can we talk about hal hartley?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0571167985/qid=1059833505/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/002-6150976-0909620?v=glance&s=books

After SM, I was really disappointed with Amateur and Flirt - he seemed to be casting around for something to say and fooling with the style too much. There is one classic moment in that movie though, in the bathroom of the bar, near the beginning of the film I think. And in 1998 or 99, Henry Fool came out, which was a nice return to SM form.

Hal Hartley and music: From his earliest days he's had a taste for incorporating some pretty good music into his films, stuff that he had written himself as well as by Yo La Tengo and others. Here is the CD (again, I got when I was 17) of the collected short instrumentals used for segues and the like as well as some originals by YLT, etc. :

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000AEX1/qid=1059833808/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-6150976-0909620?v=glance&s=music

Haven't heard much from him lately but I supposed a simple web search can rectify that.

Enjoy.

I have never seen another film by Hal Hartley.

'simple men' would be perfect if you cut out the obvious gen-x sonic youth dancing scene and maybe that part where the mechanic riffs on electric guitar.

I don't quite understand the critical beating No Such Thing recieved. It featured some of Hartley's lovliest images. The monlogue delivered by Robert Burke's monster late in the film in which he articulates the misery of being immortal and having to watch the miraculous evolution (and eventual devolution) of the human race was interesting.

Part of the problem that I have with Hartley is that when I first stumbled on his films, I didn't really have as wide a knowledge of film history as I do now. I think it's harder to appreciate Hartley when you see how transparently he rips off early Godard. Also his "romanticism" (if you can call it that since it's fairly stilted) strikes me now as infantile.

What do you mean by romanticism? What's an example? (I *think* I know what you mean.)

Man, that is the same with me. I saw 'Amateur' at a movie series, rented it once to show to someone else and watched it a while back on the IFC. It is quite a funny movie. I really like the 'corporate' hitmen.

Things get even worse if we suppose that she did not have the internet at home, and had to go out to a cybercafe, library or similar outlet, while leaving the film running. She could have missed loads of it!

I am not sure that I have seen any of HH's films apart from Henry Fool, which was abysmal.

I liked The Book Of Life well enough, especially the soundtrack, but I wouldn't want to watch it again. And the Yo La Tengo video he did was rather nice.

The best Hartley is and always will be Trust, which is one of my favorite films.

Anyone like it?

Hal's next movie is Fay Grim, a sequel to Henry Fool. The Girl from Monday is available for DVD pre-order, only $12.95 (plus s&h and tax if you're in California). General DVD sale happening, too. Plus, the lucky Aussies get Trust on DVD.

I'm going to have to get an all-region player.

so sad :(

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Guardian/0,,1942286,00.html