The Assassin (Hou Hsiao-hsien, 2015)

[domino harvey]

I preordered this before Trees went John Hinckley on it and now I'm tempted to deny delivery

[mfunk9786]

I preordered this before Trees went John Hinckley on it and now I'm tempted to deny delivery

This is why we need a like button

[Michael Kerpan]

Not much love for Assassin over on Amazon,,,,

[ermylaw]

Although this did play in my town and I wanted to see it, I wasn't able to make. If I had, I'd have had to drive across town to see it, pay for parking and pay for the ticket.

Instead of paying for all of that, I paid Amazon $15.

Whether I like the film or not, I think I came out pretty well.

[mff]

Not much love for Assassin over on Amazon,,,,

It's unfortunate that this is the first film of his to receive this kind of attention here in the west. Not that I necessarily think it's worse than any of the wonderful films he's made earlier, but this is, I think, his least accessible film.


Anyway, I doubt it'll happen, but it would be really nice if Hou would win the BAFTA that he's now nominated for. :)

[criterion10]

Blu-ray for THE ASSASSIN is now shipping from Amazon for those who've not seen it.

If Trees falls in the forest and no one is around to hear him, does he still sing the praises of The Assassin?

[Zot!]

It's unfortunate that this is the first film of his to receive this kind of attention here in the west. Not that I necessarily think it's worse than any of the wonderful films he's made earlier, but this is, I think, his least accessible

I was wondering about that, considering all the baffled reviews, which I was surprised by, because Hou isn't typically impenetrable at all, quite the opposite, very humanist and naturalistic.

Looking forward to the challenge.

[Fred Holywell]

DVDBeaver

[Michael Kerpan]

I can guarantee that these reviewers' comments would not have been any more positive for Flowers of Shanghai (to pick another example).

[zedz]

It's unfortunate that this is the first film of his to receive this kind of attention here in the west. Not that I necessarily think it's worse than any of the wonderful films he's made earlier, but this is, I think, his least accessible

I was wondering about that, considering all the baffled reviews, which I was surprised by, because Hou isn't typically impenetrable at all, quite the opposite, very humanist and naturalistic.

Looking forward to the challenge.

I think, by mainstream standards, Hou is generally totally impenetrable. None of his films feature conventional exposition (in fact, in terms of characters explaining the plot, The Assassin may indeed come the closest to that out of all his films) and I expect most of those Amazon reviewers, as Michael suggests, would have been equally flummoxed / outraged by any of his preceding films. But he shouldn't present many problems to most members of this forum. The main difference with this film is that the underlying storyline is more complicated and eventful than is the norm for Hou (though Flowers of Shanghai also has a lot of buried complexities that need to be sifted out). Be patient, pay attention, rewatch if necessary.

[Trees]

Tears of laughter reading these: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3508840/reviews?filter=hate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Zot!]

Well, I was already discounting the ones that expected a wall to wall actioner.

[Raymond Marble]

Although this did play in my town and I wanted to see it, I wasn't able to make. If I had, I'd have had to drive across town to see it, pay for parking and pay for the ticket.

Instead of paying for all of that, I paid Amazon $15.

Whether I like the film or not, I think I came out pretty well.

If you consider that this is arguably the most aesthetically beautiful film made in the past 15 years and you passed up the opportunity to see it on the big screen in favor of handing your money to a corporation intent on controlling all aspects of the movie industry (hell, all aspects of quite a few industries), no, you actually didn't come out very well.

[mogwai]

This didn't play in my city, but I regret not having driven the three or four hours to the closest theater. This is, quite simply, one of the most beautifully shot films ever and I really wish I had seen it on the big screen. This was also the first Hou I've seen and I didn't find it terribly difficult or challenging, but I think reading some of the comments on this forum helped. I'm a bit behind on my movie watching from last year, but this one currently sits at the top. I'm excited to dive into some of his other work.

[Michael Kerpan]

Americans are not generally used to paying close attention to movies that have essentially no redundancy of "information" -- but I wonder if folks who like things like Lynch movies and the X-files might do a lot better than average?

[Michael Kerpan]

The BluRay (HK, as I didn't see the US one was also imminent) arrived this evening, so I had to watch it. The film was at least as great (and easier to follow) the second time around.

[Trees]

Yes, gets better on second and third viewing. Hou himself has said it was designed that way. I did not totally understand the plot the first time I saw it.

[swo17]

How many viewings does it take for it to ENTIRELY TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE?

[Alphonse Tram]

Paul Schrader is not a fan

I've been waiting almost a year to see this film. Saw it tonight. What-the-huh? Camera movement, compositions, lighting, action sequences--a compendium of art house cliches. Okay, five brilliant minutes here, five brilliant minutes there, but, overall, meh. Where is Pauline Kael when we need her. This is just the sort of pomposity she feeded on.

New Yorker film critic Richard Brody joins in

I was underwhelmed, too—engaged by the mood and the political implications but not by the drama or the overall experience, which seemed willed into being, not observed

Edit: He continues...

It is a critical phenomenon I call "buying stock ". Critics and viewers consciously or unconsciously purchase shares in an artist's work. "I have ten thousand shares of Tarantino." "Fifty thousand shares of Star Wars." Etcetera. Once a viewer has purchased stock in an artist he/she becomes committed to that stock valuation. I first noticed this when Peter Bogdonavich purchased a massive holding in Howard Hawks and was then thrust into the awkward position of defending "Man's Favorite Sport". I watched as cinephiles have purchased stock in DePalma, Carpenter, the Coen Bros to the point that they are no longer objectively assessing the work but instead defending their investment. The latest is Hiseau Hisean Ho and the assumption by stock holders that it it must be a masterpiece because he worked on it for eight years.

[A man stayed-put]

Schrader seems more to have taken umbrage with people liking the film than anything else. For some people it's never enough to simply not enjoy something, they also have to imply anyone who doesn't share their experience/opinion is either a sheep or a half-wit (or both).

[Oedipax]

The dynamic Schrader is describing around 'critical stock' is definitely one I've noticed before (and been guilty of myself, probably) but I think he's picked the wrong target here. Then again maybe Hiseau Hisean Ho is some other, mediocre filmmaker, and this is all just a big misunderstanding.

[Trees]

From the director of "The Canyons".....

[Alphonse Tram]

From the director of "The Canyons".....

If we're judging people's opinions based on the films they have made, what is your contribution to back up your opinion?

[Trees]

From the director of "The Canyons".....

If we're judging people's opinions based on the films they have made, what is your contribution to back up your opinion?

I am not a famous film director publicly talking trash about someone else's work and attacking the motivations of people who like it.

[barryconvex]

Tears of laughter reading these: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3508840/reviews?filter=hate" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

i now know what is going to be inscribed on my tombstone thanks to imdb user bachphi:

"It get so boring that I fall into the sleep."

thank you bach!!! i'm not picking on you-you've honestly made my day...