Vic Sage

cuz they didn't cough up enough bucks for her to go topless... they didn't pay the Halle Berry "Swordfish" bonus... $5M/per boob.

Whatever Ridley Scott's multitudinous flaws, he is at least an artist with a point of view. He has themes that he explores in his films (with varying degrees of success), and his films have a personal quality to them, a "hand-crafted" quality, that bespeaks the presence of an artistic vision. Tony Scott, however, is a hack. His action-oriented movies look good, move well, and have all the qualities of generally competent hollywood craftsmanship, but they have the smell of assembly-line, soulless processed movies made by-the-numbers. Some of his films have been quite good, including TRUE ROMANCE, CRIMSON TIDE and, to a lesser degree, MAN ON FIRE. But much of what is great about these films are in their screenplays. Otherwise, his films are just pure Bruckheimer... fast, loud and stupid. While a commercially successful filmmaker, nothing he's ever made has approached the artistry of ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, THELMA & LOUISE or even GLADIATOR. And, i think it is safe to say, nothing he makes ever will. Tony Scott filmography: Deja Vu (2006) Domino (2005) Man on Fire (2004) Spy Game (2001) Enemy of the State (1998) The Fan (1996) Crimson Tide (1995) True Romance (1993) The Last Boy Scout (1991) Days of Thunder (1990) Revenge (1990/I) Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) Top Gun (1986) The Hunger (1983)

well, unlike books or paintings, a film is often not in the final control of the filmmaket. In fact, the final editing of BLADERUNNER was taken away from Scott's control, so it wasn't until years later, when the studio wanted to get out a "director's cut" to cash in on the film's burgeoning reputation that Scott got to have some input on the cut of the film. But even that version was a compromise. This "final cut" is, apparently, his intended version. But i agree with you. If a director wants to put out an alternative cut after its been released, then fine, as long as it doesn't REPLACE the original theatrical version. But with BLADERUNNER, you could only get the "director's cut" on DVD; the original theatrical version was not available. However, the "final cut" Dvd package will include every version of the film ever released, including the "work print" version that was screened only once; the original domestic version; the foreign theatrical version (more blood) the "dirctor's cut", as well as the "final cut". But i don't think i've ever seen a "director's cut" that was an improvement over the original version.

