tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post3078150424685588785..comments2024-03-15T04:08:16.172-04:00Comments on Only the Cinema: The Spanish PrisonerEd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-87338257437040186802014-04-27T14:44:32.745-04:002014-04-27T14:44:32.745-04:00Aside from the multitude of plot holes, I found th...Aside from the multitude of plot holes, I found the movie enjoyable, and for some unknown reason Rebecca Pidgeon is hot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-89584823752990163392009-06-09T20:33:05.822-04:002009-06-09T20:33:05.822-04:00I've never seen the film, but something has al...I've never seen the film, but something has always struck me as deliberately anti-realistic with respect to Mamet's dialogue. Yes, there are rings of the way people talk--- but it's morphed into this kind of rhytmic beat of characters exchanging there most pure thoughts and desires. I dig it, in short.Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-86262376565580557702009-06-09T18:24:09.946-04:002009-06-09T18:24:09.946-04:00I was the publicist on "The Spanish Prisoner&...I was the publicist on "The Spanish Prisoner" (as well as "State and Main" and "The Winslow Boy") and I'm pretty sure that Rebecca's "Crikey" was her line. That is to say, either she improvised it or Mamet just heard it a lot because he was married to her. My memory is the former. --Reid RosefeltAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00237054498242040564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-16463607075410652072009-06-06T23:58:09.450-04:002009-06-06T23:58:09.450-04:00Hello, Ed: You have struck upon the thing about Ma...Hello, Ed: You have struck upon the thing about Mamet (the odd rhythms and writerly dialogue) that make him a bit much at times. When it doesn't work, it <i>really</i> doesn't work. Have you seen <i>The Heist</i>? Ouch. It is at it's best in <i>Glengarry Glen Ross</i>, but it seems to take a magical assortment of actors to make his odd speech patterns and stylized verbiage not sound Mykal Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148489896145024134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-59852623360032565262009-06-05T14:58:07.824-04:002009-06-05T14:58:07.824-04:00Pidgeon is an odd actress, and the case could be m...<i>Pidgeon is an odd actress, and the case could be made that she's bad here -- yet bad in a fascinating way. Normally she's hard to get a bead on but I thought she was terrific in "State and Main"</i>...<br /><br />Agreed. I held back on admitting to an affinity for Pidgeon because I thought people would pile on, because that's so like you guys, but sometimes Pidgeon does bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-82802280335874131552009-06-05T13:17:11.168-04:002009-06-05T13:17:11.168-04:00>>"Money, it depresses everyone but wha...<i>>>"Money, it depresses everyone but what did it ever do for one?"<<</i><br /><br />Mamet fared better with a somewhat inverted line in "Heist," uttered by Danny DeVito, who's always had a way with avarice: "Everybody needs money -- that's why they call it money!" Which, incidentally, spawned a hilariously long-running dialogue on Roger Ebert&#Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-1146522265558496262009-06-05T13:05:56.684-04:002009-06-05T13:05:56.684-04:00I saw this movie again just recently and still got...I saw this movie again just recently and still got a kick out of it. Not enough credit is given to Campbell Scott, whose performance walks just the right line -- a well-meaning dupe who grows a spine. He also does well with Mamet's dialogue which, even when clunky, still makes me laugh. ("Dog my cats, indeed.")<br /><br />Pidgeon is an odd actress, and the case could be made that Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-7836356220981469632009-06-05T11:27:51.215-04:002009-06-05T11:27:51.215-04:00Steve, I hope I made it clear that I *do* like man...Steve, I hope I made it clear that I *do* like many movies with stylized dialogue -- Tarantino and <i>His Girl Friday</i> have been specifically mentioned, and there are many, many more. My objections are not to stylized dialogue in general but to the specific qualities of Mamet's stylization. Namely, the stilted rhythms of it, the way it's continually calling attention to the writer Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-67697102615429402192009-06-04T23:46:37.453-04:002009-06-04T23:46:37.453-04:00yeah... I have to disagree about most of this. Fi...yeah... I have to disagree about most of this. First, what's wrong with a movie not written in common-spoken language? I saw - for example - The Watchmen this winter and I could almost guess what was coming out of their mouths before they said it. I usually make it a game to see if I can guess the next line - especially with overdone dreck that goes on for 3 hours.<br /><br />But back to teshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18269621816095156033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-88278590462475938792009-06-04T14:36:43.660-04:002009-06-04T14:36:43.660-04:00This is one of Mamet's best. The dialogue is ...This is one of Mamet's best. The dialogue is brilliant, and know some people that really do speak that way...I'm not kidding either. Absolutely brilliant.Erichttp://themovingarts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-39780174840036859842009-06-04T14:09:41.081-04:002009-06-04T14:09:41.081-04:00As I told Bill by e-mail, I did try to watch Homic...As I told Bill by e-mail, I did try to watch Homicide on his recommendation, but discovered that the only copies available anywhere -- even online -- are pan-and-scanned to full-frame, which as far as I'm concerned is no way to see a movie, especially not if I want to give Mamet another fair shot. I hope Criterion does release it so I can check it out.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-45234364309291482312009-06-04T14:08:52.494-04:002009-06-04T14:08:52.494-04:00No, you're probably thinking of Homicide. It&...No, you're probably thinking of <b>Homicide</b>. It's been a little while since I've seen it, too, but racial language/profanity features pretty heavily throughout.<br /><br />And I don't think you can add it to the queue...I don't think there's been a DVD yet.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-14638237539288304202009-06-04T14:08:00.106-04:002009-06-04T14:08:00.106-04:00Hmm. Doesn't appear to be on DVD yet, so the ...Hmm. Doesn't appear to be on DVD yet, so the Criterion would be the official release here in the States. I guess I'll need to pull out the VHS...and my friends laughed at me for keeping my antiquated forms of entertainment. Ha! to them.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-29457505521505850642009-06-04T14:04:40.530-04:002009-06-04T14:04:40.530-04:00Bill:
