Films/DVD Asylum

"Happiness" by Todd Solondz is a "quiet story" by all accounts - what do you think about it?

129.33.19.254

carcass93

In Reply to: RE: Like most other cults, that one is superficial... but strong posted by Victor Khomenko on December 07, 2012 at 06:01:28

Does it meet your criteria of greatness?

I can tell you right away - it exceeds mine.

Follow Ups:

"Happiness," simply, is brilliant. "But I'm not laughing," has become a - tinear 16:16:08 12/07/12 (0)
common line among our family and friends.
I liked 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' moreso - Plinko 13:52:58 12/07/12 (3)
What is your thoughts on that one?
- Excellent as well, but #2 for me, Storytelling being #3. - carcass93 20:58:27 12/08/12 (2)
  Part 1 of Storytelling, "Fiction", is something I couldn't get out of my head for quite some time. Scene with "Say it - n..., f... me hard!", being told by professor to his female student, is alone worth the time.
  
  His films after Storytelling are "tame" in comparison, however style is still easily recognizable.
  - I guess I am sentimental towards - Plinko 17:54:36 12/10/12 (1)
    Dawn "Weinerdog" Weiner as it was the first of his films I saw. Happiness is obviously a much more ambitiious effort. Storytelling fell flat for me...and a lot of it seemed a bit contrived if my memory of my thoughts on this one is correct.
    
    I don't think I have seen any of his films after Storytelling.
    - Yeah... I'm always a bit sad when I see present-day Heather Matarrazzo. N/T - carcass93 09:05:07 12/11/12 (0)
      N/T
Geez, I don't even know if I have any such criteria. - Victor Khomenko 11:23:59 12/07/12 (9)
I don't recall seeing that film, maybe I did, I don't know, but I have to tell you, I have an extremely strong distaste for American films made by the under-50 directors. Not that above-50 Americans are guaranteed to make good films, but lately I had the serious misfortune to see several more or less recent pieces of crap by young directors, and without an exception they were pure stinky garbage, self-absorbed in their own significance, full of endless stupid superficial self-loving dialogue, sense of self-importance in every scene... and that awful, awful, awful American "music" - a constipated, strangled voice trying to tell me some story over a lame guitar. Seems like today 35 is an old adolescent. Solondz is just over that 50 mark, but the film's description tells me I would have to do with no dinner for a few days - don't think that is exactly the kind of a film my wife would appreciate. :)

Edits: 12/07/12
- Right you are about no dinner - however, the rest does not apply. - carcass93 11:46:00 12/07/12 (8)
  No self-loving dialogue, no sense of self-importance - and no music that I recall, so it either isn't there, or doesn't call attention to itself.
  
  Instead, what is there - pure, all-encompassing hatred and loathing for humanity in general and American society in particular, with not one character to feel any real sympathy for. Director, in this instance, is just a bystander, looking at all proceedings in utter disgust.
  
  Just the way I love it.
  - "not one character to feel any real sympathy for." Doesn't that describe this forum? - Victor Khomenko 12:30:44 12/07/12 (7)
    OK, so maybe grits gets some, as he blazes the trail through all that mayhem, blood and kinky sex!
    - Grits for President! - tinear 16:17:32 12/07/12 (6)
      Of the asylum?
      - I've got a much better candidate - Victor Khomenko 16:26:00 12/07/12 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Grits for President! posted by tinear on December 07, 2012 at 16:17:32
        
        Sorry grits, but you didn't shave your legs last time!
        
        My vote (Open in New Window)
        
        Bad girls have short shelf lives. nt - tinear 10:04:07 12/08/12 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I've got a much better candidate posted by Victor Khomenko on December 07, 2012 at 16:26:00
        
        ds
        
        I too have been wondering where she disappeared after her "unsuccessful run". :) - Victor Khomenko 11:12:28 12/08/12 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Bad girls have short shelf lives. nt posted by tinear on December 08, 2012 at 10:04:07
        
        To be fair, she is still much pleasant to watch than most WT tenants.
        
        WT? White Trash? nt - tinear 08:02:50 12/10/12 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I too have been wondering where she disappeared after her "unsuccessful run". :) posted by Victor Khomenko on December 08, 2012 at 11:12:28
        
        d
        
        Oops... was meant to be the WH. nt - Victor Khomenko 12:03:03 12/10/12 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: WT? White Trash? nt posted by tinear on December 10, 2012 at 08:02:50
        
        .
        
        I hope you're kidding. You may not like their politics, but both adults in the WH appear - tinear 17:23:04 12/10/12 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Oops... was meant to be the WH. nt posted by Victor Khomenko on December 10, 2012 at 12:03:03
        
        honest, hard-working, successful (prior to political careers), and good parents.
        But, hey, this is a film forum.

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