Years of watching Tarantino have trained us all to pay close attention to dialogue, character and set-up (including shifts in apparent power relations) in his films but - unsurprisingly - there was no way of telling how this one would turn out or who (if anyone) would be left standing at the end; that uncertainty, plus the presence and impact of all of the usual technical things that he does so well (including characters and set pieces that, even if sometimes on the thin side in this one, enable their inhabiting actors' charisma to come through[*]), adds up to three hours that never drags. Yet, easy as it was to watch on a Sunday afternoon in a crowded movie theatre, I don't know how much there was to this one, or whether I'd watch it again - I have a suspicion that it might ultimately be hollow, insubstantial.
(w/ Julian - at the Astor and on the 70mm film at the 2.76:1 aspect in which it was shot, complete with program, overture and intermission)
[*] I don't think it was one of her great performances, but it was committed - and it was a treat to see my old favourite Leigh in such fine touch.
(w/ Julian - at the Astor and on the 70mm film at the 2.76:1 aspect in which it was shot, complete with program, overture and intermission)
[*] I don't think it was one of her great performances, but it was committed - and it was a treat to see my old favourite Leigh in such fine touch.
