   Apartment #5C
  Has anyone seen this independant film? I doubt most Americans have; when I watched it on Sunday it was supposedly the first time it had been shown in America. Periodically, I seem to convince myself that maybe, just maybe, there is something of redeeming quality in most "art" today. I don't know why I do that, I should stop.I went to a film festival that was part of Harrisburg's all-weekend ArtsFest event (ending today). Most of the films were shorts. This one was 88 minutes long, and was presented by Richard Edson, one of the stars of the film. Mr. Edson has had such distinguished credits as "Garage Attendant" in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (you know, the one that steals the Porsche and racks up the mileage), as well as being the original drummer for the band Sonic Youth (before they got famous. like, right before... hmm corellation?).As quoted from the Film Fest Website:Quote:Apartment #5Cby Raphaël Nadjari, New YorkNarrative Thriller, 88 minutes A unique film that is full of energy, spontaneity, and even violence. Nicky and Uri, two young Israelis, arrive in New York and survive by committing petty thefts. After getting into scrapes, they leave Manhattan for a tiny apartment in Brooklyn. The manager of the building is Max, an authoritarian, cynical man in a wheelchair. Max’s brother-in-law Harold is a shy, solitary man who does odd jobs around the building. During an argument with Uri, Nicky is shot. Uri panics and runs away, leaving Harold to come to her rescue. Two people who have been made fragile by life form an unexpected relationship. This screening is the film’s U.S. Premiere! Richard Edson will appear in-person to discuss his films and answer questions. THIS IS THE MOST BORING THRILLER EVER!!! If this is the director's idea of a "thriller," I'd feel sorry for the guy to watch "Saw" or "Hostel" it would surely give him a heart attack."but captmidnight!!1! u jus don understnd art! !teh film was *supost* 2 B slo LOL!!" A movie is meant to entertain. A movie that is not entertaining fails in its purpose. In Internet parlance, the film fails at life. Books should be written with good grammar (and this requirement gives an entire class of people, editors, jobs), games should have graphics that are free of glitches like flickering and tearing, music should consist of more than 2 notes. A movie that is not entertaining should not leave the production studio for consumption by the people any more than a book should leave the printers with the same word misspelled 30 times.*SPOILERS AHEAD* (of course, I doubt I could spoil the movie for anyone)I could not bring myself to care about any of the characters in the film. Uri comes and goes within the first 15 minutes (if it's longer than that, then the director really knows how to drag a film out). Nicky is an absolute child in her actions and never learns from her mistakes; she brings her problems on herself and is too stupid to prevent it. Max: thank god he gets shot. Harold is a complete dolt, yet is the only character that actually grows in the film. At the very end he snaps and shoots Max. Generally speaking though, character growth should occur over the course of the film, not in the last 2 minutes.Without reading the blurb, I would have missed the idea that the plot is based on two people that form a relationship (Harold and Nicky), however disfunctional it may be. In the end, the relationship doesn't really form, Harold just shoots Max and kicks Nicky out on the street.For all the time we spent staring at the characters as they said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, we end up learning very little about them. There is a brief Thanksgiving Dinner scene that tries to patch on some character development, but it's so incoherent and disjoint that you really can't pick anything out of it other than "people are getting drunk and yelling at each other."Throughout the movie, I had the distinct impression that it was incredibly self conscious about its independent status. It just feels like the movie is scream "I WANT TO BE INDIE!!! PLEASE, PLEASE RECOGNIZE ME AS INDIE!!!" I'm reminded of Indie Rock Pete from the web comic Diesel Sweeties. The gratuitous nudity (while enjoyable to my male id) was completely pointless, the grainy film hurt my eyes, the crappy sound recording just made things difficult to hear.88 minutes that should have been editted down to 30 minutes at the most. And next time, at least find some *good* actors, instead of these obscure-for-a-reason hacks.   
