UKC

I have finally got around to watching last year's oscar winner. I had to watch it twice in succession. I thought it was awesome: a kind of Pulp Fiction for grown-ups. And quite surreally-poignant interspersed with the tv news of pointless violence and prejudice in Lebanon. Any other fans out there?

In reply to tobyfk: It's a nice film, kind of spoiled by the fat acousto-rappers tossing about in the EXTRA FEATURE music video.

Pretty obvious storyline, no real surprises (e.g. St. Christopher) but nicely shot and put together. Didn't know it won an Oscar(TM)...

In reply to tobyfk: I liked it too, very suprised by it. Not what I expected. Good film.

In reply to tobyfk: I thought it was a bit didactic - a bit contrived to make a worthy point. I did enjoy it and I fancy the actress who plays the Latino cop, but not quite as good as I had been led to believe.

History of Violence is better.

In reply to TobyA: 'I fancy the actress who plays the Latino cop'

With you there!

In reply to tobyfk:

Loved it! Thought it was one of the best I've seen since Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

In reply to TobyA:

Having missed it at the cinema and heard the breathless revuews I bought the History of Violence DVD afew weeks back. I thought it was just awful! Started off really well but the last third of the film was just ridiculous.

In reply to tobyfk:

yeah it's funny when the guy shags the scar on Rossana Arquettes leg in the smashed up car

In reply to tobyfk:

This film is a triumph, as they say. Everything fits so well characters, actors, storyline, music and i love the cinematogrophy, great city filming it reminded me of a Michael Mann effort in parts.

The only film i saw twice in the last few years, just brilliant.

In reply to tobyfk: i thought it was fantastic!

In reply to TobyA:

Also agreed on the Puerto Rican/ Salvadorean cop.

I thought it was good but a bit obvious on the first showing. On the second showing, it seemed subtler with more layers and connections. Though it may seem an obvious comment: with prior knowledge of the plot, some scenes had a very different impact and moral ambiguity, the Matt Dillon - Thandie Newton interactions for example.

In reply to Jon Jones:

The Jim Ballard book is better.

In reply to irving:

Best picture. It was the surprise win over Brokeback Mt.

In reply to TobyA:


What, cross-dressing?? Whatever turns you on!

In reply to DougG:


I'm obviously missing something - what?

In reply to TobyA:

Shouldn't it be a latina cop?

In reply to Jon Jones: Wrong film. They're talking about another film called Crash.

In reply to tobyfk:
Awesome, great things about the fragility of humans and how quickly we can lose our temper, be nasty, racist, and the next day be brave, considerate, and dignified. We are so weak! Somewhat a relief, that we can all do better everyday, be better humans altogether! All of that in 2h and something. Exceptional.

In reply to DougG: Me no speako that lingo.

Genders - a stupid idea in languages if you ask me. In finnish there is even "he" and "she", we are all just "it".

In reply to Sandrine:

Speak for yourself Sandy, but I prefer not to define my parameters by comparing them to some hollywood hack's ideas of WHAT IS RIGHT.

In reply to ultra montane:

Have you seen this film though Ultra M?

I am ultra French, you know, I do not fall into the standardisation of the Big Hollywoodian Satan just like that!
Every once in a while there is a decent film that is not PC, which looks at the ugly reality without rose-tinted spectacles, and I think (humbly) that this is one of them.

In reply to Sandrine:

Yep, seen it and I'm afraid to say I was pretty disgusted by it.
It's a movie by proxy, the volume of trailers that were foisted on the viewing public when the movie was "live" was overwhelming, but when they realised they might be in with a chance of an oscar, they forced it down throats, internet, pre-movie trailers, press features etc.

Maybe I'm being reactionary, but I thought it was so contrived and overworked it failed in every respect, as a movie, as an event, as a cultural happening, as a statement.
It kind of made me angry, if truth be told.

In reply to TobyA:

But in finnish the words for asking someone to marry you and asking someone to f*ck you are exactly the same...

In reply to ultra montane:

I respect your opinion. Why were you angry?

In reply to Sandrine:

Hollywood winds me up.
I like some films that other people will think are shite, so I'm no judge.

Just ignore me, I'm "emotional" at the moment.

In reply to ultra montane:

Same here, most of the time.




Well no one is, here, we just say what our opinion is.



Nothing too severe I hope. Take care

Agreed ... a blinding film. Also watched it a couple of times over a couple of days. The story line was excellent with nice little twists and a good cast. I think the way it dealt with the issues at hand was cleverly and very well done and was a quite an eye-opener.