Best Hillcoat Ever

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This is better than that grizzly western in which everyone was lathered with chicken grease, and more spiritually resonant than The Road. (Well, how could it not be?) The narration sounds Terrence Malicky, obviously. The music is what finally makes it. Where's it from?

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 8, 2010 at 1:55 PM

comment #1

TulseLuper says ...

Richard Wagner's Vorspiel from Das Rheingold, which was used in The New World as well as a few Werner Herzog films like Lessons in Darkness and his Nosferatu remake.

What's your problem with The Proposition? It was one of my favorite films of that year. They're meant to look like that because they're living in Hell...metaphorically speaking.

Posted by TulseLuper at July 8, 2010 2:02 PM

comment #2

Brandon Boudreaux says ...

Wow, to paraphrase Chris Rock in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, "Terrance Malick is gonna sue somebody!" I mean it's a great spot and looks beautiful and all but jeez louise it's a straight Malick rip off. I mean the look, the music, the VO.

Posted by Brandon Boudreaux at July 8, 2010 2:09 PM

comment #3

Brandon Boudreaux says ...

Oh and Jeff you saw New World. I'm not sure how anybody who watched that film in a theater and have any sort of appreciation for cinema not allow that piece to glom onto a part of their soul. I still get goose bumps every time I think of this music and the ending of that film. Pure Cinematic Heaven.

Posted by Brandon Boudreaux at July 8, 2010 2:11 PM

comment #4

Mr. Gittes says ...

I like this. Apparently this gets people to buy Levi's?

The New World Extended Cut on the Blu is the only way to go. Masterpiece.

Posted by Mr. Gittes at July 8, 2010 2:16 PM

comment #5

Dan Revill says ...

Who is the poet? My short search hasn't found anything. Or is it totally original?

I did find over here (http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/07/06/watch-john-hillcoats-amazingly-poetic-levis-tv-commercial/) some knob asking what the point of inter-racial couples. Of course quickly with the "not that I am anti..."

It makes you wonder.

Posted by Dan Revill at July 8, 2010 2:19 PM

comment #6

Jack South P.I. says ...

I wish more people emulated Malick, not less. I loved the VO in Days of Heaven and wish more filmmakers would go that way. Then it would no longer be seen as a ripoff but instead just another part of the vocabulary.

Posted by Jack South P.I. at July 8, 2010 2:21 PM

comment #7

BurmaShave says ...

you find the strangest reasons for devaluing movies. THE PROPOSITION is a masterwork.

I almost wrote THE PROPOSAL.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 8, 2010 2:22 PM

comment #8

larry braverman says ...

It's a continuation of last year's 'Go Forth' ad campaign.

Press release:

http://www.levistrauss.com/news/press-releases/levis-proclaims-we-are-all-workers-launch-latest-go-forth-marketing-campaign

Posted by larry braverman at July 8, 2010 2:25 PM

comment #9

Mark says ...

This prompts the question re: the difference between plagiarism and an homage. I give Hillcoat credit at least for not even trying to mask the NW association. He could have easily chosen some Nick Cave tune and pretended that it was original.

The Go Forth campaign overall, btw, is fantastic.

Posted by Mark at July 8, 2010 2:34 PM

comment #10

MickTravisMcGee says ...

Jack South, I'm pretty glad more people don't riff on Malick with spare narration and plaintive images. Even when it's done about as good as it can be done -- "The Assassination of Jesse James..." -- it makes it impossible for the film to be viewed without comparison to Malick. And it'll usually come up short.

Burma, I'm constantly mixing up "The Proposal" and "The Proposition" in conversation. Which sucks because my grandmother recently asked me to recommend a light romantic comedy once and I said "The Proposition." She hasn't been the same since.

Posted by MickTravisMcGee at July 8, 2010 2:38 PM

comment #11

Eloi Wrath says ...

"Burma, I'm constantly mixing up "The Proposal" and "The Proposition" in conversation."

