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George Clooney

By George Clooney,
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Scribblor

Scribblor

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Posted

Yeah, I'm on the Crowe train here. Gosling is as good as you say, but Crowe's outstanding too. If someone else had played it they wouldn't have worked as well opposite Gosling. It's such a fantastic film and it's been too long since I watched it. Might do so tonight!

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Loik V credern

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16 minutes ago, Turino 73 said:

I wasn't taking anything away from Gosling. I was merely stating that Crowe is just as perfectly cast. Do I see that role of washed up hard guy the same if Laurence Fishburne, Sam Worthington or Arnold Schwarzenegger plays it? No, I absolutely do not. You need fat Gladiator to make that work. 

 

No i agree the casting is fine, his chemistry with Gosling is perfect, the discussion was about how some actors are able to elevate material and some go through the motions. Doesn't mean I misunderstand the balence needed. It's as simple as not once thinking 'wow they delivered that line brilliantly' when you reach the end of a film and realise a great actor was in it but they didn't bring more than the bare minimum. 

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1 minute ago, Scribblor said:

Yeah, I'm on the Crowe train here. Gosling is as good as you say, but Crowe's outstanding too. If someone else had played it they wouldn't have worked as well opposite Gosling. It's such a fantastic film and it's been too long since I watched it. Might do so tonight!

 

Is he though? Is he really?

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b00dles

b00dles

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He's also not playing the LA Confidential character at all, he had completely different demons in that and general demeanour. 

They are undeniably similar but it's a different role and I wouldn't even say I'm a huge fan of his in the most part. 

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I don't think Crowe is amazing in that scene at all, his Mexican line is a good example of delivering it flat, no one is laughing at that, they're laughing at everything Gosling says, Crowe's 'yeah...I feel great' is not delivered poorly but not great either. I think there's enough there to find humour in his character but he's just not funny nor trying at this stage of his career so does the bare minimum.

 

Nothing wrong with the casting, the character's personality. Spin it around again, if Crowe says 'at least you're drinking again' to Gosling (who you are introduced to as an alcoholic) and Gosling says 'yeah...I feel great', everyone is laughing at Gosling's delivery. 

 

The way The Nice Guys opens with Crowe playing the aggressive hard man it reminded me of how he was in LA Confidential, that's deliberate isn't it, given the setting and period (LA earlier sure). And given that Crowe hadn't played that hard man role for ages since LA I think. It's not a coincidence is it he was cast in that role? I don't think so. 

 

Again, the rllmuk thing of dismissing a point I'm not even making. Yes, I think the two characters are exactly the same, of course. That's the fatal mistake here. Maybe someone should post again how 'lmao they're supposed to be contrasting characters'. 

 

Mark Kermode for some reason when The Fighter is mentioned always brings up that Christian Bale can't be as showy if Mark Wahlberg isn't grounded, but again the point would be; is Wahlberg doing anything remotely different to what he usually does? No. No one finishes that film and remembers Wahlberg because he's just going through the motions, applying his thing, because he knows he doesn't need to do more with standout performances all around him (Amy Adams and her family are exceptional too).

 

Ethan Hawke before Training Day said to Denzel 'if I nail this part you'll win an oscar'. But Hawke brings his best anyway, when he's pushed and pushes back pulling a gun out he's as convincing as ever, when he's pleading for his life he's making it extremely convincing despite how hammy the other actors are. Acting classes probably ask students which performance they prefer. 

 

Lordcookie used to say Kevin Bacon was the better performer in Mystic River while Penn got all the plaudits. I think Rain Men is Tom Cruise's best performance, just present in every moment in an unlikeable role. All these performances i think got more attention, a lot of people say the same of Cruise in Rain Man, people now appreciate how good Hawke was in Training Day. 

 

No one finishes Ford vs Ferrari and says 'wow, Matt Damon was unbelievable!' He's playing the boring role but still possible to think he could do more in his scenes. De Caprio's is the best performance in The Departed but Matt Damon as a villain is interesting, his sleazy arrogance convincing. Another film where an actor doesn't go through the motions with bigger actors elsewhere, he still brings something interesting. 

