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I spoke earlier today with Magnolia Pictures president Eammon Bowles about Man on Wire, which has been doing good business since opening on 7.25 because it's been well reviewed, but mainly -- and it really is this simple -- because it delivers a genuine spiritual high. And when films that really and truly do this come along, people always pick up on this and go and tell their friends and then it builds and builds and builds.
This combination documentary, elegy and suspense film is opening around the country this weekend. It is absolutely essential to see it, and I don't mean on DVD
When Sean Connery saw Man on Wire at the Edinburgh Film Festival a little more than a month ago he called it “one of the best three films I have ever seen.” (He wouldn't say what the other two were.) At the Vicky Christina Barcelona party the other night people kept asking me what my favorite recent film is, and over and over I kept on saying Man on Wire. I hadn't said this to myself in so many words, but I didn't hesitate in saying it when asked.
Here's an mp3 of the last two or three minutes of my conversation with Bowles in which I articulate the "spiritual high" high, and here's an mp3 of our whole discussion.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 7, 2008 at 6:04 PM
comment #1
buckzollo says ...
I agree. In fact much to do with your championing of this flick did I arrange to see it. It is inspiring, oh and funny. Films need this push and this one is especially deserving. In some ways for me it is all about what this movie never says.
Posted by buckzollo at August 7, 2008 6:56 PM
comment #2
K. Bowen says ...
What a great, great, great, great, great, great film.
Posted by K. Bowen at August 7, 2008 7:20 PM
comment #3
scooterzz says ...
wells -- nice work on o'reilly....
fyi -- phillippe pettit is on conan tonight......
Posted by scooterzz at August 7, 2008 7:22 PM
comment #4
BurmaShave says ...
Somebody alert us when the showdown is on YouTube, I hated to miss it.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 7:44 PM
comment #5
Glenn Kenny says ...
Good on Eamonn and the rest of the Magnolia crew. They knew what a special film they had and they're doing right by it.
Posted by Glenn Kenny at August 7, 2008 7:52 PM
comment #6
BlackMan4Mac says ...
IMPORTANT NEWS EPIDEMIC
Reported July 31, 2008
A disease of epidemic proportion has engulfed most of Africa and is widespread in every part of Europe, now hits the United States and is spreading rapidly throughout the world. The infection is much worse than West Nile Virus and is nearly as deadly as A.I.D.S.
The National Center For Disease Control has announced today that everyone should be very careful when interacting with the general public, saying that it is very infectious and airborne and will spread from one to another very easily. We must all take precautions to protect ourselves by staying in as much as possible because the infected are very dangerous and will unknowingly transfer their sickness to the healthy among us.
This highly contagious illness slowly deteriorates the brain cells in a manner the infected cannot recognize they have contracted the germ. It eats at the brain cells causing severe delusion causing psychosis.
To recognize the infected is quite easy to notice while in the primary stages, you may hear the infected speak psychotic, uncontrollable and irrational. You may hear them say things such as, "I hate America" or "God damn America". There has been word that some have even went as far as to say things of the nature, "Communism is good in theory", or "Communism is a good thing in its purest form". This will be a sure sign that you have encountered one that has been infected. Please protect yourself and stay far away from them, report the infected person to authorities immediately.
This fast and very contagious disease in its present form is known as "obama". Please be careful not to contract it. It can kill.
If you do know someone personally that is infected, a friend or loved one. You can try to help them in this way. First give them an American Flag, tell them to keep it with them at all times, take a look at it whenever they get a chance to or whenever the symptoms start to show. This alone will help them to feel better and can lead to complete recovery.
Those that are in the advanced stage of the disease, have a much lower recovery rate and can even become fatal and die. Not everyone can be cured.
You will also easily recognize those that are in the advanced stages of the sickness and close to death. Here are just a few symptoms that you will notice, they may be involved in gang and drive-by shootings, they may be doing robberies, child molesting, and rape, killing one another over drugs or respect.
