February 16, 2009

The Masterpieces. Vol III The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

mas⋅ter⋅piece
–noun
1. a person's greatest piece of work, as in an art.
2. anything done with masterly skill
3. a consummate example of skill or excellence of any kind

The Masterpieces is an ongoing list of the greatest achievements in cinema from around the world. The only requirement is that no movie released in the last year can be added. These are the films that set the highest standards for their art form and respective genres. They can be important socially and universally or they can resonate on a deeply personal level or they can simply be incredibly entertaining.

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The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

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Written & Directed by Werner Herzog

"Do you hear that screaming all around us? The screaming that man calls silence"

When the film opens up with this quote on screen, along with an image of a wheat field swaying in the wind, without a sound, you realize you are in for a profound cinematic experience. Courtesy of one of the world's best film makers, Werner Herzog (the self proclaimed "soldier of cinema"), The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser is a film that will get you every way a film can. It will grab your heart, engage your mind and enrich your soul.

The story is of Kaspar Hauser, a man who has been raised in isolation, without having ever seen another person. His mysterious keeper, a man who keeps him fed and chained in a make shift prison, eventually lets him out. He teaches Kaspar to stand and walk, and to write. The man then brings Kaspar to a nearby village, and leaves him standing in the middle of town, alone, with a letter firmly grasped in his left hand, the bible and his hat in his right hand. The letter explains who Kaspar is and that he should be put to use as seen fit. He quickly becomes the object of the townspeople's curiosity. In some cases, people become emotionally attached to him, others ridicule him. The more important figures of the town regard him as an interesting scientific specimen and take notes on him as if he is some sort of discovery to be analysed, not a real human being to be understood.

A family takes him into their home and, along with other people, teach him how to live. Eventually Kaspar is introduced to the workings of society. At this point, he is able to adequately articulate himself. He finds so many traditions and rules bizarre. It is here that he begins to make observations and make incredible statements. When seated at a table with an older woman, he asks, "why do the women only cook and clean?". She tells him to ask the men. He finds this social standing unnatural and confusing. How is it that such an uncivilized man seems so much more civil than those raised in society.

When Kaspar is introduced to music, and listens to another man playing piano, he proclaims "the music, it feels strong in my heart". Kaspar is so pure and untainted, it is emotionally revelatory. He is the most endearing human subject in all of cinema.

He is told again and again that he is wrong, and must adjust to the society he finds absurd. In most cases, he seems wiser and more thoughtful then the people trying to teach him. One man performs a test of logic on Kaspar. He tells him there are two villages. One made completely of liars, and the other made completely of people who tell only the truth. The man asks Kaspar, if he was to meet a man outside of the villages, how could you find out which village the man was from. The man performing the test says there is only one logical answer. Of course the answer Kaspar gives is not that one answer, but it is a more clever one. The man says he fails the test. Through Kaspar Hauser's observations, we see the flaws and stupidity of our civilization. It is a film that will capture your heart but also infuriate you.

Herzog's use of image is as always incredible, but what stands out is his casting of Bruno S. for the lead. Bruno S. was a street musician who had spent much of his life in and out of mental institutions. The performance that Herzog gets out of Bruno is nothing short of earth shattering. So inspired by this man he had discovered, Herzog would go on to write a screenplay for him in three days which would become the film, Stroszek, a film as revered as The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.

After being taught reading, writing, speaking, manners, and piano, Kasper becomes somewhat of a legend. It isn't long before important people from all over want to meet him. A big, formal social gathering is held for people to meet this incredible man. Kaspar is to perform a Mozart sonata on the piano for all those attending. It is a crude attempt, as he fails to play it properly. Nonetheless, the music feels strong in my heart.


February 14, 2009

The Bronze. 2008 Academy Award Hopes and Predictions

It's Oscar time and Parker and I have made some predictions. We are including both what we think will win and what we hope to win.

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Best Documentary, Features

The Betrayal - Nerakhoon
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Adam's Take.

Heart-
My heart definitely goes for Encounters, one of my favourite films of the year, that just narrowly missed out on making my top 10 list. Herzog's documentaries continue to be one of the most consistent sources of invaluable insight and profound cinematic poetry.

Head-
My head says Man on Wire. It was one of the most well recieved films of the year, and the mere fact it onvolves the Twin Towers will capture the imaginations of American Oscar voters. Plus Mr. Oscar never show no love to Herzog.

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Parker's Take.

Heart-
My Heart also goes out to Herzog's latest masterpiece, but I believe it is too beautiful for most people to appreciate and therefore take home the little gold man.

Head-
Man On Wire will almost certainly win this category to mind, as it is a great movie all about the indomitability of the human spirit, which the Academy will eat up.

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
Entre Les Murs
Revanche
Okuribtio
Val Im Bashir

Adam's Take.

Heart-
My pick is Entre Les Murs, one of my top ten films of 2008, and a true human masterpiece.

