Old man chattering more and more

Aidan 2022-08-19 05:32:20

It is said that Wang Ying insisted on letting Paul Oster's name be the director of the film with him. Co-directing is a very strange thing in the United States. Wang Ying is really a good person who does not seek fame. I really want to know how the two of them collaborated in the filming process, especially in the final scene, whether it was Wang Ying or Paul's decision. I'm not sure if this scene is a masterpiece, but it is very unique, just right, or even unique, because I can't imagine this process can be used in other films.

In the last scene, Augie and Paul are sitting in a dining room for dinner. After explaining the background of the screen, only Augie's face is left in the close-up. At the end of the film, Augie dictated one of his stories to the camera. It's like Paul Oster is reading one of his novels to you. I have to admit that the picture in this scene is dull, but at the same time we are attracted by Augie's story. What is even more surprising is that at the real end, along with the music, the story dictated by Augie is reproduced in black and white. Unexpected processing methods, text narrative and video narrative are presented one after another, and the information obtained by the audience is double supplemented and confirmed in two different narrative languages. I think this is the biggest surprise brought to us by the joint production of Paul Oster as a writer and Wang Ying as a director.

I like the bright white tone of the film, the white express train that runs between Brooklyn and New York, and the faint sadness and joy in the streets of New York where there is no cloud or blue sky. The character dialogue is impeccable, there is no evil, no bad people, only the daily lives of men.

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Extended Reading

Smoke quotes

  • [first lines]

    OTB Man #1, Tommy: I'm gonna tell you why they aren't going anywhere.

    OTB Man #3, Dennis: Why aren't they going anywhere?

    OTB Man #1, Tommy: Management.

    OTB Man #3, Dennis: Aw jeez.

    OTB Man #1, Tommy: Those guys are walkin' around with the head up their asses.

    OTB Man #3, Dennis: Right, yeah. Well ya know, they made some good trades too ya know. Carter and Manis. Without them two there never woulda been a World Series.

  • Vinnie: Last thing I heard, it's still illegal to sell Cuban cigars in this country.

    Auggie Wren: It's the law that's buying. That's the beautiful thing about it. I mean, when's the last time you heard of a judge sending himself to jail?