What quirky DVD's have you watched lately?
Posted by: ErikL on 14 February 2004
I recently watched these and both are recommended:
Capturing The Friedmans- A documentary of a middle-class Long Island family, when a son and father were accused of molestation and sodomy. Definitely not a comfy Valentine's Day sort of movie; it's uncomfortable and unsettling but well done as all sides of the events are touched upon.*
Man on the Train (L'Homme du Train)- Two very different guys in an excruciatingly dull town in France, a thief and a teacher, cross paths and form an odd relationship. Definitely a slow builder to the climax where both experience life-altering events, but worth every minute.
(* Don't watch this the same weekend you watch L.I.E.)
Capturing The Friedmans- A documentary of a middle-class Long Island family, when a son and father were accused of molestation and sodomy. Definitely not a comfy Valentine's Day sort of movie; it's uncomfortable and unsettling but well done as all sides of the events are touched upon.*
Man on the Train (L'Homme du Train)- Two very different guys in an excruciatingly dull town in France, a thief and a teacher, cross paths and form an odd relationship. Definitely a slow builder to the climax where both experience life-altering events, but worth every minute.
(* Don't watch this the same weekend you watch L.I.E.)
Posted on: 14 February 2004 by Wolf
Well I bought my first DVD and it was the Beatles' Yellow Submarine. Quirky in it's own way.
Had a problem with my new DVD player I bought at teh same time so ended up watching it on my computer. I really wanted that Naim sound.
Life is analogue
Had a problem with my new DVD player I bought at teh same time so ended up watching it on my computer. I really wanted that Naim sound.
Life is analogue
Posted on: 15 February 2004 by ErikL
Here's a real unusual indie documentary I checked out last night...
Keep The River On Your Right
This is the story of a Lower East Side artist who spent a year with tribes in Peru and New Guinea. He revisited a few decades later, seeking former gay tribal lovers, cannibal dinner mates, and other old buddies. The film's more about this very unique individual than the cultures he explored. It's odd. I liked it. Mick Parry would hate it.
A documentary to see in theaters this Spring... Super Size Me. It discusses the evil that is McDonalds. The filmmaker travels the US interviewing different folks. He eats McD's 3 meals per day while making the movie and gains 25 pounds and sees his cholesterol go from 165 to 230, among other health issues. Fun for the whole family!
Keep The River On Your Right
This is the story of a Lower East Side artist who spent a year with tribes in Peru and New Guinea. He revisited a few decades later, seeking former gay tribal lovers, cannibal dinner mates, and other old buddies. The film's more about this very unique individual than the cultures he explored. It's odd. I liked it. Mick Parry would hate it.
A documentary to see in theaters this Spring... Super Size Me. It discusses the evil that is McDonalds. The filmmaker travels the US interviewing different folks. He eats McD's 3 meals per day while making the movie and gains 25 pounds and sees his cholesterol go from 165 to 230, among other health issues. Fun for the whole family!
Posted on: 15 February 2004 by J.N.
The Man Who Wasn't There
Bought this DVD recently, on the strength of it starring Billy Bob Thornton and being made by Joel and Ethan Coen(of 'Fargo' fame)
It's basically a crime thriller set in 1949 California and is filmed in glorious black and white.
Visually stunning in parts, it glides along with Billy Bob's first person, laconic narration.
This gives me another opportunity to plug a wonderful film being shown on Channel 4 tommorow (Monday) night.
Breaking The Waves
Bought this DVD recently, on the strength of it starring Billy Bob Thornton and being made by Joel and Ethan Coen(of 'Fargo' fame)
It's basically a crime thriller set in 1949 California and is filmed in glorious black and white.
Visually stunning in parts, it glides along with Billy Bob's first person, laconic narration.
This gives me another opportunity to plug a wonderful film being shown on Channel 4 tommorow (Monday) night.
