Notes on Truffaut (answer to Scotty)

[GringoTex]

This is a response to some PM's between Scotty and I focusing on French cinema that I thought I would make public.

What did you think of Truffaut from the films you've seen? [Jules and Jim, The Soft Skin, Farenheit 451, Day for Night, The Man Who Loved Women]

His reputation has suffered greatly since his death, mainly due to his crap output from 1977-1984 (The Man Who Loved Women kicked off this crap stage).

General consensus is that Truffaut made all his masterpieces in the 1960s and then flamed out. He did make several several masterpiecesa in the 60s, but I've always argued that he didnt reach his artistic peak until the 1970s when he made his three greatest films: "Two English Girls" (1971) "The Story of Adele H." (1975) and "Small Change" (1976). I once published a small article arguing that "The Story of Adele H." was the greatest film ever made. I received more grief for that than anything I've ever written.

"The 400 Blows" is a must-see, and is one of those rare films that actually does get better with each viewing. As you probably know, it's the first film in the "Antoine Doinel" series that is often mistakenly considered to be based on Truffaut's life. Only "The 400 Blows" and "Antoine and Colette" are semi-autobiographical. "Antoine and Colette" is actually only a 20 minute short and is difficult to find in video stores. It was originally made as part of a French omnibus film called "Love at Twenty," but nowadays is most often found on video paired with Truffaut's "Les Mistons," another short and his very first film (absolutely brilliant, btw). So watch 400 Blows, Antoine and Colette, and Stolen Kisses (the third film in the series) but ignore the final two. They're wretched and you'll be sorry you watched them. Trust me. You'll really really want to continue the Doinel story after Stolen Kisses, but don't.

Other Truffaut must sees:

"Shoot the Pianio Player" (1961) - Read any review of Shoot the Piano Player from the year it was released and then read any definition of post-modernism. They're one and the same. Now I don't have the knowledge or nads to suggest that Truffaut constructed the first postmodern work of art, but just read the reviews.

"The Bride Wore Black" - Proof that Truffaut was nothing like his favorite director: Alfred Hitchcock. A fascinating failure, though.

"The Wild Child" - He's the greatest director ever concerning the childhhood experience. This goes with Les Mistons, 400 Blows and Small Change.

[MeridianFC]

GT,

not to take this off topic.....well actually yes to take this off topic, what's your feeling on the new Bergman Criterion set (Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light, the Silence) that's coming out. The reviews make this seem like a must have, though I've never seen any of 'em. I've liked or loved pretty much all the Bergman I've seen.

Nice encapsulation of Truffaut above. For some reason I've missed the vast chunk of his work. I feel like I can never keep up with the films that I should've seen, though I guess it all comes out in the wash with discovering things below the radar.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
GT,

not to take this off topic.....well actually yes to take this off topic, what's your feeling on the new Bergman Criterion set (Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light, the Silence) that's coming out. The reviews make this seem like a must have, though I've never seen any of 'em. I've liked or loved pretty much all the Bergman I've seen.


That trilogy represents Bergman's early 60's work, which is his most ignored. Smiles of a Summer Night, Wild Strawberries, and The Seenth Seal were all big hits in the 50s, and then he was pretty much forgotten in the U.S. until Persona. I've never seen the Silence but the other two are great flicks.

[evilcrossbar]

This is also off topic, although it has to do with French cinema.

Gringo, what do you think of Jacques Tati (I'm assuming you've seen his work) and which movie do you think was his best?

[MikeLastort2]

I just ordered two Criterion box sets - The Adventures Of Antoine Doinel Box Set (http://www.dvdplanet.com/product_listing.asp?productid=30752&format=DVD) and Akira Kurosawa: Four Samurai Classics (http://www.dvdplanet.com/product_listing.asp?productid=26545&format=DVD) from DVDPlanet. Both should be here Monday or Tuesday.

I pre-ordered Knife In The Water (http://www.dvdplanet.com/product_listing.asp?productid=34684&format=DVD) and Scarface Anniversary Edition (http://www.dvdplanet.com/product_listing.asp?productid=34913&format=DVD) at the same time.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by evilcrossbar
This is also off topic, although it has to do with French cinema.

Gringo, what do you think of Jacques Tati (I'm assuming you've seen his work) and which movie do you think was his best?