Head-
My head says Val Im Bashir (or "Waltz with Bashir"), as it is an animated film which did not recieve a nom in that category, thus Oscar voters can kill two birds with one stone. And they loves them some bird killin'.

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Parker's Take.

Heart-
Entre Les Murs captured the different levels of interactions that happen in school in a way that no movie before has, making it my favourite for this category.

Head-
It will recieve some tough competition, but I still think Entre Les Murs will take it in the end.
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Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-e

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Wall-E owns most movies of 2008, let alone other animated features.

Head-
Wall-E is an absolute shoe-in. But then again, Benjamin Button was nominated for best picture. Anything can happen.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
The little robot captured my heart like no other, so I vote Wall-E.

Head-
Wall-E. Straight up.

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Adam's Take

Heart-
Tought one. Both Button and The Dark Knight make subtle use of CGI, which is admirable. But with The Dark Knight, it's nearly undetecable. Which is, to my mind, more impressive.

Head-
Benjamin Button will likely take this one.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
My heart is cast for The Dark Knight, in part because it deserves it and in part because It got shafted for a Best Picture nom.

Head-
Undoubtedly, Benjamin Button will win this and every other category it's nominated for.

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Best Achievement in Sound Editing

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Dark Knight, no question. The sound was such an intrinsical part of the film

Head.-
Toss up but I'm going to say The Dark Knight.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
Once again, voting on The Dark Knight.

Head-
I'm Going to stick with my initial reaction and say Dark Knight.

Best Achievement in Sound

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted

Adam's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight for aformentioned reasons.

Head-
The Oscar people will love to further confuse the public with the two sound categories by splitting the winnings. Slumdog.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
My Heart goes out to Wall-E on this one.

Head-
It's a bit of a coin toss, but Wall-E will take it in the end.

Best Achivement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
O Saya (Slumdog Millionaire)
Down to Earth (Wall-E)

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Jai Ho is more lively and ultimately more impressive but O Saya has M.I.A. So O Saya it is.

Head-
Jai Ho.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
O Saya; You can't go wrong with an M.I.A. Breakdown.

Head-
I have a sneaky suspicion that "Down to Earth" will sneak out of nowhere to assassinate the others.

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Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Slumdog by far. The music was so alive and it always set the tone for the film.

Head-
Slumdog. It is the best, but also the score that stands out most.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
Bright and Vibrant, Slumdog Millionaire is an all around and amazing soundtrack.

Head-
Slumdog Millionaire.
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Best Achievement in Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Adam's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight. While Benjamin Button is more technically impressive, TDK has the brilliant reinvention of the Joker which is enough for me.

Head-
Benjamin Button will take it.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight Succeeds on a smaller scale, with impressive details like make up on the Jokers hands to add additional depth to the film.

Head-
Hollywood won't miss the chance to give Benjamin Button Another oscar, even when it is at least deserving in this category.

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Best Achievement in Costume Design

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Benjamin Button certainly impresses me the most out of the nominees, but I have to wonder how The Dark Knight missed out.

Head-
Benjamin Button most certainly.

Parker's take.

Heart-
More subtle than the other nominees perhaps, but Revolutionary Road captured the feeling of an era in a quiet, impressive way.

Head-
Benjamin Button or The Duchess, but an edge to Benjamin.

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Adam's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight took Chicago and made it Gotham. No film had a more impressive mise-en-scene.

Head-
Benjamin Button will take it, and it is a deserving victor.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight is most definitely deserving of this award.

Head-
Benjamin Button.

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Best Achievement in Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Forst/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Adam's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight's editing was so unique, and made a huge overall contribution the the feel of the film.

Head-
An extremely tight race bewteen TDK, Slumdog and Button. I'm going to say Slumdog though.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
Slumdog's editing created a feeling of movement that I really enjoyed.

Head-
Slumdog Millionaire.

Best Achievement In Cinematography

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Adam's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight. The cinematography was masterful.

Head-
Tight, but Wally Pfister's work on The Dark Knight was clearly the best and I think the Academy will recognize that.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
The Dark Knight will take it home.

Head-
The Dark Knight, for being amazing.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth & Robin Swicord
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
The Reader - David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Certainly not Eric Roth's script, which is devoid of substance. Not Slumdog, as it's the directorial aspects of that film that impress me. It's a toss up between the other 3, and I'll settle on Shanley's adaptation of his play, Doubt.

Head-
Slumdog. Happy endings, yay!

Parker's Take.

Heart-
I'll take Doubt, not because it's great, but because it's the best choice.

Head-
For giving the world something it has already seen, Eric Roth for his work on Benjamin Button.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
Milk - Dustin Lance Black
Wall-E - Andrew Stanton & Pete Docter & Jim Reardon

Adam's Take.

Heart-
McDonagh's immensely rich masterpiece of a script for In Bruges by far.

