There are some directors whom I can trust wholeheartedly that their films will never disappoint me: Alain Tanner, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Artur Aristakisian, Benoît Jacquot, Bohdan Slama, Fred Kelemen, Jessica Hausner, Ken Loach, Lav Diaz, Tossapol Boonsinsukh, Werner Schroeter, etc.
And there are some other directors whom I can't trust, because sometimes they make bad films. But sometimes they can also make wonders. I can't look down on their works every time. I don't know exactly why they are like this. Is it because they are not auteurs? Is it because the various qualities of their films depend on the various qualities of the scripts? Is it because the qualities of their films depend on the different amount of freedom they get from different producers? Is it because their good films are just flukes?
I think the answers vary according to different circumstances.
My poll 74 is inspired by WHO ARE YOU (2010, Pakphum Wongjinda, A++++), which I worship, because it has many things corresponding to my fantasy world. This film is a real surprise for me, because I don't like SCARED (2005, Pakphum Wongjinda, B), and I like VIDEO CLIP (2007, Pakphum Wongjinda, B+) just a little bit. I didn't expect that Pakphum Wongjinda can make a film which I would worship as much as this.
I LOVE THESE FILMS, THOUGH I DON'T LIKE SOME OTHER FILMS BY THE SAME DIRECTORS. WHICH ONES OF THESE FILMS DO YOU LIKE?
1.AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999, Sam Mendes)
But I don't like ROAD TO PERDITION (2002, Sam Mendes, B+).
2.AM I BEAUTIFUL? (1998, Doris Dörrie, Germany)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144106/
But I don't like NOBODY LOVES ME (1995, Doris Dörrie. B).
3.BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (2009, Teddy Chan)
But I think PURPLE STORM (1999, Teddy Chan, B+) is forgettable.
4.CRIMSON TIDE (1995, Tony Scott)
But I don't like MAN ON FIRE (2004, Tony Scott, B).
5.THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (1997, Taylor Hackford)
But I don't like PROOF OF LIFE (2000, Taylor Hackford, B).
6.FIELD OF DREAMS (1989, Phil Alden Robinson)
But I don't like THE SUM OF ALL FEARS (2002, Phil Alden Robinson, B-).
7.THE GOD OF BANGPOON VILLAGE (1980, Pagorn Promwituck, Thailand)
But I don't like NIJ (1983, Pagorn Promwituck, B+).
8.INTO THE FARAWAY SKY (2007, Isao Yukisada, Japan)
But I hate CRYING OUT LOVE, IN THE CENTER OF THE WORLD (2004, Isao Yukisada, C+).
9.THE JOY LUCK CLUB (1993, Wayne Wang)
But I don't like MAID IN MANHATTAN (2002, Wayne Wang, B-).
10.KILLSHOT (2008, John Madden)
But I think CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN (2001, John Madden, B) is forgettable.
11.MINDHUNTERS (2004, Renny Harlin)
But I hate CUTTHROAT ISLAND (1995, Renny Harlin, C+).
12.MY SISTER'S KEEPER (2009, Nick Cassavetes)
But I hate JOHN Q (2002, Nick Cassavetes, C+).
13.NOT ONE LESS (1999, Zhang Yimou, China)
But I don't like THE ROAD HOME (1999, Zhang Yimou, B+).
14.ONCE YOU'RE BORN YOU CAN NO LONGER HIDE (2005, Marco Tullio Giordana, Italy)
But I don't like THE BEST OF YOUTH (2003, Marco Tullio Giordana, B+).
15.RAGING PHOENIX (2009, Rashane Limtrakul, Thailand)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4468084255_bac7c821bd_o.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4468084247_307fd12a2f_o.jpg
But I don't like KISS (2008, Rashane Limtrakul, C+).
