The Lost City of Z

[853guy]

Just wondering if anyone's seen this yet...?

I haven't managed to catch it at the cinema yet, but I really love James Gray, and think We Own the Night and The Yards were minor American classics. In fact, he and Todd Field would be two of my all-time favourite contemporary American directors, despite the relative under-appreciation their films receive in box-office receipts.

Also shot by Darius Khondji whom I have similar affection for.

853guy

 

[JackD201]

The book is going to be very heard to match much less beat. Well, that's usually the case anyway. Since the book is a short one, I say go for the book instead

 

[853guy]

The book is going to be very heard to match much less beat. Well, that's usually the case anyway. Since the book is a short one, I say go for the book instead

Hi Jack,

I tend not to compare across art forms - a book is a book and a film is a film, even when the film in question is based on a book - so I generally approach them independently and appreciate them for what they are, rather than what they're not. In fact I often find films that are adapted too-literally from a book tend to be hobbled creatively and lack some of the qualities that make cinema "cinema".

But to each his own.

Be well!

853guy

 

[NorthStar]

That would be a film I want to see...the beautiful Amazon jungle.

In searching some I stumbled on a Wall Street Journal review by Joe Morgenstern. But I couldn't access the review without subscribing...bummer!
? https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-lo...on-is-unexplored-territory-1492118370?tesla=y
His review is one of the most negative ones because according to this critic the film doesn't show the passion and obsession that the book does.

Here's another short review where they don't ask you to subscribe (pay) for reading:
• http://www.slashfilm.com/the-lost-city-of-z-review/

Advanced civilizations from the jungles of the past are not hard to find in comparison to the world we live in today. IMO :b
But yes, I want to see the cinematography plus I love 'The Yards' and 'We Own the Night' and 'The Immigrant'.
I didn't see 'Two Lovers', and I've seen 'Little Odessa' long ago with fading memory.

James Gray, the director, is about "atmosphere" and raw reality, and I agree that the two films you mentioned are underrated.

 

[JackD201]

Hi Jack,

I tend not to compare across art forms - a book is a book and a film is a film, even when the film in question is based on a book - so I generally approach them independently and appreciate them for what they are, rather than what they're not. In fact I often find films that are adapted too-literally from a book tend to be hobbled creatively and lack some of the qualities that make cinema "cinema".

But to each his own.

Be well!

853guy

It's really a very compelling story. For me it was the backdrop being how little we'd known about the world at that time. Absolutely fascinating. I hope this comes through in the movie. Context is everything in period pieces

 

[KeithR]

Saw the movie this weekend and am a big fan of the book.

Overall, I thought the reviews were really off on this one - Morganstern had it right. None of the fascination of the book and the lead is weak. The WW1 scene really drags out the movie and I didn't even find the choreography terribly good (it was a muted, out of focus palette at times in the jungle).

It's not a terrible movie, but a better rental. Z is a 'B'