My characterization is absolutely correct. It did not have anything resembling the release that Da Vinci had. It was one of the most successful American specialized film releases of the year in France.

Sony was very happy with the reception there.

You are clueless as to what is considered a hit in France, to state the obvious.

It did 1/4 the business that DaVinci code did in France- exptrapolating that to the US, where DVC did $217 million, would have meant MA would have done about $54 million.

So to restate in another way, and to totally disprove the idea that the film was scorned in France - here is a second example of how the film was MUCH more successful in France than in the US, totally contrary to the flimsy evidence submitted earlier.

Thanks for providing the evidence to further prove my point.

quote:

Originally posted by seanflynn:
My characterization is absolutely correct. It did not have anything resembling the release that Da Vinci had. It was one of the most successful American specialized film releases of the year in France.

Sony was very happy with the reception there.

You are clueless as to what is considered a hit in France, to state the obvious.

It did 1/4 the business that DaVinci code did in France- exptrapolating that to the US, where DVC did $217 million, would have meant MA would have done about $54 million.

So to restate in another way, and to totally disprove the idea that the film was scorned in France - here is a second example of how the film was MUCH more successful in France than in the US, totally contrary to the flimsy evidence submitted earlier.

Thanks for providing the evidence to further prove my point.

I am not sure when "small potatoes" becomes a hit, but I suspect it begins somewhere in some publicist's mind.

Anyway, you say "po-tah-to," I say "to-mah-to," let's call the whole thing off.

But if you call the whole thing off, you'll have to part - and if you two have to part I'm sure it'll break both your hearts!

To cut Pucifer some slack, this silliness about booing of screening gets back to the US every year, and people take it seriously and as definitive. It's not.

Also, at least half of the people at the press screenings aren't French (although to be fair they tend to be the most vocal with their reactions).

Well, the reports of massive booing at the Cannes premiere is what I remember being the major hindrance to Marie Antoinette's hopes of Oscar love. Same with Blindness the following year - and both films probably would have received more Oscar nominations had they opened at Toronto or simply premiered in wide release.

In any case, this argument is just using up energy that both of you could be putting towards making a ballot for GD's Top 50 Female Performances of the 00s list.

It is almost unheard of for the competition screening audience to boo. It virtually never happens. It didn't happen at Marie Antoinette.

Whatever booing occurred was at a press screening, which is entirely a different thing.

...it happened at Antichrist.
lol

quote:

Originally posted by puxzkkx:
Well, the reports of massive booing at the Cannes premiere is what I remember being the major hindrance to Marie Antoinette's hopes of Oscar love. Same with Blindness the following year - and both films probably would have received more Oscar nominations had they opened at Toronto or simply premiered in wide release.

From what I can gather since it opened, I dont believe there was "massive booing" at the premiere, although as often happens, there was some derision. But then, I dont believe Jeff Goldblum is dead or that Harrison Ford is "missing".
My only beef with the film is that the wonderful Marianne Faithful had such a small role.
Kudos to Sofia for taking some risks with it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: babypook,

The Fall (2008)
Directed by Tarsem Singh
★★★ (out of four)

PUBLIC ENEMIES

I was really really disappointed with this movie. I walked out shaking my head, and I rarely ever walk out of a movie feeling like that... I think this film had the makings to be a good movie, but it just missed the mark.

The story was off, it seemed very confusing, the camerawork was very shaky, especially at scenes which shouldn't have been shaky at all, and it was hard to hear what some of the actors were saying because it sounded like they were constantly mumbling, with the worst offender being Bale...

The only good part about the film, with the exception of the set decoration and costume design, was Marion Cotillard.

SPOILER ALERT

That one scene where she is getting beat around by that investigator proved to us why she is such a great actress! I would say that she kinda saved the film... now if only the film could have been like that scene! I know it's terrible to say that I liked a scene where she is being beaten around, but Ms. Cotillard gave a master-class in acting there! I would say, based on that scene alone that she should get a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, BUT... the only thing that will be dragging her down will be how terrible the film is...

It really was a disappointing film. I didn't even like Johnny Depp...

Bottom Line: DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS FILM! It's not worth it... I mean unless you want to see that one money-scene with Cotillard, but everything else about the film just isn't worth it...

Grade: C/C- (Cotillard saved it from going much lower...)

I am glad to hear you liked Mademoiselle Cotillard's performance. I haven't seen this film but after La Môme I think she's phenomenal.

quote:

Originally posted by Pucifer:
I am glad to hear you liked Mademoiselle Cotillard's performance. I haven't seen this film but after La Môme I think she's phenomenal.

I'm telling you, she was the only good thing about the film... But she's only good towards the end... At the beginning of the film, she was nothing special but just a pretty face. And I was wondering why Jeff Wells said she deserved a nomination. Quite honestly, I think it was Depp that was making her nothing special. The chemistry between them wasn't as strong as I had hoped... But then there was that one scene which I mentioned and it made me understand why she was getting buzz for a BSA nomination and why she is such a great actress. Her best scenes were without Depp in them... most notably her Oscar money-scene... As for the rest of the film, IT SUCKED! It really did. I was really disappointed...

By the way, I think Marion Cotillard's performance in La Vie En Rose is one of THE BEST of the decade, if not THE BEST! She really is such a great actress!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bocaboy7,

quote:

Originally posted by Pucifer:
I am glad to hear you liked Mademoiselle Cotillard's performance. I haven't seen this film but after La Môme I think she's phenomenal.

Well Puce, I hope you watch it before you decide whether the film "sucked" or not.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: babypook,

Just randomly I did a tally of films that I'd seen since I started my blog (which is having its one year anniversary!), and since exactly a year ago I've seen:
44 American films
29 French films
14 British films
10 Japanese films
8 Spanish films
4 Australian films
4 Chinese films
4 German films
4 Russian films
3 Argentinean films
3 Austrian films
3 Belgian films
3 Canadian films
3 Italian films
3 Korean films
2 Brazilian films
2 Czech films
2 Swedish films
2 Taiwanese films
1 Bosnian/Herzegovinian film
1 Colombian film
1 Egyptian film
1 Hong-kongois film
1 Iranian film
1 Irish film
1 Israeli film
1 Mexican film
1 Palestinian film
1 Polish film
1 Romanian film

quote:

Originally posted by babypook:

quote:

Originally posted by Pucifer:
I am glad to hear you liked Mademoiselle Cotillard's performance. I haven't seen this film but after La Môme I think she's phenomenal.

Well Puce, I hope you watch it before you decide whether the film "sucked" or not.

OUCH! Et tu, babypook-e?

Angel
2007, Francois Ozon
Grade: C-

Blood and Chocolate
directed by Katja von Garnier, 2007

Horror romance for girls. Interesting location photography in Romania, but the overall effect is lame and wretched, even Olivier Martinez's performance. Belongs on the shelf next to Twilight. Grade: C-

The Devil's Backbone
2001, Guillermo Del Toro
Grade: C

To Catch A Thief

Grade: A-, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly played off each other well...it was nice to see her a bit more loose than the last movie I saw her in.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Zembla,