If you do see anyone in the advanced stages, please, for your own safety, run as far and as fast in the other direction. If you stay to close to them, you may contract the illness and then too may die from its wake.
We will keep you informed and keep you dated as events arise.
AP WIRE 2008
Posted by BlackMan4Mac at August 7, 2008 8:27 PM
comment #7
berg says ...
A little birdie told me that the version I saw has trimmed its sex scene to get a PG-13 ...
Posted by berg at August 7, 2008 8:30 PM
comment #8
redmond says ...
Apparently Jeff's TV appearance has already brought on the trolls. This was a great little site...
Posted by redmond at August 7, 2008 8:42 PM
comment #9
Mgmax says ...
Dear O'Reilly-watching Conservatives,
As the alleged conservative on the site, I assure you I have everything under control. Your assistance is not required.
Sincerely,
Mgmax
Posted by Mgmax at August 7, 2008 8:53 PM
comment #10
Aris P says ...
So i'm thrilled that everyone is talking about this amazing film, and I truly want to see it, but maybe it should be playing in a small town like........... LOS ANGELES?
Pasadena and Irvine? That's it? ridiculous.
Posted by Aris P at August 7, 2008 8:59 PM
comment #11
BurmaShave says ...
Mgmax we're lucky to have you as our resident conservative. You're like the cool Prison Guard. I mean we both know how it's going to go down when the shit starts, haha.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 9:21 PM
comment #12
scooterzz says ...
actually, the show has aired twice now and the comment fallout isn't nearly as bad as i thought it would be...
Posted by scooterzz at August 7, 2008 9:25 PM
comment #13
Mgmax says ...
Watch it or I'll take your birds away, Stroud.
Posted by Mgmax at August 7, 2008 9:30 PM
comment #14
D.Z. says ...
Pitt decides he needs another "Meet Joe Black" and "Seven Days in Tibet" on his resume. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990231.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Will Coppola get a heart attack from a Godfather II game?
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990238.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
I thought 3-d was the wave of the future.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i54d448d16a37d60b2a8773ecdbef1a76
Oh, and I guess Blackman4Mac totally ignored that white patriot who killed himself after mailing anthrax...
Posted by D.Z. at August 7, 2008 10:36 PM
comment #15
redmond says ...
D.Z., just ignore him. Blackman's the type of troll not looking for debate. Just reactions so he can justify his existence that includes, but is not limited to, copying and pasting some racist shenanigans from 4chan and then continuing his long journey of never touching a vagina. But OMG he's got the lulz!!
Posted by redmond at August 7, 2008 10:56 PM
comment #16
BurmaShave says ...
"Under the terms of Tarantino's deal, he receives 20% of first-dollar grosses"
What, is he Speilberg now? Or is this in replacement for an up-front fee?
Posted by BurmaShave at August 7, 2008 11:06 PM
comment #17
Pinko Punko says ...
I would take Mg any day of the week over the unknown hordes. He's a known quantity who actually likes film.
When will Man on Wire expand? I've almost conviced the S.O. to see it.
Posted by Pinko Punko at August 7, 2008 11:51 PM
comment #18
thevisceral says ...
I'm feeling a little Obamaish. I think I'll stay home from work today.
Posted by thevisceral at August 8, 2008 1:32 AM
comment #19
lionsfan says ...
A few months after his WTC stunt, Philippe Petit parlayed it into a paid gig on Labor Day tightrope-walking over the Paterson Falls as part of a Labor Day fair. And that probably was the true point, the seeking of publicity in order to garner other paid gigs when talented acrobats were actually rather easy to come by. (I believe he also subsequently signed for a stint with Ringling Bros.)
Anyway, I met Petit that day and talked to him for a fair amount of time, and he never struck me as anything other than an agile, well-balanced hustler. There was nothing even remotely smacking of the "metaphysical" about him. That this new "documentary" grossly inflates Petit's importance and thoughts is curious. But quite typical of Hollywood. As is the assumption that the guy really has/had anything of real philosophical or spiritual depth to say.
Posted by lionsfan at August 8, 2008 11:54 AM
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