Speaking of Malick, I'm always mixing up Days of Heaven with Days of Thunder.

Posted by Eloi Wrath at July 8, 2010 2:55 PM

comment #12

AlexG says ...

TulseLuper is right. It's from the opening of Wagner's Das Rheingold the first opera from his opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung.

People don't know ANYTHING from classical music do they these days. It's all Lady Gaga or some shit like that

Posted by AlexG at July 8, 2010 3:01 PM

comment #13

Quantrell Bishop says ...

The Proposition is one of the best movies of the past twenty years. Really, you're complaining about the sweat? It's an essential component to the entire setting of that movie, the same way it is in Do the Right Thing.

Posted by Quantrell Bishop at July 8, 2010 3:04 PM

comment #14

mogwaia says ...

Funny this talk of riffing on Malick's spare narration & plaintive images because the instant I saw this spot I assumed it was direct homage to the granddaddy of them all, DGG's "George Washington," particularly the opening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyI4hO5n-UM

From the train obsession, busted out theater, rising Riley/Glass minimalist thing (even if it is Wagner!) and a bunch of scrawny black kids and one scrawny white girl climbing on decayed infrastructure, the only images I couldn't recognize directly from GW were the eagle, face-mask, and stained glass window.

Posted by mogwaia at July 8, 2010 3:16 PM

comment #15

the sordid sentinel says ...

I agree with those here who praise "The Proposition". It's an unflinching masterpiece.

Posted by the sordid sentinel at July 8, 2010 3:21 PM

comment #16

John M says ...

'I give Hillcoat credit at least for not even trying to mask the NW association.'

YES, let's give him credit for this! He hasn't "masked" the reference! Wait, what does that even mean?

No mention of the wholesale borrows from David Gordon Green's GEORGE WASHINGTON, which was already borrowing so heavily from Malick? That plus the co-opting of Malick's selection of Wagner from THE NEW WORLD, and the Malicky voice-over, and the Green/Malicky imagery, and the cornpone nostalgia in the service of selling jeans manufactured in Vietnam...yeah, I guess factoring all that in, this is John Hillcoat's finest work!

Posted by John M at July 8, 2010 3:24 PM

comment #17

craiged says ...

Good news for fans of The Proposition is that Hillcoat is intending to direct a mini series adaptation of Nick Caves novel "The Death of Bunny Monroe" with Ray Winstone eager to star - they are looking to get it set it up on British TV

Posted by craiged at July 8, 2010 3:26 PM

comment #18

craiged says ...

or "The Death of Bunny Munro" even

Posted by craiged at July 8, 2010 3:31 PM

comment #19

DeeZee says ...

Real Machete trailer, I guess.

Posted by DeeZee at July 8, 2010 3:43 PM

comment #20

sumo-pop says ...

It's a great commercial, but a drop in the bucket compared to The Proposition. Jeff, I don't know how someone can (rightfully) bitch about the lack of authenticity in movies and then hold a little dirt and grime against a classic western taking place in the uncivilized outback. Should Emily Watson have had hi-lites? Should Guy Pearce sported glistening white teeth? Give me a fucking break.

Posted by sumo-pop at July 8, 2010 3:45 PM

comment #21

actionman says ...

the road was the single best movie from 2009. hands down. i don't understand how anyone couldn't have been blown away by it. fucking haunting. and yes, i read the book. they did a tremendous job.

Posted by actionman at July 8, 2010 3:49 PM

comment #22

DeeZee says ...

The single best movie from 2009 was Black Dynamite.

Posted by DeeZee at July 8, 2010 3:57 PM

comment #23

frankbooth says ...

Mr. Gittes,

Yes, it does. ALL the young hipster-types have traded their expensive effete-poodle flap-pocket jeans for basic straight leg Levi's, seemingly overnight. One day I began to notice them, and then they were suddenly everywhere.

