tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post8266922877917791875..comments2024-03-15T04:08:16.172-04:00Comments on Only the Cinema: The Darjeeling LimitedEd Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-15282429608020525002010-02-03T09:40:29.123-05:002010-02-03T09:40:29.123-05:00David, I understand Rosenbaum's reservations a...David, I understand Rosenbaum's reservations about Bergman, and I am not at all saying that he isn't entitled to his opinions. That would be ridiculous. Like John Ford, I suspect Bergman's rep will be much diminished in twenty years, and although I love both filmmakers, that just kind of seems to be the way things are going to go, and that's fine. My complaints only relate to the Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-53698920377042182682010-02-02T19:55:28.159-05:002010-02-02T19:55:28.159-05:00Jonathan's Bergman antipathy stems from that p...Jonathan's Bergman antipathy stems from that period in the late 60's and early 70's when he dominated serious film discussion in the U.S. Godard was considered beyond the pale (even when Bergman was imitating him in <i>The Passion of Anna</i>) and no one wanted to talk about Rivette at all, not knowing or caring who he was. <br /><br />For all his obvious talent there's an DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-81736129225285420352010-02-02T19:09:34.566-05:002010-02-02T19:09:34.566-05:00This is kind of long. Sorry.
David, I always thou...This is kind of long. Sorry.<br /><br />David, I always thought Tarantino being characterized as hip was odd simply because his position is so detached and comical. His repetitive and preposterous use of nigger in Pulp Fiction was intentionally calling attention to the amusingly ridiculous position he was in as both a consumer of pop culture and a pop entertainer in his own right. Yes, he is Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-7279197454473149992010-02-02T18:58:12.424-05:002010-02-02T18:58:12.424-05:00Terry met Julie. . .<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT1pYuR8F9o&feature=related" rel="nofollow">Terry met Julie. . .</a>DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-60988485426940726622010-02-02T18:54:26.762-05:002010-02-02T18:54:26.762-05:00The Kinks were THE 60's group. Far more than T...The Kinks were THE 60's group. Far more than The Beatles or the Stones.<br /><br />In Warhol's <i>Vinyl</i> (1965) Edie dances to The Kinks.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-79950884933677423822010-02-02T18:45:02.318-05:002010-02-02T18:45:02.318-05:00I know, David, but I thought -- mistakenly, appare...I know, David, but I thought -- mistakenly, apparently -- that, since the funeral scene was under discussion, that you were referring to that Kinks song.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-8923471561817875582010-02-02T17:54:45.952-05:002010-02-02T17:54:45.952-05:00"This Time Tomorrow" is used at the begi..."This Time Tomorrow" is used at the beginning of the film. It's what's playing as Bill Murray fails to catch the train.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-14490548484973832682010-02-02T16:36:56.712-05:002010-02-02T16:36:56.712-05:00Bill's correct. The Kink's song is "...Bill's correct. The Kink's song is "Strangers", and I like what you say, Bill, that the lyrics (and the title) suggest something deeper...which I think is the case with most of Anderson's music moments. (I just wrote about this a week ago on my blog and listed some of the lyrics to the Kink's song that accompanies the funeral scene. It's a powerful moment, IMHO).Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-33632311789410438952010-02-02T16:33:58.185-05:002010-02-02T16:33:58.185-05:00Ack. Typos. Bad grammar. Phoo.Ack. Typos. Bad grammar. Phoo.bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-83516151739631618572010-02-02T16:31:52.777-05:002010-02-02T16:31:52.777-05:00I'd like to point out -- and pardon me if this...I'd like to point out -- and pardon me if this has been said, because I haven't read all the comments yet -- but the Kinks song in the funeral scene isn't "This Time Tomorrow", but rather "Strangers". Not only would I not call that song "jaunty" (though it is melodic), but that title sure seems to indicate a lot.<br /><br />I thought the funeral scene bill r.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17748572205731857892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-25569014340268304932010-02-02T14:07:45.722-05:002010-02-02T14:07:45.722-05:00I'm loving this conversation, too. I think bot...I'm loving this conversation, too. I think both Andrew and Doniphon have some good points, though I'd probably place myself somewhere in the middle on this particular debate. However, I do want to respond to part of Andrew's latest post, because I don't think that either Wes Anderson or Woody Allen can be reduced to "talking about smart things" without aesthetic or Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-53085595903102816662010-02-02T13:48:14.156-05:002010-02-02T13:48:14.156-05:00My apologies for sounding so abrasive, but I shoul...My apologies for sounding so abrasive, but I should clarify I few statements I've made.<br /><br />1. In regards to "derivative" cinema, I in no way mean this as a pejorative. Agreed, all cinema is derivative, but my loose definition here concerns the work of filmmakers who unapologetically rely on pastiche as their style: Anderson, Tarantino, P.T. Anderson, Carlos Reygadas, et al.<Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328754512668860666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-1491229828943506192010-02-02T11:18:06.812-05:002010-02-02T11:18:06.812-05:00Jason, I think I agree about Huston. I really want...Jason, I think I agree about Huston. I really wanted more out of those scenes and I got the impression that, after building up to a meeting with the elusive mother throughout the whole film, Anderson wasn't sure what to do once the brothers actually got there. It was surprisingly lackluster. But then again, I thought the same thing about much of <i>Hotel Chevalier</i>, which everyone seems toEd Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-80775443151121488472010-02-02T10:44:13.717-05:002010-02-02T10:44:13.717-05:00Doniphon, Quentin Tarantino is one who's like ...Doniphon, Quentin Tarantino is one who's like Royal talking jive to Danny Glover. He is the Whitest of the White, yet everyone claims he's the hippest of the hip.<br /><br />AS IF!!!!DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-32374499326412726222010-02-02T02:50:21.698-05:002010-02-02T02:50:21.698-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Adam Zanziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524618281515322239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-24620610688380154842010-02-01T22:42:07.363-05:002010-02-01T22:42:07.363-05:00Andrew, our approaches to this film, and probably ...Andrew, our approaches to this film, and probably cinema in general, appear radically different, so if I misinterpret something you have said please set me straight (your comment here is fairly loaded).<br /><br />First of all, you state Anderson is a derivative director. Fair enough, but all filmmakers are derivative. Perhaps because the Godard influence is so apparent, you want him to embrace Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-38437678001117884582010-02-01T20:56:43.416-05:002010-02-01T20:56:43.416-05:00Solid analysis, my friend.
