Sight and Sound (2002) Greatest Films Club - Page 6

Seth Paxton · 03-14-2003, 09:30 AM

Finally saw Great Expectations in full. I don't remember ever seeing it properly from end to end before, and I certainly hadn't realized how great it was. I immediately went out and bought it. I always liked the book and the film really captures the spirit of it for me. Lean sets the mood perfectly, and as I've said before I love a great outdoor set piece like the graveyard, for example.

That puts me at 118, only 222 left to go.

**HTF Ads**

Adam_S · 03-14-2003, 12:29 PM

Seth, Great Expectations is a favorite of mine, but I personnally enjoy Oliver Twist (the uncut, british version, don't bother if you find it on vhs its unwatchable) even more. The shots of London and Fagin's lair have a magnificent atmosphere to them, not quite as iconic as the opening scenes of Great Expectations, but still a spectacular film, I was really disapointed we never got around to doing a cinematography discussion on it.

Adam

Brook K · 03-14-2003, 01:43 PM

Great Expectations will be the next one I see as well.

La Strada does not enchant me or move me in the way that most of Fellini's other films do. I certainly liked it, but for me it didn't evoke the magic or sorrow of films like The White Sheik, Nights of Cabiria, Juliet of the Spirits, or Il Bidone.

I belive everyone in La Stada is dubbed. I didn't think Fellini shot sync sound until the 70's.

I agree with many of your thoughts on Cabiria and Pompeii Seth, but while Griffith was certainly influenced by those films, I think he was certainly more innovative and created greater films and art so I have no problem with him being represented over Cabiria.

Lew Crippen · 03-14-2003, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Watch out Lew, you're starting to sound a little bit like me, God forbid.

Could be George, but I still love the film. It’s just that I no longer put it in the ‘masterpiece’ category.

I do think it (along with another half-dozen films by Godard) required viewing for anyone who claims to be conversant with cinema. Of course that is far different than having to like, enjoy or admire the film. (As an example, I’d put Blood of a Poet down as a film everyone should see, even though I think it a very poor film)

I find the story engrossing (though as I indicated not so deep as I once thought) and I believe that the cinematic technique is just sure and controlled that it alone makes the film worth a good many viewings—even some of it now seems a bit self-conscious.

Lew Crippen · 03-14-2003, 02:01 PM

I’ve always enjoyed Great Expectations more that Oliver Twist, perhaps because I like the source a bit more.

They both convey a great sense of the atmosphere that I get from reading Dickens, but even as much as I love the German Expressionist influenced sets of ‘Twist’, I love graveyard and Mrs. Havisham’s dinning room even more. Plus, I find the acting in ‘Expectations’ generally better than that in ‘Twist’. For example Jean Simmons is the very embodiment of a heartbreaker.

Brook K · 03-15-2003, 01:50 AM

You do remember of course Lew that Godard's films are intentionally self-conscious? They are about filmmaking and technique as much as they are about the story or ideas within the film itself.

Adam_S · 03-15-2003, 04:32 AM

Discreet Charm of the Bourgeosie

excellent film, that I really enjoyed (of course I also just read Freud's interpretation of Dreams and the Uncanny, as well as ETA Hoffman's _The Sandman_ so I was primed for this).

not the sort of film you can easily collect your thoughts on, but damn if the soldiers flashback wasn't outstanding.

this brings me to 69 films from the list

Adam

Lew Crippen · 03-17-2003, 10:10 AM

Quote:

You do remember of course Lew that Godard's films are intentionally self-conscious? They are about filmmaking and technique as much as they are about the story or ideas within the film itself.

I’m just less enthralled now than in my youth.

For example, I eventually begin to tap my fingers in the opening scene of Vivre sa vie, believeing that Godard has made his point with the shots of the backs in the café.

On the other hand, I still marvel at the long takes in scenes such the early one in the record shop. Masterful technique which tells the story.

Lew Crippen · 03-17-2003, 10:23 AM

I had not seen A Woman Under the Influence before, an omission for which I have no explanation. I thought it very powerful, especially as it takes a while to realize that

Spoiler:

Masterful acting by both Rowlands and Falk combined with cinematography that makes us constantly feel as nervous as Longhettis. Both the camera work and sound make as feel as though this is filmed Cinema Verti, as though we were just watching segments of their lives.

The very long scenes, where we are presented with about 10–15 mostly un-interpreted minutes of their lives add to the overall feeling that we are observing something real.

Powerful and not easy to forget.

Thi Them · 03-17-2003, 12:36 PM

I've updated everything.

~T

Darren H · 03-17-2003, 01:35 PM

Lew, I still haven't seen A Woman Under the Influence, but I had a similar reaction a few weeks ago when I saw Faces for the first time. At some point -- probably about two-thirds of the way through -- I thought to myself, "Good Lord, I had no idea that movies could do this." It was a revelation, and Faces instantly became one of my favorite films. I can only name a handful of films that have startled and moved me so powerfully.

Chris_Richard · 03-17-2003, 02:22 PM

Intolerance -
It took two viewings this weekend to make it through the length but it was worth it. It took a while to get into, partially because of the way it start and because of getting used to a 90 year-old epic. I was mesmerized by the end of the film. The structure of the film and the quick cutting between the scenes was very effective. I will definately want to view this again sometime later, hopefully with a better print.