Film and Episodic Content Discussion Thread

Ahh Sorcerer...

 

That video is pretty much the entire story, should come with a spoiler warning. Notice how the front of the truck looks exactly like the "Incan" carving at 2:05 in the video

This movie is one of the reasons I put in a projector, really needs to be seen on a big screen.

 

I completely missed SORCERER. My life was in flux in '77 when it came out & I wasn't seeing films...never heard of this one until your post.

FRENCH CONNECTION is quite another matter. That's one of the best films of the '70s (of all time, really). Whenever it pops up on TV, I end up watching it all the way to the end despite having seen it countless times before. Others like that are BULLITT, POINT BLANK, RONIN.

TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. came later in Friedkin's career and IMO looked & felt rather different from FRENCH CONNECTION: it's even darker & more nihilistic. Eachfilm dealt with contemporaneous material, but times had really changed by 1985, when TLADILA came out.

 

I'm now cued in to director, Julien Leclercq. Saw THE CREW last month on Netflix and loved it--a tense, violent crime thriller with terrific acting at the core of the action.

Last night I saw his latest film, EARTH AND BLOOD (fantastic title) starring the same wonderful Tunisian/French actor, Sami Bouajila. The story is totally different: most of the characters we care about here are victims rather than perpetrators. But the relentless, tense pacing and terrific acting carry the day. The film is not as rich in detail or as accomplished as THE CREW, but it left me totally satisfied.

Sami Bouajila is one of those soulful older actors who, like Denzel Washington & Liam Neeson, emanates toughness & virility leavened by vulnerability & compassion. I'd watch this guy read the Parisian phone book.

 

OK, here's one from left field. I'm slowly working my way through a semi-routine kickass film on Neftlix: THE HARD WAY. Much about this film is forgettable, but the star, martial artist/actor Michael Jai White, is quite another matter. I can't take my eyes off him in the action scenes. His movements are precise & forceful to an insane degree. The look of the fights scenes is so compelling that I had to research him.

Well, now I know. From IMDB.com: "Black belts in 7 styles of martial arts. He has 26 titles including U.S. Open, North American Open, and New England Grand Champion. Studied acting at H.B. Studio, Yale University and Brown University. Performed Off-Broadway in "Raisin in the Sun" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."

These are credentials one doesn't see very often. I'm a long-time fan of martial artist/actors (my 2 favorites being early Steven Seagal & the astounding Iko Uwais of THE RAID). MJW's precise martial arts movements reminds me of Jean-Claude Van Damme, whom he trained with/is friends with. This actor now has my complete attention.

Having said all that: at least so far, THE HARD WAY is not particularly good, apart from those kinetic, bloody fight scenes. MJW's character is a SHAFT knockoff, requiring little of him as an actor beyond a hyper-aware macho presence--the guy who sticks up for ladies in distress & hands out ass-kickings to anyone who crosses him.

 

@Pharmaboy have u seen the night comes for us? Bloody violent martial arts movie with iko uwais in a not expected avatar as far as I’ concerned!

 

Maybe I missed that one...great catch! Just added it to my list.

I still can't get off the floor after seeing Udo in THE RAID. That was like nothing I'd ever seen before in martial arts or action films. I always felt that martial arts films walked a tightrope between showing off martial arts (of course) while wrestling with the dilemma of firearms: ie, when handguns & long guns show up, how can martial artists possibly prevail? Well, THE RAID melds firearms & martial arts in ways I never could have imagined.

Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I think the whole genre got larger & more nuanced after that film. It had to have influenced mainstream action fare like JOHN WICK and TAKEN, for example.

 

Shameless self promotion alert: I started a new youtube channel dedicated to analyzing films and posted my first video about Jaws. If you got 13 minutes to spare, I'd appreciate a view and hopefully a like if you dig it. I'll be posting alot more videos in the future so subscribe if you like what you see.

PLEASE AND THANK YOU

 

Link?

 

Loved it! This sort of analysis into the art of camera and film storytelling is deeper than I usally seek but I found your explication clear and fascinating.

 

Click "PLEASE AND THANK YOU" in the original message.

 

Holy shit I did not expect that deep, silky-smooth voice from you @ColtMrFire ! *subbed*

 

Thanks sir!

 

Of course! Sorry I missed it. Will view the video tomorrow...

 

Just watched this video & learned a LOT. I love cinema but never learned the nuts & bolts of film-making. This shot-by-shot analysis helps me connect my emotional responses to the craft & intentions of the film-maker.

This is eye-opening in other ways. I vividly recall the summer this film launched. EVERYONE was reading the book; had just seen the film; or was about to see it. In those days I swam hour after hour in the ocean. Those normally peaceful swims became subliminally terrifying that summer: people often stampeded from the surf back onshore, spooked by the idea a shark was hunting them.

(of course I saw the film & was wowed by it)

Terrific video! (just subscribed)

 

NEXT VIDEO IS UP!

Ha. My dad had the same experience. Made the mistake of signing up for a scuba class before seeing it.

 

Makes me feel like I need to get a subwoofer lol.

Queueing the vid up, I'm a filthy casual but always happy to learn more about cinema. Thanks for the vid, @ColtMrFire!

 

Funny you'd mention scuba. My worst experience that summer happened while swimming off the shore of Deer Island, a beach near an infamous Massachusetts prison. I was swimming parallel to the shore ~100 ft out. Felt something flutter against my chest (realized later it was scuba bubbles), then all of a sudden 6-7 people in scuba gear surfaced right into me. They were in a scuba class & should've looked up. That was easily the biggest scare of my life, made much worse by JAWS fever.

 

My latest

 

Thanks for another excellent video. I am learning new things from your analyses of film.

Good as the video is, I still have no urge to actually see THE RIGHT STUFF (never did, not even on TV). But I'm fascinated by your "love letter to films of the '70s" theme here, films of the '70s being the gift I treasured throughout that decade & beyond. It's also interesting to see examples of cinematography that are as good as you suggest--thrilling use of widescreen color.

These aren't things talked about in big-name reviews of the film, which I read at the time (film reviews being a genre of journalism unto itself & something I also love).

I remain subscribed & ready for more...