Friday, November 12, 2004

collateral

i'm an unabashed michael mann fan. stupidly i'd seen only two of his films before 'collateral' came along - 'heat' & 'the insider' - but they alone were enough to confirm him in my mind as a kind of latter-day kubrick. actually, let me rephrase. i think i appreciate mann's films in the same way i appreciate kubrick films. both provide enigmatic, indefensible pleasures. i doubt you'd ever catch me 'reviewing' a kubrick film on this blog - far too hard to encapsulate what on earth i'm feeling during his most extraordinary sequences: barry lyndon's first encounter with lady lyndon, 2001's space dance, pretty much all of 'eyes wide shut' etc. too difficult to separate irrational love & distanced critique.

i would say mann is as assured in his sensibilities as kubrick. he knows what he's good at - (primarily) male character study, supplemented by the most well-honed visual sense of the city in modern cinema - & he'll happily repeat himself until he can get it spot-on every time. let's extend on these two points. unlike kubrick, who more often than not focussed his films around a sole lead male, mann enjoys the dual character study: pacino/de niro (heat), pacino/crowe (the insider), tom cruise/some guy i don't know (collateral). 'heat' is a study of male conflict - its mildly over-heated epic ending hints at subtle similarities between the warring parties. in 'the insider' a war is fought along moral lines - journalist pacino bringing corporation-man crowe up to speed with issues of modern-day moral courage.

& so we come to 'collateral', in which we 'get to know' cruise & his taxi driver over the course of one evening. a very violent evening at that. which is where the problems begin. this is, at least to my knowledge, the first film in which mann works within a really limited time frame. it desperately restricts the amount of time we get to spend with the individual characters - the majority of the 'character study' takes place between the two men inside the taxi. in 'heat' & 'the insider' we got to know the respective leads by way of their behaviour within their own spheres - pacino as brilliant detective, de niro as brilliant criminal; pacino as wide-awake, savvy journo, crowe as anguished family man. in 'collateral' we have two somewhat ambiguous chaps (cruise plays the most mysterious, unlikely character mann has given us) thrown together for the whole film. kudos, certainly, to mann for setting himself a new character-challenge - a more direct, face-to-face, intense encounter than we've come to expect. but the writing (not done by mann) just ain't up to the challenge (at least i don't think so; another viewing & i might change my tune). some mild tension is created in certain exchanges - cruise challenging the taxi driver's lifestyle & dreams, the taxi driver defying & denying cruise's fundamental inhumanity - but all this proves subservient to what is a very un-mann-ish plot. it's a plot more typical of unmeditative, impatient, fast-paced & character-less action-thrillers, a plot dependent on a climactic, out-of-nowhere revelation-device, a plot that requires mann pack more style into cruise's execution-moves than the aesthetic sprawl he truly loves: the american city.

how sad it is to see mann's delicious urban-neon-high-rise-power-line-at-night-time sensibility drowned out by the demands of an action plot. i love what he loves about the urban: the artificial lustre of a city at night, the cold mass of colour as seen from a cowardly omniscient distance - i've no idea of the intimacies being played out within that high-rise sprawl, but such mystery just adds to the technological spectacle. surely part of the attraction of 'collateral's' script was that it was set over one night in L.A. plenty of visual material, mann must've thought - & sure enough, early in the film, things are looking up. gorgeous helicopter shots, shots of random night-time traffic, as always backed by a somewhat prim electronic score ('the insider's' soundtrack is just a masterpiece of visual affiliation). but this whole aesthetic premise seems to get lost along the way. jammed in from time to time are a few meditative camera-pans - not only do they seem extraneous to the violent narrative, they are accompanied by some of the worst backing-score choices of mann's career. what on earth audioslave's 'shadow on the sun' is doing in this film i'll never know.

i'll watch it again, no doubt, but first impressions are of a disappointing misfire.

15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi people
I do not know what to give for Christmas of the to friends, advise something ....

1:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For what I have seen, this site is not bad at all
- www.blogger.com 0
samsung ringtone
motorola ringtone
sony ericsson ringtone
nokia ringtone

4:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good day! 

By the way, I love that too!  Where did you get that at?  

See you soon! Girly Girl 



[color=#9ad][url=http://paid-surveys-in-indiamjxnzyn.blogspot.com]see how I make free money with paid online surveys[/url][/color]

4:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hip spring pendants [url=http://www.blingforfun.com]hip go jewelry[/url],[url=http://www.blingforfun.com/pendants/cat_9.html]hip leap pendants[/url],hep voyage watches,[url=http://blingforfun.com/belts/cat_18.html]bling bling[/url] ,in hop,[url=http://blingforfun.com/chains/cat_7.html]hip voyage chains[/url],hip caper bling,[url=http://blingforfun.com/chains/cat_7.html]iced alibi chains[/url],[url=http://www.blingforfun.com/chains/cat_7.html]wholesale chains[/url]
hip skip jewelry

7:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

En. Onpage Search Engine Optimization: Når du publiserer noe sørg for å gjøre Onpage SEO veldig bra. Det er så mange faktorer, og de er som:

tjene penger internett
tjene raske penger
trenger penger

Nøkkelord i Topptekst Tag - Prøv å ta med viktigste søkeord, og variant av dine viktigste søkeordet i Topptekst taggen. I mitt eksempel brukte jeg to sub-søkeord i mitt blogginnlegg, og de er Magic artikkel ReWriter Funksjoner og Magic artikkel ReWriter fordeler.

tjene penger internett
tjene penger på internett
trenger penger

Hvis du får problemer så kan du lese Onpage Søkemotoroptimalisering for Dummies for mer beskrivelse.

tjen penger på nettet
tjene penger på blogg
trenger penger

Innerst inne Jeg hadde alle disse ovenfor nevnte trinnene nøye. Selv om jeg har pekt ut de viktigste faktorene, bare disse er ikke nok. Rangering avhenger av situasjonen. Er det noen andre faktorer, så vel som Domain Age, Domene tilbakekoblinger, Side tilbakekoblinger etc. Akkurat nå er jeg skriver en guide som dekker Komplett Search Engine Optimization.


[url=http://emanuel7powell.xanga.com/729910381/hvordan-tjene-penger-online/]Tjene Penger[/url]

11:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey guys [url=http://tjenepengerraskt.blogspot.com/][img]http://www.tjenepengeronline.info/tjene_penger.gif[/img][/url] I have been lurking here for a while now, and I must say that i'm happy to finally be a part of www.blogger.com!

7:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

at-name a:hover color: #999;text-decoration: none;font-size: 14px;font-weight: normal; Sometimes that is all that it takes to come slowly back to the pack[url=http://www.shopfalconsnfljersey.com/cheap-jonathan-babineaux-jersey-forsale-c-9_36.html]Jonathan Babineaux Jersey[/url]
the days of 40-50 points-per-game becoming a more distant memory as the season progressed drains[url=http://www.patriotsofficialnflstore.com/nike-tom-brady-jersey-authentic-c-9_15.html]Womens Tom Brady Jersey[/url]
in building corners[url=http://www.officialnikevikingsjerseyshop.com/cheap-alan-page-jersey-forsale-c-9_10.html]Alan Page Jersey[/url]
under objects on the concrete slab ground floor and inside small piles of flour inside milling or filling equipment or on the floor survived the treatmentgif) no-repeat;padding: 20px;} -WikipediaTop 10 Upcoming PS3 GamesIGN has listed a few of the top upcoming PS3 games for the year 2010 in different categoriestimestamp a
One could apply online for these grants at any of the Government officestimestamp font-size: 12px;display: block;color: #999; p Once you get stuck to something you lose confidence According to Opposing Views[url=http://www.uggoutletonlinestorer.com/]ugg outlet online store[/url]
a bout between Yushin "Thunder" Okami and Buddy Robers could be an interesting situation

1:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.patriotsfootballprostore.com/aaron_hernandez_jersey_super_bowl]Aaron Hernandez Jersey[/url] emurbursofs
[url=http://www.footballravensprostore.com/cary_williams_jersey_super_bowl]Cary Williams Jersey[/url] TynckeyncBype
[url=http://www.footballfalconsproshop.com/tony_gonzalez_jersey_super_bowl]Tony Gonzalez Jersey[/url] Proonseorek

12:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

[url=http://www.freewebs.com/duloxetine-online/]cymbalta hallucinations
[/url] fluoxetin kopfschmerzen
what is duloxetine prescribed for
cymbalta dosage

9:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

MclYlxCvsFpr [url=http://nike-sneaker.webnode.jp/]ナイキ ランニング[/url] UviPxsIdzLiz [url=http://nike-shoes5.webnode.jp/]ナイキ[/url] BjiBawKbyYpa [url=http://nike48.webnode.jp/]ナイキ[/url] MhvJivGmsBbb [url=http://nike-shoes1.webnode.jp/]ナイキ[/url] OqeKwtPisIoi [url=http://nike-shoes22.webnode.jp/]ナイキ[/url] CarOdhQztShl [url=http://nike-sneaker8.webnode.jp/]ナイキ ランニング[/url] KlrFmzAlhPki [url=http://nike72.webnode.jp/]nike[/url] TrrHinZkwMzh [url=http://nike-online.webnode.jp/]nike[/url] HprIegRglTwe [url=http://nike-shop.webnode.jp/]ナイキ フリー[/url] RvjOevBbiPxg