Breaking The Waves
Posted on: 15 February 2004 by Ron Toolsie
Pink Floyd at Pompeii Got this the week I decided to proceed with the dedicated home theatre installation. The directors cut contains much extra footage to either the theatrical release or the subsequent LaserDisk (remember them?) release. A must for any and all Floyd fans.
The Commitments Well over here in the US, this movie has been seen by almost nobody. One of the very few I can watch time, and time, and time again.
A Clockwork OrangeIn retrospect this has been transmuted by time from an ultraviolent and explicit movie to a rather implicit and dated affair. But the narrative style and the entirely inappropriate (or is that appropriate) soundtrack are compulsive viewing/listening.
The Harder They Come Only got this last night and haven't viddied it yet.
Sad to say, I have more CDs by artists beginning with 'A' than I have total DVDs. Either I get rid of my many Abba disks or buy more DVD's.
Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo
The Commitments Well over here in the US, this movie has been seen by almost nobody. One of the very few I can watch time, and time, and time again.
A Clockwork OrangeIn retrospect this has been transmuted by time from an ultraviolent and explicit movie to a rather implicit and dated affair. But the narrative style and the entirely inappropriate (or is that appropriate) soundtrack are compulsive viewing/listening.
The Harder They Come Only got this last night and haven't viddied it yet.
Sad to say, I have more CDs by artists beginning with 'A' than I have total DVDs. Either I get rid of my many Abba disks or buy more DVD's.
Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo
Posted on: 15 February 2004 by Mike Sae
Spellbound.
Yes, he did sound like a musical robot.
Yes, he did sound like a musical robot.
Posted on: 15 February 2004 by jayd
Intacto - Spanish film that explores luck as a commodity that can be exchanged, amassed, stolen, bought or sold. The whole movie is worth watching just for a few amazing scenes where people's luck is tested.
Posted on: 15 February 2004 by Justin
I know this is not in the spirit of this thread, but I just rented and wasted two hours of my life on Johny English.
Can somebody PLEASE explain to me how a seemingly smart (and obviously talented) Rowin Atkinson and John Malkovich can make such a pile of dogshit and not realize that its a pile of dogshit while they are making it?
Judd
Can somebody PLEASE explain to me how a seemingly smart (and obviously talented) Rowin Atkinson and John Malkovich can make such a pile of dogshit and not realize that its a pile of dogshit while they are making it?
Judd
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Richard S
Being John Malkovich
Watched this last night on DVD. Bizarre but highly original. As my wife ponted out "Imagine pitching this one to a studio....."
regards
Richard S
Watched this last night on DVD. Bizarre but highly original. As my wife ponted out "Imagine pitching this one to a studio....."
regards
Richard S
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Derek Wright
Bending the rules slightly - I watched a video recording of "Bowling for Columbine" the other night
It explained a lot of things about the state of domestic USA that I had seen but not put into context. Mainly that the US is a scared country with the population expecting to be harmed by someone most of the time. The comparision with Canada was very illuminating, similar gun ownership rate but different gun death rate and a different emphasis on the TV news. Ie Soft and fuzzy news (social benefit related) in Canada versus gun crime reportage as the lead in the US.
(This comment is not a US bashing comment from a UK USAphobe but from a UK based USA-phile that likes to visit the US as often as I can as I think that it is a great country.)
RE "Clockwork Orange" - when it first came out it was a horrific vision of a violent society.
Viewed today it is a fairly reasonable portrayal of how some people experience UK life.
Derek
<< >>
It explained a lot of things about the state of domestic USA that I had seen but not put into context. Mainly that the US is a scared country with the population expecting to be harmed by someone most of the time. The comparision with Canada was very illuminating, similar gun ownership rate but different gun death rate and a different emphasis on the TV news. Ie Soft and fuzzy news (social benefit related) in Canada versus gun crime reportage as the lead in the US.
(This comment is not a US bashing comment from a UK USAphobe but from a UK based USA-phile that likes to visit the US as often as I can as I think that it is a great country.)