I haven't seen thi...Solid analysis, my friend.<br /><br />I haven't seen this film since its release and I can't remember if I agree with you or Kevin about the funeral scene. I remember being blown away by the drowning, but I can't remember if that carried over afterward or if I felt the song cheapened it. I know I felt <i>something</i>, so one of you is right on. The rest of the film, however, was Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-56618281418205131202010-02-01T20:52:00.264-05:002010-02-01T20:52:00.264-05:00Doniphon, that's an interesting argument, and ...Doniphon, that's an interesting argument, and one I've seen other critics making regarding this film as well. I wasn't looking for it to be preachy or anything like that, I wasn't looking for the characters to step back and acknowledge their own biases; that'd be annoying and completely out of character. The point is that they don't think about this stuff. And, as I noted,Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-25687351399261194902010-02-01T20:13:29.060-05:002010-02-01T20:13:29.060-05:00Doniphon, I have to disagree. Anderson's films...Doniphon, I have to disagree. Anderson's films are one more link in a chain of cinema that is fascinated by the experience of the American white male. This does not mean that white men should be denied expression, but I feel that Anderson, as a derivative filmmaker, not only recapitulates the aesthetics of classical filmmaking, but their attitudes toward patriarchy as well. <br /><br />I Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328754512668860666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-34872569673913847112010-02-01T19:55:40.866-05:002010-02-01T19:55:40.866-05:00I gotta dissent here, Ed. I think Darjeeling is as...I gotta dissent here, Ed. I think Darjeeling is as good as anything Anderson has done, and I really disagree with your characterization of Anderson's orientalism. He is, in some sense, using India as a prop, but he's not only self-aware but self-critical. The movie is Jack's "fiction," and if he were to step back and sermonize and say, "You know...we're really Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-18238588018006288272010-02-01T16:33:53.311-05:002010-02-01T16:33:53.311-05:00What's fresh about Fantastic Mr. Fox (besides ...What's fresh about <i>Fantastic Mr. Fox</i> (besides the animation) is the addition of George Clooney to the mix.DavidEhrensteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11016905507543736049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-2868283614517220042010-02-01T15:55:24.503-05:002010-02-01T15:55:24.503-05:00Thanks, Carson. I definitely agree it's a good...Thanks, Carson. I definitely agree it's a good-looking film and not without its charms, especially visually. The performances are fairly strong, as well. It's just not enough to compensate for its limitations in other areas.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-56189894708626895212010-02-01T15:17:07.159-05:002010-02-01T15:17:07.159-05:00It's nice to read a review that articulates my...It's nice to read a review that articulates my own thoughts about this film, which I agree is Anderson's weakest work. However, I do think it is visually stunning, with as succinct and focused a color palette as any of his films. Yet his visual style does seem to feel cheap and Orientalist when placed into the environment of India in this way.Carson Lundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10164962777812861110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-74290573682442708502010-02-01T14:45:02.160-05:002010-02-01T14:45:02.160-05:00Kevin, I saw your great post about Anderson's ...Kevin, I saw your great post about Anderson's use of music, so I know you loved that scene. But to me it just seemed so completely off, so representative of the worst flippant moments in Anderson's career: instead of the deep emotion that sequence so badly needed, it felt way too cute and upbeat. You called these scenes in Anderson's oeuvre "music videos," but to me it felt Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3296479421292377391.post-37864224081252634562010-02-01T14:36:21.777-05:002010-02-01T14:36:21.777-05:00Your thoughts hit the mark for me, one of the most...Your thoughts hit the mark for me, one of the most prevalent and least discussed issues in Anderson's films is his un-critical use of White privilege. He seems to have no qualms with employing the tenants of Orientalism much the same way as Truffaut's rampant imperialism. His work is similar to Woody Allen's sanitized worldview of intellectuals, where nothing else exists or matters.<Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328754512668860666noreply@blogger.com