Subj : Re: Usual Suspects
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : Trouble
Date : Thu Sep 22 2005 11:32:37

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

RR wrote:

> Trouble wrote:

>> Overrated? If by that you mean when Hollywood makes a movie that
>> feels the teensiest bit edgy, or original they want
>> dissporportionately large gobs of credit for their achievement.
 
> Jesus Paul - your posts are always the hardest to reply to. (I mean
> that in a good way.)

On the flip side I only put this much effort into a movie reply to you 
because I know you've put some effort into studying/watching/critiqing 
them.
 
> I never considered TUS a "Hollywood" movie despite the cast. I think
> it's an OK larger-than-average budgeted indie film worth a single
> viewing. But once you go for round 2, you know the entire affair is an
> elaborate ruse and that none of it went down the way we see it.

If the ruse is elaborate enough, and consistent, then there are people 
out there that will appreciate a well crafted story. If they fail to make 
it internally consistent then the viewer will feel disjointed, cheated, 
and generally dislike the movie.

> Maybe this works for some or rather some feel that what is shown is fun
> regardless, but for me it's a huge cheat.

Without the twist ending, its not a good crime caper movie, nor a good 
action flick.

>> It beat Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Momento all to the screen, and I
>> think had a large part to do with them being made as projects.
 
> Agree. It unleashed that whole wave of "Now I have to see it again"
> filmmaking, which in general I do not like.

If I was paying attention throughout the movie, I do not have to see it 
again.
 
> I don't need a huge twist to get me to watch a movie again. I see
> plenty of flix repeatedly that do not have twist endings.

see above
 
> That said, there are certain films in the genre that I do enjoy.
> "Swimming Pool" leaps to mind. I liked "Unbreakable" and think it's
> the best of Shyamalan's work. "Vanilla Sky" is a huge fave of mine.

I've only seen one of those... +NetflixQueue?
 
> Even if you wanna go back in time I love "Sleuth" and also "Witness
> for the Prosecution". Those last two knew how to deliver a twist
> without ruining everything that came before.

I haven't seen these, should I add them to my Queue?

In general, I think if they are well plotted beforehand, and executed 
properly they shouldn't ruin everything that came before, there may be 
motivations behind the actions that you had no knowledge of, but ruin?

> The same cannot be said for TUS. On the surface it seems clever, but I
> really don't think that it is.

Certainly not as clever as what followed it, BUT Hollywierd is not 
reknown for being overly clever.

> Hated, HATED "Memento". If you were to take the story that
> occurs in that film and watch it in a linear fashion it would be a
> straight-to-video cop film starring Van Damme or someone like him.
 
Ok, plot out an above average version of same, then play it backwards, 
and see if Joe Sixpack can hold on to what happened in the last two 
scenes long enough get the rest of the movie. I think they worked at the 
highest level they could and not lose the average viewer halfway in.

As a spin-off we get things like 50 First Dates

-- 
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise.
Seek what they sought."
--Basho

.