people’ was better than they expected, but not as good as it could’ve been if it had omitted the romantic subplot and concentrated on the clawing and biting of comics to succeed (it kind of reminded me of poets).
I liked John Waters’ best of 2009 much better, and it’s here
http://www.artforum.com/inprint/id=24234
Haven’t seen all of the films on the list, but the ones that I did see, I agree with.
I liked John Waters’ best of 2009 much better, and it’s here
http://www.artforum.com/inprint/id=24234
Haven’t seen all of the films on the list, but the ones that I did see, I agree with.
the only movies that didn’t make me want to die in a bad way were ostensibly camp
the final destination 3d was literally the best thing i have seen in theaters this decade, probably (in terms of theater + experience– i’ve seen the last two lynch movies in theaters & like them better as movies but theater experience sucked for both)
2012 made me giddy in all it’s utter stupidity and grandeur
i hate donnie darko more than i even care to articulate but i thought the box was really really neat
orphan is my favorite recent horror flick because of the awkward sex scenes
district 9 made me want to blow up the movie theater for being the most overblown bullshit ever, fantastic mr. fox was okay but kind of stupid in it’s precocious quirkiness, star trek was just like “hey this is star trek except we’re all hot now”
i don’t know i don’t want to shit on anybody if you like movies i hated that’s cool. art forum’s lists were totally boring & obvious (for artforum) to me. somethings i still need to see include antichrist and the two ryan trecartin videos he made this year. plus there’s probably a world of video-art i’ve missed that i need to see. i used to care more about movies than everything else in the entire world and then i got to pissed off at most things and now i am trying to ‘stay calm’ about it.
i’d rather just watch shit made between 66 and 84 though i don’t know why this comment is so long.
the only movies that didn’t make me want to die in a bad way were ostensibly camp
the final destination 3d was literally the best thing i have seen in theaters this decade, probably (in terms of theater + experience– i’ve seen the last two lynch movies in theaters & like them better as movies but theater experience sucked for both)
2012 made me giddy in all it’s utter stupidity and grandeur
i hate donnie darko more than i even care to articulate but i thought the box was really really neat
orphan is my favorite recent horror flick because of the awkward sex scenes
district 9 made me want to blow up the movie theater for being the most overblown bullshit ever, fantastic mr. fox was okay but kind of stupid in it’s precocious quirkiness, star trek was just like “hey this is star trek except we’re all hot now”
i don’t know i don’t want to shit on anybody if you like movies i hated that’s cool. art forum’s lists were totally boring & obvious (for artforum) to me. somethings i still need to see include antichrist and the two ryan trecartin videos he made this year. plus there’s probably a world of video-art i’ve missed that i need to see. i used to care more about movies than everything else in the entire world and then i got to pissed off at most things and now i am trying to ‘stay calm’ about it.
i’d rather just watch shit made between 66 and 84 though i don’t know why this comment is so long.
i hate this comment i wish i could delete it
i hate this comment i wish i could delete it
i watched it. it was not good.
i watched it. it was not good.
agreed.
agreed.