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Che Well Praised
David Poland is calling Steven Soderbergh's Che his #1 film of the year. I'm afraid that makes two of us, as I said the same thing 28 days ago. (I hadn't seen Gran Torino or Waltz With Bashir at the time, but I've seen added them to my list of the year's Top 15.) Here's Poland's piece with a few quips and quibbles from yours truly:
"When the chips are down, Che is as Old Hollywood as it gets.
"From the overture in which we watch Cuba -- and then South America -- laid out, to the epic length that creates a relationship with virtually every character in a way you rarely see in modern films, to the calm central 'hero' who is more real than Gary Cooper would have been, but just as movie star weighty, Che is the great movie experience of 2008. It is a movie that washes over you and seeps into you, as only a film that takes this kind of time can. Yet, I was never bored...not during the first, second, or third viewing."
I've seen 'em both four times and have the exact same attitude.
"The notion that this is two films is silly. They are their own experiences, but they are inescapably two halves comprising a whole. And there is enough room for many different takes on the material. I, for one, do not see it as terribly political. I see it as the story of a man who believes deeply and seeks to bring his belief to action. Others see it as incredibly political, even in the modern context. Others see it very much as a biopic (and they seem to have the most problem with the movie)."
The problem isn't the people who see Che as a biopic -- it's the people who come to it looking for a "biopic" experience.
"Soderbergh's work here, first in narrowing the focus with hands-on producers Laura Bickford and Benicio del Toro and screenwriters Peter Buchman and Benjamin A. van der Veen, then in choosing to shoot an epic, then in production itself...stunning.
"He manages to do a lot of what Terrence Malick does, but without getting distracted by the beauty of the earth. He does a lot of what Michael Mann does, in delivering the intimacy of men who do harm. He does a lot of what Ford did in shooting people anticipating trouble. And he does work that is a lot like the modern intimists like Van Sant and even Kelly Reichardt do, allowing natural quiet to the point of distraction.
"I am in awe of this work. I remain amazed by Soderbergh's tenacity, as he continues not to do 'one for them and one for him' but to be a truly experimental artist, even with big budget films like The Good German, the reflection of which can be clearly seen in Che. You can see some Bubble too."
Soderbergh's three Oceans films weren't made "for them," Poland is saying? Then who were they made for? I wanted to love them (the second one is my favorite) but they didn't quite make it. The happiest were the corporations and the popcorn-munchers.
"At 46 (in 9 days from this writing), just 20 years into his movie career, Soderbergh has already made eight indelible pieces of American cinema," Poland writes. Something tells me he thinks that Solaris is one of the eight indelibles. I'm afraid not. Solaris is one of Sodbergh's "slump" films along with Full Frontal. Solaris is nothing short of infuriating. You don't get to join your dead lover by dying. All you're doing is turning the lights out and the power off and surrendering to the infinite. Love is for the living.
I'm actually a Bubble admirer, and I had a place in my head and black-and-white-loving heart for The Good German. Soderbergh's '98 to '00 golden streak (Out of Sight, The Limey, Erin Brockovich, Traffic) will always be held over him, or even used as a beating stick, but the Che films, for me, signify a profound comeback.
I have to say, however, that I'm very, very concerned about the forthcoming Cleopatra musical . if I were Soderbergh's most trusted advisor, I'd be saying "don't do it! This things has the earmarks of a debacle. Especially with Catherine Zeta Jones, who's too old to play the Egyptian queen, and has an unlikable rep of being quite the acquisitive capitalist, and who doesnt sell tickets(as the failure of No Reservations proved). Do another Elmore Leonard adaptation, another Limey...something in the crime vein."
"And thank the heavens for Che," Poland concludes. "You haven't seen its like in quite away. And don't expect something like this to pass our way again anytime soon."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 5, 2009 at 10:53 AM
comment #1
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
the trailers are just amazing. I really hope to God that they release CHE in where I live. The Wrestler still hasn't come out in my area.... ugh
and Jeffrey, shame on you for saying Catherine Zeta-Jones is too old to play Cleopatra. What's up with Hollywood's phobia of older, established actresses?????
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at January 5, 2009 12:15 PM
comment #2
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
Solaris was great. The tone of that movie is perfect, and for some reason the first ten minutes or so (all the earth pre-trip) just grabbed me. This is easily up there with The Limey for me.
Anyone know if/when the Che roadshow hits Chicago? I'm ready for the four hour sit.
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at January 5, 2009 12:19 PM
comment #3
BurmaShave
says ...
