(no subject)

[jfb]

So here's the thing about The Truth About Charlie. I don't think it's a great movie--the plot is overstuffed, and the director's attempt to make all of the characters sympathetic is undernourished and confusing. But watching it makes me fall absolutely (if briefly) in love with Paris--cheaper and probably more effective than a plane ticket--so I'm fond of the movie.

Jonathan Demme's DVD commentary is good too. Within the first minute, he explains that a primary motivation for him was to shoot a movie in the city where many of his filmmaking heroes worked, and in fact the whole movie acts as a sort of tribute to the French New Wave. Demme points out many of the cameos and stylistic elements that most filmgoers would, like me, miss.

He says he was inspired by the notion that in the early 60s, Stanley Donen was filming Charade in Paris while at the same time, in the same city, Truffaut, Godard, and the rest of the Nouvelle Vague were developing their shoot-from-the-hip cinematic style. And indeed, Charade--provided on the flip side of the DVD--is quite a contrast. Charade, with the exception of a couple of outdoor locations, could easily have been filmed on Hollywood sets, with a handful of French actors flown in for local color. The newer film's Paris is multicultural, multilingual, crowded, and always in motion, and the excitement of the location pervades the whole movie. And, yeah, that's what I love.

Comments

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Note to self: when you get around to watching this movie, be sure to listen to the commentary, as well. And then, if you still have time, watch Charade again.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's very insightful--and occasionally inane, as when he observes, "Uh oh--things don't look good for" some character who things don't look for. But that's what you get with unscripted commentaries.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of the Big Trouble in Little China where Carpenter and Kurt Russell just start chatting about stuff -- how their kids are doing at hockey, just like old friends that haven't seen each other.

Kind of a pity they're not talking about the film, but that's much better than the commentaries where the people just forget to talk about for long, long stretches.

[tuliphead.livejournal.com]

Paris is definitely one of those cities that lends itself to movies; a good movie shot in Paris can make you fall absolutely in love with the city. i've loved Paris since i visited when i was 14, and anytime i watch a movie set there i long to go back so badly i could cry. Amelie recently had this effect on me.

i also like the fact that Demme has tried so many different things; he's a really diverse director. of course, one of my favorite movies by him is Storefront Hitchcock.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

No coincidence: There's a Soft Boys song on the soundtrack.