Films/DVD Asylum

• Re: Spider - Buckeye 20:59:16 03/20/04 (22)
  In Reply to: Spider posted by ephemere on March 20, 2004 at 20:47:42:

  Ephemere,

  Just curious...I'm a fan of Gabriel Byrne, who I believe plays the father in Spider. Can you tell me how much screen time Gabe has? Lately, he seems to be collecting his check for a lively twenty minutes acting (see the truly poor Ghost Ship).

  After Miller's Crossing and Usual Suspect, I've been hoping for more.

  Regards,

  Gary

  
  
  

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  • Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . - albee33 10:03:01 03/21/04 (9)
    In Reply to: Re: Spider posted by Buckeye on March 20, 2004 at 20:59:16:

    He has a larger part but the film is mediocre at best. I actually was focused on Julia Ormond full-time. So, if you can get past her, you get Gabe being his usual mysterious self.
    
    

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    • Re: Mediocre? You are too kind. nt - patrickU 12:36:45 03/21/04 (0)
      In Reply to: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . posted by albee33 on March 21, 2004 at 10:03:01:

      nt
      
      

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    • Re: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . - Buckeye 10:14:34 03/21/04 (4)
      In Reply to: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . posted by albee33 on March 21, 2004 at 10:03:01:

      Agree on all counts...Ormond is not hard to watch, and is also an underused actor, imo. Gabe does get a little more of a role here...still, imo, a small amount of overall screen time for an actor of his stature.

      Mediocre is not a bad description, but I do find myself drawn into watching SS of Snow when it shows up on cable. "Coldest looking" movie that I can think of offhand.

      One of the late Richard Harris' more subtle performances, imo.

      Thanks,

      Gary

      
      
      

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      • "Coldest looking" movie... my nomination would be the Black Robe. (nt) - Victor Khomenko 11:08:50 03/21/04 (3)
        In Reply to: Re: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . posted by Buckeye on March 21, 2004 at 10:14:34:

        .
        

        
        
        
        

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        • What a superb movie! Add Breaker Morant to that and one is hard pressed - tinear 05:15:05 03/22/04 (2)
          In Reply to: "Coldest looking" movie... my nomination would be the Black Robe. (nt) posted by Victor Khomenko on March 21, 2004 at 11:08:50:

          to find a better director for that decade.
          
          

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          • A wonderful director, and I would add Driving Miss Daisy to the list - three is always better than two... - Victor Khomenko 17:27:16 03/22/04 (1)
            In Reply to: What a superb movie! Add Breaker Morant to that and one is hard pressed posted by tinear on March 22, 2004 at 05:15:05:

            ...even in beers.

            But I lost track of him in his later years - which ones of his later films deserve the attention? I think I started watching the Double Jeopardy, but something didn't work.
            

            
            
            
            

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            • Re: Bruce Bereford - Buckye 19:06:05 03/22/04 (0)
              In Reply to: A wonderful director, and I would add Driving Miss Daisy to the list - three is always better than two... posted by Victor Khomenko on March 22, 2004 at 17:27:16:

              
              Big agreement on "Breaker" Morant, guys.

              Director Beresford recently did ...And Starring Pancho Villia as Himself...I think this was for HBO, and starred A. Bandaras, which dropped it from the "must see" list for me.

              He also recently did that Pierece Brosnan Irish film Evelyn, which I thought was okay, but a little to precious. Interesting cast, with the exception of Juliana Margolis from tv's ER...badly miscast, with a equally bad Irish brouge.

              I find it interesting how Australian and English actors (Kidman, A. Hopkins, Jude Law, etc) can do a credible American accent, while the reverse attempts usually end in disaster (re: Brad Pitt, in that really bad film with Harrison Ford).

              All the best,

              Gary
              
              

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    • Re: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . - rico 10:07:22 03/21/04 (2)
      In Reply to: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . posted by albee33 on March 21, 2004 at 10:03:01:

      I agree with the "mediocre" comment but for me that is because the ending SO drags down the great first 2/3.
      
      

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      • Yeah, the sci-fi ending didn't fit . . . they were reaching. ..n - albee33 13:42:19 03/21/04 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . posted by rico on March 21, 2004 at 10:07:22:

        n
        
        

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      • Re: Wish I'd said that above... - Buckeye 10:25:13 03/21/04 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Check "Smilla's Sense of Snow" . . . . posted by rico on March 21, 2004 at 10:07:22:

        (spoiler ahead)...I also liked much of S. Sense of Snow. I agree, a somewhat tacked on ending. There didn't seem to be that much of a reason for Harris' icy demise, but that would be a horrific way to go.

        In retrospet, Sense of Snow is a pretty good looking film...and as mentioned, Ormond is very fine here. My boy Gabe didn't have much to do here, and I actually find this to be one of his weaker acting jobs...phoning it in, perhaps.

        After discussing it, now I want to see Sense of Snow again!

        Thanks,

        Gary

        
        
        

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  • Gabe was the best thing in "End of Days". Made a great Satan. ..n - albee33 21:23:25 03/20/04 (3)
    In Reply to: Re: Spider posted by Buckeye on March 20, 2004 at 20:59:16:

    n
    
    

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    • Re: Gabe was the best thing in "End of Days". Made a great Satan. ..n - Buckeye 22:47:28 03/20/04 (2)
      In Reply to: Gabe was the best thing in "End of Days". Made a great Satan. ..n posted by albee33 on March 20, 2004 at 21:23:25:

      
      Agreed...in his interview with James Lipton/Actor's Studio, he mentions that he wore the same Armani overcoat as Satin that he wore as the priest in Stigmata! He complained that priest don't wear Armani, but was told..."we know, but it looks great on screen."