I think OCEAN'S 11 should be included in his hot streak, and I really really liked CHE Part One. Dying to see Part Two.
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 5, 2009 12:19 PM
comment #4
Mr. Gittes
says ...
I betcha a majority of critics will believe that The Informant with Matt Damon will mark Soderbergh's comeback, fair not, and I'm all for the Cleopatra thing. How about Christian Bale replaces Jackman! Bale needs to smile!
Posted by Mr. Gittes
at January 5, 2009 12:22 PM
comment #5
Admiral82
says ...
Solaris is exceptional. I love it. Right up there with The Limey, I agree.
I am a little disappointed that I won't get to see Che in it's uninteruptted glory. Not that splitting a Four hour film in two bothers me. I just really wanted to experience Che in that setting.
DeafBrown: The Wrestler is arriving here locally a week from Friday. I'm counting the days...
Posted by Admiral82
at January 5, 2009 12:27 PM
comment #6
actionman
says ...
Haven't seen Che so can't comment yet on it. Really looking forward to checking it out.
The Limey is just about perfect. Just watched it again and was immediately reminded of its brilliance.
Full Frontal is grossly underrated. It's a too-perceptive diatribe against living in Los Angeles that I found to be spot-on and often times hilarious. Keener's "fuck movies" flip-out still rings in my ears.
And Wells -- No Reservations may have been the very definition of a two-star movie, but I do believe it did make some decent coin. Not a blockbuster by any stretch but no major wipe out as far as I recall. This 3-D Cleopatra will be, if nothing else, an interesting experiment.
Count me in as someone who feels that Bubble is a small masterpiece of some strange sort.
Posted by actionman
at January 5, 2009 12:27 PM
comment #7
James Rocchi
says ...
Include me as well, on-the-record for Cinematical, MSN Movies and all the way down the line: Che's great moviemaking, and worth celebrating, And again, the whole "Only Boomers liek Che" theory is nonsense; I was around for three days of the 1960s, and still admire and respect this movie.
http://rocchireport.com/?p=172
J.
Posted by James Rocchi
at January 5, 2009 12:41 PM
comment #8
Breedlove
says ...
I unfortunately missed this at the Ziegfeld but I believe New Yorkers still have 3 days to see it at the IFC on lower 6th, a theater I still have not been to but have been wanting a reason to visit. So I'll be checking it out in the next 72 hours. Can't wait. Also, it's interesting that Poland is supportive of Soderbergh's experimental side. I myself get frustrated by it...maybe my tastes are too mainstream. I love art films - Malick and PTA are probably my two favorite filmmakers - but I really feel like Soderbergh's strength is fairly commercial, mainstream Hollywood movies. I think his two best films by far are 'Out of Sight' and 'Erin Brockovich' and I'd love to see him make more stuff in that vein and less black and white claymation avant-garde porn films. There is so much crap coming out of Hollywood nowadays that I would almost argue that we need a director who can deliver quality big-budget mainstream movies, like a Nolan or a Spielberg or a Mann or Fincher, more than we need another interesting, edgy, experimental indy filmmaker. There are a million of those.
Last point -I think Poland's reviews are his strong point. I really enjoy them. I wish he would focus more on doing reviews.
Posted by Breedlove
at January 5, 2009 12:55 PM
comment #9
DeafBrownTrashPunk
says ...
@ Admiral82:
thank god-- glad to know I'm not the only one deprived of "The Wrestler."
Thanks for the head-up, maybe it's coming out here in a week, too.
Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk
at January 5, 2009 12:57 PM
comment #10
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Soderbergh's Eight Indelibles
1. S,L,&V (influenced the hell out of 90s cinema across the board)
2. Che (haven't seen it yet, hoping it will land here, if not #1)
3. King of the Hill (vastly underrated)
4. Bubble (extremely disquieting in a way most modern films just aren't anymore)
5. Kafka (I'm a sucker for the source material here; beautiful b&w photography)
6. Solaris (possibly inferior the original, still great s.f.)
7. Out of Sight (smooth and assured in a way that Soderbergh's other big-budget efforts just aren't)
8. The Limey (short, simple, & effective; love the Stamp casting & the soundtrack, too)
I can pretty much take or leave the rest of his work...yeah, that includes Oscar-lovin' Traffic.
"The Girlfriend Experience" sounds pretty intriguing and unlike anything else he's done (then again, aside from the Ocean's, he's not really one to repeat himself )...anyone know if that's still on track to screen @ Sundance this year?
