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Just how bad can an American film be? Quite bad, turns out.

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Victor Khomenko

Every once in a while I leave my cave and take a look at some American film. Usually it is one of those "highly acclaimed" ones - The Hurt Locker, or in this case True Grit.
I'll be honest - seeing the name of Spielberg attached to this film should have been enough of a warning - I despise that guy's work... but I thought the Coen name was perhaps some assurance of quality. Little did I know.
The first red flag went up in force before even the first screen - it was the music...
Oh... that horrible, horrible, boring, always the same music of American films! It seem to have been written by the same talentless Julliard dropout who has also written all Celine Dion's featureless songs. It is intellectually irritating, empty and void of any sparkle, foggy like ten day old, stale urine. No zest, no drama, no desire to taste it.
The movie is pathetic. The plot is nothing but a bunch of old cliche's hastily put together, the over-the-top dialogue we have heard, only better, hundreds of times before, acting is taken from the high school drama class.
How could a pair of respected (whatever that means) directors produce such a trash? Notice - I am not even asking how is it possible for the film to have all the recognition and high imdb rating - some public obviously is dumber than the movies they watch. I don't know the answer, but I am closing my book on them.
Be it as it may, the night was still young by the time that monumental pile of crap ended, so I flipped to another film on my Action Thrillers list - the Australian Red Hill.
Now... the first shots, the first scenes had all the elements of fine movie making. Mind you, I didn't even know it was Australian, but the opening scenes told me that... clearly and much to my pleasure! It was like coming home, like a sudden breath of cool and fresh air! Considering this is the young director's first full-size film, it's got to tell you something about the local cinematographic climate in that country.
At this point I have only watched about 20 minutes of the film... make it 20 enjoyable minutes... and I am looking forward to tonight. Not a great masterpiece, mind you, but an honest piece of artwork.
PS If you guessed I am in a pissy mood today - you are wright...

Edits: 05/03/12

Follow Ups:

What about The Searchers,Victor? - HI FI BOB 15:56:59 05/05/12 (2)
One of John Wayne's better films.
- Don't remember that one... - Victor Khomenko 18:54:49 05/07/12 (1)
  I have not seen any Wayne's film in many years. I don't have any issue with them, they were honest product of their era.
  - RE: Don't remember that one... - HI FI BOB 10:38:21 05/09/12 (0)
    Definitely worth a look.Not the usual western in that it portrays rascist attitudes toward native americans in a way not shown before.Ingmar Bergman meets cowboys and indians it isn't but still...
I was quite amused by this version.....I hated the original...... - mr grits 14:04:53 05/04/12 (6)
and knew then Wayne's Oscar was a career award. Supposedly, the Coens did a scene by scene recreation which was a hell sight better than the original. The addition of 'today's realism' certain helped the film come across as a different story. Maybe the Koreans should take a crack at it.

As someone said earlier, don't even look at a trailer for the first one.
- Beating the dead horse that keeps running - Victor Khomenko 15:06:44 05/04/12 (5)
  I don't know about you, but I am tired of that dull cliche of a plot - a babe comes to a drunk and over-the-hill PI, cop, marshal, just strong guy, and asks him to find, pursue, kill, some bad guy... he refuses at first... only to later join forces with her.
  
  Dumb and overdone, and only works when the babe is real looker, in very short skirt, so you feel a bit jealous of the old no good for nothing anymore guy. Some steamy sex scenes provide the much needed third leg.
  
  That plot is OK for a modern trash action flick, but definitely not a film with serious aspirations.
  
  There are a couple of Korean actresses that would do credible job in such a movie... but you already know that.
  - It is an unfair knock to attack a Western plot: there only are six of them, period. How well does it tell - tinear 07:38:40 05/12/12 (0)
    the story, that's the key. I found this one amusing, nothing more, and not up to "No Country."
    It certainly was better than the execrable, "O Brother."
    That one was pure, undiluted crap.
    Good soundtrack, though....
  - Hmm, seems like we are talking about 'Safe' as well.... - mr grits 16:54:12 05/04/12 (3)
    Statham is the down and out cop hounded by a Russian mob who just happens to rescue an ugly little Chinese girl. Lots more people killed, that's for sure. Plot basically the same: Child done wrong relies on misfit.
    - But was the language used in Safe as interesting as that used in True Grit?... - musetap 20:48:22 05/04/12 (2)
      Because most of the point of the Coen's "True Grit" resides in the linguistic play, and it's pulled off mighty fine.
      
      Of course it helps if one likes Westerns too...
      
      CHECK OUT the AUDIO ASYLUM TRADER!
      - Not comparing the actual movies just the imprint of the plots . . . - mr grits 09:15:13 05/05/12 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: But was the language used in Safe as interesting as that used in True Grit?... posted by musetap on May 04, 2012 at 20:48:22
        
        'Safe' is an audience grab based on sheer homicide not more.
        
        Gothcha.... - musetap 11:44:57 05/05/12 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Not comparing the actual movies just the imprint of the plots . . . posted by mr grits on May 05, 2012 at 09:15:13
        
        at which point one looks beyond the (too frequently recurring) plot to either that "safe" aspect of a film only being what it
        is (an audience grabber) or having aspirations of being more than Just Another Western ("True Grit") and succeeding on "that" level.
        
        But my apologies Mr. Grits for locking into your post in making my point.
        
        CHECK OUT the AUDIO ASYLUM TRADER!
SERIOUSLY recommend you avoid the original version, unless you're a... - musetap 14:04:30 05/03/12 (1)
John Wayne fan.

CHECK OUT the AUDIO ASYLUM TRADER!
- It is easy to watch John Wayne films... - Victor Khomenko 16:20:57 05/03/12 (0)
  One doesn't expect much of them. This one has aspirations, but doesn't even know how to deliver.
  
  Overall, the only American films worth watching these days are dumb action flicks - they are all very well made and go straight to your spinal cord.
Liked True Grit. - Enophile 13:00:51 05/03/12 (3)
Enjoyed the look, the 'ecclesiastical' style of dialogue, the way the characters parted ways...but I didn't expect an "action thriller" film.

I do agree about Spielberg films, otherwise.

I generally like the Coen Brothers' style. "No Country For Old Men" was another quite enjoyable film.
- RE: Liked True Grit. - Daryl Zero 00:13:31 05/04/12 (2)
  Same here and I think both versions pretty much follow the story. If you don't like the story, it is the fault of the source material.
  - http://jameswharris.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/true-grit-by-ch (Open in New Window)
  - Chosing right material is part of making a film - Victor Khomenko 05:01:07 05/04/12 (1)
    Quite a lame excuse, that.
    - Material where a young lady fights for law and order on the frontier is neither cliched nor typical American - Jazz Inmate 17:07:06 05/09/12 (0)
      More reminiscent of Whale Rider, which you did like as I recall. Try again when you're in a less grumpy mood. ;-)
      -------------
      
      We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi

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