Directors MORE DIRECTORS CHECKLIST SERIES - Volume #236 - The Films of TODD SOLONDZ (1 Viewer)

[Brook K]

Rank 'em, Rate 'em, Review 'em, whatever

Volume #236 - Todd Solondz

Palindromes (2004)
Storytelling (2001)
Happiness (1998)
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989)
Schatt's Last Shot (1985)

 

[SteveGon]

Palindromes ***
Storytelling **1/2
Happiness ***
Welcome to the Dollhouse ***1/2

 

[Brook K]

An independent filmmaker of black comedies and biting societal critiques, Solondz' films have often aroused controversy for their content.

1. Happiness - A (biting comedy attacking societal conventions and perceptions that was controversial for portraying a pedophile as a three-dimensional character)
2. Welcome to the Dollhouse - A (Both darkly cynical and hopelessly optimistic, it delivers a sadly realistic depiction of highschool and adolescence.)

3. Life During Wartime - B+
4. Palindromes - B (I need to see this again and sort out my feelings. There were a number of things I liked about it but the tone shifts so frequently I could never tell when he was trying to be comic or trying to be serious.)
5. Storytelling - B (A two part film in which I loved the first part about how storys reflect on their creators but I thought he undermined the 2nd half with silly self-parody and bits of business like throwing in the American Movie gang that were funny but didn't seem right for this movie.)

Own: 0

 

[Bill McA]

[COLOR= #ff0000]Dark Horse [/COLOR](2011) (Own the DVD)
Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989)
Schatt's Last Shot (1985)

Seen 6
Own 5

Todd Solondz is the 15th director in this series that I've seen/met in person.

 

[george kaplan]

And he's at least the 15th that I've never heard of, never seen.

 

[Bill McA]

Maybe you should just give it up George, and try knitting or making things out of matchsticks instead!

 

[Elizabeth S]

Happiness (1998)
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Storytelling (2001)
Palindromes (2004)

Seen the above, in order of ranking. ("Happiness" is far and above my favorite.)

 

[Brook K]

Do they have newspapers in San Antonio?

 

[JohnRice]

Just seemed worthy of repeating.


Out of :star::star::star::star::star:

Palindromes (2004)
Storytelling (2001) :star::star::star: - Maybe too abstract for me to grasp in one viewing.
Happiness (1998) - This one sounds interesting
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) :star::star::star: - Just doesn't hit as much with as a several others.
Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989)
Schatt's Last Shot (1985)


I could have sworn I'd seen a couple more Solondz movies. I may have only given him :star::star::star: on the two I have seen, but he is definitely interesting.

 

[george kaplan]

I'm not sure what I should give up exactly. As for knitting, etc., I'm far, far too busy watching mainstream (i.e., good) films, to do that!

 

[Jim_K]

.........................................

 

[Marc Fedderman]

Out of 4 stars:

Welcome to the Dollhouse :star: :star: :star:1/2
A subtly disturbing film that I'm glad I saw, but don't know if I'd sit through again. The use of hyperbole, sort of an extreme version of Murphy's Law, does a good job of conveying what it must feel like to be an outcast, pre-teen girl.

I am interested in seeing Solondz' other films.

 

[Martin Teller]

Palindromes (2004) - 8/10
Happiness (1998) - 8/10
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) - 8/10

 

[SteveGon]

FINALLY got around to watching these:

Welcome to the Dollhouse ***1/2 out of ****
Storytelling **1/2 out of ****

 

[Brian.L]

ALL RATINGS OUT OF :star::star::star::star::star: (FIVE) STARS

Life During Wartime (2010) :star::star:
Palindromes (2004) :star::star:1/2
Storytelling (2001) :star::star:
Happiness (1998) :star::star::star:1/2
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989)
Schatt's Last Shot (1985)

 

[Justin_S]

Ratings on a scale of * to *****:

1: Happiness (1998) ****

Own 1

 

[Bill McA]

UPDATED:

[COLOR= #ff0000]Life During Wartime [/COLOR](2009) :star: :star: :star:
Seen 5
Own 3

 

Todd Solondz

Palindromes (2004) +++
Storytelling (2001) +++
Happiness (1998) ++++
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) ++++

 

[Brook K]

Updated: Life During Wartime - B+

 

[Brian.L]

Updated with Life During Wartime (2010) :star::star: