Discland
edited by Jonathan Doyle
Mafioso (The Criterion Collection, 3.18.2008) Nino Badalamenti is a supervisor in a car manufacturing plant who hasn't taken a vacation in over two years. On his way out the door to visit his beloved childhood hometown of Sicily -- with his blonde wife and daughters -- Nino is handed a package by his boss and asked to deliver it to a powerful and influential Sicilian gangster named Don Vincenzo. Once in Sicily, Nino has a hoot seeing friends and family, but his wife has trouble fitting in and is unfairly dismissed as a snob by Nino's family. Even more worrisome, Nino finds himself entangled in an intricate web of secret mafioso dealings and is eventually sent on an unexpectedly... elaborate errand. (continued)

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July 2

Hancock

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The Whackness

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Diminished Capacity

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

Holding Trevor

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Full Battle Rattle

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A Man Named Pearl

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Eight Miles High

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Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Journey to the Center of the Earth

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July 18

A Very British Gangster

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Two Tickets to Paradise

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Boy A




 

Stenography

CHUD's Devin Faraci has taken great exception to Indiewire's Eric Kohn having live-blogged during Sunday's debut screening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. " It's hard for me to explain to you how angry this makes me. It's bad enough when a regular jackass whips out their phone and bathes everyone behind them in a blue glow during a movie while they text away like a moron, but for a film critic like Eric Kohn to do this... well, he should probably have his texting fingers broken."


Indiewire's Eric Kohn

I agree totally -- it's doggerel. Lame. Kohn and Indiewire were simply looking to be first to provide the very first commentary on the film anywhere in the world -- except it wasn't commentary but rudimentary (i.e., quite crude) descriptions of scenes as they happened. There's an internet audience for this kind of stenography, of course, but to what end? A movie deserves a little thought before before commented on. I tapped out an instant hand-held judgment after Indy 4 ended, but at least I'd thought it through for an hour or two.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 20, 2008 at 02:27 AM

comment #1

Richard_Stone [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

A movie isn't really an event that lends itself well to live-blogging, but what really ticks me is that he must have his phone open for the duration of the movie to send these SMS. My brain would have been filled with bloodlust if I had been sitting next to him in the dark room.

This is my greatest annoyance in a public theater. I don't mind people talking to each other while the movie is going on if at least they're discussing the movie and it's not too moronic, but nothing takes me out of a movie like seeing a bright phone screen light up in a dark room a few rows in front of me.

Posted by Richard_Stone [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 03:03 AM

comment #2

knightrider76 [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

In some cinemas, theaters have already begun to block cellphone signals to prevent this from happening. In the Middle East in particular, where locals tend to yap away (loudly) on their cellphones while a movie is playing, it has become a welcome change. Maybe this can be implemented in North America?

Posted by knightrider76 [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 04:41 AM

comment #3

thevisceral [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Just going by that picture I'd say it's no shock this guy acted like a douchebag.

Posted by thevisceral [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 04:45 AM

comment #4

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Unfortunately it's illegal to jam cell phone signals in the US.

If you're sitting there typing all through a movie, besides annoying other people, how can you really be caught up in the movie? What good is your opinion if you're only half paying attention?

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 05:03 AM

comment #5

mjn [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Exactly, just like people who mess with their laptop during a movie on DVD at home and then say the movie wasn't any good. They aren't paying attention and getting the whole movie either.

Posted by mjn [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 06:23 AM

comment #6

The Pope [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Mgmax,
Could not agree with you more. How can nayone even begin to entertain the notion that what he wrote was a review. Wells is write: it's stenography. Or the equivalent of "reading" a play by play commentary of a sports game.

I truly hope that Kohn is barred from future media screenings. Distributors should be aware that his conduct has set a new precident. Other dweebs and geeks will try to emulate him at furture events.

As a call to action, I quote from G2, when Frankie Pentangelli implores Michael: "Let's get 'em all. Let's hit 'em all now. While we got the muscle."

Posted by The Pope [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 06:51 AM

comment #7

The Pope [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Please excuse the above typos. It was written in haste... but not in a movie theatre!

Posted by The Pope [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 06:52 AM

comment #8

T. Holly [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I knew this would come, but I'm waiting for the serious-minded supporter. I've done my bit, where Eric explains all, I guess. I'm thinking something about the righteous.

http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2008/05/variety_review.html

Posted by T. Holly [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 07:30 AM

comment #9

actionman [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Kohn should have his ass handed to him

Posted by actionman [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 10:13 AM

comment #10

T. Holly [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Yes, the French and World Press should have bowed to Americans and gone ballistic.

