I started watching "Armageddon," but stopped after about 5 minutes. I don't have much tolerance for that sort of thing. Michael Bay can take a good idea and destroy it. See, for example, "The Island."
When I was young and dreamed of being a writer, I loved Truman Capote. I think "Other Voices, Other Rooms" is a masterpiece. But it raises questions that I have my own answers to. Basically, he grew up in the shadow of William Faulkner. He was basically a savant. He came into this world just knowing how to write. And he was rightly loved for it. The problem is that he was, at base, a silly man. He didn't have anything of substance to say. And I think "In Cold Blood" shows that. It was really just a cash grab. Since his soul was basically empty, he turned outward instead of inward. Good choice (for him)! But I wasn't able to finish the novel and I tried a couple of times. If I want to read his kind of prose, I read Flannery O'Connor who ws as good a writer and who actually did have something to say.
I wrote about these two films years ago (originally on Frankly Curious, but I moved it to my "shame" section on Psychotronic Review). I don't especially care about either film. But the way critics dealt with them is very interesting. I like that you give them both C-. They are more or less the same film. And it exposes this idea that filmmaking is so creative. Given the same source material, two groups of professionals made almost exactly the same film. On the other hand, if you had given some college students $100,000 (roughly 1% of what each of these films cost), you would have gotten something that was at least DIFFERENT!
Thanks for the great comment! It’s interesting to read someone who knows some of Capote’s writing. (I tried "In Cold Blood" and didn't enjoy it, but that was when I was much younger.)
It is really silly to diss either actor. They’re both the only reasons to watch the movies. And both really good, even if they’re playing a guy I'm not especially interested in. (What made Jason Robards's Howard Hughes great is he wasn’t playing the real guy, he was playing a tall-tale version of the guy.)
If you get a chance, that Toby Jones series "Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office" series is a good watch. It's not especially well-written or directed. But he gets to play a normal guy who's pissed off, and that’s pretty neat in itself (he usually plays strangeos, and does so well). Also, it's him standing up to the jerks trying to ruin a useful public service by injecting corporate profit-seeking into it. Britain keeps stealing our worst ideas like this.
I will look for it. I think he's an outstanding actor. I recently watched "Berberian Sound Studio" -- twice! I did it because I was trying to understand it. It is hard to watch -- extremely disturbing. And I still don't understand it. Normally, I don't care. I hate films that are over-explained. But I want to have something to hold on to. It's a lot like Waiting for Godot in that way. I'm not recommending it. I think you would admire it. But I don't think you'd like it. That may be my position too!
I started watching "Armageddon," but stopped after about 5 minutes. I don't have much tolerance for that sort of thing. Michael Bay can take a good idea and destroy it. See, for example, "The Island."
When I was young and dreamed of being a writer, I loved Truman Capote. I think "Other Voices, Other Rooms" is a masterpiece. But it raises questions that I have my own answers to. Basically, he grew up in the shadow of William Faulkner. He was basically a savant. He came into this world just knowing how to write. And he was rightly loved for it. The problem is that he was, at base, a silly man. He didn't have anything of substance to say. And I think "In Cold Blood" shows that. It was really just a cash grab. Since his soul was basically empty, he turned outward instead of inward. Good choice (for him)! But I wasn't able to finish the novel and I tried a couple of times. If I want to read his kind of prose, I read Flannery O'Connor who ws as good a writer and who actually did have something to say.
I wrote about these two films years ago (originally on Frankly Curious, but I moved it to my "shame" section on Psychotronic Review). I don't especially care about either film. But the way critics dealt with them is very interesting. I like that you give them both C-. They are more or less the same film. And it exposes this idea that filmmaking is so creative. Given the same source material, two groups of professionals made almost exactly the same film. On the other hand, if you had given some college students $100,000 (roughly 1% of what each of these films cost), you would have gotten something that was at least DIFFERENT!
Here's my article:
https://psychotronicreview.com/shame/capote-infamous/
It features quotes from two critics who say the exact opposite thing about the two lead performances!
Thanks for the great comment! It’s interesting to read someone who knows some of Capote’s writing. (I tried "In Cold Blood" and didn't enjoy it, but that was when I was much younger.)
It is really silly to diss either actor. They’re both the only reasons to watch the movies. And both really good, even if they’re playing a guy I'm not especially interested in. (What made Jason Robards's Howard Hughes great is he wasn’t playing the real guy, he was playing a tall-tale version of the guy.)
If you get a chance, that Toby Jones series "Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office" series is a good watch. It's not especially well-written or directed. But he gets to play a normal guy who's pissed off, and that’s pretty neat in itself (he usually plays strangeos, and does so well). Also, it's him standing up to the jerks trying to ruin a useful public service by injecting corporate profit-seeking into it. Britain keeps stealing our worst ideas like this.
I will look for it. I think he's an outstanding actor. I recently watched "Berberian Sound Studio" -- twice! I did it because I was trying to understand it. It is hard to watch -- extremely disturbing. And I still don't understand it. Normally, I don't care. I hate films that are over-explained. But I want to have something to hold on to. It's a lot like Waiting for Godot in that way. I'm not recommending it. I think you would admire it. But I don't think you'd like it. That may be my position too!