Vinyan

[rueful]

What a wonderful review, numbat. I loved your analysis of sex (or lack of) as a metaphor for intimacy and power/control. It was well thought out and very interesting. (Plus, the images it put in my head....)

Thanks for sharing it with us. Can't wait to hear your opinions on all the other thousands of Rufus movies you've purchased and watched in the last 72 hours.

[Famke]

numbat, that is quite a review.

Honestly, there were times during Vinyan where I was saying to myself...WTH? What is happening here?

After reading your review the movie seems to make more sense, your insights are awesome.

[tipou]

numbat: well seems you liked the movie! i thought i was the only one - see my review - and i am so glad to know i am not.

great analysis of the emotions that are at the very core of that courageous movie.

true: the "making of" is as good, and any one who likes cinema whould have a look at it.

[rufluvr]

Another great review. So fun to read. Their sex life being the barometer of their emotional connection (both which were disintegrating) was well portrayed, indeed. It is, however, rather classic filmaking--but it's cliche' because well, sadly it's so true to life! Him "taking" her you definitely see coming...not so much her ultimately "taking" of him in the end though. ( thought they'd both bite it in the end.)
Had to laugh at Eleanor's above response to the posting, tho. As much as I'm sure she appreciated the review and truly wants to see Rufus' awesome acting in Vinyan, I bet it was your final seven words that were the clincher. Hee, hee. You know, the words describing Rufus as hot, sweaty, naked, etc.

[numbat]

Thanks girls, I was pleased to read in the interview that GE2 just posted that Rufus was proud of his work in Vinyan. As i watch some of the other things he's made (Zorro, Knights Tale etc etc) you can see how he must really want to get away from that endless typecasting & make pieces with real depth & emotion (if a little difficult to watch).

& on a completely shallow note, i have to say that despite the emotions & fantastic acting, atmospheric scenery & sheer hard work that went into making this, my favourite part remains the first bedroom scene - the image of Roof's sexy, sexy back with the ripple of muscles under his skin as he moves is just mindblowing, followed of course by the tender kiss & gentle caress (that crazy wife of his must have been truly mad!!!!)

[eleanor]

Jun 4, 2009 0:27:13 GMT rufluvr said:

Another great review. So fun to read. Their sex life being the barometer of their emotional connection (both which were disintegrating) was well portrayed, indeed. It is, however, rather classic filmaking--but it's cliche' because well, sadly it's so true to life! Him "taking" her you definitely see coming...not so much her ultimately "taking" of him in the end though. ( thought they'd both bite it in the end.)
Had to laugh at Eleanor's above response to the posting, tho. As much as I'm sure she appreciated the review and truly wants to see Rufus' awesome acting in Vinyan, I bet it was your final seven words that were the clincher. Hee, hee. You know, the words describing Rufus as hot, sweaty, naked, etc.

Hi rufluvr, I am glad that I made you laugh but you are wrong. Whilst I am very keen to see Rufus' naked body (always) I am also very interested in this film from a psychological viewpoint. The descent in to madness intrigues me and I am looking forward to watching Rufus' reactions in this film. Have you read Heart of Darkness by Jospeh Conrad? It is spellbinding and leads you in to a very dark and haunting place. I see a similarity in Vinyan according to numbat's write up and it is this that has made me want to see the film. Rufus plays psychologically wounded characters brilliantly in my opinion and it is his display of these emotions that I mostly want to see. Naked, writhing, sexy, hot and sweaty Rufus is a bit of a bonus though. Nice.

[rueful]

Rufluvr said:

I bet it was your final seven words that were the clincher. Hee, hee.

From Ellie, one among many such descriptions:

Naked, writhing, sexy, hot and sweaty Rufus

Ok, rufluvr, you may turn your (teasingly) accusing eye at me. Because, slowly and steadily, torturously, day by day, you women ARE KILLING ME! This is exactly the kind of deep, brilliantly acted, but dark, bleak, hopeless, and unrelentingly depressing film that I usually can't watch because it bothers me too much--for days and days. But dear God, I must now subject myself to it. I must. I have read enough reviews in here to have spoiled myself for virtually the entire plot already, but it doesn't matter. I was warned by DGD and tipou that the scene is brief and not happy, but it doesn't matter. And I know that the film may be good on many levels, and I may end up being mesmerized by the acting and admire the cinematography, but I will be watching it for one reason and one reason only.

You have uncovered my shallow, shallow soul.

[numbat]

You have uncovered my shallow shallow soul

Thank goodness for that Rueful coz i though it was just me!!!!

And on that note, let me ask these 2 questions - why did that crazy Frenchwoman go tramping off around the jungles of Burma in a flimsy dress & boots??? And most importantly, why do we get full frontal nudity of her, whilst our Roof keeps his pants on (altho they do get quite low - .......... just a bit ......... lower ......... please ......... lower ...............)

[rufluvr]

Quite right, Rueful and Eleanor--Vinyan is quite the package deal: an intrigueing storyline (although one which could have been much enhanced imho, but, oh well) great acting, fab cinematography and the bonus bit 'o'bum!!!

And speaking of packages, to answer numbat's queries:
(1) Jeane was dressed like that to show the contrast between her and that rugged environ she had no rational place being in (but really because the director thought she'd look HOT in a vulnerable, messy way)
(2) More of Ruf's bum and other lovely bits weren't revealed because it wasn't needed to get the point across in the scene (but really because the straight male director thought it wasn't necessary. some of us viewers might beg to differ naturally, ha ha.) We all know gender bias plays a huge role in Hollywood, although they have made token strides here and there in the recent past to exploit--I mean, to showcase male nudity as well (Rome, anyone?)

[numbat]

More of Ruf's bum and other lovely bits

ROFLMFAO - other lovely bits, am quite unable to think straight now!!!!

Rufluvr - I still don't understand why she was nude really - i mean she wasn't nude when he left (much to his disquiet!!!) Were we to think that someone else had been there while he was away - if so who? That she'd changed her mind & was waiting for him and had simply fallen asleep - or had she been flying solo???

[rufluvr]

Numbat, I posted the same question earlier myself--with no reply. Maybe there just isn't a straight answer because so much of the movie is nuanced and implied...I think the director intended for us to wonder for Paul's benefit in a sort of cuckholdery way...first Jeane's been rejecting him, later he rejects an advance only the response being an insinuating tone agreeing that, yes, but, YOU did, uh-oh, leave your wife alone. After which he sees some orgiastic dancing going on before he finds her naked and looking in a rather sweaty post-sex-y kind of way. All a lead up to the scene that follows.

[wichiwoman]

...and the bonus bit 'o'bum!!!

I love your use of words here, rufluvr!!!

Yeah, the poor guy had to get some relief. First being rejected by Jeanne, then having to fight back Kim, then having to watch that very weird dance. He could have just come over to my house!!

[numbat]

I think you're probably right rufluvr, if we were able to explain it all it wouldn't be Vinyan would it.

And wichi, i think you'll find that MY house would have been much closer than yours

[wichiwoman]

The poor boy needs a long rest. Nothing better than a nice long 14-hour flight back to Wichita. Then, after a nice loooonnnngggg rest, he flies to Austraila. I will share. I don't want to, but I will share.

(notice I said "...back to Wichita"!!! )

[rueful]

Ladies, ladies. I remember when Tipou and I used to argue over who got Rufus. After a lot of teasing and even a few aborted early-morning duels, we settled on the only possible sensible answer, and I took full possession of him. But you can still feel free to watch your dvds.