The ads don't get all the credit -- some of this is obviously another manifestation of the prevalent Eighties nostalgia. Plus they're a nice clean classic design. They look good, unlike those retro-Seventies monstrosities with the gratuitous curlicues.

It's nice to be so behind the times I accidentally wind up at the forefront, even if it makes people think I'm a go-alonger. Fuck 'em. I'll be wearing Levi's long after this blows over.

Posted by frankbooth at July 8, 2010 4:09 PM

comment #24

Overstreet says ...

For the love of all things holy! I mean, I admire "The Proposition" and have a measure of respect for "The Road," but my respect for Hillcoat just dropped abut 60%. That isn't homage. That isn't "inspired by." That's a rip-off, plain and simple. And it I want to forget ever seeing it, so I don't think of it while watching "New World" and "George Washington."

"Best Hillcoat ever?" Cinematic sacrilege.

Posted by Overstreet at July 8, 2010 4:16 PM

comment #25

Wiggumx says ...

"The single best movie from 2009 was Black Dynamite."

I guess it's easy for you to choose when you only actually see one movie a year, and you spend the rest of that year bitching about the movies you will never see.

Posted by Wiggumx at July 8, 2010 5:04 PM

comment #26

frankbooth says ...

Have you even seen any of the movies it was parodying? You did get that it was a comedy, right?

Posted by frankbooth at July 8, 2010 5:12 PM

comment #27

gradystiles says ...

"I still get goose bumps every time I think of this music and the ending of that film. Pure Cinematic Heaven."

It's also used in the opening of the movie, when the settlers first arrive and the Native Americans are viewing them through the trees. I actually think it's even more effective there than at the end.

Posted by gradystiles at July 8, 2010 5:14 PM

comment #28

LanceMc says ...

Hillcoat doing Gordon Green doing Malick.

Posted by LanceMc at July 8, 2010 5:18 PM

comment #29

televisiontears says ...

Late to the game on this one, but just to get things straight, Jeff called a two-minute ad selling denim (granted, a great two-minute ad selling denim) better than both The Proposition and a decent adaption of one of the greatest novels of the last 25 years? Oh, he did? Great. Just making sure.

Posted by televisiontears at July 8, 2010 5:46 PM

comment #30

televisiontears says ...

The single best movie from 1999 was Mystery Men.

Posted by televisiontears at July 8, 2010 5:54 PM

comment #31

Gordn27 says ...

It's weird to watch a whole string of comments that all praise 'THe Proposition', and not one of them can even be as specific as Jeff's very vague "chicken grease" comment.

There's a lot I thought was good about that movie, especially the way Guy Pearce spent the entire movie looking like Eastwood in the sunburnt scene from 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly', but every time the movie goes away from Pearce, it stops dead in its tracks.

Posted by Gordn27 at July 8, 2010 6:14 PM

comment #32

crazynine says ...

Great commercial, but TOTAL Malick ripof... excuse me, homage. As noted, it's even his freakin' music.

(Still love The New World; more than Thin Red Line, but not by much. Just a beautiful film. Having lived in Virginia for close to 20 years now-- and quite familiar with the Tidewater-- it *feels* right).

RE: The Road, just saw it finally a few weeks back. Can't say it's better or worse than the novel, which I admit to devouring in a vacation weekend after it came out. The movie was a perfectly serviceable adaptation that unfortunately just kind of felt smaller than it should have, dunno why.

P.S. The best movie director commercial in recent memory is Michael Mann's Nike football commercial, complete with the Mohicans music. I know Jeff doesn't do sports, but it captures the awesome kinetic desperation of football so perfectly, I wanted to run tackle drills after every time it aired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu3fzu17YBc

Posted by crazynine at July 8, 2010 6:24 PM

comment #33

DeeZee says ...

frank: Yes, and it was still good in its own right.

