The Illusionist ( 2006 )

[Stephen DeMay]

Every once i n a while a film comes along that is unusual, well played and well written. This is one of them . Ed Norton is not an actor I've admired, too much of the non-acting type performances, but here as a wispy, mysterious illusionist who may be something more ( the film sort of plays it both ways, but I can accept that ) he comes over just right. Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me ) is even more impressive as a Perot like police inspector stuck with trying to figure out if Norton's activities might be subversive to the 19th century monarch in a centraL European ? nation. The two play an elegantly expressed game of what's going on here ? with an ending that is not a let down.
A film that can be seen several times as it has a lot to give. Low key, high quality all the way. 9-/10

[moviePig]

On 11/15/2017 1:37 PM, super70s wrote:
> In article <90239e18-9c0c-4709...@googlegroups.com>,

> Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:
>
>> Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )
>

> I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
> own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
> so bad).
>
> The other night I watched him again in Sideways, an Alexander Payne film
> that's a joy to watch every time and is probably his signature film
> (also probably the definitive wine aficionado's movie).

I might've said 'John Adams', but either works...

--

- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com

[Neill Massello]

super70s <supe...@super70s.invalid> wrote:

> In article <90239e18-9c0c-4709...@googlegroups.com>,
> Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:
>

> > Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )
>

> I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
> own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
> so bad).

You must make allowances: it's DeMay. I'm just wondering if a "Perot
like police inspector" makes giant sucking sounds.

[Stephen DeMay]

write a better short review on the film or suck my dick

[Adam H. Kerman]

moviePig <pwal...@moviepig.com> wrote:
>On 11/15/2017 1:37 PM, super70s wrote:
>>Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:

>>>Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )

>>I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
>>own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
>>so bad).

>>The other night I watched him again in Sideways, an Alexander Payne film
>>that's a joy to watch every time and is probably his signature film
>>(also probably the definitive wine aficionado's movie).

>I might've said 'John Adams', but either works...

Of course you would have called his best-liked television performance
in a series in which he starred his signature film performance, because
no clear cut statement made in English by someone else can be allowed
to stand without comment from you, without your assault upon language
with gibberish.

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 6:10:11 PM UTC-5, Stephen DeMay wrote:

> write a better short review on the film or suck my dick

No, you're thinking of trotsky. It's all he dreams about.

[Stephen DeMay]

All this geezer can do is play the idiot, why no more reviews gramps ? You've taken it up the ass here so many times you should change your name to holey man

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 6:50:58 PM UTC-5, Stephen DeMay wrote:

> All this geezer can do is play the idiot, why no more reviews gramps ? You've taken it up the ass here so many times you should change your name to holey man

The truth comes out. You're another racist, homophobe, shaking his fist at the sky and claiming his greatness. What a pathetic joke. You're in an abandoned back water of the internets and you actually think you have an audience. You and trotsky should get a room.

[Stephen DeMay]

and you pretend to be film savvy when you've never done anything to support this view...but that's not news here

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 7:02:34 PM UTC-5, Stephen DeMay wrote:
>
> and you pretend to be film savvy when you've never done anything to support this view...but that's not news here

If you come out of the closet, you'll probably feel better about yourself and might stop posting your frustrations hidden in your amateur rants.

[Stephen DeMay]

Yet he reads everything I post and tries to start trouble at any opportunity. You are the poster geezer for internet odd balls. Are you posting " every day " on facebook ? As if anyone gave a hoot.

[TT]

My impression of DeMay is that he actively tries to bully other posters
and drive them away... I think he wants to be the only poster here so he
can pretend on having an appreciative audience to his 'reviews'.

In any case, pretty aggressive and antisocial poster. Can't take any
criticism and thinks highly of himself for no obvious reason.

[Stephen DeMay]

as Red Skelton might say, " Do tell "

[TT]

super70s kirjoitti 15.11.2017 klo 20:37:
> In article <90239e18-9c0c-4709...@googlegroups.com>,
> Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:
>

>> Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )
>

> I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
> own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
> so bad).
>

I've rated 18 films at IMDB starring Giamatti (haven't seen The
Illusionist) ... certainly a well known actor.

