Muse by Craig Ranapia

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Muse: Film Socialism (or, How You'll Learn To Stop Worrying And Love Your Local Film Society)

24 Responses

  • Russell Brown,

    Nice. Looks like half my family is heading your way this evening. Feel free to engage Jimmy in talk about film. He is perceptive.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I really, really miss Film Society (the kidlet put paid to my membership) and it's a fantastic bargain. Join, you bastards! (Or don't. I don't want to get all up in your respective grills. But it's awesome.)

    In fact, the trifecta of The Shop Around the Corner, Viaggio in Italia AND my favourite movie of all time, Singin' in the Rain on the big screen, might be enough to make me find a babysitter later in the year. Save a $30 sampler card for me...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    my favourite movie of all time, Singin’ in the Rain on the big screen

    If only that one song was half its length...

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    I am confused. You want the entire film to be twice as long as the song 'Singin' in the Rain', which would make the film very short? Or you want the giant end number of fabulousness to be chopped in half, which would make the film... somewhat shorter?

    Either way, you are 100% wrong. :)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I hereby grant Danielle full power of attorney to represent me in this conversation.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Nice. Looks like half my family is heading your way this evening. Feel free to engage Jimmy in talk about film. He is perceptive.

    Yay! Let's just hope he doesn't take Mme. Huppert as a role model, or things could get dreadfully tense -- scowling, aggressive smoking, rough sex and homicide all over the show.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Venetia King,

    Another reason: I'm not sure about other centres but as far as I'm aware all the cinemas in Wellington give student concession prices on presentation of a current Film Society membership card. I think that's awesome :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 117 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Venetia King,

    Venetia:

    Thanks you for catching some errors that survived the third proof-reading (honest). If I'm going to keep crowd-sourcing the editorial work like this, I've got to score some prizes.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Or you want the giant end number of fabulousness to be chopped in half, which would make the film… somewhat shorter?

    The one with the doors. Whatever that one is, it's far too long.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    ...and we are getting a very rare screening of my favourite New Zealand film, Illustrious Energy

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    See, I think we should get a group of PASers to go to one of these films, so that you can all explain to me what the fuck is going on. I have decided, after much intellectual exercise, that I am becoming distinctly anti-intellectual, and have been for some time. Although I am going to the Spiegeltent on Thursday to an Arts Festival offering. Does that count?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    also film society do discounts on membership for beneficiaries which is so amazingly wonderful it is wonderfulness itself.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    The one with the doors. Whatever that one is, it’s far too long.

    'Broadway Melody'? With (the late and glorious) Cyd Charisse? And her *legs*?

    Well, there's nowt so queer as folk.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Illustrious Energy

    Leon Narbey has a wonderful eye

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    I am becoming distinctly anti-intellectual

    though you still have a way to go before qualfiying as a member of the current cabinet

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Sacha,

    Oh, I'm not anti people who are intellectual, I just always thought I was intellectual, but since hanging around with you lot, I have discovered that actually? I'm pretty average. Happy to be so, but.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't have the numbers to hand, but it looks like the AFS had one of -- if not the -- best attended opening nights in years. Isabelle Huppert, je t'aime.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Morrison,

    Pomme eating her apples. She was knowledgeable from the start. So the downfall happens not because of but despite knowledge.

    I'm not convinced by the ending. But it's a very French condemnation of the bourgeoisie.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Laura Vincent,

    Danielle, I am so heartily in agreement with you about Singin' In The Rain. A full membership, while desirable, wouldn't be so practical right now but the sampler option sounds like a fantastic way to see this beautiful film on a massive screen.

    And yeah, it is long, but at least the dream ballet is one of the most engaging and purposeful of its kind (don't get me started on the one in Oklahoma :/)

    Wellington • Since Mar 2011 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    Russian Ark is just incredible. You just can't help watching in the manner of a small child, expecting that any moment the camera is going to take some dreadful pratfal, or that they're going to trick you and insert an edit somewhere. So you sit with your senses heightened, paying more frame-by-frame attention than you'd normally be prepared to invest, and you're rewarded with something akin to a ride on a roller coaster.

    But a big, sumptuous, sparkly roller coaster on which everyone is drinking vodka and/or champagne and looking gorgeous. And when it ends you want to go again, because then you know what's coming and you can stop sitting there like a particularly hypervigilant meerkat and can enjoy the ride.

    Or that maybe just me.

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rex Widerstrom,

    Or that maybe just me.

    No, it’s not just you. Another quite subtle thing you don’t notice unless it’s done badly (and is near perfect in Russian Ark ) is just blocking scenes with hundreds of extras. The wonderful final sequence, with the camera smoothly drifting down the grand staircase, this crush of people seamlessly parting and closing around the camera. Awe inspiring.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    [documentaries featuring] Hitler and horny wildlife

    Triumph of the Wildebeest?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I don’t have the numbers to hand, but it looks like the AFS had one of – if not the – best attended opening nights in years. Isabelle Huppert, je t’aime.

    I do have the numbers for the Wellington Film Sociey:

    “Well, we’ve got off to a good start for the year, with GET LOW attracting an audience of 256, and THE LACEMAKER 243. The number of new members is also very satisfying, obviously attracted by our very strong programme…”

    From the WFS newsletter, so that sounds promising.

    (I missed Get Low, which I regret after reading Dan Slevin’s review in Cap Times. I caught Lacemaker, and that was excellent.)

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Triumph of the Wildebeest?

    I have a horrible feeling there's a whole channel on Sky dedicated to precisely that...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

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