Comments for Robert Kowal

Comment on Falling in Love Again — Vertigo by John

John — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:26:20 +0000

You said:
We sit silently in the dark with strangers. We detach ourselves from the external world for a couple of hours and allow ourselves to be manipulated: to be told a story. Great cinema requires one to surrender oneself.

You talking about a very dangerous game. Not everybody has Hitchcock’s fairplay. Have you ever thought that someone could use the power of cinema to put you in the condition in which you see James Stewart in the asylum?

In the perspective of a pure manipulator, what is Vertigo’s defect, naiveness?
You don’t take Madeleine home with you.

And if the ghost became real for you, the spectator, after the end of the film?

Did you saw Malick’s The Tree of Life?
That’s nothing but Vertigo. See this:

http://reviewingtreeoflife.blogspot.com/

Comment on Anti-Cinema: Psycho and Elephant by momk

momk — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:44:20 +0000

You did it again! I hope the revival house theatre (and others) find the opportunity to see these wonderful reviews you write!.

Comment on Falling in Love Again — Vertigo by momk

momk — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:14:51 +0000

WONDERFUL. Again a wonderful report. Robert, this is your niche!!!!

Comment on Revisiting Hitchcock’s ROPE — the craft of the shot by Mary Robinette Kowal

Mary Robinette Kowal — Sun, 29 May 2011 08:46:13 +0000

“Cinema is not a succession of shots: it is a progression of shots. It can be the dozen long takes of Rope or the hundreds of shots from the most elaborate Bond chase but as the very basis of cinema, every cut should be made as deliberately as that of a surgeon cutting flesh.”

I found this surprisingly profound in that with only minor alterations it can apply to prose fiction as well.

Comment on From the Red River to the Red Planet on horseback by momk

momk — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:09:44 +0000

An other very fine film review and cogent opinion about cultural changes (decline). Keep up this course. You are exceptionally good at it.

As an aside, I was nearly expelled from High School for seeing that film. (It was rated a B movie). I still think it was a terrific movie!

Comment on Revisiting Hitchcock’s ROPE — the craft of the shot by momk

momk — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:36:38 +0000

wow! Really interesting and cogent commentary.

Comment on Time is running up by momk

momk — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:46:08 +0000

I have been puzzling for years about the word, “Glory“
and what exactly does it mean. I think that somehow it has to mean ‘ultimate reality’, or “how it really is”, or “TRUTH revealed”. So, if my definition be accurate, your OoGs might be Heaven!! Cheers.

Comment on Authenticity lost by momk

momk — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:01:29 +0000

A red state might heal the sinus condition, huh?
An arid sun bright place may be the answer.
Ohhhhoooo en-LIGHT-en-ment.

Comment on Singing and Dancing ourselves silly by momk

momk — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 05:26:24 +0000

I personally appreciate your 2nd note…“Hope and delusion are twins not easily distinguished”. Good point!

Comment on When words have weight by Rob

Rob — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:38:47 +0000

I’ve read some of Byrne’s work on bicycling but not about music and venue. Your comment reminds however of a quote from cinema sound designer/editor/director Walter Murch who advises, “record not the sound, but the space in which the sound occurs.”