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Post by Babycakes on Dec 25, 2012 13:55:17 GMT -4
I was really looking forward to seeing this, but the mixed reviews have me nervous. I'm a Tarantino fan, and don't mind the excessive use of the N-word (I figure it comes with the territory), and even what some people deem his insensitive, almost comedic take on slavery. I just want to be entertained. I've read about pacing and editing issues, and that it runs out of steam after an hour. I guess I'll have to see it and judge for myself.  |
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Post by chonies on Dec 25, 2012 20:06:37 GMT -4
I just came back! I would say it lulls at about the 1:00 mark but it kind of gets back on track and ends up where it's meant to be. I know that sounds fake-deep, but here's the non-spoilery summary: yes, there's a lot that could have been edited out, yes there's a lot of WTF going on, and yes I checked my watch a few times, but I wouldn't say it ran out of steam entirely. At worst, there was a closeup of someone's face that reminded me of the Time Haters sketch from the Chappelle Show. It's entertaining, engrossing, and has suspense all the way til the credits roll. ETA: As for the content, I haven't read the reviews, but I saw Spike Lee's comments, and having seen the film, I think his opinions are very attention-seeking. I am not a Quentin Tarantino fan, but I think that aside from the obvious anachronisms and aesthetic quirks, the treatment of slavery is entirely honest. I recently read Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the life of a slave girl, and a lot of that resonated onscreen. Yes, this is not a historical picture, and is actually a bit problematic from a feminist point of view (I don't think Kerry Washington says an entire sentence in English or even starts a dialogue)* but I think the treatment of slavery is not the problem that Spike Lee perceives, although many things separate his perspective from mine. Aesthetically, I have no problem with using a spaghetti Western filter for the story. I liked the moral ambiguity, and I thought the use of Samuel L. Jackson's Samuel L. Jacksonness was brilliant. ETA, jr: Yes, there were some pacing issues, and Mr Chonies and I discussed whether certain scenes should have been saved for the bonus DVD. However, we agreed it was three out of four stars, maybe with a fragment more. 3.33  *all the women in the film were prostitutes, slaves, or 'ladies' of the house in a really icky but well-played arrangement, and excepting some tiny castings were the women were disguised as men, so it's probably actually close to historical reality. The more I think about it, the more I think it's settling well. |
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Post by Ginger on Dec 26, 2012 15:21:50 GMT -4
Maybe Sam Jackson will tell Spike to shut the fuck up again. That would be fun.
Didn't everybody know Spike would hate this movie? I can't take his opinions on this particular movie seriously because he and Tarantino hate each other so much personally. He's never going to like anything Tarantino does.
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Post by chonies on Dec 26, 2012 16:51:58 GMT -4
Maybe Sam Jackson will tell Spike to shut the fuck up again. That would be fun. Didn't everybody know Spike would hate this movie? I can't take his opinions on this particular movie seriously because he and Tarantino hate each other so much personally. He's never going to like anything Tarantino does. Pretty much. They're like two old Hollywood catfighting divas. Samuel L. Jackson telling people to shut the fuck up is my happy place. |
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Post by bklynred on Dec 29, 2012 3:54:16 GMT -4
I just got back from a midnight show. Dude, this film wore me out. So much disturbing content interlaced with comedy and romance...I didn't like it. I didn't think I'd find myself agreeing with Spike but yeah, I don't think slavery as Western was a great idea. Although I thought Jewish people would find Inglourious Basterds really offensive too so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. The language, bloodlust, and n-word... I didn't get numb to it and it hit me every time someone said it. I can't really get past that, and I don't buy historical accuracy, because wtf Tarentino, when has that ever been your issue?
