American Sniper
POSTED BY: SHINYGOODGUY
UPDATED: Sunday, June 7, 2015 01:32
VIEWED: 12920
PAGE 7 of 8
SGG, is your reference to Pulp Fiction from non-linear, or non-good/evil? If the second, I don't understand how you see that.
For non-linear, what film before Highlander do you feel was significant, and also which films from the 70's?
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Non-linear, of course. But it did play with our perception of good vs. evil.
Pulp Fiction, the game changer.
SGG
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Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
Non-linear, of course. But it did play with our perception of good vs. evil.
Pulp Fiction, the game changer.
SGG
Once Highlander set the standard for non-linear, there were a flurry of copycats before Plump Friction stumbled along. Quintin seems to have copied Short Cuts and Fried Green Tomatoes fairly well.
I have thought that, following Highlander, the game changer would have been Momento.
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Now we're talking. Just so happens you picked some of my fav films of all time; Highlander, Fried Green Tomatoes. I'm not sure that they told their stories in quite the same way as Pulp Fiction did.
Now Momento is an interesting choice for game changer, it definitely put Nolan on the map, that's for sure.
Those two films, especially Highlander, did rearrange the storyline but it didn't change our perspective as to how the stories related to one another.
It was a rearrangement of storytelling, a history of the main character. FGT interwove the story of two main characters and how they related to each other.
Pulp Fiction had several stories apparently happening simultaneously. It jumped around and was seemingly unrelated. Plus you could literally start anywhere and you wouldn't be wrong. Any one of those stories could have stood alone - Jules, Vincent Vega, Marcellus Wallace, Mia Wallace, The Boxer, Honey Bunny, Hell, even The Gimp. Anyone of those a stand-alone story.
Momento was groundbreaking because it told the story in opposite form, like looking into a mirror, sort of like reading the story backwards.
SGG
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Quote:
Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
Now we're talking. Just so happens you picked some of my fav films of all time; Highlander, Fried Green Tomatoes. I'm not sure that they told their stories in quite the same way as Pulp Fiction did.
Now Momento is an interesting choice for game changer, it definitely put Nolan on the map, that's for sure.
Those two films, especially Highlander, did rearrange the storyline but it didn't change our perspective as to how the stories related to one another.
It was a rearrangement of storytelling, a history of the main character. FGT interwove the story of two main characters and how they related to each other.
Pulp Fiction had several stories apparently happening simultaneously. It jumped around and was seemingly unrelated. Plus you could literally start anywhere and you wouldn't be wrong. Any one of those stories could have stood alone - Jules, Vincent Vega, Marcellus Wallace, Mia Wallace, The Boxer, Honey Bunny, Hell, even The Gimp. Anyone of those a stand-alone story.
Momento was groundbreaking because it told the story in opposite form, like looking into a mirror, sort of like reading the story backwards.
SGG
True that Highlander made extensive use of flashbacks, but the difference was that the flashbacks were not in sequence, as had been the prior standard, and there was not a flashback transition/explanation/preface making them somewhat more jarring, and the audience needed to pick up the attention level more.
I still wish the deleted scene of first meeting Rachel had been included in the American theater release.
FGT moved around the narrative a bit, but I don't recall them as being flashbacks. The big reveal wrapped together everything well, but I also don't think it was shown as a flashback.
Short Cuts was the clearest template for Quintin to copy from. Nothing original in Plump Friction following the gem of Short Cuts.
Your comments make me think you have missed out on Short Cuts. If you like film, you really should catch it. You can also play a game of how many actors you can recognize without referencing the credits. Many of my favorites were in there, albeit lesser known. Prior to Firefly, I could have included Jewel in that classification, but she was not one in that film.
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Highlander is that rare film that the use of flashbacks actually enhances the film itself. I really like how it was shot and how the script used the flashbacks; it gave the film a you-are-there kind of feel. And, you're right, the audience had to pay attention.
FGT, I have a soft spot for that movie and it's mainly because of Jessica Tandy. Her narration was key in making the story seem like you were reading a book sitting in a big comfy sofa at home. Brilliant casting and solid script.
You're partially right about Short Cuts. I have seen it, but it's been a while and I don't remember it as well as some others. I actually went to see it in the theater and it was like being a fly on the wall. I really like Altman's style of filming, it feels like you're there. I remember mostly Tim Robbins and Julianne Moore, but for the life of me I don't remember much else. Some of my favorite character actors were in it. I do have to see it again, to be able to comment.
SGG
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I liked Short Cuts despite Timm Robbins and his ilk. Back then I regarded Julianne Moore as a plus to the cast - despite her nudity - whereas now I consider her a negative.
I enjoyed Susan Cusack, Chris Penn, Andie MacDowell, Anne Archer, Fred Ward (original Remo Williams), Lyle Lovett, Michael Beach (before I found him annoying).
Plus Jerry Dunphy (the real life basis for Ted Knight's Ted Baxter) was a kick.
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Altman's mastery of the ensemble is quite evident here and in MASH, but I have to refresh my memory by seeing it again.
SGG
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Can you imagine how bad American Sniper would have been if Spielberg directed, as originally scheduled?
It was released on December 25. 4 months later, still playing in my local cinema, and I now see ads for purchasing it.
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Speilberg spoiled A.I. for me. Imagine how good it would have been with Kubrick at the helm. A.I. lost it's way about half way through the film. HJO was brilliant, as was Jude Law, but ultimately the script failed them and so we had E.T. Revisited at the end.
Sniper is a good film and had it's moments, but, to me, outside forces looked to ruin the commercial success of the movie. Politics aside, it told it's story.
SGG
Quote:
Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Can you imagine how bad American Sniper would have been if Spielberg directed, as originally scheduled?
It was released on December 25. 4 months later, still playing in my local cinema, and I now see ads for purchasing it.
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