tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post4447911727526409559..comments2024-01-13T03:20:34.558-05:00Comments on Film Flammers: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spysiochembiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11487373396181856763noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-36721651097700774082013-04-22T14:56:35.182-04:002013-04-22T14:56:35.182-04:00"couldn't stop thinking about the film&qu..."couldn't stop thinking about the film"<br /><br />I always consider that the mark of an impressive film, so you don't need to explain your higher rating for this one. If a film can worm its way into one's head, it's usually a good thing.<br /><br />Expectations are always critical in viewing a film. If you're anticipating something spectacular, even a very good film could be a letdown, but if you're expecting poo on screen, you'd be impressed with something mediocre. siochembiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487373396181856763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-45558965735684294002013-04-22T13:42:54.911-04:002013-04-22T13:42:54.911-04:00Agree with everything you said. I wavered for a l...Agree with everything you said. I wavered for a long time between the 7 and the 8 and ended up going for the later because I couldn't stop thinking about the film after it was over. The disjointed plot did annoy me mightily during the first half of watching the film. I had also heard bad things about this and was prepared to be bored. Perversely, maybe that also made me like it more than I otherwise would have.marie_dresslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06334550550983418668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-10489586600966459612013-04-21T10:13:40.846-04:002013-04-21T10:13:40.846-04:00This is literally one of my late 2010 originally b...This is literally one of my late 2010 originally brainstormed categories that I have never done. When I did it I jotted down the following: The Crying Game, Shattered, Widow's Peak, Unbreakable, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Conversation, and Saw. Dead Again had two big reveals, neither of which I saw coming. When I get ready to do it for real I will try to more thoroughly think through movies I've seen for any I can add.<br /><br />I noted that I did figure out The Sixth Sense, The Village, The Usual Suspects, and Fight Club. The last one I mostly figured out from the trailer (and I can now add Shutter Island and Derailed to ones where the trailer was enough.)<br /><br />"I'm up to the beginning of season 4 in Castle. The ending of season 3 was AMAZING."<br /><br />I agree. Wait until you get to the end of Castle season 4... (He says with a grin.)Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-65170211536160054452013-04-21T09:12:30.347-04:002013-04-21T09:12:30.347-04:00Yeah, that makes sense, if one is very adept at se...Yeah, that makes sense, if one is very adept at seeing patterns, why shouldn't one see those same patterns in storytelling mediums? <br /><br />I would be VERY interested in your list of Twists I Didn't Figure Out. Unbreakable was very good, I liked that one quite a bit.<br /><br />I'm up to the beginning of season 4 in Castle. The ending of season 3 was AMAZING.siochembiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487373396181856763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-4780907883135280882013-04-20T12:12:58.200-04:002013-04-20T12:12:58.200-04:00I've been told I'm "not normal" ...I've been told I'm "not normal" when it comes to figuring out the twists or reveals in movies. The thing is, I have only twice in my life tried to do that very thing. I used to always score very high on the pattern recognition tests (i.e. "what's the next number in the sequence"), so my best guess is my brain just picks up on patterns without thinking about it. In the case of the casting, though, that's from many years of watching TV shows. When a murder would be committed and there was one actor/actress on for this episode that I recognized from having been on other shows, it always turned out that this person was playing the killer. Some shows (like Castle early on) actually used to cast multiple familiar faces and use them as misdirects for the real killer. It's one of the things that made me like Castle early on.<br /><br />In case you are curious, the two films where I tried to figure out the twist were The Crying Game and The Sixth Sense. I was not successful with the former. I had actually forgotten that there was going to be a twist in The Sixth Sense, but I paused the movie about an hour in to get a snack. While in my kitchen I remembered there was going to be a twist and while waiting I started reviewing the movie. This was about ten minutes after the classic "I see dead people" line. All of a sudden I remembered the beginning of the film and in a flash I got it. At first I didn't believe it, but as I ran through the rest of the film to that point I realized that it had been very cleverly handled by Shyamalan.<br /><br />Some day I will do a Twists I Didn't Figure Out category. The Crying Game, Widow's Peak (which I've already reviewed), and Unbreakable would be three of them.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-3477189369509958612013-04-19T08:32:16.346-04:002013-04-19T08:32:16.346-04:00"Thinking cinematically"
Wow, yes, righ..."Thinking cinematically"<br /><br />Wow, yes, right on, fantastic way to describe this film! <br /><br />I mean, I liked this film. I did. But it wasn't... special. siochembiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487373396181856763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-82853880785721499542013-04-19T08:28:36.729-04:002013-04-19T08:28:36.729-04:00Ha ha ha! Chip, I think you think too much about ...Ha ha ha! Chip, I think you think too much about movies! Sit back and enjoy the ride, man! (I kid, I kid) <br /><br />In all seriousness, I didn't figure it out, but that's probably partly because I haven't seen nearly as many films as you have. <br /><br />Oh, and Firth is nuts if he thinks that everyone already knows who the mole is. I hadn't ever heard of this story before the movie. siochembiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487373396181856763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-43036521969339459232013-04-19T08:24:46.979-04:002013-04-19T08:24:46.979-04:00DAMMIT I MISSED ONE!!! GAH!!! I've only seen...DAMMIT I MISSED ONE!!! GAH!!! I've only seen the final HP film once, though. Dagnabit, I forgot about Ciaran Hinds...<br /><br />Like I said, I like intellectual films, but this movie is too obtuse for its own good. A mystery is worthwhile, but completely flabbergasting your audience is not the best idea.siochembiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11487373396181856763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-9049131994275244412013-04-19T01:52:40.017-04:002013-04-19T01:52:40.017-04:00I described this film as guys sitting around and t...I described this film as guys sitting around and thinking cinematically. While I found the plot interesting, that was about all I found interesting here. 7/10 is perhaps generous except for the exceptional cast and the (as you mention) gorgeous cinematography.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-80468882790644946372013-04-18T16:01:02.167-04:002013-04-18T16:01:02.167-04:00When I was reviewing the 2011 Oscar nominees I ult...When I was reviewing the 2011 Oscar nominees I ultimately decided that this film wasn't quite good enough for me to recommend. I'd have it at 2.5 stars (it's okay).<br /><br />I agree that Oldman does a great job in the film. I think he got a nomination precisely because he was playing against his "type" of the manic, edgy character. I also agree that Cumberbatch does a good job.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the film's reveal was ruined for me before a single second of it was shot. The casting kills any suspense on who the mole is. Let's see, the four suspects are played by a Swedish actor no one knows, two character actors...and an Academy Award winning actor. Gee, I wonder which one gets the meaty role of the double agent?<br /><br />When asked about this Firth defended the casting by saying that everyone already knows who the mole is from either having read the book or seeing the original film with Alec Guiness. Well, I had done neither and I suspect I am far from alone.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751168318018401735.post-21083972050045789292013-04-18T07:43:40.526-04:002013-04-18T07:43:40.526-04:00I got the feeling this was exactly the kind of fil...I got the feeling this was exactly the kind of film the film makers intended to make when they set out to do it. It's meant to be confusing - it was a long time into the book before I had any idea what was going on - but the confusing nature is definitely a flaw with the film, and one that I cannot overlook. Oh, and you missed Aberforth Dumbledore from your Potter cast list, he's unrecognisably played by Ciaran Hinds. Love the cast and look of this film, just wish it had been a bit more entertaining.JayCluitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16972011198109066985noreply@blogger.com