Head-
Frozen River is too small. Happy-Go-Lucky and In Bruges are too not American. Wall-E has a shot, but I think this is how the Academy will honour Milk.

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Parker's Take.

Heart-
In Bruges was my pick for best movie of the year, so I'll stick with it here.

Head-
Milk will probably have this in the end.

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Best Achievement in Directing

Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry for The Reader
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant for Milk

Adam's Take.

Heart-
With Milk, Gus Van Sant managed to find a happy medium between his more artsy work and his Hollywood outings. His use of stock footage was brilliant as well.

Head-
Danny Boyle's excellent work in Slumdog will be rewarded deservedly.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
Danny Boyle's energetic directing captured my attention from the begining to the end.

Head-
Slumdog Millionaire will take the gold.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams for Doubt
Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis for Doubt
Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler

Adam's Take.

Heart-
It's 50/50 between Adams and Tomei for me. If I have to choose, I'll say Tomei, because she contributed to a better film.

Head-
Viola Davis created an incredible scene in Doubt, and I think it earned her an Oscar.

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Parker's Take.

Heart-
I have to go for Marisa Tomei for creating an amazing character.

Head-
I do believe Viola Davis has it on the strength of her one scene.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin for Milk
Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt
Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road

Adam's Take.

Heart-
It's great to see Shannon nominated but there is absolutely no contest here. Heath Ledger's iconic master performance

Head-
Shoe-in for the late Ledger. If any other nominee won they would be ashamed to take the stage.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
Heath Ledger in no contest.

Head-
Heath Ledger, for one of the best performances I have ever seen.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway for Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie for Changeling
Melissa Leo for Frozen River
Meryl Streep for Doubt
Kate Winslet for The Reader

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Had Kate Winslet been nominated for Revolutionary Road, it would be an easy pick. It's tight between Hathaway and Winslet, but Winslet was the overall best actress of 2008.

Head-
Kate Winslet. Nazis.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
Anne Hathaway in one of my favorite performances of the year and of the past few as well.

Head-
Unfourtunately, Hathaway will lose out to Kate Winslet. Weddings just can't compare to naked Nazis.

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Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Richard Jenkins for The Visitor
Frank Langella for Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn for Milk
Brad Pitt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

Adam's Take.

Heart-
Mickey Rourke, no question. Penn was brilliant though.

Head-
3 way toss up between Penn/Pitt/Rourke. I'm counting on the Academy to make the right choice. Mickey Rourke.

Parker's Take.

Heart-
I'm all for Mickey Rourke. Brilliant.

Head-
Sean Penn for a deservedly amazing job.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Adam's Take.

Heart-
This dissapointing group of nominees is nowhere near being a representation of 2008's best films. Only one movie here was on my top ten list and thats Milk. However, there are 7 films I'd rather win.

Head-
Slumdog Millionaire. Happy ending. Classic love story. Undeniably fun. Undeserved.

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Parker's Take.

Heart-
Not the years best, but I'll take Milk over the others any day,

Head-
Slumdog Millionaire. The perceived underdog will win.

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Prepare yourselves for Wolverine's no holds-barred Oscar night on Feb. 22

2008 Top 10 - Parker's Take

Well, after a very prolonged absence from posting on The Bronze I have returned with a vengeance. For the first time since the inception of this blog I have decided to post a list of the best movies of the year: Parker style. So without further written ado, I present my choices for the ten best 2008 had to offer.

Top Ten Films of 2008
- from 10-1, with 1 being the best


10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall



















9. The Fall




















8. Slumdog Millionaire














7. Rachel Getting Married














6. Milk














5. Wall-E




















4. The Wrestler














3. Synecdoche, New York














2. The Dark Knight




















1. In Bruges

February 12, 2009

The Auteurs "Sight & Sound" Poll

I've decided to bring some attention to a little project I have in the works.
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Modeled after the famous "Sight & Sound" poll conducted every 10 years since 1952, I have begun a poll on the forums on theauteurs.com

The way the original poll works, 100 critics submit a list of, what is in their opinion, the 10 greatest films of all time. In the last 2 polls (1992 & 2002), Sight & Sound has also made a secondary list using the same format but with 100 directors. So, I thought it was only fair that non-professionals had their say. The online community on The Auteurs, is, to my knowledge, the most diverse and intelligent group of film lovers on the internet. There are users from all over the world, of every age, each with different but respectable and refined taste. It is my belief that the collective opinions of the users at The Auteurs is, at least almost, as trustable and important as the critics or the film makers. I am waiting in anticipation to see the final product, which I'm sure will be as quotable a top 10 as any.

As of right now there are already 78 registered voters, with 28 top 10 lists submitted. Voting closes on the first of March.

I am accepting registration from any users on the site, so if you are interested, sign up at theauteurs.com (which you should do anyways, as it is a brilliant site), and then go to the thread I created in the forums, and follow the instructions from there.