What were the last movies you watched?

[BachiG]

...Jesse gave Minnesota the lightrail system. Was he a little bat**** insane? Yeah. Was he a bad governor? No.

My comment was sorta tongue-in-cheek, critiquing their political acumen based on their acting "skills" but how either was even given a shot in politics is still beyond me.

[Insane3]

L'année dernière à Marienbad (1961)
Although I slept through 30 minutes of the first part, it's a very interesting movie. Not very entertaining, though, and certainly annoying on certain points. However, it's brilliantly tied up.

[GNFfhqwhgads]

but how either was even given a shot in politics is still beyond me.

Because anyone can run? Hell, Ventura was in the Navy during Vietman, then he was a wrestler, then he was a mayor of someplace nearby...

As for Governor, he wasn't one of the main two parties, but since the younger voting population liked him so much, he performed well in a primary, which made the state realize that third parties CAN win, so he got office.

[BachiG]

Because anyone can run? Hell, Ventura was in the Navy during Vietman, then he was a wrestler, then he was a mayor of someplace nearby...

As for Governor, he wasn't one of the main two parties, but since the younger voting population liked him so much, he performed well in a primary, which made the state realize that third parties CAN win, so he got office.

That's interesting. I admit I don't know much about him, or the race at the time, but if it's as you describe, I wonder if the younger voting population almost did it as a joke knowing him more as a wrestler and actor than anything else...never expecting him to win, and it worked to his benefit? Also, we probably ought to stop discussing this in here since a) it's off topic and b) it's political in nature (not that it's digressing to anything harmful...but, ya know.)

[Bulzeeb]

This is Spinal Tap

An amusing "rockumentary" of the band. 8/10

[Lawdog1521]

That's interesting. I admit I don't know much about him, or the race at the time, but if it's as you describe, I wonder if the younger voting population almost did it as a joke knowing him more as a wrestler and actor than anything else...never expecting him to win, and it worked to his benefit? Also, we probably ought to stop discussing this in here since a) it's off topic and b) it's political in nature (not that it's digressing to anything harmful...but, ya know.)

As for Arnold, he came in at a time when the general voter hated the current governor, Grey Davis. Davis was the first and so far only governor in CA history to be recalled. While Davis wasn't directly responsible for any malfeasance, he stood watch while events such as the CA energy deregulation crises unfolded and did nothing. Think of it as this. While it might not have been the captain who sailed into the iceberg, at the end of the day he was running the ship.

Arnold's a very likable guy and a very successful businessman in his private life. This helped bolster him in the recall election process. As a governor, while subject to opinion, he did a fairly good job.

[McTenzington]

Ballad of Narayama

My first Imamura, and I think that kinda weakens my opinion of it, but it's a wild and passionate film whatever way you cut it. It has that strange Japanese sensibility in regards to sex and death especially, that I've never been super fond of, but the entire venture is entertaining and enigmatic enough for me to recommend it.


L'enfance Nue

Another first, this one from Pialat, which I liked very much. It draws some obvious comparisons to The 400 Blows, but I think I prefer this one as it draws a more gripping and relatable tale. There's a genuine decency to Francois, and his relationship with Nana is really lovely.


L'Amour Existe

A short included on the disk for L'Enfance Nue that was just fantastic. Pialat's first work, and it's an astounding essayist piece on the suburbs of Paris in the 50's. It's bleak and pessimistic, but it's also beautiful as all hell, and extremely effective. Fastastic work.

[TheStuddz]

Let Me In - 8/10

[Mega-Tallica]

50/50- 7.75/10

[clashcityrocker10]

To those well-versed in French film: Which directors and films would be a good place to start exploring French-language films? Does starting with Godard make sense? Any other recommendations (regardless of time period or genre, really) are also greatly appreciated. My knowledge of classic Italian film is fairly strong, but that's only because I'm an Italian major. I'd like to branch out into other non-English films, and France seems to have a rich history.