> The other night I watched him again in Sideways, an Alexander Payne film
> that's a joy to watch every time and is probably his signature film
> (also probably the definitive wine aficionado's movie).
>

Yes, Sideways is his signature film. Probably "American Splendor (2003)"
as well, which I haven't seen yet but notice it a lot on many best of
2000s film lists... and thus will inevitably watch it at some point.

Stars normally in supporting roles including some pretty big films such
as 12 Years a Slave, Cinderella Man, Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan etc...

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 9:17:34 PM UTC-5, Stephen DeMay wrote:
>
> Yet he reads everything I post and tries to start trouble at any opportunity. You are the poster geezer for internet odd balls. Are you posting " every day " on facebook ? As if anyone gave a hoot.

I can't get through your angry and illiterate posts. Yes, just about every day on FB and thousands give a hoot. You got nobody and need to be an asshole to get a reaction. You're a nasty old fart stuck in polyester pants.

[Stephen DeMay]

thousands ? why not countless millions ? You're unable to put up headers here for fear of getting your just desserts. Keep to CF ; that's your level

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 12:46:37 AM UTC-5, Stephen DeMay wrote:

> thousands ? why not countless millions ? You're unable to put up headers here for fear of getting your just desserts. Keep to CF ; that's your level

That's so weak. Looking for a fight? You're better off flirting with trotsky.

[trotsky]

Worst. Troll. Ever. There are Russians that haven't even learned
English yet that are better trolls than you.

[trotsky]

You have him pegged perfectly so let the whining commence!

[trotsky]

As if on cue...

[trotsky]

On 11/15/17 12:37 PM, super70s wrote:
> In article <90239e18-9c0c-4709...@googlegroups.com>,
> Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:
>

>> Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )
>

> I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
> own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
> so bad).

He's still pretty hot in that he stars in a high profile series,
"Billions", for Showtime.

[trotsky]

You're signal to noise ratio is hovering right around zero these days,
wee willy. Get your shit together and try and discuss movies.

[Michael OConnor]

> I've rated 18 films at IMDB starring Giamatti (haven't seen The
> Illusionist) ... certainly a well known actor.
>
> > The other night I watched him again in Sideways, an Alexander Payne film
> > that's a joy to watch every time and is probably his signature film
> > (also probably the definitive wine aficionado's movie).
> >
>
> Yes, Sideways is his signature film. Probably "American Splendor (2003)"
> as well, which I haven't seen yet but notice it a lot on many best of
> 2000s film lists... and thus will inevitably watch it at some point.

Paul Giamatti is a great actor. The first movie I saw him in was the Howard Stern movie "Private Parts" and I thought Giamatti stole the movie; I knew at that time he was going to have an impressive career in acting.

I didn't care for Sideways so much, but think American Splendor is his signature film and John Adams probably his signature work. He probably deserved an Oscar nomination for his role in American Splendor, and with all the nominations Sideways got, it is surprising he didn't get nominated for that one either. In fact, his only Oscar nomination was a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Cinderella Man.

Giamatti is 50 years old, and I think he is one of those actors who as he ages is going to have a long career ahead of him playing crusty old curmudgeonly characters not unlike Walter Matthau and others did before him.

[wlah...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7:06:26 PM UTC-5, Michael OConnor wrote:

> Paul Giamatti is a great actor.

Check out Win Win, a little movie where Giamatti gets to places where he usually isn't allowed.

[Michael OConnor]

> He's still pretty hot in that he stars in a high profile series,
> "Billions", for Showtime.

I've watched a few episodes of "Billions" and it is a very good series.

Looking thru Giamatti's upcoming projects on IMDB, I wasn't aware of this one:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4602066/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1

I read "The Catcher is a Spy" over 20 years ago, and never thought a movie about the story of Moe Berg could be made because it was too much like Forrest Gump in that one person could not possibly do all these things, but this really happened. Moe Berg was a journeyman catcher who played Major League baseball in the 1920's and 30's, but also spoke 15 different languages, and was quite possibly the most intelligent man in America. His circle of friends included the likes of Albert Einstein and Joe DiMaggio, and his interests included an thorough understanding of nuclear physics. This caught the attention of the US Government, who recruited Berg to do intelligence work for them in the 1930's and 40's, often while Berg was on Major League All-Star teams travelling the world during the baseball off-season.

Paul Rudd is playing Moe Berg, and Giamatti plays a supporting role. The movie is in post production.

