Doomed From The Start : Chud Film of the Month Club - El Aura / The Deer Hunter

I can't comment on 'El Aura' yet, but I can start the discussion on 'The Deer Hunter'.

I think that it's a brilliant movie that does a great job of creating believable, flawed characters and putting them through the wringer.

Favorite moments:
- The veteran at the bar saying FUCK IT. De Niro's reaction to this man is interesting, given what happens later on in the film.
- The long take of the guys fucking around with John Cazale after they stop the car and take a piss on the side of the road. A lot of character is shown in this scene.
- George Dzundza playing the piano after the hunt. Once again, a lot of character is in this scene.
- The big Russian Roullette scene at the heart of the film. It's as tense as a scene can possibly get.
- Chrisopher Walken breaking down into tears at the hospital while he looks down at the armless man in the bed.
- God Bless America.

For some reason, George Dzundza is my favorite character in the film.

I really loved El Aura, i was gripped from the first sequence - sometimes subtitled films can fail to engage with a western audience but this one just grabs you from the very first moment. I love the way the opening bank-job sequence unfurls, such a simple narrative device but done beautifully here.

Esteban's character is so rich and charismatic he draws you in with quiet brilliance - I think the rain man comparison is apt to a point, he is certainly on the autism rainbow with his attention to detail and difficulty with social situations but that can be common in people with epilepsy, I get the feeling that the epilepsy has caused him to withdraw and this has led to him having the time to think about all these things whilst becoming introverted.

Something I didn't get was: why did he go south with his friend? He seemed pretty clear about not going, although he does seem to be quite easily led we've all been dragged along to things by pushy mates.

Arriving in the south I was struck by the scenery and lush vegetation, I wasn't sure what kind of forest there would be in Argentina, but the fact that it looked like most forests I've been to was comforting. Here I would just like to say that the forest was almost a character in itself, it was a living breathing accomplice (especially during the "aura" and post seizure sequences).

After the incident I found the dog to be just fascinating, I don't know how many dogs they looked at but this one had the perfect "I know what you did - and I would tell on you - but I'm a dog." stare, then as time wears on you realize that the dog has adopted him because he killed the abusive master.

My one beef appears now. I think he should have found the key and gone into the shack right away, that way we were straight into Act 2. I also liked the way we didn't play on the gore of the dead dietrich - we didn't keep cutting back to see what had been eating him or him decomposing or even linger on him when he was just dead. Bang, he's dead, let's move on.

Once we were in the shack, chekhov's gun makes it's appearance - quite literally, and we are teased with information, however this flurry of information is taken in easily by our hero and act 2 starts the planning of the job. Again the stalking and eventual death of vega seems oddly protrtacted, I know that his death is used in the twist at the end but...

The way esteban insinuates himself into the plan and manages to convince everyone that it's all going to plan is superb, keeping the act up even when he's being kicked around, tested and threatened with the gun.

The heist portion of the film is fine and it's nice to see it all go wrong so beautifully. The 2 things I'm left with are: Personally I don't think he took the money, it was an exercise and taking the money would have been out of character. Secondly (and this is the headfuck): what he didn't actually go south. What if all of this happened in his head while he was taxidermying in Buenos Aires? I know it's a bit of a Tommy Westphall but I think it's worth considering, even if things occur which aren't to-the-plan. Maybe I'm thinking it too much myself!

Anyway this is a great piece of "neo-noir" and I thank you, tati, for introducing this to me.

Hopefully I will get around to watching the deer hunter (unfortunately I have a patholoical hatred for DeNiro and most of his films so it's going to be a tough sell, hopefully walken's presence will be enough to offset that as pesci's often does)

It's really an ensemble piece with EVERYONE putting in a career making performance. You've got Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, Meryl Streep, and the vastly underrated George Dzundza to help you get past any misgivings that you may have regarding De Niro.

They will help. I'll give it a looksee this week.

Of course! Missed the wife thing completely and the dog at the end was a nice touch. I may watch this again soon, just to wring some more of the details out of it...

