tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post6248251403571941838..comments2024-03-23T21:46:50.843-04:00Comments on the passionate moviegoer: alexander payne's double-billjoe baltakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-12657501773942828662017-12-30T02:08:16.108-05:002017-12-30T02:08:16.108-05:00Sorry, Joe, but life is too short to waste on movi...Sorry, Joe, but life is too short to waste on movies that are going to upset me. I think Aronofsky is grossly overrated anyway, so why should I see a picture that even many of his own idolaters hate?mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-84520768810820400252017-12-25T10:44:46.266-05:002017-12-25T10:44:46.266-05:00Thanks, Tish (and thanks also to Michael L. & ...Thanks, Tish (and thanks also to Michael L. & Marvin). But, yes, it is the other way around. The first half of "Downsizing" conveys Republican values, while the second half is decidedly the Democrat viewpoint.joe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-26786486086235138402017-12-25T10:15:25.043-05:002017-12-25T10:15:25.043-05:00I agree with Michael L. I, too, thought that your ...I agree with Michael L. I, too, thought that your reference tothe first half of the film being equivalent to the Democratic Party and the second half of the film being equivalent to the Republican Party (or was it the other way?) was brilliant!Tishnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-79553483283235568452017-12-25T08:25:08.421-05:002017-12-25T08:25:08.421-05:00Mike! Be adventurous. Give "mother!" a ...Mike! Be adventurous. Give "mother!" a chance. I can guarantee that it is an overwhelming film. For better or worse, it's take one's breath away. No exaggeration. -Jjoe baltakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11467420961490314339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-48565098029942131552017-12-24T22:29:17.814-05:002017-12-24T22:29:17.814-05:00My two cents: DOWNSIZING is a film where the parts...My two cents: DOWNSIZING is a film where the parts are better than the whole. Individual scenes are very good, but they don't hang together, and the constant left turns, plot-wise, keep throwing us off. One or two more passes at the script would have solved the problem.<br /><br />Glad to hear you liked SUBURBICON; I did, too. Again, it was very disjointed, and Paramount goofed by selling it as a comedy, but on the whole it worked better than DOWNSIZING.<br /><br />No power on Earth will ever get me to see mother!mike schlesingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824197221204862706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-40364777508075690432017-12-24T21:54:20.334-05:002017-12-24T21:54:20.334-05:00Joe, I was able to like a lot both mother! and Sub...Joe, I was able to like a lot both mother! and Suburbicon, without the help of reviews/commentaries. Not so with Downsizing. Still, when I put A.O. Scott's review together with your ADDED INSIGHTS, I now LOVE the film (well, not really). I will state that you added considerably to Scott's analysis, making the analysis quite a bit deeper and the film much more attainable. MarvinMarvinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-9890675211607623712017-12-24T19:03:56.782-05:002017-12-24T19:03:56.782-05:00As you know, DOWNSIZING has not been popular with ...As you know, DOWNSIZING has not been popular with film goers. (I was one of those film goers who did not care for it.) But after reading your searing analysis of this film, I can hardly wait to see it again! And isn't that, or shouldn't that be, the purpose of film criticism/film commentary? Namely, to enrich the film going experience of film attendees? I especially liked your "allegory" in which you equated the two "parts" of the film to the two main political parties! So, Joe, you get "four stars" for your latest blog. Until I see DOWNSIZING again, however, I myself will refrain from giving the film any "star rating." michael l.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18439960.post-39698241969100260872017-12-24T16:42:21.986-05:002017-12-24T16:42:21.986-05:00Right on! I went into this looking for some comic...Right on! I went into this looking for some comic amusement, per the trailer. And although I enjoyed the comic first part, the second part is much better. Powerful stuff. Theresa Gnoreply@blogger.com