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Greg - 2006-05-24 16:50:25
You don't like "pitcher show" or "movin' pitchers?"
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Paula - 2006-05-24 17:11:14
No, I actually like the expression "picture" to mean film. Someone told me that's how people in the movie industry refer to 'em, too.
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Tom G. - 2006-05-24 17:19:22
I haven't seen Metropolitan since it was first released on video, but if memory serves (and that's a crap shoot) I really enjoyed it. I remember thinking that it was a period piece from like the 30's until contemporary cars or other visual references made it clearer. I didn't think the acting was wretched exactly, but you're right the dialogue can be tough to put across as natural speech and that may be the problem. But it's the joy of the film so it's got to be. Woody Allen's Match Point reminded me of Whit Stillman's flicks and maybe this is just the way the upper crust really does talk. Some folks have similar issues with Mamet's films because his dialogue is so stylized but that's what I find fascinating and enjoyable about them. It sure beats Big Momma's House 2...
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Paula - 2006-05-24 17:24:53
But it's the joy of the film so it's got to be.
Yes, definitely.
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Baby Party - 2006-05-24 22:30:29
Tom G, I was thinking of Mamet, too. I like Metropolitan more than I liked Barcelona; but I think my favorite is The Last Days of Disco.
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Dennis Moore - 2006-05-24 23:15:39
You know you are really bright. You must be putting allot of effort into this blog. Is it therapeutic?
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Tom Ronca - 2006-05-24 23:21:27
I am no fan of Mr. Stillman. The world simply has no need for a W.A.S.P. Woody Allen. I do like the expression "talkies" -- expecially if we can all agree with Ms. Desmond that when they started talkin' is when the pictures went wrong. "We had faces then ..."
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Greg - 2006-05-25 06:29:46
Of the three I've only seen Barcelona--I'd have to give it some thought, and I have no way to judge anything it had in common to Metropolitan. With Barcelona though--I don't recall thinking that the dialogue was unbelievable or too dense--and of course it was but that seemed to be the point. It really required concentration to follow. It was a very talkie talkie but enjoyable--not like My Dinner With Andre, a film I was told I MUST see and then hated everyone who told me that.
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Paula - 2006-05-25 08:47:44
To expand on my answer before (I was being summoned into an impromptu meeting at work), I am all for stylized dialogue if it's done well. Hal Hartley and Guy Madden come to mind here, in addition to Mamet.
In Barcelona, Stillman was working with much better actors than the ones in Metro, and it just sang and sparkled. Plus the story and characters were more appealing (i.e. less loathesome) to me.
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Erich k - 2006-05-25 09:57:42
Last Days of Disco was the worst. I mean, what disco were these people in? Some alternate universe preppy disco where there's only ten people and everyone can talk in normal voices and sit at fancy tables...
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Greg - 2006-05-25 10:14:32
I don't exactly why this came up--perhaps because of the stress on dialogue over action--but I really enjoyed Headless Body In A Topless Bar. The characters were somewhat cliched but I liked the way the dynamic between them developed.
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Baby Party - 2006-05-25 10:44:20
I think there's a remake coming out called Headless Body in a Tapas Bar.
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miz desmond - 2006-05-25 14:41:20
I don't recall weighing in on "talkin'" and "pictures"...Ah, you mean Norma D. Never mind. ;-)
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Paula - 2006-05-26 11:57:25
I contend that Our Miss Desmond has the best old-Hollywood moviestar name of all my friends.
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Paula - 2006-05-26 12:01:17
Oh, and thank you, BP, that was funny.
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jon - 2006-05-27 16:14:43
The porn version of the film is called "Topless Body in a Topless Bar".
When in Atlanta, don't forget to visit the topless sushi bar, Miso Horny.
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