tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post6302692565808638274..comments2024-01-26T07:19:01.011-05:00Comments on FilmMattic: The Great Alphabet of Films—O is ForFilmMattichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567287349203493671noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-24054995134723384072011-04-29T16:22:29.318-04:002011-04-29T16:22:29.318-04:00Awesome. Leone has helped foster my appreciation f...Awesome. Leone has helped foster my appreciation for film, and his breadth of influence is indeed "immense." <br /><br />That is a tragedy. As Leone fans, we know it would be epic, thrilling, and a wonderful vehicle to exploit his stylistic approach. He made spaghetti westerns classic cinema. I have no doubts about what he could have accomplished with a military epic.FilmMattichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567287349203493671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-48712785328585067562011-04-29T12:56:00.297-04:002011-04-29T12:56:00.297-04:00This is the film that turned an 11 year old boy in...This is the film that turned an 11 year old boy into a man who loves film. Leone directed only 7 films yet, his influence on other directors has been IMMENSE and he made every film count. I will argue that if one were to count up the number of great moments in his films, he would be unmatched by anyone. The tragedy is that he never lived to direct his 900 Hundred Days: The invasion of Leningrad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-22392651707593626592011-04-19T14:59:24.797-04:002011-04-19T14:59:24.797-04:00@ Craig
Thanks! Pan and scan, huh. That's bru...@ Craig<br /><br />Thanks! Pan and scan, huh. That's brutal since there is way too much cropping, and this film, specifically, needs a full widescreen, proportional set-up. It's good to know you caught it in its preferred format, and I'm glad you picked it up on DVD. I'll have to grab one my self, as I'd love to check out the special features.<br /><br />@ Melissa<br /><br />Thanks! And yes we do. There's inevitably going to be disagreements with regards to film, so I'm totally fine with your preferences. I'm happy you're going to re-watch it though. Hopefully, your appreciation grows fonder.FilmMattichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567287349203493671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-35141752736254607582011-04-19T13:33:16.012-04:002011-04-19T13:33:16.012-04:00No worries on the rant. Great minds don't alwa...No worries on the rant. Great minds don't always think alike. :) I will, however, re-watch this with your insights and see what I think then.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-88640197970101387942011-04-18T23:41:34.338-04:002011-04-18T23:41:34.338-04:00Fantastic choice, sitting on top of a mound of goo...Fantastic choice, sitting on top of a mound of good choices! I first saw this on VHS 25+ years ago, and it was well-nigh incomprehensible in pan-n-scan. I only just saw it wide on DVD in the last six months - and loved it so much I just picked up a DVD bargain on a special edition with special features. Bronson is fantastic, matched by everyone in the cast. And of course, I need only say one word. Frank. Once Upon a Time in the East - I really enjoyed this post! Cheers!Craig Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037542638067599437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-17300724598008837732011-04-18T22:47:06.943-04:002011-04-18T22:47:06.943-04:00@ Melissa
I appreciate your thoughts and insights...@ Melissa<br /><br />I appreciate your thoughts and insights, but I disagree entirely. Instead of instigating a firestorm of back-and-forth’s though, I’ll just share a few thoughts. First, Leone’s visual aggrandizement is not meant to be coercive. It’s meant to embellish his thematic dimensions, which I greatly admire. Too often, directors forgo proselytizing or just downright fail to elicit any message of consequence. This occurs because they either do not care enough about the power of the medium or they’re just not capable of invoking meaningful commentaries. Leone, on the contrary, rises high above this stigma. His mastery of the camera, his admiration for those titans before him (a mélange of sentimental nods and innovative touches), and his splendid execution speaks to a high caliber of skill. <br /><br />While West might not be your favorite Leone film or your choice for "O" (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is an exceptional film also), I don’t think it’s fair to undermine, even slightly, his thematic orchestration. But that’s just me because I absolutely adore this film and Leone. <br />I also thought Bronson and Cardinale were better than mediocre, but that’s because I love Bronson’s steely coolness and Cardinale’s breathtaking beauty. Leone calls him the greatest actor he ever worked with. Again, judging acting performances can be a bit of a muddled exercise based on preferences/tastes, so I’m fine with your rather tepid appraisal. <br /><br />I’m glad that you, at least liked the film and sorry for the rant!<br /><br />@ Anthony<br /><br />Thanks! Bringing back the old school expression. I like it!FilmMattichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567287349203493671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-65584902789662573592011-04-18T22:42:03.020-04:002011-04-18T22:42:03.020-04:00@ Tara
