Film is Dead. Once Upon A Time In Mexico

Nick Medrano · January 25th, 2004, 03:02 PM

I think that list is good. The only film I have not seen is Cold Mountain and I heard it was pretty good, as well.

I loved Master and Commander, but I think Costner (and even Duvall's) character was more rounded and, for lack of a better word, "better" than Crowe's.

But, remember that everyone in Hollywood hates Costner and he has pissed off some of the Academy members in the past right after Dances with Wolves.

John Hudson · January 25th, 2004, 03:05 PM

LOL

Costner is the man. Screw the Academy. :)

Charles Papert · January 25th, 2004, 03:48 PM

<<Costner is the man>>

Well, he certainly thinks so. I wasn't too crazy about him from working with him, but I do like his work. For my money, his best performance was "A Perfect World"--sort of a forgotten film, but a goodie.

John Hudson · January 25th, 2004, 03:52 PM

Well I have never worked with him, but as an outsider judging on talent (acting/directing) I like what I get.

Perfect World! That was cool! I almost forgot as well.

Marc Young · January 25th, 2004, 06:12 PM

In many ways, Open Range is a conventional western. In the vein of My Darling Clementine, Chisum, or even The Wild Bunch. All of these films have this theme in common: a man's gotta do what a man has to do. Good vs. evil. The cinematography was gorgeous and the gunfight choreography was equally good. But at times the sky looked like a matte backdrop (see opening). There was flaring due to sunlight in some of the frames. This is the loudest gunfight soundtrack since Dead or Alive (the Japanese action film). Brought to you in glorious DTS 6.1. I guess Costner has to compete with the Matrix, Hulk, T3, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen crowd. (Not all of these movies are available in DTS). But six-shooters don't sound this loud or reverberant. In OR, they sound louder than a .357 magnum.

Between the beginning and the end there is not that much action. Four men staging a cattle drive seems to be a small lot, compared to Red River. There were more cattle in The Rare Breed than OR. In fact the big problem that this movie runs into is the legacy of great westerns that came before it: Ride the High Country, The Man who Shot Liberty Valance, Searchers, Dances with Wolves, etc. That's a tough path to hoe. I enjoyed OR and wish they would make more westerns, but it's tough competing with action and sci-fi flicks, where each year they up the ante in special effects. If anyone of you subscribe to Cinefex, you'll know what I'm talking about.

John Hudson · January 25th, 2004, 07:19 PM

I went to an OLD TOWN once and they put on the Cowboy Show. Those 'smokewagons' were freakin loud.

I read also where they fixed the skies in POST.

Charles Papert · January 25th, 2004, 11:30 PM

Yup, the skies were fixed in the opening scenes, amongst others. One very good reason for this was that on the budget of the film, there was no waiting around to get the right skies. Digital intermediate is becoming more and more affordable and acceptable for medium budget filmmaking. My fellow (and now-former) Steadicam operator Jimmy Muro was the DP on that show and I'm very happy that he has gotten as much recognition and career boost as he has.

Joe Carney · January 26th, 2004, 11:15 AM

I purchased Once Upon a time in Mexico and watched it over the weekend. Basically a homage to Clint Eastwood movies. I enjoyed it.
In spite of what people say, Rodriguez has a gift for high camp like few others. (I pretty sure he doesn't expect his movies to taken seriously, at least by the comments he makes).

I guess the best part is the recipe for slow cooked pork in the ten minute cooking school extra.

Plus he brings you into his personal studio, Pretty frikin cool.

Rob Lohman · January 27th, 2004, 02:23 PM

I just received my OUATIM DVD and must say I like it very much.
The only "downside" is that it isn't a 2 disc release (with more
and longer exta's) with dts sound. Oh well, you can't have
everything.

I thought the picture looked superb on DVD. As usual with
his DVD releases there are some very interesting extra's on
the disc. I loved the piece where we got to visit his house/
garage which was even more hilarious with his cooking flick.
I've never ever seen that on a DVD before. Some of the pieces
(like the cooking) had me laughing pretty hard and I was
pretty shocked with how one extra ended without spoiling
it for anyone.

10 minute flick school was great again and you eve get two
commentaries (one for the sound with mainly the music score).
Great stuff!

I watched all of the extra's and have seen the first half hour
of the director's commentary track. He actually gives some
insight into how and why which helped to raise the movie a
bit for me.

Nick Medrano · January 27th, 2004, 02:27 PM

Good stuff, that's the only reason why I bought that DVD--didn't care for the movie, though. Oh, I don't get why everyone says his movies are like a Sergio Leone film? I dont see too many parallels, other than the "El" playing the guitar like the Branson and his harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West.