RE "Clockwork Orange" - when it first came out it was a horrific vision of a violent society.
Viewed today it is a fairly reasonable portrayal of how some people experience UK life.
Derek
<< >>
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Simon Perry
Ravenous
One of my top 10 favourite films no question which I finally bought on DVD last week. The various commentaries on it reveal just how multi layered and brilliant the whole thing is. The music is exceptional and I have owned the soundtrack album for some time.
Its also extraordinary in that the main character in the film, Boyd, played by guy Pierce, has almost no lines whatsoever, but you hardly notice this on the first viewing.
regards
Simon
One of my top 10 favourite films no question which I finally bought on DVD last week. The various commentaries on it reveal just how multi layered and brilliant the whole thing is. The music is exceptional and I have owned the soundtrack album for some time.
Its also extraordinary in that the main character in the film, Boyd, played by guy Pierce, has almost no lines whatsoever, but you hardly notice this on the first viewing.
regards
Simon
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Dan M
We subscribe to Netflix and have recently been catching up on the HBO shows. We've watched most of the first season of 'Six Feet Under' - I'd say it falls squarely in the quirky category.
Last night I saw 'The Triplets of Belleville,' which was very entertaining.
Agree that 'Johnny English' was utter crap - pity.
Dan
Last night I saw 'The Triplets of Belleville,' which was very entertaining.
Agree that 'Johnny English' was utter crap - pity.
Dan
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by ErikL
Graham, Dan- did either of you buy NFLX stock when you subscribed to the service? 
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Ludwig old Chap, I saw a weired one recently about genetically engineered rats & mice in Seattle labs, really freakly muscle bound beasts
they were !!!
Cheers, Fritz Von Rattenrap
they were !!!
Cheers, Fritz Von Rattenrap
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Dan M
NFLX
Damn, Ludder's on to us! -- and that would be a bad thing.
Damn, Ludder's on to us! -- and that would be a bad thing.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by ghunter:
_Mulholland Drive_
This one was a real mind f*ck.
_The Princess and the Warrior_ and _Run Lola Run_
Two German flicks with Franka Potente in them. Both have great plots with interesting quirks and great twists.
Mulholland Drive did my head in - totally confusing and well trippy - I've forgotten almost all of it too. Even weirder than Magnolia!
I'll have to check out The Princess - Run Lola Run is AWESOME. Saw the last 2/3 at christmas and HAD to get the DVD - blinding movie. I have to watch the dubbed version as my eyesight means I ruin my enjoyment of films with subtitles (and I can't speak German, and precious little French, so Man Bites Dog is a nightmare; white subtitles on B&W FFS!) - but Run Lola Run blew me away - nice pumpin' technoid soundtrack as well, though the actual CD gets a bit boring.
Franke Patente though - man, that dyed red hair is AMAZING!
__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Tim Jones
Perhaps not especially 'quirky', but I've got a real thing about 70s American cinema, so lately have bought:
Taxi Driver. What a film. Bernard Herrmann's last film score, so the music is incredible. Shame that some of the "You talkin' to me?" iconic moments have taken away from the wider plot about loneliness and not getting what you want.
The Long Goodbye. The Robert Altman version with a chain-smoking Elliott Gould as Marlowe in (?) sixties LA. Great down-beat ending.
The Conversation. Gene Hackman as CIA surveillance contractor faced with 'difficult moral choices'. Classic paranoid 70s thriller and spooky sound design from (IIRC) Walter Murch.
And on the non-70's American front, I also bought the original Tarkovsky verion of Solaris. In one sense this is easily the most boring film I've ever seen. It's just numbing, but if you've got the stamina (lots of coffee, and persuading someone else to share the experience help) it's, um, arguably worth it. Certainly a change from the usual SF effort.
Tim
Taxi Driver. What a film. Bernard Herrmann's last film score, so the music is incredible. Shame that some of the "You talkin' to me?" iconic moments have taken away from the wider plot about loneliness and not getting what you want.
