May 01, 2004

• Whoops. I meant, here.
• Oh, you mean I didn't have to buy that song off the iTunes Music Store the minute I heard it in the trailer and became obsessed with it? I've watched that poor trailer probably ten times and listened to the song from it more than that. It is enchanting, and I can fully understand the hype that surrounds it for some people. (I, thankfully, have successfully consigned it to the realm of my mind where past obsessions lie, along with DDR, Mariah Carey, and crochet.) I can only hope that the movie will be as good.
• Also, apparently the film is about Braff's character returning home after his mother dies to his estranged family, and the hilarity that ensues. Or something like that. I think IMDB listed it as a romantic comedy, but I certainly didn't pick up the "comedy" part from the trailer.
• Frou Frou is pretty great. However, the trailer looks like someone watched American Beauty and Magnolia over and over and over. Certainly the actual film may be different, but that's certainly the same audience that the trailer is trying to go after.
• Gah. Never mind. Garden State is listed as "Drama / Comedy." I guess that's what the Internet is for. One last comment before I shut up: I have recently similarly been obsessing over the trailer for the Japanese anime Appleseed, so much that I bought the album that has the last song in the trailer on it the other day (the song is "Good Luck," by Basement Jaxx, off Kish Kash). The imagery is stunning, and I can only hope that it comes to the USA eventually. It looks like it's a remake of a pretty crappy older anime, though.
• Yeah, I gotta say this movie looks pretty bland to me. It looks like half-ass magical realism dealing with the emotional eccentricities of wealthy white america. Next please.
• I guess I can somewhat understand shotsy and jccalhoun's reservations about the subject matter of the film. After American Beauty/Magnolia/Punch-Drunk Love/In the Mood for Love/Lost in Translation/all the other arty-encapsulations-of-mood films which have come out in the late 90s, early 00s, the subject has admittedly become cliche. But any trend done long enough will become a cliche. (Does this mean that non-laugh track, more surreallistically real (if that makes any sense) sitcoms have also become cliche after Sports Night, Bernie Mac, Malcolm, Andy Richter, Scrubs paved the way? Because I, for one, loved Season 1 of Arrested Development.) The main reason I posted, though, was not to stump for the film, per se, but to prompt a small discussion on how the trailer was so well-done. Honestly, the sensual nature of the trailer is synesthetic, the fusion of image, sound, and idea carefully edited and reinforced by the trailer's makers, and I find that amazing. No one else does?
• I will agree with you on the effectiveness of the trailer, derised. I most certainly did dig it. But then, I'm a sucker for those, "no dialogue, all music" trailers, so maybe I'm not the best judge...
• This is the best trailer I've seen in years. I heard the film was utter shit, though.
• dng: This article talks a bit about the general sentiment towards The Brown Bunny and its creator.
• (me and pmdboi are going to recreate this old thread here, by the looks of things... No one ever did answer my question, then, either.)
• I work at the Bath and Body Works part time while in school, and that Frou Frou song was on one of the monthly playlists about eight months ago or so. All I can think of while listening to it is Coconut Lime Verbena body creme.
• Hehe... I wondered where I had heard about that article. Now I know. Sorry about that.
• Anyone wants to bring up Lev Kuleshov, I'm there with bananas on.
• And here we are, with something that is very distinctly early 21st century! derised, It is very interesting that you comment on this particular stream of films. I have not seen all of them but I have noted their building impact. Watching more trailers of upcoming movies, I find many reflect a similar style, if with less effect.
• derised I was especially impressed with the trailer's scenic mode--that linger overhead of the swimming pool, countless silent montages. Silent as something out of Woolf.
• I was attempting to talk about the way that the trailer was done. It didn't do anything for me. To me it just looked like someone has said, "oh people talk about American Beauty/Magnolia/Punch-Drunk Love/In the Mood for Love/Lost in Translation like they are the greatest thing ever, so we'll ape that style and people will talk about our movie too." Of course I am biased since of the movies in that list that I have seen, I am dumbfounded why people talk SO highly of them. Sure they were entertaining, but they weren't all that. I haven't seen this movie, so I'm not dissing it. For all I know the content could be drasticly different from the trailer. Now Arrested Developement IS the best thing since sliced bread and don't really see much in common with the other sitcoms mentioned
• Hehe... I wondered where I had heard about that article. Now I know. Sorry about that. No problems, pmdboi. I just thought it was funny when I checked that thread out that I'd linked to the exact same trailer in the first comment there.
• When I saw a different preview for this (before Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), I had the distinct impression that they only decided afterwards that they wanted to bill it as a comedy, and it's obviously much more of a drama. The same thing happened I think with Le Divorce (I got dragged to it, I swear!)—the preview made it look like a comedy, but it wasn't at all. Perhaps this is a common phenomenon but, because I don't watch TV enough to see movie commercials often for movies that I actually go to, I don't notice.
• I rarely go to a movie these days without checking it on IMDb first. I'd probably watch this if it comes to NZ, but I'm guessing it'll go to the overpriced indie movie theatres so maybe not. It is a cool trailer, though. I saw the opening episode of Arrested Development last week and it definitely seems worthwhile. So we're a full season behind the US.
• Late post: Zach Braff's "Garden State" just won Best Film at the Maui Film Festival (which was covered all 5 days by CNN this year, for the first time). Perhaps the outstanding trailer won't lead to disappointment at the theater after all.
