Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

you know how it is, every director has mediocre flicks on their resume......

I've never seen WILD BILL but always heard it was bad.... Last Man Standing is a decent but thoroughly routine action flick....

Objectivity is not something I lack and Last Man Standing is horrible...it's bad enough that Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollars exist to smite it, but Miller's Crossing is just the coup de grâce.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by mja345

What's frustrating is that the film has an excellent cast and a quality director, but it just never clicks for me. It's certainly Hill at his most experimental stylistically, but lacks the impact of many of his better films IMO.

It didn't click for me first time at all, but it worked surprisingly well on a second viewing. Part of the problem is with that cast and the way the trailer sold it leads you to expect a completely different kind of film to the one Hill made (and the amount of time it spent in post-production Hell implies the studio tried to turn it into a more conventional film before giving up). I think it's the kind of film that's inevitably disappointing on a first viewing but becomes rather intriguing second time round with no expectations.

I'd still take it over Last Man Standing because at least it doesn't have wall-to-wall narration which felt like it was added by nervous studio execs who were uncomfortable with long stretches without any direct dialogue after bad preview screenings.

Side note: 15 years of inflation is certainly a factor, but it's bizarre to think that MGM/UA spent only $6m or so less on it than they did on their previous western that co-starred Jeff Bridges and John Hurt, Heaven's Gate, and actually grossed even less. Those guys must have been gluttons for punishment.

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

PLAY DIRTY - I was just thinking to myself this would make a great TT release -- the UK BD was cheap and all, though it ain't exactly a looker, if you know what I mean (middling MGM master) but at least I can FINALLY own a copy on blu-ray without the hinky compression!

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Aclea

It didn't click for me first time at all, but it worked surprisingly well on a second viewing. Part of the problem is with that cast and the way the trailer sold it leads you to expect a completely different kind of film to the one Hill made (and the amount of time it spent in post-production Hell implies the studio tried to turn it into a more conventional film before giving up). I think it's the kind of film that's inevitably disappointing on a first viewing but becomes rather intriguing second time round with no expectations.

I'd still take it over Last Man Standing because at least it doesn't have wall-to-wall narration which felt like it was added by nervous studio execs who were uncomfortable with long stretches without any direct dialogue after bad preview screenings.

Side note: 15 years of inflation is certainly a factor, but it's bizarre to think that MGM/UA spent only $6m or so less on it than they did on their previous western that co-starred Jeff Bridges and John Hurt, Heaven's Gate, and actually grossed even less. Those guys must have been gluttons for punishment.

Interesting take as usual, Aclea. I'll have to check it out a second time on my DVD. I think Hill was growing restless in the mid-90s and wanted to make something very different from his usual films. It's certainly not uninteresting, but it left me cold on initial viewing.

[MJD64]

I think the actors make Wild Bill more than watchable in a film that lacks real dramatic narrative and drive. Geronimo is even better. Last Man Standing has some decent shoot-outs but is pretty draggy overall. Amazon Prime members can currently see The Assignment for a real bottom-scraping Hill film; How the mighty have fallen.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Aclea

It didn't click for me first time at all, but it worked surprisingly well on a second viewing. Part of the problem is with that cast and the way the trailer sold it leads you to expect a completely different kind of film to the one Hill made (and the amount of time it spent in post-production Hell implies the studio tried to turn it into a more conventional film before giving up). I think it's the kind of film that's inevitably disappointing on a first viewing but becomes rather intriguing second time round with no expectations.

I'd still take it over Last Man Standing because at least it doesn't have wall-to-wall narration which felt like it was added by nervous studio execs who were uncomfortable with long stretches without any direct dialogue after bad preview screenings.

Side note: 15 years of inflation is certainly a factor, but it's bizarre to think that MGM/UA spent only $6m or so less on it than they did on their previous western that co-starred Jeff Bridges and John Hurt, Heaven's Gate, and actually grossed even less. Those guys must have been gluttons for punishment.

Yeah I may have to give it a second try too even though it was only a few years ago since I first saw it. I haven't seen any of Hill's films past Last Man Standing yet except Undisputed which I remember not liking either but have heard by a lot of others that its a solid action film so I'll have to give that one another go as well. The only film I didn't like of Hill's before Wild Bill was Johnny Handsome. I also need to see Geronimo still as well

[oildude]

Pre-order date: Wednesday, August 2nd at 4 pm EST

Special Features: Isolated Music & Effects Track / Original Theatrical Trailer

[Page14]

Originally Posted by oildude

Pre-order date: Wednesday, August 2nd at 4 pm EST

[Show spoiler]

Hello!

