A film is interesting to me if it's able to envoke thoughts that keep me busy for a while. It also has to make me want to think about it. Also, I was using the verb "saying" metaphorically.
That's interesting (pun intended), because OGF made me think about it. Made me think about the symbolism and its atmosphere. I couldn't forget the way it was made stylistically, but I didn't think about the substance that much. Honestly, as I said before I don't think about substance that much. You can say it means I'm ignorant or stupid, but for example Brakhage abstract films have no substance yet they invoke certain feelings in certain viewers. I'm far from saying they contain God himself in them, or something die-hard Brakhage fans imply, but I'd say these flickering colours, besides being eye-candies, have something interesting to them. Something abstract is like something you're not able to comprehend by usual means and you can only experience it in a transcendental way. To me an interesting film invokes good emotions that are hard to name and OGF did. Casablanca didn't.
That's perfectly possible, but I have also substantiated WHY I think others are better. You haven't.
I feel more connected to the characters and I like plot more.
Only God Forgives fails to deliver anything thoughtful, insightful or interesting AT ALL.
Why is a movie supposed to deliver any message? It can work purely on audiovisual level and invoke emotions.
There's a reason why Drive is considered a better movie.
I think I like OGF a little more.
That film actually has something interesting to it content-wise
Just as with OGF, Drive has a very minimalistic plot. It's about a modern day hero who helps a woman. That's not much. The main pros of Drive are music, visuals and its vibe. Same with OGF. The same "style over substance" movie as some would call it.
Sure, a good plot isn't the only way to transfer substance, you're right about that, but there does have to be substance for me in order make me actually feel something.
And here's the main difference between us. I don't need substance to feel something. OGF has substance. Maybe not much, but it still does, but even if it didn't if the movie speaks to me on audiovisual level it's enough for me. It's just like with paintings. I can contemplate a painting not being aware what all the stuff on it stands for, but still enjoy looking at it. Then I can think about the symbolism and interpret it my way.
Casablanca is just your usual movie? That's probably why it's still widely considered one of the best films ever made, 70 years after it first came out.
Both Drive and OGF will be considered classics in 70 years. Then again, the sheer fact that a movie is considered a classic doesn't say anything about its quality. And what is 'the best movie ever made' more than an opinion?
Only God Forgives is a great piece of atmospheric cinema? In some parts certainly, but it fails to be consistent in its atmospheric qualities.
In my opinion it does not fail.
It's just not a very good film and there's nothing wrong with pointing that out.
I could say that Casablanca is only a decent film and there's nothing wrong with pointing that out. The thing is that, besides pissing you off, what I said is my opinion, because I perceive art in other way than you do.
I really think it's you who is shutting your eyes for the brilliance certain seemingly conventional films can contain (in this case, Casablanca
I'm not shutting my eyes for brilliance of White Heat, It's a Wonderful Life, Double Indemnity, The Maltese Falcon, or Rope, because in my eyes these films are brilliant and Casablanca is not. You can't love eveything, but I still have a very diverse taste and love almost every kind of movies. PS: I remembered that I rated Hitchcock's Notorious
as well, but I'm not gonna say it. Don't want to piss you out. Oh, wait. I just said it!
It's not me who's hating on films that are unconventional. I love plenty of films that more conservative viewers would hate, but
Only God Forgives is just not a very good effort and a very large amount of people agrees with me. You're trying to make this some kind of argument for a certain way of telling a story, but it's not. It's really about this particular film.
Firstly, I'm not hating on Casablanca. I rate it
which means a decent film. Secondly, I'd love to know what these films are. Thirdly, the fact that a lot of people dislike it means nothing. Judging by IMDB the majority of people thinks The Shawshank Redemption is the best movie ever made, but neither of us agree, do we? Then if it's for this certain film. OGF uses visuals to tell a minimalistic story. That's it. I love it, you don't.
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