Playtime is my favorite. I love Tati's formal qualities, but I don't know that I get him.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
I just ordered two Criterion box sets - The Adventures Of Antoine Doinel Box Set (http://www.dvdplanet.com/product_listing.asp?productid=30752&format=DVD)

Let us know about the special features after you watch them.

[evilcrossbar]

Didn't Tati come from a long family of picture-framers?

That would explain the cinematography of his later movies (few close-ups and very balanced shots).

[MeridianFC]

Mike, thanks for the dvdplanet heads up. I've been wanting to get the Samuri box set for a coons age and that price is impossible to beat!

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
Mike, thanks for the dvdplanet heads up. I've been wanting to get the Samuri box set for a coons age and that price is impossible to beat!

Agreed- I've never seen prices as cheap as theirs. And the shipping is great if you order more than one at a time.

[striker]

GringoTex,

What do you think of Mississippi Mermaid? Was it the first color feature by Truffaut? Out of all the Truffaut films, I like 400 Blows most, and Stolen Kisses is my sentimental favorite since it was the first Truffaut film that I watched. It really turned me onto the French New Wave.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by striker
GringoTex,
What do you think of Mississippi Mermaid? Was it the first color feature by Truffaut?


Farenheit 451 was Truffaut's first color film, and Mermaid was his second. I thought Mermaid was a pretty bad film.

[david dunn]

It's seems that some here know french cinema better than me, I'm very impressed, because I think it's a bit difficult to watch french movies in the US...

Do you know more recent french directors like jean pierre Jeunet(with marc caro: la cité des enfants perdus, delicatessen, alone: le fabuleux destin d'amélie Poulain), or Albert Dupontel(bernie, le Créateur), Christophe Gans, Blier, Ozon, Gaspar Noé, Jan Kounen etc...

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by david dunn

Do you know more recent french directors like jean pierre Jeunet(with marc caro: la cité des enfants perdus, delicatessen, alone: le fabuleux destin d'amélie Poulain), or Albert Dupontel(bernie, le Créateur), Christophe Gans, Blier, Ozon, Gaspar Noé, Jan Kounen etc...

I'm no expert on current French cinema, but they're mostly crap, from what I've seen. And thanks for giving me yet another another opportunity to bash that dildo-disguised-as-a-movie called Amelie.

The only "young-school" French directors I know of that make great movies are Leos Carax and Claire Denis.

[Belgian guy]

What about Matthieu Kassovitz?

La Haine was pretty good

[david dunn]

Originally posted by GringoTex
I'm no expert on current French cinema, but they're mostly crap, from what I've seen. And thanks for giving me yet another another opportunity to bash that dildo-disguised-as-a-movie called Amelie.

The only "young-school" French directors I know of that make great movies are Leos Carax and Claire Denis.

Wow you're hard with Amelie it's a pretty sympathic movie, but the best jeunet's movie are la cité des enfants perdus and delicatessen.
I think you don't really know current french cinema with saying "they're mostly crap", because there are very diferrent movies and directors,
If you like strange atmospheres I advise you the two I told you,
If you want to see intelligent and dark comedies I advise you the two of Albert Dupontel(very funny and very dark humor, somewhere between coen brothers and monty python),

of course, I think you don't like Luc Besson,
actually, I think the problem is that you see the movies which have the best box-office, and I think there are not the bests...
You spoke about Leos Carax and Claire Denis(I don't like them a lot), but I think you would like Gaspar Noé(Irreversible)...

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by david dunn

If you want to see intelligent and dark comedies I advise you the two of Albert Dupontel(very funny and very dark humor, somewhere between coen brothers and monty python),


Thanks. I'll try to check them out



of course, I think you don't like Luc Besson,


I loved "The Professiona," but that's about it.


actually, I think the problem is that you see the movies which have the best box-office, and I think there are not the bests...



Yes- that is the problem- I can only see French films that either had big box office in Europe or won some major film festival, so my knowledge is limited.


You spoke about Leos Carax and Claire Denis(I don't like them a lot), but I think you would like Gaspar Noé(Irreversible)...

I saw Irreversible- it was ok.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by GringoTex
I saw Irreversible- it was ok.

I just added it to my NetFlix queue two or three days ago.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
I just added it to my NetFlix queue two or three days ago.

How's Netflix work out for you? Is it a good deal?

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by GringoTex
How's Netflix work out for you? Is it a good deal?

It rocks. I absolutely love it.