DVDTalk Review of The Future

Josh Z · 12-01-11, 12:34 PM

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53416/future-the/

Do reviews no longer have the "click here to discuss this review in our forums" link? I'm not seeing it.

Anyway, just wanted to say that I saw this as part of a film festival screening earlier in the year, and if possible, I hated it even more than the reviewer here. Insufferably awful movie in every respect.

Miranda July spoke afterwards, and it became immediately clear that she did no "acting" in the film whatsoever. What you see on screen is exactly what she really is.

The screening was packed with adoring, sycophantic fans who asked her questions about how the symbolism in such-and-such a scene related to the fourth paragraph of an obscure short story she wrote for a long-discontinued publication, and so forth. All of which she answered in the most obtuse manner possible, much to the fans' enthusiasm. In fact, she started the Q&A by saying that she didn't want anyone to ask any questions until they took a few minutes to sit in silence and ponder the film. And then she stood there, waiting for something to happen.

Ugh. Terrible movie. Just terrible.

Randy Miller III · 12-01-11, 01:29 PM

Josh,

I think it's been replaced with the Facebook streaming comments section below each review. I've noticed a lot more feedback since the change-over, so I suppose it's an improvement. Normally I'd get maybe three or four threads about my reviews per year (!), and I've gotten at least that many in the last month.

Josh Z · 12-01-11, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Miller III

Josh,

I think it's been replaced with the Facebook streaming comments section below each review. I've noticed a lot more feedback since the change-over, so I suppose it's an improvement. Normally I'd get maybe three or four threads about my reviews per year (!), and I've gotten at least that many in the last month.

Ah, Facebook is blocked on my office computer. Didn't see it.

Adam Tyner · 12-01-11, 04:27 PM

Yeah.

The review system can't access the forum database anymore, so I had to break them out...and it wound up prompting a lot more chatter, as luck would have it.

Kurtie Dee · 12-01-11, 04:32 PM

And again, now I really want to see this movie.

Boba Fett · 12-02-11, 05:26 AM

Thanks for the feedback. In hindsight I was probably too kind in my review. I was tempted to compare this to Richard Kelley's abysmal SOUTHLAND TALES, in terms of just how far her second film had dropped in quality, but at least he had a semi-coherent idea of what he was doing.

On a related note, when I get hit with a real turd like this, I'll read the original reviews from which the cover quotes were pulled.

One was taken out of context so much, I have to laugh.

The cover says: "Unique [and] endearingly off-kilter."

The original context: "The elements that make "The Future" unique — it is narrated by the cat, has a complex, sci-fi-ish time-loop structure and endearingly off-kilter interludes of July's character attempting to dance — might also prove challenging to potential buyers and audiences."

To top it off, the quote was pulled from an article that isn't an actual formal review, more background info on the film with an interview piece.

Josh Z · 12-02-11, 01:48 PM

After I saw it at the Boston Indepedent Film Festival, one of the critics from the Boston Globe called it "the bravest film at this or any American festival." Sadly, that wasn't taken out of context. He thought it was terrific. Over the last couple years, the Globe critics have been studying at the Armond White School of Obnoxious Contrarianism.

12-01-11, 12:34 PM	#1
Josh Z DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 9,762	DVDTalk Review of The Future http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53416/future-the/ Do reviews no longer have the "click here to discuss this review in our forums" link? I'm not seeing it. Anyway, just wanted to say that I saw this as part of a film festival screening earlier in the year, and if possible, I hated it even more than the reviewer here. Insufferably awful movie in every respect. Miranda July spoke afterwards, and it became immediately clear that she did no "acting" in the film whatsoever. What you see on screen is exactly what she really is. The screening was packed with adoring, sycophantic fans who asked her questions about how the symbolism in such-and-such a scene related to the fourth paragraph of an obscure short story she wrote for a long-discontinued publication, and so forth. All of which she answered in the most obtuse manner possible, much to the fans' enthusiasm. In fact, she started the Q&A by saying that she didn't want anyone to ask any questions until they took a few minutes to sit in silence and ponder the film. And then she stood there, waiting for something to happen. Ugh. Terrible movie. Just terrible. __________________ Josh Z Critic, High-Def Digest (Blog updated daily!) Contributor, Home Theater Magazine Curator, Laserdisc Forever \| Cinema Zyberdiso My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employers.

12-01-11, 01:29 PM	#2
Randy Miller III DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 4,309	Re: DVDTalk Review of The Future Josh, I think it's been replaced with the Facebook streaming comments section below each review. I've noticed a lot more feedback since the change-over, so I suppose it's an improvement. Normally I'd get maybe three or four threads about my reviews per year (!), and I've gotten at least that many in the last month. __________________ Profile and most recent reviews

12-01-11, 04:27 PM	#4
Adam Tyner DVD Talk Reviewer/ Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Greenville, South Cackalack Posts: 14,788	Re: DVDTalk Review of The Future Yeah. The review system can't access the forum database anymore, so I had to break them out...and it wound up prompting a lot more chatter, as luck would have it. __________________ "When you're in your twenties, you wonder what everyone's thinking of you. When you're in your thirties, you don't care what people think of you. And when you reach your forties, you find out no one was ever thinking of you in the first place." -Patton Oswalt

12-01-11, 04:32 PM	#5
Kurtie Dee DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,454	Re: DVDTalk Review of The Future And again, now I really want to see this movie. __________________ "At least let me wet my rice." My Countdown Counting down to: someone reading my countdown. 2769 days 20 hours 30 minutes

12-02-11, 05:26 AM	#6
Boba Fett DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 5,596	Re: DVDTalk Review of The Future Thanks for the feedback. In hindsight I was probably too kind in my review. I was tempted to compare this to Richard Kelley's abysmal SOUTHLAND TALES, in terms of just how far her second film had dropped in quality, but at least he had a semi-coherent idea of what he was doing. On a related note, when I get hit with a real turd like this, I'll read the original reviews from which the cover quotes were pulled. One was taken out of context so much, I have to laugh. The cover says: "Unique [and] endearingly off-kilter." The original context: "The elements that make "The Future" unique — it is narrated by the cat, has a complex, sci-fi-ish time-loop structure and endearingly off-kilter interludes of July's character attempting to dance — might also prove challenging to potential buyers and audiences." To top it off, the quote was pulled from an article that isn't an actual formal review, more background info on the film with an interview piece.

12-02-11, 01:48 PM	#7
Josh Z DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 9,762	Re: DVDTalk Review of The Future After I saw it at the Boston Indepedent Film Festival, one of the critics from the Boston Globe called it "the bravest film at this or any American festival." Sadly, that wasn't taken out of context. He thought it was terrific. Over the last couple years, the Globe critics have been studying at the Armond White School of Obnoxious Contrarianism. __________________ Josh Z Critic, High-Def Digest (Blog updated daily!) Contributor, Home Theater Magazine Curator, Laserdisc Forever \| Cinema Zyberdiso My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employers.