It is the greatest movie about war ever made. although it is no more a war movie then The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). It really about the effects of war on people.

The veteran at the bar saying FUCK IT, and De Niro's character are really the same type of person. At the end De Niro's character deal with his anger better then the Veteran did. I see it as kind of a full circle kind of thing. Walken's character and the veteran are just unable to deal with the horror of war. De Niro's character is able to let it go, and become a new man, a better man.

Interesting point. It's noteworthy that this exchange is also vital in showing the inner rage within De Niro's character. Without this exchange, alot of the incidents later on in the film might not make alot of sense, especially as we get towards the end of the film and the Walken resolution.

Just keep the safety on in the woods.

I'm halfway through 'El Aura', Tati. We had to turn it off midway through due to an emergency.

GREAT movie so far.

Alright, I don't have much time now, but I'm a huge fan of El Aura, love the hell of it. Haven't had a chance to re-watch it, but I will say that it raises a lot of questions, and had it not been for the aforementioned dog I too would probably of assumed it's all imagined. I'll see it again just to check on some details, and because I love it, but I could still see where Bellinsky could spin it to be all a dream. We don't see the dog, but is it ever mentioned before to the trip? A neighbors, friends, or maybe even his? I'd say that his imagination certainly gives me cause to doubt the reality of the heist.

Say the heist did occur though, I could also propose an answer to "why is he the way he is still, introverted, bla bla?" Well, I'd say that his personality in itself is pretty much one of isolation. He has a talent, and most of what he does revolves around himself. His profession at the time (or at least hobby, taxidermy), doesn't require other people. He can do all needs to without people. He clearly likes this, otherwise it wouldn't be his profession. Second, his imagination, which of course is exclusively his, and even when he tries to share it with others, he is basically ignored and not taken seriously. Such is the case with the co-worker near the start of the film. Therefore, I think he would just return to his life, money or not. He doesn't have friends, his wife left him, and this doesn't seem to have a significant affect on him. Darin's performance is wonderful in that it lets one draw conclusions such as these though Darin did not have a ton of dialog. He's thinks and acts quickly, and there's a coldness there that I could compare to Michael Corleone, minus the obvious social differences, that would allow him to kill and scheme as is shown without feeling the emotional and/or psychological consequences.

So I don't really have an answer, the film's a bit too intentionally ambivalent (which I love), and instead of spelling it out for us, lets us decide for ourselves, drawing our own conclusions. These are the best kinds of films when done correctly, as was El Aura.

Awesome movie, can't wait to watch it again.

LOVED 'El Aura'. I prefer to think that it was all imagined rather than actually executed, but it works beautifully as it is. This is also an exceptionally well shot film; I really loved the look and feel of it.

Any other comments would really just be a repeat of what's been said before by the others. Thanks, Tati!

Oh, I understood that it wasn't imagined. I just think that it would have been an interesting approach to find out that it WAS indeed all imagined.

He's able to think and visualize quite clearly; it would have been interesting to find out that he had actually visualized everything to its completion and realized that shit DOES NOT always go as planned. I have no complaint with how it actually ended, though.

More of the Chewers need to see this film. Great recommendation, Tati.

Not only that, but completely different than the four or five Darin performances I've seen. Shame we lost Bielinsky.

I prefer Nine Queens to The Aura. But this film is quite excellent for chunks. Could be about 15-20 minutes shorter without losing any of its punch. It's really a shame the director died. He was on his way to an impressive body of work.

I remember reading somewhere that they tested 'The Deer Hunter' a few times with an abbreviated version of the opening wedding sequence and it didn't do as well. Even though it's a long sequence in a long movie, it's totally necessary for setting up the characters and the dynamics working between them.

It's interesting to compare John Cazale's work in this film to his work as Fredo in the first 2 Godfather films.

I know I haven't posted in any of the other threads but I just happened to watch The Deer Hunter a few days ago and thought I'd chime in.

