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Post by ZapRowsdower on Aug 6, 2004 16:12:31 GMT -5
Um, gee, I don't know. It's a tough choice, but I'm going with Collateral.
It was tough, though. You know, after the ENORMOUS success of Uptown Girls last year, you'd think Little Black Book would be successful too... Ah, crap. Spilled some sarcasm on the floor again. Let me mop that up.
Collateral is great. I've already seen it at a private screening a couple months ago, and it was excellent. I can't wait to see the finished product.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Aug 6, 2004 19:31:22 GMT -5
Um, yeah, tough choice for me too. Hitman crime thriller starring Tom Cruise & directed by Michael Mann or Brittany Murphy romantic comedy? Hmm, decisions, decisions. Whoops!! Dammit! Uh oh, better let me borrow that mop, Smitty. ;D
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Aug 7, 2004 9:44:40 GMT -5
Choosing between the two I would def. choose 'Collateral'. Geez, seems like I'm the only one who hasn't made a mess around here so far.
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Post by Bartwald on Aug 7, 2004 13:25:05 GMT -5
You still have some mopping to do, guys, so I'm not going to add anything to the mess you left there.
Collateral it is!
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Aug 8, 2004 23:24:26 GMT -5
Saw COLLATERAL today and even though it starts out better than it ends, I gotta say that I thought it's one of the best films I've seen so far this year. Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise are both very good in their roles and the direction by Michael Mann is great as usual. The story of a cabbie (Foxx) forced to drive a professional hitman (Cruise) around L.A. to commit five hits over the course of one night is pretty original, if it's been done before, I've never seen it. Cruise is very convincing in one of his few villain roles and really should play more of these darker, edgier type characters. He's charming and dangerous at the same time. Foxx is equally good in one of his first dramatic roles. But I think the real showcase for him is going to be his starring role in the upcoming Ray Charles biopic, RAY. There are some really well done action scenes, but there are also some equally great quiet moments. One of the best involves a jazz musician talking to Cruise & Foxx about the time he got to jam with Miles Davis. While the movie is set up well and has some tension filled moments, I thought it kinda lost a little steam towards the end when it started covering some familiar territory. Overall though, I was satisfied by it, and would definitely recommend it. One of the best of the summer. 8/10
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Post by Bartwald on Aug 9, 2004 6:17:41 GMT -5
Out of sheer curiosity, how many points did you give to Michael Mann's other efforts, Heineken? Heat, The Insider and Ali, for instance? Personally, I thought Heat and The Insider were almost perfect films (haven't yet seen Ali) and that's why I'm so eager to see Collateral.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Aug 9, 2004 9:50:42 GMT -5
Out of sheer curiosity, how many points did you give to Michael Mann's other efforts, Heineken? Okay, here's how I rated a couple of other Mann efforts: ALI (2001) 5/10 (Good performance by Will Smith, but the movie itself didn't really work for me.) HEAT (1995) 8/10 (De Niro & Pacino! Wish there had been more scenes with them together, but almost impossible with them on opposite sides of the law, huh?) LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1992) 7/10 (Has flaws, but is still enjoyable. Daniel Day Lewis in another amazing performance.) MANHUNTER (1986) 5.5/10 (Nice performances & stylish, but just seems too dated to me. Prefer Hopkins' Hannibal, but that's a different topic.) THE KEEP (1983) 3/10 (Saw it a long time ago, but I remember it being awful.) I haven't yet seen THE INSIDER (1999) (I know, I know. Bad movie fan!)
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Aug 9, 2004 17:40:22 GMT -5
Foxx is equally good in one of his first dramatic roles. But I think the real showcase for him is going to be his starring role in the upcoming Ray Charles biopic, RAY. I think you're absolutely right....I saw the trailer for this when I saw The Village, & it just gave me goose bumps. Can't wait to see that one!
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Post by Bartwald on Aug 10, 2004 6:11:55 GMT -5
I haven't yet seen THE INSIDER (1999) (I know, I know. Bad movie fan!) No question about that, my friend! The Insider is one powerful piece of cinema and the pairing of Pacino and Crowe no less exciting than that of Pacino and De Niro in Heat. Gotta rent it! That is, after you watch Pitch Black, Solaris, some movies by Lucio Fulci... oh, you know. ;D
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Aug 10, 2004 9:42:29 GMT -5
No question about that, my friend! The Insider is one powerful piece of cinema and the pairing of Pacino and Crowe no less exciting than that of Pacino and De Niro in Heat. Gotta rent it! That is, after you watch Pitch Black, Solaris, some movies by Lucio Fulci... oh, you know. ;D Of course! How's that viewing of DR. STRANGELOVE going?
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Post by Bartwald on Aug 10, 2004 13:58:43 GMT -5
Gotcha! I saw it already! And I even announced it somewhere alongside our discussion of the board's favourite comedies - it's just that I wasn't impressed with it too much and didn't want to risk a long debate and I kind of weaved it into my comments about something completely different... I think.
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Post by Heineken Skywalker on Aug 10, 2004 14:38:25 GMT -5
Oh, guess I better get to seeing PITCH BLACK then, huh?
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Post by ZapRowsdower on Aug 10, 2004 18:16:41 GMT -5
I have seen Collateral.
PLOT - 10/10 It's so simple, yet it hasn't been done before. I love these simple plots, especially when they're done right.
ACTING - 10/10 Before I saw this movie, I had no idea Jamie Foxx could act. And now, I like Tom Cruise just a little bit more (not Cruise's biggest fan and have yet to see Born on the Fourth of July).
DIRECTION - 10/10 Michael Mann. Do I really have to explain any furthur?
SCREENWRITING - 8/10 Great dialogue, but a few scenes kind of dragged.
VISUALS - 10/10 Beautiful use of steady-cam. Great cinematography, visually pleasing.
MUSIC - 8/10 I liked the selection in music, just wish there was more of it.
OVERALL I saw this 3 months ago at a private screening. They changed nothing. Still an excellent film, without a doubt, one of the best films this year.
THE SMITTY APPROVES. (9.3/10)
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Post by LivingDeadGirl on Aug 10, 2004 18:19:09 GMT -5
Oh, guess I better get to seeing PITCH BLACK then, huh? Damn straight! And you better get to seeing it fast mister. ;D
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Post by Bartwald on Aug 11, 2004 5:29:33 GMT -5
Yeah, well... you already know what the consequences of waiting too long are.
Or wait! It's me who knows them as for now! But, er, better be quick, man!
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