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Post by lostinlimbo on Jan 23, 2019 21:45:58 GMT
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skribb
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Post by skribb on Jan 23, 2019 21:58:52 GMT
fuck dude
if Mandy producer has any power on this production... glory be praised
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Post by masterofallgoons on Jan 23, 2019 22:44:22 GMT
I have yet to see Mandy, but Richard Stanley making his first film in a while is exciting, and it could be the first real, high profile HP Lovecraft movie in a long time, if not ever (depending on how you define it). That's kinda cool.
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Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Jan 23, 2019 22:52:09 GMT
As long as Cage does not star or co-star or special guest star.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Jan 25, 2019 11:28:55 GMT
As long as Cage does not star or co-star or special guest star. With this Lovecraft story, you kinda know what Cage performance you’re going to get.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Jan 25, 2019 13:02:57 GMT
I haven't seen Mandy yet, but I find him to be absurd and impossible to take seriously in pretty much anything. I know that can work to a film's advantage sometimes, but I just think he's a shitty over actor who I can't help but laugh at when he tries to be serious. I did just watch Mom and Dad and his ridiculousness kind of worked in the scenes where he's freaking out, but the earlier scenes where he's supposed to a be regular guy still are kinda dumb because he's such a fucking weirdo. But I hear Mandy is good. And the other aspects of this seem promising.
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Post by politicidal on Jan 26, 2019 1:41:28 GMT
Oh boy we're in for it. Getting those two in the same room together?
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Post by lostinlimbo on Jan 26, 2019 13:03:12 GMT
I haven't seen Mandy yet, but I find him to be absurd and impossible to take seriously in pretty much anything. I know that can work to a film's advantage sometimes, but I just think he's a shitty over actor who I can't help but laugh at when he tries to be serious. I did just watch Mom and Dad and his ridiculousness kind of worked in the scenes where he's freaking out, but the earlier scenes where he's supposed to a be regular guy still are kinda dumb because he's such a fucking weirdo. But I hear Mandy is good. And the other aspects of this seem promising. I haven’t seen ‘Mom and Dad’, so I can’t compare, but in ‘Mandy’ I thought he nailed it. Before the tradegy that causes his character’s emotional breakdown, to start off Cage is fairly deadpan and somber in a very ordinary manner. Maybe there’s a goofy charm in his earnest sincerity, but the director’s style only magnifies it and his cosy chemistry with Andrea Riseborough is believable. There are a couple of moments where Cage goes all-out, but it’s mainly in tone with the film’s go-for-broke LSD hazed second half. I don’t think he overacts that often, outside of one, or two moments, but I thought it was the dialogue, or the director for letting those scenes go on for too long. It was my main issue with “Mandy”, as it could’ve been a much tighter film all together. So I’m hoping for this project he puts in a performance like this one. But I guess it all depends on what direction Richard Stanley goes. Lets hope Stanley can make it work... and show the talent that kick-started his career.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2019 16:18:25 GMT
With Cage starring and Richard Stanley finally directing again after a long absence, this will rate as a must-watch for me. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Jan 28, 2019 17:02:51 GMT
I haven't seen Mandy yet, but I find him to be absurd and impossible to take seriously in pretty much anything. I know that can work to a film's advantage sometimes, but I just think he's a shitty over actor who I can't help but laugh at when he tries to be serious. I did just watch Mom and Dad and his ridiculousness kind of worked in the scenes where he's freaking out, but the earlier scenes where he's supposed to a be regular guy still are kinda dumb because he's such a fucking weirdo. But I hear Mandy is good. And the other aspects of this seem promising. I haven’t seen ‘Mom and Dad’, so I can’t compare, but in ‘Mandy’ I thought he nailed it. Before the tradegy that causes his character’s emotional breakdown, to start off Cage is fairly deadpan and somber in a very ordinary manner. Maybe there’s a goofy charm in his earnest sincerity, but the director’s style only magnifies it and his cosy chemistry with Andrea Riseborough is believable. There are a couple of moments where Cage goes all-out, but it’s mainly