I am exhausted as well as relieved. This weekend was a little special as I finally managed to strike off two more movies off my watch list. I just needed to spend half of Saturday and whole of Sunday to do it.
Greed (1924)
The near 4 hour version, not the 140 minute version. It is basically the 140 minute version with still photos from the set and quotes from the book trying to fill in for the gaps. But the original was far longer. As per IMDB,
The original version was 42 reels, and ran for 9 hours at 20 fps. Von Stroheim then shortened it to 24 reels (just over 5 hours - the "Director's Version"). It was then cut again, not once, but twice. The first time by Rex Ingram, who cut the film down to 18 reels, and forbade Stroheim to let anyone cut it again. The final cut was performed by MGM editing department's Joseph Farnham acting on orders from Irving Thalberg, who without having read the book ("McTeague") or the script, cut the film down to 10 reels. This final version was released with a runtime of 2-1/4 hours. No copies of the earlier versions were made, and the entirety of the 32 reels that did not make the final release version were destroyed - along with all of the outtakes - so that the silver could be extracted from the film celluloid. It is in this way, that most of the movie was lost forever.
It was slightly disconcerting to make the switch between the movie and story through stills. The characters and the basic plot are nothing complex or extra-ordinary, but as a movie, it was alright. The story of the side characters were completely cut-off in the final film. Other scenes that were filled by slides included some elements which would explain the lack of continuity between two scenes or explain the character's reactions or intent better in the subsequent scenes. Overall, it was a good movie, just not to my expectations based on the "Lost Classic" status it enjoys!
Satantango (1994)
Finally... 11 AM to 7:30 PM on a Sunday without any disturbances or distractions or work. I am not sure many would have spent seven hours+ of long, really long shots of people walking and lots of rain and mud. I was worried about the run-time going in. But, contrary to my expectations, I was not bored. As the wikipedia page explains, it has 12 segments, the first few of which are the happenings of the same day from different people's perspectives - a little like Pulp Fiction if it makes it easier to understand. But, there's hardly any pulp or fiction in this movie. It begins with the camera following a cow herd for 8 mins, followed by a room gradually getting illuminated by the Sun light through the window. It was a breeze for the first four hours. I was expecting a confrontation of epic proportions based on what the little mystery about Irimias' intent and how other characters would react to him. But, he just .. talked when it finally happened
. The Cat segment was a little disturbing to watch and I am not a fan of that bar room dance segment either - I was not as amused for a few segments until the last hour and a half. Overall, I'd say an interesting, very different experience with a long but hardly boring movie. I liked this better than the short, under two hours
Damnation, but I am still not sure I'd call it a masterpiece yet! Most 'masterpieces' though reveal themselves only with time.
I am OK with long shots because I spend many rainy days just watching the rain without a thought. But unlike movies, it ends abruptly due to the need to return back to 'earth' and mundane life. Though Tarkovsky movies have long shots, it was like painting a picture or writing a poetry - a momentary pause in time introduced by the mind to focus on something beautiful (like my rain watching activity). Bela Tarr in comparison is more 'earthy' with the camera fixated on everyday activities (like me doing my work).
On a side note, I liked AT's earlier movies more than the latter ones (Nostalghia and Sacrifice). Not sure if that's going to be the case with Tarr as well. I'd catch up with Werckmeister Harmonies later this week and if I like it, would try my hand at Turin Horse.
Also watched this week....
This is Spinal Tap (1984) - An excellent, funny mockumentary by Rob Reiner
The Avengers (2012) - Lots of funny one liners combined with super-hero action = 140 mins goes off fast . I still scratch my head about the high IMDB rating though.
that is why his own movies .... lets not waste words.