If anything, I think OUATIM is more like a Peckinpah film.

January 25th, 2004, 03:48 PM	#48
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	<<Costner is the man>> Well, he certainly thinks so. I wasn't too crazy about him from working with him, but I do like his work. For my money, his best performance was "A Perfect World"--sort of a forgotten film, but a goodie. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 25th, 2004, 11:30 PM	#52
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Yup, the skies were fixed in the opening scenes, amongst others. One very good reason for this was that on the budget of the film, there was no waiting around to get the right skies. Digital intermediate is becoming more and more affordable and acceptable for medium budget filmmaking. My fellow (and now-former) Steadicam operator Jimmy Muro was the DP on that show and I'm very happy that he has gotten as much recognition and career boost as he has. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 27th, 2004, 02:23 PM	#54
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I just received my OUATIM DVD and must say I like it very much. The only "downside" is that it isn't a 2 disc release (with more and longer exta's) with dts sound. Oh well, you can't have everything. I thought the picture looked superb on DVD. As usual with his DVD releases there are some very interesting extra's on the disc. I loved the piece where we got to visit his house/ garage which was even more hilarious with his cooking flick. I've never ever seen that on a DVD before. Some of the pieces (like the cooking) had me laughing pretty hard and I was pretty shocked with how one extra ended without spoiling it for anyone. 10 minute flick school was great again and you eve get two commentaries (one for the sound with mainly the music score). Great stuff! I watched all of the extra's and have seen the first half hour of the director's commentary track. He actually gives some insight into how and why which helped to raise the movie a bit for me. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

January 25th, 2004, 03:02 PM	#46
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	I think that list is good. The only film I have not seen is Cold Mountain and I heard it was pretty good, as well. I loved Master and Commander, but I think Costner (and even Duvall's) character was more rounded and, for lack of a better word, "better" than Crowe's. But, remember that everyone in Hollywood hates Costner and he has pissed off some of the Academy members in the past right after Dances with Wolves.

January 25th, 2004, 03:05 PM	#47
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	LOL Costner is the man. Screw the Academy. :)

January 25th, 2004, 03:52 PM	#49
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	Well I have never worked with him, but as an outsider judging on talent (acting/directing) I like what I get. Perfect World! That was cool! I almost forgot as well.

January 25th, 2004, 06:12 PM	#50
Marc Young Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 112	In many ways, Open Range is a conventional western. In the vein of My Darling Clementine, Chisum, or even The Wild Bunch. All of these films have this theme in common: a man's gotta do what a man has to do. Good vs. evil. The cinematography was gorgeous and the gunfight choreography was equally good. But at times the sky looked like a matte backdrop (see opening). There was flaring due to sunlight in some of the frames. This is the loudest gunfight soundtrack since Dead or Alive (the Japanese action film). Brought to you in glorious DTS 6.1. I guess Costner has to compete with the Matrix, Hulk, T3, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen crowd. (Not all of these movies are available in DTS). But six-shooters don't sound this loud or reverberant. In OR, they sound louder than a .357 magnum. Between the beginning and the end there is not that much action. Four men staging a cattle drive seems to be a small lot, compared to Red River. There were more cattle in The Rare Breed than OR. In fact the big problem that this movie runs into is the legacy of great westerns that came before it: Ride the High Country, The Man who Shot Liberty Valance, Searchers, Dances with Wolves, etc. That's a tough path to hoe. I enjoyed OR and wish they would make more westerns, but it's tough competing with action and sci-fi flicks, where each year they up the ante in special effects. If anyone of you subscribe to Cinefex, you'll know what I'm talking about.

January 25th, 2004, 07:19 PM	#51
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	I went to an OLD TOWN once and they put on the Cowboy Show. Those 'smokewagons' were freakin loud. I read also where they fixed the skies in POST.

January 26th, 2004, 11:15 AM	#53
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	I purchased Once Upon a time in Mexico and watched it over the weekend. Basically a homage to Clint Eastwood movies. I enjoyed it. In spite of what people say, Rodriguez has a gift for high camp like few others. (I pretty sure he doesn't expect his movies to taken seriously, at least by the comments he makes). I guess the best part is the recipe for slow cooked pork in the ten minute cooking school extra. Plus he brings you into his personal studio, Pretty frikin cool.

January 27th, 2004, 02:27 PM	#55
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	Good stuff, that's the only reason why I bought that DVD--didn't care for the movie, though. Oh, I don't get why everyone says his movies are like a Sergio Leone film? I dont see too many parallels, other than the "El" playing the guitar like the Branson and his harmonica in Once Upon a Time in the West. If anything, I think OUATIM is more like a Peckinpah film.