Vincent Gallo

Vincent Gallo

Host: Chris

Chris' Take:

Freddy's Take: Well, I have to say that this director day was conversation inspiring to say the least. Gallo is a polarizing figure and the same can be said of his films. "Buffalo '66" is a strong film that seems quite autobiographical to me, knowing what I now know about this childhood. It's easily the most accessible of the two full length features he has directed. Christina Ricci co-stars. We also watched "The Brown Bunny", which I thought was much less effective as entertainment and perhaps equally unsuccessful in provoking detailed analysis or the want to see it again for more clarity. It is a movie with a twist ending that lacked any sort of narrative or action that would lead you to want to revisit it all to see the missed clues and the tells. All in all, I'm glad that Chris is the kind that doesn't mind challenging us in his selections. Regardless of how I felt about the films in regards to "like", "indifference", or "dislike", as pieces of art, they served their purpose. 

Essential Killing

The Brown Bunny

Buffalo '66

Gallo takes on critics of "Buffalo '66"

Spike Jonze

Spike Jonze

Host:  Tanner

Tanner's Take: 

I remember the first time I saw Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and thinking to myself how it was such an original film in every aspect. I had never seen a story so surreal and at the same time feeling very real and personal. That was the first time I remember digging into WHO was behind the concept. That was how I first learned of Charlie Kaufman. Kaufman's stories have such a vibrant imagination to them it's hard to picture them coming to life on the big screen. It takes a real talent to take these scripts and translate them on screen. Spike Jonze has handled a few of these scripts and done such an excellent job crafting them into the films they're renowned for today. Jonze is a bit of a renaissance man. Tackling everything from skate videos, music videos, theatrical motion pictures, and owning his own skate company. Being exposed to all these different forms of media I think really refined him to be the creative mind that he is today. Being John Malkovich and Adaptation were two of the films showcased for this night. Both which display a very special symbiotic relationship between writer/director (Kaufman/Jonze). Both being very bizarre in their own right, but with enough dark humor and emotion to make them films worthy of being remembered as classics. The third film we watched was Synecdoche, New York. This was Kaufman's directorial debut. The structure of Synecdoche is very odd, and the themes darker, but the story is very Kaufman. It's the least accessible of the three we watched, but very much worth watching none-the-less. Kaufman and Jonze have a vision that is unlike a lot of talents seen today. All their films delve into the minds of a human being in the most unique of ways. And with the mind comes limitless possibilities. I hope that these two continue to explore these possibilities throughout their career.

Adaptation

Being John Malkovich

Synecdoche, New York

Being John Malkovich: The Interview

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola

Host: Freddy

Freddy's Take: Normally we would do three films in one day, but the length of the Godfather films (which I had chosen to do, forsaking some of his other work) and the feeling (for me at least) that the third Godfather wasn't quite up to the standards of the first two, I decided the first two epics would be enough. The Godfather II may very well be my favorite film ever. If not, it is certainly right there at the top. It is basically two films within itself. A prequel and sequel seamlessly intertwined to link the past and present for the Corleone family. The original film delved into the world of the mafia without caving to the stereotypical presentation of Italians or the seemingly hyper violent world of organized crime. We can talk all day about how well these films were acted and written and to carry on with any further praise would be silly because I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said already. I feel like Coppola made these great films without getting overly complicated with the shooting. Not a lot of fast edits or grand, wide open shots, but a series of shots that let the story and the characters breathe. It's almost as if you are standing in the room watching it all take place or you are seeing it happen in front of you. Take the scene where Rocco shoots Paulie and Clemenza has his famous ad lib "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." We are pulled back from the action as the car pulls up, with the Statue of Liberty rising out of the weeds. It's as if we just happen to be witnessing this murder and not comfortably sitting in our seat. As much great work as Pacino has done, his portrayal of Michael Corleone is his masterwork. John Cazale is another stand out as "Fredo". That character goes through so many ups and downs and ins and outs that he could have had his own picture. Cazale makes Fredo a sympathetic character in a world where there is little room for sympathy. There are still more opportunities in the future to explore Coppola through his work on "The Outsiders", "Apocalypse Now" and others, but for me, we couldn't continue to dig into the great directors without getting to Coppola and the Godfather films as quickly as possible. 

The Godfather

The Godfather Part II

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."