• First of all, American Beauty is my all-time favorite film. Big Fish is the only thing to even compete, and before AB it was Life is Beautiful . Why the trailor is so effective: 1) Many of the shots are in deep focus, and involve a wide, expansive plain. Many of those that are closer still give that impression. Ex: The one of Zach Braff and Ian Holm sitting in front of a bathtub. The bathroom is large and well-lit, and the framing of the door leads the mind to feel expansion out to the sides. The shot of Braff and Portman dancing in front of the huge fireplace is extremely effective. 2) What the trailer conveys, without giving away much plot, is that Braff feels very alone. There is little point to his life, such that he is not afraid to lose it (opening shot: eveyone on the plane is panicing except Braff). He is in such a daze that he doesn't notice driving away with the gas pump still in his car. He feels left out of any group he is with (several pool shots, the line of kids holding hands). Of course, since he plays piano at funerals, depression is a major part of his life, yet he cannot connect with the mourners; he is a professional outsider. He doesn't stand out, but blends into the background (awesome shot where his shirt matches the wallpaper). He is unable to even connect with pets (Portman's dogs and habit trails). Portman pulls him out of this, but he is conflicted by it (awesome shot in the mirror. I have often looked into a mirror in just such a way and thought it was neat-looking). 3) It is very well paced to the song. Fabulous editing. 4) Natalie Portman in a pink bikini bottom. Mmmmmmm. 5) Water is a repetitive theme, indicating a Baptism or rebirth. The only time the water does not touch him, Portman is not there. She is his savior, and he even casts his eyes heavenward whilst hugging her in the rain. 6) derised and Wolof: of course they use the Kuleshov effect. EVERYTHING, including any commercial you will ever see, uses the Kuleshov effect. 7) Natalie Portman in a pink bikini bottom. Mmmmmmmm. All in all, it looks quite good. I am looking forward to it,
• Natalie Portman is not a role model.
• WHAT! I'm in love with her all over again.
• That was amazing.
• H-dogg bringin' it! Double-you-aitch-oh-oh-tee!
• The SNL rap thing is hilarious -- big props to Natalie P., yo -- but in regards to the topic of this FPP, Garden State may have had a nice trailer, but sweet christ as a whole it totally sucked.
• I really liked Garden State. And Closer. :P
• I wish she'd keep her head shaved. It looks sexy as hell on her.
• I hope V for Vendetta doesn't suck.
• Alan Moore isn't happy. And given that it's a Wachowski brothers film, etc. But when if it does suck, it'll likely be very pretty regardless.
• It will probably suck.
• No You suck! Wait, what? Sorry, sorry - I just got caught up in the moment. Carry on.
• Wait, wait, who's sucking?
• Perhaps you are all homosexuals! /McBain
• The kids looking up to her are sucking Natalie's dick. Kids these days have it great.
• I really hope that V for Vendetta is good. I love the comic a lot, and while I'm a big Moore fan I also tend to believe that he's a (to put it very nicely) purist who is not made for the big, bad world of mass media. In other words, I'm trying really hard to not see his disavowal of the film as a bad sign. However, given the history of his work on screen, I'm pretty scared. Also, I totally agree that Portman looks really great with a shaved head. Don't take what I say too terribly seriously for a few hours. I went to an Oscar party and had roughly a bottle of champagne. So I may be silly for just a while.
• I want it to be good so much it hurts. I loved the comic, and I love Hugo Weaving as V. But I think it's way too subversive for mainstream cinema. I'm afraid the edges will be quite dulled. But still, it should be nice to look at, and somewhat entertaining at least.
• I really hope for V for Vendetta to be good. Then again, I've read about 5 different script treatments of Watchmen, and they were pretty poor. But still I keep hoping! Who could play Rorschach and make him sympathetic? My hero Stephen Fry gets his head kicked in as Ms Portmans father in V - ouch. I wathed Garden State recently, and got it mixed up with countless other vanity projects, I'm afraid. Meh.
• Kids these days have it great. Man, your lips to God's ears.
• As entertaining as the video was, I enjoyed Natalie as Sasha Cohen in the short-joke and long-joke competition more. Made me glad to stay home on a Saturday night and stock up on fresh Natalie images for my Own Personal Use that there was nothing going on in town, and flicking on the tube, happened to see that she of that orgasmic little yelp in Episode II such a talented actress was on.
• Capt., you might need to check your keyboard. I think there may be some keys stuck or something.
• Wait, gimmie a sec, it looks like the keyboard has a bit of something nacho cheese. There. That's better.
• NACHO LIBRE!!!!
• "This video has been removed due to copyright infringement." You can still see it here.
• And here.
• Coincidentally, LXG was on TV last night, just after I finally read volumes one and two of the original comic. Now I understand why Moore's fans were so disappointed, craptacular movie notwithstanding.
• LKG was fucking terrible. From Hell was pretty poor - another accent tour de shit from Mr Depp. And still I hope! V for Vendetta trailers look OK. John Hurt doing what once he opposed in 1984 ie being a big shouty face.
• I liked From Hell a hell of a lot better than LXG, though, like tracicle I liked the latter a lot less after I read the comic.
• Garden State was good. Closer was truly great, a classic. But what really rocks is the Adventures of Natalie Portman.