in tone with the film’s go-for-broke LSD hazed second half. I don’t think he overacts that often, outside of one, or two moments, but I thought it was the dialogue, or the director for letting those scenes go on for too long. It was my main issue with “Mandy”, as it could’ve been a much tighter film all together. So I’m hoping for this project he puts in a performance like this one. But I guess it all depends on what direction Richard Stanley goes. Lets hope Stanley can make it work... and show the talent that kick-started his career. Yeah, as much of a joke as Nicolas Cage became, I think the movie being able to match his level of absurdity is the key... and that's what I've heard that Mandy really gets right. I'm looking forward to seeing it... But I still always find him pretty laughable when he tries to make a serious dramatic moment work earnestly. He's just so ridiculous all the time that I have a hard time separating that from any earnest moment. But I'm certainly willing to try. I have pretty high hopes for the return of Richard Stanley. He's a really interesting figure that I knew essentially nothing about until just a few years ago. I'm rooting for him to do well. Have you seen the documentary about him and his attempt at the Island of Doctor Moreau? It's well worth a watch. It goes pretty deep into the insanity of that experience and how it all went wrong... and still you're left feeling that you've heard only a fraction of the stories of that wildly fucked up production. It's unfortunate that that movie turned out so badly and sort of ruined his career. I would have liked to have seen his version of that film. Here's hoping that he gets to make this movie his way this time around.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Jan 30, 2019 2:40:04 GMT
I haven’t seen ‘Mom and Dad’, so I can’t compare, but in ‘Mandy’ I thought he nailed it. Before the tradegy that causes his character’s emotional breakdown, to start off Cage is fairly deadpan and somber in a very ordinary manner. Maybe there’s a goofy charm in his earnest sincerity, but the director’s style only magnifies it and his cosy chemistry with Andrea Riseborough is believable. There are a couple of moments where Cage goes all-out, but it’s mainly in tone with the film’s go-for-broke LSD hazed second half. I don’t think he overacts that often, outside of one, or two moments, but I thought it was the dialogue, or the director for letting those scenes go on for too long. It was my main issue with “Mandy”, as it could’ve been a much tighter film all together. So I’m hoping for this project he puts in a performance like this one. But I guess it all depends on what direction Richard Stanley goes. Lets hope Stanley can make it work... and show the talent that kick-started his career. Yeah, as much of a joke as Nicolas Cage became, I think the movie being able to match his level of absurdity is the key... and that's what I've heard that Mandy really gets right. I'm looking forward to seeing it... But I still always find him pretty laughable when he tries to make a serious dramatic moment work earnestly. He's just so ridiculous all the time that I have a hard time separating that from any earnest moment. But I'm certainly willing to try. I have pretty high hopes for the return of Richard Stanley. He's a really interesting figure that I knew essentially nothing about until just a few years ago. I'm rooting for him to do well. Have you seen the documentary about him and his attempt at the Island of Doctor Moreau? It's well worth a watch. It goes pretty deep into the insanity of that experience and how it all went wrong... and still you're left feeling that you've heard only a fraction of the stories of that wildly fucked up production. It's unfortunate that that movie turned out so badly and sort of ruined his career. I would have liked to have seen his version of that film. Here's hoping that he gets to make this movie his way this time around. That’s fair enough, as I can see where you’re coming from in regards to Cage’s performances. Read a lot about it, but no, I haven’t seen the documentary ‘Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s “Island of Dr. Moreau”. But I heard it’s a fascinating doco on the infamous production. So it’s great to see him get another chance for a feature film. I knew he did a few documentaries in the 2000s, but I didn’t know he participated in a couple anthology films in the early 2010s, ‘The Theatre Bizarre’ & ‘The Profane Exhibit’. His experimental style, if going by his early stuff, should fit right in with this Lovecraft tale. I wouldn’t be surprise if this becomes more a cult film.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Sept 10, 2019 8:50:49 GMT
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Post by lostinlimbo on Nov 7, 2019 10:29:00 GMT
Release date late January 2020.
