Controversial Cinema-Related Opinions

[BRoswell]

i have never seen a gaspar noe film, and i will never see one. i have read the synopses of all of them, i've read articles and reviews about them, and for the life of me, i cannot understand why anyone would subject themselves to such horrific films. i feel like there's nothing redeeming in them. no likable characters, no good stories, no true message of any kind. i know that the visuals in his newer films are supposed to be stunning, but aside from that, i can't think of a good reason to watch his work.

Stories aren't always about likable characters and redemption and "the message" though. If that's all you're interested in, cool, but that's only a portion of the stories that can be told. I haven't liked every film Noe has done, but I respect that he's not interested in black and white, good guys and bad guys storytelling. I'm not opposed to that kind of storytelling, but it's not something I can solely subsist on. After a while, that sort of thing starts to feel fake. As wild as his films can be, they're incredibly grounded in human behavior and the choices/mistakes people make.

And reality is way more horrific than anything in his films.

[eversonpoe]

Stories aren't always about likable characters and redemption and "the message" though. If that's all you're interested in, cool, but that's only a portion of the stories that can be told. I haven't liked every film Noe has done, but I respect that he's not interested in black and white, good guys and bad guys storytelling. I'm not opposed to that kind of storytelling, but it's not something I can solely subsist on. After a while, that sort of thing starts to feel fake. As wild as his films can be, they're incredibly grounded in human behavior and the choices/mistakes people make.

And reality is way more horrific than anything in his films.

i don't think that's quite what i meant...i'm fine with provocation, fine with studies of human behavior, and i'm fine with a lack of black & white / good people & bad people. i'm also more than fine with discomfort & heavy subject matter. i'm a huge david lynch fan, my favorite show is hannibal, and i've read plenty of books that are along the lines of what we're talking about. but something about noe's films (from what i have gleaned) makes me extremely uncomfortable, but not in an intriguing way, just in a way that makes me feel disgusted.

[BRoswell]

i don't think that's quite what i meant...i'm fine with provocation, fine with studies of human behavior, and i'm fine with a lack of black & white / good people & bad people. i'm also more than fine with discomfort & heavy subject matter. i'm a huge david lynch fan, my favorite show is hannibal, and i've read plenty of books that are along the lines of what we're talking about. but something about noe's films (from what i have gleaned) makes me extremely uncomfortable, but not in an intriguing way, just in a way that makes me feel disgusted.

If you're into all that, then I don't really see why his films would be so hard to stomach.

[eversonpoe]

If you're into all that, then I don't really see why his films would be so hard to stomach.

right? idunno.

anyway, no judgement at all on anyone who enjoys (is that the right word?) his films! glad we got to discuss this a bit because i don't know anyone in real life who has seen any of his work.