Movie Draft: Dev's Golden Age: Discussion - Page 2

Awesome, I love that movie.

As chairman of the welcoming committee, it's a pleasure to present a Laurel and hardy handshake to our new ...
... nigger.

Boy oh boy, did Ripoll ever blow it.

And he forgot to make a pick, as well.

Well, it wasn't my first pick, but it was in my top five. Congrats on getting it, but man, that stings.

The Shining is, I believe, the best horror film ever made. For a thousand reasons, but in a nutshell, because its so damn evil. The ghosts are everything you want ghosts in a horror film to be, but the heart of the film is the utter collapse and failure of everything you hold dear. Career and family, pretty much the two central lynchpins of 20th century life, get the shit kicked out of them at the Overlook.

And Two Lane Blacktop goes onto the netflix que.

I nearly bought Two-Lane Blacktop last week, but got The Lives of Others instead (blind buys, both) because the blurb on the film was so dull. Maybe I should rethink...

I am reasonably sure that The Lives Of Others doesn't have a scene of Harry Dean Stanton hitting on Warren Oates. Your loss, Sackley.

I consider THE SHINING to be one of the most unsympathetic looks at the ne'er do well person. Many great horror films deal with our ability to overcome the worst and persevere, but our main character in The Shining is a petty, violent alcoholic. He is an artist by name only. Faulting others when his art never comes to fruition. His own weaknesses lead to the situation at the Overlook (this is important as we can assume that most people who stay there have no issues with the "ghosts").

Danny, a truly gifted human being, can see the problems at The Overlook, and he'd be safe if his weak father and blind enabling mother (her defense of Jack to the social worker is telling) didn't lead him into danger.

Jack is flawed prior to frame one of the film and while many have complained about this fact I think it highlights that bad things were coming the way of the Torrance family regardless of whether or not a boogeyman ever showed his face at the Overlook.

THE SHINING can be seen as comment on the common man (or artist) who victimizes himself, blames the world around him for his failures and drags down everyone around him.

I just love that Kubrick took a middle of the road horror novel and did something very unique and special with it. THE SHINING is, in my opinion, one of the rare times when a movie has far exceeded the quality of the source material it came from.

Me = sold.

The hell you say.

*gloveslap*

Oh, I stand behind that comment and I've read my fair share of King and liked it. I'll fight you AND Mick Garris at dawn and since Garris is involved, it will be a bland fight.

I would say the Kubrick film surpasses a well above average novel, personally. But otherwise, I share you sentiments. It's a dark, mean bitch of a movie, all about failure.

Wow, I couldn't disagree more, but I've had this discussion many, many times already. Let's just say The Shining was nowhere near my Top 50.

A bunch of the threads slid by me but my usual process of ignoring Preproduction class to surf CHUD has once again paid off.

I feel like a n00b for being as excited about this as I am, but fuck it - this is cool. Especially since I think I have a much different perspective on this era than most Chewers.

Jesus I hope not. It is essentially a draft of your films from that era, so if it's your favorite film of that period, then you should draft it. It's not an attempt to make a definitive best-of list.

I've got RAGING BULL on my master list (nice pick, Eileen), but did have a question about eligibility. Premiere in NY was 11/14/80, but wide US release wasn't until 12/19/80. Does eligibility begin with premiere showings or general release?

I had the same question and was hoping the premiere on cut-off date would be acceptable. If not then another will be chosen.

according to boxofficemojo it was in 4 theaters in NY for Nov 14-6 so it should count. And 180 theaters in dec. is still limited release. size doesn't matter

This is my first draft too, but I'd have to think you want to strategize the order of your picks so you don't lose any of them. If your favorite movie is very obscure, and your second favorite is very mainstream, I gotta think you're picking the more mainstream movie in Round 1, because it won't be available in Round 2, and your obscure movie probably will be.

It seems like most people haven't even seen Two-Lane Blacktop (myself included), let alone were planning to draft it. I'm sure Phil could've waited until a late round to pick it up. Then again, maybe all his picks are equally obscure; if so, I could understand the pick.

Well, it sounds like he picked his favourite, so he's gotta be happy.

I doubt I'll be getting crazily mainstream; I'm not going for elitism, but odds are I've been watching all the revered classics for ten years more than a few of you, and my head's now more wrapped up in some of the hidden gems.

How many films will each person have at the end of this?

Five. Without bonus rounds.

Well, with Eileen's pick, another of my top five disappears in a puff of smoke.

Great pick, though. This movie is incredible. I've always maintained that if I ever taught a class in film, this would be the movie I would show during the section on editing.

Nice one Eric.

CHINATOWN going hurts a little. I was hoping that would slip all the way to my bracket. Damn, damn, damn...

Great pick.

3 of my top 5 are gone.

It's one of my favorite films, and I just couldn't let it go to anyone else.

You selfish SOB.

Chinatown wasn't making it out this bracket. I had it all teed up. Great pick.

Nicholson is going to be quite popular in this draft.

Man, I'm wondering why I get involved in these drafts. Too much gnashing of teeth and sorrow when I see one of my pics fall. Good, solid choices from all so far, guys.

Don't worry, that's my one good pick, so I had to play it early.

Nashville was also one I was considering. That's a great pick and perhaps the premiere ensemble movie of ever.

I am becoming actively nervous about my list. This is ridiculous.

And I don't fucking pick till last bracket, tomorrow... Fucking argh.

If I'd had the first pick, it would've been Chinatown. I'm kinda surprised it lasted as long as it did.

I had it at the top of my list as well.

I just watched Nashville and was considering picking it in round two had it survived. It's such a great portrait of a time and place that also works as an analogy for the whole. So sharply observed, with great songs and funny little moments and eccentricities.

Marry me.

Was hoping against hope that Nashville would have been on my list. Great pick.

First-time drafter here as well, and it's interesting because I've been considering the opposite strategy. I figured that a lot of us are familiar with the same 'obscure' films and that those would go quickly, followed by a mop-up of mainstream titles in later rounds. Either way, I expect a really interesting combination by Round 5.

Good to see someone broke the Star Wars barrier early, anyway.

Yeah, but who now is going to pick A New Hope when the superior SW has already been chosen? Will it be The Two Towers of this draft?

Oh, and fuck you, Evil.

I was thinking ESB before the order came out but couldn't justify it a top 4 pick. It's going to be so sad seeing all these great movies go the next 3 days with my next pick Monday.

Dickson'll pick it if it's still around.

The surest sign of a good pick.

Even though there's a lot of great movies out there, the ratio of what I consider great popcorn movies is very low. It really wasn't until the 80s that things really changed. I figured that there's plenty of serious, groundbreaking movies out there, but not that much of the guiltfree popcorn variety. At least not of any budget. So, why not grab arguably one of the top two popcorn flicks of the era?

If they call it A New Hope, it's not '70s. That there's revisionist talk.

God damn it, Dellamorte. I'm sputtering with indignant rage. That's the third of my top five to get snatched from me.

Great pick, and a fantastic movie. I picked up the Criterion disc for that the day it was released, and the commentary is so great.

Hudler snags my number 1. I knew I wasn't going to get it, but still. Such an amazing film. I still regret not taking the time to watch it on the big screen when I had the opportunity.

I knew Straw Doigs wouldn't last, but I'm no less sorry to see it go.

Two Hoffman films in a row!

And oop-- there goes the third Nicholson.

Damn you, Plume!! I'm going to smother you with a pillow!