BLADERUNNER: The Final Cut is being released in theaters for a limited run before being made available in a deluxe DVD set for Xmas. I've been looking forward to if for some time, since its one of my favorite movies. check out the details: http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/movie/upcoming-movies/blade-runner-final-cut-its-the-unicorn/ But let's be clear... Ridley Scott has to be the most over-rated director of his generation. Over the last 30 years, he has turned out maybe 3 or 4 good to great films, and then went back and sabotaged one of them. Scott started out as a set designer, and graduated to directing commercials in the 1960s-70s, so his style is exquisite in its sense of design and photography. But with regard to real storytelling, not so much. His first feature, THE DUELLISTS (1977), was a dirge-like contemplation of honor during the Napoleanic era. Its sonorous tone overlies exquisite visuals. But his next film ALIEN (1979), is the only unqualifiedly great movie on his resume. The quintessential "monster in the haunted house" movie dressed up as SF, it was both a huge critical and commercial success. This one gave him the clout to make, and then survive, his next project. BLADE RUNNER (1982) was a bomb upon its initial release but has, over time, become a cult classic and is now considered one of the greatest and most influential films of the last 25 years. And it certainly is my personal farorite of all his movies. The Vangelis score is hauntingly beautiful. The design is as influential as any movie ever made... until MATRIX, anyway. But most importantly, the themes of the story resonate in harmony with its images. What does it mean to be human? If you lack compassion, empathy, and emotional connection to others... are you really human? And if you have those things, does it matter what the origin of your biology is? Phillip K. dick wrote DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP partly as a critique of the "I was only following orders" defense of WWII-era Germans. Dick told us that we are each responsible for our own humanity, and the day we let the least of us die out of our own disinterest or lack of courage, we have surrendered that humanity. Of course, Scott completely sabotages this theme in the "Director's Cut" (and now again in the "final cut") by giving more evidence that Deckard is, himself, a Replicant, thereby rendering the entire point moot. Instead of a story of redemption, where a person reclaims his humanity by recognizing the humanity in others, Scott turns it into a story of a Replicant who learns to feel. Well, who cares if a non-existent fantasy construct called a "Replicant" learns to freakin' feel, Ridley? Why don't you say something about people, instead, you schmuck?! The DIRECTOR'S CUT is actually worse than the theatrical release in other ways, too. In addition to adding the "Deckard is a replicant" theme, he has stripped out the voice-over narration, which furthered the movie's "film noir" style, and its absence resonates throughout this cut. And while the movie didn't need the "happy ending" the studio originally insisted on, the dark ending you are now left with instead is not at all satisfying, and it removes the final images of blue sky that rewarded and mirrored Deckard's emotional transformation. These changes just indicate how little Scott understood what was great about his movie in the first place. After BLADERUNNER flopped, Scott churned out 3 stylish misfires: LEGEND (1985), SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME (1987) and BLACK RAIN (1989). LEGEND was a total flop, but SOMEONE and, to a lesser degree, BLACK RAIN were moderate commercial successes These lead up to his getting hired on to direct THELMA & LOUISE (1991). T & L was both a commercial and critical success, and is an excellent film, but Scott was brought into this project fairly late in its development, and was just a directo-for-hire on this one. Still, an excellent job, even if not entirely a "Ridley Scott" picture. But he followed up T&L with 3 pieces of Scottian crap: 1492 (1992) ,WHITE SQUALL (1996) and G.I. JANE (1997). While JANE was a huge hit (echoing his themes of militaristic women from ALIEN and T&L), I found it relentlessly ridiculous and nearly unwatchable. He hit the next one out of the park, however, withGLADIATOR (2000) ... a blockbuster/Oscar winner. But, despite its unmistakable grandeur and Russell Crowe's star-making performance, the film can be read as profoundly stupid and cynical (a view i share). Still, it remains one of his best works (which says all you need to know about Scott's career output). HANNIBAL (2001) was a hit, too, based largely on its status as a long awaited sequel to the terrific SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. The critics lambasted it for the most part, and, while opulent, it is also repugnant and unengaging. BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001) was next and joined SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, G.I. JANE and HANNIBAL into the group of glossy but inept hits from the witless Brit. Despite its box office performance and even a generally positive critical reaction, BHD seems to me more akin to Scott's cinematic misfires like 1492 and WHITE SQUALL. BHD is basically a Bruckheimer film, where handsome young men perform heroic deeds at great speed and high volume. I didn�t hate it, but it left me totally uninvolved, unmoved, and not particularly entertained. I was, however (like the goofy-looking soldier in the film), left deafened by the din. Perhaps it could play on a triple bill with GI JANE and THE DUELLISTS as a meditation on the nature of martial honor... as told through a series of lovely photographs, narrated by a moron. Still, BHD has been Scott's last hit to date. MATCHSTICK MEN (2003) is a poorly constructed "Sting" con-man movie with an extremely annoying performance by Nick Cage. It failed to find an audience. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (2005), however, is pure Ridley, returning to the epic scale of GLADIATOR. Unfortunately, Orlando Bloom is no Russell Crowe, so it ends up an entertaining donut... yummy around the edges with a hole in the middle. Again, coherence is not his strongsuit, but this is probably Scott's best film since GLADIATOR. Yet it, too, couldn't make back its huge budget domestically (though it ultimately paid off internationally). With A GOOD YEAR (2006), Ridley tried his hand at a romantic "dramedy"; watching Ridley Scott try to pull off this type of light entertainment is like watching a hippo trying to hula, which was not a sight anyone cared to see. A big flop . Lastly, this year's AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007) is another of his "gun for hire" projects that has a mixed critical buzz going before its November opening. We'll see what level of audience interest is shown, expecially since its starring Denzel Washington. It could be pure hack work or a return to respectability. We shall see. At this point, Ridley Scott seems to me an idiot savant... a total genius with a camera, but nearly incapable of creating anything approaching human drama, except only occasionally and only be accident. Ridley Scott: filmography American Gangster (2007) A Good Year (2006) Kingdom of Heaven (2005) Matchstick Men (2003) Black Hawk Down (2001) Hannibal (2001) Gladiator (2000) G.I. Jane (1997) White Squall (1996) 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) Thelma & Louise (1991) Black Rain (1989) Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) Legend (1985) Blade Runner (1982) Alien (1979) Duelists, The (1977)

like the Mets, i had the lead and then blew it on the last day. congrats to Smeggy. 2nd place is like kissing your sister, if you have a really ugly sister.

