"Ocean's 11 With Better Cigars"?
It's my sad duty to report that N.Y. Times critic Manohla Dargis, always a thoughtful and delicious read, has more or less sided with the "where's the beef?" critics of Steven Soderbergh's Che.
"Divided into two sections -- once called The Argentine and Guerrilla -- the now monosyllabically titled Che tracks the guerrilla leader over mountains and through his tactical successes in Cuba before moving on to his catastrophic bid to bring revolutionary socialism to Bolivia," she writes. "The movie has been described as dialectical, but two parts do not a dialectic make: something meaningful has to happen between those parts."
I'm shaking my head as we speak. "Something meaningful" does happen in Soderbergh's film. It's just that it's spread evenly over the 257-minute length. The fact that it's not ladled out in carefully shaped and timed payoffs (generally referred to as dramatic highpoints or "movie moments") is what constitutes, for me, the profound plain-deal dignity of it.
The "something" that Manohla can't see for the trees is that you're genuinely, atmospherically there with Benicio del Toro's Che Guevara and his scrappy jungle rats through all manner of thick and thin. The music in Soderbergh's film is mostly low-key, but it builds into a symphony of often breathtaking realism that sinks in deeper and deeper the more you reflect upon it.
Fug it -- I'm going to see Che again (for the third time) at the Saturday, 11.1.08 screening at the big Mann's Chinese theatre (the one that's been there since the 1920s) in Hollywood. And I'm buying the DVD.
"Throughout the movie Mr. Soderbergh mixes the wild beauty of his landscapes with images of Che heroically engaged in battle, thoughtfully scribbling and reading, and tending to ailing peasants and soldiers," Dargis observes. "Che wins, Che loses, but Che remains the same in what plays like a procedural about a charismatic leader, impossible missions and the pleasures of work and camaraderie -- Ocean's Eleven with better cigars.
I love this part of her review, though:
"Like that glossy, glistening bauble of a film, Che seems to me very much a self-reflexive endeavor, a movie not just about two revolutionary campaigns, but also about the struggles -- logistical, emotional, psychological -- of moviemaking itself. (To push this analogy further, Mr. Soderbergh's first feature, sex, lies, and videotape, is his Cuba -- an act of youthful will and the spark that ignited a movement -- while his second feature, a stubborn folly called Kafka, could have been his Bolivia.)
"Mr. Soderbergh cagily evades Che's ugly side, notably his increasing commitment to violence and seemingly endless war, but the movie is without question political -- even if it emphasizes romantic adventure over realpolitik -- because, like all films, it is predicated on getting, spending and making money."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM
comment #1
actionman
says ...
I am going to have to drive to NYC to see this as I am going to assume that the uncut, four hour version will never play in Connecticut.
Posted by actionman
at October 3, 2008 10:53 AM
comment #2
BurmaShave
says ...
I know it's de riguer to consider OCEAN'S 11 a commercial trifle, and considering its fine but air-headed sequels it makes sense, but for me it's Soderbergh's third best after THE LIMEY and SEX LIES, so the comparison intrigues me.
Posted by BurmaShave
at October 3, 2008 11:17 AM
comment #3
nemo
says ...
Ocean's 11 better than Out of Sight? Surely you jest.
I'd rank Out of Sight right after The Limey, above Sex Lies etc.
Ocean's 11 better than Traffic? You're still jesting. In fact, I'd rank Traffic right after Out of Sight, above SLVT.
Posted by nemo
at October 3, 2008 11:29 AM
comment #4
BurmaShave
says ...
Really not a fan of TRAFFIC, but fuck you are entirely right about OUT OF SIGHT.
Posted by BurmaShave
at October 3, 2008 11:37 AM
comment #5
sardine
says ...
dargis is a crappy critic.
Posted by sardine
at October 3, 2008 11:38 AM
comment #6
LexG
says ...
This movie is going to OWN YOUR ASS.
I don't care about its politics, I just want to see FOUR HOURS OF PEOPLE GETTING OWNED. There better be a lot of shooting and action and shit.
I will be at the AFI screening in LA if anyone wants an autograph.
Posted by LexG
at October 3, 2008 11:53 AM
comment #7
actionman
says ...
Best Soderbergh:
The Limey
Traffic
Out of Sight
Bubble
Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Schizopolis
Oceans 11
Full Frontal (very, very underrated)
Oceans 12
Posted by actionman
at October 3, 2008 12:04 PM
comment #8
lazarus
says ...
Ocean's 12 is much more of a filmmaker's film than 11, and to me reveals much more of the true Soderbergh, mixing the new wave touches of Out of Sight, The Limey, and The Underneath with the inside joke tone of Full Frontal and Schizopolis, while attempting to backhandedly placate the masses (and the studio) as a star-studded heist sequel that never delievers conventionally like it's "supposed" to. It's a bit of a summation of his career to that point, if you ask me, and remains his most underrated film.
Posted by lazarus
at October 3, 2008 12:55 PM
comment #9
nemo
says ...
When I say "Surely you jest" you should answer "Don't call me Shirley!"
Overall I'm not a fan of the Ocean's X movies (at least they're better than the Rat Pack original), but they do have their moments.
My favorites are Bernie Mac and Matt Damon distracting Andy Garcia from the heist in progress (Damon's nerdy efficiency expert fires Bernie Mac's dealer, Mac pretends to be convinced the firing is racially motivated, and every word out of Damon's mealy mouth confirms Mac's suspicions) and Casey Affleck going down to Mexico to work in the dice factory (Affleck sports a huge Viva Zapata mustache and becomes so engrossed in union organizing, he forgets about the original mission he was sent down there for).