 

Tldr Crowe casting is fine, character is fine, chemistry is perfect, just think he doesn't do a lot with the scenes and dialogue he has.

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Turino 73

Turino 73

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11 hours ago, Loik V credern said:

I don't think Crowe is amazing in that scene at all, his Mexican line is a good example of delivering it flat, no one is laughing at that, they're laughing at everything Gosling says, Crowe's 'yeah...I feel great' is not delivered poorly but not great either. I think there's enough there to find humour in his character but he's just not funny nor trying at this stage of his career so does the bare minimum.

 

Nothing wrong with the casting, the character's personality. Spin it around again, if Crowe says 'at least you're drinking again' to Gosling (who you are introduced to as an alcoholic) and Gosling says 'yeah...I feel great', everyone is laughing at Gosling's delivery. 

 

The way The Nice Guys opens with Crowe playing the aggressive hard man it reminded me of how he was in LA Confidential, that's deliberate isn't it, given the setting and period (LA earlier sure). And given that Crowe hadn't played that hard man role for ages since LA I think. It's not a coincidence is it he was cast in that role? I don't think so. 

 

Again, the rllmuk thing of dismissing a point I'm not even making. Yes, I think the two characters are exactly the same, of course. That's the fatal mistake here. Maybe someone should post again how 'lmao they're supposed to be contrasting characters'. 

 

Mark Kermode for some reason when The Fighter is mentioned always brings up that Christian Bale can't be as showy if Mark Wahlberg isn't grounded, but again the point would be; is Wahlberg doing anything remotely different to what he usually does? No. No one finishes that film and remembers Wahlberg because he's just going through the motions, applying his thing, because he knows he doesn't need to do more with standout performances all around him (Amy Adams and her family are exceptional too).

 

Ethan Hawke before Training Day said to Denzel 'if I nail this part you'll win an oscar'. But Hawke brings his best anyway, when he's pushed and pushes back pulling a gun out he's as convincing as ever, when he's pleading for his life he's making it extremely convincing despite how hammy the other actors are. Acting classes probably ask students which performance they prefer. 

 

Lordcookie used to say Kevin Bacon was the better performer in Mystic River while Penn got all the plaudits. I think Rain Men is Tom Cruise's best performance, just present in every moment in an unlikeable role. All these performances i think got more attention, a lot of people say the same of Cruise in Rain Man, people now appreciate how good Hawke was in Training Day. 

 

No one finishes Ford vs Ferrari and says 'wow, Matt Damon was unbelievable!' He's playing the boring role but still possible to think he could do more in his scenes. De Caprio's is the best performance in The Departed but Matt Damon as a villain is interesting, his sleazy arrogance convincing. Another film where an actor doesn't go through the motions with bigger actors elsewhere, he still brings something interesting. 

 

Tldr Crowe casting is fine, character is fine, chemistry is perfect, just think he doesn't do a lot with the scenes and dialogue he has.

Wow! Thanks for typing all of that out. I agree with all of it. Except the words. Crowe SMASHES the shit out of The Nice Guys. He kills in every scene. 

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ZOK

ZOK

Posted
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11 minutes ago, ckny said:

Watched Heat last night for the first time in about 15 years. Obviously it’s a classic, but man is it long. It would lose nothing if Natalie Portman’s character was not in it.


Watch LA Takedown, which is the TV movie Mann expanded Heat from, it’s by far the better flick. Half the length, twice the pace and no De Niro stinking up the film:

 

 

A great fan trailer!

 

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Ry

Ry

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6 hours ago, ZOK said:


Watch LA Takedown, which is the TV movie Mann expanded Heat from, it’s by far the better flick. Half the length, twice the pace and no De Niro stinking up the film:

 

 

A great fan trailer!

 

 

Now that's controversial!

