Comments on: THE PLOT THINS… (15 GREAT MOVIES IN WHICH NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS)

By: Fred Ebert

Fred Ebert — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:46:52 +0000

Tree’s Lounge good. Don’t remember much either, just that I enjoyed it. And speaking of plotless movies, nobody mentioned “Clerks” or “Slackers” … Plotless is one thing but that shit was just stupid and effortless.

By: Adam Sapiro

Adam Sapiro — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:02:52 +0000

Tod: Sorry, but “Dazed and Confused” had more pot than plot.

Susan: I enjoyed “Broken Flowers” too, and you’re exactly right about its there’s-a-plot-but-really-not feel. I didn’t like (or get?) “Stranger Than Paradise”, and I don’t remember much about “Trees Lounge,” other than I saw it and I think there was a Baldwin brother in it (always a safe bet when talking about ’90s movies).

45vinyljunkie: Which is bigger, your record collection or your “plotless” movie collection?

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:20:51 +0000

Hmmm… my titles aren’t as colorful as vinyljunkie, but if I might add my plot-free favorites: “Stranger than Paradise” (directed by Jim Jarmusch) and “Trees Lounge” (written by, directed and starring Steve Buscemi). “Broken Flowers” does have a plot, but it still achieves the meandering plot-free effect, so I’ll submit that for the quasi-plot category occupied by The Savages.

By: 45vinyljunkie

45vinyljunkie — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:30:04 +0000

When it ‘comes’ to plotless movies, some of my favorites are “When Harry Ate Sally,” “Pulp Friction,” “Forrest Hump” and “Easy Ride Her.”

By: Tod

Tod — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:48:25 +0000

While I’m pleased to see Dazed and Confused on your list, it did have a plot. A group of jocks, cool kids and losers celebrating summer vacation, looking forward to their senior year, and fighting the esatblishment. OK, mostly the characters were drinking beer, smoking pot and getting laid – and to that I say “Alright, Alright” – but I’m pretty sure there was a plot. Maybe I was just Dazed and/or Confused when I was watching it.

By: Adam Sapiro

Adam Sapiro — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:16:29 +0000

It’s funny, at first I hated “Jesus’ Son” too and almost bailed midway through. But I stuck with it, and by the end I was completely hooked. Don’t know how to explain that — did the movie get better, or did I just give into it?

And Noise looks intriguing — I’ll be checking it out. Thanks!!

By: outlandinstitute

outlandinstitute — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:31:21 +0000

That’s a great list. Curiously, I love some of those films – The Station Agent, Lost In Translation, Before Sunrise – and hate some of the others – Jesus’s Son, for example. Just found that tedious. ‘Cos… you know… nothing happens.

There’s an Australian film called Noise which I would heartily recommend. While it’s OSTENSIBLY plot based – cops trying to find a killer – the truth is that the plot is totally irrelevant, and the film is really a character study of one man who is left alone to sit in a police caravan in case anyone has any clues to give. (I also love the fact that none of the police investigation seems to have any influence on the outcome of the plot – things just happen).

http://outlandinstitute.wordpress.com