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Post by megagem on Jul 14, 2011 22:17:03 GMT
The film is Amazing! simply put! It pours from the screen into my soul and fills all gaps and empty places waiting to become one whole thing again with the rest of my body. It does go well on the eyes, on the ears, on the mind, creating this rich tapestry of images, allusions, emotions, excitements,concepts, phrases and ideas...very well crafted liquid. It does have a little artistic aspect, but for that part I even love it more, just the right amount of pretence. Nothing is better than a piece of work with the quality of a finished item. I couldn't add to it, or criticize it even if I very much wanted to. I could only appreciate it while having the feeling of being completely satisfied when it finished (not that way of being satisfied  ). A little strange choice of words, but I could not find any better to express what I felt. I found the artistic hand behind the film to have kept a little of the naive and simple touch associated with the youht. It evokes in my mind images of some painings by Picasso, as a feel and atmosphere. I am not sure if this is the right comparison, but it does feel like that to me. As if I was looking at life from several different points, but all of them full of body and color. The concept of "play into play" in a film! was so well done that I was watching, when I was watching it actually, with eyes big as child's ones. And full with the same sincere awe. I did read some of your reviews beforehand just to be ready and prepared, and was not sure exactly, if I am going to appreciate it for what it is, or because Rufus was in it. I tried to have open mind for what was about to come, but after the opening scene realised my fear was unnecessary. The story and the way it was presented took me from the start. For me Dominique was one of the other major characters, not only because he was Rufus' responsibility, but because he was meant to be that way. The whole play was created with full-bodied characters, but Dominique was its little shining star and the spice of the meal. He was the great actor, young and unappreciated at first, with his temperament, oddity and variety of taste and mood. He was also very honest, expressive, outspoken, fast reacting. And at the same time there were things in his image that kept on being hidden away, under the surface, and you could guess they existed by the reactions of the character. Rufus was great as Dominique, and also very young for such greatness. It is now obvious to me that somehow life will find its way of giving him a chance to really shine for everyone to see. It is just impossible tallent like his to stay undercover forever. Well, undercover in the hollywierd land. We do know how complex and masterful he could be. I can't help it but quote Dominique after the famous scene behind the curtain; when Tuccio arrives with the idea the theater owners do not want to put his play "...tuccio, I am more devoted to you than to the entire world..." smoking and looking into unspecified point into the future, and said with so much understatement and hidden tought! It was a great moment! I also loved how he was swearing, very real and sweet at the same time. Like a kid testing the world around him. To me Illuminata was a play for love and life and for the love of life, just put in the context of the reality in theater with curtains drawn. Choc, I've said it before, I'll say it now, and I'm sure I'll say it again and again: are you SURE you're not a writer? Your words are IN-CRED-IBLE. "It pours from the screen into my soul..." that entire paragraph is PERFECTION! Seriously, your writing is amazing! It's amazing what passion can do for a person's words, isn't it? This makes me want to hear what you have to say about everything! I so agree with what you said about Dominique as well. Something about him hit me hard, and I'm not completely sure what it was. His determination, his strength, his passion for his craft is inspiring and I could share in his knowledge that he could do better. His confidence that he could be the best may have come across as arrogance at first, but with Rufus playing it, you can't think that way for long. It's Rufus playing him, how could there be any flaws? LOL! All of that mixed with Dominique's quick humour and his true human-ness was amazing. He is an incredibly well-written character and I would love to know the writer's backstory of him as well as Dominique's future. This character (along with a few other Rufus characters) definitely has a special place in my heart and I can't imagine anyone but Rufus playing the role. If anyone else had played Dominique, I never would've seen the film; and if I'd never seen the film, I never would've been so delighted to watch such a beautiful story being told in such a beautiful way. Rufus being a part of it is just the icing on the cake (and the sprinkles and the cherry on top ;D ) |
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Post by gretchenpc on Aug 23, 2011 1:09:25 GMT
This one is on my "wish list" at Amazon. I'll be ordering it soon.
