[dissention]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Now this is what I'm talking about it. I understand what you're saying. I do (at least now). I do seek out Von Trier's films. I like his style of filmmaking. I don't generally like his films though, but I like what he's doing with the technique of filmmaking. Does that make sense? He challenges his audiences, which is always a good thing.

Yes, it makes sense. I'm the opposite, though, because I usually love his movies. They're truly enthralling to me (with the exception of The Idiots, I could not get into that at all) and amongst the most unique I've ever seen, both in theme and execution. They are an acquired taste, I imagine, because they're quite extreme and somewhat brutal.

Originally Posted by Richard B

I think their are American filmmakers that do push the boundaries, so to speak. For instance, Gus Van Sant and to a lesser degree, Stanley Kubrick.

I agree to an extent, but I think the key difference (for the most part, mind you) between them and Von Trier is that their movies are more cerebral, whereas Von Trier literally beats you over the head with what he's trying to say in his films; he doesn't leave much to the imagination. With something like Eyes Wide Shut, you had to think about what you were watching in order to realize how utterly disturbing it is, which is unlike a Von Trier movie that essentially brings those elements front and center without much room to wiggle in your final interpretation of what you've seen. That's what I think makes his movies so unusual and off-putting. I hope that makes a little bit of sense.

Originally Posted by Richard B

I guess, Diss, sometimes I get rather annoyed that some people are so quick to put down American film and filmmakers in such a way. Being in the "industry' myself I struggle with it too. I can generally list my favorite filmmakers that I would want to work with and in that Top 10, most are abroad. But I still think their are some fine American filmmakers that work as hard to be heard just as much as Von Triers and other non-american filmmakers that push the boundaries of cinema.

I think there are plenty of fabulous American filmmakers who bring a lot to the table, too, it's just that the general output over the past few years has left me quite cold when compared to the output of many foreign filmmakers. Even people whose work I love have just been grasping in the air for decent ideas lately (i.e. Todd Solondz's "Palindromes") and the general attitude that I've observed becoming even more prevalent than before is that because a movie is outside the norm and non-commercial, then it automatically has some merit. I think that's true with a lot of stuff when it's good, like Miranda July's "You and Me and Everyone We Know" and Larry Fessenden's "Wendigo," but that kind of stuff has become harder to find in recent years, imo. I'm disenchanted with a lot of American filmmaking. That isn't to say that I don't enjoy the movies (I admit to loving Flightplan), but my passion for American movies has waned a bit. The seventies are done and over with, but I sure wish the state of filmmaking from back then was still here today.

Originally Posted by Richard B

I hope I make sense. It's a topic that I wish I could actually discuss with you in person, since it is so dense with opinion and thought.

You make sense, no worries. I love to talk movies, so I could go on and on for ages.