The Long Goodbye. The Robert Altman version with a chain-smoking Elliott Gould as Marlowe in (?) sixties LA. Great down-beat ending.
The Conversation. Gene Hackman as CIA surveillance contractor faced with 'difficult moral choices'. Classic paranoid 70s thriller and spooky sound design from (IIRC) Walter Murch.
And on the non-70's American front, I also bought the original Tarkovsky verion of Solaris. In one sense this is easily the most boring film I've ever seen. It's just numbing, but if you've got the stamina (lots of coffee, and persuading someone else to share the experience help) it's, um, arguably worth it. Certainly a change from the usual SF effort.
Tim
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by JeremyD
quote:The Princess... is also excellent, IMO, but I won't be watching my copy again for a very long time because I found the two bloody hyper-real scenes sickening. Anyone of a nervous disposition should approach it with caution...
Originally posted by domfjbrown:
I'll have to check out The Princess - Run Lola Run is AWESOME.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Berlin Fritz
"The Vanishing" really scary stuff Kiefer Sutherland about 12 years back, covering the concept of Sociopathic perception !
Fritz Von Afewwouldlikemetovanishnodoubt ?
Fritz Von Afewwouldlikemetovanishnodoubt ?
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Simon Perry
Not me Berlin Fritz, not me!
Regarding 70s films, they rarely make them like that anymore do they? I thought Fight Club reminded me of a 70s film, not because of the themes in it, but just because it was all so unhinged and adventurous. We need more of that in films these days.
Simon
Regarding 70s films, they rarely make them like that anymore do they? I thought Fight Club reminded me of a 70s film, not because of the themes in it, but just because it was all so unhinged and adventurous. We need more of that in films these days.
Simon
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by bigmick
I'll enthusiastically second Belleville Rendezvous and throw in City of God and Lost in La Mancha for good measure.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Tim Jones
Fritz -
Seen the original (Dutch?) version of the Vanishing?
Tim
Seen the original (Dutch?) version of the Vanishing?
Tim
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Simon Matthews
"Seen the original (Dutch?) version of the Vanishing?"
Picked it up on dvd and showed it to some friends recently. The total absense of any kind of Hollywood ending really makes for a disturbing and brilliant experience. As the credits rolled they were in shock! Quite a feat for a film which contains no real acts of graphic violence.
Nasty in a good way.
As an aside I think Mulholland Drive is the best film I have seen coming from the states in a long time, probably with Magnolia second.
Festen is a must see also IMO even if it is getting on.
Touching the void is a great documentary in cinemas at the moment. Kevin McDonald is a real talent.
Picked it up on dvd and showed it to some friends recently. The total absense of any kind of Hollywood ending really makes for a disturbing and brilliant experience. As the credits rolled they were in shock! Quite a feat for a film which contains no real acts of graphic violence.
Nasty in a good way.
As an aside I think Mulholland Drive is the best film I have seen coming from the states in a long time, probably with Magnolia second.
Festen is a must see also IMO even if it is getting on.
Touching the void is a great documentary in cinemas at the moment. Kevin McDonald is a real talent.
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Just re-watched the 74 Pelham Subway jobby with Walter Mathau etc, still as nailbitingly brilliant as ever.
Fritz Von Nowforsomelatenightbookery
yeah the Dutch version is especially realistic
Fritz Von Nowforsomelatenightbookery
yeah the Dutch version is especially realistic
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by ErikL
quote:
Originally posted by J.N.:
The Man Who Wasn't There
How does this stack up against the rest of the Coens' work? I really enjoyed Fargo and Barton Fink (and the others), probably because John Turturro and Steve Buscemi are favorites of mine.
Trivia: Buscemi was a NYC firefighter!
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by Berlin Fritz
Hey Ludwig old bean (not Dean) I'm reading "The Tortilla Curtain" at present by T. Boyle, ever heard or read it, heavy shit man.
Cheers, Fritz.
Cheers, Fritz.