Jeff left “Pet Sematary,” ignoring the fine fine work of Ed Gwynn as the Pepperidge Farm guy.
What films have caused you to get up and leave the theater? I admit that “Bloodsucking Freaks” was actually too sadistic even for me to bear, but I also admit that I simply turned off the video. And that’s not good enough: it’s easy to eject the tape, drop the dvd back in its netflixy pouch. Screw that: what did you pay hard-earned cash for, only to feel so aggrieved or aggravated that you up and walked out?
Me: Rustler’s Rhapsody. I can’t recall why the hell I thought I should see this in the first place.
since I like bad as much as good, I stay through almost every movie I go to (i’m just grateful to be out of the house). however, I did leave Godard’s “In the Name of Love” a couple of years ago–too much tedious and pretentious posing, it’s the kind of film that unfortunately confirms people’s stereotypes of french intellectuals.
Ah, yes: that reminds me–I also walked out of “Hail Mary.” See above for reasons why. I also wanted to talk to the nuns who were praying for me, in protest outside the theater.
once i have paid i cannot leave. this is why i don’t pay for things like “saw” or “in the name of love”. michael, didn’t we watch an incredibly tedious film by some 4000 year old portuguese director together at the nuwilshire once?
arnab…are you referring to that movie Ulysses’ Gaze with Harvey Keitel? it had some decent moments I remember and I don’t think I was tempted to walk out, though I had to stretch my legs quite a bit. though I like Tarkovsky quite a bit, I was nearly tempted to bolt from Nostalgia which had a bit too much tortured artist schtick. I probably should have left Dogville but it was compelling enough I suppose. Oh, and I believe I was always on the edge of leaving both the second and third Matrix movies–especially the second one when the architect or whoever was speaking. I believe I actually slept through part of it which saved me the effort of getting up. as for “Saw,” I’m putting it on my netflix list
no, not “ulysess’ gaze”–i liked that actually, keitel’s dick and all. the movie i was referring to is “the convent”–starring john malkovich and catherine deneuve. the director is manoel de oliveira. the l.a weekly talked me into this one.
oh, the convent! I haven’t thought of that since seeing it. yes, it was tedious and totally obscure if I remember correctly. but catherine deneuve is a saving grace, so I’d never walk out. is Keitel’s dick in ulysses’gaze, too? that must have completed the hat trick with Bad Lt. and The Piano.
yes, not only is keitel’s dick in “ulysess’ gaze” he also goes “eeeeeeeeeee” not long after showing it–so it is like a double trifecta.
a film i should have walked out on: greenaway’s “the pillow book”–as good an argument against film as any.
Yeah, I found The Pillow Book excruciating but my wife liked Ewan McGregor’s dick so what’s a boy to do.
I walked out on “While You Were Sleeping.” I was with a group of people and had no ride home, so I just sort of moped around the lobby. I later snapped at someone who said she walked out on “Crumb” on the basis that it was demeaning to women–I accused her of having a double standard (how can you refuse to engage with “Crumb” and yet sit happily through “While You Were Sleeping”?). Ahh, the pointless battles we wage as grad students.
I thought that was how you flirted.
My own techniques d’amour involved produce on the head and liquor in the belly.
i remember a whole bunch of us going to see “while you were sleeping” en masse at the mann criterion on the santa monica promenade. this was misplaced “speed” related sandra bullock enthusiasm. i remember mike trying to convince me later that jack warden was the greatest actor of his generation (warden’s, not mike’s).
Arnab – I’m curious if you hated just Pillow Book or all of Greenaway’s films. I didn’t think it was his best film, but I liked it visually, and I didn’t think it was much more difficult to sit through than many of his other films. Plus, I dont recall if Pillow Book had a Michael Nyman soundtrack, but if it did, it greated on me less than in some other Greenaway / Nyman films.
Speaking of which, I loved Ulysses’ Gaze – though I saw it on DVD and watched it over 2 nights – partially becuase of its great soundtrack by Eleni Karaindrou and Kim Kashkashian.
i really liked “the cook, the thief, his wife, and her lover”. yes, “the pillow book” was visually interesting but the narrative was just too tedious. perhaps the fact that i watched it in the afternoon at the westside pavillion surrounded by aged and dying geezers had something to do with my experience?