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randall 
"I like to watch."
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 Posted - 02/05/2007 : 04:18:10
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| Is it just me, or is Leo actually really good at this acting stuff? |
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ChocolateLady 
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 02/05/2007 : 06:08:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Randall
Is it just me, or is Leo actually really good at this acting stuff?
Huh? Can't be.
(But who knows? You won't find me running out to the theatres to see if you're right. I do try to avoid his arrogant little face on screen as much as possible.)
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 02/05/2007 : 07:51:17
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
quote:
Originally posted by Randall
Is it just me, or is Leo actually really good at this acting stuff?
Huh? Can't be.
(But who knows? You won't find me running out to the theatres to see if you're right. I do try to avoid his arrogant little face on screen as much as possible.)
That's a shame, CL, 'cause not only are you missing his powerful performance but equally so that of Djimon Hounsou -- and, though the film eventually becomes a tad formulaic -- its themes are extremely important in terms of human exploitation.
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Ali 
"Those aren't pillows."
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Posted - 02/05/2007 : 08:50:29
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The film is mediocre at best; your typically bland, run of the mill Zwick movie (it ends with an "almost slow clap," for God's sake). That said, Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou are brilliant, the former more so.
PS. Uncharacteristically, Jennifer Connelly does not get her tits out in the film. I have never been more disappointed in my life.
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Edited by - Ali on 02/05/2007 10:05:37 |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 02/05/2007 : 09:30:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Ali
PS. Uncharacteristically, Jennifer Connelly does not get her tits out in the film. I have never been more disappointed in my life.
Well, that means my husband won't want to go see it, either.
I'm sure it will come on TV eventually. Not our type of movie in any case - with or without DiCaprio.
(But he's so... annoying!)
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 02/05/2007 : 09:33:01
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| I thought it was pretty good, though the U.N./court-type scenes are a complete embarrassment. I have also been thinking lately that DiCaprio is actually a good actor, having just seen What's Eating Gilbert Grape? a few weeks ago and The Departed whenever that was out. Catch Me if You Can first made me think this - it's just a shame that it was Titanic by which he became well-known. |
Edited by - Demisemicenturian on 02/05/2007 10:26:10 |
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duh 
"catpurrs"
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Posted - 02/06/2007 : 01:59:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Randall
Is it just me, or is Leo actually really good at this acting stuff?
I think he is. I also think he's been in some crummy material. I've never seen Titanic and WON'T.
I really liked his performance in This Boy's Life. |
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demonic
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 02/06/2007 : 02:24:20
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| Leo is a tad smug, and he's done some dross - "The Beach" springs to mind. But there's no doubting the man's acting chops - back in things like "The Basketball Diaries", "Gilbert Grape" and "Quick and the Dead" (a guilty pleasure - I love it) I thought he was scarily talented. He finally lived up to that promise for me in "The Aviator" - an extremely tough role and quite excellent performance. |
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Rovark
"Luck-pushing, rule-bending, chance-taking reviewer"
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Posted - 02/06/2007 : 18:44:12
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I know it belongs in another thread, but the only reason I went to see this were the plaudits for his and Hounsou's performances.
I first thought he was a real talent when I saw Gilbert Grape and then This Boys Life and Romeo And Juliet. Frm then on I thought he was mediocre, Titanic, Iron Mask thingy, The Beach etc etc. Gangs of NY where he tried to be 'hard' was laughable.
What can I say, DiCaprio and Hounsou were excellent. On the strength of this, I might even be tempted to see his next offering. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 02/12/2007 : 13:43:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Randall
Is it just me, or is Leo actually really good at this acting stuff?
After reading this thread, when The Aviator came on TV the other night, I decided I should finally watch it. Well, I do have to admit that while I'm still angry at how they portrayed my beloved Katharine Hepburn*, I do have to admit that Leo did do a good job with this part. Reminded me of his work back on The Basketball Diaries, which I think he did a very good job on. He went downhill as he became cocky and self-satisfied, but I think he's begun to redeem himself.
Now I'm not as adverse to seeing this or The Departed in a movie theatre.
