Watched in class, like on some sort of low-res download (no available HD source?).
Wasn’t very good. We watched it in class as a way of thinking about how the Missions across California were mythologized and such. Yeah, the movie leans into that fake Mission story, and is very dated in its representations of Native American people - basically calling them uncivilized and primitive.
Weird that all these Spanish Conquistadors (other than Anothny Quinn) have American accents.
I’ve seen dated…
De Palma’s first thriller, and I liked it quite a bit - but not as much as his later work.
Watched on Criterion Blu-ray.
The first half is terrific, the whole date show opener into the date and De Palma is setting up all these interesting details that will come up later like the cake and Margot Kidder's ex-husband (played by De Palma regular William Finley). It’s all fantastic - and then there's the turn once the murder happens! The…
Green Room is a siege thriller that will always keep you on the edge of your seat, or covering your eyes and ears. The story is so realistic that it will keep you wondering if the scenarios in the film can really happen to you after you watch the film. I was always wondering what was going to happen next, because its so unpredictable just like in real life. This film really actually reminded me of Straw Dogs with both…
Watched on the Kino Lorber 4K.
Really beautiful movie. There's not much to say that hasn't already been raved about. Probably should have won Best Picture at the Oscars.
Both Gyllenhaal and Ledger are excellent, but Ledger especially. His character isn't the talkin' kind so he has to perform with his face and body a lot of the time. The movie spans decades and over that time you get so familiarized with the two men that you almost feel like…