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 1:04 PM
comment #11
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Oh, actionman's post reminded me of "Full Frontal," which I had forgotten about...kinda. I guess I would put that down at #9...it's kind of like the west-coast version of "Bubble," in a way. Which probably explains why I admired/respected it more than I liked/related to it.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 1:09 PM
comment #12
Nick Rogers
says ...
NotImpressed: Landmark's Web site says "Che" parts 1 and 2 open Jan. 16 at the Century Centre.
Posted by Nick Rogers
at January 5, 2009 1:19 PM
comment #13
Breedlove
says ...
CitizedKaned, you wouldn't call 'Erin Brockovich' smooth and assured? I'm biased because I love Julia Roberts, but to me that was one of the more impeccably crafted star vehicles of recent times...what Soderbergh, Julia, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhardt et. el. did with what was a pretty boring, almost cliched story was fantastic. Just a fun movie to watch. Several wonderful scenes/moments.
Posted by Breedlove
at January 5, 2009 1:44 PM
comment #14
Breedlove
says ...
And by the way, C Z-J has "quite the unlikeable rep for being an acquisitive capitalist"? What's that about? Don't tease us with these little asides...I'm trying to think if that is a reference I should get or if it's more inside baseball than that...
Posted by Breedlove
at January 5, 2009 1:51 PM
comment #15
Edward
says ...
I'm not a fan of Julia Roberts, but "Erin Brokovich" was excellent and the best acting Ms. Roberts has done.
Posted by Edward
at January 5, 2009 1:51 PM
comment #16
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
Thanks for the heads up on the Century theater Nick. From the website it looks like they'll be showing the movies separately but I'm holding out hope that they do a special double feature or actually have a roadshow print for the first week.
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at January 5, 2009 2:00 PM
comment #17
cinefan
says ...
I went into The Good German really wanting to like it but the film left me completely flat. It is far too pompous and self-aware and the plot is so dull it almost put me to sleep the first time I saw the film. It wants to be Casablanca or the Third Man but is not nearly compelling or smart enough to achieve that level of film greatness.
Posted by cinefan
at January 5, 2009 2:31 PM
comment #18
LYT
says ...
shame on you for saying Catherine Zeta-Jones is too old to play Cleopatra. What's up with Hollywood's phobia of older, established actresses?????
I was about to say that it matters because of how old the actual Cleopatra was...then remembered the movie's going to be a fucking disco musical, so I guess arguing for historical accuracy is pretty pointless.
I expect Spike Lee or somebody will be pointing out that she was probably black, though.
Posted by LYT
at January 5, 2009 2:47 PM
comment #19
YRG
says ...
Jeff: Have you seen the original 4 hour cut and Part 1 & 2? If so, which is the better experience? I wonder if I should wait for a theatre to show them back to back before I go. And Soderbergh was my favorite director even after he said it was all downhill from here...
Posted by YRG
at January 5, 2009 2:49 PM
comment #20
Edward Havens
says ...
What I admire about Che is that it had the guts to show how little Guevara really mattered in the scheme of things. Castro and Cuba were able to continue down their path without him, and the Bolivian rebels were unable to succeed with him alone. It's a beautiful and powerful film, and easily a top ten film of the year.
And while I am a fan of Soderbergh, I can only think of The Underground, Oceans 11, Solaris and Che that are worth watching more than once. Time has not been kind of sex, lies and videotape.
Posted by Edward Havens
at January 5, 2009 4:20 PM
comment #21
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Breed - I suppose "Brockovich" is smooth enough, sure. Good performances across-the-board, as you say. Held my attention while I was watching it, which, given the subject matter, is actually a minor miracle for me.
When it gets right down to it, I guess it seems like more of a director-for-hire job than a true auteur project, and my interest level kind of drops of a cliff in those situations. I also am a huge fan of Elmore Leonard (who is hardly *ever* adapted well), and I really couldn't care less about Julia Roberts.
So what can I say? I guess at the end of the day, we all have our biases.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 5:10 PM
comment #22
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Really, Edward? Saw "sex, lies..." just recently and I could not disagree more. Thought it was rather prescient in the way it envisioned a society of numb voyeurs more interested in observing people having sex than actually engaging in it themselves.
