Another great watch/listen, Chris, with the bonus of pushing me to watch the Bfi release of Funeral Parade of Roses - so additional thanks to SJSArts for brining it to the party. I found it both an easy and a tough watch, which makes it idea for a rewatch. And I'll definitely be diving into the booklet. One of the elements that I appreciated most about it is that - despite, as SJSArts, the good-intentioned by rather 'off its time' questionning - it dealt with the individuals and their experience respectfully and without sensation. This was leagues away from the Hollywood 'freakshow' approach - intended or not - of dealing with different identities and sexualities. Entirely separately, I'm moderately confused by the outright disdain for The Departed - a film I was not prepared to like following Infernal Affairs, but one which I soon felt was a great entertainment. Wolf of Wall Street was a tough watch, but all the more so because it was very entertaining. We've been here before with Scorcese - the camera lures you in to enjoy watching scum: Goodfellas springs to mind. Nolan, though. I struggle a great deal more with. I don't hate his work, but as technically proficient as much of his stuff is, have a heart!
Cheers. More interesting viewpoints on Funeral Parade. The decisions on including the interview and fourth wall breaking elements make it an interesting commentary on the themes contained within. It gives the film another level of time and place that we don't always get when we watch films. I'd love to get to hear the director speak about why he decided to shoot the film that way. As for the Departed, I'm with you more or less. I play along with the running joke with Ronin but I have it lumped in with Scorcese's other popcorn movies like Shutter Island and Cape Fear. They are all entertaining more or less - I'll never love the Boston accent and it creates a level of ridiculousness with it but it's fairly entertaining. I am baffled by its 4.3 rating on Letterboxd though. Gangs of New York is the only Scorcese movie I have open disdain for, but appreciate that needs a rewatch. Nolan, I'm also fine with, though I rarely feel the need to rewatch his films. Interstellar is probably his best but the adoration is something I don't see. I am happy that others love his films though, as there are enough films to go around us all :) Thanks for your insights and adding to the conversation. A really interesting episode.
"From Harlin to Oshima", that was a perfect way to sum up me and my weirdness haha. I made a mistake when I talked about The Covenant, the mistake was that I said that Taylor Kitsch's character is the main character even though the main actor is actually Steven Strait, somehow I mixed the actors up haha. It was great fun to watch this podcast to start the morning, and thanks for having me, we had a great time.
Thanks for coming on. I really enjoyed the edit and rewatching and laughing along. Steven Strait is just another reason this might be the (secret) greatest movie of all time ! :)
A great guest and a wonderful film that I was delighted to be able to discuss in some depth. :) Thanks for watching and commenting. It is much appreciated as always.
Fantastic discussion of a fantastic film. You guys are right, there could be an hours long discussion breaking down the elements and choices of the film further. I think it is so interesting what SJS said about the ingnorant interview questions. I felt as though those questions were a deliberate way of making the audience aware of how hurtful and ignorant those questions are, but this could be my restrospective reading and not what was actually being attempted. I also really liked the interview portions because I felt they were a way of enhancing the messages and stakes of the film. You cannot dismiss Eddie as just a character after hearing Peter's real life experiences and connections with Eddie. It is also a way of giving greater authenticity to the work. As in saying that this film is not being made by people who are just imposing their ousider ideas on the acting talent, the acting talent are participating and are able to comment on what they think about the work. And this film does best what all great films that increase the awareness of people who have no direct knowledge of an identity and experience do, they show a community where there are friendships, family and even rivalry and conflicts. Another interesting thing SJS mentioned is that there was greater acceptance in Japan for the community prior to western influence. That seems quite possible, as for example in India, there was always a recognition of a third sex. So culturally the Asian subcontinent may have had greater awareness and acceptance of fluidity. I, of course, do not know this for a fact, but just an interesting thing to explore after watching this film.
Thanks Altaz. It's a fascinating film. I am caught between thinking that knowing Matsumoto's own curiosities and bias about the subject material adding to the film or detracting from the mystery. The not knowing means I can speculate and wonder what every scene is trying to say. That's my favourite part of it and why it will always be worth rewatching. Contrasting acceptance and progressive societal attitudes between different cultures is at the essence of what makes world cinema the most fascinating of hobbies. Thanks so much for contributing to a wonderful episode and sharing your thoughts. If you 're up for it, it would be wonderful to have you on for your own episode :)
@@chrismohan That's a very good point you raise Chris. It is definitely a rewatchable film and one worth continuing to speculate about. I couldn't agree with you more about this wonderful hobby of exploring and appreciating world cinema. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss a bit further post-episode. It was a wonderful episode and very affecting as well. Absolutely, I would be honoured to be on for an episode :)
Underperformed? I thought it was great. Once I cut the few pauses and stumbles caused by technical issues, the only thing left behind was solid gold! :)
@@chrismohan thanks. I felt like a third feel and I didn't add much to the discussion on funeral parade. Maybe my standards are too high haha. Always good to chat about lovely films.
@@leocoh89 You did well, Ronin. Not at all like a third wheel if you ask me, so your standards are way too high for your performance as they are for films just like your distaste of The Departed shows us. And as long as you laugh at my The Departed jokes, I will always be happy with your performance :) PS: Looking forward to having more popcorn with you in my dreams, where I talk and walk with you :)
I haven't seen The Departed in over a decade, but I remember liking it quite a bit back then. I can imagine quite disliking it today. The film that has done an irreparable damage and started turning me off of Scorsese is Wolf of Wall Street. Absolutely despise that film. Atrocious. Gangs of New York was an indicator of Scorsese's downturn, though. Scorsese remains the best film curator in the world, though. Give us a restored print of Ritwik Ghatak's 'Subarnarekha', Marty! Great podcast. PS: I also share SJSARTS' disdain for Christopher Nolan. To me in many respects the definition of anti-cinema. Such artless, flat, pedestrian, lifeless films. His appeal is mystifying to me.
I'll admit that I don't have the vehemence or hate for the Departed that others do but I'm also aware of hammy some of it is. It's got great comic value though with Ronin, Nazarin and SJS and I like to play along. I also don't have all of Scorcese's films on a pedestal. He has had such a storied and long career, I I think there is something for everyone. Wolf of Wall Street annoys me in some ways and is very entertaining in others. Haven't watched it in years though, so all opinions are subject to change. :) Nolan - all of his films have been one time watches for me, with enjoyment up and down. Interstellar is probably his best for me, but I love that others love his work and get genuinely excited for it. There's enough cinema for everyone that I don't have to love it. Having some of that adoration and money saved for the likes of David Lowery or Julia Ducornau wouldn't go amiss though. Thanks for watching and leaving your views. It's added to a wonderful episode :)
