Zodiac; the best film of the past 10 years? If not, what is?

MilanPan!c

e_e wrote: »

Film isn't as black and white as this. Which is why I brought up arguments that could very well be countered by others.

You're putting an implication on my posts that isn't there. I'm not so shallow and arrogant to dismiss somebody's subjective response out of hand as "you're wrong!", I'm not you.

Sorry, but you've done just that.

You obviously think, and have said repeatedly, that SM is a bad film.

That puts you in the position of judging others opinions as indeed calling their "wrong".

MilanPan!c

e_e wrote: »

Now we're getting to the heart of it, please explain to me why everyone else is RIGHT. I've made my case, the responsibility is now on you to prove me otherwise.

I'll allow the dozens of critics and hundreds of reviews to clear that up for you.

But even if you go read then all you'll probably not change your opinion.

We've literally had as much meaningful discussion as possible about this.

e_e

This is getting ridiculously out of hand now, but using your own strange strange logic slavery was once the norm, and the few that were going against it were the anomoly. Did that make slavery right, and if it didn't then why are you certain that the majority opinion is so right now?

loveBBhate

This thread seems to have gotten Lost in Translation.

johnny_ultimate

This is perhaps the single most frustrating, bizarre exchange I've ever read on this forum. I think everyone needs to just step away from the keyboard - I wholeheartedly agree with one side of the argument (no points for guessing which!) but I'd have calmly withdrawn a few pages ago :pac:

e_e

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I'll allow the dozens of critics and hundreds of reviews to clear that up for you.

But even if you go read then all you'll probably not change your opinion.

We've literally had as much meaningful discussion as possible about this.

If you are unwilling to use a discussion forum to its purpose then there's nothing I can do here. I was trying to open up a dialog by giving my (admittedly unpopular) opinion on Slumdog but unfortunately few are willing to properly engage.

MilanPan!c

e_e wrote: »

If you are unwilling to use a discussion forum to its purpose then there's nothing I can do here. I was trying to open up a dialog by giving my (admittedly unpopular) opinion on Slumdog but unfortunately few are willing to properly engage.

Sorry if your attempts to argue about your dodgy opinion have been frustrated.

It should be fairly obvious to everyone that you have no interest in modifying your opinion and any discussion of your opinion wouldn't be meaningful or productive, but just a chance for you defend the basically indefensible.

It's ok to have unpopular opinions, but don't expect people to consider them intrinsically valuable, simply because you've chosen to express them.

MilanPan!c

e_e wrote: »

If you are unwilling to use a discussion forum to its purpose then there's nothing I can do here. I was trying to open up a dialog by giving my (admittedly unpopular) opinion on Slumdog but unfortunately few are willing to properly engage.

I just gotta laugh.

We're having a discussion you know. And frankly one with more merit than the one you'd like to have.

e_e

Take it to PM please, you've derailed this thread far enough.

Mousewar

I'm struggling to think of a better film than 'A Single Man' in the last ten years.

MilanPan!c

e_e wrote: »

Take it to PM please, you've derailed this thread far enough.

Says the guy that started the entire discussion

We can continue this on PM but I doubt it's gonna end well

shamrock55

On that list id say mystic river or the departed, i didt think much of zodiac tbh it was only ok

ThirdMan

No Country For Old Men is a very good film, but killing the lead character off-screen was a very poor decision. The Coen's made McCarthy's ending, which was already bad, even worse.

Conbhar

Cannot for the life of me pick between Zodiac, Oldboy, Downfall, Apocalypto, Children Of Men, Into The Wild, Brick, Zatoichi or The Loved Ones. Saying that if someone had a gun to my head I'd probably go with Oldboy with The Loved Ones a very close second.

LuckyLloyd

ThirdMan wrote: »

No Country For Old Men is a very good film, but killing the lead character off-screen was a very poor decision. The Coen's made McCarthy's ending, which was already bad, even worse.

He wasn't the lead character.

kop-end

flip between Gone Baby Gone and Into The Wild....

so I'm gonna go with Mystic River.

ThirdMan

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

He wasn't the lead character.

His decision-making drives the entire plot and he has quite a large (if not the largest) amount of screen time. The theme of the film is centred around Bell, but for me Moss is the lead character. I know what you're saying though. It's a very good point.

By the way, have you read this? It's a good analysis (although I don't agree with it).

