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Poland salutes "WTC"
"As you might have guessed, I think World Trade Center is the first serious contender to be nominated for Best Picture this year," David Poland wrote last night after slipping into an even-earlier screening than the earliest one I was told about yesterday...harumph. (Before we go any further, it's clear what David's saying but it would've been a better sentence if he had inserted "that deserves" after the word "contender" and before the word "to.")
"I hate the release date," Poland continues. "It really feels to me like a November movie. I wanted the sharp sting of cold air on my face as I walked out into the street." (Except there are no sharp stings to be had from Los Angeles weather ...ever. Poland is dreaming about seeing WTC in Chicago around Thanksgiving.)
"I wanted a hot drink and a long conversation with a fire crackling nearby. This is a heavy, heavy movie to be hitting America in August." (I don't know what that means at all. August is a time for all God-fearin' folks to emotionally sidestep anything that isn't Snakes on a Plane or Sherrybaby ?)
"But the weight I felt on my chest walking out of the theater was much like the weight I felt after Munich ..." (thud, penalty buzzer) -- "after Amadeus, after Million Dollar Baby, after In The Bedroom , after The Pianist, after In America. " (I'm presuming Nic Cage doesn't have any Paddy Considine "fee-fi-fo-fum" lines in WTC.)
"It was the weight of something that touched me in a deep, almost inexplicable way, greater than the sum of its parts." (I know what this feels like when a movie kicks in just the right way, and seems to gather force in your chest the more you think about it afterwards, and yet you can't quite figure exactly why.)
Anyway, point taken. I'm pumped, as other perhaps are. World Trade Center opens three weeks and one day from now -- on Wednesday, August 9th.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 18, 2006 at 8:01 AM
comment #1
Justin says ...
I am hoping it's good -- big fans of Cage and Stone.
But Poland... well he's loved some stinkers in the past. I mean, didn't he write basically the exact same article about Phantom of the Opera? And I couldn't even get through ten minutes of that.
And don't even get me started on that "Lunch with David" thing.
Posted by Justin at July 18, 2006 8:23 AM
comment #2
jake says ...
first of all, david didn't write "basically the exact same article" about 'phantom.' he didn't say he personally loved that film, he just claimed it was the frontrunner to win best picture. that was one of his more ballsy and fun-to-read columns. also, i'm totally on board with david about the release date. i have never understood why this movie would come out in august and not november or december. i have high hopes for this. as someone who watched the events of that morning unfold from 6 blocks away, i can say the trailer gave me chills,much moreso than the 'united 93' trailer did. i hope cage is good. i can think of a number of actors who i would have preferred in the part: ed harris, sean penn, mark ruffalo, dennis quaid,or even a no-name. and it does seem odd that "mr. comspiracy" has apparently made such a rah-rah, starightforward take on sept.11th, esp. in light of some of his comments after the fact. i think oliver is looking for some love, some box office and some oscars after 'alexander,' but it still looks like it could be a great film...
Posted by jake at July 18, 2006 8:33 AM
comment #3
Wishing for a Stone Comeback says ...
Poland has pretty crappy taste most of the time. I'm hoping it's not the case here.
Posted by Wishing for a Stone Comeback at July 18, 2006 8:40 AM
comment #4
CCA says ...
I don't know. I generally like Oliver Stone, even if he did all his best work over ten years ago, but I don't know if I'll see this. Does anyone else watch RESCUE ME? That show has pretty much summed up the 9/11 NYFD experience for me. Genius show!
Posted by CCA at July 18, 2006 8:41 AM
comment #5
akabob2002 says ...
Why does any serious movie have to be sent off to a late season release? Everybody gripes about the mindless summer releases and then something with weight is dropped in the summer and that gets complaints. Due to the subject matter, & being a big Oliver Stone fan, I hope "World Trade Center" is great. However, first real contender for the Best Picture? That would have to be "United 93" which is a stupendous and emotionally wrought piece of work.
Posted by akabob2002 at July 18, 2006 9:24 AM
comment #6
Mark says ...
