tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post3510918293116813976..comments2024-03-03T10:32:45.969-08:00Comments on Mr. Peel's Sardine Liqueur: There's Worse Things To BeMr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-87377857129131018512010-09-09T21:08:33.563-07:002010-09-09T21:08:33.563-07:00It contained, as far as I can tell, the most bruta...It contained, as far as I can tell, the most brutal comedic set-up in the history of film. But what a hell of a pay off.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12691722182468764659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-23364447723669090472010-09-09T20:30:49.998-07:002010-09-09T20:30:49.998-07:00Thanks, John, very nice of you to say. I'll pr...Thanks, John, very nice of you to say. I'll probably do some more De Palma soon, but I don't know what yet. I was actually thinking about BONFIRE--seeing HI MOM for the first time actually shed some new light on that one--but I just haven't gotten to it yet. <br /><br />And I honestly don't know if I was the voice laughing loudest--I loved it, but part of me badly wanted that sequence to end and I mean that in the best possible way!Mr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-54209280620531680442010-09-09T11:02:34.490-07:002010-09-09T11:02:34.490-07:00Peter,
As always, it's a pleasure to read your...Peter,<br />As always, it's a pleasure to read your take on a De Palma film. You've been on a bit of a roll with the director of late, please keep it up. While I didn't see you at the most recent De Palma night at the New Bev, I have a sneaking suspicion that yours was the voice laughing loudest at the end of the "Be Black Baby" segment of HI, MOM!<br /><br />I hope that everything is starting to sort itself out for you. You are far too talented a writer to stay unemployed.<br /><br />JohnUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12691722182468764659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-12147403684730837882010-09-08T21:21:50.293-07:002010-09-08T21:21:50.293-07:00J.D.--
Maybe it's difficult to develop a char...J.D.--<br /><br />Maybe it's difficult to develop a character too much in what's practically a real-time story but I think you're right in that there maybe could have been something else to her. I don't think it's necessarily Gugino's fault who I think does a good enough job with what she has. <br /><br />That aside, it sounds like we're on the same page on the film and very glad that you enjoyed the piece, thanks!Mr. Peel aka Peter Avellinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10553482286909862975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2118574901486983093.post-26050578345431724332010-09-08T07:25:03.789-07:002010-09-08T07:25:03.789-07:00"It’s not a bad movie—it does, after all, off..."It’s not a bad movie—it does, after all, offer too many examples of vintage De Palma being as good as he can be—but it is an unsatisfying movie, one that practically falls to pieces as the celluloid moves through the projector. I can barely understand why."<br /><br />I couldn't agree more! And this is the problem I have with the film. After such an exhilarating opening that sets everything up and introduces all the characters, the films seems to gradually run out of steam like someone slowly letting the air out of a balloon. I can remember watching it for the first time and really wanting to like it and hoping that De Palma would figure out some way to salvage it at the end but alas, no dice. As you point out, there are some good things going on this film - De Palma's trademark virtuoso camerawork is still in full effect but I felt let down by Carla Gugino's character that felt underdeveloped and not at all like other De Palma heroines.<br /><br />Oh well. Still, you make some great arguments for both the merits and problems of this film. What a fantastic write-up!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.com