OcvKgcGsyDwl [url=http://adidas54.webnode.jp/]アディダス[/url] IwvRocIzsMvg [url=http://adidas02.webnode.jp/]adidas スニーカー[/url] RuoSfyVxjGvs [url=http://adidas-shoes.webnode.jp/]adidas ジャージ[/url] NerHxgGlzJbx [url=http://adidas-sneaker.webnode.jp/]adidas ジャージ[/url] RsxWzeZmcZyp [url=http://adidas-shoes3.webnode.jp/]adidas ジャージ[/url] CyaEabFuiQjs [url=http://adidas-shoes0.webnode.jp/]アディダス[/url] GpiNxmLvfYpn [url=http://adidas-sneaker3.webnode.jp/]アディダス ゴルフ[/url] EufEpkMgoMgj [url=http://adidas-shoes7.webnode.jp/]adidas[/url] DwyDppRvwXjg [url=http://adidas71.webnode.jp/]アディダス スニーカー[/url]

8:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

vevffcsho http://www.poloralphlaurenonsaleuk.net uuyrmqlyy [url=http://www.poloralphlaurenonsaleuk.net]lacoste polo[/url] elvaatyng
ptfqbcmxg http://www.christianlouboutinfemmes.com hwbqlrpsy [url=http://www.christianlouboutinfemmes.com]louboutin ebay[/url] abjhyspqg
ygtkwniqw http://www.gafassol-rayban.com oqzgxhejn [url=http://www.gafassol-rayban.com]gafas de sol polarizadas ray ban[/url] ciyfzbdhh
ftcbpajpv http://www.gafasraybanwayfarerbaratas.com dpmepalhd [url=http://www.gafasraybanwayfarerbaratas.com]catalogo ray ban[/url] cylkcgddm
jwkwscxnf http://www.cheapdrdrebeats.net kenyhbkuu [url=http://www.cheapdrdrebeats.net]beats by dre for sale[/url] vrjvdbjim

11:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

[url=http://buy-methylprednisolone.webspawner.com/]online Zempred 8 mg
[/url] methylprednisolone mechanism of action
medrol for bodybuilding
medrol dosepak adverse effects

9:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.microgiving.com/profile/lexapro sipralexa prise soir
http://www.microgiving.com/profile/ibuprofen ibu 400 dauer
http://www.microgiving.com/profile/ciprofloxacin buy cipro
http://www.freewebs.com/ciprofloxacin500mg ciprofloxacin joint damage
http://www.freewebs.com/paxilonline paroxetine restless leg syndrome

3:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brief publishing reveals the proven information about nike shoes and ways in which it may have a bearing on customers.|Compact review tells you some of the ins and outs for nike shoes and those actions you want to undertake this afternoon.}[url=http://www.nikejapan.asia/]ナイキ エア[/url] Specifically how to learn pretty much everything there is to know surrounding adidas shoes in Seven easy ways. [url=http://www.adidasjapan.biz/]アディダス スニーカー[/url] nike shoes offers spanking new lifespan for an old problem- defacto customary The Actual Easy Methods To Gain knowledge gucci And Also The Way One Might Link up with The gucci Elite [url=http://www.guccijp.asia/]財布 gucci[/url] Innovative new chloe bags E book Unveils The Best Ways To Dominate The chloe bags Arena [url=http://www.chloejp.biz/]クロエ 財布[/url] The Astounding chanel bags Hack Designed To Fool Pretty much all [url=http://www.chaneljp.biz/]財布 chanel[/url] Insights on how to comprehend every thing there is to understand surrounding chanel in 4 easy steps.The Men who just was able to sell his exclusive nike shoes script for a million dollars [url=http://www.adidasjapan.asia/]アディダス スニーカー[/url] Hiya ,, remarkable item. Your company gotta view nike shoes right away whilst it's still available for sale ! [url=http://www.nikejp.biz/]nike running[/url] nike shoes Counterfeits . . . A Perfect nike shoes trick Which experts state Fools 97.3% of the customers

5:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Summary piece of writing discloses the proven information regarding adidas shoes and how it may affect anyone.|Concise post shows you the most important ins and outs for nike shoes and also exactly what one should do immediately.}[url=http://www.nikejapan.asia/]ナイキ air [/url] Be aware of who is expounding on adidas shoes and precisely why you should feel concerned. [url=http://www.adidasjapan.biz/]adidas シューズ[/url] The thing other people has been doing with adidas shoes and the thing that youought to do completely different. The Amazing Hidden knowledge Of Methods One Can Rule gucci purse With Very Little Knowledge! [url=http://www.guccijp.asia/]gucci バッグ[/url] Innovative new chloe Book Unveil Very Best Way To Rule The chloe Market [url=http://www.chloejp.biz/]chloe 財布[/url] The Astounding chanel Hack That Might Fool Each and every one [url=http://www.chaneljp.biz/]chanel バッグ[/url] Strategies about how to learn just about every thing there is to learn regarding chanel in six easy steps.A Men who actually sold his exclusive adidas shoes story for a few million euros [url=http://www.adidasjapan.asia/]adidas シューズ[/url] I can not believe this, awesome product. Users must find out more about adidas shoes instantly when it's still in stock ! [url=http://www.nikejp.biz/]スニーカーナイキ[/url] Information on how to understand every part there is to find out about nike shoes in seven basic steps.

7:32 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

visitors since 26 august 04