Filmspotting #151: The Lives of Others / Birth of a Nation / Top 5 Movies About Voyeurs
March 9: When Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck accepted the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for "The Lives of Others," Germans everywhere cheered. The rest of the world scratched their heads wondering why Guillermo del Toro's triple-Oscar winner "Pan's Labyrinth" hadn't won instead. A film about loyalty, betrayal and the transformative power of art, "Lives" manages to recall great surveillance pictures of the past (Coppola's "The Conversation," among others), while also recalling the philosophical filmmaking of Krzysztof Kieslowski. But is it better than del Toro's critically-acclaimed adult fairy tale? Adam and Sam weigh in.
Also on the show: Filmspotting starts its six-week Silent Films Marathon by wrestling with D.W. Griffith's troublesome masterpiece "The Birth of a Nation." Plus, Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre, and the Top 5 Movies About Voyeurs.
Music by Graham Parker courtesy of Bloodshot Records.
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Filmspotting #151
:18-14:07 - Review: The Lives of Others
Music: Graham Parker, "Stick To The Plan"
15:17-28:23 - Listener Feedback (Zodiac, Top 5 Need To See)
Music: Graham Parker, "Stick To Me"
29:27-33:14 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Lindsay McCray)
33:15-38:58 - Poll Questions (Black Snake, 300)
38:59-42:25 - Silents #1: "Birth of a Nation"
Music: Graham Parker, "Bad Chardonnay"
43:27-45:00 - New DVDs/Donations
45:01-51:49 - "Birth of a Nation" cont.
51:50-53:30 - Feedback cont.
53:31-1:02:45 - Top 5: Movies About Voyeurs
1:02:46-1:04:29 - Close/Next Show/Outtake
CORRECTIONS/NOTES
- Only the first Graham Parker track, "Stick To The Plan," is a 'new' song -- from his upcoming album "Don't Tell Columbus." The other two tracks are from previous albums. (Long story)
Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to feedback@filmspotting.net. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.
Labels: Birth of a Nation, D.W. Griffith, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, The Lives of Others
4 Comments:
Um...thanks again from the shout out. There are quite a few movies I haven't seen, including 'Bonnie and Clyde', 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', any movie with Steve McQueen in it, or any Dirty Harry film.
The thing is, when I was a video store manager, if I admitted to a customer I had not seen the movie, I would lose money. Confessing you haven't seen movies when someone is relying on your opinion is career suicide. Much like your caller, I found it easier to just "fake it until I make it" instead of confessing ignorance. Especially when confessing ignorance would lose me money and street cred.
re: Christian film critics
I don't see you faulting critics for reporting on content of films for their target audience. There are quite a few movies actively marketed to children that parents deem inappropriate after watching them. Because the rating system/general media does not appropriate fill this need, the Christian critics step up to the plate. I believe the Christianity Today magazine gave 'Brokeback Mountain' 3 stars and 'A History of Violence' 4 stars for quality, and separate scores for content. There is nothing wrong with free speech or people expressing their own point of view.
Which is a nice segway to 'Birth of a Nation'. One reason it is more palatable than something like 'Jesus Camp' is because 'Nation' is
an action film instead of a documentary. Both films intend to sway the audience to a point of view, but only one of the two insists that the film is non-fiction. As I am fond of saying, "You have the right to say whatever you want, but I have to right to ridicule anything you say."
Great show. Thanks again!
-RT
It doesn't seem like career suicide in our case though, does it? We got great responses. People seem to respect that we're open and honest about our shortcomings. You were the only one who chided us but didn't admit to any embarrassing holes yourself... so we had to chide you back!
I don't fault Christian film critics for doing anything. I was certainly not suggesting they shouldn't be making a living or providing a service to their audience. In my opinion, however, giving movies a score -- Entertainment 2, Morality -4 -- is kind of ridiculous, not to mention going against what I see as the function of a critic. I'm not a consumer guide. But some people apparently want a consumder guide, which is great for the 'critics' who want to serve that role
The 'morality score mentality' also seems awfully limiting to me. But the irony is, as I pointed out, the same Christian critic I was referring to loved Hustle & Flow... so it obviously isn't as limiting as I thought.
Re: Chiding
Oh, I can take it as much as I can give it. And I'm glad your honesty works for you. You are now the only two successful people in the entertainment industry who are completely honest all the time. I hope this starts a trend. (Coming soon! Rob Schneider in 'Total Crap: We Just Want Your Money')
Re: Morality rating
Ok. I understand now what you are saying, and you are totally right. If I may repeat back what I am hearing, there is a difference between a consumer guide and film criticism, and to pretend there isn't a difference is dishonest.
When discussing morality in films, it is pretty easy to win any argument by pointing out how much of the "morality" being preached is very culture-specific. I loved giving my grandfather a hard time about how he couldn't stand the foul language in current films, but had no problem with actors in blackface or other cruel racial stereotypes (like, say, 'Birth of a Nation') that are nowhere near acceptable in contemporary culture.
Great show, as always!
-RT
Being a consumer guide is fine. Consumers need guides.
But let's not call it "criticism." That's another beast entirely.
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