These films are in a genre that I think could be labeled neuvo film noir. Gone are the typical femme fetale, the fuzzy contrast black-and-white, the usual detective and the other trappings of traditional film noir. It's now atmosphere and the way the story is told with intrique and through a glass, darkly. It still examines the seedier side of life but with a new aplomb. "L. A. Confidential" was nearly the last of the old breed and set off directors to use the techniques of the film noir construction but shake up the plotlines, characters and settings (ever notice how much film noir was located in L.A.?)
panzade wrote:What's your perfect tune in a movie?
Can I answer, huh, huh??!!
My favorite is the theme song to "A Place in the Sun." Exquisite. And then there's the theme to "Picnic."
I have the score to "A Place in the Sun" but they put lyrics to the main theme?
The did put lyrics to "Moonglow" from "Picnic."
I actually saw Mystic River in the theatre TWICE, which I never do but I thought the ensemble acting was so sensational that I couldn't help myself. Marcia Gay Harden has got to be one of Hollywood's all-time best actresses :-) If you buy the collector's edition DVD, you get the soundtrack inluded which is awesome (and composed by Eastwood with a bit by his son too).
Welcome A2K, ckthegate -- I wasn't overly impressed by the score but the movie is another example of why there should be an Oscar for ensemble acting. "The Return of the King" could have likely won this year but it wouldn't diminish the quality of the acting and interaction of the charcters in "Mystic River." MR was another depressing movie in a year of many depressing movies and it's a simple matter to me that audiences aren't that willing to subject themselves to depressing movies. I think "Mystic River" will reach classic status eventually.
Still lookin for that Eastwood score
Mystic River reaching classic status???
Still don't get it.
Eastwood combined film noir with social commentary, a great murder mystery and all in the framwork of a Greek tragedy. I don't know what else it would take to become a classic.
Someone other than Sean Penn in the lead.
(I'm just juggin' at ya, LW.)
Hey, what happened? Sean break into your house or somethin'?
eoe's still trying to get over "Dead Man Walking"
I wouldn't see that movie again either. It draws too close to being pornographic and without the desired effect. Instead of feeling saddened, I felt repulsed by the overdrawn violence. It could be retitled "The Passion of the Dead Man Walking."
Wow. Never saw "Dead Man Walking." What's the connection between Robbins and Penn???
"The Passion of the Dead Man Walking"?
It was a great film but the ending was somewhate predictable. But I enjoyed it nonetheless, the only issue was that I came late to the film with a friend, and we were seated apart in uncomfortable fold out seats, I never came to film late again.
Well, I did get "Dead Man Walking" mixed up with "Murder in the First" which starred Kevin Bacon so that commentary applies to that film.
Sean Penn starred in "Dead Man" with Susan Sarandon as a nun trying to comfort the condemned man. I would likely watch it again if it came onto cable.
Just scratched my head for a little while LW...
