Before we saw Brokeback Mountain, we thought Capote was a sure thing for best picture Sunday night. But Brokeback broke our hearts; it’s one of the finest films we’ve ever seen. The way Larry McMurtry writes dialogue must make all other screenwriters feel like Salieri, pounding away at a piano to no good purpose.
So perhaps we’re discussing the merits of two also-rans here, but we’re surprised we haven’t yet seen a direct comparison of Capote and Good Night, and Good Luck , since both nominees are about journalism. In fact, we’ll add both to our Top 10 list of journalism/PR films (bumping, rather easily, Teacher’s Pet and The Paper.)
We’ve also rethought the order of our list. Here’s the new one:
1. Citizen Kane
2. Capote
3. Sweet Smell of Success
4. Network
5. All the President’s Men
6. Broadcast News
7. His Girl Friday
8. Good Night, and Good Luck
9. The Insider
10. Wag the Dog
OK, so why is Capote No. 2, while Good Night clocks in at 8?
Good Night, and Good Luck portrays journalists in black and white (literally); Edward R. Murrow and his colleagues are the clear heroes, much like Woodward and Bernstein in All the President’s Men.
Capote, by contrast, depicts the scary gray areas where reporters sometimes tread in pursuit of a story; Truman Capote is imperfect, conflicted, self-interested. The film plays a bit like Broadcast News in this respect — but is a far more intimate, serious work.
Put another way: Capote made me remember all the reasons I loved journalism — and all the reasons I left it.
Technorati tags: Journalism, Movies, Capote, Oscars, Academy Awards, Good Night, and Good Luck, Brokeback Mountain
I guess you haven’t seen Absence of Malice.
I did, but I wasn’t crazy about it, Alice. I thought it was overdone. I guess it’s arguably better than The Paper — but now that one’s off the list.
Capote stinks. The movie as a whole left more questions than gave information. Watching it was an unpleasant, boring experience and I did not feel like I understood the time period (even though I was alive during it), the people or the locations. The audience ran out of the theater as soon as the credits rolled (self included).
In comparison Good night and Good luck transported me. I could smell the gin and tobacco, the audience stood and clapped after the movie for a LONG time. The music, the black and white the dress, everything about that movie was a slice of time. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
I almost fell asleep during Capote. Put David Strathairn performance up against Philip Seymour Hoffman and Strathairn would have to win HANDS DOWN.. But he wont. Why? It is black and white, most people did not see it in the theater, it is not about gay people and it does not have a huge budget.
http://daysofdawn.blogspot.com/
Wow, Manic, how do you really feel?
I thought the lead performances in both films were outstanding.
Ron Howard’s The Paper?
Since Wag the Dog is pushing political bounds, what about:
Primary Colors
Bob Roberts. (Even though it’s a moc.)
The War Room. (Even though it’s a doc.)
I really liked The Paper, even though it didn’t get great reviews. And The War Room was really good; I hadn’t thought about that one. As for Bob Roberts: I rule out all movies with Tim Robbins simply because they have Tim Robbins in them.
That’s too bad. The supporting cast in it is worth the rental. Alan Rickman as his campaign advisor and Jack Black as a psycho fan are hilarious.
I have that same thing with Sean Young and Sharon Stone though. The movie could have the best actors in the world like a Pacino, Close, Dinero, etc., but if those two are in it? Ruined.
I’m guessing you haven’t seen “A Face in the Crowd?”
No I haven’t seen that one, Mike, although I’ve heard it’s a great one. I’ll add it to my Netflix.
MTLB:
Actually, you’ve touched on what is a pretty sore subject in my household — “The List.”
There is a list of people whose movies I will not watch under any circumstances, which annoys my wife to no end.
The top offender on The List is Ben Stiller. Does he ever make a movie where he doesn’t wear a wig or fake moustache?
HI-larious.
Ben, Ben, Ben, Yeah. Count me among the few who don’t get him. It’s not the understated thing. It’s the overacting thing.
Permanent Midnight might be his one serious flick where he didn’t have the stache. Mystery Men is actually a good role for him since his histrionics blend in with the cartoon style of that movie.
AFITC will definitely make your top ten list, and even if it is #10, will probably pull Network down a couple pegs — it was really derivative.
btw, some really good stuff about GNGL and murrow here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/23/murrow/main1340874.shtml