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DeciderVT

DeciderVT

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On 10/08/2022 at 13:09, Made of Ghosts said:

Christian Bale is a terrible* actor. 

*I mean obviously not, he’s competent, but he’s so Actingy. When I’m watching him I always think “this is someone Acting”.

 

Sometimes I wonder if this quality is what made him a great fit for Patrick Bateman and if his career after that has just been the result of that happy accident. The only other film I can stand him in is Empire of the Sun.

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Wiper

Wiper

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16 hours ago, ZOK said:


Watch LA Takedown, which is the TV movie Mann expanded Heat from, it’s by far the better flick. Half the length, twice the pace and no De Niro stinking up the film:

 

 

A great fan trailer!

 

 

I broadly agree with that sentiment, as someone who prefers their Mann a bit more constrained.* The one thing I would deviate on, is that I think Heat does benefit from De Niro and Pacino's presence specifically and only when they share scenes. The chemistry on show is palpable; those are two men who clearly want to fuck each others' brains out (which also explains the distinct lack on chemistry with the supposed love interests of the piece). Which perhaps isn't what Mann intended for the film, but it certainly works for me!

 

*now Thief, that's my ideal Mann

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Mikes

Mikes

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On 11/08/2022 at 05:13, Loik V credern said:

I love The Nice Guys like, want a sequel more than any other film, they have great chemistry but Gosling is everything to it. 

 

Agreed. If only for more scenes like this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPuY2U04mS4&ab_channel=FilmClip

 

If only Shane Black wrote more than one script every 8 years.

 

 

 

 

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On 01/08/2022 at 07:36, Commander Jameson said:

 

I enjoyed The Happening.

 

But then, I would.

 

dFlgNKq.jpg.0c8c64319d57daf144f08f0140cb16da.jpg.7e842c2ee270aed2d9800a6983e60b23.jpg

 

I enjoyed The Happening also. I love retty much love everything shyamalan's done. Some films have their issues, but he's not afraid of running with an idea and seeing how far he can push it. 

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ZOK

ZOK

Posted
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6 hours ago, Wiper said:

 

I broadly agree with that sentiment, as someone who prefers their Mann a bit more constrained.* The one thing I would deviate on, is that I think Heat does benefit from De Niro and Pacino's presence specifically and only when they share scenes. The chemistry on show is palpable; those are two men who clearly want to fuck each others' brains out (which also explains the distinct lack on chemistry with the supposed love interests of the piece). Which perhaps isn't what Mann intended for the film, but it certainly works for me!

 

*now Thief, that's my ideal Mann


I meant Pacino, not De Niro! Bob’s okay in this, although he barely stretched himself.

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PK

PK

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I don't know how controversial this is, but I watched Falling Down last night for the first time in years (possibly decades) and it's actually not that good?

 

It's got some memorable lines but everybody seems to have been told to ham it up as much as possible and the script is generally a bit rubbish.

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Ry

Ry

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3 hours ago, PK said:

I don't know how controversial this is, but I watched Falling Down last night for the first time in years (possibly decades) and it's actually not that good?

 

It's got some memorable lines but everybody seems to have been told to ham it up as much as possible and the script is generally a bit rubbish.

 

No other film makes me feel as warm and sweaty. 

 

LA looks like it's in the aftermath of the T2 nuclear blast. 

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Loik V credern

Loik V credern

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3 hours ago, PK said:

I don't know how controversial this is, but I watched Falling Down last night for the first time in years (possibly decades) and it's actually not that good?

 

It's got some memorable lines but everybody seems to have been told to ham it up as much as possible and the script is generally a bit rubbish.

 

I think it turns into a tv movie the more it continues. Compare the ending to the direction and tone of the beginning, like two different films. I think it transitions so seamlessly and was how it always intended to end so no one is disappointed when watching it. I think it's a great late night film but not something that cinematic for large parts of it. I love Douglas' performance though and most of his interactions and I can't think of any other film with this office worker having a breakdown taking it out on society story? It's relatable yet there's so few films about it? 

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