I believe this is Paul Giamatti's first baseball-related film, as his late father was the former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, A. Bartlett Giamatti.

[Adam H. Kerman]

I did see that movie a few years ago but I have no recollection of it
beyond its name. Can you please explain the reference?

[wlah...@gmail.com]

He doesn't play the usual type casting role. It's not a great movie although I found his work interesting. If that's what you asked.

[Adam H. Kerman]

wlah...@gmail.com wrote:
>On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 11:07:26 PM UTC-5, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
>>wlah...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7:06:26 PM UTC-5, Michael OConnor wrote:

>>>>Paul Giamatti is a great actor.

>>>Check out Win Win, a little movie where Giamatti gets to places where he
>>>usually isn't allowed.

>>I did see that movie a few years ago but I have no recollection of it
>>beyond its name. Can you please explain the reference?

>He doesn't play the usual type casting role. It's not a great movie
>although I found his work interesting. If that's what you asked.

Ok, thanks.

[Stephen DeMay]

On Friday, November 17, 2017 at 11:11:48 AM UTC-5, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
> wlah...@gmail.com wrote:
> >On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 11:07:26 PM UTC-5, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
> >>wlah...@gmail.com wrote:
> >>>On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7:06:26 PM UTC-5, Michael OConnor wrote:
>
> >>>>Paul Giamatti is a great actor.
>
> >>>Check out Win Win, a little movie where Giamatti gets to places where he
> >>>usually isn't allowed.
>
> >>I did see that movie a few years ago but I have no recollection of it
> >>beyond its name. Can you please explain the reference?
>
> >He doesn't play the usual type casting role. It's not a great movie
> >although I found his work interesting. If that's what you asked.
>
> Ok, thanks.

The posts on Giametti are indications of the intellect of my " enemies ". Nowhere is there to be found any attempt to characterize this actor's strengths/ qualities that make him " good " ; nowhere is there an attempt to encapsulate the nuances and approach he brought to each of his roles.
What we get is I liked, he's good over and over. This is lower than grade school level. And you dare demean me ?????? !!!!!! :) :) :) :)

[Michael OConnor]

> The posts on Giametti are indications of the intellect of my " enemies ". Nowhere is there to be found any attempt to characterize this actor's strengths/ qualities that make him " good " ; nowhere is there an attempt to encapsulate the nuances and approach he brought to each of his roles.
> What we get is I liked, he's good over and over. This is lower than grade school level. And you dare demean me ?????? !!!!!! :) :) :) :)

He's a very versatile actor, who has played a lot of different roles, and seems to specialize in playing comic foils or sidekicks or best friends to the main character. Giamatti is very good with accents, has an "everyman" quality, but can also play unlikable characters, as in Private Parts. He has the gravitas to take on a role like John Adams, but tends toward light comedy. Along with Kevin Spacey, Giamatti is the best of his generation at displaying controlled rage on camera, where you can see the pressure going up only in his eyes, but the facial features stay the same. They can't teach that in acting classes.

[moviePig]

Paraphrasing Frank Langella (in the excellent series 'Unscripted'): an
actor's task is to make the audience care what his character does next.
Whether through his appearance or with his technique, not many are
better at it than Giamatti. When he's on screen, you watch him.

--

- - - - - - - -
YOUR taste at work...
http://www.moviepig.com

[Stephen DeMay]

That's the level of posting that's required

[Adam H. Kerman]

I have no idea why my followup of "ok, thanks", in which I'd written
nothing whatsoever about you, inspired these stupid complaints.

[Neill Massello]

Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:

> That's the level of posting that's required

<snort!>

[Stephen DeMay]

I find a number of ( very ) infrequent posters to have little if anything to add to this group other than complaints.

[Stephen DeMay]

Giametti, a person about whom you've written " nothing " whatsoever was one of the posts that inspired my cogent observation.

[Neill Massello]

Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:

> I find a number of ( very ) infrequent posters to have little if anything
> to add to this group other than complaints.

And at least one frequent poster adds little but noise.

[Stephen DeMay]

a bit shallow pig. Some performers are talented in being able to use inflection and pauses to make dialogue sing. Another talent is the ability to use one's eyes or head or upper body to augment their presence or dialogue. Some players have a great instrument and even though they may not be all that different in basic approach to various roles they dominate the screen. Some have faces of interest and add mannerisms or a way of speaking to create interest, Peter Boyle would be an example. Ben Johnson a westerns actor of great renown said he made a great living by just being himself.

