(This is an amazing opening to a movie, a pity the rest of George Washington (2000) was kind of boring. As faithful readers will know, I'm a sucker for voice-over)
Are we sure this movie wasn't directed by Terrence Malick?
My wife and I wanted to see this, until we saw two other movies directed by David Gordon Green that we hated: All the Real Girls and Snow Angels. With you describing this one as "boring," I will take a pass. But I agree -- a mesmerizing opening.
Miss T, that sounds like a true love-hate relationship. The movie I've seen of his that I sort of like is Pineapple Express, but I liked it so much less than I was hoping to like it that I don't think it counts.
I'm guessing you mean by mentioning Malick that the cinematography is impressive in this opening. I also liked the background instru. music, and to me this clip had a "Stand by Me" feel to it, the voice over + walking up the tracks.
Yes, the cinematography -- but also because Malick loves voiceover, particularly abstract/poetic voiceover, and loves to present kind of character montages in which the plot is not really being advanced. He likes setting the tone. And as I wrote in my own pieces about Malick, he loves blowing grass -- I was tickled to notice a close-up shot of some reedy green plants, blowing slightly in the wind, after I'd already decided it was reminiscent of Malick. Speaking of signature styles ...
Are we sure this movie wasn't directed by Terrence Malick?
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I wanted to see this, until we saw two other movies directed by David Gordon Green that we hated: All the Real Girls and Snow Angels. With you describing this one as "boring," I will take a pass. But I agree -- a mesmerizing opening.
i hate this one. and i hate everything else david gordon green ever did, except for snow angels. god, i love that movie.
ReplyDeleteMiss T, that sounds like a true love-hate relationship. The movie I've seen of his that I sort of like is Pineapple Express, but I liked it so much less than I was hoping to like it that I don't think it counts.
ReplyDeletehe's just so extremely inconsistent. like... no signature style at all.
ReplyDelete@Vancetastic
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing you mean by mentioning Malick that the cinematography is impressive in this opening. I also liked the background instru. music, and to me this clip had a "Stand by Me" feel to it, the voice over + walking up the tracks.
Yes, the cinematography -- but also because Malick loves voiceover, particularly abstract/poetic voiceover, and loves to present kind of character montages in which the plot is not really being advanced. He likes setting the tone. And as I wrote in my own pieces about Malick, he loves blowing grass -- I was tickled to notice a close-up shot of some reedy green plants, blowing slightly in the wind, after I'd already decided it was reminiscent of Malick. Speaking of signature styles ...
ReplyDelete