From: Eric Baker
To: Sam Hallgren, Adam Kempenaar
Subject: Is a Solondz a Payne by any other name?
Sam, Adam, and even Ndugu, riddle me this: How is Alexander Payne's accurately hewn depiction of Midwestern life any less condescending than Todd Solondz's vision of suburbia? Is it because he uses lilting chamber music to anesthetize his audience and humorous voice-overs? Payne's new film, 'About Schmidt,' which made Sam's top 10 list along with several critics, is a fine film with the great Jack Nicholson and a legitimately superb supporting role by Kathy Bates. But at the same time, Solondz's 'Storytelling,' which made A.O. Scott's top 10 list but no other critic's that I know of, got short shrift both in the Movie Club on Slate and here on CinemaScoped. I don't have a huge problem with this -- it's not his best movie, plus there are plenty of other great movies this year to choose from. But when Adam and other critics poo-poo Solondz for demeaning his audience, I just don't see why they have a different reaction to Payne ('Election' and 'Citizen Ruth' use the same techniques as 'About Schmidt.') Solondz deals with a lot more taboo subjects than Payne (pre-teen rape), but his willingness to delve into uncomfortable subjects makes him immeasurably funnier in my book. Especially when over-earnest directors like Payne go on record in interviews saying things like ,"I hope we can all learn something important from this film. That's why I made it." (paraphrasing, of course, but what a douche bag.) Rant over.
I was hoping there would be some difference to our lists, because I still haven't seen some of the movies on your lists, but our readers may be disappointed.
7. Karmen Gei (Joseph Gai Ramaka) - If 'The New York Times,' that gray old rag, can do it, so can I. This movie officially came out in 2001, but I'm guessing most people still haven't seen it and it's a fluke it came to Iowa City anyway (thanks to the Bijou) so I'm ranking it in the year I viewed it. Based extremely loosely on the musical 'Carmen,' this Senegalese drama is more about color, dancing, and desire. Djeinaba Diop Gai is incendiary as Karmen Gei, and it's impossible for the story to lag when it's only 86 minutes. Look for it at a specialty video store near you.
6. Bowling for Columbine (Michael Moore) - I loved this film even though it is a tad preachy. I think we've gone over this one ad nauseum in this forum, but just like the final half-hour of 'The Natural' (which was on Bravo again last night), I got choked up when they played the 911 calls over the security camera footage from the attacks. Powerful, thought-provoking film even if it doesn't provide any "big answers."
5. Y Tu Mama Tambien (Alfonso Cuaron) - Some of the comments by Sarah Kerr in Slate's Movie Club made me think twice about the realism of the plot in this one, but I remember when I saw it in the theater, all those concerns melted away. I liked it for too many reasons to enumerate, but as Adam has mentioned, the somber voiceover provides the perfect counter-balance to the playfulness of the film. Maybe the best use of one since 'Double Indemnity.'
Final Four later in the day, I promise. Plus, Eric gets dressed down by his readers.
No comments:
Post a Comment