In Reply to: Re: Simple, quet life in Evertville posted by jamesgarvin on April 1, 2005 at 10:18:15:
You are distortng my words. I didn't say it would tickle ONLY the unsophisticated. But in my view some of its expressive means will resonate in that crowd.You can start by saying that the film is very European in its presentation. Which automatically means that certain things would look unusual and interesting to someone not experienced in film world outside the US. But here, what would look fresh to such a viewer would look like a cliche to someone familiar with the French or Polish cinema.
Things tend to become cliche's quickly. Used once they have the bite, the second time around they start to irritate. And that is the impression I am getting watching his films - that those things have been done, and better, before.
To some degree the explanation lies in the cultural isolation the Estern block countries used to have. But in addition, the director is simply unable to grab the viewer, like his more superior brethren could, and why is this happening is hard to explain, but you definitely know when it is happening... and it is not happening here. You view his movie as an outsider, without getting too involved. It doesn't pass my bathroom test - where you don't want to stop it to take a break. With this one, and the next - The Short Film about Killing - that was easy.
In fact, the Killing is a superior film in many respects. For once, the basic theme of killing, either by an individual or the society, is far more important, intriguing, all encompassing than the rather silly superficial affair, no matter how well spruced up.
Ebert is not inexperienced, but his judgement and taste, based on his many writings, is not something I consider worth spendimg much time discussing. He writes well, and we have plenty of overlap in our tastes, but that's about all.
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Follow Ups
- Re: Simple, quet life in Evertville - Victor Khomenko 10:41:31 04/01/05 (1)
- BTW - - Victor Khomenko 11:17:39 04/01/05 (0)