Posted by nemo
at October 3, 2008 1:15 PM
comment #10
actionman
says ...
yeah, the union organzing stuff was hysterical. i laughed out loud with all of that.
Posted by actionman
at October 3, 2008 1:18 PM
comment #11
p.Vice
says ...
Wow... all these experts and yet nobody shows any love for King of the Hill?
At least nobody was dumb enough to mention Erin Cockobitch.
Posted by p.Vice
at October 3, 2008 1:43 PM
comment #12
actionman
says ...
I still have never seen Kafka but really want too.
Posted by actionman
at October 3, 2008 1:47 PM
comment #13
actionman
says ...
why aren't King of the Hill and Kafka available on DVD?
Posted by actionman
at October 3, 2008 1:50 PM
comment #14
duck dodgers
says ...
Frankly, if you tried to name Soderbergh's five best movies you might not get that high.
Posted by duck dodgers
at October 3, 2008 1:56 PM
comment #15
Rich S.
says ...
As the man once famously observed, you can put a cat in the oven, but that don't make it a biscuit. Despite Jeff's herculean efforts, Che sounds more and more like a baked cat.
Posted by Rich S.
at October 3, 2008 1:57 PM
comment #16
JD
says ...
I'm a huge Soderbergh fan -- I even have the UK DVD of King of the Hill! -- and I thought Che was, more or less, a dud. And I really thought I'd like it. It just feels terribly undisciplined, repetitive, and functional. It's more about process than substance. The first half works a lot better than the second because it at least makes an effort to deal with some themes, ideas, and issues, but the second half is almost entirely devoid of anything other than (surprisingly artless) shots of people walking through jungles. Some people are gonna be blind-sided by how weak it is relative to the over-the-top praise from some quarters.
Posted by JD
at October 3, 2008 2:08 PM
comment #17
televisiontears
says ...
Crossing my fingers for a Portland release... But no love for his version of Solaris? It's definitely no Tarkovsky, but it's a silently beautiful, deceptively technical piece of work that stands on its own feet. I've never met anyone who enjoys it as much as I do.
My Soderbergh actionman list (in descending order):
Traffic
The Limey
Out of Sight
Solaris
sex, lies, and videotape
Posted by televisiontears
at October 3, 2008 2:20 PM
comment #18
Chapman Carruthers
says ...
televsiontears,
One hopes that the theatre on NW21st will get a hold of Che. I know they show mostly documentaries, really small American indies, and foregin films, but they did open There WIll Be Blood, so there's a chance.
Posted by Chapman Carruthers
at October 3, 2008 2:35 PM
comment #19
Chapman Carruthers
says ...
And just for good measure:
1. Bubble
2. The Limey
3. Out of Sight
giggity, giggity giggity, that's all folks.
Posted by Chapman Carruthers
at October 3, 2008 2:53 PM
comment #20
actionman
says ...
I hated Solris the first time I saw it. Then loved it the second time. I think I need to watch it again.
Posted by actionman
at October 3, 2008 3:48 PM
comment #21
erniesouchak
says ...
Dargis has always been too glib for my taste.
Posted by erniesouchak
at October 3, 2008 4:34 PM
comment #22
mitchtaylor
says ...
Portland film fans unite for Che! Let's take over Cinema 21 until it's programmed.
Posted by mitchtaylor
at October 3, 2008 4:37 PM
comment #23
lipranzer
says ...
Dargis may not have liked the movie, but at least she appreciated the effort - she went on to say CHE, as flawed as she thought it was, is the type of movie the NYFF should be programming (whereas in the review she totally trashes CHANGELING). I'll make up my mind when I see CHE in theaters - I was going to go this Tuesday, but I can't get off work.
My favorite Soderbergh:
TRAFFIC
SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE
OUT OF SIGHT
SOLARIS (yes, I like it)
THE LIMEY
KING OF THE HILL
THE UNDERNEATH (his most underrated film)
SCHIZOPOLIS
ERIN BROCKOVICH
OCEAN'S 11
And while KAFKA is a misfire, I always thought it was an entertaining one. The only Soderbergh film I haven't seen is GRAY'S ANATOMY - how is that?
Posted by lipranzer
at October 3, 2008 5:37 PM
comment #24
Craptastic
says ...
King of the Hill is almost a masterpiece. I hate that I can't find it on DVD.
Posted by Craptastic
at October 3, 2008 5:42 PM
comment #25
Chapman Carruthers
says ...
mitchtalyor,
I'm game if you're game. I walk by Cinema 21 most everyday on my way to and from work. I'll stop off on Monday afternoon and ask them what the story is. To get the point across, everyone else in Portlandia should do the same.
Posted by Chapman Carruthers
at October 3, 2008 7:16 PM
comment #26
duck dodgers
says ...
"I hated Solris the first time I saw it. Then loved it the second time."
You watched something a second time after HATING it?
Posted by duck dodgers
at October 3, 2008 9:27 PM
comment #27
actionman
says ...
yes. I was interested in watching it again. the first time around I think I expected something different. I enjoyed it the second time around. a similar thing happened with A.I. with most movies, I watch them at least twice. a movie can never be fully digested with one viewing.
Posted by actionman
at October 4, 2008 7:09 AM
comment #28
janee
says ...
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Posted by janee
at May 18, 2011 4:45 AM