16.SAMCHUK (2009, Thanit Jitnukul, Thailand)
http://thaifilmjournal.blogspot.com/2009/08/review-samchuk.html
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4468084259_051993959c_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4468084257_ebe783073e_o.jpg
But I hate ART OF THE DEVIL (2004, Thanit Jitnukul, C).
http://www.coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.com/archives/2008/03/art_of_the_devi.html
17.THE SEED (ด้วยเกล้า) (1987, Bhandit Rittakol, Thailand)
http://riverdale-dreams.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-post_20.html
But I don't like THE METEOR (2004, Bhandit Rittakol, C+).
18.STORM (2009, Hans-Christian Schmid, Germany)
But I don't like CRAZY (2000, Hans-Christian Schmid, C+).
19.WHO ARE YOU (2010, Pakphum Wongjinda, Thailand)
20.THE WOLFMAN (2010, Joe Johnston)
But I think HIDALGO (2004, Joe Johnston, B+) is forgettable.
You can cast multiple votes.
I think this kind of things happen frequently in mainstream cinema, both in Hollywood and in Thailand.
5 comments:
My own votes are for BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, FIELD OF DREAMS, THE GOD OF BANGPOON VILLAGE, INTO THE FARAWAY SKY, KILLSHOT, MINDHUNTERS, RAGING PHOENIX, STORM, and WHO ARE YOU.
KILLSHOT is one of Sonthaya Subyen's most favorite films of 2009.
http://twilightvirus.blogspot.com/2010/02/10-filmax.html
I agree with Taylor Hackford’s films. I like The Devil’s Advocate and Dolores Claiborne very much but Ray is too compromised. I don’t remember anything except he is genius, blind and used drug which i already known before seeing the film.
By the way, Jim Sheridan (The Boxer, A++++, In America, A-/B+) might be in this group too.
I still haven't seen DOLORES CLAIBORNE yet. As for Taylor Hackford's films, my grades are like this:
1.THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (1997, A+)
2.AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982, A+/A)
3.WHITE NIGHTS (1985, A+/A)
4.AGAINST ALL ODDS (1984, A-)
5.RAY (2004, A-)
6.PROOF OF LIFE (2000, B)
I totally agree with you about Jim Sheridan.
1.MY LEFT FOOT (1989, A+)
2.IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (1993, A+)
3.THE BOXER (1997, A+)
4.BROTHERS (2009, A+)
5.IN AMERICA (2002, B+)
Stephan Elliott belongs to this category, too.
1.THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994, A+)
2.EYE OF THE BEHOLDER (1999, B)
i think Dolores Claiborne might be one of my favorite films of all time because of many reasons.
Firstly, i saw it in my teenage years so it s always have personal nostalgia.
Secondly, though i read the book before seeing the film, i still like the film which is so surprising because naturally people tends to hate the film that was adapted from their beloved novel and on those day i still didnt have any knowledge about film aestetic.
Thirdly, it's about murder in the island which makes the film very chabrolish.
Fourthly, the main protagonist is the middleage mother.
Finally, it has 3 female complex characters which were portrayed by the magnificent actress. The one whom i should mention here is Judy Parfitt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww69vIhVIOs&feature=related
This is the part where Dolores (Kathy Bates) told Vera (Parfitt) that her husband stole her money and molesting her daughter. Vera suggested to Dolores to create an accident for her husband. Looks how good and classy this actress is.
That scene is marvelous. Thank you very much for recommending it.
I agree with you that there are very few films/TV series that are not inferior to their original novels. The adapted works that I think are as good as, or even better than, their original novels/forms are:
1.SWORDSMAN II (เดชคัมภีร์เทวดา 2)
2.SUKEBAN DEKA II
This TV series is adapted from a Japanese comic written by Shinji Wada.
3.LA (HUNT) (ล่า)
This is a Thai TV series adapted from Tommayantee's novel.
4.AR SOM SANG (อาศรมสาง)
This is a Thai TV series adapted from Jintawee Wiwat's novel.
5.WHEN I SLEPT OVER THE NIGHT OF THE REVOLUTION (Ninart Boonpotong)
This is a stage play adapted from William Shakespeare's MACBETH.
Post a Comment