Michael Cimino (1939 - 2016)

[noodles_leone]

I rewatched it a few years ago. It was worse than remembered. The hopeless nadir of a director who after The Deer Hunter (a 10er) made his way down with bold steps.

Meanwhile, the Lady From Shanghai is a a flaw-free masterpiece.

[stanton]

Meanwhile, the Lady From Shanghai is a a flaw-free masterpiece.

It's maybe not flaw free, but it is definitely a masterpiece. It's plain fascinating. And it doesn't bore fore a single second.

And next to Johnny Guitar the dislike on this board for a generally appreciated film like this one, is pretty strange.

Unlike Cimino, Welles never lost his touch. Even a lesser Welles film is still a feast for the eyes, and that's of course not the only remarkable thing about any Welles film. And The Lady From Shanghai isn't one of his lesser films.

You like The Desperate Hours?

(Pleeease give the correct answer, it is not that difficult)

[Novecento]

It's maybe not flaw free, but it is definitely a masterpiece. It's plain fascinating. And it doesn't bore fore a single second.

And next to Johnny Guitar the dislike on this board for a generally appreciated film like this one, is pretty strange.

Stanton, I was just about to write that I had lost all faith in you after siding with you so often, but then again I am also a fan of "The Lady from Shanghai" 

Unlike Cimino, Welles never lost his touch. Even a lesser Welles film is still a feast for te eyes, and that's of course not the only remarkable thing about any Welles film. And The Lady From Shanghai isn't one of his lesser films.

Cimino did not lose his touch - Desperate Hours clearly shows that same visual flare. However, he did lose the support of unbiased critics.

You like The Desperate Hours?

(Pleeease give the correct answer, it is not that difficult)

What's not to like??

Ok so there are a couple of things, but overall it is a great viewing experience.

n_l, I'm counting on you, don't let me down...

[cigar joe]

And next to Johnny Guitar the dislike on this board for a generally appreciated film like this one, is pretty strange.

Johnny Guitar is STRANGE, WTF is there not to understand, to most American Western aficionados everything about it comes off as CAMPY, maybe the German translation gives it a different "aura", but to us it's a burlesque of a Western, almost a musical, it's as if at any moment the characters could start singing and dancing. 

[Ringo]

The things that work in Desperate Hours are the photography, the score, and the detour with David Morse. A worse director probably would have done the thriller parts better.

[stanton]

Johnny Guitar is STRANGE, WTF is there not to understand, to most American Western aficionados everything about it comes off as CAMPY, maybe the German translation gives it a different "aura", but to us it's a burlesque of a Western, almost a musical, it's as if at any moment the characters could start singing and dancing. 

Not as strange as Leone's westerns imo.
JG is clearly a western for cineastes, and like the ones by Leone and most other SWs, it is one which plays effectively with its stereotypes. No, I have really no idea why a majority of film lunatics should have problems with such a film.

But I like strange westerns, not all work of course, but in Europe Johnny Guitar is held in high regard since Truffaut praised the film. In a poll from 1966 asking 28 French critics for the 10 best westerns it was indeed JG which got the most citations. Followed by Rio Bravo and The Big Sky.
Btw Frayling or Phil Hardy had JG also in their best western lists (as quoted in Hardy's book)

[cigar joe]

Not as strange as Leone's westerns imo.
JG is clearly a western for cineastes, and like the ones by Leone and most other SWs, it is one which plays effectively with its stereotypes. No, I have really no idea why a majority of film lunatics should have problems with such a film.

But I like strange westerns, not all work of course, but in Europe Johnny Guitar is held in high regard since Truffaut praised the film. In a poll from 1966 asking 28 French critics for the 10 best westerns it was indeed JG which got the most citations. Followed by Rio Bravo and The Big Sky.
Btw Frayling or Phil Hardy had JG also in their best western lists (as quoted in Hardy's book)

It's for Western fairies, it depends on which team you play for. 

[noodles_leone]

You like The Desperate Hours?

(Pleeease give the correct answer, it is not that difficult)

n_l, I'm counting on you, don't let me down...

I'm gonna disappoint both of you: I have absolutely no memory of it. Not a single image. I have seen it twice. The second time, I launched the DVD because I thought I had never seen it.
So I've seen it twice and still don't remember anything.

[stanton]

So I've seen it twice and still don't remember anything.

Quite reasonable ...

[Novecento]

I'm gonna disappoint both of you: I have absolutely no memory of it. Not a single image. I have seen it twice. The second time, I launched the DVD because I thought I had never seen it.
So I've seen it twice and still don't remember anything.

A very diplomatic response 

Quite reasonable ...

But then again, if it were really as bad as you describe it, surely he would have remembered something. Fantastic and terrible at the extremes tend to stick in our memories far more than run-of-the-mill mediocre.

[PowerRR]

beautiful tribute to Cimino: https://vimeo.com/177463099

[Novecento]

Thanks, N_L actually shared that earlier. Cimino was so visually talented. Undoubtedly one of the greatest IMO

By the way, for those who have't seen it, the short clip from Sunchaser at the 29 second mark occurs here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tFeYHOaCpk&feature=youtu.be&t=114

[Novecento]

Looks like Jean-Baptiste Thoret has released a doc about Michael Cimino. I really liked Thoret?s ?road trip? book with Cimino, so this might be worth watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-vxm3eJHo

[noodles_leone]

It?s actually very disappointing. You?ll see people talk about Cimino, but as a whole it?s very much Thoret financing his own trip in the US and talking with friends. The book is muuuuch better, as are Thoret?s conferences on YouTube.

[Novecento]

I see. That explains the trailer then. I might still watch it if it turns up on a streaming service I already subscribe to.