NP - This Xmas Season's Movies

[Johnny Marr]

Scorsese's Silence reminded me of a former girlfriend: very beautiful,
devoutly Catholic (whilst acknowledging plenty of doubts) and a lot of hard
work at times. I happen to think The Last Temptation of Christ is one of
his underrated works so I'm not adverse to one of his spiritualist epics,
or for a sincere examination of faith, but I found this buckles under the
weight of its own solemnity. If you're going to be this humourless then you
need to an extra level of profundity or transcendence, which Silence
provides all too rarely. Andrew Garfield's central performance is too blank
- he never convinced me as a man of existential depth - and the film lapses
into Scorsese's usual faults - women are marginalised, non-white characters
are shady and distrustful and an lingering sense of sadomasochism
left this viewer feeling punished (perhaps suitably). Still, to evoke a
lesser Wagner symphony, there are a couple of moments of rapture,
particularly on the occasions when the Buddhist priests test the Catholics'
faith, and the visual design is sumptuous throughout, applying an Old Dutch
Master palate to contemporary historic setting, but not enough to rescue a
laboursome effort. At least my ex could be a lot of fun.

On Friday, December 30, 2016, Keith Davis <kbob42 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Looks good.
>
> Www.innergroovemusic.com
>
> On Dec 29, 2016, at 8:04 PM, Rob Miller <robcmiller at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','robcmiller at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
> Anyone here seen Fences? Been meaning to go see that...
> On Wed, Dec 28, 2016 at 9:19 PM David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>> Yes.  The ending of OA sucked, and started sucking in the 2nd to last
>> episode.  This is too bad, because it probably coulda have had more
>> Seasons.  It had painted itself into a corner, but in Scifi and comic
>> books, it is always possible to overcome the impossible with more fantastic
>> new premises.  But then, ultimately, the goose has to come home to be
>> cooked...  Unless it doesn't ever do that, ie. come home.
>>
>> David Morris
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 28, 2016 at 8:01 PM, kelber at mindspring.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelber at mindspring.com');> <
>> kelber at mindspring.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelber at mindspring.com');>> wrote:
>>
>>> A poorly- constructed sentence on my part. I was referring to the ending
>>> of The OA, not the ending of Manchester By the Sea.
>>>
>>> LK
>>>
>>> *Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID*
>>>
>>>
>>> Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','mark.kohut at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>
>>> The ending of MANCHESTER-by-the-Sea is perfect. Thematically resonant as
>>> tubular bells.
>>> REAL Chekhovian likeness, so to speak.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>> On Dec 28, 2016, at 5:56 PM, "kelber at mindspring.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelber at mindspring.com');>" <
>>> kelber at mindspring.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelber at mindspring.com');>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Most of the reviews warn that the ending sucks, but on Mr. Morris's
>>> recommendation, I've been watching The OA, on Netflix. Enthralling
>>> story-telling, even if it turns out to be just a shaggy-dog story.
>>>
>>> LK
>>>
>>> *Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID*
>>>
>>>
>>> Allan Balliett <allan.balliett at gmail.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','allan.balliett at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Re: Manchester by the Sea.
>>> while it qualified for my highest accolade (I didn't leave the
>>> auditorium to pee even once even though I was in an Alamo theater) I was so
>>> perplexed (or underwhelmed?) by the ending that I'm not recommending the
>>> film
>>>
>>> But i sure enjoyed Casey on SNL the other night!!
>>>
>>> Looking forward to the new tv Sherlock next week!
>>>
>>> Allan in WV
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Dec 28, 2016 at 10:38 AM kelber at mindspring.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelber at mindspring.com');> <
>>> kelber at mindspring.com
>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelber at mindspring.com');>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The trailer certainly makes it look like a by-the-numbers guy-weepy (ya
>>>> know, like Shawshank Redemption). Is it drastically different from what's
>>>> shown in the previews? I stay far, far away from weepies of any variety.
>>>>
>>>> Laura
>>>>
>>>> *Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jim Frame <jbframe at aol.com
>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jbframe at aol.com');>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Not everyone liked it.
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: Joe Allonby <joeallonby at gmail.com
>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','joeallonby at gmail.com');>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> To: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com
>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Cc: P-list <pynchon-l at waste.org
>>>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','pynchon-l at waste.org');>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent: Wed, Dec 28, 2016 2:31 am
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Subject: Re: NP - This Xmas Season's Movies
>>>>
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>>>> Why is the title misleading or ironic? It's the name of a town.
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>>>> On Mon, Dec 26, 2016 at 11:23 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I just saw Manchester by the Sea.  It is a finely-crafted tale that
>>>>> jerked many tears from this sap.  Beside the great acting, its best feature
>>>>> is the telling of its story via seamless meshing of past with present.
>>>>> This meshing makes us quickly love and care for all the characters
>>>>> presented, but especially for the main one, a deeply broken man who always
>>>>> soldiers on through his great pain.  Highly recommended.
>>>>>
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>>>>> The film's title is a misleading irony.  It is a spoof.  This ain't
>>>>> Masterpiece Theater.
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>>>>> David Morris
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