Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella dies

AP ^ | 3/18/08 | Jill Lawless

[Clemenza]

OK. First, my condolences to Mr. Minghella's family.

Now, I found his direction to be rather stilted, especially after such a promising debut ("Truly, Madly, Deeply", one of my fave romantic comedies). A skilled screenwriter who was better at directing operas than films.

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[wideawake]

There was something about his work that was compelling but ultimately unsatisfying - a very personal aesthetic.

Kind of sad that he went just as he was hitting his stride.

[Puppage]

"The English Patient,"

30 minutes of this was enough to kill me.

[Clemenza]

Cold Mountain was a major disappointment. I lost all hope for Tony’s film directing after that. Why his work in Opera was so focused and expressive, while his film work was so stilted has been something I just can’t figure out.

[Clemenza]

Mock me if you wish, but I actually enjoyed the English Patient. Didn't think it was the greatest movie ever made (I am NO J. Pederman), but found it engrossing nonetheless.

[Puppage]

Mock me if you wish, but I actually enjoyed the English Patient.

You'll get no mocking from me. To each his own.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Of his movies, I enjoyed The English Patient the most. I still thought it was missing something, however, despite some good performances.

[goodnesswins]

After slogging through that depressing tome (Cold Mountain) I couldn’t stand the thought of attempting to see it on film...but, that’s me.

[Holicheese]

The first scenes in Cold Mountain were really good. It then turned into a total bore.
Although Nicole Kidman was neeked!

[Paved Paradise]

Interesting. That is one of my favorite movies of all time and I’m a big movie buff. I know a lot of people that have it as in their top ten or 25 or whatever.

If you only watched 30 minutes, then like so many things, you can’t really make a judgment.

I am an avid reader and enjoy all genres. I know many people that will pick up a book and if it doesn’t start off with a big bang or spark they give up and they are missing a lot.

My beloved father, who just died on Friday, instilled in me a love for books and he taught me that when things start slow, they are usually the best. He was, as always, so right and true. And just to give you an example, think “Green Mansions” by Hudson. Movies are often similar.

[Clemenza]

It needed better editing and directorial organization than it received.

[RDTF]

wow - so young. RIP

[Holicheese]

I was looking for something to impale myself on. The English Patient was painful.

[wardaddy]

He made panoramic chick flicks.

Some were great cinematography....RIP

[Borges]

Cold Mountain the novel was a lovely piece of work. Poetic and moving. The movie was impersonal and hollow.

Still R.I.P.

[what's up]

Talented Mr. Ripley...creepy!

[wideawake]

While Cold Mountain was excruciating to sit all the way through, the book was also unreadable.

Minghella is morally responsible for the decision to film that turgid monstrosity - and he really could have done more to tighten it up.

Also, Nicole Kidman and Jude Law had zero chemistry.

[billorites]

"panoramic chick flicks"

A distinguished, if narrow, genre.

[wideawake]

Cold Mountain the novel was a lovely piece of work. Poetic and moving.

It was schizophrenic - there were long passages of slogging through the mud of the prose and brief moments of highly lyrical description.

I feel like there was an excellent novella somewhere in that novel.