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Post by chonies on Dec 29, 2012 11:48:07 GMT -4
The language, bloodlust, and n-word... I didn't get numb to it and it hit me every time someone said it. I can't really get past that, and I don't buy historical accuracy, because wtf Tarentino, when has that ever been your issue? I had the feeling that those elements were supposed to provoke and cause discomfort, but I don't know. I haven't seen Inglourious Basterds and most of Tarantino's other films besides Pulp Fiction, and I know the use of the n-word there had a different role. I don't want to under- or oversell Tarantino's work. |
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Post by sugarhigh on Dec 29, 2012 12:40:42 GMT -4
The language, bloodlust, and n-word... I didn't get numb to it and it hit me every time someone said it. I can't really get past that, and I don't buy historical accuracy, because wtf Tarentino, when has that ever been your issue? Yeah, the use of the n-word here makes me so uncomfortable. From what I've read, during slavery "Negro" "darkie" "boy" was used to refer to slaves. The n-word was mostly used after the Civil War as a slur. So I think QT's historical accuracy reason is bullshit. Also, I don't remember any Jewish slurs being used in Inglorious Basterds, but QT did throw the n-word in there to refer to Marcel. To me, it seems like he has a fetish for using that word. I still don't know if I want to see it. |
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Post by bklynred on Dec 29, 2012 13:42:47 GMT -4
sugarhigh, I believe you're right about the slurs. Here the n-word was used almost exclusively.
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Post by chonies on Dec 29, 2012 13:55:37 GMT -4
The language, bloodlust, and n-word... I didn't get numb to it and it hit me every time someone said it. I can't really get past that, and I don't buy historical accuracy, because wtf Tarentino, when has that ever been your issue? Yeah, the use of the n-word here makes me so uncomfortable. From what I've read, during slavery "Negro" "darkie" "boy" was used to refer to slaves. The n-word was mostly used after the Civil War as a slur. So I think QT's historical accuracy reason is bullshit. Also, I don't remember any Jewish slurs being used in Inglorious Basterds, but QT did throw the n-word in there to refer to Marcel. To me, it seems like he has a fetish for using that word. I still don't know if I want to see it. I feel like I'm parking in this thread but I really want to discuss the movie with someone.  From what I've read (after seeing the film), the 110 uses of the word are not meant to be an accurate historical representation, in the strictest sense of the word, and Tarantino himself has said as much. I think sugarhigh is correct on the etymology. I'm interpreting the use of the word as part of the stylistic amplifiers, as a buffer to kill any possible romanticizing of slavery or the plantation system. For example, the dinner scene that was staged like an antebellum Downton Abbey: the 'niceness' could lull a viewer into the idea that slavery wasn't that bad, but the use of the word refocuses the entire system. There were multiple other scenes that stood on their own as condemnations of slavery, but the use of the word was a meta-reminder, maybe. I think the Austin Chronicle said what I was trying to say: I think I get what he was going after, and also would suggest that the use of the word is kind of a manipulation "show, don't tell": without the word, the film shows a lot of the hideousness of slavery, and the inclusion of the word adds a different layer. Also, since the original Django film was considered too violent to release in many countries, I considered that maybe it was a different kind of reference: was Tarantino just pushing boundaries to see if it could be done? How does using the word compare to the violence of slavery and gruesome, excessive body count? That said, I am extremely uncomfortable defending the use of the word as an artistic statement. I haven't read a lot of non-movie critic reviews yet--a few places I went don't seem to have anything posted yet. |
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Post by Witchie on Dec 29, 2012 14:21:22 GMT -4
I haven't seen the movie and I don't plan to. But I hope the overuse of the N word makes blacks uncomfortable. I don't like the word. I hate hearing people (members of my family) use it as some term of endearment or as a means of taking it back from the racists. Bullshit. It's a word used to denigrate blacks. It should remain that. So for me, I have no problem with the word making people uncomfortable or mad. It should. Was that Tarantino's intention? No idea.
Do I listen to one word coming out of Spike Lee's mouth? Nah. Too much of his criticism is suspect. Don't like what Tarantino, Tyler Perry, and Clint Eastwood are doing, then make your own films to counter them.
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