Southland Tales

[Bob]

Hmmmmm, the last sentence form this quote from Roger Ebert's movie review is priceless!  

After I saw the first cut of Kelly's "Southland Tales" at Cannes 2005, I was dazed, confused, bewildered, bored, affronted and deafened by the boos all around me, at the most disastrous Cannes press screening since, yes, "The Brown Bunny." But now here is the director's cut, which is 20 minutes shorter, lops off a couple of characters and a few of the infinite subplots, and is even more of a mess. I recommend that Kelly keep right on cutting until he whittles it down to a ukulele pick.

[ScottotD]

I know Ebert's considered THE critic in the US but he almost always comes across as an arrogant tool to me.

[Bob]

I know Ebert's considered THE critic in the US but he almost always comes across as an arrogant tool to me.

Regardless, that is still a great line.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

Ebert IS an arrogant tool.

Compare:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/REVIEWS/50525002

[Bob]

Ebert IS an arrogant tool.

Compare:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/REVIEWS/50525002

*Waves hand at Issac and ScottH as he goes rushing by*

"No comment, no comment, get that camera out of my face"

[Petey Wheatstraw]

So, you really think that The Honeymooners was a better movie than Blue Velvet?

[bettertomorrowamy]

I went back and tried to re-watch this POS, but it is just all over the place.  I think that crazy lady in Donnie Darko got that way from watching THIS movie more than once.

[Compound]

Okay, I loved this to the top of my Netflix queue, but if you are wrong         Well, let us just say you had better enter the witness protection program my friend.

Yeah... you may want to reconsider that move, PSL.  I'll just note that the best acting performance in the film is from Cheri O'Teri.  Consider that as you will.

And Ebert may be a tool but he was right about David Lynch. He messed up Isabella Rossellini enough so that she married Jack Donaghy. 

[Courtney]

Southland is decent if you just let it wash over you and don't expect any story or anything.

His director's edit of Donnie Darko is inferior too, removing all of the mystery from the film.

I didn't like either version that much but I thought the director's cut exposed how stupid the movie is, it seemed a bit like 'Fisher-Price's My first indi movie' to me.   

The commentary ruined it for me long before the Director's Cut.  I mean I loved that movie, still do, because of how open and mysterious and creative it was.  Then to hear what he really meant it to be just took the coolness away.  It became very... unmysterious.  (words are hard.)  I mean, placebos?  Really?  That's taking us into RL Stine territory there.

[mearnest]

I loved the original cut of Donnie Darko but was also highly disappointed in the Director's Cut.  When his intent was explained it just became infinitely less cool than what I had taken away from the original.  Curious to see Southland now just to see how bad it is, though.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

I'll just note that the best acting performance in the film is from Cheri O'Teri.  Consider that as you will.

All the performances are fantastic. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with Cheri Oteri.

Curious to see Southland now just to see how bad it is, though.

It's a great movie.

[bettertomorrowamy]

It's a great movie.

You keep saying that, and yet you site no evidence for its greatness.  Please elaborate.

[Petey Wheatstraw]

It's a great movie.

You keep saying that, and yet you site no evidence for its greatness.  Please elaborate.

Original script. Creative storyline. Well acted. Entertaining. 

[bettertomorrowamy]

It's a great movie.

You keep saying that, and yet you site no evidence for its greatness.  Please elaborate.

Original script. Creative storyline. Well acted. Entertaining. 

What do the rolling eyes mean?  Are you not buying your own reasons?
First off I don't believe there was a script.
Second, the storyline was garbled nonsense.
I don't know how you can have good acting without a script that creates characters.
If you like nonsense then I guess you're right.

[ScottotD]

I can see why people would be sceptical, as I said I didn't like Donnie Darko and do enjoy a lot of movies that the consensis here seem to write off (Cloverfield, Saw, etc) however while it's certainly not a good film in the standard sense.  I found it an interesting experience to watch, similar to the way I feel about El Topo or Waking Life.