I just re-watched this tonight after not having seen it for over a year. It was good to be reminded just what an absolutely brilliant film this is. It has some of the most beautiful images in it from it's entire decade and (to me) even of all time. If I remember correctly, it got mixed reviews when it was released in '98 and that really pissed me off - almost as much as it's lack of nominations for Joan Allen, William H. Macy and Jeff Daniels, all of whom were extremely deserving. And that score. My God, that score is breathtaking...
I'm curious to know what others here think of this (to me) genius film.
I have always loved this film both for the story ( authenticity)
and its brilliant imagery. I also appreciate its technical elements the movement from b/w to color was incredible.
It was a fantasy story tho so I knew it would never get any noms.
(nayb technical awards)
I always thought it would make a wonderful Broadway musical if they could figure out a way to do the black and white to color transitions. It would be startling. Plus with the right creative team, it could be very powerful.
The movie is brilliant, I agree. It always had a wonderful theatricality to it, from the staging, camera angles, to the art direction, etc. It feels like a natural transition to film, where others don't as much. I wonder if anybody's optioned it or working on it.
I just can't imagine how it would ever work in the stage. Maybe as a new movie musical?
Best there are types of lighting fixtures that can do it. Basically they create a single wavelength that doesn't let your eyes differentiate color.
I love it too. I also have not watched it in so long either. I may have to now.
Joan Allen should have won an Oscar for this, she was heartbreaking, stunning and near prefect. From what I remember this film still has more special effects in it than any other movie, it really is something special
Love it! Rewatched it a couple of months ago. Such an underrated gem!
I think Jeff Daniels gave my favorite performance. So subtle and understated, but still impactful as his character grew both in his art and his love for Joan Allen.
And Don Knotts... Such fun
I love this film.
I do think, however, it's a story uniquely tailored for the screen.
Well I just watched it and I thought that the nazi-eque issues were too heavy to just have a happy ending, and I would have preferred either a less intense climax or a less picture perfect ending. I was bummed too because the first half-hour was excellent.
I did find the scene where Jeff Daniels's character discovers the masterpieces of the world to be extremely moving, and thought that it was very well crafted as a scene.
I think they had a real piece of Luck getting Don Knotts. His appearance resonated so much w the adults watching the film - Mayberry RFD- just like Pleasantville. As bland and cheerful and just as unreal.
This really is one of the best -- and most forgotten -- American movies of the '90s. It's also one of the rare recent films for which "Capraesque" is an appropriate appellation. (<---- After Eight alliteration action)
There are VERY few films that actually deserve the word "Capraesque" attributed to them, but this definitely is one.
- Yeah. It's very Kafkaesque.
- ...'Cause it's written by Franz Kafka.
- Right. No. I mean...clearly.
Jordan, you can't go around telling people that they missed the point of a movie because they didn't like it. I get it, but I just didn't like it and just because you understand why something is doesn't mean you have to like it.
"Pleasantville" something something
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