geez... this thing is going down to the wire.

no, it was Dreamworks/Spielberg

I'm helping a friend compile a list of good songs originally presented in cartoons or animated features, but NOT including Disney stuff. She's putting together a cabaret piece, a "cartoon cabaret" as it were, so they should be songs appropriate for a one female performer to sing. Anybody have any suggestions? This is what i have so far: [u:3v0qwzg4]animated features:[/u:3v0qwzg4] Paris is a lonely town / Little drops of rain � Gay Purree Somewhere out there � American Tail We�re the Couple in the Castle � Hoppity Goes to Town Faithful forever - Gulliver Mother Earth and Father Time � Charlotte�s Web Journey to the past / At the beginning - Anastasia Looking Through Your Eyes / Prayer � Quest for Camelot When You Believe � Prince of Egypt Our town - Cars Never was a love like mine for you � Mad Monster Party Song of the heart � Happy Feet Believe � Polar Express Winter was warm � Mr. Magoo�s Xmas Carol Reach for the light - Balto Now that I�m a woman � Last Unicorn If we hold on together � Land Before Time Here I am - Spirit Soon - Thumbalina Accidentally In Love � Shrek 2 Father & Daughter � Wild Thornberries [u:3v0qwzg4]Live-animated mix[/u:3v0qwzg4] Remember Me This Way - Casper Rainbow connection � The Muppet Movie First Time It happens � Great Muppet Caper [u:3v0qwzg4]TV / Video[/u:3v0qwzg4] There�s always tomorrow � Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer My world is beginning today � Santa Claus is Coming to Town If just one person - Snoopy Me and my arrow � The Point Small one � The Small One Let the sun shine in � Flintstones I don�t want to live on the moon / Imagination � Sesame Street on edit: "What Can I Do For You?" - Popeye meets Aladdin "The Girl You left Behind" - AMERICAN TAIL II "Count Me Out" - ALL DOGS II

her career was great early, but fell off rapidly and deeply. In the 7-year period from 1978 - 1984, she had major roles in 6 excellent films: ANIMAL HOUSE (78) THE WANDERERS (79) SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS (80) RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (81) SHOOT THE MOON (82) STARMAN (84) And then.... nothing good for nearly 10 years, until her supporting role in the excellent baseball movie, THE SANDLOT (93). Since then, nothing of interest. She still works, but not in things that are either successful or even visible. She was never a great actress, but she definitely had a certain ... something. After establishing herself as a grownup romantic lead in the excellent STARMAN, she made some bad career choices. Then, she had to wait until she aged into "mom" roles. She should have had a better manager, like "E".

i saw this lovely fairy tale fantasy over the weekend. Neil Gaiman adapted it from his graphic novel.

no, its pronounced, ".....mmmmmm, Jennifer Connnnnelly....." i liked it ok when i first saw it, but i haven't seen it since.

So?

To watch this movie is to see a master craftsman at the top of his game. I'm as cynical as they come, but Spielberg is able to elicit more terror from a set of jangling keys swinging on a belt, more romance from the setting free of frogs in science class, more humor from a drunken alien, more joy from soaring bicycles crossing the moon, and more sheer wonderment and heartbreak from a glowing red fingertip than any other filmmaker of his generation. youse peeps are just plain nuts.

I thought Murnau's SUNRISE was German, but it turns out it was a Fox studio production.

"O Lucky Man" is a strangely fascinating movie. It is the middle chapter of Brit director Lindsay Anderson's "mick travis" trilogy... 3 films he made with Malcolm McDowell playing a sort of Candide type protagonist wandering thru Anderson's surreal satires about British society. The first, "IF...", was made in 1968 and had McDowell, in his youthful pre-CLOCKWORK ORANGE period, leading a student revolt in the British school system. I remember some of the scenes were in color, some in B&W. There was much theorizing of the implications of this technique, but director Anderson later said he just ran out of money about 2/3 of the way thru, so he just shot the rest in B&W. The scene of McDowell on the school roof, shooting everybody with what i remember as a gatling gun, has stayed with me for 25 years. The next chapter, "O, Lucky Man", is Anderson's take on British capitalism and class, with post-CLOCKWORK McDowell now a cult star. Its chaotic, random "structure" (if you will excuse the expression) is punched up by some great music. It is a bit overlong and entirely incoherent, but worth the effort if you like that sort of thing. I do. Anderson's third film in the trilogy, "Britannia Hospital" (1982), has MacDowell experiencing the British system of socialized medicine. Its a less interesting film than the first 2, and worth seeing only to complete the series.