Anyway, new RE 4 trailer.
Pretty fucking sad what FOX has done to one of its beloved franchises that opening to #2 and $20 million is now considered an ideal box office for the studio.
Wasn't this called My Cousin Vinnie?
Wanna be dressed by Winstead, Lex?
New FX + animated film Academy contender rules.
What is it with Jimmy and giving credit where it's due?
Levinson knows Jack.
But how will it compare with Splash?
Anyone ever thought Chloe would be award material?
Digital Bits notes that the MGM thing will keep Blood Simple from its BD release. The site also updated on the specs for the LG releases of Third Man and Delicatessen.
I'm just wondering when the RT meter's going to hit 50%.
Ruffalo Q+A.
Salt clip.

Posted by DeeZee at July 8, 2010 7:20 PM

comment #34

actionman says ...

that mann spot is very nifty. so is fincher's football/nike spot

Posted by actionman at July 8, 2010 7:35 PM

comment #35

DeeZee says ...

New Social Network teaser.
Jack Goes Boating trailer.
Salt featurette + spots.
Schmucks clip and spot.
Expendables featurette.
New Nowhere Boy trailer.

Posted by DeeZee at July 8, 2010 7:37 PM

comment #36

bluetide says ...

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Jeff. I liked the Proposition and have never really gotten around to watching the Road, but there was a nastiness about the Proposition that I never really warmed to.

This, however, was brilliant. I don't care if it was selling jeans. It didn't feel like it was selling jeans (unlike the atrocious "O Pioneers" ad that felt like a Calvin Klein ad remixed by a creepy English professor); this felt like it was selling America. The first thought it inspired in me was the WPA promotion films from the 30s. And cheesy or not, I thought the content of the narration was pretty insightful.

Posted by bluetide at July 8, 2010 8:11 PM

comment #37

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

I do love an ad showing Americans going out and working brought to us by a company that closed every single plant to ship the jobs elsewhere. I haven't bought a single pair of Levi's since; might as well go with cheaper labels that were already made overseas.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at July 8, 2010 8:42 PM

comment #38

CitizenKanedForPostingThoughts says ...

I'm sorry, but if we're going to talk kickass Nike American football commercials, Fincher's Leave Nothing ("Fate") spot takes Mann's to fucking school:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlXRengzZoc&feature=related

Morricone FTW.

Posted by CitizenKanedForPostingThoughts at July 8, 2010 8:47 PM

comment #39

mark says ...

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Posted by mark at July 8, 2010 9:03 PM

comment #40

mark says ...

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Posted by mark at July 8, 2010 9:07 PM

comment #41

crazynine says ...

Come now, CKane... can't they BOTH be awesome?

Everything's a freakin' popularity contest around these parts.

Posted by crazynine at July 8, 2010 9:38 PM

comment #42

crazynine says ...

BTW, "American football"?

Poseur.

Posted by crazynine at July 8, 2010 9:39 PM

comment #43

DeeZee says ...

Via Ebert's Tweet, Gallagher suddenly thinks he's Andrew Dice Clay.

Posted by DeeZee at July 8, 2010 11:14 PM

comment #44

DeeZee says ...

Harv gets cock-blocked on Miramaxe, while Jay is told "No Emmy for you."
And Cage gets a second shot as saving his brand.

Posted by DeeZee at July 9, 2010 12:16 AM

comment #45

Strolzy says ...

The best recent Hillcoat is his trailer for Grinderman's sophomore album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj9W4bGVB9o
Anyone unfamiliar with this Cave project would do well to obtain the track "No Pussy Blues" // a high decible level /// a little whiskey-muscled rage. See then where the day takes you.

Posted by Strolzy at July 9, 2010 3:10 AM

comment #46

Mark says ...

Check those that say The Road was some kind of masterpiece. It didn't approach the nihilistic lows, the unexpected highs, and the deep paternal bond and emotional death nailed in the book. All it got right was the mood. Hillcoat has yet to prove that he's much more than mood.

Posted by Mark at July 9, 2010 7:58 AM

comment #47