Forum Overview :: Motherfucking News
 
Re: That's exactly what many people would think. by Choson 01/14/2005, 7:30am PST
Ray of Light wrote:

I can't say whether you're making that observation out of ignorance or not, but I recommend getting to know a few drunks.

A guy who's avoided bringing people to his home because there're -- literally -- three hundred empty bottles of Cutty Sark covering every flat surface; or who's rear-ended someone at a stoplight and, after being told to wait in his car by the cop, backs into the cop car; or who donated three fingers to a milling machine but can't tell the story because it's blacked out, is a guy with some observations on life that you aren't going to find anywhere else.

Ray!


No, I'm just saying the Life Aquatic isn't as great as you're making it out to be. It's fun to watch, it's somewhat amusing, but it certainly isn't the laugh-out loud funny of his earlier movies, or even Tenenbaums. I can remember the reveal of those huge Miguel Calderon paintings in Eli Cash's house, and the pure absurdity making me and the entire theatre bust out laughing, but there were a lot of kind of failed attempts at that in Life Aquatic -- calling the interns "Interns" and saying "they shared a glock" was one of those almost-there jokes that just didn't work, and which felt like weaker derivatives of the student extras in Rushmore and even that sidekick kid of Bill Murray's in Tenenbaums. In Rushmore, the re-occuring raccoon-eyed kid was a neat little addition, whereas Seu Jorge's contrived musical performances felt gimmicky, at least to me. Entertaining, but certainly a lot less subtle. Even worse, the Life Aquatic's attempts at drama and emotional tension felt like they were shoe-horned in there because otherwise it would just be a wacky movie: the keeping of letters from years ago, the helicopter crash, the revelations about his mom's cancer and Murray's character lying around on the floor lamenting his old age -- probably sounded great on paper, but it felt like an afterthought on screen. I would have been more pleased with the film if it had just been completely ludicrous and not tried to throw that stuff in there. Watch Rushmore again -- I realize I keep harping on it, but every element of drama in there, from the father-son relationship and the weird crush on Miss Cross by Max Fischer that builds to that really uncomfortable scene in her classroom ("You
think we're going to have sex?") to Murray's fucked up marriage and kids ("Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I'd have kids like these"), the whole sad Thanksgiving of isolation, but it's basically the only film where Wes Anderson got that weird mix of comedy and drama perfect. It kind of helps that instead of Cate Blanchett's stunt casting as twee Britishwoman Jane "Cubby" Whatever, Olivia Williams actually seemed demonstrably real.

Anyhow, that's why I think Life Aquatic is "unfunny", and not good, and other stuff. But mostly not really good. Although yeah, no one's gonna argue with you that it has some really nifty production design. And Bud Cort as the Bond Company Stooge was a really inspired casting choice, especially when he started breaking out the Tagalog.
PREVIOUS NEXT REPLY QUOTE
 
GALLAGHER ATTACKS by Fussbett 01/12/2005, 8:59pm PST NEW
    Gallagher apologetics. by Senor Barborito 01/12/2005, 9:12pm PST NEW
        Yes, if only we could see the real wit and political satire in Gallagher shows. NT by Creexul :( 01/12/2005, 9:23pm PST NEW
        Re: Gallagher apologetics. by Choson 01/12/2005, 9:32pm PST NEW
        Gallagher begat Carrot Top. by And this I do not forgive. 01/12/2005, 9:49pm PST NEW
        Re: Gallagher apologetics. by Ray of Light 01/12/2005, 10:04pm PST NEW
            No, dude, I'm calling bullshit on this. by Senor Barborito 01/13/2005, 8:04am PST NEW
                Re: No, dude, I'm calling bullshit on this. by Debate Fan 01/13/2005, 8:40am PST NEW
                    Re: No, dude, I'm calling bullshit on this. by Ray of Light 01/13/2005, 12:06pm PST NEW
                        Except I did see Life Aquatic Tuesday night. by Senor Barborito 01/13/2005, 4:59pm PST NEW
                            You're INSANE NT by INSANE 01/13/2005, 6:01pm PST NEW
                            You should write a count-review. I'll argue for days. NT by Fussbett 01/13/2005, 6:17pm PST NEW
                                Counter-review. NT by Fussbett 01/13/2005, 6:17pm PST NEW
                                    Re: Counter-review. by Senor Barborito 01/14/2005, 4:06am PST NEW
                                        Notice that I deleted all refs to other movies. by Fussbett 01/14/2005, 9:29pm PST NEW
                            Compelling. by Ray of Light 01/13/2005, 6:55pm PST NEW
                                Napoleon Dynamite: movie of the year. NT by Creexul :( 01/13/2005, 6:56pm PST NEW
                                Re: Compelling. by Choson 01/13/2005, 8:46pm PST NEW
                                    That's exactly what many people would think. by Ray of Light 01/13/2005, 11:23pm PST NEW
                                        Re: That's exactly what many people would think. by Senor Barborito 01/14/2005, 3:38am PST NEW
                                            content, spoilers by Ray of Light 01/14/2005, 11:30am PST NEW
                                                This thread is exposing my own rock-bottom self-esteem by Zseni 01/14/2005, 11:47am PST NEW
                                                    Broken record and all, but Zseni still hasn't seen The Office. NT by Mysterio 01/14/2005, 6:12pm PST NEW
                                        Re: That's exactly what many people would think. by Choson 01/14/2005, 7:30am PST NEW
                                            Aren't you the one afraid of sex? NT by OPINION INVALIDATED 01/14/2005, 7:39am PST NEW
                                                To me, the definition of scary is posting under a regular nick. NT by Senor Barborito 01/14/2005, 7:42am PST NEW
                                                    WHICH IS WHY YOU POST UNDER A CAJILLION? NT by ROFL-Meister 01/14/2005, 8:22am PST NEW
                                                You mean your opinion? NT by Choson 01/14/2005, 8:38am PST NEW
                                                    *After school* Nu-uh! You! by Bill Dungsrom 01/14/2005, 5:36pm PST NEW
                                                Most appropriate nick ever? NT by Mysterio 01/14/2005, 8:41am PST NEW
                                            Re: That's exactly what many people would think. by Ray of Light 01/14/2005, 11:39am PST NEW
                                            The Life Aquatic is no Bottle Rocket! by Fussbett 01/14/2005, 5:23pm PST NEW
                                                Re: The Life Aquatic is no Bottle Rocket! by Choson 01/14/2005, 5:50pm PST NEW
                                                    So have you married The Royal Tenenbaums yet? (why don't you?) by Fussbett 01/14/2005, 8:56pm PST NEW
                                                        Zseni says your, OJECTIVELY, the coolest poster here! by Burble 01/15/2005, 4:50am PST NEW
                                                        Re: So have you married The Royal Tenenbaums yet? (why don't you?) by Oh SNAP guy 01/15/2005, 10:16am PST NEW
                                                        Re: So have you married The Royal Tenenbaums yet? (why don't you?) by Choson 01/15/2005, 10:17am PST NEW
                                                            O SNAP, GUY! NT by whydirt 01/15/2005, 10:26am PST NEW
                                                                Re: O SNAP, GUY! by Choson 01/15/2005, 10:42am PST NEW
                                                Truely bizzarre footnote by laudablepuss 05/18/2005, 8:59pm PDT NEW
        Gallagher has been perfectly judged. by Fussbett 01/12/2005, 10:55pm PST NEW
    Re: GALLAGHER ATTACKS by Bill Dungsroman 01/13/2005, 11:34am PST NEW
 
powered by pointy