Frankly said from an emotional point of view, the Clouzot films leave me absolutely cold. I watch them only as a distant passenger.
When I first watched it (a 120 min version) I had the highest expectations, and was disappointed. Later I watched it again for being able to see the uncut version, I often enjoyed it, but still I wasn’t too excited about the scenes of the dynamite journey. But for details I would have to watch it again.
I remember one scene where they arrive at a curve in the mountains which is so narrow that they had to go round the curve in small steps, and had to drive back with the back wheels on a wooden trestle (which of course was short before breaking to pieces) as the only chance to get with an truck round this curve.
Well, that was what the screenplay says, only the problem was that this was shot at an actual curve so big that it obviously wasn’t a problem for a mediocre driver to drive round that curve without loosing speed.
So the suspense was immediately killed for me.
A small example, but the whole dynamite journey gave me the impression of being made by people who hadn’t much of a connection to what they were filming. Mostly well filmed, but lacking the greatness.
Rohmer and Clouzot are extremely different in every respect, and it doesn’t make much sense to compare their films. But as different they were even from the ethics of film making, I don’t see any problem to like (or dislike) both equally, or only one of them.
I was not comparing them for God sake, it’s obvious they are (were) very different directors, I was just mentioned him as one of the other directors from the several, that the so called Novelle Vague group usually had prejudice against, while trying to be a new young radical movement, like I said normal in Youth, the need to call for attention.
Well if traveling with a truck full of nitroglyciren in a South American dirt road ain’t scary enought for you, uau, and I though I was radical ;D.
But anyway we seem the have different way to approach the viewing fof film, paying attention to different things at least in this one, pretty normal
In the end to me at least, Clouzot will always be one of the master directors in my book, among others.
A power hungry and full of himself business man thinks more of work and less of his wife. Always on the look out for new thrills. He gets a big buzz when he kills a man, who was after going to bed with his wife played by Britt Ekland. Pretty stylish way he goes around it I must admit.
Static performances all round to a degree, in an uneven film in pace. Excellent scenery and some outstanding ski chase sequences. A film with alot of faults, but I very much liked the premise of the whole thing which overcome alot of the faults for me.[font=times new roman][/font]
[quote=“Stanton, post:3441, topic:1923”]Well, that was what the screenplay says, only the problem was that this was shot at an actual curve so big that it obviously wasn’t a problem for a mediocre driver to drive round that curve without loosing speed.
So the suspense was immediately killed for me.[/quote]
In such a film such a scene should be believable.
What would you say if people are supposed to hang over an abyss, but you clearly see it is only 2 meters over the ground?
It didn’t strike me as unbelievable - maybe I missed an establishing shot that showed the curve to be manageable, but I was already drawn in. In any case, I was soon engrossed by the psychological confrontation that develops in this sequence between Yves Montand and Charles Vanel.
[quote=“Stanton, post:3448, topic:1923”]Yes, and that’s absolutely ok for me.
You was, Topo was, I not so much. I was in other films, films which maybe you didn’t care for.[/quote]
No need to be defensive - we were just exchanging opinions. No disrespect intended, I assure you.
I finished watching Yo-Yo Sexy Girl Cop, which was absolutely dreadful. That’s the last time I watch a movie based solely on the title. Frankly, the only thing that got me through was the softcore pornography sections.
Some consider this one Rollin best flick, I like it and no doubt its one of the better Lesbian Vampire flicks I’ve seen, if that genre of films exists.
Rollin much as Argento, based his films more in atmosphere than plot, and he does it very well, with a limited budget he was a able to create a mesmerizing film with some strong images like the one of Lahaie with the scythe erotic and agressive at the same time agood film indeed.
Speaking of Lahaie she acts really well is this one, by then she was still doing those porn flicks (her last one was in 1980), however she never became a great actress, but she had no problems in communicating with the camera as some more famous actress have, in any case in this particular film is just perfect in her part.
Still i think that maybe some of you who know the film, would not found it strange that my favourite Rollin flick is La rose de fer/The Iron rose, in any case this one is a good enjoyable flick with a poweraful imaginarium, that is able to rise way above its poor production values.
Alien 2 - quite tedious until they get to the cave, then it picks up, more graphic than I remember it being although I haven’t seen it for about 20 years or so. The blu ray looks nothing short of stunning.
Intelligent and well made espionage thriller. Both Redford and Pitt are excellent. Thankfully, Scott’s usually flashy and retro visual style is toned down. Seems every film of his since Man on Fire has that look.
I wanted to say I watched The Kid With The Golden Arm on Thursday, and I loved it. Full of brilliant characters and just very amusing from start to finish. Superb stuff.
[quote=“El Topo, post:3453, topic:1923”]Fascination Jean Rollin 1979
Some consider this one Rollin best flick, I like it and no doubt its one of the better Lesbian Vampire flicks I’ve seen, if that genre of films exists.
Rollin much as Argento, based his films more in atmosphere than plot, and he does it very well, with a limited budget he was a able to create a mesmerizing film with some strong images like the one of Lahaie with the scythe erotic and agressive at the same time agood film indeed.
Speaking of Lahaie she acts really well is this one, by then she was still doing those porn flicks (her last one was in 1980), however she never became a great actress, but she had no problems in communicating with the camera as some more famous actress have, in any case in this particular film is just perfect in her part.
Still i think that maybe some of you who know the film, would not found it strange that my favourite Rollin flick is La rose de fer/The Iron rose, in any case this one is a good enjoyable flick with a poweraful imaginarium, that is able to rise way above its poor production values.
Saw Inception, great stuff, but film of the year potential? Nope, or at least I hope not, otherwise cinematic 2010 wouldn’t be very good year. I’ve got to admit, I cared more about almost every other character’s than DiCaprio’s. Not a very mind-blowing film (an adjective used a lot to describe it), expected prettier visuals too, dunno why.
