TFT 116 – HOT TUB TIME MACHINE / THE GHOST WRITER / YOJIMBO
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DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:
THE GHOST WRITER / HOT TUB TIME MACHINE / YOJIMBO
posted in forum General Movie Stuff by nathan099
posted in forum Miscellaneous by zad1138
posted in forum Miscellaneous by seanpdudley
posted in forum General Movie Stuff by seanpdudley
posted in forum General Movie Stuff by Jett Loe
great discussion! as always…
what did you make of mcgregor somnolent state all through the film?
he's sleep deprived, jet-lagged, mildly drunk, shitfaced or really tired in 90% of the film…
i liked that detail a lot, as it positioned me, as a viewer, only “partially” grasping all that was happening to the protagonist through the events in the film
but then again i did have to combat somnolence after the first 45 minutes and finally fell asleep halfway through (on probably the worst moment possible, the car “chase”)
but this might have been due to personal circumstances and not the film itself …. however somnolence and alcoholic intoxication were clearly and repeatedly presented on the story
Think you've got something there re: the protagonist's somnolent state = metaphor perhaps for the sleepwalking populace that let the iraq war happen?
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[...] The Film Talk » TFT 116 – HOT TUB TIME MACHINE / THE GHOST WRITER / YOJIMBO [...]
Agree with you 100%, Jett, on “HTTM”.
Fantastic 80's homage that encapsulated the vibe of almost every 80's teen movie and I loved Crispin Glover's role – fantastic idea.
Also – I wonder if people born in the 90's feel about HTTM and the 80's the same way we felt with Back To The Future and the 50's? Nearly the same time difference, but I remember feeling the 50's was absolutely other-worldly, whereas the 80's seems like a few years ago to me.
DYING TO SEE HOT TUB TIME MACHINE!!
as a child of mostly the 80s, (and roughly a few formative years in the 70s *cough, cough* (>.>)(<.<)), john cusack (and red sports cars) represent to me most of what that decade was about! Of course the young teen movies were often very simplistic and formulaic, but there was a definite comfort in their formulaic-ness that i'm hoping is touched on in this movie! (and was definitely touched on in the South Park episode “Asspen”)
Very, VERY glad to hear that Chevy Chase is in the film! Seriously, my childhood love for him has been rekindled due to his role on Community – that i have to second as the funniest on tv right now!
TO PHIL: i actually have had that same thought (in regards to the 50s being 'other-wordly')! but i try not to think too hard on the answer! ;)
Hi Guys.
I, too, loved THE GHOST WRITER. The story, while perfectly fine, simply became the skeleton to hang that gorgeous craft on.
One thing you both got wrong, though: Kim Catrell is neither American nor British. She's (much to my shame) Canadian and, honestly, probably the worst thing about the film.
Take care,
Jay (a fellow Canadian)
Hi Jay,welcome to the discussion – alas while I admire Canada a very great deal, I must humbly offer in my own defence the many references to Ms Cattrall being born near Liverpool that one will find all over the internet. Not one to take wikipedia's word for it, this merely confirms a vague memory of an interview she did with Richard & Judy on UK ITV's 'This Morning' many moons ago. But I do agree, she doesn't seem to fit in the movie.
Looking at KC's Wikipedia entry which documents her formative years as ping-ponging back and forth from the UK to Canada I think we can say that she is 'Anglo-American' – and therefore perfect for her role in THE GHOST WRITER! ;)
sources (she has triple citizenship – US/UK/Canada):
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/movies/movie-news/…
Hi Gareth. Hi Jett.
What is this thing you call the internet?
True, true, I did no homework, but here in Canada, many a young boy came of age in the eighties (so to speak) with the knowledge that, not only did Kim Catrell star in our highest grossing film (Porky's), but her pubic hair was 100% Canadian! Does that mean all our masturbatory mentors lied to us?
Still, nice to know that we were all sort-of right about her origins.
On a more serious note, except the beautiful and fully British Olivia Williams, I did find the inability of any of The Ghost Writer's cast to keep an accent a bit distracting (well, that and the censored profanity).
Kim Catrell was far and away the worst offender, sounding more like the high-fallutin' hosebag she plays on Sex in the City than anyone from the British Isles.
But Ewan, I believe, was supposed to be from London, though his Scottish accent kept slipping in. One could argue that he is merely a Scot living in London, but I just don't think he can do it, extremely talented though he may be.
And Pierce was also supposed to be full-on British, but all I kept hearing was his Irish brogue every time he opened his mouth. I actually did do a google search on the man, and he is Irish. And here's a disturbing little fact about Pierce Brosnan and google: when you space after his name and they offer search suggestions, “Pierce Brosnan Wife Fat” comes up next. That's just plain mean.
As always,
Jay
Terrific show, guys (though not nearly as good as the last one…Ciaran Hinds is one of my favorite actors, and that was about as good an interview as I can imagne).
Of course, I disagree with a lot of what was said about everything. I liked 'The Ghost Writer' and 'Yojimbo' is one of my favorite films. But Jett, your take on the former boggles the mind. You dare compare the film favorably to 'Barry Lyndon', the greatest film by one of the greatest directors to walk this earth? And compare it favorably to 'Parallax View', a conspiracy thriller superior in every way imaginable (pretty much the best one ever made)? And call it witty that it was filmed in Europe, when there is no reason to believe that wit had anything to do with it?
'The Ghost Writer' is a wonderful tongue-in-cheek, easy-going throwback. It's got a great opening (the connection to 'Strangers on a Train' is spurious at best, though), and one of the most thrilling shots in recent years (with the note at the end), both accompanied by a marvelous score by the marvelous Alexandre Desplat. The first half is practically an exercise in mood, avoiding anything more concrete for as long as possible.
I appreciate as always your capacity for reading tremendous depths into anything, but I can't believe 'The Ghost Writer' is the film you choose to do this with.
Seeing as I agreed with Gareth on 'The Hangover', I assume I'll be with him on this year's breakout comedy sensation…though Jett, you're right about 'Community', best comedy in a while.
Oh, and 'Hannibal' is an unabashed love story. It is not even trying to be similar to 'Silence of the Lambs'. Of course Lecter isn't as scary outside- he's not supposed to be. But that movie is probably Ridley Scott's best since 'Blade Runner'. Like 'A.I.', one day I hope people will see it for what it is, as opposed to what it's not.
'Yojimbo' kicks ass. For different reasons than you've stated (one could barely tell from your talk that it was a comedy!), but close enough.
Great episode with plenty to chew on, a lot of ideas to throw up on the wall, even if few of them stuck. Keep up the terrific and exasperating talk!