Centerfield wrote: Vic Sage wrote: "Let the BOY TRY!" "yes, yes... let the boy try!!" Is that from Excaliber? Is it weird that even though she's in her sixties I'm still attracted to Helen Mirren? 1) yes it is; 2) no it isn't; and 3) shut up, Ira.

metirish wrote: Vic Sage wrote: what? No "Fargo." yes, no "Fargo". Actually, "Fargo" was one of the movies i was specifically thinking of in my earlier post, when i was discussing movies that were "flavors of the month" and were too new to judge critically, and so didn't belong on the list. Its no surprise to me at all that, upon later reflection, the judges reconsidered that one. As they may well do with "forrest gump", "shawshank redemption" and "titanic" amongst others, at some point down the road. Which is why i think any movies within that last 20 years should just be disqualified from consideration, until they've stood the test of time. Can you explain that further ,why would a judge/critic or whoever it is that helps compile such lists think that a movie they thought was "classic" in 1995 upon further review didn't think of it as classic say in 2007. What would be so different about the movie 10 or 20 years later that would make that person think differently about it. You mentioned Fargo,I watched it a few years ago and thought it was annoying,thought it was great when it first came out. In his day, Salieri was one of the most successful and celebrated composers. Mozart was a brilliant piano player who wrote these very strange shows. I think if you asked the same critics of that period to make an assessment later, they might have had the distance to render more objective opinions about their relative qualities. First of all, some films are of their time, some are ahead of their times, expressing a vision that the society is not yet ready for. Critics and judges are people, not machines. They are swayed by various subjective forces at play in the culture at the time a movie comes out. Their assessments may have been appropriate in the context of a film's particular time period, but in another era, the movie may not hold up. I think "Fargo" is one of those movies. I think there are movies on the list now that may fall into that category as well. And i think there are movies that later come to seem precient, though perhaps unappreciated in their own time. If you had made this list in the mid 1980s, it is unlikely that BLADERUNNER would have appeared on it. But inasmuch as the first list came out 16 years after the movie's first release, it had enough time for people to see it on video/dvd and a reassessment emerged, recognizing not just its own greatness, but its influence on filmmaking thereafter. Thats why a moratorium should be imposed on films within the last 15-20 years when creating such lists. Perhaps FORREST GUMP or TOY STORY wouldn't push its way onto such a list in 10 years time, and perhaps MOULIN ROUGE would.

anyone who rules out reconsideration of anything is an idiot.

what? No "Fargo." yes, no "Fargo". Actually, "Fargo" was one of the movies i was specifically thinking of in my earlier post, when i was discussing movies that were "flavors of the month" and were too new to judge critically, and so didn't belong on the list. Its no surprise to me at all that, upon later reflection, the judges reconsidered that one. As they may well do with "forrest gump", "shawshank redemption" and "titanic" amongst others, at some point down the road. Which is why i think any movies within that last 20 years should just be disqualified from consideration, until they've stood the test of time.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Vic, which are the five you haven't seen? 1 - Intolerance - After BIRTH OF A NATION, i'd had enough Griffith, thanks. 2 - Sunrise - a silent classic by murnau, i'll probably get around to it at some point. 3 - Swing Time - for some reason, i've never seen this Astaire musical... probably the only Astaire musical i haven't seen. 4 - Nashville - supposed to be one of Altman's better ones, but from bits and pieces i've seen of it over the years, I have no interest. 5 - Last Picture Show - you'd think a naked young cybil shephard would hold some allure for me, wouldn't you? But no so far.

i've seen 95 of the AFI 100. I guess i just watch movies too often.