Fair enough. Overboard is one of those nos...@ Tara<br /><br />Fair enough. Overboard is one of those nostalgic, purely sentimental films of my childhood that I enjoy solely for that reason. <br /><br />@ Dezmond<br /><br />Sophia Loren would have been my most lustful contemporary celebrity crush had I lived during her heyday. She's amazingly beautiful.<br /><br />And right you are. This score is one of my all-time faves. I love the use of leitmotif.<br /><br />@ Ricky<br /><br />No need to be ashamed. You can always rectify that. Hopefully, my post has lit a fire under you to see it. You'll be thanking me later. Leone is that good!FilmMattichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567287349203493671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-25760972139010463952011-04-18T22:39:23.024-04:002011-04-18T22:39:23.024-04:00@ Susan
That's an awesome revelation. Any big...@ Susan<br /><br />That's an awesome revelation. Any big time Leone fan earns my respect. Thanks!<br /><br />@ L.G.<br /><br />The Tagline is a memorable one. You Must...See...This...Film...it's the perfect swan song to the Old Westerns!<br /><br />@ Nate<br /><br />Phew! I thought your filmgoing habits were just as obsessive as mine, lol. Thanks for the God work!<br /><br />I think you'll really like this film. And I'm not just saying that because you have the power to resurrect me, though much like in Wayne's World, [I'm] not worthy.FilmMattichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567287349203493671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-10732673868585456982011-04-18T18:55:58.233-04:002011-04-18T18:55:58.233-04:00Man alive, you know cinema. Thoroughly enjoyed rea...Man alive, you know cinema. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your piece on "O". Thank You.anthony stemkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15666462157746049139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-70774004626233941712011-04-18T18:16:01.232-04:002011-04-18T18:16:01.232-04:00Another disagreement. I prefer The Good, The Bad, ...Another disagreement. I prefer The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly to this one. I liked this movie, but it didn't mesmerize me. I thought it was too over-the-top. Leone was very heavy-handed in pounding his themes into your head and aside from Fonda, the cast was pretty mediocre. Cardinale and Bronson were meh. <br /><br />I would have gone with Once Upon A Time In America or One Flew.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-12418425597393424182011-04-18T17:55:07.744-04:002011-04-18T17:55:07.744-04:00To my shame, I've never seen it.To my shame, I've never seen it.Rickyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09374332895590659880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-30568847223725762902011-04-18T16:29:30.524-04:002011-04-18T16:29:30.524-04:00yep, the tag line is quite brutal :)
I must admit...yep, the tag line is quite brutal :)<br /><br />I must admit I've always loved Sophia Loren much much better than Cardinale. <br /><br />The music in the film was off course epic.DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-36121284244709775122011-04-18T16:20:21.409-04:002011-04-18T16:20:21.409-04:00personally would've chosen One Flew Over the C...personally would've chosen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...but I was happily surprised to see Overboard in the honorable mentions.<br />Happy O Day!Tara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-45667212296115933242011-04-18T16:00:32.785-04:002011-04-18T16:00:32.785-04:00And with O, we reach the first movie on your list ...And with O, we reach the first movie on your list I haven't seen. (Note: This wouldn't have happened if you'd gone with <i>One Flew</i>, <i>On the Waterfront</i>, or <i>Oldboy</i>.) And thus, you're now dead to me.<br /><br />Wait, no, that's not right. And it probably is time I saw this flick. Okay, you're alive again. Congratulations!Nate Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690171790664252309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-29434819437441776352011-04-18T15:46:57.519-04:002011-04-18T15:46:57.519-04:00I love the logline for the movie: There were three...I love the logline for the movie: There were three men in her life. One to take her...one to love her - and one to kill her.<br /><br />I thought I had seen all these old westerns, but I don't know this one. Good cast.Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018122949256325759.post-50332399297899009122011-04-18T14:42:56.328-04:002011-04-18T14:42:56.328-04:00Oh, how we love that movie. It was one of our ear...Oh, how we love that movie. It was one of our earliest introductions to Sergio Leone's films. (My son's tarantula was named Sergio Bustamante.)<br />Excellent choice for 'O'.Susan Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834094675218254410noreply@blogger.com