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Post by arjan on Jun 27, 2006 17:02:35 GMT -5
I guess my favourite director is Roman Polanski www.imdb.com/name/nm0000591/Great movies, I've seen a lot of them. Some favourites include The Pianist, Le Locataire (The Tenant), Replusion, Nóz w wodzie (Knife in the Water) and Death and the Maiden. What's your favourites? |
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Post by erik on Jun 27, 2006 20:40:15 GMT -5
Whatever eccentricities the man might have, he is certainly one of the best directors in film for the last fifty years for sure.
My personal favorite from his filmography would be his 1968 horror masterpiece ROSEMARY'S BABY, one of the most influential films of its type ever. A second one of his would be his 1971 take on Shakespeare's MACBETH--though for this film, it's probably advisable that you have a strong stomach; it is plenty violent (but fitting for its subject matter).
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Post by robertaxel on Jun 27, 2006 20:42:44 GMT -5
The magnificent 'Chinatown' which takes the classic film noir and layers it with Watergate era cynicism. Nicholson was at his peak, and sadly phoned in many of his roles after this one. Was there ever a cooler femme fatale than Faye Dunaway?
Robert
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Post by erik on Jun 27, 2006 20:54:21 GMT -5
D**n, CHINATOWN slipped my mind!
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Post by arjan on Jun 28, 2006 4:09:15 GMT -5
I didn't think MacBeth was very violent, or maybe I'm just used to more.
Recently I saw a Polanski movie of 1971, "What?". It's a parody on sexploitation movies, with absolutely no apperent story, a lot of nudity and actors who themselves feel the movie is going nowhere. Really weird but cool.
I liked "Chinatown" too though usually not too keen on these kind of movies. Will watch it again someday. Of course I also saw "Rosemary's Baby" which I do like but is not as good, when it comes to scary or psychological, as Repulsion or The Tenant.
Recently a new movie was released on dvd, the Polanski version of "Oliver Twist". When prices become affordable I'll get that one too, curious about it...
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Post by erik on Jul 1, 2006 18:14:39 GMT -5
Quote by arjan:
Obviously for our era, it's not much in terms of violence; but many who saw it in 1971 here in the U.S. came out of the theater feeling rather queasy.
Incidentally, legend has it that Polanski filmed MACBETH the way he did as a cathartic reaction towards the brutal murder of his pregnant wife Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson gang two years before. I really don't know if that's true or not (the play itself is very bloody to begin with); but because of Polanski's reputation, people here in America are willing to believe anything about the man, whether it is fact or fiction.
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Post by arjan on Jul 26, 2006 13:30:40 GMT -5
Yesterday I saw Oliver Twist. I know it's a classic story but I had never read the book nor did I see any of the movies, so I was totally new to it.
I loved the movie. Great camerawork with nice colours, good acting and a fine story. There's not really many big names in it, but Polanski directing it made me interested since I found out about it.
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Post by Andrew on Aug 4, 2006 12:08:46 GMT -5
Well, Rosemary's Baby was brilliant, though I found the ending to be a bit cheesy...maybe that's because it was such an influential film and everyone copied the ending, not knowing how to mimic Polanski's mastery of suspence and oh my...that camerawork. Anyway. I would like to watch it again, knowing what I know, and try to keep a more open mind.
The Pianist...I saw that on the IMDB list, and didn't know it was his...that movie upset me, perhaps more than most movies about the Nazi travesty. Unflinchingly cruel and only a little bit redemptive. If anyone has a different take I would love to hear it. I thought it was brilliantly done, and I'm sure it was very realistic and historically accurate. Has anyone thought about this film in a more artistic way than I'm doing right now?
I should see Macbeth. As for ickiness, the more recent Titus was wonderful for me. I was helping with lights and soundboard duties for a community theatre production of that play, and the film helped me to get past the fact that I had trouble understanding the actors. Different director, and slightly off-topic, but after this was all over, I decided that Titus Andronicus is an under-appreciated play...as a warning against the domino effect of revenge, and perhaps as a parody/commentary on other plays of Shakespeare's time.
When I saw Chinatown I was much younger and had trouble paying attention. Want to see it again. Also curious about Oliver Twist and, well, everything else he's done. I really am impressed with Pianist and Rosemary's Baby.
Andrew
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