Comments on: Marty Cares, and So Does the Siren http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:30:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-929 Tom Watson Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:34:18 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-929 Was a glitch, as they say in the trades... Was a glitch, as they say in the trades…

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-924 Dan Schneider Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:18:56 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-924 Oh, good. I was wondering if I was posting wrongly, cuz of the italics. Oh, good. I was wondering if I was posting wrongly, cuz of the italics.

]]> By: Lance Mannion http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-916 Lance Mannion Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:44:18 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-916 </em> I'm just trying to turn off the blasted italics here. Mr Watson, come in here, we need you. I’m just trying to turn off the blasted italics here.

Mr Watson, come in here, we need you.

]]> By: Lance Mannion http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-915 Lance Mannion Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:43:04 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-915 Good post, Siren, but I kind of wish the Academy had stiffed him again. I think there's more dignity in having never won than having won for a lesser work. There wasn't even much competition for him, either. It's as if the Academy stacked the deck in his favor. Might as well have been a Lifetime Achievement Award. Good post, Siren, but I kind of wish the Academy had stiffed him again. I think there’s more dignity in having never won than having won for a lesser work. There wasn’t even much competition for him, either. It’s as if the Academy stacked the deck in his favor. Might as well have been a Lifetime Achievement Award.

]]> By: Lance Mannion http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-914 Lance Mannion Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:39:19 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-914 </i> ]]> By: newcritics - » Live Blogging the 2007 Oscars. Action! http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-904 newcritics - » Live Blogging the 2007 Oscars. Action! Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:11:34 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-904 [...] The audience is totally into Scorsese winning. I bet The Siren’s happy! [...] [...] The audience is totally into Scorsese winning. I bet The Siren’s happy! [...]

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-836 Dan Schneider Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:13:35 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-836 Taxi Driver's great, but De Niro really had to stretch for KOC, and so did Scorsese. After Hours is also a great film, and comedy. With great films it's always arguable, but getting out of one's comfort zone, testing oneself, and still kicking ass is a bonus. In that sense, TD's not much a strecth as KOC is. It's why Another Woman is a greater Woody Allen film than Annie Hall. Taxi Driver’s great, but De Niro really had to stretch for KOC, and so did Scorsese. After Hours is also a great film, and comedy.

With great films it’s always arguable, but getting out of one’s comfort zone, testing oneself, and still kicking ass is a bonus. In that sense, TD’s not much a strecth as KOC is.

It’s why Another Woman is a greater Woody Allen film than Annie Hall.

]]> By: Self Styled Siren http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-798 Self Styled Siren Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:03:08 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-798 Tom, it is funny you should mention The Last Waltz, because as soon as I posted this I went downstairs and put on The Band's eponymous album. The connection with writing about Scorsese was irresistible. Tom, it is funny you should mention The Last Waltz, because as soon as I posted this I went downstairs and put on The Band’s eponymous album. The connection with writing about Scorsese was irresistible.

]]> By: M.A. Peel http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-795 M.A. Peel Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:24:05 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-795 Scorsese said somewhere that in retrospect, The Last Temptation of Christ was "too heavy on the Good Friday," and not enough of the promise of Easter morning, a gloss that many have applied to his world vision in general. Same could be said about his Oscar agony. Maybe tonight will finally be Easter Sunday for him. Scorsese said somewhere that in retrospect, The Last Temptation of Christ was “too heavy on the Good Friday,” and not enough of the promise of Easter morning, a gloss that many have applied to his world vision in general.

Same could be said about his Oscar agony. Maybe tonight will finally be Easter Sunday for him.

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-792 Tom Watson Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:03:54 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-792 Don't forget The Last Waltz - might be my favorite Marty in some ways. Brilliant. Don’t forget The Last Waltz - might be my favorite Marty in some ways. Brilliant.

]]> By: Self Styled Siren http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-790 Self Styled Siren Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:57:54 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-790 Dan, I would agree, except that the blogosphere's two best-reviewed films of the year -- Children of Men and Pan's Labyrinth -- didn't even see their directors nominated. Of the five that were nominated, I have no problem seeing Scorsese win, especially since The Departed is a hugely enjoyable movie. Had it been directed by any number of lesser talents, it might have been hailed as a career-topper. Judging him by his nominated company this year, I think Scorsese honestly deserves it. King of Comedy has its ardent supporters, but I still feel pretty safe calling Taxi Driver his best. D.R., when you read about the critical judgments of the past, one thing that strikes you is that people seem to have a hard time predicting which films will last. I think you are on pretty safe ground, though. ;) Dan, I would agree, except that the blogosphere’s two best-reviewed films of the year — Children of Men and Pan’s Labyrinth — didn’t even see their directors nominated. Of the five that were nominated, I have no problem seeing Scorsese win, especially since The Departed is a hugely enjoyable movie. Had it been directed by any number of lesser talents, it might have been hailed as a career-topper. Judging him by his nominated company this year, I think Scorsese honestly deserves it.

