Gus Van Sant

[mixed]

Elephant is an incredibly interesting film. To some its a pointless superficial representation of the columbine massacre. It is boring, derivative and just plain pretentious.

Though if you can understand what Van Sant was trying to do, it is a masterpiece. I am on that side of the fence. Van Sant clearly intended to make a vacuous and austere film. He didn't mean for adept characterisation or anything very interesting. The boredom of the film makes the ending much more intense anyway and it was just an average day. Some of the 'food for thought' we are provided with is reflective of the medias opinions. I think some of the possibilities are clumsily instated but this doesn't withdraw all the power and serenity which the film has.

I'd like to hear what others think of Elephant.

Then we come to Last days. Again, I think this was beautifully made and again, the boredom was intrinsic to the films feel and I think depicted accurately some of the essence of Kurt Cobain. Again I'd like some opinions on this, a widely disliked picture.

To conclude I think that Gus Van Sant is a hugely exciting and unique director and I am glad he has made these two films especially.

[criterionmaster]

I love Elephant, it is just haunting and never again will I be able to hear "Fur Elise" without thinking of the film. It is definitely a unique approach to showing the events, one that I wouldn't blame someone for finding pretentious. But like you said it works, at least for me it works to add to the impact the ending had. If I remember correctly there was something to do with the lead kids father being drunk, I can't remember if that was used anymore during the film or not, was it? I don’t remember it being and I didn’t feel it added very much. Maybe I am wrong? Anyways the whole film made me feel uneasy, but I loved it.

As for Van Sant, I think he is great! His best film is Drugstore Cowboy, in my opinion. I loved everything about it, especially Dillon who I find to be somewhat underrated. It is funny in its unbelievable situations, but is so powerful and realistic as well.

My Own Private Idaho is also a great film. A beautiful, real love film. River gives the performance of his career. The way Van Sant shot the sex scenes was just beautiful, and different from anything I had seen done before. The ending has been planted in my head, just that long road; don’t want to give anything away, but oh man!

Psycho remake on the other hand is terrible and never should have been made in the first place. Leave Hitchcock films alone!

Still a great director, really want to see more of his work.

[mixed]

Yeah I gotta see drugstore cowboy, you should see last days, its even more esoteric than elephant but I like it very much.

[agentknight]

I have seen Elephant and Gerry.

Elephant was an excellent films that, surprise surprise, I did not find boring at all. I love the repetitve style of storytelling, and the simplicity of the idea. It also had one of those ending that left me absolutely speechless.

Gerry was also a brilliant film, but I admit I did find it a little dull. There was a sort of surreal beauty to the contrast of the two ordinary guys walking in front such epic and beautiful scenery.

I really want to see Last Days, but none of my local video stores have it. Bah.

[captainofbeef]

I am very mixed on Van Sant. Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho are two very good films. But on the other hand, Elephant and the Psycho remake are just plain awful. I would like to see some more from him in order to form a solid opinion.

[sacrilegend]

I just got Last Days from the rental store. YAY!

Oh, and by the way: I liked Elephant.

[criterionmaster]

Last Days is good I thought, but I didn't feel like it compared to Elephant, which I liked much more. They both feel very similar in style though.

[sacrilegend]

It doesn't compare, they have different things to say. I agree about the style, and in Elephant it may look like it was used better, but again, I think the use of style was suited to the type of film. I loved them both, but would never compare them.

I agree with mixed on Last Days. That's exactly what I think.

[sacrilegend]

criterionmaster said:

My Own Private Idaho is also a great film. A beautiful, real love film. River gives the performance of his career. The way Van Sant shot the sex scenes was just beautiful, and different from anything I had seen done before. The ending has been planted in my head, just that long road; don’t want to give anything away, but oh man!

Yay, I just saw it and I couldn't agree more. Mmmm. Yumminess.

[eatawiiner]

I saw over at .org that Mala Noche will soon be available in R2 land.