2012 BP Contender Series: The Impossible

[caseyfan14]

Did no one else see when Gregory Ellwood (Hitfix) put The Impossible as his #1 of 2012? http://www.hitfix.com/awards-campaig...ilms-of-2012/3

Ellwood seems like the type of critic that only watches mainstream independent films.

[McTeague]

Sio, you're one "I love Les Mis" away from getting a marriage proposal from me.

[HoneyDarling]

An 8. Watts gave an earth-shattering performance.

[david_lynch]

I saw some tasteless people gave Looper >5 and give this movie <5.
Do they know about naturalistic acting and movie?

[Solarie]

7 it was good, though not great.

[siowafc]

I saw some tasteless people gave Looper >5 and give this movie <5.
Do they know about naturalistic acting and movie?

OMG, David Lynch is on my side!

#winning!

[OscarsFan 2.3]

I saw some tasteless people gave Looper >5 and give this movie <5.
Do they know about naturalistic acting and movie?

You want the "Amour" board down the walk from here.

I'm somewhere between 5 and 6. I think the performances are good, but the execution of the story is horrid. Why can't directors just follow Paul Greengrass' example with "United 93" and just make the movie feel as naturalistic and matter of fact as possible instead of bleeding every emotional moment?

[affy18]

You want the "Amour" board down the walk from here.

I'm somewhere between 5 and 6. I think the performances are good, but the execution of the story is horrid. Why can't directors just follow Paul Greengrass' example with "United 93" and just make the movie feel as naturalistic and matter of fact as possible instead of bleeding every emotional moment?

United 93 is a terrible film.

[erikdean]

United 93 is a terrible film.

It certainly fucking is not.

[Aurelius]

United 93 is a terrible film.

Oh, affy. Oh dear, dear affy. I weep for your soul.

[affy18]

Oh, I found United 93 an empty vessel of a film that offered nothing except pointless suffering; cheap, bordering-on-offensive manipulation (the excecrable optimism and distasteful tension before the "uh-oh, it's going to crash but you knew that, anyway" ending) and on top of that absurd claims to being a "realistic" account of real-life events through annoying hyper-kinetic, "you're there" shaky cam and tricky editing.

It's empty, non-illuminating, rather offensive and completely meaningless.

I have no qualms in giving it my worst possible rating.

At least The Impossible has a couple of redeeming qualities.

[Aurelius]

the excecrable optimism and distasteful tension before the "uh-oh, it's going to crash but you knew that, anyway" ending

I find this a massive strength! The fact that the first I saw it, I actually was thinking that they were going to make it until the last second is a testament of great film making.

and on top of that absurd claims to being a "realistic" account of real-life events

You shouldn't feel as good about the film in your signature then .

[erikdean]

Oh, I found United 93 an empty vessel of a film that offered nothing except pointless suffering; cheap, bordering-on-offensive manipulation (the excecrable optimism and distasteful tension before the "uh-oh, it's going to crash but you knew that, anyway" ending) and on top of that absurd claims to being a "realistic" account of real-life events through annoying hyper-kinetic, "you're there" shaky cam and tricky editing.

It's empty, non-illuminating, rather offensive and completely meaningless.

I have no qualms in giving it my worst possible rating.

At least The Impossible has a couple of redeeming qualities.

This might be the worst thing you've ever, ever posted.

[affy18]

I find this a massive strength! The fact that the first I saw it, I actually was thinking that they were going to make it until the last second is a testament of great film making.

I'm sorry, Au, but what?! That's exploitative manipulation at its very worst, especially coming from a film that presents itself to be a true-to-life, objective Omg-hyper-realistic account of events. I find it deeply troubling to play around with audience emotions in such a dishonest way.

The more I think about this movie, the more I hate it. It's a cinematic dead-end. It's a vacuum of nothingness for me.

And as for the film in my siggie, even if I ended hating it, I'm sure Savior Chastain would redeem it.

[affy18]

This might be the worst thing you've ever, ever posted.

Hold that thought.

I have Beasts of the Southern Wild on my desk waiting to be watched.

[erikdean]

I'm sorry, Au, but what?! That's exploitative manipulation at its very worst, especially for a film claiming to an Omg-hyper-realistic account of events, I find it deeply troubling to play around with audience emotions in such a dishonest way.

The more I think about this movie, the more I hate it.

I don't think it's dishonest at all. It took what knowledge and facts were known (phone calls to loved ones, which detailed plans to take the plane) and expanded because obviously 100% wasn't known.

And I think you're totally wrong that the idea of the potential optimism of the passengers to take the plane and save themselves as vulgar or exploitative. For the audience, yes, we know that it will not end well for them but for the passengers they had honest hope that it could and I don't see why or how you can demean that.

Now, I understand and realize that I made the same claims against The Impossible (since this is its thread lol) so I get that subjectivity of my opinions vs. your opinions. It's just that yours are wrong.

[affy18]

I don't think it's dishonest at all. It took what knowledge and facts were known (phone calls to loved ones, which detailed plans to take the plane) and expanded because obviously 100% wasn't known.

And I think you're totally wrong that the idea of the potential optimism of the passengers to take the plane and save themselves as vulgar or exploitative. For the audience, yes, we know that it will not end well for them but for the passengers they had honest hope that it could and I don't see why or how you can demean that.

Now, I understand and realize that I made the same claims against The Impossible (since this is its thread lol) so I get that subjectivity of my opinions vs. your opinions. It's just that yours are wrong.

But I think it's pretty obvious that the fake optimistic climax is meant for the audience? I mean, even Aurelius says he felt optimistic about it; it's even more obvious with the non-diegetic music and triumphant tone. It wasn't a realistic and objective approach (there are even like, Hollywood action movie set pieces ), it was clearly playing for the audience's emotions.

I don't demean the lives who were lost, but the filmmakers' lack of tact by turning a real-life tragedy into a "roller coaster ride" to emotionally manipulate an audience, which is disgusting to me.

[erikdean]

But I think it's pretty obvious that the fake optimistic climax is meant for the audience? I mean, even Aurelius says he felt optimistic about it; it's even more obvious with the non-diegetic music and triumphant tone. It wasn't a realistic and objective approach (there are even like, Hollywood action movie set pieces ), it was clearly playing for the audience's emotions.

I don't demean the lives who were lost, but the filmmakers' lack of tact by turning a real-life tragedy into an "roller coaster ride" to emotionally manipulate an audience is disgusting to me.

I disagree. I think it was meant to put the audience in the place of the passengers as much as possible. I thought it was realistic, effective and incredibly devastating.

[Aurelius]

But I think it's pretty obvious that the fake optimistic climax is meant for the audience? I mean, even Aurelius says he felt optimistic about it; it's even more obvious with the non-diegetic music and triumphant tone. It wasn't a realistic and objective approach (there are even like, Hollywood action movie set pieces ), it was clearly playing for the audience's emotions.

I don't demean the lives who were lost, but the filmmakers' lack of tact by turning a real-life tragedy into an "roller coaster ride" to emotionally manipulate an audience, which is disgusting to me.

How do you know? Were you there in the cockpit?

[affy18]

How do you know? Were you there in the cockpit?

No, but it was made with very clear "hyper-realistic actioner" style and techniques, which undermines any attempts at realism, no matter how hard Greengrass tried to make it "real". Not to mention it robs the film of any humanity and particular vision. A subjective approach (because, good luck with an objective one) would've probably been something far more edifying than this.