tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post115786018673730102..comments2023-11-05T07:45:02.082-05:00Comments on Mystery Man on Film: Subtext - BirthMystery Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1159729865223656432006-10-01T15:11:00.000-04:002006-10-01T15:11:00.000-04:00In a recent discussion about this movie, Miriam br...In a recent discussion about this movie, Miriam brought up some beautiful insights I don't think anyone else will notice.<BR/><BR/>"'Look at how dirty my hands are' is probably the best line of the whole film.<BR/> <BR/>I think the reason it seemed so cold is because of how the camera was used. I noticed the same thing in The Royal Tennenbaums. The drama of each scene was diluted because the shots were long and the camera didn't move. Of course, choosing to discuss 'how will you satisfy me?' rather than having him woo her all over again also had something to do with it, but I think the choice to have a static camera with long shots also contributed...<BR/> <BR/>My impression of Anna was that she has underlying masochistic tendencies. She lets her lover hold her down during sex, she goes back to him after he exhibits out-of-control anger, and even her conversation with young Sean demonstrates that there was some weird dynamic in her previous relationship. Did he treat her like this when they were married? The only thing we know of the original Sean's personality is his voice over at the beginning and the way young Sean acts. And yet she does fall in love with him again."<BR/><BR/>Great, Miriam!<BR/><BR/>-MMMystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1158109117827716682006-09-12T20:58:00.000-04:002006-09-12T20:58:00.000-04:00Oh no, the kid was definitely in the tub. I had f...Oh no, the kid was definitely in the tub. I had forgotten about Taxi Driver. I love it when you talk about sex. Hehehe...Mystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1158102899538267452006-09-12T19:14:00.000-04:002006-09-12T19:14:00.000-04:00They probably shot it so that the kid wasn't in th...They probably shot it so that the kid wasn't in the tub with Nicole when she had no clothes on.<BR/><BR/>Now I'll have to make sure to watch that scene.<BR/><BR/>That's kind of strange, considering that at 12 Jodie Foster was shot in a way to make it look like she was getting ready to give Robert DeNiro a blow job in Taxi Driver.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1157906165069049582006-09-10T12:36:00.000-04:002006-09-10T12:36:00.000-04:00That is VERY cool about the tutoring! 20 years fr...That is VERY cool about the tutoring! 20 years from now when those kids grow up and make beautiful films full of subtext that's kicks our U.S. asses, we'll know who to blame. Hehehe...<BR/><BR/>I've been greatly affected by our study on subtext, no question about it. I'm no longer happy unless what I'm writing has subtext...<BR/><BR/>Birth - it surprises me to read that they made THAT much money. This movie never got a wide release in the U.S., which was a shame. I don't know the entire history about the production, but I think it got shoved underground because of a scandalous pre-buzz rumor, which upset a lot of people, about a scene in the movie involving Kidman in a bathtub with this-year-old boy. And yes, it's true. There is a scene like that in the film. In the context of the story, it makes sense. The boy thinks he's Sean and he wants to be with his wife. Anna still wants to be with Sean. This was just another creepy layer of a very creepy story. It had its place. However, it was a very big tub, they never once touched each other, and they never did anything.<BR/><BR/>Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars. I suspect that this may be the kind of movie that only students of film would really appreciate.<BR/><BR/>-MMMystery Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17486331815227364944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30413383.post-1157878083978817342006-09-10T04:48:00.000-04:002006-09-10T04:48:00.000-04:00http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=birth.htmS...http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=birth.htm<BR/><BR/>Some interesting info gleaned from the above source:<BR/><BR/>It grossed just under $24 million world wide, with the domestic/international split being 5/19.<BR/><BR/>Boxofficemojo readers (160 votes) graded it a C+.<BR/><BR/>Not that either of the two above point have any particular relevance to a discussion about subtext. In fact, I don't really know what point I'm trying to make. (I obviously have a motivated self-interest in the question of understanding what English language films do well internationally, and why.)<BR/><BR/>As another possibly random comment, in my day job I'm tutoring two 8th grade students who are preparing to take the entrance test for the best high school in South Korea. (The Korean Minjok Leadership Academy.) We going over essays they've written line by line, word by word, punctuation by punctuation. I'm actually using things from this blog to encourage them to think about how to add "depth and resonance" to their writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com