Rate The Last Movie You Saw

[dave jenkins]

I know we've had the debate about what Indio is smoking. I don't know if that will ever be settled. I have no knowledge of that stuff and therefore no opinion.

Frayling decided it was Mary Jane, and then took Leone to task for not knowing the proper effects the stuff produces. But it's actually Jimson weed that causes hallucinations (i.e. flashbacks). The proper identification of the weed obviates Frayling's objections.

[T.H.]

The fact that most shows keep something easy to follow in the foreground doesn't mean you don't have to work hard to get the juicy stuff.

I'm not saying that TV can't have something deeper going on (though 95% of shows probably don't have anything beneath the surface), but the familiarity with the characters and the overall plot of the show (for a lack of a better phrase) is what makes TV incredibly easy to ingest. Movies are completely different, I couldn't watch Leone's final three movies in one day but could have no problem rolling through a season or 10-11 hours of a TV show on a Sunday.

I'm not trying to say that TV is worthless by any stretch but I think it's misguided to think that both mediums are equals or do the same thing.

[drinkanddestroy]

Frayling decided it was Mary Jane, and then took Leone to task for not knowing the proper effects the stuff produces. But it's actually Jimson weed that causes hallucinations (i.e. flashbacks). The proper identification of the weed obviates Frayling's objections.

why do you say "hallucinations (i.e. flashbacks)"? Hallucinations don't necessarily involve flashbacks. I understand that there are many drugs that cause people to hallucinate; I've never heard that they cause flashbacks. (I do know that when one drinks alcohol, he can remember incidents from his past that he hasn't thought of in a long time. Though it doesn't cause hallucinations.) That link you provided mentions hallucinations, but I don't recall it saying anything about recalling the past. Have you seen anywhere where it says that Jimson weed makes people have flashbacks?

By the way, Indio's whole life seems to have been very influenced by that rape/suicide – not just the flashbacks when he is smoking. He uses the stopwatch for every duel. He even has the final flashback when he has not been smoking his weed (although it's because Groggy asks him specifically what significance the watch has). He doesn't need the weed to remind him of that incident.

[cigar joe]

The hallucinating part of it is the no bullet holes or blood 

[drinkanddestroy]

The hallucinating part of it is the no bullet holes or blood  

when has Leone shown bullet holes or blood? I mean, he's used it sometimes (like to show the bullet hole in Indio's sister after she commits suicide, and to show the wound in Groggy when he is trying to kill Manco at the end) but plenty of shootings occur in Leone movies where you don't see any blood. Unfortunately.

This is Leone, not Peckinpah 

[stanton]

when has Leone shown bullet holes or blood? I mean, he's used it sometimes (like to show the bullet hole in Indio's sister after she commits suicide, and to show the wound in Groggy when he is trying to kill Manco at the end) but plenty of shootings occur in Leone movies where you don't see any blood. Unfortunately.

This is Leone, not Peckinpah 

Yes, but DYS shows then the Peckinpah influence. Slow motion and spurting blood in the flashback.

[noodles_leone]

Yes, but DYS shows then the Peckinpah influence. Slow motion and spurting blood in the flashback.

Lots of blood and bullet holes in OUATIA too.

[drinkanddestroy]

This is FAFDM we are discussing. The point is: the fact that there is no blood when Indio shoots Mortimer's brother-in-law in the flashback, is not unique in that or other Leone films. (The fact that Leone did show blood at other times doesn't change this. Considering the fact that Leone (at this point in his career) was frequenly showing no blood during a shooting, nothing unique should be learned from this scene just because there was no blood. Don't say, "The fact that there is no blood in this scene means X ..." because it can just as likely simply have no meaning, since Leone often had shootings occur without blood

[dave jenkins]

This is FAFDM we are discussing. The point is: the fact that there is no blood when Indio shoots Mortimer's brother-in-law in the flashback, is not unique in that or other Leone films. (The fact that Leone did show blood at other times doesn't change this. Considering the fact that Leone (at this point in his career) was frequenly showing no blood during a shooting, nothing unique should be learned from this scene just because there was no blood. Don't say, "The fact that there is no blood in this scene means X ..." because it can just as likely simply have no meaning, since Leone often had shootings occur without blood

I'm pretty sure CJ was just being funny. He wasn't advancing an actual argument.

And I was just suggesting that flashbacks can be a particular form of hallucination. I'm pretty sure that hallucinations come from images and what-have-yous stored in the mind. And memories would qualify. So a flashback would be a sub-category of hallucinations.

Such things fit better with Jimson weed. I haven't had a lot of MJ, but the one thing I remember from my few weed experiences was that my sense of time passing seemed to slow way down. And it turned me mean. But that was about it. No hallucinations.

[cigar joe]

I'm pretty sure CJ was just being funny. He wasn't advancing an actual argument.

we discussed this all before....

http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=11362.0

[Groggy]

Nightcrawler - 7/10 - An aesthetic marvel, beautifully shot and Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is excellent. Yet it's the kind of movie that makes a point (not an original point, either) and beats you over the head with it.

[cigar joe]

Thieves Like Us (1974) Dir. Robert Altman, with Keith Carradine, Shelley Duvall, John Schuck, Bert Remsen, and Louise Fletcher.  Slow placed remake of They Live By Night. Stick with the original 6/10

[drinkanddestroy]

Nightcrawler - 7/10 - An aesthetic marvel, beautifully shot and Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is excellent. Yet it's the kind of movie that makes a point (not an original point, either) and beats you over the head with it.

IMO that beating over the head primarily occurs in the last few minutes, like I discussed here http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=12076.msg174944#msg174944
until then, I have virtually no complaints, (save for the minor issue of the sexual relationship between Gylenhaal and Russo that I discussed in that thread). Still I'd give the movie a higher rating than you did

[dave jenkins]

The perfect antidote for a TV movie awards show: real movies!

Ordet (1955) Criterion DVD. 10/10.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 1080p - 9/10. I get more out of this every time. I just realized that when Sheriff Ali leaves the picture--looking backwards as he disappears into shadow--it complements his entry into the film, which he did facing forwards and emerging from mirage, which is, of course, light. The logic of images is a great thing to behold.

[noodles_leone]

American Sniper 5/10

Very good SEAL commercial. If you succeed to put the moral issues aside, it's a good war film. An 7.5/10 that could have been 8+. But only a psycho would be able to put the moral issues aside.
The action scenes as well as the intimate husband/wife scenes are good. The direction is way above everything Eastwood did after Million Dollar Baby. I suspect his team helped a lot because it's a tough job, especially for a 85+ guy. A few scenes/elements that are borderline laughable: the very not nice sniper scenes, a couple lines, the "come back to us your familly need you" rants...