Comments on: Transsiberian http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/ The official podcast of MovieZeal.com, where film is always best discussed under the gentle influence of fine wine (as fine as $10 will get you). Each week Evan, Heather, and Luke pick a theme, discuss a theatrical release based on that theme, pop the cork and drink a wine that fits said theme, and finally subject one another to The Gauntlet, where forcing others to watch painful films nets you fabulous prizes. There is not anything else on the internets like it (literally). Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:35:29 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: [review]: Transsiberian « …yet made of stars http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-38983 [review]: Transsiberian « …yet made of stars Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:11:36 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-38983 [...] 13, 2009 Cross-posted at: MovieZeal • Tulsa [...] [...] 13, 2009 Cross-posted at: MovieZeal • Tulsa [...]

]]> By: Alexander Coleman http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-22768 Alexander Coleman Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:15:51 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-22768 An excellent review, Luke. I am in just about complete simpantico with your opinion. I found it <a href="http://colemancornerincinema.blogspot.com/2008/09/transsiberian-2008.html" rel="nofollow">disappointing</a> as well, particularly after, as you note, the mid-point act of violence. An excellent review, Luke. I am in just about complete simpantico with your opinion.

I found it disappointing as well, particularly after, as you note, the mid-point act of violence.

]]> By: Matthew Lucas http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-13582 Matthew Lucas Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:01:42 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-13582 Kingsley was great in THE WACKNESS, but you're right about it being disappointing. He's also quite good in this - a smaller role in a superior film, but he is definitely a bright spot. This is one of those suburban nightmare in a foreign country films that actually works, unlike the HOSTEL movies. They went for a very Hitchcockian vibe, that they actually pull off for the most part. It didn't take the direction I expected it to take, and that's always a plus. Kingsley was great in THE WACKNESS, but you’re right about it being disappointing.

He’s also quite good in this – a smaller role in a superior film, but he is definitely a bright spot. This is one of those suburban nightmare in a foreign country films that actually works, unlike the HOSTEL movies. They went for a very Hitchcockian vibe, that they actually pull off for the most part. It didn’t take the direction I expected it to take, and that’s always a plus.

]]> By: Andrew Wyatt http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12898 Andrew Wyatt Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:14:04 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12898 Thanks for the kind words, Luke. I really liked your formulation--"post-feminist neo-noir"--because it gets at one of the things I found unexpected and exciting about the film. Admittedly, Harrelson's character was kind of irksome for me, but it wasn't a defeating factor since I think he was supposed to be irksome: the oblivious, reliable main squeeze to Mortimer's conflicted hero(ine) with the shady past. Jess' many deceptions makes a kind of sense, given the dual tensions of not wanting to disappoint Roy's glossy assumptions about her, and also knowing that he's not the sort of person who would empathize with her moral plight. The first tension suggests that the flaw in their marriage is Jess' fault (her ethical failure), while the second suggests it's Roy's (his simple-minded righteousness). Admittedly fascinating stuff, despite the film's flaws. Thanks for the kind words, Luke. I really liked your formulation–”post-feminist neo-noir”–because it gets at one of the things I found unexpected and exciting about the film. Admittedly, Harrelson’s character was kind of irksome for me, but it wasn’t a defeating factor since I think he was supposed to be irksome: the oblivious, reliable main squeeze to Mortimer’s conflicted hero(ine) with the shady past. Jess’ many deceptions makes a kind of sense, given the dual tensions of not wanting to disappoint Roy’s glossy assumptions about her, and also knowing that he’s not the sort of person who would empathize with her moral plight. The first tension suggests that the flaw in their marriage is Jess’ fault (her ethical failure), while the second suggests it’s Roy’s (his simple-minded righteousness). Admittedly fascinating stuff, despite the film’s flaws.

]]> By: Luke Harrington http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12890 Luke Harrington Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:40:42 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12890 Thanks for the thoughts, Andrew. I read your review, and I can't really argue with what you say. I think what did it in for me was (SPOILER!!!!) the fact that the dynamics between the four characters were so tense for the first half, and then he killed off the one that was the source of nearly all the tension. I will say that you do a much better job of dissecting Harrelson's character than I do. Perhaps I shouldn't have merely written him off as a Ned Flanders knock-off. :) Thanks for the thoughts, Andrew. I read your review, and I can’t really argue with what you say. I think what did it in for me was (SPOILER!!!!) the fact that the dynamics between the four characters were so tense for the first half, and then he killed off the one that was the source of nearly all the tension.