  So you went into see a foreign film(which usually tend to be very non-American in style, story, and pace), which was also an indie film(lots of little-name actors/actresses and a relatively unknown director), and your tone suggests that you, historically, don't like 'art' films.  Yet you're still this shockingly upset that you didn't like this movie?It's like a vegan wandering into a McDonald's then getting very very upset at the meal.   After he orders.   ;Quote:Original post by Run_The_ShadowsSo you went into see a foreign film(which usually tend to be very non-American in style, story, and pace), which was also an indie film(lots of little-name actors/actresses and a relatively unknown director), and your tone suggests that you, historically, don't like 'art' films.  Yet you're still this shockingly upset that you didn't like this movie?It's like a vegan wandering into a McDonald's then getting very very upset at the meal.   After he orders.I've seen plenty of foreign films and indie films that I *have* liked. I even studied art film for a while. But this film... it's just really, really bad.   ;Quote:Original post by Run_The_ShadowsIt's like a vegan wandering into a McDonald's then getting very very upset at the meal.   After he orders.Even a vegan knows the difference between a crappy steak and filet mignon in a light bearnaise.   ;Quote:Original post by capn_midnight"but captmidnight!!1! u jus don understnd art! !teh film was *supost* 2 B slo LOL!!" A movie is meant to entertain. A movie that is not entertaining fails in its purpose. In Internet parlance, the film fails at life.class Movie{public:  virtual void display() = 0;};class EntertainmentMovie : public Movie{  void entertain() { ... }public:  virtual void display() { entertain(); }};class PoliticalMovie : public Movie{  void make_people_think_about_politics();public:  virtual void display() { make_people_think_about_politics(); }}class ArtisticMovie : public Movie{  void show_something_new_about_art();public:  virtual void display() { show_something_new_about_art(); }};Consequence: I don't really agree with your sentence :) - not all movies are made to entertain you. Regards,   ;  Yeah Capn, I think you used the wrong word when you said movies are made to "entertain" us. Sure, some are, but in the end I think what you meant is that all movies are made to pass a message onto the viewer, some sort of moral or socio-political statement.   ;  The way I see it, there are movies, and there are films. Movies are meant to entertain us. Films are meant to enlighten us. The Matrix and Star Wars are movies. City of God is a film. Fight club lies somewhere inbetween.It sounds like you went to a film expecting a movie, expecting to be entertained instead of enlightened.;  I know exactly what you mean. A couple of years ago I went and saw a film called "American Splendour" at the Edinburgh International Film festival. It was the most hyped film there, nominated for an Oscar no less, and I was very lucky to get tickets to see it. It turned out to be a sludge cinematic portrayal of a socially dysfunctional nimrod I had have never heard of who writes comic books...I actually haven't been back to the film festival since.;Quote:Original post by CodejackI know exactly what you mean. A couple of years ago I went and saw a film called "American Splendour" at the Edinburgh International Film festival. It was the most hyped film there, nominated for an Oscar no less, and I was very lucky to get tickets to see it. It turned out to be a sludge cinematic portrayal of a socially dysfunctional nimrod I had have never heard of who writes comic books...To be fair, that movie was awesome...Quote:Periodically, I seem to convince myself that maybe, just maybe, there is something of redeeming quality in most "art" today.I'm wondering capn_midnight, you seem to be saying that this movie is exceptionaly bad for an art movie. And you've also seen plenty that you thought was good - what is it that convinces you that there isn't something of redeeming quality in most "art" today?   ;Quote:Original post by CowardQuote:Original post by CodejackI know exactly what you mean. A couple of years ago I went and saw a film called "American Splendour" at the Edinburgh International Film festival. It was the most hyped film there, nominated for an Oscar no less, and I was very lucky to get tickets to see it. It turned out to be a sludge cinematic portrayal of a socially dysfunctional nimrod I had have never heard of who writes comic books...To be fair, that movie was awesome...Are you sure we're talking about the same movie? O_o  What do you think was awesome about it? I genuinley want to know, you make me feel like I have missed something about the film. Maybe something I just don't get... 