      I love his Satanic lines to Arnold..."I'm not the bad guy."

      Gabe was fantastic as Tom Reagan in Miller's Crossing...I can't now imagine any other actor in that role.

      Although he is now 54 years old (he looks younger), I wish that he would get more major parts in film...I fear his body of work will not be what he was capable of.

      Thanks,

      Gary

      
      
      
      

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      • Satanic dialogue . . . - albee33 09:58:22 03/21/04 (1)
        In Reply to: Re: Gabe was the best thing in "End of Days". Made a great Satan. ..n posted by Buckeye on March 20, 2004 at 22:47:28:

        Byrne's exchanges with Arnold were "dangerously provocative". But, equally so, was Pacino's speech to Reeves in Devil's Advocate. So chilling and logical that it makes me wonder where the inspiration for such brilliant dialouge is being sourced. 8^)
        
        

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        • Re: Satanic dialogue . . . - Buckeye 10:31:46 03/21/04 (0)
          In Reply to: Satanic dialogue . . . posted by albee33 on March 21, 2004 at 09:58:22:

          
          Agreed! The longish scene with Gabe/Satan "recruiting" Arnold was the best thing in an otherwise weak film.

          The lines about the Bible being an "overblown press kit" and God having a "better press agent" are very well written...and delivered by actor Byrne.

          
          
          

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  • Re: Spider - ephemere 21:08:14 03/20/04 (7)
    In Reply to: Re: Spider posted by Buckeye on March 20, 2004 at 20:59:16:

    Hmm. Perhaps he is in 25% of the scenes? I have a bad sense for this; I could be off by a factor of two. I can't promise more than 20 minutes screen time. I did very much enjoy his performance here, though, for whatever that's worth.
    
    

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    • Thanks! - Buckeye 22:58:34 03/20/04 (6)
      In Reply to: Re: Spider posted by ephemere on March 20, 2004 at 21:08:14:

      
      That's about what I figured, and par for the course with Gabe in films today. It's tough to compete with the great leading men actors these days... like Adam Sandler, Keanu Reeves, and the stalwart Ashton Kutcher (sp?0, who I have no idea how to spell his last name.

      Pity.

      Regards,

      Gary

      
      
      

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      • Have you seen Siesta? - ephemere 23:16:09 03/20/04 (5)
        In Reply to: Thanks! posted by Buckeye on March 20, 2004 at 22:58:34:

        Siesta is pretty poorly regarded as a film, but it's a guilty pleasure of mine. The cast is great: Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne, Jodie Foster, Julian Sands, Grace Jones, Isabella Rossellini, many others. Come to think of it, Byrne probably only gets about 10 minutes. But it sticks.
        
        

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        • Re: It does suck - rico 03:45:09 03/21/04 (1)
          In Reply to: Have you seen Siesta? posted by ephemere on March 20, 2004 at 23:16:09:

          except for the music by my man Miles Davis.
          
          

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          • Yeah, that soundtrack is great. - ephemere 04:14:28 03/21/04 (0)
            In Reply to: Re: It does suck posted by rico on March 21, 2004 at 03:45:09:

            One of the few I own.
            
            

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        • Re: Have you seen Siesta? - Buckeye 23:34:56 03/20/04 (2)
          In Reply to: Have you seen Siesta? posted by ephemere on March 20, 2004 at 23:16:09:

          
          I bought the vhs of Siesta about a year ago, and so far, have only watched about 3/4 of it. I've been meaning to get back to it...I don't hate it, and like you mentioned, the cast is great...and Ellen Barkin gets very naked (I find this a good thing)...the director takes a somewhat offbeat approach to story telling in this film (imo), but I do find it interesting.

          As you say, Gabe again gets little screen time...what's with this guy, a lack of ego, or a desire to work as little as possible? Then again, maybe he was busy...he ended up marrying Barkin after this film, so I supose all was not lost (they later divorced, so I could be very wrong).

          Byrne acted in (again, a small role) and produced Into the West...this may go down as his crowning achievement...a very good film that by all accounts, was a tough sell to get made.

          For a REALLY bizarre film with Gabe, check out Ken Russells' Gothic.

          All the best,

          Gary
          
          

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          • Nah, for really bizarre see Byrne in Cool World... - grinagog 00:06:42 03/21/04 (1)
            In Reply to: Re: Have you seen Siesta? posted by Buckeye on March 20, 2004 at 23:34:56:

            Siesta was just strange; love the Miles Davis soundtrack tho'
            Grins
            
            

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            • Re: Strange perhaps, but - Dave-A 20:01:06 03/22/04 (0)
              In Reply to: Nah, for really bizarre see Byrne in Cool World... posted by grinagog on March 21, 2004 at 00:06:42:

              Strange is not bad. I love this film...and the nude Ellen Barkin, along with the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack is certainly not bad either.

              Of course, I also liked 'A Mere Formality' and 'Mulholland Drive'.

              Later
              D
              
              

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