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Into the Wild (2007)
solipsistic naive self indulgent adolescent
weenblow's comment is pretty representative of those who found this movie to be concerned with a solipsistic, naive, self indulgent adolescent "I feel like I have been cheated. There was really nothing of much redeeming value to be found in this film. The character development did not help me to sympathize with the main character, he came off as a brash, uninformed idealist with no real intelligence." My summary judgement is that a] the book is about spoiled rich brat in a long line of writers who have the luxury to criticise 'society' from the vantage of privilege b] the movie in representing this is bound to fail Please don't waste your time: it's an example of a 'cult' movie that feeds on its own self importance. Come back Thoreau, Rosseau, Beat Poets et al - all is forgiven. grrrrrrr 1 is too generous; please can IMDb provide a negative number scale as well? If so I'd give this minus 10
Smokin' Aces (2006)
When cleverness becomes self indulgence
I am more annoyed with myself for having wasted a Sunday evening watching this appalling exercise in directorial self indulgence than I I am with the awful whole production itself.
Oh come on gimme a break! This movie is so much been there before & got the t shirt a la mode that it becomes overwhelmingly dull. Think of sub-prime Lock Stock, Snatch, Long Good Friday etc
What keeps the attention is the adrenaline rush of murder after murder, slash after slash. Oh yes, it relies on any number of racial and cultural clichés to help the viewer navigate the plot - a bit like a Punch and Judy show except somewhat less complex
Once a movie achieves cult status it becomes difficult for the comments of non adherents to be accepted but in a vain hope here's a bit of free advice to the non converted; please don't waste your time. Maybe you could do some voluntary work or help the aged instead.
The ending was excellent: I just wish it had happened sooner.
Être et avoir (2002)
tres chic
Don't they salute the Flag, Pledge Allegiance or hold Assemblies in French schools? I did not see any reference to the World outside the rural part of France: is that any help to the next generation of French students trying to survive in a modern world?
By the age of 6 or so all of us at school were expected to be able to locate England and the main Dominions, Colonies and Commonwealth members. Maybe they cannot do tha in France for good reason?
I can see the point of this movie; it celebrates the joy of looking inward in a French way. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just saying. It's cute, amusing and diversionary but perhaps there is a temptation to deify this beyond its self referential framework?
A story of a rural Canadian, American or English school could be equally appealing: perhaps it's the effect of being a non English speaking / foreign language movie that moves it up through the ranks.
Do go and watch this - don't take my word for it. Tongues in cheek are in season at the moment. The teacher is sincerity personified and the story of his Spanish father's migration to France, his parents' financial sacrifices and the hidden sacrifices he has made in his life go to make this a story that is more interesting about the man than the children. Break out the sincerity popcorn folks and wallow in French arcadia for an hour or two; can't hurt can it?