Least favorite film by Antonioni
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Zabriskie Point
micael50 — 16 years ago(July 30, 2009 07:52 PM)
First of all, I'm a huge fan of Antonioni's work, most of his films blew me away the first time I saw them, and some still have that effect on me after many viewings. I was hesitant to watch Zabriskie Point because it had such bad reviews. I finally saw it a couple weeks ago and even though the film has some absolutely beautiful scenes, it felt like there was something missing, at some points the movie even seamed grotesquely self indulgent; I know a lot of people could say the same about Blow Up and a bunch of other films by Antonioni, but things always seam to fall into place in an Antonioni-esque kind of way (which was not the case here). Does anybody else feel the same?
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WarpedRecord — 15 years ago(January 30, 2011 11:58 AM)
I also agree to an extent. Antonioni films are always stronger in terms of visuals than storytelling, but this one was very powerfully directed if not acted. It's my least favorite Antonioni I have seen so far, but it's still extremely well directed.
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kenny-164 — 11 years ago(July 11, 2014 09:28 AM)
This is the seventh Antonioni film I have seen. For some reason I have long loved Blow-up, but did not get to his otehr films until the last few years. I have since greatly appreciated the first three of the films with Monica Vitti, especially L'Eclisse, which I think is one of the greatest films of all time.
I finally got to see ZP, and I was frankly leery of it, given its reputation. But I actually enjoyed it very much, giving it 9 out of ten here.
I have only seen Red Desert once, and it is the one of the seven I am least sure about. I fear I may not have entirely gotten it, which holds back a greater appreciation, obviously. I also felt Richard Harris's performance was rather odd. So if I had to pick my least favorite, right now I would have to say Red Desert, and I know that film has its huge fans. Zabriskie i actually enjoyed very much.
One of the odd things I felt watching it was how many films seem to have been influenced by it in one way or another. Films as different as Paris, Texas and To Live and Die in LA were rather obviously influenced by it.
I was also afraid the two leads would give a poor performance, but I didn't find that at all. Many of the performances by the supporting cast were quite good in fact.
And of course it contains all that beautiful Antonioni visuals. -
johnniedoo — 11 years ago(January 16, 2015 09:50 AM)
I got linked to this movie through Rod Taylor's recent passing and Turner Classic movies remembrance. I forgot he was in this one(Z.P.). It is my least favorite of both Antonioni and Taylor's. It is time for me to re watch this one though. I saw it when it was released and was not swayed by the reviews because i saw it before I knew of any review and did not like it. I thought Antonioni just missed the boat in his overview of how he viewed America, American culture or the generations. I thought the cinematography was amazingly great, better than his prior and next productions. I did not like his choice of Pink Floyd at the time but was probably unaware of his rejection of the Door's /Jim Morrison's work but was a big fan of them and less so of Pink Floyd
I had high hopes for the movie, was biased in favor of it but let down when I saw the finished product.
I went to high school with Mark, was a friend and knew him at the time he was scouted out and when/while he was in production making the film in 68/69 whenever, lived off Central Sq. in Boston then. I liked him(Mark) and was expecting something more from Antonioni so, was bothered by his bogus portrayal of an America he got all wrong.
There was plenty of discussion, at the time, about his (Antonioni) arrogance and ego being the key foci in the production of the movie; lost the touches that made his other movies great(those that are).
I was only 22 back then, so, my knowledge of films, techniques or philosophical nuances from any movie were not well defined to say the least- had a personal connection to Mark Frechette combined to sway my overview of the film.
I only watched a part of it on a VHS way long ago-80s and got bored with it so never got through the flick that time
I wonder if , now, in my late 60s,combined experiences-maturity-detachment, etc, will contribute to a getting a better/different impression of this "my least favorite" Antonioni flick. Or, if I will stick with a 20something year old's immature perspective ?
Now, to try to find a copy somewhere