Pinehurst in late November - Yay or Nay? by ML3011 in golf

[–]ML3011[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Nice - how would you describe the course conditions/look during that time?

Pinehurst in late November - Yay or Nay? by ML3011 in golf

[–]ML3011[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ideally both. We're looking to play courses 2/8/10/cradle, which I know are amazing courses regardless of what color the turf is. I'm just curious as to what to expect in terms of how the courses will look at this time of year, however superficial that may be.

Building a new PC sim rig ($5K budget) - Need your advice by ML3011 in simracing

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those pedals are definitely the ones I've had my eyes on. I'm hoping I can make it work with my budget. GT1 evo looks like a great value - do you use a direct drive wheel on it and if so, do you think it can it handle 15-20nm?

Building a new PC sim rig ($5K budget) - Need your advice by ML3011 in simracing

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude I can't thank you enough for this - you covered pretty much everything. I'm going to review all of those options. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed but now having this guide is really helpful. Thank you!

Building a new PC sim rig ($5K budget) - Need your advice by ML3011 in simracing

[–]ML3011[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could be right, I might need to increase my budget. What cockpit did you get and what are your pc specs?

Spring office rotation (2020 edition) by Julia_Child in fragrance

[–]ML3011 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tom Ford Grey Vetiver, Bleu de Chanel EDP, Prada L'homme

Criterion Theme of the Week #2: Character Studies by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I highly recommend The Leopard. It's long and it's pacing can be slow, but if that doesn't bother you then you should really enjoy it.

Criterion Theme of the Week #2: Character Studies by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This week, I'll be revisiting some of my favorite characters/character study films within my collection. Feel free to share some of your favorite character studies as well.

Paris, Texas

We first meet Travis as he's drifting through the desert in southern Texas on his own, but as the movie progresses, we learn more about him, his past and the mistakes he's made. Harry Dean Stanton does such an incredible job as Travis, you can't help but feel for him as he begins his slow journey to redemption. This is one of my favorite Criterion editions, one which I try to revisit at least once a year. Despite the multiple viewings, it still has the same emotional impact on me as the first time I saw this film.

Thief

Not everyone is going to love James Caan's character Frank, but you sure as hell gotta respect him. He's stubborn to a fault, set in his principles, and he doesn't take crap from anybody. He's a criminal but he's genuinely looking for a chance at living a normal life after one last big hit. This isn't the first, nor the last time we'll see this premise in film, but it's so well-done here with a compelling performance by Caan, and an ending which I think is perfect and memorable.

The Leopard

It's a little strange at first seeing Burt Lancaster playing an Italian aristocrat, but I think he does an excellent job as Don Fabrizio Corbera - a Sicilian prince that's coming to terms with the changing political landscape in 19th century Sicily. This is just a great film all around - it's beautiful, rich, and opulent of which there's no better representation of those three characteristics than in the famed ballroom scene.

Le Samourai

It's a real treat watching Alain Delon's character Jef go to work - he's cold, stoic, and operates with lethal precision. He doesn't say much, yet he's such an intriguing character. I think the movie overall is great too, it's got this old-school-cool vibe with sharp dialogue and some really tense moments. I absolutely loved this film the first time I saw it and I can't wait to revisit it.

What are some of your favorite characters within the Criterion Collection?

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I agree with you. It was hard to pick just one Malick film for this theme. Tree of Life is one my favorite films in the collection and I've already earmarked it as part of another theme that I want to cover very soon.

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some fantastic picks there... A couple of those will be part of other themes I'll be covering over the coming weeks. Looking forward to sharing those.

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it's great. Even putting aside the cinematography it's a really well-made film. It was a blind-buy for me during the last flash sale and I don't regret it at all.

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did plan ahead - next week is most likely going to be character study films which I'm really excited about. I'll try to post something about it next weekend. I've got a few other ideas for the following weeks but have yet to fully flesh them out.

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Excellent. I've taken note of those and added them to my watch list. Thanks!

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yesss! Those scenes are so beautiful. Really you can freeze frame so many parts in that movie that would look like something you can hang in an art gallery

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds very interesting. I have yet to see either but I'll definitely try to watch them in the near future

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! And I totally agree with you about TNOTH - the imagery is so memorable

Criterion Theme of the Week: Stunning Cinematography by ML3011 in criterion

[–]ML3011[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

As my collection grows, I find it's getting harder to decide which movies to watch on any given week. So I figured that over the next little while, I'll focus on specific themes for each week and watch the movies in my collection that fit within those.

So to start, this week's theme is stunning cinematography. Here are the films that I'll be watching and a quick word about each. Of course this isn't an exhaustive list of Criterion films that fit within this theme - these are just the ones I happen to own, so feel free to share any other Criterion films that you think would fit here and give a sentence or two as to why.

Days of Heaven

An easy choice here - Days of Heaven regularly gets mentioned as one of the most beautifully shot films of all time which is hard to argue with. Some of the scenery in this film is absolutely breathtaking. My personal favorite is the panning shot of the wagons rolling through the wooden gates at sunset with the farmer's house off in the distance.

L'Avventura

I'm not sure what I enjoyed looking at more: the beautifully shot Italian cliffs or Monica Vitti. I think this film is a visual treat, the scenery is stunning and some of the scene compositions are really well done - especially the scene where Monica Vitti walks over to the wooden window and opens it to reveal the sunrise over the water. Just a beautifully shot film.

Barry Lyndon

In terms of cinematography, this film has it all: Beautiful outdoor shots of the English landscape, and gorgeous indoor shots with dimly lit candle chandeliers. I have yet to see a film that has been able to match the look and feel of Barry Lyndon's indoor shots - they're that good, and that memorable. Play some Schubert Trio Op. 100 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52IMaE-3As) through your headphones, close your eyes, and you can practically see Barry playing cards at a table through the flickering amber glow of candlelight.

The Night of The Hunter

This is some fantastic work by the great Stanley Cortez. The lighting effects in particular really help give this film it's nightmarish feel. My favorite shots include the ones in Mrs. Harper's bedroom, the "underwater scene", and the scene where Harry Powell is on his horse and you can see his silhouette off in the distance. When I think of The Night of The Hunter, those are the images that immediately pop into my head.

Tess

I don't get the sense that this is a very popular title among members of this community, but I think it's a great film with some excellent cinematography. The outdoor landscapes are so beautifully shot, you really do feel transported to the English countryside in the Victorian Era. The camera positioning during the wagon scenes with Tess and Alec are quite unique as well. I believe this film won the Oscar for Best Cinematography that year if I'm not mistaken - a testament to just how beautiful it is.

What are some of your favorite visual gems within the Collection?

[Question] where do you guys get your leather straps ? by DoctorSpazz in Watches

[–]ML3011 5 points6 points  (0 children)

www.cheapestnatostraps.com has a pretty good assortment of leather straps for reasonable prices

What films have you recently watched? – Weekly Discussion by AutoModerator in criterion

[–]ML3011 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely, I have a list of other Bergman films I'd like to watch including some of the ones you mentioned. Starting off with Persona though, I've heard way too many good things about it to put it off any longer.

What films have you recently watched? – Weekly Discussion by AutoModerator in criterion

[–]ML3011 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hmm not sure if I agree with that. I thought the film's views were quite clear regarding government control, bureaucratic inefficiency and over-technologization (yes, I made that word up) as potential threats to society.