If you were going to make a list of "100 best", you'd have to consider foreign films too (which they don't seem to have done). But even if you were to just limit it to Hollywood (or at least English language) films, you probably shouldn't be considering any films made within the last 20 years, since not enough time has passed to determine the film's long term values. For instance, if you look back at some of the past AFI lists, you'll see a number of "flavor of the month" movies that no longer get serious consideration in this discussion. It devalues such an exercise if you include those types of films. So lets take another look at the movies on the list from 1987 on: 8. "Schindler's List" (1993) 50. "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001) 68. "Unforgiven" (1992) 72. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) 74. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) 76. "Forrest Gump" (1994) 83. "Titanic" (1997) 89. "The Sixth Sense" (1999) 92. "Goodfellas" (1990) 94. "Pulp Fiction" (1994) 96. "Do the Right Thing" (1989) 99. "Toy Story" (1995) I think some of these movies should ultimately make such a list, and some shouldn't, but do these really deserve to bump off such classics as _________ (name your favorite overlooked masterpiece)

Lets see which of my own idiosyncratic list of "Top 100 faves" (not intended to be the "100 best") made the AFI list (films on the AFI list are noted with "*"): 7 faces of Dr. Lao 12 Angry Men - * 1776 2001: A Space Odyssey - * Adventures of Robin Hood African Queen - * All that Jazz Annie Hall - * Apartment - * Apocalypse Now - * Atlantic City Avanti! Barbarella Beauty and the beast (Animated) Ben-Hur - * Blade Runner * Bringing Up Baby - * Bull Durham Casablanca - * Chinatown - * Citizen Kane - * Clockwork Orange, A - * Court Jester, The Crow, The Diner Double Indemnity - * Dr. Strangelove - * Duck Soup - * ET - * Empire Strikes Back Enter the Dragon Excalibur Field of Dreams Gallipoli Ghost & Mrs. Muir Godfather - * Godfather II - * Goldfinger Goodfellas - * Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Great Escape Halloween Harold & Maude Here Comes Mr. Jordan His Girl Friday It�s a Gift It�s a Wonderful Life - * Jason & the Argonauts Jaws - * King Kong - * Lawrence of Arabia - * Local Hero Lord of the Rings trilogy - * Mad Max 2: Road Warrior Magnificent 7 Maltese Falcon - * Man who Would be King March of the Wooden Soldiers MASH - * Metropolis Miracle on 34th St Modern Times - * Monty Python and the Holy Grail Moulin Rouge National Lampoon�s Animal House Never Give a Sucker an Even Break Night of the Living Dead On the Town Philadelphia Story - * Platoon - * Psycho - * Producers Pulp Fiction - * Quiet Man Raging Bull - * Raiders of the Lost Ark - * Rear Window - * Rocky - * Rocky Horror Picture Show Searchers - * Shane - * Singin in the Rain - * Some Like it Hot - * Spartacus - * Stairway to Heaven Star Wars - * Stunt Man Sullivan's Travels - * Sunset Boulevard - * Sweet Smell of Success Thief of Baghdad Third Man This is Spinal Tap Unbreakable Unforgiven - * Where�s Poppa Wild Bunch - * Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Wizard of Oz - * Young Frankenstein ... and here are some others from the AFI list that could've easily made my list: 9. "Vertigo" (1958) 11. "City Lights" (1931) 17. "The Graduate" (1967) 27. "High Noon" (1952) 37. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) 38. "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948) 42. "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967) 43. "Midnight Cowboy" (1969) 46. "It Happened One Night" (1934) 51. "West Side Story" (1961) 52. "Taxi Driver" (1976) 53. "The Deer Hunter" (1978) 55. "North by Northwest" (1959) 64. "Network" (1976) 69. "Tootsie" (1982) 72. "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) 73. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969) 74. "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) 89. "The Sixth Sense" (1999) 99. "Toy Story" (1995)

watched it on cable... disturbing, but mesmerizing movie. Especially awful was the Goebbels family sub-plot.

Michael Bay movies are loud, stupid and obnoxious. Though many are entertained by his brand of action movie, i think he sucks BHMC. Bad Boys (1995) The Rock (1996) Armageddon (1998) Pearl Harbor (2001) Bad Boys II (2003) The Island (2005) "The Rock" is the best of this excerable bunch, made watchable by virtue of the presence of Mr. Connery. Furthermore, TRANSFORMERS was a phenomenon well after my time, so it has no emotional resonance for me. All that being said, my son has indicated a desire to see it, so i may end up seeing it any way. I'm hoping to stall him until its out on DVD.