I saw the film Sunday night and it was a pretty decent return for film-maker Richard Stanley. While I don’t think it reaches the heights of Hardware or Dust Devil, you can see his signature visual style, and framing of his earlier work in this Lovecraft short story adaptation. Digital Fx along with lighting stands out nicely while the practical effects (like something out of Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’) are delivered to great effect. It’s quite faithful in its story approach to its source material outside of setting it in modern times with some humour especially involving Cage & alpacas. It might open with awkward family dynamics and how they become affected by the color is sort random and wishy-washy... yet I found it strangely compelling in its evolving cosmic imagery and deterioration into madness. The performances were sort of a mixed bag, and Cage does his usual schtick meaning classic freak outs. One thing though, it’s suitably weird, & psychedelic with its horror beats, but it does take a while for that to happen & implode. Still I really had fun with it.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Nov 7, 2019 15:23:31 GMT
Release date late January 2020. I saw the film Sunday night and it was a pretty decent return for film-maker Richard Stanley. While I don’t think it reaches the heights of Hardware or Dust Devil, you can see his signature visual style, and framing of his earlier work in this Lovecraft short story adaptation. Digital Fx along with lighting stands out nicely while the practical effects (like something out of Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’) are delivered to great effect. It’s quite faithful in its approach to its source material. Be it set in modern times with some humour especially involving Cage & alpacas. It might open with awkward family dynamics and how they become affected by the color is sort random and wishy-washy... yet I found it strangely compelling in its evolving cosmic imagery and deterioration into madness. The performances were sort of a mixed bag, and Cage does his usual schtick meaning classic freak outs. One thing though, it’s suitably weird, & psychedelic with its horror beats, but it does take a while for that to happen & implode. Still I really had fun with it. How/where did you manage to see it? Festival or test screening or something? I'm quite looking forward to it for the Richard Stanley and the Lovecraft of it all, but the trailer has kind of a cheap and amateurish look, unfortunately. I certainly couldn't say if that's the case in the film itself, but I was kind of disappointed by what I saw above.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Nov 11, 2019 2:19:55 GMT
Release date late January 2020. I saw the film Sunday night and it was a pretty decent return for film-maker Richard Stanley. While I don’t think it reaches the heights of Hardware or Dust Devil, you can see his signature visual style, and framing of his earlier work in this Lovecraft short story adaptation. Digital Fx along with lighting stands out nicely while the practical effects (like something out of Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’) are delivered to great effect. It’s quite faithful in its approach to its source material. Be it set in modern times with some humour especially involving Cage & alpacas. It might open with awkward family dynamics and how they become affected by the color is sort random and wishy-washy... yet I found it strangely compelling in its evolving cosmic imagery and deterioration into madness. The performances were sort of a mixed bag, and Cage does his usual schtick meaning classic freak outs. One thing though, it’s suitably weird, & psychedelic with its horror beats, but it does take a while for that to happen & implode. Still I really had fun with it. How/where did you manage to see it? Festival or test screening or something? I'm quite looking forward to it for the Richard Stanley and the Lovecraft of it all, but the trailer has kind of a cheap and amateurish look, unfortunately. I certainly couldn't say if that's the case in the film itself, but I was kind of disappointed by what I saw above. Yeah it was at a film festival. Probably best film I saw along with ‘The Wretched’. There are obvious flaws. It does have that digital look rather then cinematic which gives off that cheap awe, but I was surprised by the digital FX which was better handled than most big budget films (Outside one sequence involving a bug/or mozzie?). Instead of a dread-inducing atmosphere you’ll get reading Lovecraft, it favours weird, grotesque shocks. I don’t think the chemistry between the cast is there either, and at times feels forced. Although I think you’ll be turned off more by Cage’s performance going by your thoughts in this thread, which might take you completely out of the film. He’s rather daggy & cringy... though it looks like that’s what he’s going for... but when it came to freak out time. And it’s in bursts, not constantly on going. It’s over-the-top with his nervous energy with some dumb dialogues. I enjoyed his performance, but I can see where people are coming from if they dislike his approach. Personally for me, the film would be kinda dry & less memorable without it.
