Abre los ojos (1997) - 4/5

Abre los ojos (1997)

Very original and interesting. I loved the build up and mystery of 'what in the world is going on.' Even though I'd seen "Vanilla Sky", I just liked watching it unfold before me.

I think it was good all around and made "Vanilla Sky" look like what it pretty much was: an American remake. Little change except the name, lead actor and inserted a bit of Hollywood for good measure.

SPOILERS:

I was disappointed in "Vanilla Sky" that it was basically all a dream. It's hard to explain, but it's like all the revelations and introspection was just made up in his head. Some how that took away from it in a way I can't explain.

However, in this version (and maybe "Vanilla Sky" too and I just missed it), they seem to say (or at least imply) that the "dream" was all made up by him. I think in "Vanilla Sky" they say it's a glitch in the computers.

But here it's almost like they say: You're doing this. You're making this horrible and torture and maddening. Which made me think, he knows either consciously or otherwise that he's shallow, selfish and arrogant and wanted to prove it to himself.

Of course he cd have done that by just living out his life instead of killing himself and dreaming it, but that's why it might be subconscious.

Haiku summary:
spoiled man's face wrecked
loses girl, dies, gets frozen
dreams life, learns lesson

The TV Set (2006) - 4/5

The TV Set (2006): "A place where dreams are canceled"

A humorous and honest/cynical look at the production of a TV show pilot.

It's the story of a write working on a pilot dealing w/ the creative compromises necessary to turn art into business.

I'm not sure how the public these days manages to fool themselves into think good art can transition into boog business w/o compromise to the point of almost ruining whatever was good about the art.

Society at times will still claim it to be good and in some cases it is, but that might be in spite of the compromises (a good artist can work w/in that), just our opinion (which has to be questioned w/ some of the material out there succeeding) or it wasn't corrupted which I'd say wd be an extreme exception.

Sorry to ramble.

The dialog is great. Weaver's character has some incredible lines "He's not coming!?!?!"

I like the way it's so clearly split into 3 acts: pre-production, production and responses each separated by a few weeks. And each act is focused on just one or two long scenes. You get a tight view of the present and can fill in the blanks between.

SPOILERS:

It's interesting that even though the bed-ridden writer looking at his pregnant wife holding baby #1 realizes he needs to make this work as a job (i.e., compromise his art), he's still so upset about his work being altered that he's driven to drink and pain killers (or so they wd have us believe).

Anyway, I wd rather have seen him buy into it all to a degree just in realizing this is what it takes to make art work in business (he can still do art for the sake of art on the side if that's the point). Or he not cave to the compromise.

Haiku summary:
writer with pilot
compromises art to work
network inserts fart

Barton Fink (1991) - 4/5

Barton Fink (1991)

Interesting and weird at times. As w/ most Coen Brothers' movies, great acting, directing, cinematography, timing, dialog, etc. Such a great film to just watch for the sake of a film.

The cop scenes remind me of "Miller's Crossing" which is the best dialog ever IMO.

SPOILERS:

When Charlie carries the body and hits her head b/c he misjudges the space and then later you learn how he cuts off their heads so you realize why he misjudged the spacing - it's great.

Haiku summary:
playwright goes out west
has writer's block, meets neighbor
this guy cuts off heads

Fargo (1996) - 4/5

Fargo (1996)

Another Coen Brothers' - so great.

The way everyone deals w/ the extreme and every-day events w/in the same conversation is so great. Almost relaxing and reassuring.

Again, everything is quality and a pleasure to watch... it can be done so well.

Haiku summary:
screw-up guy needs cash
has his wife kidnapped, ransom
criminals are nuts