I will say that you do a much better job of dissecting Harrelson’s character than I do. Perhaps I shouldn’t have merely written him off as a Ned Flanders knock-off. :)

]]> By: Andrew Wyatt http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12800 Andrew Wyatt Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:51:37 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12800 Good review, Luke. Your impressions weren't quite quite the same as mine--I was with Anderson from beginning to end, but overall the film was pretty forgettable--yet we arrived at the same middling assessment. My full review here: http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/09/02/they-caught-a-bad-bad-train/ Good review, Luke. Your impressions weren’t quite quite the same as mine–I was with Anderson from beginning to end, but overall the film was pretty forgettable–yet we arrived at the same middling assessment.

My full review here:

http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2008/09/02/they-caught-a-bad-bad-train/

]]> By: Luke Harrington http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12779 Luke Harrington Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:54:35 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12779 Evan, it's currently playing at the AMC Southroads. It must have just opened on Friday. Your summary there is pretty much dead-on. Nothing to write home about, but not a bad genre flick, and LOTS of scenery chewing from Kingsley. (To be honest, I kind of hoped he'd shout "Moose and squirrel!" sometime...sadly, no.) Sam, I actually haven't seen <i>The Lady Vanishes</i>, which is shameful since I've occasionally claimed to be a Hitchcock fan. I'll definitely check it out...sometime (I have time issues too). Thanks for the praise, though. :) Nick, the film's worth seeing, but if you never get around to it, you won't miss that much. :) Evan, it’s currently playing at the AMC Southroads. It must have just opened on Friday. Your summary there is pretty much dead-on. Nothing to write home about, but not a bad genre flick, and LOTS of scenery chewing from Kingsley. (To be honest, I kind of hoped he’d shout “Moose and squirrel!” sometime…sadly, no.)

Sam, I actually haven’t seen The Lady Vanishes, which is shameful since I’ve occasionally claimed to be a Hitchcock fan. I’ll definitely check it out…sometime (I have time issues too). Thanks for the praise, though. :)

Nick, the film’s worth seeing, but if you never get around to it, you won’t miss that much. :)

]]> By: Evan Derrick http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12773 Evan Derrick Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:44:32 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12773 That's always the problem, isn't it, Nick? Not enough time for anything. That’s always the problem, isn’t it, Nick? Not enough time for anything.

]]> By: Nick Plowman http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12771 Nick Plowman Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:39:53 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12771 Oh, this one, I want to see it, but when? Whenever I want I guess, I have it on a screener disc, but I have no time. Oh, this one, I want to see it, but when? Whenever I want I guess, I have it on a screener disc, but I have no time.

]]> By: Evan Derrick http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12767 Evan Derrick Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:31:37 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12767 When did you see this? I wasn't aware it was playing around here. I really, really dug <i>The Machinist</i>, probably way more than I should have. So this gets an interested nod from me in that regard. Your piece indicates this is prime guilty pleasure rental material - I can dig that. And who doesn't like to watch a gritty Ben Kingsley chew up the scenery? It's been far too long since <i>Sexy Beast</i> came out. When did you see this? I wasn’t aware it was playing around here.

I really, really dug The Machinist, probably way more than I should have. So this gets an interested nod from me in that regard. Your piece indicates this is prime guilty pleasure rental material – I can dig that. And who doesn’t like to watch a gritty Ben Kingsley chew up the scenery? It’s been far too long since Sexy Beast came out.

]]> By: Sam Juliano http://www.moviezeal.com/transsiberian/comment-page-1/#comment-12766 Sam Juliano Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:31:14 +0000 http://www.moviezeal.com/?p=1350#comment-12766 Beautifully written review Luke, and I mean it in every sense of the word. I didn't like this film, and I agree it completely fell apart at the mid-point. While you aptly make comparisons to MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, DETOUR and FARGO, I also thought of Hitchcock's THE LADY VANISHES (1935) upon which it evinces some modest paralells. I do agree that is showcased some shocking and devastating acts of violence (some of the most numbing we've seen on screen--again as you say)and that your description of it as a kind of "post-feminist" neo noir has some validity. But the word "convoluted" has rarely had a stronger anchor than it does in this film, despite admittedly very fine performances by Ms. Mortimer and Mr. Kingsley. Of course the setting gave opportunity for some striking widescreen cinematography. Beautifully written review Luke, and I mean it in every sense of the word. I didn’t like this film, and I agree it completely fell apart at the mid-point. While you aptly make comparisons to MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, DETOUR and FARGO, I also thought of Hitchcock’s THE LADY VANISHES (1935) upon which it evinces some modest paralells. I do agree that is showcased some shocking and devastating acts of violence (some of the most numbing we’ve seen on screen–again as you say)and that your description of it as a kind of “post-feminist” neo noir has some validity. But the word “convoluted” has rarely had a stronger anchor than it does in this film, despite admittedly very fine performances by Ms. Mortimer and Mr. Kingsley. Of course the setting gave opportunity for some striking widescreen cinematography.

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