Kirk Tsai
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2000
- Messages
- 1,424
More random thoughts.
I didn't miss the father and son angle as much. It never struck a big chord in IA because it felt somewhat like false sentiment. Also, casting younger actors as pre Leung and Lau was perhaps a necessary decision in IA (they are significantly older actors than Dicaprio and Damon), but it dilutes the power of the flashbacks the film does. This film doesn't have those problems.
In addition, Farmiga's role here is actually a human being. The psychiatrist in IA was a heavy handed way of the filmmakers getting at the already obvious dangerous mental states of the main characters. It was the worst aspect of IA.
Besides the longer survelliance scene, another scene I loved from IA that I would have liked to see here is the scene where the crime boss is brought to the police station.
Loved the initial aggressive flirtation by Damon to Farmiga. The one guy with food/drinks in his hands behind in the elevator is priceless. Loved the shot where Dicaprio looks into (eyes reflected) and through (to the other person) the wind chimes when chasing Damon. That sequence, along with the silent wait between Damon and Dicaprio's initial cellphone conversation were two very tense scenes, all without dialogue.
Besides Monahan for adapted screenplay, for awards, I would say Schoonmaker is guaranteed a nomination. Scorsese and her editing is incredible. I can understand why Dances With Wolves won best picture, but not understand how she didn't win for editing Goodfellas, or not getting nominated at all for Casino!
It also struck me that Damon and Dicaprio both had roles comparable to this movie. For Mr. Ripley, Damon was learning the initial steps of presenting a false identity. His role there was showier, but it also makes sense. When he was inhabitating Jude Law's character, he was more smug and outwardly aggressive. Here, he has taken on the role of supercop for so long that it is part of him. He is therefore much more inward and calm. For Gangs of NY, Dicaprio was also infiltrating to the boss for ulterior motives. He even has the same fist fight in a bar with one of the mob guys to get into the mob. His relationship to Daniel Day Lewis and Nichsolson were also somewhat similar. Thought Dicaprio was significantly more convincing here.
I didn't miss the father and son angle as much. It never struck a big chord in IA because it felt somewhat like false sentiment. Also, casting younger actors as pre Leung and Lau was perhaps a necessary decision in IA (they are significantly older actors than Dicaprio and Damon), but it dilutes the power of the flashbacks the film does. This film doesn't have those problems.
In addition, Farmiga's role here is actually a human being. The psychiatrist in IA was a heavy handed way of the filmmakers getting at the already obvious dangerous mental states of the main characters. It was the worst aspect of IA.
Besides the longer survelliance scene, another scene I loved from IA that I would have liked to see here is the scene where the crime boss is brought to the police station.
Loved the initial aggressive flirtation by Damon to Farmiga. The one guy with food/drinks in his hands behind in the elevator is priceless. Loved the shot where Dicaprio looks into (eyes reflected) and through (to the other person) the wind chimes when chasing Damon. That sequence, along with the silent wait between Damon and Dicaprio's initial cellphone conversation were two very tense scenes, all without dialogue.
Besides Monahan for adapted screenplay, for awards, I would say Schoonmaker is guaranteed a nomination. Scorsese and her editing is incredible. I can understand why Dances With Wolves won best picture, but not understand how she didn't win for editing Goodfellas, or not getting nominated at all for Casino!
It also struck me that Damon and Dicaprio both had roles comparable to this movie. For Mr. Ripley, Damon was learning the initial steps of presenting a false identity. His role there was showier, but it also makes sense. When he was inhabitating Jude Law's character, he was more smug and outwardly aggressive. Here, he has taken on the role of supercop for so long that it is part of him. He is therefore much more inward and calm. For Gangs of NY, Dicaprio was also infiltrating to the boss for ulterior motives. He even has the same fist fight in a bar with one of the mob guys to get into the mob. His relationship to Daniel Day Lewis and Nichsolson were also somewhat similar. Thought Dicaprio was significantly more convincing here.