For a second I thought that architect guy was Ed Begley Jr. and then I was pretty disappointed that it wasn't because, seriously, Ed Begley would have been perfect for that role.

For a second I thought that architect guy was Ed Begley Jr. and then I was pretty disappointed that it wasn't because, seriously, Ed Begley would have been perfect for that role.

You should have sprung for the complete Hydra Head collection. A mere $3,333!

You should have sprung for the complete Hydra Head collection. A mere $3,333!

And they weren't wrong. This became even clearer in the editing room. At one point, Hopper apparently wanted a four-hour cut with extensive flashforwarding, which I'm sure would have been, um, interesting. 

And they weren't wrong. This became even clearer in the editing room. At one point, Hopper apparently wanted a four-hour cut with extensive flashforwarding, which I'm sure would have been, um, interesting. 

I associate the movie with New Orleans somewhat because the New Orleans sequence is so stylistically different from the rest of the movie. Also, as in Angel Heart, NOLA is used to represent a kind of descent into Hell.

I associate the movie with New Orleans somewhat because the New Orleans sequence is so stylistically different from the rest of the movie. Also, as in Angel Heart, NOLA is used to represent a kind of descent into Hell.

The New Orleans trip sequence was actually the first thing they filmed for this movie. It was a test shoot, and I believe Hopper and Fonda didn't even have a proper script at that point. They just kind of filmed themselves dicking around with Toni Basil and Karen Black in the cemetery.

The New Orleans trip sequence was actually the first thing they filmed for this movie. It was a test shoot, and I believe Hopper and Fonda didn't even have a proper script at that point. They just kind of filmed themselves dicking around with Toni Basil and Karen Black in the cemetery.

I lived in NYC for a brief period (and, Britta-like, I never shut up about it), and I lived just a couple blocks away from the Irish Haven, the bar featured heavily in this movie. It has a credibly Bostonian atmosphere inside. Outside is another story, since it sits in the middle of the hispanic section of Sunset…

I lived in NYC for a brief period (and, Britta-like, I never shut up about it), and I lived just a couple blocks away from the Irish Haven, the bar featured heavily in this movie. It has a credibly Bostonian atmosphere inside. Outside is another story, since it sits in the middle of the hispanic section of Sunset…

It's interesting that you mention Nosferatu here because Malick and Herzog both share Murnau as a major influence.

It's interesting that you mention Nosferatu here because Malick and Herzog both share Murnau as a major influence.

I'm responding to a few points in this thread here. This is the only spot Disqus would let me place my comment.

I'm responding to a few points in this thread here. This is the only spot Disqus would let me place my comment.

I usually hate when people brag about walking out of movies, but Rosenbaum makes a good point in his capsule review of Evita: "I figured if I stayed longer I’d only become angrier, which wouldn’t do anybody any good."

I usually hate when people brag about walking out of movies, but Rosenbaum makes a good point in his capsule review of Evita: "I figured if I stayed longer I’d only become angrier, which wouldn’t do anybody any good."

Man, I loved The Red and the Black. It feels amazingly modern for a book that old.

Man, I loved The Red and the Black. It feels amazingly modern for a book that old.