Zero for Conduct: Recent Comments

Comment on Heroes for Sale

peter — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:04:19 GMT

Hi Michael,
I enjoyed your article on Julien Duvivier. My favorite Duvivier films are Un Carnet de bal and La Tête d'un homme.
I also liked your comments on Rossellini, another director whose films I love.
Peter
Peter

Comment on The War Lover

runescape power leveling — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:31:32 GMT

Just wanted to say HI. I found your blog a few days ago and have been reading it over the past few days.

Comment on Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Erich Kuersten — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:00:51 GMT

Whoa, late to the Wood-bash, I see. Mr. A, I think you had a bad day, or else saw this at a screening with a bunch of smug NY Times-reading bourgeoisie. I saw it in the context of a mini Bardem-revival and it fit well. Just because Woody's characters and even story line might be vapid doesn't mean the movie is. If you read between the lines he basically skewers his own demographic (i.e. the beauty-worshipping, terminally insecure UWS yuppie scum who all must die and be buried with their New Yorker collections).

Comment on The War Lover

Michael Atkinson — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:41:42 GMT

Skol! You're right re: Fellini; those are the exceptions.

Comment on The War Lover

Erich Kuersten — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:52:59 GMT

I am reading the book now and the Ape thing blew my mind. I used to LOVE Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. As a kid especially I was always fascinated by slavery, in the kinky way 1970s kids were.

I cannot understand you not bash Rivette! Bash Visconti, good. Bash Fellini pre-La Dolce Vita and post-8 1/2, good. but 8 1/2 and La Dolce is very bad to bash

Comment on The War Lover

Michael Atkinson — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:07:52 GMT

Fascinating. Hope you like the book. But I will not bash Rivette. Can I bash Fellini and Visconti? I bash Fellini and Visconti. The issue with Margot, at these close quarters, isn't that you know women like Margot, but that it's plain to the eyes that Baumbach doesn't, and never did. There I go! Sorry!

Comment on The War Lover

Erich Kuersten — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:08:28 GMT

Thanks for your bashings of so much bourgeois sacred cow brains, Mr. A. I just ordered your Dark Heart book, so it better be good. But now that I pay your salary, lay off MARGOT AT THE WEDDING! Trash Demme's wedding all you want, but Margot is sacred. I know THREE women just like her, maybe that helps. I'm also a video editor and that helps too, since the editing kicks ASS! Maybe I'm prejudiced. Would you bash some other art films for me!? I hate LA BELLE NOISEUSE.

Comment on The War Lover

james keepnews — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:15:21 GMT

re: margot: i assume you mean "abomination" in the bad sense. i saw this at nyff and have to say i enjoyed it a good deal more than yourself. i can't argue with your overall assessment but with so much american cinema -- not least of which whatever issues forth from whatever is left of the "amerindie" sphere -- feels so cautious and "audience-friendly", any film eager to induce squirming at every opportunity immediately gets a bit of a pass from me. fine work as well from the three principals, each of whose talents greatly benefit from underplaying (mr. black most especially). i also have to love a film where both pre-adoloencents and john tuturro are the most mature, emotionally balanced characters in the cast. true, much of the dialogue in baumbach's films suffer from a certain over-educated, over-cooked sensibility, though here as in the squid and the whale, it's cold comfort for the characters in question. i feel like margot is his least glib film, which may be damning with faint praise...

Comment on Memories of Murder

Antonia — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:47:09 GMT

Love the advice. Thank you.

Comment on The War Lover

Alejandro Adams — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:49:48 GMT

These mortar-shell reviews make for some exhilarating reading.

I'm glad you picked on Hotel des Ameriques. I adore Techine as an institution, which is probably why I wince when he slumps into self-impersonation (Les Temoins was another disappointment).