Floating Leaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
floatingleaf) wrote2008-12-07 08:12 pm
floatingleaf) wrote2008-12-07 08:12 pm
another movie that everyone else has seen already, and a seemingly unrelated fannish ramble
I watched Bent last night. For the first time. I don't honestly know how this movie managed to escape my attention until now, since it was made in 1997, and it's exactly the kind of movie I normally fall over myself to see as soon as I know about it. And it floored me. It's possibly the darkest and most disturbing Holocaust-based film I have ever seen (and that's saying a lot - I grew up in Poland, remember?... there were scores of Holocaust-themed and war-themed movies on TV throughout my childhood and youth, and they often gave me nightmares)... and yet the wry British humor with which the story is related creates such a strange and powerful mixture with its inherent tragedy that I just sat there transfixed, open-mouthed and gasping, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. It's unbelievably courageous (btw, despite the infinite number of Holocaust-themed movies I had seen as a kid, I didn't hear about pink triangles until much, much later; the taboo was strong enough for most filmmakers not to mention homosexuality even in terms of Nazi prosecution) and absolutely brilliant. Clive Owen's performance is stunning. Ian McKellen's little episode is great too... and Mick Jagger in drag OMG. And the dialogue... a masterpiece of ruthless black sarcasm and pure insanity. It seems so irreverent... and yet the message is profoundly positive - at least in my perception - and it smacks you right in the face with its raw, uninhibited power. I can't remember another movie affecting me in such an ambivalent way, evoking such conflicted emotions. Life Is Beautiful, perhaps, to some extent - but not nearly as much. I just kept thinking, since the beginning: "Wow, I have to watch this again before I send it back"; and then: "No, I can't handle this, why did I ever decide to see this?"; and then: "I have to watch this again if it kills me". Final conclusion? I probably will - with the exception of the entire sequence on the train (I am assuming that anyone who has seen the film will know what I'm talking about; and I'm not giving any spoilers, other than a severe "not for the faint of heart" warning, to those who haven't). I honestly don't think I can stomach that part again anytime soon. *shudder*
I also meant to talk about some yaoi comics I've been reading... but it just doesn't feel right after this. Not that there's anything wrong with appreciating both ambitious cinematic art AND porny comics... but you know. Maybe in another post.;) It's just that sometimes I wonder at how my fascination with dark, angsty drama in movies relates to the addiction for fluffy romance and obligatory happy endings in yaoi or fanfic. Seriously, I pretty much hate 'romantic comedies' on screen - unless they're very unique or clever (or gay, lol). And yet, I'm all about fluffy Viggorli and completely unrealistic 'eternal love' between waif-like characters in X-rated manga.:P WTF?... Is it only the het version of this kitsch scenario that irritates me?... Why do I need this predictability of happiness in slash, when about 90% of my favorite on-screen love stories, het or gay, end in tears?... Why do I snort with derision at soap operas, while at the same time getting helplessly hooked on weird gay AU's where all problems disappear as soon as character A & character B end up in bed together?...;) (or better yet, confess their mutual profound affections to each other?) Is it just me, or does that strange discrepancy happen to anyone else?... I'm really curious, you know.
I also meant to talk about some yaoi comics I've been reading... but it just doesn't feel right after this. Not that there's anything wrong with appreciating both ambitious cinematic art AND porny comics... but you know. Maybe in another post.;) It's just that sometimes I wonder at how my fascination with dark, angsty drama in movies relates to the addiction for fluffy romance and obligatory happy endings in yaoi or fanfic. Seriously, I pretty much hate 'romantic comedies' on screen - unless they're very unique or clever (or gay, lol). And yet, I'm all about fluffy Viggorli and completely unrealistic 'eternal love' between waif-like characters in X-rated manga.:P WTF?... Is it only the het version of this kitsch scenario that irritates me?... Why do I need this predictability of happiness in slash, when about 90% of my favorite on-screen love stories, het or gay, end in tears?... Why do I snort with derision at soap operas, while at the same time getting helplessly hooked on weird gay AU's where all problems disappear as soon as character A & character B end up in bed together?...;) (or better yet, confess their mutual profound affections to each other?) Is it just me, or does that strange discrepancy happen to anyone else?... I'm really curious, you know.
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Did you know Viggo acted in Bent on some small stage in LA, and made a very big impression in his relatively minor role as the SS guard at the end? (*shudder* I can just imagine.)
I'm with you in being bemused at how different my tolerance for the romance pattern is in het and in slash. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that in slash, they aren't automatically tied into the alpha male and beta female gender roles. There's more of a possibility of equality, or of switch-at-whim.
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I had no idea. Wow. I don't think I could handle that, though. John Halder from "Good" is a very reluctant SS-man, so it's a different story; I'm not sure I ever want to see Viggo as one of those guards from "Bent". That would probably creep me out more than "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" ever did... lol.
in slash, they aren't automatically tied into the alpha male and beta female gender roles
That's basically true... though in Japanese yaoi manga, for example, the characters are always very clearly defined as either "top" or "bottom". They never switch, and the "bottoms" are usually extremely effeminate. I have a suspicion that Japanese culture simply does not allow for equality in relationships, gender notwithstanding. Someone always has to be in charge.;)
What's really amusing, though, it's that it doesn't bother me if they are both technically male. And I suppose I wouldn't care either if they were both female. I have no problem with being a "bottom" for another woman.;) I just don't like the concept of the man automatically "in charge" of the woman.