123 LC

Just watched Zodiac after reading this thread, and to be honest don't understand the hype. I thought it was very drawn out, and for me it seemed like an extended episode of CSI or one of those shows - without the satisfaction of the killer being caught (I understand he wasn't caught in real life :P). Just found it boring to be honest.

Den_M

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Oh god no, it has got to be one of, if not the most boring drawn out pile of shíte of a film I have ever had the misfortune to endure. Words can not express how much I hated it!
How is it possible for a bad ass stunt driver come getaway wheelman to be so god damn boring? How is that even possible?

,

Looks like you're in the minority there, pal. As far as I'm concerned, a film has a few different elements to manipulate to its advantage. Drive looks great, sounds great, has a great cast, has an interesting plot, is very stylish, has some really affecting moments...the question is not why would I choose it as my top film for the decade, it's why did you decide to hate on it?

blade1

Not the best, but for me definitely worth a mention..
Training Day.

darced

This post has been deleted.

Liamalone

Drive, can't understand the love-in for that pretentious piece of merde.

e_e

Liamalone wrote: »

Drive, can't understand the love-in for that pretentious piece of merde.

Pretentious? I'll never understand why people use that word towards it (or many films for that matter).

MilanPan!c

Sure both Children of Men and Gravity are better.

e_e

All excellent films but I don't see the comparison.

catallus

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

I've been considering this question for some time, and I have to lay my cards on the table and say this is the best, the acting, cinematography, script (knowledge and use of subject material), and measured tone and pathos, the flawless editing. It was clearly a labour of love by all involved.

Corholio

catallus wrote: »

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

I've been considering this question for some time, and I have to lay my cards on the table and say this is the best, the acting, cinematography, script (knowledge and use of subject material), and measured tone and pathos, the flawless editing. It was clearly a labour of love by all involved.

Wow. Rarely seen this film discussed, but I personally loved it and glad to see someone else who did.

catallus

Yeah it was lauded a bit on its release, but it seems kinda forgotten now, but it really is a great film about flawed man, it shows him warts and all; I picked it over The Assassination Of Jesse James, it was a close thing, but anyone who knows anything about Sellers' life and films I think would appreciate the achievement of putting his life on film so beautifully. Without over-doing it I'd say it is a monument to him. Those final scenes with him seeming to be frozen in the snow, (or frozen in time, also), with Lithgow looking right at and knowingly through him, and then the touching ending copying Being There, it was just so powerful and seemed so right.

Tipsy McSwagger

blade1 wrote: »

Not the best, but for me definitely worth a mention..
Training Day.

Released in 2001.

FlashD

Alright lads...who's double voting on TDK now? Sneaky

blade1

blade1 wrote: »

Not the best, but for me definitely worth a mention..
Training Day.

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Released in 2001.

Wow!
Nearly 13 years old.
Time flies when you're having fun:)

youtube!

Being a horror buff I am very difficult to please but "The Conjuring" is truly excellent and I rate it as the best film since The Exorcist, so that means the best film in almost 40 years!

krudler

youtube! wrote: »

Being a horror buff I am very difficult to please but "The Conjuring" is truly excellent and I rate it as the best film since The Exorcist, so that means the best film in almost 40 years!

I liked The Conjuring but come on

brevity

I think Michael Clayton deserves to up there. An excellent movie with some brilliant performances.

Tipsy McSwagger

youtube! wrote: »

Being a horror buff I am very difficult to please but "The Conjuring" is truly excellent and I rate it as the best film since The Exorcist, so that means the best film in almost 40 years!

The Conjuring had one decent scene.

Mike Litoris

youtube! wrote: »

Being a horror buff I am very difficult to please but "The Conjuring" is truly excellent and I rate it as the best film since The Exorcist, so that means the best film in almost 40 years!

I agree, but only in that genre. For me, deffo the best horror since The Exorcist.

WinnyThePoo

youtube! wrote: »

Being a horror buff I am very difficult to please but "The Conjuring" is truly excellent and I rate it as the best film since The Exorcist, so that means the best film in almost 40 years!

I'll have to watch the conjuring again , watched it with friends half cut the last time.
I thought Sinister was the best horror i'd seen lately. It shook me to the bone.

osnola ibax

Sci fi fan, Moon for me, followed by sunshine

youtube!

krudler wrote: »

I liked The Conjuring but come on

Hey it's my opinion! As horror is my favourite genre it gets my vote, a truly excellent movie and the only one to properly scare me besides the Exorcist.

