Comments on: BUTTERKNIFE Episode 1: Plastic Hassle http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:33:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Peter Rinaldi http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-72500 Peter Rinaldi Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:16:02 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-72500 Great point. i hope this is the case. i guess we will see. Great point. i hope this is the case. i guess we will see.

]]> By: Glenn K http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69486 Glenn K Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:01:57 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69486 I looked at the "episode" a second time and have to admit that Chad's surmise could very well be the case. The other thing I concluded from my second viewing was that Ronald Bronstein has big things ahead of him as a Doug Liman impersonator. I looked at the “episode” a second time and have to admit that Chad’s surmise could very well be the case. The other thing I concluded from my second viewing was that Ronald Bronstein has big things ahead of him as a Doug Liman impersonator.

]]> By: Chad http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69479 Chad Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:33:22 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69479 Call me crazy but I'm pretty sure he was not really there to deliver a subpeona, but merely using that as a ruse to get some cold, hard facts. You know, like a detective. Call me crazy but I’m pretty sure he was not really there to deliver a subpeona, but merely using that as a ruse to get some cold, hard facts. You know, like a detective.

]]> By: Glenn K http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69455 Glenn K Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:49:21 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69455 Yes, Peter R., that was precisely my point, albeit expressed somewhat less uncivilly than it might have been. The Mamet reference was ill-advised, as it apparently muddied the waters; what I want is not another Mamet film. What I want something that doesn't wear its self-satisfied slackness, ignorance, and self-infatuation so prominently on its sleeve. And Mr. Venuto, leave my anus out of this. Yes, Peter R., that was precisely my point, albeit expressed somewhat less uncivilly than it might have been. The Mamet reference was ill-advised, as it apparently muddied the waters; what I want is not another Mamet film. What I want something that doesn’t wear its self-satisfied slackness, ignorance, and self-infatuation so prominently on its sleeve. And Mr. Venuto, leave my anus out of this.

]]> By: Peter Rinaldi http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69404 Peter Rinaldi Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:43:53 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69404 The point that the "take a lesson from David Mamet" person was trying to make is simply that Swanberg perhaps should spend just a little time just finding out the BASIC details of something that has a specific set of rules. In a work that is so refreshingly "real", the lack of reality in that aspect was distracting to me as well. The point that the “take a lesson from David Mamet” person was trying to make is simply that Swanberg perhaps should spend just a little time just finding out the BASIC details of something that has a specific set of rules. In a work that is so refreshingly “real”, the lack of reality in that aspect was distracting to me as well.

]]> By: Paul http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69315 Paul Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:56:42 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69315 Glenn, The "take a lesson from David Mamet" comment I find to be a crutch that breaks. It's akin to saying "Hey, whipper snapper, take a look at this great American filmmaker and do likewise!" Boring. The last thing I want to see are more Mamet movies. There is a population of us who find Mamet's dialogue to be contrived, long-winded and insufferable. Ronald Bronstein approaches his detective as somebody with all the enthusiasm of working retail at Barnes and Noble, and I think it's fresh. If all you want is to watch a method actor whose ridden alongside a P.I. for six months pretending to take his job seriously, I suggest you dust off your Mamet collection. Glenn,
The “take a lesson from David Mamet” comment I find to be a crutch that breaks. It’s akin to saying “Hey, whipper snapper, take a look at this great American filmmaker and do likewise!” Boring. The last thing I want to see are more Mamet movies. There is a population of us who find Mamet’s dialogue to be contrived, long-winded and insufferable.

Ronald Bronstein approaches his detective as somebody with all the enthusiasm of working retail at Barnes and Noble, and I think it’s fresh. If all you want is to watch a method actor whose ridden alongside a P.I. for six months pretending to take his job seriously, I suggest you dust off your Mamet collection.

]]> By: Ryan Balas http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69201 Ryan Balas Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:06:38 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69201 it was great. Holds the same standards of style and writing of a great television show but with the honesty of human character that swanberg is best known for doing. I'm happy to witness a story between brilliantly discovered human moments without the worry of "whats supposed to be" or "this is a film" mindset. Art exists because it does. There is no rule book, no standard and nothing that says "a movie is this:" and to think that one could "learn to make a movie" is just outrageous. There is nothing to be learned, there is no definition and though I don't even think swanberg breaks as many molds as he is accused of, I think its great that he has expressed his freedom to do so. Great Show! Much anticipated in my house hold. Excellent work! I can't wait for next week. Screw the networks, I recommend spout. it was great. Holds the same standards of style and writing of a great television show but with the honesty of human character that swanberg is best known for doing. I’m happy to witness a story between brilliantly discovered human moments without the worry of “whats supposed to be” or “this is a film” mindset. Art exists because it does. There is no rule book, no standard and nothing that says “a movie is this:” and to think that one could “learn to make a movie” is just outrageous. There is nothing to be learned, there is no definition and though I don’t even think swanberg breaks as many molds as he is accused of, I think its great that he has expressed his freedom to do so.

Great Show! Much anticipated in my house hold. Excellent work! I can’t wait for next week.
Screw the networks, I recommend spout.

]]> By: Peter Venuto http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69119 Peter Venuto Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:03:57 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69119 Haha. Good fun. I get the sense that it's not supposed to be any more realistic than a sitcom. Any reference to David Mamet in the context of this obvious lark is just flat out absurd. The poster above needs to take the "popsicle stick" out of his anus. Haha. Good fun. I get the sense that it’s not supposed to be any more realistic than a sitcom. Any reference to David Mamet in the context of this obvious lark is just flat out absurd. The poster above needs to take the “popsicle stick” out of his anus.