(*The inaccuracies in the story are so glaring that I cringed through half their scenes together. He was a better golfer than she was and not the opposite, she would never "work a room" like that, there was no tearful break-up, she met Spencer long after she broke up with Howard, and much, much more. Even worse, half the time Cate made Hepburn sound like she was from the south instead of New England. Grrr! And what was that horrid haircut she had in the golfing scene?) |
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 02/12/2007 : 13:45:48
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
(*The inaccuracies in the story are so glaring that I cringed through half their scenes together. He was a better golfer than she was and not the opposite, she would never "work a room" like that, there was no tearful break-up, she met Spencer long after she broke up with Howard, and much, much more. Even worse, half the time Cate made Hepburn sound like she was from the south instead of New England. Grrr! And what was that horrid haircut she had in the golfing scene?)
If it's any comfort, I thought she came across very positively. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 02/12/2007 : 14:03:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
(*The inaccuracies in the story are so glaring that I cringed through half their scenes together. He was a better golfer than she was and not the opposite, she would never "work a room" like that, there was no tearful break-up, she met Spencer long after she broke up with Howard, and much, much more. Even worse, half the time Cate made Hepburn sound like she was from the south instead of New England. Grrr! And what was that horrid haircut she had in the golfing scene?)
If it's any comfort, I thought she came across very positively.
No, it isn't much comfort, but thanks for trying. Just makes me hope and pray that if they ever decide to do a movie about her life, that I'm not alive to see it.
(Of course, I'll probably be turning in my grave enough to cause an earthquake but at least I won't have to watch it.)
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 02/12/2007 : 14:05:26
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| I similarly hate details being changed from the true stories/source fiction behind films (except where there is good reason), but unfortunately this seems to be quite a minority view. |
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damalc
"last watched: Sausage Party"
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Posted - 02/15/2007 : 02:14:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
I similarly hate details being changed from the true stories/source fiction behind films (except where there is good reason), but unfortunately this seems to be quite a minority view.
that's just they way it is with all based-on-a-true-story movies. some that i know of include "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story," "Friday Night Lights," "Blow," "Goodfellas," "A Beautiful Mind," and on and on.
let's face it - truth isn't all that interesting most of the time.
now, back on topic, acting performances by DiCaprio and Hounsou were excellent. i thought Leo's accent was inconsistent and distracting but otherwise, top shelf. |
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Demisemicenturian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 02/15/2007 : 09:21:22
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quote:
Originally posted by damalc
that's just they way it is with all based-on-a-true-story movies.
To differing degrees, though, and I still dislike all the instances of it that are not for good reason.
quote:
let's face it - truth isn't all that interesting most of the time.
To me it is - or explicit fiction alternatively is. The in-between I find the least appealing. |
Edited by - Demisemicenturian on 02/15/2007 10:48:48 |
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Shiv 
"What a Wonderful World"
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Posted - 02/15/2007 : 12:10:43
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I saw an interesting documentary about Capote where the film-makers were talking about the difficulty of making biopic films. That film only focuses on one part of Capote's life - it has a clear beginning and end point so they did not need to do too much manipulation of the real facts and people to portray a fairly accurate story. With films like The Aviator the span of time is so great that they need to find their beginning and end but also need to conflate events and characters to make a watchable film.
Mind you, that doesn't explain why they fictionalised the emotional scenes between Hughes and Hepburn . Often you can accept some melding of real people (like in Last King of Scotland where the Scottish doctor represents two or three Scots who were courted by Amin). But I do hate it when they make a real person act in a way they wouldn't. Or like The Doors, where Morrison ended up being fairly one-dimensional because Stone only focussed on one aspect of his personality and behaviour. Many people who knew him have written about the other facets to his character and his beliefs (while admitting that he was a monster when he was drunk and drugged up ). When you watch that film you wonder how he ever managed to make such ground-breaking music .
Another interesting fact-ette. Sarah Jessica Parker openly stated that she was playing the 'worst actress ever' in the film Ed Wood. The real Dolores Fuller in fact went on to have a successful career as a songwriter, penning 10 songs for Elvis. She also never smoked and was annoyed that she was potrayed as a smoker in the film. She wondered why Parker never asked to meet with her and find out something about her, especially since she was very fond of Wood, something which wasn't apparent in the film. (Great film, though ) |
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Blood Diamond
