At the movies

I use the term stars loosely. I mean actors.

A reply to: @Winderland regarding QuoteLink

I use the term stars loosely. I mean actors.

And I was being a smartarse with the word ‘adult’, not ‘stars’. If you know what I mean.

Well one scene from Requiem for a dream comes close

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you want realism Wim, watch Whiplash, that kid who plays the lead character plays 95% of the drumming in that movie himself, which is amazing, only the really hard fusion stuff did they have to only do a few audio overdubs, its still his hands. to cast a actor who could not only drum but is that good of a drummer makes that movie get 100% buy in.

Interesting comments. I’ve listened to the sound track a bit(featuring some very traditional big band arrangements, almost reactionary to my ears)but haven’t seen it and I know nothing about movies anyway.
It has generated fascinating controversy and outright anger in and around jazz circles(The “Downbeat” review for instance is typically scathing) and I’ve been avidly reading all about it for weeks.
Quite a bit of debate about the story of Jo Jones attempting to decapitate Parker with a cymbal, the consensus being Jones tossed it onto the floor at his feet to “gong him off”, not his head, but that probably wouldn’t work quite as well on film, I don’t know.
Much of the criticism centres on the ruthless, and I gather rather violent, competitive instruction that several jazz commentators deem to be anathema to musical creativity. Maybe or maybe they’re being a bit precious. About 10 years ago I saw Mike Nock, one of our most respected jazz musicians and a prominent teacher, leave his piano mid tune and march across a stage, where he was leading a star studded big band, to give a dead set public bollocking to guitarist Steve Magnusson, who Nock felt wasn’t in the zone(and they play together now!) And my daughter, who was friends with some of the victims, tells me that a certain uni jazz lecturer(I won’t name her because it’s hearsay but IMHO she’s just about Australia’s best singer) delighted in terrifying and belittling her students who referred to her as The ■■■■■ behind her back. (I don’t think she hit them though, she was into psychological scarring.)
I must admit that it’s a bit of a stretch to believe that any young jazz prodigy would idolize Buddy Rich but if any drummer epitomized music as a competition for hotshot virtuosos, it was Buddy.
It’s not often jazz is in the spotlight so it’s all good fun.

A reply to: @Winderland regarding QuoteLink

Well one scene from Requiem for a dream comes close
Two ends to that argument.

A reply to: @Alan_Noonan_10 regarding QuoteLink

A reply to: @Winderland regarding QuoteLink
Well one scene from Requiem for a dream comes close
Two ends to that argument.

Such a depressing ending

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Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Connelly were attractive child stars who turned into attractive adult stars. I remember as a kid thinking Jennifer Connelly in Labryinth was absolutely beautiful. Of course l was shocked at her descent in Requiem for a dream. Nicholas Hoult, Jerry O'Connell, Patrick Dempsey would not have been considered attractive child stars in those movies. Maybe there are few roles for geeky female child stars.

Scarlett Johanson in Just Cause.

Scarlett Johanson in Eight Legged Freaks

I re-watched The Matrix for the first time in ages.

That movie is still cool as hell, in that it is so pitch-perfect for the time it was created. The internet was all phones and mysterious and authority should be questioned and Rob Zombie was cool and leather and trench coats. All so so good.

Also made me acutely aware having re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy recently, that The Matrix sequels share the same problems as the Star Wars prequels – they answer questions that were more fun left as questions. I didn’t need to see Zion and I didn’t need to know what The Force was, those were things more enjoyable left to the imagination.

A reply to: @Jefferson regarding QuoteLink

A reply to: @Alan_Noonan_10 regarding QuoteLink
A reply to: @Winderland regarding QuoteLink
Well one scene from Requiem for a dream comes close
Two ends to that argument.

Such a depressing ending

Not sure how far either end was depressed.

A reply to: @Riolio regarding QuoteLink

I re-watched The Matrix for the first time in ages.

That movie is still cool as hell, in that it is so pitch-perfect for the time it was created. The internet was all phones and mysterious and authority should be questioned and Rob Zombie was cool and leather and trench coats. All so so good.

Also made me acutely aware having re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy recently, that The Matrix sequels share the same problems as the Star Wars prequels – they answer questions that were more fun left as questions. I didn’t need to see Zion and I didn’t need to know what The Force was, those were things more enjoyable left to the imagination.

Well said re: Zion better left unknown. I couldn’t agree more. Great Trilogy.

The Kingsmen = James Bond theme involving spies that wear suits…

A reply to: @Riolio regarding QuoteLink

I re-watched The Matrix for the first time in ages.

That movie is still cool as hell, in that it is so pitch-perfect for the time it was created. The internet was all phones and mysterious and authority should be questioned and Rob Zombie was cool and leather and trench coats. All so so good.

Also made me acutely aware having re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy recently, that The Matrix sequels share the same problems as the Star Wars prequels – they answer questions that were more fun left as questions. I didn’t need to see Zion and I didn’t need to know what The Force was, those were things more enjoyable left to the imagination.

Totally agree with all that.

Man, the Matrix sequels were so, so bad, that they actually detracted from the legacy of the first one. If that was left at just one movie, it would have been universally known as ‘elite.’ (although there are elements of the second one that I think were underrated. The third one was poo.)

I also remember that for a while there, whenever you bought a new stereo or surround sound system, the first thing you tested it out on was track 21 (I think??) on The Matrix DVD. The scene where they shoot up the lobby. That sh*t was loud as fark, and very ‘surroundy.’

Yes

Ha, good timing this just came out…

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A reply to: @Riolio regarding QuoteLink
I re-watched The Matrix for the first time in ages.

That movie is still cool as hell, in that it is so pitch-perfect for the time it was created. The internet was all phones and mysterious and authority should be questioned and Rob Zombie was cool and leather and trench coats. All so so good.

Also made me acutely aware having re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy recently, that The Matrix sequels share the same problems as the Star Wars prequels – they answer questions that were more fun left as questions. I didn’t need to see Zion and I didn’t need to know what The Force was, those were things more enjoyable left to the imagination.

Well said re: Zion better left unknown. I couldn’t agree more. Great Trilogy.

Yup - love them every time I re-watch them.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE UUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPP

Upyouwakeupyouwakeupyouwake.

God I really want to see Foxcatcher.

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God I really want to see Foxcatcher.

Yes you should. I really enjoyed it.