tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post7336069407291370104..comments2023-10-24T01:19:24.492-04:00Comments on Little Worlds : Two To Forget - Whiteout and Jennifer’s BodyRichard Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-86339616526783990582009-09-22T19:37:05.695-04:002009-09-22T19:37:05.695-04:00Yeah, I think I'll move on to Surrogates. The ...Yeah, I think I'll move on to <i>Surrogates</i>. The posts on <i>Jennifer's Body</i> at least got me thinking about a movie I was ready to dismiss from my mind. I find the character of Needy compelling - and I love her transformation at the end. Message! But, as a whole, the film doesn't hold together for me. <br /><br />As for the link, you are most welcome. I like your thoughtful comments on films - listed as numbered points - and I always love your pairings of images: the Big Face from <i>Basterds</i> with Oz - and how timely, it being the 70th anniversay of that classic. One of my favorite years in film history was 70 years ago! Wow!Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-20334442366337133552009-09-22T18:13:53.287-04:002009-09-22T18:13:53.287-04:00Also, thanks for the link!Also, thanks for the link!The Film Doctor https://www.blogger.com/profile/03073505923746994988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-83692786191404919592009-09-22T18:12:57.037-04:002009-09-22T18:12:57.037-04:00Nice post. I won't see Whiteout in part due t...Nice post. I won't see <i>Whiteout</i> in part due to your review, but I still stubbornly think there's something to <i>Jennifer's Body</i>, in part because it <i>is</i> so different, with various inversions of the usual horror formulae, and it part because my estimation of <i>Juno</i> has grown over time. I agree that <i>Jennifer's Body</i> is clumsily directed. Your point about the fire scene is well-taken. Also, other horror films like <i>The Hunger</i> are much more coherent and artfully done, but I still like A. O. Scott's take on <i>Jennifer's Body</i>. It remains a thought-provoking unholy mess, but I look forward to moving on to <i>Surrogates</i> next week.The Film Doctor https://www.blogger.com/profile/03073505923746994988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-79805989614956693722009-09-21T14:25:29.766-04:002009-09-21T14:25:29.766-04:00Ed - Thanks for the thoughts. I knew about the gra...Ed - Thanks for the thoughts. I knew about the graphic comic basis of <i>Whiteout</i> and your observation is interesting - because the film is at its best when it's visual and outdoors - but it sinks too much into standard interiors and dialogue. I wanted a visual, physical experience, but the film does not deliver that.<br /><br />Try FilmDr.'s post for some interesting analysis of <i>Jennifer's Body</i>. I almost walked out of this movie, but I was fascinated ... by something. One of the most interesting aspects is something that FilmDr. points out - Diablo Cody's use of Junoesque, cool teen language during some tense situations. Also, I was fascinated if not flabbergasted by what seemed to be some really poor direction and editing. Strangely, too, after the big climax, the film gets slick, well-cut, and well-directed as it lays out a secondary climax to the story. And, most fascinating since it is most inexplicable, is the furry friends of the forest scene that I describe here.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-5624692637410822732009-09-21T11:36:12.622-04:002009-09-21T11:36:12.622-04:00Whiteout sounds atrocious and pointless. FYI, it&#...<i>Whiteout</i> sounds atrocious and pointless. FYI, it's based on a quite good graphic novel written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Steve Lieber. And its main appeal was its formalist, precise use of white in the art, so it's disheartening, to say the least, to hear that in the film, "the raw whiteout conditions and threatening darkness are only slimly used to build suspense." I really wonder why people bother adapting comics into movies if they're going to ignore the visual qualities that made the comic interesting in the first place. <i>Whiteout</i> the comic is a standard mystery story anchored by striking visuals; why adapt the story and discard the visuals?<br /><br />I must admit, I'm curious about <i>Jennifer's Body</i>. Nobody seems to think it's a "good" movie, exactly, but even the super-negative reviews make it sound fascinatingly strange.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.com