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Post by megagem on Aug 23, 2011 1:46:42 GMT
You'll love it, gretchenpc!  |
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Post by gretchenpc on Sept 2, 2011 20:32:37 GMT
You'll love it, gretchenpc! I have no doubt! I'm actually downloading it this very minute. Decided to rent it from the iStore to watch. If I love it as much as I anticipate, I will buy the DVD from Amazon. Something about it just looks so interesting to me. |
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Post by megagem on Sept 2, 2011 20:53:46 GMT
It's quite quirky and artsy (in a good way), and Dominique (Rufus' character) as far as I know, makes all us ladies cry at the end. It's an extraordinarily beautiful performance (and don't worry, he doesn't die!  ) |
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Post by gretchenpc on Sept 2, 2011 21:19:04 GMT
Quirky and artsy sounds great. I'm tired of predictable and commercial, which seems to be all Hollywood wants to produce anymore.
I cannot tell you how funny it is that his character's name is Dominique. In my life, that's the name of one of the most notorious and troublesome students at the school where I teach. She's also female...and quite...something. LOL. At least now I'll have a good association with that name for once.
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Post by kissmekate on Sept 3, 2011 10:19:05 GMT
"Quite something" goes for this Dominique, too But see for yourself and have fun. |
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Post by kygal on Sept 3, 2011 12:16:14 GMT
This is great fun! Hope you enjoy! May have to watch it again myself.
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Post by gretchenpc on Sept 3, 2011 13:51:56 GMT
I absolutely adored it!!!!
I'll definitely be buying the DVD. This is a movie I could watch over and over. Rufus was amazing, of course, and he did make me shed a tear there at the end. The whole cast was great...I especially enjoyed Christopher Walken! Of course, when don't I enjoy him? He's one of my favorites.
Rufus is mesmerizing though. Even in a cast of other fine actors and actresses, he's just a slight cut above. Everything he does is so natural and believable. I love that!
And my god...I know this goes without saying, but he really is the most handsome man I've ever seen.
Anyway, loved the film. It was beautiful to watch. I know some critics were rather harsh towards it, but I enjoyed every minute.
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Roxy
Roo-kie
Posts: 48
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Post by Roxy on Sept 3, 2011 17:34:01 GMT
Okay so reading all of your comments about this movie, I decided I needed it so I just went over to Amazon to order my copy. How did I skip this one???
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Post by gretchenpc on Sept 3, 2011 19:29:55 GMT
Roxy, you'll enjoy it. It's the kind of movie I would've liked even without being a Rufus fan. It's just cool.
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Post by peach on Jan 6, 2012 0:31:24 GMT
Stayed up till close to midnight watching this last night almost overslept this morning. Forgot how wonderful it is. Nice ensemble cast and he looks oh so lovely, and funny to boot.
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Post by thegodmother on Jan 6, 2012 15:22:51 GMT
any suggestion as to where could I see Illuminata, preferably online? sounds like a great movie
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Post by kissmekate on Jan 7, 2012 11:03:47 GMT
I don't think it's on youtube (correct me if I'm wrong), but the DVD shouldn't be hard to get.
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Post by peach on Jan 8, 2012 1:39:01 GMT
Hi godmother, you can try Amazon. The only format I saw recently was VHS, my wonderful, sweet sister tracked down a DVD copy for me and it is a prized possession. I love this movie so much, Wonderfully written and directed a big tip of the hat to Mr. Turturro. It's a little gem of a movie and one of course that was pretty much ignored. I managed to find this little tidbit in the NY Times archive, a thumbnail review from Janet Maslin.
'ILLUMINATA,'' starring John Turturro, Katherine Borowitz, Susan Sarandon, Rufus Sewell, Christopher Walken and Donal McCann. Directed by Mr. Turturro (R, 111 minutes). An enormously fond homage to the world of acting, beguilingly presented and full of knowing backstage humor. The usual suspects -- the aging diva (Ms. Sarandon), the self-involved leading man (Mr. Sewell), the idealistic aspiring playwright (Mr. Turturro) -- are played invigoratingly, as is Mr. Walken's snide Transylvanian-sounding critic. Mr. Turturro and Ms. Borowitz, his somberly beautiful wife, play out a delicate balance of love and ambition against this nicely tumultuous backdrop (Maslin).
Good luck in your search.
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). A little strange choice of words, but I could not find any better to express what I felt. I found the artistic hand behind the film to have kept a little of the naive and simple touch associated with the youht. It evokes in my mind images of some painings by Picasso, as a feel and atmosphere. I am not sure if this is the right comparison, but it does feel like that to me. As if I was looking at life from several different points, but all of them full of body and color. 
)