Poor Paddy. He will never live that scene down. He'd be on Hollywood's fast track if only Sheridan had played some fine Irish music over his chanting.
Sheridan was probably also sick the day they filmed the Hounsou "I love everything alive" speech.
Posted by Mark at July 18, 2006 9:30 AM
comment #7
Colin says ...
CCA, I agree on Rescue Me being great, and I don't see how WTC can match up to it, although I'm willing to give Oliver Stone the benefit of the doubt. That said, this looks a bit too much like Ladder 49, but I guess we'll see.
Posted by Colin at July 18, 2006 10:12 AM
comment #8
PolandSucks says ...
David Poland is obnoxious and unprofessional.
Why do you waste time talking about what he thinks?? Be your own man Jeff!
Posted by PolandSucks at July 18, 2006 10:14 AM
comment #9
Matt says ...
As much as I want to agree with akabob2002 that UNITED 93 is "first real contender for...Best Picture," I just don't think it is so. It didn't bring in the coin like WTC is bound to do. Look for Greengrass to be nominated for directing and (possibly) writing along with a other nods for editing and sound.
If it had come out last year, it would have been my favorite film of the year. If anything comes out this year to top it, it will have been a *very* good year.
Posted by Matt at July 18, 2006 11:11 AM
comment #10
POLANDHATER says ...
NO/ NO/ NO/ I am here to escape that weasel dick. Pls. Do Not reprint his 'work/drivel' here....
P.S. That video he did is HIDEOUS!!! He has a face and a voice perfect for blog typing.
Posted by POLANDHATER at July 18, 2006 11:33 AM
comment #11
High Pitch says ...
Agree. He sounds like a less masculine Rex Reed in that video.
Posted by High Pitch at July 18, 2006 11:35 AM
comment #12
Anonymous says ...
Poland makes Rex Reed seem Butch! And he has no fucking taste in movies whatsoever, which doesn't bode well for WORLD TRADE CENTER. I doubt it will be a better film than UNITED 93. It's feels too Hollywoodized - and that's just from the trailer. But, Jesus, what's with mentioning Poland on this site every fucking day. I'm like Polandhater, I also come here to escape his asshat attitude and contempt for mainstream filmmakers and their films.
Posted by Anonymous at July 18, 2006 11:41 AM
comment #13
Ben says ...
It's Nic Cage and Oliver Stone in August. No way it wins.
Posted by Ben at July 18, 2006 11:42 AM
comment #14
Brendan H. says ...
To echo the other folks here, no 9/11-inspired work has yet to match "Rescue Me." That show truly captures the FDNY and post-9/11 NYC while also mixing gallows humor and intense drama. Quality all the way.
Posted by Brendan H. at July 18, 2006 12:16 PM
comment #15
Colin says ...
The "Sean of the Dead" stuff on the last episode of "Rescue Me" is probably the funniest thing I've seen this year either on TV or at the movies.
Posted by Colin at July 18, 2006 12:24 PM
comment #16
Josh Massey says ...
I just think Poland and Wells should whip their dicks out and get it over with.
Posted by Josh Massey at July 18, 2006 12:53 PM
comment #17
CCA says ...
Agreed, Colin. Classic episode. RESCUE ME has such extreme pain AND humor it's really quite amazing. So Irish!
Posted by CCA at July 18, 2006 1:40 PM
comment #18
polandisamoron says ...
If David Poland likes the movie, it's got to be terrible. Is there a bigger hack and loser?
Posted by polandisamoron at July 18, 2006 2:35 PM
comment #19
Bob says ...
So, is Poland really this dumb or is he just being coy? Does anyone NOT get the logic of the August release? It's out in August so that it can STILL be out ON (and around) September 11th.
Posted by Bob at July 18, 2006 10:06 PM
comment #20
RichardClarke says ...
If the Oscar race comes down to a competition between "United 93" and Stone's "World Trade Center," I'll wager that Osama bin Laden will release a video in a tactical attempt to influence the Academy voting. I pray they'll stand tall.
Posted by RichardClarke at July 19, 2006 1:00 AM
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