View Full Version : Michael Brooke - "Requiem For A Dream" - your opinion?
baconjoe
22-10-2001, 13:48
Hi Michael,
You seem to be quite well travelled in the world of film, just wondering what you thought of this film?
George vader
22-10-2001, 16:07
Michael doesn't do requests!;)
jonathan.e
22-10-2001, 16:13
Not seen this myself - I just can’t take hard drugs movies but as a massive Jennifer Connelly admirer I might force myself to if someone can appraise me of just how nekkid she gets.
Crass, I know but I’m only human for God’s sake!
He pretty much said check out some Shinya Tsukamoto films instead! :rolleyes:
Personally I enjoyed (I know - not really a good verb to use in this case) it very much!
Do a search in future I've pulled up these related threads for you...
Here (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178) & here (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25898).
If you liked <I>Pi</I> then give it a whirl.
Ben Martin
22-10-2001, 16:31
Originally posted by baconjoe
Hi Michael, You seem to be quite well travelled in the world of film, just wondering what you thought of this film?
as george vader says above, he doesn't do requests. i think the 'rule' is that MB won't post on any thread that bears his name. a better way to get his opinion on a movie is to address your question to the whole forum (which is kind of the point after all) and wait to see if he weighs in.
however, the most sensible approach of all would be to spend a few seconds with the search function, which reveals MB's opinion of the film on this thread (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7011).
furthermore, not wishing to sound like an arse, but .... at the time you posted this thread there was a thread in the top half of the first page of the 'DVD & Movie Forum' with the words "Requiem For A Dream" in the title that also stated the last person to post on it was one 'Michael Brooke'. in it, he advises the purchase of the 1960s Batman dvd over requiem (albeit for the commentary).
You seem to be quite well travelled in the world of film, just wondering what you thought of this film?
Creep !
Originally posted by jonathan.e
Not seen this myself - I just can’t take hard drugs movies but as a massive Jennifer Connelly admirer I might force myself to if someone can appraise me of just how nekkid she gets.
Crass, I know but I’m only human for God’s sake!
jonathan,
As a Jennifer Connelly admirer myself and having seen the film, I can confirm that you see two instances of nudity from the delectable one. Unfortunately, that superb hunch front of hers doesn't get an airing from what I remember but you do see that she could do with a bikini wax 'down below'.
Also, she's a drug addict throughout most of the film so she doesn't look her greatest.
Cap'n Al
22-10-2001, 17:11
Much as I hate to say, my colleague's rather on his own with his dislike of Requiem; most people think it's a masterpiece, and I wholeheartedly agree with them.
jonathan.e
22-10-2001, 17:12
tuffjam, thanks. Strange that the twins don’t make an appearance, ah well I may catch it at some point but I think a purchase may not be a good idea.
While we’re on the subject will someone, anyone give me a good reason why this gorgeous woman is not a major star? What kind of a world do we live in where studios pay ridiculous sums of money to engulf audiences with Julia Roberts’s gargantuan lips (steady..) or Sandra Bullock’s mediocrity and yet the most beautiful woman in the world seems to have to get by on bit parts??!!!
Yeah you see more Connelly flesh in Once Upon A Time In America albeit a body double :rolleyes: :o
Originally posted by Garry Cowell
Yeah you see more Connelly flesh in Once Upon A Time In America albeit a body double :rolleyes: :o
I take it you've not seen "The Hot Spot" then? :D
I thought Requiem For A dream was a self-indulgent exercise in tedium and I couldn't give two hoots about any of the characters in it. Probably my worst film of last year just for its pretentiousness of thinking it is great. Bear in mind, I also saw this film for FREE and still hated it.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
Does this toadying to Michael Brooke have some point beyond being an attempt to ingratiate yourself with him ? I'm sure Michael would be the first to agree that he is not the be-all and end-all of film criticism on this forum and his decision not to address these kinds of threads is surely the right one.
For the record, my opinion is here (http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=73) .
It's a great piece of work, probably the best new film I've seen this year and the DVD is the best disc I've seen too, so it will be no 1 on my pick of the year, unless Columbia come up with someone pretty special for "Casualties of War".
Originally posted by Mike
Does this toadying to Michael Brooke have some point beyond being an attempt to ingratiate yourself with him ? I'm sure Michael would be the first to agree that he is not the be-all and end-all of film criticism on this forum and his decision not to address these
Mike, I am really glad you brought this up because these type of threads are starting to irritate me. Michael Brooke, not to discredit him in any way, watches just as many films as the rest of us reviewers and when forum users continually direct film related questions to MB they are missing out on a wealth of valuable knowledge and insight from my fellow reviewers. If someone is rude enough to ask a direct question to MB on a public forum, then from now on I'll refuse to answer them even if I could have helped. Also, the man has an e-mail address and can be e-mailed if anyone desperately wans his opinion on something. Private closed off discussions are not for dvdforums.
jonathan.e
22-10-2001, 20:39
Gettin’ ugly in here :rolleyes:
Gary Couzens
22-10-2001, 20:59
Originally posted by Cap'n Al
Much as I hate to say, my colleague's rather on his own with his dislike of Requiem; most people think it's a masterpiece, and I wholeheartedly agree with them.
MB's in a minority of at least three, along with Raphph and myself.
So do Reviewers just agree to disagree or it it a case of paper scissors, stone until the death?
Kit_Taylor
22-10-2001, 21:09
I'll always have a soft spot for Requiem. Even though I'd never been into films I was compelled to buy a DVD player out by general geekinees. Requiem was the first film I bought that made me realise I could watch a film and feel completely gobsmacked afterwards, rather than just be left thinking "yeah, that was pretty good." Maybe if I weren't a film geekery virgin I wouldn't have been blown away, or maybe I would have thought it was ass, but Requiem was the film that got me into films and has had a huge influence on my tastes since.