I know it's certainly no big revelation now, but good lawd -- this was pre-1990, pre-digital media, pre-Internet (for the public at-large, anyway). Perhaps you think the rest of the film drags a bit (I don't), but you really have to hand it to Soderbergh on the technology-meets-pornography theme alone -- he was literally standing on the cutting edge.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 5:23 PM
comment #23
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
I'm pretty sure I enjoyed Erin Brockovich in the theaters but have absolutely zero desire to watch it again. I sort of feel the same way about Traffic.
On the other hand, I've watched The Limey and Out of Sight at least ten times in the past decade and even kinda feel like watching them both tonight.
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at January 5, 2009 5:30 PM
comment #24
Tiny Tim
says ...
Doesn't ANYBODY think it's weird that Wells and Poland are agreeing on something?
Has Hell frozen over?
Posted by Tiny Tim
at January 5, 2009 5:45 PM
comment #25
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Amen, Impressed.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 5:53 PM
comment #26
Edward Havens
says ...
Kane: In 1989, I found SLV to be very daring and it was one of my first Criterion Laserdisc purchases. But with what has happened to society in the past twenty years, the film has lost much of its bite. I recognize the film for what it was, while also being able to see what it has become.
In fact, going back and looking at the list of films that played Park City twenty years shows the documentaries from that class (Comic Book Confidential, For All Mankind, Let's Get Lost, Lodz Ghetto, Who Killed Vincent Chin?) have stood the test of time better than their fictional counterparts. I would also say that of the dramatic narrative titles there that year, Miracle Mile was the gem that unfairly got lost under the glare of SLV.
Posted by Edward Havens
at January 5, 2009 5:53 PM
comment #27
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Nice shout-outs there, Ed...haven't actually seen a couple of those, so I'll keep those in mind.
I still think James Spader is still fuckin' awesome in SLV...never seen a performance quite like that, and probably never will.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 6:30 PM
comment #28
lipranzer
says ...
Count me as another CHE lover, and I think Edward hits the nail on the head when he says it's more about revolution than Che himself. It's a clinical study, which is normally not my type of film, but it's done with such great detail and unexpected humor that I was won over. And yes, watching the whole 4 hour cut is crucial - the second half wouldn't work as well without seeing the first half.
As good as Spader is in sex, lies and videotape, what I remember are the performances of Andie MacDowell and Laura San Giacomo. Both take cliched roles and invest them with a lot more. I always thought San Giacomo would become a star after that movie.
My favorite Soderbergh films are, in order they were made:
SLV
KING OF THE HILL
THE UNDERNEATH (his most underrated, I'd argue)
SCHIZOPOLIS (this succeeded where FULL FRONTAL failed, I'd say)
OUT OF SIGHT
THE LIMEY
ERIN BROCKOVICH
TRAFFIC (though I agree The Wire goes a lot further than this movie did in showing the cost of the drug war)
SOLARIS (I do agree with Hoberman, who pointed out the oddity that the remake was liked most by those who liked the original, which is usually not the case)
CHE
I even think KAFKA isn't as bad as its reputation. True, it's just an exercise, but unlike THE GOOD GERMAN, it's an enjoyable one.
Posted by lipranzer
at January 5, 2009 6:44 PM
comment #29
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Damn, I forgot all about Schizopolis. How could I? I'd probably slide that in between Bubble and Kafka on my list.
That was very much when he was in his absurdist, Richard Lester mode. Even did a book of interviews with him, if I recall correctly...
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 6:52 PM
comment #30
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
Traffic was fine for its time, but The Wire makes it look more like Crash in hindsight. Unfair to compare an unpopular five-season series against a big hollywood production, but the point stands.
I tried watching The Underneath on cable a few years back, and could not stick with it at all. - seemed entirely mediocre. Maybe my head was in the wrong place?
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at January 5, 2009 7:30 PM
comment #31
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
We seem to share pretty common ground on Soderbergh films, Impressed, and I can tell you that I watched The Underneath all the way through to its very mediocre conclusion. For what it's worth.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 5, 2009 7:58 PM
comment #32
PastePotPete
says ...
Am I the only one who felt that Soderbergh's Solaris seemed twice as long as the original, at half the length?
Maybe I'm just a sucker for Tarkovsky.
Posted by PastePotPete
at January 6, 2009 12:14 AM
comment #33
wildphantom
says ...
Jeff - you mentioned your top 15 now being finalised having seen Torino and Waltz. Can we have it?
Interested to see where they figured and what got bumped!
Posted by wildphantom
at January 6, 2009 5:07 AM
comment #34
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Prob. just a sucker; I like Tarkovsky, but sometimes it seems like his films never end...
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at January 6, 2009 6:33 AM
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