ZFIMA1. [Past] Directors: An Oeuvre InCompleat: Steven Soderbergh
Submitted by dgeiser13 on Tue, 08/06/2002 - 08:48
Tags:
- King of the Hill (1993)
- Traffic (2000)
- Out of Sight (1998)
- The Limey (1999)
- Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
- Erin Brockovich (2000)
- Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- Kafka (1991)
- Underneath (1995)
Well, you know what I'm going to say - Traffic is entirely too high up on this list. The clumsy preachy 'message' film over the intimate sex, lies, and videotape? The stylish, career-reviving Out of Sight?
Ah, well...
Any plans on seeing Schizopolis?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Actually, I didn't know you were going to say that. How would I?
If this list was ordered in terms of favorite films I think Out Of Sight would easily top it. It is my favorite Soderbergh film. As far as Sex, Lies and Videotape goes I only saw it once back around the time it was released and I think it was a little too slow moving for my tastes at that time so I've never been inclined to watch it again. But that was back when my movie tastes weren't as refined. Perhaps with a rewatch I would rate it higher.
You probably say this somewhere else, but I can't remember. If this list is not ordered by "favorites", what is it ordered by?
Well, that's a tough question. A favorite film, for me, is typically a film that I like to watch over and over. I can give a film a high rating, realizing the craftsmanship, cutting-edgedness, etc., but not be particularly interested in seeing it again. I can also watch many 5 and 6 star (and possibly some 4s) repeatedly just because I enjoy watching the movie alot.
For example, on this list, I think King of the Hill is the Soderbergh that made the biggest impression on me. After I finished I watching I was thinking "Wow, that was a really good well-made movie!" But it's not really the type of movie that I like to watch repeatedly so I wouldn't consider it a favorite. Most Soderbergh films I wouldn't classify as favorites. In fact Out of Sight is probably the only one that falls in that category.
In my lists when I'm listing Favorites I always try to put the word "Favorite" in the title. It's just a quirk of mine.
In the case of these directors lists, and in fact probably almost all of the my other movie lists in which I don't use the term "favorite", I'm trying not to judge from a personal/emotional/visceral reaction but instead I'm simply applying My Ratings System. I think this gives a better guidepost for people who don't have the same tastes as me on how "truly" good a film is.
I, also, think it helps me not to get too bothered when someone criticizes my lists. It tends to make not to wish defend myself as much.
And weirdly enough it applies to both my "favorites" and my impartial ratings. In the case of a favorite I'm just saying here's the movies I like, if you have the same tastes as me you might like them, too. If someone doesn't agree it's just a matter of taste. In the case of "impartial" ratings, I'm just saying, hey from what I saw on the screen this is how good I thought this movie was. If you don't agree that's OK with me. I was just doing my best to judge it impartially.
I think favorites are for the "movie lover" in me and impartial ratings are for the "critic" in me. I can always tell movies that are favorites because they make me forget to be impartial. :-)
I realize that all of this is treading a pretty fine line and that there's really no way to properly divorce my personal feelings but I try anyhow. Who knows, maybe it doesn't work as well as I think it does.
That makes sense. And you've reminded me that I really should clarify my "recommended" lists to make that distinction. They are highly driven by personal preference rather than artistic merit, so I'm sure there are at least a booby-traps on each of those lists for anyone that doesn't realize how personal they are.
Out of Sight is my favorite Soderbergh as well, although I liked Erin Brokovich quite a bit too. I find Soderbergh fairly consistently good, although I haven't seen the maligned Full Frontal yet.