#1  
Old 11-14-2006, 08:10 AM
Roderick Usher's Avatar
Roderick Usher Roderick Usher is offline
HDC Sole Survivor!!

 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Underneath the Bed
Posts: 7,012
Fashion Horror

I have a real love/hate thing going on with Dario Argento.

It is obvious to anyone who has ever watched one of his films that he is obsessed with art direction, color, composition - all the hallmarks of a true visual stylist, but it also seems he couldn't give two shits for the actor's performance - at least that's what I used to think.

The more I watch of his films the more it seems to me that he actually ONLY wants the surface. It's as though he wishes to rip the humanity out of his actors, and force them to play everything as empty vessels. This is tremendously off-putting to anyone who wishes to connect with the characters. If you want empathy of any kind (and any actual horror), stay away from Argento. I really feel he dares you to care about his characters.

And story? In an Argento flick? Forget about it.

It's all about the glamour - the surface - the image - and as such, is wonderfully trashy pop art.

FASHION HORROR!

I know some of you here LOVE him and some don't like him at all.

I'd say his films aren't scary in the least, but they're full of beautiful photographs.

Your thoughts?
__________________
"Little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies."
Earl of Chesterfield

"A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well."
Francis Bacon

Last edited by Roderick Usher; 11-14-2006 at 08:16 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-14-2006, 08:13 AM
Vodstok's Avatar
Vodstok Vodstok is offline
Fear scented candle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The edge of forever
Posts: 13,650
With few exceptions, i really dont like "style over substance", so i have more or less hated everythign i have ever seen from him, although the list is short.

I was almost burned at the stake here a few years back when i finally watched Suspiria and hated it.


HEY! I think i finally figured out where the old woman fromthe closet (in my nightmare last week) came from... same concept, anyway...
__________________
Some misguided people decided I was funny enough to pay. See if they're right:
http://www.cracked.com/members/Vodstok/
(I tweet pretty hardcore, too)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-14-2006, 08:26 AM
urgeok's Avatar
urgeok urgeok is offline
Banned

 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 19,465
i dont think everything he's done is gold - but it is a niche of horror i enjoy because of it's unique aesthetic...

i keep mentioning deep red because i do like the actors performance in that one ... hemmings is good enough to bring something extra to the table.

but singling out Argento as a horror maker who is concerned with only the surface .. all i can say is that still makes him heads and shoulders above most other horror filmmakers who dont seem to give a shit about absolutely anything.

Last edited by urgeok; 11-14-2006 at 08:53 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-14-2006, 08:29 AM
Vodstok's Avatar
Vodstok Vodstok is offline
Fear scented candle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The edge of forever
Posts: 13,650
Quote:
Originally Posted by urgeok View Post
but sigling out Argento as a horror maker who is concerned with only the surface .. all i can say is that still makes him heads and shoulders above most other horror filmmakers who dont seem to give a shit about absolutely anything.
Wow. i have no choice but to agree with that.
__________________
Some misguided people decided I was funny enough to pay. See if they're right:
http://www.cracked.com/members/Vodstok/
(I tweet pretty hardcore, too)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-14-2006, 10:24 AM
The Mothman's Avatar
The Mothman The Mothman is offline
Evil Dead
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 7,425
Send a message via AIM to The Mothman
i thought suspiria failed miserably to deliver visually....so what there was different colored lighting. all around rather boring film.
__________________

Click for B-Movie reviews!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-14-2006, 10:46 AM
zwoti's Avatar
zwoti zwoti is offline
Super Moderator


 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 9,971
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roderick Usher View Post
And story? In an Argento flick? Forget about it.

It's all about the glamour - the surface - the image - and as such, is wonderfully trashy pop art.

FASHION HORROR!

I know some of you here LOVE him and some don't like him at all.

I'd say his films aren't scary in the least, but they're full of beautiful photographs.

Your thoughts?
the quintessential giallo director?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-15-2006, 03:43 PM
paws the great paws the great is offline
Evil Dead
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,817
I like Dario Argento,but I like Sergio Martino better.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-18-2006, 08:44 PM
Popsicle Cannibal's Avatar
Popsicle Cannibal Popsicle Cannibal is offline
Scares Little Kids
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22
In Argento films, style IS the substance.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-18-2006, 10:07 PM
Vodstok's Avatar
Vodstok Vodstok is offline
Fear scented candle
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The edge of forever
Posts: 13,650
Quote:
Originally Posted by Popsicle Cannibal View Post
In Argento films, style IS the substance.
thats like saying "the garnish IS the dish."

And i still say, a plate full of parsley still tastes like shit.
__________________
Some misguided people decided I was funny enough to pay. See if they're right:
http://www.cracked.com/members/Vodstok/
(I tweet pretty hardcore, too)
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-18-2006, 10:38 PM
Popsicle Cannibal's Avatar
Popsicle Cannibal Popsicle Cannibal is offline
Scares Little Kids
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vodstok View Post
thats like saying "the garnish IS the dish."

And i still say, a plate full of parsley still tastes like shit.
1. Parsley sucks ass and serves no purpose besides sitting next to my delicious steak.
2. Your comparison is really clever, but I meant that, in my opinion, films as visually interesting as Dario's work can be appreciated in their own way. Yeah, the plots are nowhere to be found, the acting sucks, and the dialogue is boring. If he could put as much energy and talent into those things as he does with visual tricks, he'd be a perfect director.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:44 AM.