Absurdist Entertainment

[LowRyter]

I've been trying to catch up with some movies since the theaters have reopened.  If you're a fan of Wes Anderson, I very much enjoyed "The French Dispatch".  Perhaps his best, although the "Isle of Dogs" was very good too.  He's also done "The Royal Tenenbaums" and several others.  He likes to cast some of the same actors like Bill Murray and Owen Wilson among a large cast of actors.

Certainly not with mainstream appeal his movies are quirky, humorous, and absurd.  This one is a homage to literary magazines, authors and cartoons like in "The New Yorker" as reimagined from a Kansas perspective.   The stories are from a fictional '60s, some retold by the author's in the '70s.  Such as the food critic story is about a crime, the art critic writes about an insane prisoner, and travel writer does a dramatic take on Ennui-sur-Blase France (translated as bored and weary), etc.  Anderson makes great use of animation, miniatures models, black & white, large and small formats. 

It's not so much as laugh out loud humor as much as being immersed in Anderson's version of reality.  If your an Anderson fan, I recommend it.  Otherwise, perhaps not.   

[nwguy]

I'm a big Wes Anderson fan. If you get Netflix I recommend "Norsemen" for more good absurdist humor.

[john fish]

I'm a big fan of Anderson.  The Grand Budapest Hotel is a great movie.

We hope to see Dispatch this weekend.

Another recent movie that I saw and really enjoyed is Dune.  I'm even thinking of seeing that one again.  The jury is out on whether or not it's best to be familiar with the story before seeing the movie.

[LowRyter]

JF- I think you'll like it.  I liked the carton movie about the dogs a favorite,  this one combines so many of this techniques.   I was curious if there were any Anderson fans on this board, I'm glad there are a few of us. 

Since it's on HBO max, I am saving "Dune" for when I get my home entertainment system together (subwoofer amp is in the mail, see the other thread)  -hopefully by the end of the week.  I understand the movie is three hours long, so I shouldn't miss it due to bathroom breaks. 
I haven't read the books but the Mrs is a big fan.  She suggested seeing it at home.

[pehayes]

Saw it today.  What a phenomenal ensemble cast.  How can a film like this make much money.  Those actors don't come cheap.  And this movie will have a small, cult following, not a blockbuster.  The background scenery didn't come cheap either.  I loved it, but it is probably not for the general public.  You have to be weird.  Of course, that's why I gravitated to Guzzi.

Now to keep it on topic, someone has to figure out what moto that Lyna Khoudri is riding for her escape.  Not a Guzzi.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[LowRyter]

Assume she was on a Vaspa.   

She wears the same helmet       ^^^

[pehayes]

Nah, no Vespa.  See here:



Some obscure 2-stroke.  Looks a bit more modern with that square headlamp.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[LowRyter]

Prolly an MZ since she was a protestor.   

But I was right about the helmet.   

[pehayes]

Another forum identifies it as a 1978 Motobecane Mobylette.  However, if you enlarge that tank emblem it seems to say "Vincent Rapide".  Some restorers idea of a joke.

Update:  Someone else has figured out that the sticker says "Vitesse Rapide = Fast Speed/Rapid Speed".  Still a nod to the Vincent?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[john fish]

Since it's on HBO max, I am saving "Dune" for when I get my home entertainment system together (subwoofer amp is in the mail, see the other thread)  -hopefully by the end of the week.  I understand the movie is three hours long, so I shouldn't miss it due to bathroom breaks. 

I saw it at the theater in 3D.  It is really spectacular on the big screen.  I hope your home theater lives up to expectations.
It is long and I did miss a little bit because of OldManPeeBreak.  :) 

[LowRyter]

I saw it at the theater in 3D.  It is really spectacular on the big screen.  I hope your home theater lives up to expectations.
It is long and I did miss a little bit because of OldManPeeBreak.  :)

It's not special for video.  Have an old 720 plasma tv.  But I have rebuilt the subwoofer.