That would be wonderful. The House of Game...Bill:<br /><br />That would be wonderful. The House of Games Criterion is one of the best purchases I've made. I need to re-visit Homicide, aside from the performances I seem to remember some really bizarre language in the film (and by language I mean profanity, especially that of the racial kind...or am I getting my movies mixed up?). It's been about ten years since I've seen it..Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-84486725080164356582009-06-04T13:59:43.699-04:002009-06-04T13:59:43.699-04:00Kevin - I think Homicide is Mamet's masterpiec...Kevin - I think <b>Homicide</b> is Mamet's masterpiece. And on the Criterion forums, I've heard talk of a release...bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-86732901510897829322009-06-04T13:06:22.638-04:002009-06-04T13:06:22.638-04:00I won't say much here, as the comment thread n...I won't say much here, as the comment thread nearly matches the actual review in its excellence. I much preferred GLENGARRRY and HOUSE OF GAMES. I'll leave it at that.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-25563924113263163122009-06-04T12:20:25.824-04:002009-06-04T12:20:25.824-04:00I too found the dialogue in Glengarry Glen Ross to...I too found the dialogue in Glengarry Glen Ross to be brilliant.. in this film, not nearly as much. But I thought everything flowed really well with Glengarry.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-88698769738550355652009-06-04T12:15:50.990-04:002009-06-04T12:15:50.990-04:00This is a great review Ed. Count me among the Mam...This is a great review Ed. Count me among the Mamet folk, but I can understand how one thinks that Mamet's recent slate (starting with The Spanish Prisoner) is a tad grating. Also, the line you mention from this film about money reminds me of the much better line from Heist when Danny Devito spouts out this gem: "everyone needs money, that's why they call it money." Come on..Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-21086180461443112222009-06-04T11:41:45.830-04:002009-06-04T11:41:45.830-04:00for us Mamet folk.
Are Mamet folk like the Amish?...<i>for us Mamet folk</i>.<br /><br />Are Mamet folk like the Amish? Can you help me raise a barn later?Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730146625671701859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-5210467564763817172009-06-04T11:04:59.842-04:002009-06-04T11:04:59.842-04:00Bill, I know I'm complaining about pretty subj...Bill, I know I'm complaining about pretty subjective things -- if you think the dialogue "sings," nothing I can say will convince you otherwise, just as I can't hear Mamet's writing as anything other than grating and stilted. For the most part, I'm with Jason on this one: Tarantino's dialogue is equally stylized and artificial, but I can feel its rhythms, I Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-18922504615635186082009-06-04T10:56:32.201-04:002009-06-04T10:56:32.201-04:00Also, I find it curious that you posted this revie...Also, I find it curious that you posted this review on the same day I found out that Dennis apparently loved Mamet's <b>Homicide</b> (I don't know the specifics, but he gave it ***1/2 on that "Marquee" thing he has going). He's also not a big Mamet fan, and I've been pushing that one on him for a while. So it's one step forward, one step back for us Mamet folk.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-59616451451250150762009-06-04T10:46:36.561-04:002009-06-04T10:46:36.561-04:00I liken Mamet to Chayefsky, albeit not as brillian...I liken Mamet to Chayefsky, albeit not as brilliant. He makes stylistic, as opposed to realistic, choices with his dialogue and I respect him for that. While SP does nothing for me, I really do enjoy GGR, but I reckon it's a case of poor casting. Some actors can handle stylized dialogue and some can't, and while plenty of the actors in GGR can, in my opinion, no one in SP shows that Joshuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02455492676909216509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-55520126205826379782009-06-04T10:44:31.476-04:002009-06-04T10:44:31.476-04:00How shall I put this:
I disagree with you. Yeah,...How shall I put this:<br /><br />I disagree with you. Yeah, that's pretty good, I think.<br /><br />Look, how can I argue my side, at least regarding his dialogue? I can say -- and will -- that I do not understand AT ALL how you can watch <b>Glengarry Glen Ross</b> and come away thinking that Mamet doesn't understand how people talk. Yes, it's stylized, but good Lord, man! I'mbill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-28007191118079455342009-06-04T10:38:00.954-04:002009-06-04T10:38:00.954-04:00Terrific review. I haven't seen this film in y...Terrific review. I haven't seen this film in years and I barely remember it, but the Mamet issue is of course familiar to me.<br /><br />"One does not get the sense that he has ever actually heard the way real people talk, or that he has any feel for (or interest in) writing in such a way that actors can actually deliver his lines without coming across as stilted and inhuman. Maybe he Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-62246483186723914482009-06-04T10:12:25.948-04:002009-06-04T10:12:25.948-04:00Oops, guess I shouldn't have emailed him the l...Oops, guess I shouldn't have emailed him the link. I hear he kills people.<br /><br />I usually enjoy twisty thriller plots, too, and this one was good at it, but man that dialogue is just distractingly bad. I'm going to keep giving Mamet a chance, because he obviously has talent, but I'm starting to wonder if he's just not for me.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.com