What the fuck has happened to Darren Aronofsky?! Pi was a pretty good ambitious up-and-comer film, and Requiem a groundbreaking masterpiece. Then came 'The Fountain'. Ugh. Couldn't have been more disappointing, but you know what? I just figured Aronofsky's head had got a bit too big off Requiem's success, and that he'd probably bounce right back- humbled and rejuvenated. Now, 'The Wrestler': Rejuvenated? No, but at least Aronofsky is definitively humble now... to the point of admitting his greatness is clearly far FAR behind him, never to return again. To fully stress this point, Aronofsky has to go and make the state of washed-up-has-been-ism the overwhelming theme of this formulaic, boring, predictable, and painfully slow steaming pile of monkey-fuck that is 'The Wrestler'. For years I considered Requiem For a Dream to be my favorite film of all time. Now? You couldn't even pay me to sit through another Aronofsky yawn-fest. Ok, fine- you probably <i>could</i> pay me, but it would definitely take a Federal CTR form to withdraw that much cash.
Ah, someone bumped the film thread, , it vanished for a while there. From my TFTD thread, --- "Ok, well just to change things up a little, 6 pages, and I cant find the film thread? Oh, F#*&*(). Right, well, this movie, is friggin good stuff, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395119/ Captain Alitriste. Viggo Mortensen as the ne'er do well cap'n, didnt recognise him at all from lord of the rings. Great film; a swordfight in nearly every scene, proper fencing , sword and dagger . Brutal, grim and bloody, could have used some enthusiastic extras here and there, but the sheer grimness speaks volumes." ---- A very fine movie, do yourself a favour and check out this ( gasp) subtitled spanish language film.
I just saw a long preview for the movie "Public Enemies" with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale about John Dillinger in the 1930's. Looked pretty damn good.
"Gone Baby Gone" If you liked Mystic River, this is better and a bit more believable. Fantastic movie. I have a buddy from Lynn who always said the Irish ghettos are absolutely brutal. Pardon if already mentioned.