Tipsy McSwagger

youtube! wrote: »

Hey it's my opinion! As horror is my favourite genre it gets my vote, a truly excellent movie and the only one to properly scare me besides the Exorcist.

What about all the French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Scandinavian horror films released between The Exorcist and The Conjuring. Films like The Ring, The Grudge, Rec, The Orphanage, Martyrs, Audition, The Devils Backbone, Let the Right One In etc etc

LuckyLloyd

ThirdMan wrote: »

His decision-making drives the entire plot and he has quite a large (if not the largest) amount of screen time. The theme of the film is centred around Bell, but for me Moss is the lead character. I know what you're saying though. It's a very good point.

By the way, have you read this? It's a good analysis (although I don't agree with it).

That's a good read, cheers. Wouldn't agree with it all but some interesting strands of analysis. Also, I wasn't trying to be snippy by pointing out that he wasn't the lead character - it's a fact that many who watched the film seemed to miss.

In regards to Moss dying off screen, the majority of deaths in the film happen off screen and, in the end, the film points towards the inevitable death of the lead character at some point after the screen fades to black. I believe that, for some people, irrespective of the manner of his death the fact he is 'killed off' would have annoyed them anyway. There is no happy escape for him into the sunset and any end will be meaningless in this context. He is hunted down by various unsympatethic forces that he can't outrun or outfight. It's an incredibly bleak piece of work that doesn't shy away or compromise in its conclusion. The film serves to say that noone is in control and that isn't going to resonate with many.

krudler

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

I'll have to watch the conjuring again , watched it with friends half cut the last time.
I thought Sinister was the best horror i'd seen lately. It shook me to the bone.

Sinister had it's moments until the final act when it just became farcical, the score and the home movie footage were all brilliantly done though, especially the pool scene, that was chilling.

Chazz Michael Michaels

Gamb!t wrote: »

Bourne Trilogy
Music plot and action fantastic.

There will be blood seriously ?
Id have to put that as the worst film Ive seen in 10 years from that list.

You should be banned from watching films

gracehopper

Mousewar wrote: »

I'm struggling to think of a better film than 'A Single Man' in the last ten years.

just finished watching it based on your comment. Excellent movie. Great performance by Colin firth. thanks for that.

Also thanks to everyone on the thread, i've been working my way through movies mentioned on this for a couple of weeks. All really good stuff.

Cartel Mike

Zodiac a good solid film alright.
No idea what the best film is but the two I enjoyed the most were
Girl with the dragon tatoo(remake, and prob helped by the fact I havn't seen the Swedish original)
& Silver linnings playbook.

Odd because I didn't think id like either of these films at all .

K4t

Some of my favourites from the last 10 years:
The Kite Runner
Into The Wild
Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country For Old Men
Milk
The Wrestler
Brokeback Mountain
The Departed
The Tree of Life
The Social Network
Drive
Moneyball

Best Comedy:
Napoleon Dynamite
Clerks II
Zoolander


Most overrated would be The Dark Knight, Zodiac (only after seeing this thread) and Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight, Before I claw my eyes out.

Most overrated Comedy:
Anchorman
The Hangover
Superbad

darced

This post has been deleted.

loveBBhate

Cartel Mike wrote: »

No idea what the best film is but the two I enjoyed the most were
Girl with the dragon tatoo(remake, and prob helped by the fact I havn't seen the Swedish original) .

The Swedish original(s) are better imo, prob helped by the fact that I seen them first :P

e_e

I've only seen the first of the Swedish originals but it felt more like a TV movie to me compared to the brilliant atmospheric direction that Fincher brought to it.

youtube!

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

What about all the French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Scandinavian horror films released between The Exorcist and The Conjuring. Films like The Ring, The Grudge, Rec, The Orphanage, Martyrs, Audition, The Devils Backbone, Let the Right One In etc etc

Cant admit to seeing every horror ever made but from your list I saw The Ring and Grudge, I thought the Ring was excellent ,grudge no so much.

I will check out the others you have posted. When it comes down to it though almost every time I see a new horror I am invariably left disappointed, I can tell what's coming a mile off and they all seem so contrived to me.

I was genuinely surprised by just how incredible of a film the Conjuring was though, as I said earlier it really did chill me to the bone.... and for days afterwards and that just doesn't happen with very many films,sure I enjoy lots of horrors and different types of horrors but this was different, this got in on me,very disturbing.

As for the Exorcist, well its quite simply the greatest movie ever made in any genre for me, and even though I have watched it over 20 times it still scares the living **** outta me every time!