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egon1982
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Post by egon1982 on Dec 8, 2019 15:08:26 GMT
Love Richard Stanley's stuff and Lovecraft, this sounds good.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Feb 6, 2020 20:50:10 GMT
How/where did you manage to see it? Festival or test screening or something? I'm quite looking forward to it for the Richard Stanley and the Lovecraft of it all, but the trailer has kind of a cheap and amateurish look, unfortunately. I certainly couldn't say if that's the case in the film itself, but I was kind of disappointed by what I saw above. Yeah it was at a film festival. Probably best film I saw along with ‘The Wretched’. There are obvious flaws. It does have that digital look rather then cinematic which gives off that cheap awe, but I was surprised by the digital FX which was better handled than most big budget films (Outside one sequence involving a bug/or mozzie?). Instead of a dread-inducing atmosphere you’ll get reading Lovecraft, it favours weird, grotesque shocks. I don’t think the chemistry between the cast is there either, and at times feels forced. Although I think you’ll be turned off more by Cage’s performance going by your thoughts in this thread, which might take you completely out of the film. He’s rather daggy & cringy... though it looks like that’s what he’s going for... but when it came to freak out time. And it’s in bursts, not constantly on going. It’s over-the-top with his nervous energy with some dumb dialogues. I enjoyed his performance, but I can see where people are coming from if they dislike his approach. Personally for me, the film would be kinda dry & less memorable without it. Well, I finally saw this and it sure is a wild experience. I had doubts that Richard Stanley would have the ability to fully master his directing style after all this time, and especially in a new era was a whole new toolkit. Boy was I wrong to feel that way. Not everything about this movie works, but boy does he ever have control over the tone and the visual language of this audacious and abstract film. It's got such an extraordinary style, and not just in look, but in its story telling and how the graphic design is used to not only support the plot, but also ultimately becomes the plot. It's pretty fascinating. I agree also about the effects. I'm pretty amazed that this is low budget as it is, but looks as good as it does. Save for the moment with the bug that you mentioned, and another brief moment with a cat, everything that's supposed to look real basically does and everything else looks suitable surreal and impossible. There's a moment toward the end where we go full on trippy and like interdimensional, so to speak, and that may have been a step too far, but fuck it... I was with it by then. I think maybe there's a little too little plot to the thing. That's not totally a problem because the film is from the HP Lovecraft story, and that sort of loss of the grip on reality is baked into it, but I think it was really plugging along with some fairly strong characters and a decent framework for a story that loses itself along the way in favor of depicting the insanity. It sort of regains a narrative at the very end, and I almost wish it chose one path or the other. Either leave us with that insanity or fully tell the story. But it still mostly worked. As for the actors, everyone is very good, and then Cage is Cage. He's actually doing a fairly decent job of playing it straight, but when he goes nuts it's kinda stupid. The rest of the cast I think is really strong, and Tommy Chong providing the eccentricity was enough and we didn't need it from the father character. He doesn't ruin it, but I think the movie is sort of too good for him. But I think a special mention needs to go to the actress playing the daughter. You first meet her thinking she's going to be this crazy, wild, and untrustworthy mysterious type for sort of superficial reasons, and then she's you entry point and essentially your protagonist, so when things happen with her character it's especially troubling and odd. Anyway, this movie is certainly not perfect, but you can't deny that Stanley is swinging for the fucking fences, and the fact that he mostly gets away with this is a minor miracle. He proves that he was not a fluke, and that he was indeed a really exciting and inventive artist with a wild imagination and incredible ability to translate oddities to the screen. If for nothing else, this movie is worth watching to celebrate Stanley as an exciting artist to keep an eye on, but I think it's genuinely a good piece of work. As much as we would like to draw comparisons, this is a pretty singular work. And now I'm more excited to see him tie this into a trilogy of Lovecraft adaptations. I hope they're each stylistically different, but I really hope they're all as thoroughly Richard Stanley as this one.
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Post by Morgana on Feb 7, 2020 7:58:12 GMT
If Cage wasn't in it, I'd probably watch it, but since he is, I'll give it a pass.
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Post by Prime etc. on Feb 7, 2020 9:40:15 GMT
Cage is so not right for that story. You need a more nuanced actor who can use his face to convey the kind of emotional disturbance that such experiences would create.
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Post by masterofallgoons on Feb 7, 2020 12:39:29 GMT
If Cage wasn't in it, I'd probably watch it, but since he is, I'll give it a pass. I understand that impulse. I do think he detracts from the film at times, but he is understated for much of it, and he's not really the main character. But the movie is more about how it's told visually than anything else, really. I'm no fan of Nicolas Cage, but the Lovecraft of it all and the return of Richard Stanley was enough for me to give it a watch, and I'm glad I did. It's certainly a unique experience. But as I understand it Stanley is going on to make this a trilogy of Lovecraft adaptations that will connect but will not use the same actors/characters. So maybe those will do it for you.
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