[Stephen DeMay]

Patent nonsense :)

[Hawk]

On Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:03:49 +0200, TT <as...@dprk.kp> wrote:

>super70s kirjoitti 15.11.2017 klo 20:37:
>> In article <90239e18-9c0c-4709...@googlegroups.com>,
>> Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )
>>
>> I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
>> own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
>> so bad).
>>
>

>I've rated 18 films at IMDB starring Giamatti (haven't seen The
>Illusionist) ... certainly a well known actor.
>
>> The other night I watched him again in Sideways, an Alexander Payne film
>> that's a joy to watch every time and is probably his signature film
>> (also probably the definitive wine aficionado's movie).
>>
>
>Yes, Sideways is his signature film. Probably "American Splendor (2003)"
>as well, which I haven't seen yet but notice it a lot on many best of
>2000s film lists... and thus will inevitably watch it at some point.
>

>Stars normally in supporting roles including some pretty big films such
>as 12 Years a Slave, Cinderella Man, Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan etc...
He's hilarious as the villain in "Shoot 'Em Up" 6.7 on IMDb with Clive
Owen and Monica Bellucci (she plays a lactating prostitute!).
He also plays 'the friend of the main character' as mentioned by MOC
further in the thread, in the interesting sci-fi movie "Paycheck"
(2003) (6.3).
A third movie is "All is Bright" (2013) (5.6), probably flew under the
radar for most. It also stars Sally Hawkins before I'd heard of her.
Three different roles, three different character types. A very
versatile actor indeed.
Cheers

[wlah...@gmail.com]

Thanks.

[Stephen DeMay]

Ahearn at his best

[Adam H. Kerman]

That I dared to demean you? That I'm your enemy?

You're a paranoid twat. I shan't trouble you again.

[Stephen DeMay]

bye bye choo choo

[TT]

super70s kirjoitti 17.11.2017 klo 0:42:
> In article <me7PB.384$Ag1...@uutiset.elisa.fi>, TT <as...@dprk.kp>

> wrote:
>
>> super70s kirjoitti 15.11.2017 klo 20:37:
>>> In article <90239e18-9c0c-4709...@googlegroups.com>,
>>> Stephen DeMay <neo...@webtv.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Paul Giamatti ( a player unfamiliar to me )
>>>
>>> I find that hard to believe, he was really hot there for a while and I
>>> own 8 of his films (would have been 9 if Lady in the Water hadn't sucked
>>> so bad).
>>>
>>
>> I've rated 18 films at IMDB starring Giamatti (haven't seen The
>> Illusionist) ... certainly a well known actor.
>>
>>> The other night I watched him again in Sideways, an Alexander Payne film
>>> that's a joy to watch every time and is probably his signature film
>>> (also probably the definitive wine aficionado's movie).
>>>
>>
>> Yes, Sideways is his signature film. Probably "American Splendor (2003)"
>> as well, which I haven't seen yet but notice it a lot on many best of
>> 2000s film lists... and thus will inevitably watch it at some point.
>>
>> Stars normally in supporting roles including some pretty big films such
>> as 12 Years a Slave, Cinderella Man, Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan etc...
>

> American Splendor is an HBO production and a fine movie, you should
> definitely check it out. I even ordered a Harvey Pekar anthology book
> (which cross-promotes the movie on the cover) after first seeing that
> film. Cinderella Man is also great IMO and underrated.
>
> Actually I do own 9 films with Paul, he has a brief role in Donnie
> Brasco (a good '70s crime drama for the guy who was asking about that in
> another thread BTW) and for some reason I had him in my database as
> "Paul Giamatto." His role is so small it isn't listed on the DVD cover
> so it's apparently my fault, I added him in the database for that movie
> because I recognized him. Likewise his role in The Truman Show must be
> pretty small, I happen to own that movie too but I don't have him in the
> database for that one so I own at least 10 films with him!
>
> The other 6 I own are The Man on the Moon, Planet of the Apes (2001),
> The Illusionist, Confidence, The Ides of March and Sideways.
>

I watched American Splendor... it was ok but a bit too quirky for my
taste...