]]> By: Jordan Gray http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69114 Jordan Gray Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:39:33 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69114 You know what? I thought it was quite funny. While everyone else is bitterly squabbling about the authenticity of the detective work (I wonder if I were to find out the panhandling in The Gold Rush was less than authentic if I would cease to think it was funny), or it's inability to present tracking-shots that rival Children of Men, I'll sit back and enjoy my pleasant, charming 10 minute diversion each week. (and I don't want to give the impression I found it artless either). Thanks spout! You know what?
I thought it was quite funny. While everyone else is bitterly squabbling about the authenticity of the detective work (I wonder if I were to find out the panhandling in The Gold Rush was less than authentic if I would cease to think it was funny), or it’s inability to present tracking-shots that rival Children of Men, I’ll sit back and enjoy my pleasant, charming 10 minute diversion each week. (and I don’t want to give the impression I found it artless either). Thanks spout!

]]> By: Glenn K http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69108 Glenn K Tue, 29 Jan 2008 02:13:31 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69108 You know, not to put too fine a point on it, but David Mamet actually took the trouble to find out just how private detectives/con men/process servers et.al actually operated before writing/filming about them, as opposed to concocting yet one more "lifestyles-of-20-something-putative-heterosexuals" soap opera episode and grafting some arbitrarily "exotic" profession to it. Anybody trying to serve a "subpoena" (which private operatives don't have the authority to do in general, by the way) in the fashion Bronstein's character does would not only not keep a job but would be brought up on charges...Wow, read a little current case law, or maybe some Hammett, or maybe it's just me and this just takes place in some fantasy Mumblecore universe where no rules apply... J.H. Christ on a fucking popsicle stick, people! You know, not to put too fine a point on it, but David Mamet actually took the trouble to find out just how private detectives/con men/process servers et.al actually operated before writing/filming about them, as opposed to concocting yet one more “lifestyles-of-20-something-putative-heterosexuals” soap opera episode and grafting some arbitrarily “exotic” profession to it. Anybody trying to serve a “subpoena” (which private operatives don’t have the authority to do in general, by the way) in the fashion Bronstein’s character does would not only not keep a job but would be brought up on charges…Wow, read a little current case law, or maybe some Hammett, or maybe it’s just me and this just takes place in some fantasy Mumblecore universe where no rules apply… J.H. Christ on a fucking popsicle stick, people!

]]> By: Chad Channing http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69084 Chad Channing Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:54:38 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69084 Thanks for embedding the first episode. I am consistently and predictably underwhelmed by the aesthetic, writing, and directorial capabilities of Mr. Swanberg. I can't wait until this brand of kitchen sink American "naturalism" is dethroned by the next trend, a trend, I hope, that is born from the minds of people who don't totally disregard artistic acumen for the sake of "realness," or whatever it is that this stuff is supposed to stand in for. The work of Mr. Swanberg, once you take away all the blather and hype, is exactly what it pretends to be, i.e., underehearsed improvisational exercises filmed without even a modicum of nuance or imagination. Kudos to Swanberg and his group of friends for having the drive and desire to put on a show, but I'm afraid that's all they have, which, sadly, seems to be enough to convince lovers of novelty that what they are seeing is the Next of anything, when, in fact, it is nothing more than another truckload of glorified home movies that, stripped of their context, will date horribly. That these movies and shows and webcasts reify the notion that indeed, "anyone can do it," I'm afraid they also highlight the fact that while, yes, anyone can do it, not just anyone can do it well. My only hope for Swanberg and company is that they get the opportunity to continue making movies in hopes that one day they will learn how to make movies, but I'm not so sure that this is axiomatic, viz. the career of John Waters, another backyard auteur, who, over the course of almost 40 years, has only gotten slightly better as a filmmaker while improving exponentially as a promoter/marketer/brand manager. I suspect the same fate for Swanberg et al, and if, in the end, that's what secures them a place in cinema history, well, I guess it's better than nothing. Thanks for embedding the first episode. I am consistently and predictably underwhelmed by the aesthetic, writing, and directorial capabilities of Mr. Swanberg. I can’t wait until this brand of kitchen sink American “naturalism” is dethroned by the next trend, a trend, I hope, that is born from the minds of people who don’t totally disregard artistic acumen for the sake of “realness,” or whatever it is that this stuff is supposed to stand in for. The work of Mr. Swanberg, once you take away all the blather and hype, is exactly what it pretends to be, i.e., underehearsed improvisational exercises filmed without even a modicum of nuance or imagination. Kudos to Swanberg and his group of friends for having the drive and desire to put on a show, but I’m afraid that’s all they have, which, sadly, seems to be enough to convince lovers of novelty that what they are seeing is the Next of anything, when, in fact, it is nothing more than another truckload of glorified home movies that, stripped of their context, will date horribly. That these movies and shows and webcasts reify the notion that indeed, “anyone can do it,” I’m afraid they also highlight the fact that while, yes, anyone can do it, not just anyone can do it well. My only hope for Swanberg and company is that they get the opportunity to continue making movies in hopes that one day they will learn how to make movies, but I’m not so sure that this is axiomatic, viz. the career of John Waters, another backyard auteur, who, over the course of almost 40 years, has only gotten slightly better as a filmmaker while improving exponentially as a promoter/marketer/brand manager. I suspect the same fate for Swanberg et al, and if, in the end, that’s what secures them a place in cinema history, well, I guess it’s better than nothing.

]]> By: Joe Swanberg has a new webseries, and it’s about a private detective? « Jesse le Fou http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69071 Joe Swanberg has a new webseries, and it’s about a private detective? « Jesse le Fou Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:26:30 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/01/28/butterknife-episode-1-plastic-hassle/#comment-69071 [...] Posted by jtrussell on January 28, 2008 Really? [...] [...] Posted by jtrussell on January 28, 2008 Really? [...]

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