I loved it. Like possibly one of my new favorite movies loved it. It's funny, when you say that it's a three hour movie with what is essentially an hour long wedding scene to kick things off it sounds painful but it's anything but. I love the hunting scenes, with that almost operatic score and how beautiful the mountains are.

Christopher Walken absolutely breaks my heart in this movie. DeNiro's probably my favorite performance though. Good work by Meryl Streep and John Cazale too. I didn't think Cazale's ill health showed at all.

It does, but it fit the character. The song in the wedding scene is down right painful.

All of the B-Movie thread people owe you a viewing as well. They'd love this film.

My friens and I have been on a classic films kick, and he's never seen The Deer Hunter so we're going to watch it later. Cazale friggin' owns this flick.

Just saw El Aura, great film thanks for the recommendation Tati.

I thought he took the money, he shows up with a bag when he goes to see the girl. It seems he's going to give her some or all of it. Of course, it's not clear that he then takes that bag with him but that's what you would assume.

They fooled me with the dog at the end, for a moment I thought he had killed him too (until the dog moved his eye)!

El Aura is on Netflix Watch It Now. Rejoice! It's a Festivus miracle!

It's on my Netflix Instant Watch queue! I swear I almost watched it over Christmas.

El Aura

I caught this film at a local festival at the time of it's release, it's a tragedy that we lost Bielinksy, his first film was superb debut and one of my favorite films. I think had Fabian lived, he would've made Ricardo Darin a fucking superstar, he should be working with the world's best filmmakers. I really liked El Aura, it was a great take on the heist film, I love the fact that this man with a huge ego get's the perfect chance to prove he can commit the perfect crime but he's essentially fucked by his epileptic fits. These fits always come at the absolute worst time, so he has to think his way out these problematic situations caused by his handicap. I loved how Bielinsky presented the reality of those fits, like his reality is being distorted and he's absolutely powerless, you can feel them coming on like something taking control of his soul.

The Deer Hunter

This film kinda reminds me of the song 'Life in a northern town', I was always under the impression this was a vietnam movie like Platoon etc, that's only one facet of the film though. The four blue collar guys are presented in the process of preparing for a wedding and a hunting trip. We see these characters through the ultimate act of male bonding, the hunting trip, the act of hunting is merely preparation for Mike for the killing fields of vietnam, he's mentally prepared for it, Stevie and Nicky aren't nearly as prepared, they see it as a quick trip overseas and back again.
One thing I did find fascinating about this film is how the russian roulette scenes are shown to be the ultimate act of willpower, the act of cheating death. Mike doesn't let it destroy him but Nicky is just completely undone by it and Steve as well.
I'm wondering though why Mike sabotaged the rescue attempt by the helicopter, Steve managed to get onboard but Mike had Nicky in a scissor hold until they fell, was Mike trying to save Nicky or make sure they both fell, I was slightly confused by that.
Christ was this film long, everytime I thought this film was going to end it just kept going. It's a really good film but the pacing was off in parts.

To be honest, It's awhile since I've seen it, I probably should watch it again.

I'd never seen Cimino before so seeing an interview with him was a total shock, he looks nothing like I expected.

Watching El Aura via Instant Watch was a mistake. The movie looks like ass on it.

But it's a beautiful thing - felt almost like a film noir by Antonioni. Great performances (the whole thing is well cast; just some really great FACES in the whole thing), and they do so much without dialogue, which I think puts this over into "great" for me.

I wish every film that drops off its lead where we found them didn't tempt people to go into the "all a dream" end of the pool. The film plays out across a series of days, helpfully titled on screen at the front of each day! I suppose anything is possible, but I've never dreamed title cards. The filmmakers couldn't make it any more plain to me. Plus as Tati said, there's the dog at the end.

Great direction here - even when you see some things coming (the final epileptic seizure, the gun hidden behind the deer skull), it's presented so well that you're hanging onto every frame.

Really great recommendation. Sorry for the delay, Tati.

Oof. I didn't need to hear that.

On the Deer Hunter tip, the John Cazale documentary I Knew It Was You airs tomorrow night on HBO.