But that still doesn't explain why I always willingly go for heavy angst in movies, while at the same time getting very upset if a fanfic I'm reading doesn't have a happy ending. I guess I just approach these two mediums with different expectations. Movies are usually "high art" to me (they're not worth my time otherwise), while fanfic is my comfort zone where I don't want any nasty surprises. At least that's the only explanation I can come up with right now.;)
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Well this was a useless ramble. Apologies. I'm just happy to be back in touch. :)
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Maybe it's that I love these characters/people so deeply and I hate the thought of anything but romance and happiness. Sure, I don't mind them going through trials, so long as they end up together. ;) Or maybe it's that fic is my happy place where I retreat from all the crap that's going on in life.
It seems to be exactly the same way for me. I just wonder why happy movies/comedies often annoy or bore me, and fluffy fanfic doesn't (unless it's really, really bad... lol). It could be the characters - in a film they are always strangers to me, at least in the beginning, so I don't care that much what happens to them; while in fanfic they already feel close and familiar from the start. At least that's the only explanation I can think of at the moment. *ponders*
Well this was a useless ramble.
No ramble is ever useless if it lets me know what's going on in your mind. Especially after such endless silence. *hugs*
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Honestly, I am unsure of the movie. I want it to be good, because it's Viggo, but I don't know if they can actually translate that book onto film. Because it was the language, the way it was written, that made it hurt me. Not what was happening. Cormac McCarthy's language in that book was just...there are no words to do it justice. Now if Viggo sat and read the book aloud, wow, that would do it.
Yes, I guess we're not invested in the people in happy movies/comedies. It has to be a really good film to get me liking it. It's nice to find someone who feels the same way, so I know it's not just me!
In that case, I am happy to ramble away with you. :) *hugs*
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Yes. That applies to some of my favorite books and movies, including the one I talk about in this post.
I don't know if they can actually translate that book onto film
I guess I'm going to watch he movie first, then, so I'm not affecting my perception of it by comparing it to the book.;)
It has to be a really good film to get me liking it
Precisely. And the same goes for original fiction, too. I just wonder sometimes why this principle doesn't seem to apply to some silly/porny gay comics I love so much.;P
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I will be very interested to hear what you think of the movie. :) I haven't heard that much about it, but I did hear Charlize Theron was playing his wife, which is weird to me because she's not really in the book, so I am worried they're going to change it a lot. And also, I'm worried they'll make it all about crazy baby-eating cannibals, which again, isn't the point. But I am rambling and I probably shouldn't. I'm not saying things should be entirely faithful. Rings is the best example of that. Peter Jackson changed things and cut things but oh my goodness, he kept the spirit of the books and the end result was marvellous.
Maybe you're choosing the silly/porny gay comics and you know what you want and you know what you're getting. :) I don't know. Maybe we'll never figure it out.
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Funny thing is, I hadn't read LOTR either when I first watched the movies. I am only reading it now, and I'm not that extremely captivated by it (possibly because I know the story already). I also tried to read the Silmarillion once, years ago, but gave up on it after a few chapters. So I'm afraid my fascination with Tolkien's world would never have happened if the movies were not made.;)
Maybe you're choosing the silly/porny gay comics and you know what you want and you know what you're getting. :)
That could be it.:) Some romantic cliches are just so deeply satisfying.:P
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Me, I love the books. I first read them when I was ten, on a school field trip that I loathed, so I hid out and read LotR instead. I know they're not the easiest things to read because he has a style that's all his own. I loved the Silmarillion but I know most people don't. I think it's because I love reading myths. I fell in love with parts of it, but it is 'bitty'.
I don't know what I'm actually trying to say here. Am being distracted by my damn beeping washing machine. But. Bottom line? I love the movies, and they made Rings real and necessary to me on a whole other level. I don't think it matters how we got into Rings, just that we did, and we're here. :)
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I do love his style. I loved the language of the Silmarillion, the rich, flowing descriptions... I just couldn't get into the story, because, well... nothing seemed to be happening for a really loooong time.:P And in LOTR, I already know what's going to happen. So I take my sweet time with it, LOL.
I don't think it matters how we got into Rings, just that we did, and we're here. :)
Ditto on that.:D
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That's exactly what my sister found with Rings. *g* I loved reading all about Beren and Luthien. I want to read the Silmarillion again because it's been a while, but I seem to remember it was one of those sloooow reads, but sometimes I like that. :)
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I so recognize your thoughts about not being able to stand fluffy het romance while I love it in slash :)
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I think most people approach various genres of media with different expectations for each. I know I do.
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Probably. I just find it amusing that I scoff at my mother watching her soaps, while biting my nails in anticipation of the next chapter of your average 'drama & romance' Viggorli saga.;)
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