Half in the Bag: Nightcrawler and Birdman
Comments (7)
Nightcrawler was one of the best films of the year, and made me think of other sociopath pov movies like American Psycho.
That was my intention also. Funnily enough, I had thought I'd deleted that comment as I realized too late what a knob-jockey I sounded like. And yet here it is. I'll crawl back in my hole now.
No worries Patrick I thought it was worth mentioning , though to be certain when I was browsing JNH's list of scores after watching this review I have to admit I was shocked to see just how many on a lot of romcoms and fluff stuff he'd done. But the Fugitivie, Waterworld, Batman Begins, The Devils' advocate are some fine scores indeed.
I love you guys, but the potshots at James Newton Howard were a smidge unwarranted- sure he's done a bunch of "pink" movie soundtracks, and sure, he absolutely used to work for Elton John (whom, word has it, is delighted that Jay's a top), but he also did the soundtrack to the "sixth sense", "the dark night", "the fugitive" and rugby players grow beards and eat their friends epic "alive". It's a little like describing John Williams as the composer of "Jayne Eyre", "Goodbye Mr Chips", "Fitzwilly" (ahem)" and "always". To me it was a directorial decision to go all mushy with the music- maybe he thought it would play like the scene in "the good, the bad and the ugly", where a lovely ballad is being played by the prisoners while Tuco gets seven shades beaten out of him by Angel eyes. James Newton Howard? Dude was getting paid.
Just trying to make jokes.
Good episode. Well done.
Thank you so much for the Birdman discussion. The camerawork was fascinating. While I felt the extreme closeups got a little overused at least they were done well. The Duplass brothers should take some notes. Also, I recommend reading the New York Times interview with Michael Keaton if you haven't already. One of his questions to the director was, 'Are you trying to make fun of me?'