Round of 64 (Tier 1): La Dolce Vita vs. Paris, Texas

Round one is here. 61 years of film with 3 convenient ties. What film will come out on top?

For this round, we start with:

LA DOLCE VITA, Federico Fellini's exploration of the decadence and moral decay of postwar Italy, which outwardly seems so fun and alluring but within sees a lot of the suffering and ennui that would come to define the lives of those who seemingly have everything except for what they truly desire.

Against...

PARIS, TEXAS, a lyrical journey of a man who wants to find his family and his life again. Like life itself, though, the story is more about the journey to get there than it is the destination itself.

The winner will move on to the next round. The full bracket is attached below.

 

I need to watch La Dolce Vita. Instead, I am watching The Hard Way starring James Woods, Michael J Fox and LL Cool J

 

Also the full bracket is not there. Let me see it!

 

I just attached it to the first post. I remembered it for the other three threads.

 

La Dolce Vita is the second greatest film of all time and the best film on this bracket. Don't let us down.

 

well,

 

But the booth scene

 

I should probably watch Paris, Texas again someday. A lot of the details are fuzzy. The booth scene sticks out, and the general melancholy in the air is hard to forget, but I can't recall much more than that.

La Dolce Vita, on the other hand, I have studied to death. 8 1/2 is much more popular, but there is something about the opening, with the giant Jesus statue being transported via helicopter, that announces Fellini's post-modern intentions. We are still living in this world, trapped between the traditions that are sometimes nonsensical but give us meaning and direction in our lives versus the hedonism of the secular world which can be enjoyable and fashionable but often leaves us feeling empty at the end, much like Marcello throwing his hands up at the end of the film. Most European arthouse filmmakers are descendants of Bergman or Antonioni, but the chaos and messiness of the Fellini and Godard films just pop more.

 

I loved La Dolce Vita, but only had one viewing. Paris, Texas I’ve seen probably 5 times. I appreciate it more every viewing. At first the only thing I didn’t like about it was the meandering plot, not much happens in 2.5 hours but it builds to an incredible conclusion. But in reviewing I really think it’s paced, scored, and shot perfectly. I feel more drawn in to the mindset of the main character, slowly coming out of the daze. La Dolce Vita would probably be the same, so it’s just my bias. It’s a shame these two were matched up, Paris, Texas edges it for me but it’s also one of my favorite films ever.

 

This choice is violent

 

I went with Paris, Texas but any other day the vote could have been different or the same

 

There are a lot of people that I used to like and respect that have betrayed me in this thread. Going forward I will hold back my votes to try to sabotage your sacred cows.

 

you still have two days and it's tied you maniac

 

Paris, Texas unfortunately left me a little cold. I need to revisit it, as I keep seeing specific screenshots online that are absolutely beautiful. Maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace for it.

There's an honor system here where we're only voting if we've seen both films, right? There should be.

 

Based on the blowouts, I doubt that it is being honored.

 

who would vote more than once. what the hell.

 

Not vote more than once, vote having only seen one film. We can see the results and double voting is not allowed.

 

oh, yes.

 

Can you see who voted for what?

 

Yes. A lot of people are going to have a disappointing Christmas.

 

With 55 percent of the vote, Paris, Texas will face Apocalypse Now in the Round of 32.