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by oildude

Pre-order date: Wednesday, August 2nd at 4 pm EST

[Show spoiler]http://i.imgur.com/nvbyBPt.jpg

Very tantalizing cover but it has next to nothing to do with the movie and the "supplements" (I use that term disparagingly) are your standard meager helping.

Not worth upgrading.

[baheidstu]

Posted on Facebook:


A LIMITED 10 DAY SALE FROM TWILIGHT TIME! Sales starts today,
Sunday July 16th at 4pm Eastern and ends Wednesday July 26th at
Midnight Eastern. Please note the below titles with their
appropriate price bracket, only the below titles are on
sale for their noted pricing.

$24.95

YOU’LL NEVER GET RICH
YEAR OF THE COMET
BABY BOOM
ANOTHER WOMAN
THE QUIET AMERICAN

$19.95

STANLEY & IRIS
KISS OF DEATH
INTERIORS
CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER
THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA
HARLOCK SPACE PIRATE
THE BULLET TRAIN
BOXCAR BERTHA
LOVE AND DEATH
STARDUST MEMORIES

$14.95

RADIO DAYS
VIOLENT SATURDAY
THE KILLER ELITE
THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI
FLAMING STAR
THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO
U TURN
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S SEX COMEDY
SCORPIO
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY

$9.95

TITUS
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS
THE RUSSIA HOUSE
CHATO’S LAND
LA MOGLIE PIU BELLA

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

I also need to see Geronimo still as well

I'm a big fan of Geronimo, and it's a title that could do with a decent widescreen release (with their love of Hill's films it would be a perfect fit fot Twilight Time, though Hill has spoken about wanting to do a longer director's cut), but there's a lot wrong with it that makes it fall short of greatness. For a start, there's far too little of the magnificent Wes Studi and far too much of the unconvincingly one-note (and an off-key note at that) Jason Patric and a milquetoast Matt Damon when we want to spend more time with Geronimo. As John Milius said, "I wrote a script about a mighty warrior chief. They made a film about a ***king white male model." Not to mention film critic Larry Gross' rewrite is overly partial to other movies, particularly The Magnificent Seven and Alan Sharp's script for Ulzana's Raid. And, like all historical manhunt movies, it winds down as attrition wins over courage. Yet despite its flaws it's still one of the most impressive American Westerns of the past few decades.

Geronimo may be sidelined for much of the picture, but when Wes Studi is allowed centerstage, he burns with the intensity of a supernova in a performance at once ferocious yet controlled, giving a sense not just of the rage and calculated violence but of the sadness that drives it. He's a proud man, but also a constantly disappointed one. When he's on screen, everyone else might as well not be there. When he isn't, Gene Hackman's General Crook and Robert Duvall's tracker Al Sieber provide enough believable old-school professionalism to compensate for Patric and Damon.

Then there's the film's extraordinary visual sense. Unlike most modern films (including Wild Bill) it really embraces the landscape and isn't afraid of strikingly composed extreme long shots to give a real sense of scale to the picture. Ry Cooder's score, a mixture of sparse and plaintiff Native American airs and lightly ragged American hymnals, is another major feather in its cap: on paper it sounds like cliché, but put to picture it's absolutely right.

It's perhaps easy to see why it flopped: it's a tragic story without any winners, only losers and the action scenes are often more brutal lightening strikes than enjoyable action setpieces. But it's certainly a film well worth rediscovering even if it's better seen on the big screen than the small one.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Aclea

I'm a big fan of Geronimo, and it's a title that could do with a decent widescreen release (with their love of Hill's films it would be a perfect fit fot Twilight Time, though Hill has spoken about wanting to do a longer director's cut), but there's a lot wrong with it that makes it fall short of greatness. For a start, there's far too little of the magnificent Wes Studi and far too much of the unconvincingly one-note (and an off-key note at that) Jason Patric and a milquetoast Matt Damon when we want to spend more time with Geronimo. As John Milius said, "I wrote a script about a mighty warrior chief. They made a film about a ***king white male model." Not to mention film critic Larry Gross' rewrite is overly partial to other movies, particularly The Magnificent Seven and Alan Sharp's script for Ulzana's Raid. And, like all historical manhunt movies, it winds down as attrition wins over courage. Yet despite its flaws it's still one of the most impressive American Westerns of the past few decades.

