The 2nd Match

This match-up ended up being incredibly interesting and the director pairing was more similar than anticipated. All of the directors are obviously talented, and the fluency of many of the films we watched in this match was elegant and beautiful. Making the final choice was difficult, because for each side, there was an incredible film in tandem with a disappointing film with potential for excellence.

The Exorcist

I had already seen this movie from William Friedkin, but watching it again from a more critical perspective, I found it just as entrancing and horrifying. This movie is classic horror, and uses no cheap tricks to get you involved, disgusted, and scared. It's visually interesting and wonderfully shocking to see this tale of evil unfold, slowly building to its crashing peak of an ending. I had forgotten how intense the characters were from Regan's desperate mother to the psychologist priest in the midst of a crisis of faith. One aspect that is totally unforgettable is how seamlessly Regan transitions from an innocent, likable little girl into a terrifying, sick monster.

No Country for Old Men

I really enjoyed watching this movie. It was impressive and visually amazing. I found it to be beautiful, apparently full of deep meaning and symbolism, and interesting. But there was a let-down in this film. It feels as if the Coen brothers are expecting you to repeatedly watch this movie and break it down into parts in order to glean the meaning from its pieces. I really, really wanted to get what they were trying to say, but found that it didn't happen quite clearly enough. I really loved the course of the film, but was disappointed in its lack of conclusive purpose. I'm sure it was there, but if it takes more than many discussions, repeated viewings and research to get the point, then it's a little too complex for the film genre, in my opinion.

The French Connection

Ugh. I'm sorry, I understand the appeal of this movie in its potential for intrigue and complex characters, but jeez, does it have to be so boring? It was difficult to keep watching this movie, and we had to distract ourselves with multitasking to get through the whole thing. I can't tell if the extremely fake blood from the opening sequence (which seemed completely pointless) and the incredibly slow scenes in which nothing happens just can't match the quick pace of the modern movies I'm used to or if this film is lacking in the hook department, but either way, the strengths can't overcome the downfalls. The lack of development of the relationship between the two main characters, police detective partners, and the seemingly random slow camera work just make too much of a hurdle for Gene Hackman's superb acting and the brilliantly extended chase scene through Brooklyn starting with a sniper shot and ending on the stairs of an above-ground subway platform to overcome. I'm glad I never have to watch this movie again. Sorry, Mr. Friedkin.

Fargo

I had seen Fargo before this competition, and similar to the experience of re-watching The Excorcist with a keener eye, I enjoyed it as much if not more than the previous times I've watched it. The film blends comic moments with intense violence without feeling contrived. The audience falls in love with Margie, the pregnant police chief of a small Wisconsin town, and not just because of her cute, mid-western accent (dontcha know) or genuine smile, but more because of her frank, open nature and quick intelligence. Like No Country, the movie feels carefully planned, but everything fits naturally and in the end we feel the conclusive message of the film: if we can keep our focus on the truly important parts of life, we can navigate through the seemingly impossible challenges and shocking realities that it presents us with. Not everyone deals with life this way, and once they have made a choice that focuses on what is less important (money, power, pride, or a fictional version of oneself), the situation quickly snowballs into tragedy.

Clearly, the Coen bros. are the winners as I didn't feel bored while watching either of their films. Next match-up: Steven Soderberg vs. John Woo!