Posted by T. Holly [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 10:17 AM

comment #11

michael fox [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

There are two totally separate issues here.

1) Should people use cellphones in the theater?

This criticism is based on the fact most phones turn on a backlight when in use. This is a feature that can almost always be disabled. It is possible in many cases to text using ambient light for illumination as opposed to the backlight. No one knows how much light (if any) Kohn's phone was propagating, therefore this is an extremely speculative (and subjective) critique.

2) Does commentary on a film require ample premeditation?

This represents the more reasonable side of all this criticism. I imagine Kohn is well aware that people prefer reading content that is structured and thought out. You should therefore consider the texts as what they are: tidbits on the film for those who must have them immediately. The blogosphere does two things in particular very well: Provide content immediately, and provide a wide variety of content. Kohn did both of these things. You should not misconstrue Kohn's texts as some sort of manifesto for the future of film criticism. He is certainly aware that the best articles involve time and research beyond the couple of hours spent watching the film. I think Kohn's exercise is interesting and strips down the concept of the blog to its most basic elements: instant access and fresh perspective.

Its sort of funny that people are chiming in with fragments about Kohn being too fragmented. The guy writes a lot of thought out reviews.

I think the problem with the blog world is that there is too much uninformed chatter per unit of good content. You should do your research and answer for yourself what side of the spectrum you think Kohn is on. You should not base your entire perception on one review that was obviously intended to be lighthearted and experimental.

Posted by michael fox [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 10:18 AM

comment #12

Spicer [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

The thing that amazes me about these alleged "geek" sites is they seem to have a real contempt for the movies they say they champion. The irony is I would lump CHUD in with those sorts of sites. They have never done anything like this, but the tone of the site is just as poisonous, as if they really hate films.

Posted by Spicer [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 11:00 AM

comment #13

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

"Its sort of funny that people are chiming in with fragments about Kohn being too fragmented. The guy writes a lot of thought out reviews."

Oh, so the problem isn't that some thoughtless yontz posted a bunch of stream of consciousness bilge during a movie, it's that WE didn't take the time to find out what a thoughtful, deep guy he really is.

Ohhhhhh-kay.

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 11:25 AM

comment #14

Dravot [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Michael Fox --

Okay, YOU get to sit next to that jackass next time.

And it's not just the light that blazes forth from those cellphones, it's also the annoyance of sitting next to someone who is clicky-clacking away on their keypad during a movie. That's almost as distracting as the light.

Posted by Dravot [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 12:14 PM

comment #15

Devin Faraci [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Spicer, if I hate movies I have chosen an odd career for myself. Unless I'm a supermasochist.

What I suspect you mean, though, is that I hate dumb, brainless, blockbuster movies that get forcefed to the public every summer. Guilty as charged.

Posted by Devin Faraci [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 01:09 PM

comment #16

MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I was just getting ready to defend Chud, but I see Devin stepped in to do it himself. To call CHUD poisonous is simply off base. Cell phones in the theatre really get under my skin. To use one shows no respect for the people around you. The simplest way to say it is that Eric Kohn has no class.

Posted by MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 01:23 PM

comment #17

MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I was just getting ready to defend Chud, but I see Devin stepped in to do it himself. To call CHUD poisonous is simply off base. Cell phones in the theatre really get under my skin. To use one shows no respect for the people around you. The simplest way to say it is that Eric Kohn has no class.

Posted by MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 01:23 PM

comment #18

MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I was just getting ready to defend Chud, but I see Devin stepped in to do it himself. To call CHUD poisonous is simply off base. Cell phones in the theatre really get under my skin. To use one shows no respect for the people around you. The simplest way to say it is that Eric Kohn has no class.

Posted by MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 01:23 PM

comment #19

MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Sorry for the triple post, I'm not sure how that happened. I'm trying to post this from the 4th row of a Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay matinee. I'm not sure yet, but I think they may escape.

Posted by MDOC [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 01:39 PM

comment #20

EDouglas [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Well, they are INDYwire... of course they had to be first :)

Posted by EDouglas [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 20, 2008 07:11 PM

comment #21

T. Holly [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Made me laugh Ed. They owe me flowers, don't you think?

Posted by T. Holly [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 21, 2008 08:39 AM

comment #22

Terry McCarty [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Mgmax wrote:
Oh, so the problem isn't that some thoughtless yontz posted a bunch of stream of consciousness bilge during a movie, it's that WE didn't take the time to find out what a thoughtful, deep guy he really is.

Ohhhhhh-kay.

Maybe Kohn is aspiring to be Richard Roeper when he grows up.

Posted by Terry McCarty [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 21, 2008 11:40 PM

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