Geronimo may be sidelined for much of the picture, but when Wes Studi is allowed centerstage, he burns with the intensity of a supernova in a performance at once ferocious yet controlled, giving a sense not just of the rage and calculated violence but of the sadness that drives it. He's a proud man, but also a constantly disappointed one. When he's on screen, everyone else might as well not be there. When he isn't, Gene Hackman's General Crook and Robert Duvall's tracker Al Sieber provide enough believable old-school professionalism to compensate for Patric and Damon.

Then there's the film's extraordinary visual sense. Unlike most modern films (including Wild Bill) it really embraces the landscape and isn't afraid of strikingly composed extreme long shots to give a real sense of scale to the picture. Ry Cooder's score, a mixture of sparse and plaintiff Native American airs and lightly ragged American hymnals, is another major feather in its cap: on paper it sounds like cliché, but put to picture it's absolutely right.

It's perhaps easy to see why it flopped: it's a tragic story without any winners, only losers and the action scenes are often more brutal lightening strikes than enjoyable action setpieces. But it's certainly a film well worth rediscovering even if it's better seen on the big screen than the small one.

Nice! Sounds pretty interesting and I had no idea Hackman and Duvall were in it! Two of my favorite actors. I'll definitely be getting on the ball with checking this one out. I love Ry Cooder's Walter Hill scores with Trespass being my favorite. It's so strange how Wild Bill failed since Hill is one of my all time favorite directors and Jeff Bridges is one of my all time favorite actors along with Hill's love for Westerns. Hopefully I'll feel differently about it on a rewatch.

[Twilight Time]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

Posted on Facebook:


A LIMITED 10 DAY SALE FROM TWILIGHT TIME! Sales starts today,
Sunday July 16th at 4pm Eastern and ends Wednesday July 26th at
Midnight Eastern. Please note the below titles with their
appropriate price bracket, only the below titles are on
sale for their noted pricing.

$24.95

YOU’LL NEVER GET RICH
YEAR OF THE COMET
BABY BOOM
ANOTHER WOMAN
THE QUIET AMERICAN

$19.95

STANLEY & IRIS
KISS OF DEATH
INTERIORS
CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER
THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA
HARLOCK SPACE PIRATE
THE BULLET TRAIN
BOXCAR BERTHA
LOVE AND DEATH
STARDUST MEMORIES

$14.95

RADIO DAYS
VIOLENT SATURDAY
THE KILLER ELITE
THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI
FLAMING STAR
THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO
U TURN
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S SEX COMEDY
SCORPIO
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY

$9.95

TITUS
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS
THE RUSSIA HOUSE
CHATO’S LAND
LA MOGLIE PIU BELLA

This 10 day sale starts today and is only at http://www.screenarchives.com

[noirjunkie]

I'm still waiting on price drops for Miss Sadie Thompson and The Mad Magician.

Also, I hope the shipping debacle from the last sale doesn't get repeated this time around.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

I'm still waiting on price drops for Miss Sadie Thompson and The Mad Magician.

Also, I hope the shipping debacle from the last sale doesn't get repeated this time around.

If you're referring to the duplicate orders, this appears to be a Screen Archives sale only so there shouldn't be those same issues.

[RalphoR]

I just watched Journey to the Center of the Earth for the first time on my 4k tv with my new 4k player. What an absolutely amazing picture. It will always be a top five TT release for me but in presentation it's moved up to #1.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

Also, I hope the shipping debacle from the last sale doesn't get repeated this time around.

They changed fulfillment companies so in theory it shouldn't happen again.

[StingingVelvet]

Kinda want Wild Bill because of Walter Hill but not at $35. Play Dirty sounds cool, will watch some trailers.

[nashcameronn]

Definitely interested in Play Dirty. Big Walter Hill fan but haven't seen Wild Bill. All you guys talking about how bad it is, I'll probably pass. Especially for the price. Maybe I'll come across it on DVD for a few bucks.

[SMB1982]

I just heard about TT releases 8 heads in a duffel bag and I was really excited until I see that it has nothing for special features. I've bought titles from TT before but those were titles that yes even though they were expensive, it was justified because they included special features and gave you something extra for the money you were spending. You seriously can't expect consumers to just buy your product without putting some effort in and putting together something, even if it's a commentary. You need to make it worth people's time and hard earned money and it's a real shame that TT can't at least try to even a small extent.