King of Comedy has its ardent supporters, but I still feel pretty safe calling Taxi Driver his best.

D.R., when you read about the critical judgments of the past, one thing that strikes you is that people seem to have a hard time predicting which films will last. I think you are on pretty safe ground, though. ;)

]]> By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-784 Dan Schneider Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:37:51 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-784 No, do the right thing and give to the best film- which prob even is not one of the five nominated- lest there will be future Scorseses. As for QT- Jackie Brown's by far his best film- the only one with real characterizations. Marty will deserve his career Oscar- but call it that- not his 3rd rate crap. Marty needs to get lean and mean, and make some low budget films that will reawaken his energy level- lest we see more Aviators! BTW- his best film was prob King Of Comedy, although he has 5 or 6 really great films. No, do the right thing and give to the best film- which prob even is not one of the five nominated- lest there will be future Scorseses.

As for QT- Jackie Brown’s by far his best film- the only one with real characterizations.

Marty will deserve his career Oscar- but call it that- not his 3rd rate crap. Marty needs to get lean and mean, and make some low budget films that will reawaken his energy level- lest we see more Aviators!

BTW- his best film was prob King Of Comedy, although he has 5 or 6 really great films.

]]> By: D.R.Scott http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-780 D.R.Scott Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:35:46 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-780 Jeez. Sorry about the excess use of italics, guys.</i> Jeez. Sorry about the excess use of italics, guys.

]]> By: D.R.Scott http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-779 D.R.Scott Sun, 25 Feb 2007 21:34:19 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-779 I'm crossing my fingers that the Academy does the Right Thing, if only to spare itself the monstrous embarrassment of having Marty die before he's "rewarded" with a bogus, gee-we're-sorry Oscar. And who cares if <i>The Departed</i> isn't the "best" movie he ever made? Christ, seeing it again just illustrates what an overrated phony Quentin Tarantino is. Why? Because he's been ripping off Marty for years.<i>Pulp Fiction</i> is still the best movie Quentin's ever made, all the others since then pale ghosts of his single moment of brilliance. Sons of Tarantino have churned out derivative movies starring violent, wise-cracking gangsters: <i>Killing Zoë</i>, <i>Suicide Kings</i>, <i>Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels</i> and <i>Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead<i>. Years later, while most of these movies have faded into well-deserved obscurity, <i>Pulp Fiction</i> still feels fresh, innovative, smart, haunting, enigmatic and—hell, fun. But Tarantino clumsily mimics himself these days, and <i> Pulp Fiction</i> isn't nowhere nearly as good as <i>Taxi Driver</i>, <i>GoodFella's</i> or <i>Raging Bull</i>. We're gonna be talking about Marty fifty years later, while <i>Kill Bill</i> fades into a cinematic footnote. Give it to Marty, folks. Don't screw up.</i> I’m crossing my fingers that the Academy does the Right Thing, if only to spare itself the monstrous embarrassment of having Marty die before he’s “rewarded” with a bogus, gee-we’re-sorry Oscar. And who cares if The Departed isn’t the “best” movie he ever made? Christ, seeing it again just illustrates what an overrated phony Quentin Tarantino is. Why? Because he’s been ripping off Marty for years.Pulp Fiction is still the best movie Quentin’s ever made, all the others since then pale ghosts of his single moment of brilliance. Sons of Tarantino have churned out derivative movies starring violent, wise-cracking gangsters: Killing Zoë, Suicide Kings, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead. Years later, while most of these movies have faded into well-deserved obscurity, Pulp Fiction still feels fresh, innovative, smart, haunting, enigmatic and—hell, fun. But Tarantino clumsily mimics himself these days, and Pulp Fiction isn’t nowhere nearly as good as Taxi Driver, GoodFella’s or Raging Bull. We’re gonna be talking about Marty fifty years later, while Kill Bill fades into a cinematic footnote. Give it to Marty, folks. Don’t screw up.

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-778 Tom Watson Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:43:20 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/marty-cares-and-so-does-the-siren/#comment-778 What a great post, Siren! I hope Marty wins his...he's contributed an awful lot to the fabric over the years. And yes, they really <b>do</b> want it, don't they? That Hitchcock never won...phew. What a great post, Siren! I hope Marty wins his…he’s contributed an awful lot to the fabric over the years. And yes, they really do want it, don’t they?
That Hitchcock never won…phew.

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