The Power of the Dog

[terminal7]

Directed by the gifted Jane Campion, this film is in some cinemas as well on Netflix. With New Zealand mountain backdrops substituting for Montana, the cinematography by Ari Wegner is sensational - almost certainly will be showered with awards. Set on a ranch in 1925, the cast (and the cattle) do a great job - again awards await. In a somewhat curtailed film viewing year - both the OH and I concur (that's a first) this is our favourite film of the year.

T7

[NotSure]

The Guardian agrees with you, FWIW: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/dec/17/the-50-best-films-of-2021-in-the-uk-no-1-the-power-of-the-dog

[Arborbridge]

Directed by the gifted Jane Campion, this film is in some cinemas as well on Netflix. With New Zealand mountain backdrops substituting for Montana, the cinematography by Ari Wegner is sensational - almost certainly will be showered with awards. Set on a ranch in 1925, the cast (and the cattle) do a great job - again awards await. In a somewhat curtailed film viewing year - both the OH and I concur (that's a first) this is our favourite film of the year.

T7

Well, it has a promising cast and director, but the "teaser" (what's wrong with "trailer"?) is anything but promising. It looks like a typically modern western with muttering instead of speech: what few words there were in the trailer could not be heard at all, even listening twice. I shall order this from "cinema paradiso" (DVDs to hire) : if and when it turns up, it is defo one to watch with headphones AND subtitles on.

I remember watching Rooney Mara in a couple of great looking films: I didn't even finish them, the effort to penetrated the mumbling was just not worth the reward.

It's possible to speak sotto voce and be understood: some of this generation have forgotten that.

[Laughton]

I'm afraid we gave up after about 30 minutes. Seemed very slow to us (OK I accept that the excellent scenery wasn't supposed to be moving).

Maybe we'll have to give it another go given the OP's post - by then again, maybe not.

[Pendrainllwyn]

Thoroughly enjoyed. Yes, it's slow and unexciting but in keeping with their lives in that setting. I can see why some wouldn't enjoy - it doesn't speed up after the first 30 minutes.

Pendrainllwyn

[terminal7]

It looks like a typically modern western with muttering instead of speech: what few words there were in the trailer could not be heard at all, even listening twice.

Little surprised at that as I suffer more than most from mumblecoritis.

Fully understand those that find this film glacial at times - that's the type of movies I like starting with films from the French New Wave. Indeed on a different night I may well have fallen asleep.

T7

[simoan]

Thoroughly enjoyed. Yes, it's slow and unexciting but in keeping with their lives in that setting. I can see why some wouldn't enjoy - it doesn't speed up after the first 30 minutes.

Pendrainllwyn

I think it's fair to say I'm not Jane Campion's target audience! Although I thought End of the Lake was very good. It's a close call and I still can't decide which was most boring, this or The Piano. Either way, two of the dullest films I've ever seen, and two hours of my life I will never get back...

All the best, Si

[Arborbridge]

Thoroughly enjoyed. Yes, it's slow and unexciting but in keeping with their lives in that setting. I can see why some wouldn't enjoy - it doesn't speed up after the first 30 minutes.

Pendrainllwyn

I think it's fair to say I'm not Jane Campion's target audience! Although I thought End of the Lake was very good. It's a close call and I still can't decide which was most boring, this or The Piano. Either way, two of the dullest films I've ever seen, and two hours of my life I will never get back...

All the best, Si

Well, we are all different! I remember the piano as being enjoyable.

[nimnarb]

Yes we are all different and thank goodness for that. I lasted all of 15 minutes.

[monabri]

The storyline was stretched out about 1 hour ( 1.5 hrs? ) too long. We started to watch it a week ago but gave up. However, my wife was round at the MILs yesterday and so I watched it. I might have been better entertained at the MILs I wasn't expecting the denouement...this film will definitely make it to the BBC. For me...a thumbs down.

[simoan]

Yes we are all different and thank goodness for that. I lasted all of 15 minutes.

I always struggle to watch these kinds of films where I can’t empathise with any of the main characters. Apart from how slow the film was, the fact I didn’t care what happened to the characters was the main issue. The cinematography was very good, but on its own is not enough to make a film great. Besides I’ve been lucky enough to visit Central Otago several times and it’s even better up close!

All the best, Si

[Pendrainllwyn]

Power of the Dog, which divided opinion here, just won Best Picture at The Golden Globes.

Pendrainllwyn

[simoan]

Power of the Dog, which divided opinion here, just won Best Picture at The Golden Globes.

Pendrainllwyn

That really doesn’t surprise me at all. It seemed to me a film almost designed to win awards. Of course, it may also be down to weak competition! If Spielberg is stuck with doing remakes, it doesn’t say a lot for the current state of the industry. Personally I find there is much better stuff made for TV these days than anything made for the cinema.

All the best, Si

[terminal7]

Si

This film had very limited cinema release (the current take is minimal).

It was financed by Netflix ($30m) and only seen by subscribers (though of course Netflix never give viewing figures) on TV.

T7

[redsturgeon]

I haven't seen it yet but my 20 year old son, who likes action films, has watched it and said he enjoyed it.

John

[simoan]

Si

This film had very limited cinema release (the current take is minimal).

It was financed by Netflix ($30m) and only seen by subscribers (though of course Netflix never give viewing figures) on TV.

T7

Yes, I know, I watched it on Netflix. It's not unusual for me to dislike films that win awards! So nothing controversial there My other half liked it.

All the best, Si

[zico]

I've just watched this, but wish I'd read the reviews here first! Not my type of film, but the type of film the acting world would love, with sparse dialogue and lots of time for the actors to convey their character's feeling without words. There's only really four characters in it, and it's so slow and the film deliberately leaves a lot untold about the characters so you've got plenty of time to make up your own plot for the film as you go along.

I can see why some people would really like it. I'd heard rave reviews about the ending, but thought there was a rather contrived scene to make the ending happen (I think this previous sentence is vague enough to avoid being a spoiler). But honestly, Benedict Cumberbatch as a cowboy?

[bluedonkey]

I watched this on Netflix. Had to have several bites at it, only persisted because of the high praise from the critics. Great cinematography, so great to look at. Acting was very good too, though Cumberbatch's character/acting seemed peculiar. Overall I can't recommend you spend 2+ hours of your time watching it. Struck me as a short story padded out to a looooong film.

[terminal7]

Struck me as a short story padded out to a looooong film.

- not so - based on a novel written by Savage and published in 1967 - fairly lengthy.

T7

[pje16]

I'm afraid we gave up after about 30 minutes. Seemed very slow to us (OK I accept that the excellent scenery wasn't supposed to be moving).

Maybe we'll have to give it another go given the OP's post - by then again, maybe not.

I felt like giving up, but ploughed on for the 2 hours plus thinking it would get better .... it didn't
It was so boring
If this wins best film, I won't be watching any others on the list
Emperor's new clothes come to mind here