Originally posted by Joe91
I take it you've not seen "The Hot Spot" then? :D
or Mulholland Falls !!
On the Requiem side - superb film and the DVD has a 5.1 mix which really uses the surrounds!! Also very "Magnolia" -like in pace IMHO :)
Personally I really enjoyed requiem, I also enjoyed Pi which I saw knowing nothing about at an art centre many moons ago when it was released.
I think MB's dislike of the film was that it was a rip of the works of Shinya Tsukamoto (Tetsuo, Testsuo II, Tokyo Fist), which is true, but as a big Shinya Tsukamoto fan I enjoyed both of Darren Aronofsky's films. Tetsuo is one of my favourite films of all time and anything that pays homage in style to it is okay in my book.
I enjoyed Pi and I also enjoyed Requiem, but I enjoyed Requiem for a Dream far more.
I pre-ordered it having heard loads of American reviewers talking about it nd also having seen Pi.
I tried to avoid learning about the plot as I wanted to enjoy (seems like the wrong word) the whole experience.
Having watched the movie I was touched and in awe. It really moved me. Some of the cinematography and the funny camera angles were a bit annoying. This is when I agree it was trying to be a little too 'cool'.
But overall the movie is leaves such a big impact, it shows how people can spiral down into darkness.
I think Jared Leto and Marlon Waynes (suprisingly) both gave excellent performances and Jennifer Connelly was also pretty good, but the star of the movie for me by far was Ellen Burstyn, she gave an excellent performance as the lonley mother which really made it for me.
I would say that this is the kind of movie you are either going to love or hate, my girlfriend hated it and I loved it, well as much as you can love a movie like this. Some parts of it are overwhelming and the score is beautiful..
I would thoroughly recommend it, but I can totally understand that it wont be to everyone's taste, a movie of this nature will never appeal to everyone, and from the people I've spoken to there seems to be a clear divide between those who loved it and those who hated it, with very few in-between.
:)
Mark
Arch Stanton
22-10-2001, 22:22
Put me down in the no camp.
It's an overated and over cooked headache of a movie that just seems like an excuse for the director to use his bumper book of flashy camera angles that his mum got him for film school.
To be fair, the original novel by Hubert Selby is just as overcooked and flashy as Aaronofsky's film, so the stylistic excesses struck me as entirely appropriate. Rather more so than in "pi", in my opinion.
Mike, I am really glad you brought this up because these type of threads are starting to irritate me. Michael Brooke, not to discredit him in any way, watches just as many films as the rest of us reviewers and when forum users continually direct film related questions to MB they are missing out on a wealth of valuable knowledge and insight from my fellow reviewers.
Mmm. And fellow forum members, of course; this knowledge and insight not being confined exclusively to the reviewing fraternity on here ...
jonathan.e
22-10-2001, 23:26
Originally posted by GK
Mmm. And fellow forum members, of course; this knowledge and insight not confined exclusively to the reviewing fraternity on here ...
All reviewers are equal, but some are more equal than others? :D
Raphph, Gary & Mike - there's no need to be jealous of Michael, just hype yourselves like he does ;) :D
Of course, I'm just kidding....but go on, admit it, you're all just the teensie weensiest bit jealous :)
I wouldn't want the hassle he gets, trying to live up to everyone's expectations. I bet he has shares in google :)
I wait with baited breath ..
MB doesn't care what anyone else thinks anyway - he's quite content listening to the sound of his own voice ;)
Oops! Just crossed a line - I'll surely be exiled for these personal attacks! I'm just trying to tease him into posting and breaking his own rule....we all know you're reading this Michael ;)
rezabelady
23-10-2001, 01:10
Originally posted by pythons
.. and Damon Waynes (suprisingly) both gave excellent performances
i haven't seen the film but that would indeed be surprising seeing as he is'nt in it!! (his brother Marlon is, however :))
baconjoe
23-10-2001, 09:00
Does this toadying to Michael Brooke have some point beyond being an attempt to ingratiate yourself with him ? I'm sure Michael would be the first to agree that he is not the be-all and end-all of film criticism on this forum and his decision not to address these
Christ almighty, I just thought that because MB seems to have an opinion to give in the majority of film related threads, he might have an opinion here.
I don't know "the rules" I am an occasional poster on these forums and don't spend half of my waking life here like it seems some of you who so forcefully seem to have hijacked this thread slagging me off.
Thanks very much to you - I think I will stick to posting on the "Unofficial ********* Thread" only from now on.
Don't worry Joe - I think they (meaning anyone) maybe did go a little over the top on this. I'd say they should've noticed your low post count and given you a break as a relative 'newbie'.
This particular forum is great for a wealth of information and opinion and has helped me immensely - not just a certain member, but the whole forum community all have useful things to add (in the main!).
Chill out guys - give the man a break!
Morpheus2000
23-10-2001, 09:12
I made a posting about this before and Mr Brooke didn't like it by sounds of things. As do I, film is complete rubbish!
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=11954&referrerid=8258
Originally posted by rezabelady
i haven't seen the film but that would indeed be surprising seeing as he is'nt in it!! (his brother Marlon is, however :))
Ahem... :o
jonathan.e
23-10-2001, 09:45
.....so anyway, back to the subject of Jennifer Connelly’s chest.........
Tyler Durden
23-10-2001, 12:54
Loved it.
The film that is ;)
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