The movie thread

[Alinestra Covelia]

I saw "Lust; Caution" a few months ago. The espionage plot behind it was pretty humdrum. The only elements that really stood out was the Sino-Japanese war historical backdrop, which was really well done, and the X-rated love scenes.

Warning: female armpit hair alert.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Nostromo
It was joke. I don't remember his character's name either. What bothered you about his character? Or was it the fact they used Dustin Hoffman?

Yeah, I know it was a joke. But I was too lazy to respond humorously.

What bothered me about his character was that I didn't understand his motivation for involving himself with Crick. Why was he bothering to take any of it seriously?

[MosesPresley]

Originally posted by Nostromo
Other movies I saw recently:

- The lady from Shangai. A very good thriller by Orson Welles, featuring Rita Hayworth (sporting short blond hair).

I just saw a Touch of Evil. That was excellent. Now I want to check out The Lady from Shanghai.

After watching Touch of Evil, I got the feeling that it deeply affected a lot of David Lynch's early movies. I am thinking of the music, sound design, and the treatment of the thugs.

[Alinestra Covelia]

A question about "No Country For Old Men".

The serial killer there uses what appears to be a pump action shotgun with a large silencer attachment.

Is this feasible? I thought that a silencer for a shotgun was unfeasible, not only because of the very loud noise of a shotgun report, but also because the shotgun pellets moving inside the silencer's barrel would degrade the silencer much faster than a similar device for pistols and rifles, which fire single rounds instead of multiple shot.

[Lorizael]

A friend of mine who fancies himself a gun expert seemed to think that was pretty preposterous.

[Alinestra Covelia]

Another problem with the shotgun is that the serial killer was firing it indoors and outdoors, but it was unclear whether it was firing shot pellets, or whether it was firing a single large slug.

Chigurh in the hotel room shoots, leaving shot patterns on the walls that show he's clearly firing pellets.

But when Llewellyn gets into the pickup truck and tried to drive off, Chigurh fires at him and hits the windshield, leaving single large ragged entry holes, which would be more in keeping with a single bullet or rifle round. If he's still firing from a shotgun, it means he's firing slugs in that case.

[Nostromo]

I started watching Deadwood. Its very promising. I'll rent the other DVDs.

[Arrian]

Deadwood was fun while it lasted, but IIRC ended prematurely.

-Arrian

[DirtyMartini]

Swearingen

[Nostromo]

Only three seasons? That's a shame.

[Nostromo]

Lured by Douglas Sirk. An excellent film noir. With Lucille Ball. I never noticed how much Debra Messing looks like her.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Arrian
Deadwood was fun while it lasted, but IIRC ended prematurely.

Originally posted by Nostromo
Only three seasons? That's a shame.

Hold your horses now, there's at least a slim chance of there being some sort of finale:

Although there were plans to conclude the series with two special made for TV films, the plans have yet to come into fruition. Several of the series stars have since commented that the series is now unlikely to return. As of 10 October 2007, however, HBO has reasserted the possibility of the two movies, declining to support the notion that the show is dead.[1]

...

In a January 13, 2007, interview, David Milch stated that he still intends to finish the 2 films, if possible. [5] On July 12, 2007, HBO executives admitted that producing the telefilms would be difficult and put the chances of their ever being made at "50-50."[6]

Actor Ian McShane claimed in an interview on October 1st 2007, that the show sets are due to be dismantled and that the movies would not be made[7]. Actors Jim Beaver and W. Earl Brown commented a day later that they considered the series to now be over.[8] But HBO insists, as of ten days later, that no final decision has been made.

[Darius871]

dp

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
A question about "No Country For Old Men".

The serial killer there uses what appears to be a pump action shotgun with a large silencer attachment.

Is this feasible? I thought that a silencer for a shotgun was unfeasible, not only because of the very loud noise of a shotgun report, but also because the shotgun pellets moving inside the silencer's barrel would degrade the silencer much faster than a similar device for pistols and rifles, which fire single rounds instead of multiple shot.

Not only is it feasible, but shotgun suppressors are manufactured in real life; see http://www.saddleryandgunroom.co.uk/hushpower.htm and http://guns.connect.fi/rs/rifles.html for instance. The BBs wouldn't get caught in the baffles or otherwise damage a suppressor first because their path remains almost perfectly straight at the time they exit the barrel, second because the BBs are carried by a small paper or plastic wad that falls off after a few feet IIRC, and third because of a customized inner tube designed to protect the baffles. It's rare, but definitely feasible.

The real problem was that NCFOM, like most movies, exaggerates the effect that a suppressor has. By decibel shotgun silencers are nowhere near as effective as rifle suppressors since buckshot inherently disrupts the air more than a bullet, so you could get a difference as wide as that between these videos:

Silenced Submachine Guns


Silenced Shotgun


The only way Anton's gun could have been as quiet as it was is if he used subsonic shot. I'm sure he'd be smart enough to prefer this, but to my knowledge the only subsonic ammunition being manufactured today are bullets.

Either way, fantastic and unforgettable movie to say the least. I can't begin to comprehend why everybody hates on the ending.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by MosesPresley


I just saw a Touch of Evil. That was excellent. Now I want to check out The Lady from Shanghai.

After watching Touch of Evil, I got the feeling that it deeply affected a lot of David Lynch's early movies. I am thinking of the music, sound design, and the treatment of the thugs.

Rita Hayworth- now there's glamour. I love 'Lady From Shanghai' but I don't think even Welles understood the plot by the end...


And 'Touch of Evil' is just bonkers at times- Heston as a Mexican ? Marlene Dietrich as a gypsy, or Latina ? Mercedes McCambridge as a lesbo gang moll ?

Okay, type casting there, but....


Check out 'Red Mecca' by Cabaret Voltaire for a musical tribute to 'Touch Of Evil'.