Pleasantville

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#1Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 8:16pm

I just re-watched this tonight after not having seen it for over a year. It was good to be reminded just what an absolutely brilliant film this is. It has some of the most beautiful images in it from it's entire decade and (to me) even of all time. If I remember correctly, it got mixed reviews when it was released in '98 and that really pissed me off - almost as much as it's lack of nominations for Joan Allen, William H. Macy and Jeff Daniels, all of whom were extremely deserving. And that score. My God, that score is breathtaking...

I'm curious to know what others here think of this (to me) genius film.

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east side story
#2Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 8:23pm

Love it. Always have.

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sabrelady
#2Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 8:26pm

I have always loved this film both for the story ( authenticity)
and its brilliant imagery. I also appreciate its technical elements the movement from b/w to color was incredible.
It was a fantasy story tho so I knew it would never get any noms.
(nayb technical awards)

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best12bars
#3Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 9:11pm

I always thought it would make a wonderful Broadway musical if they could figure out a way to do the black and white to color transitions. It would be startling. Plus with the right creative team, it could be very powerful.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#4Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 9:13pm

I've always thought the same thing!!!

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best12bars
#5Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 9:21pm

The movie is brilliant, I agree. It always had a wonderful theatricality to it, from the staging, camera angles, to the art direction, etc. It feels like a natural transition to film, where others don't as much. I wonder if anybody's optioned it or working on it.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#6Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 9:30pm

I just can't imagine how it would ever work in the stage. Maybe as a new movie musical?

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Tag
#7Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 9:47pm

Best there are types of lighting fixtures that can do it. Basically they create a single wavelength that doesn't let your eyes differentiate color.

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Marianne2
#8Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:22pm

I love it too. I also have not watched it in so long either. I may have to now.


"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

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rosscoe(au)
#9Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:44pm

Joan Allen should have won an Oscar for this, she was heartbreaking, stunning and near prefect. From what I remember this film still has more special effects in it than any other movie, it really is something special


Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

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Luscious
#10Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 11:36pm

Love it! Rewatched it a couple of months ago. Such an underrated gem!


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Wynbish
#11Pleasantville
Posted: 10/21/14 at 11:48pm

I think Jeff Daniels gave my favorite performance. So subtle and understated, but still impactful as his character grew both in his art and his love for Joan Allen.

And Don Knotts... Such fun

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Kad
#12Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 12:11am

I love this film.

I do think, however, it's a story uniquely tailored for the screen.


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

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Fantod
#13Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 12:49am

Well I just watched it and I thought that the nazi-eque issues were too heavy to just have a happy ending, and I would have preferred either a less intense climax or a less picture perfect ending. I was bummed too because the first half-hour was excellent.

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Fantod
#14Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 1:07am

I did find the scene where Jeff Daniels's character discovers the masterpieces of the world to be extremely moving, and thought that it was very well crafted as a scene.

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sabrelady
#15Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 1:45am

I think they had a real piece of Luck getting Don Knotts. His appearance resonated so much w the adults watching the film - Mayberry RFD- just like Pleasantville. As bland and cheerful and just as unreal.

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themysteriousgrowl
#16Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 7:05am


This really is one of the best -- and most forgotten -- American movies of the '90s. It's also one of the rare recent films for which "Capraesque" is an appropriate appellation. (<---- After Eight alliteration action)


CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#17Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 9:29am

Glad you missed the point of the movie, "Fantod".

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Jordan Catalano
#18Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 9:32am

There are VERY few films that actually deserve the word "Capraesque" attributed to them, but this definitely is one.

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themysteriousgrowl
#19Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 10:09am


- Yeah. It's very Kafkaesque.

- ...'Cause it's written by Franz Kafka.

- Right. No. I mean...clearly.


CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#20Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 10:11am

I didn't know that Franz Kafka writed the movie!

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Fantod
#21Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 10:35am

Jordan, you can't go around telling people that they missed the point of a movie because they didn't like it. I get it, but I just didn't like it and just because you understand why something is doesn't mean you have to like it.

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#22Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 10:50am

But do YOU understand why something is?

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themysteriousgrowl
#23Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:05am


"Pleasantville" something something


CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#24Pleasantville
Posted: 10/22/14 at 11:06am

something something Nazi-esque white people something