The Dudeism Forum

Quote from: jgiffin on January 13, 2015, 07:20:24 PM

Quote from: Reverend Al on January 10, 2015, 01:41:25 AM
Just a friendly heads-up here, Dudes.  A good friend of mine whose opinions I trust saw Inherent Vice recently and said the trailers are very misleading, specifically with regards to making the movie look like a comedy; it isn't.  He also said the plot (such as it is) is difficult to follow ("even worse than The Big Sleep" in his words) and that he really didn't care for it.  He did say, however, that he'd like to see it again now that he knows it's not a comedy (i.e., without that preconceived notion) in order to judge it based on it's own merits.  So...properly warned ye be, sez I.

Dammit, Al. I was going to mention how promising all the promos looked. Fucking Hollywood, man, always pulling the bait-and-switch on us.

I'm not sure how much of that is intentional.  The real problem is that the studios sub-contract movie trailers to other production companies (with rare exceptions).  As far as I know, they're given a synopsis of the movie and some footage, and are instructed to create a trailer.  As such, there must be times when those companies think they understand what the movie's about but really don't, and the end result is a misleading trailer.  That said, I'm sure there are times when the studio doesn't have much faith in a finished movie, so the boys from marketing instruct the company that's producing the trailer to edit it a certain (and somewhat misleading) way just to get better box office dollars on the opening weekend.  That's en-ter-tain-ment!!! 

Anyway, even though my friend said he didn't care for it, he didn't say it was a bad movie.  Check it out, and decide for yourself.  That's what I'm gonna do...when it comes to cable/satellite TV, that is.  I'm not sure why, but I just don't dig Joaquin Phoenix.  Something about him just rubs me the wrong way, so I'm in no hurry to run out and spend money to see a movie he's in.

Getting through the first hour was absolute torture.  I turned it off...

Quote from: Hominid on January 14, 2015, 09:20:30 PMGetting through the first hour was absolute torture.  I turned it off...

Don't hold back, man, tell us how you really feel. 

I'll hit it up on a torrent in, oh, about...now.

Finally watched this. It's out for rental on Amazon.
I did like it but I'd say that it runs out of steam.
I did find it to be a comedy for sure. But it's far from slapstick.
It's comedy in a similar way that Kurt Vonnegut is comedy.

Once the real cleverness of the very odd ball characters and plot begins to run out it just doesn't go very much farther. Of course I've heard the same criticism of the Big Lebowski. Lack of payoff.

I have to admit that I found the reviews a bit puzzling when they stated how hard it is to comprehend the plot. I didn't really find it difficult although there are a ton of twists and turns and a near endless array of oddball characters.

I'm a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson and that seems to be an acquired taste.
I for instance thought that "There Will be Blood" was brilliant. I'm alone in that view in my world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hFTR6qyEo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdddIJd3bLc


I will be watching Inherent Vice again. I sort of lost my train of thought at the end the first go round and it will require at least a second view.
All in all I'd recommend it.
At the very least it's a trip.
And I found it funny.

For those who haven't watched the absolutely brillian "There Will Be Blood".
Full movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibx1Dg1SM7Q
Or Netflix.

I thought "There Will Be Blood" was brilliant film making. Told a story...

Quote from: Hominid on March 19, 2015, 09:46:22 AM
I thought "There Will Be Blood" was brilliant film making. Told a story...

And uniquely atmospheric.
In the context of TWBB the "lack of closure" sort of is the point.
You just go along with Daniel Plainview on this slow degeneration.
It penetrates you like cold and rain.
It's very John Paul Sartre or Albert Camus.
A palpable lack of milestones. What happens just happens.
And then in classic fashion the last line "I'm Finished!".
Just great stuff. And TWBB gets better with several views.
I'm still giving I Vice a chance.
Here's PTA interviewed about Vice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPB6GXG7Wa8