To David Baird, in search of recent quality mainstream films,
Stop looking. 1999, with its undercurrent of impending doom, was the last
year when a studio released a movie it had bankrolled that was worth a damn.
2000, the year when we realized that the world would go on, and 2001 have
had random high-points, but not much to shout about.
I agree with the recommendation of Almost Famous. It is a product of a
personal kind of filmmaking I enjoy fully. It's gotten Truffaut comparisons,
and I dig Truffaut too. If you are willing to break out of your "Recent
Mainstream" demarcation, I recommend Truffaut's five Antoine Doinel films
(400 Blows, Antoine and Colette [shares a video with "Les Mistons"], Stolen
Kisses, Bed and Board, Love on the Run).
Further, some recent films I would not necessarily call "mainstream" that I
recommend include:
You Can Count On Me - Kenneth Lonergan makes a small movie about people
living. The use of elliptical cutting (and in some cases, elliptical
scene-writing) keeps anything here from drifting into all-too-familiar
territory. Mr. Lonergan also makes a fine appearance in a small role.
In the Mood For Love - It is hard to put a finger on what makes a Wong
Kar-Wai film so wonderful, and that is why I recommend this, as well as
Chungking Express and Fallen Angels.
Made - Speaking of Wong Kar-Wai, his frequent cinematographer Christopher
Doyle can be found working on this amusing directing premiere by Swingers
actor-writer Jon Favreau. Doyle's loose camera work and the presence of
Peter Falk in a small role, in addition to Favreau's use of scenes which
continue after their "necessary information" is provided, reminds me
slightly (I repeat, slightly -- purists, do not prepare your cutlery) of
Cassavetes.
Better yet, rent a load of Cassavetes. And Godard.
It'll leave you energized, or battered and begging for a junk, pop movie.
To David Baird, in search of more David Fincher,
he directed Alien 3 and The Game.
sincerely,
arthur
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