World Cup, Season 5, Match QFA: Canada vs USA (Sep 17th)

[joachimt]

This is match QFA of the fifth season of iCM Forum's Film World Cup.

Country	Original Title	English Title	Year	Manager	IMDB	ICM
Canada	C'est pas moi, je le jure!	It's Not Me, I Swear!	2008	Fergenaprido	link	link
USA	Patterns		1956	72aicm	link	link

Screenshots

C'est pas moi, je le jure!


Patterns

Voting Rules:
- You must watch both films before you vote.
- To vote, post which of the two movies is your favorite. (note: you're ranking the individual films, not the countries)

Voting deadline = Sep 17th
Countdown till deadline

The country that ends at 1st place proceeds to the next round. The ranking of the match will be decided using these rules:
- Movie with most votes wins.
- In case of a tie the match will have a 3 day extension.
- In case there's still a tie then, the next voter decides by sudden death.

Here's a quick summary of how the tournament works

We start with 40 films from 40 countries. Each country has a manager who determines which movie will be watched. In the first round the countries are divided into 8 groups of 5. From each group the countries that end up at #1 and #2 proceed to the next round. In the 2nd round the 16 remaining countries will be divided into 4 groups of 4. The managers pick a new movie. From each group the countries that end up at #1 and #2 proceed to the next round. The remaining 8 countries will play one on one in the QF. This continues till the final.

iCM-list of all movies in this World Cup

List of all topics related to the World Cup including previous seasons

[Armoreska]

Smart pairing, JT. The NA derby!

[72aicm]

I had to check my <400 list to see which film I rated the highest out of the two. Lucky for me, it was my own pick. Both quality films though.

1. Patterns (1956)
2. C'est pas moi, je le jure! (2008)

[Armoreska]

Only by 50 positions. There are other US movies above it including #1. Fergenaprido take note

[St. Gloede]

Very close match. Both are at around a 7.5 for me:

1. Patterns (1956)
2. C'est pas moi, je le jure! (2008)

[klaus78]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

[Mario Gaborović]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

[tommy_leazaq]

Two #1 votes followed by two #2 votes.. Hmm. I see Patterns here..

[hurluberlu]

1. It's Not Me, I Swear! 7
2. Patterns 6+

[beavis]

1. It's Not Me, I Swear! - 8
2. Patterns - 8

Both exceptional films, either one worthy to come out on top. I'm giving it to Canada for the more adventurous writing (and some nice music choices). I don't have that much affinity with either the corporate world or coming-of-age settings, otherwise I could see myself giving each a half point extra for their... humanity.

[russa03]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

[sol]

Good picks, guys. I liked both films this round more than the other US and CA films nominated during the current World Cup. The CA film was a first time viewing and a great movie. I haven't seen Patterns in a long time, but it has been in my top 1000 for quite a while, so that's where my heart lies.

1. Patterns
2. C'est pas moi, je le jure!

Both would be worthy winners though, and after three Quebecoise films in a row, maybe we'll get something from the other provinces should Canada progress into the next round.

[Mario Gaborović]

8 days left. The scoreline:

C'est pas moi, je le jure! - Patterns 5-3

[zuma]

01 - It's Not Me, I Swear!

02 - Patterns

[Smoover]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure! 8
2. Patterns 7.5

[shugs]

1. Patterns
2. C'est pas moi, je le jure!

Both good films, but I have a soft spot for movies about angry men shouting at each other.

[Armoreska]

oh no it's a Rod Serling film. quite expectedly it's his typical political values and interests on display so it had little chance.
1. C'est pas moi, je le jure! 9-
2. Patterns 6+
https://www.counterpunch.org/2014/04/11 ... apitalism/
im finishing Twilight Zone this week btw (it took me years)

[joachimt]

C'est pas moi, je le jure!: 8
Patterns: 4

[filmbantha]

An exciting start to the quarter finals with two very strong films, quite a tough decision as they are both 7/10 so I had to consult my flickchart to decide upon the winner:

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!

It's been five years since I saw this, primarily due to its inclusion in the ICM Most Favourite list, and I remember really enjoying it at the time. The visual aesthetic stands out in my mind as a high point as do the vibrant performances though I have to confess the plot of the film has mostly faded from memory. Time for a rewatch I suppose but there are just too many films to explore without throwing rewatches in the mix! Wonder if it will appear on the 500<400 list after a strong showing in this round so far?

2. Patterns

This is far fresher in my mind as I watched it just before the DtC challenge kicked off earlier this year. I was hoping I had watched it for the challenge as I would have written about it and could have just copied and pasted my thoughts over but nevermind. I loved the central performance from Van Heflin and his character's catharsis. It's definitely the underseen gem that this forum usually thrives upon, it's just a shame it has encountered some stiff competition from Canada but again it could well give it a boost into the 500<400 list if the WC mafia get behind it...

I would be happy with either of these picks making it through to the next round, great choices from the managers

[matthewscott8]

If anyone ever asks me about a piece of art that demonstrates an understanding of the corporate world, I immediately go to Patterns. It's the only film I ever saw that came remotely close. For an artist to make a film about the corporate world is like a silicon life form making art about carbon life forms. When men make films with women we talk about male gaze. We don't so much talk about the artist's gaze at the corporate world, one that they know practically nothing of. To be clear a bug doesn't have to know what a motor vehicle is to know it has been squashed. Any idiot can observe the effects of the corporate world. But this movie is made by people who understand it. This is very rare and precious.

Armo makes points about values, I never felt the movie had values as such, it's just a testament, here is the corporate world. Someone could watch the movie and find it hideous, others be enthralled by it. That's the measure of a priceless movie, did you capture something, did you let people make up their minds. Patterns is a priceless movie, it is a testament, it is a golden thread in the cultural tapestry of the world. To reduce it to some shaky interpretation of implied views seems a huge error, as the Soviet censor makes when they aren't sure what a movie is but they're damned sure it doesn't promote healthy communist living.

[Armoreska]

Who can say that it was faithful? Rod Serling based it on military life.

btw the film is a remake, the original episode is an official check (i rated it 7 about 12 years ago)

[joachimt]

1. Patterns 8/10
2. C'est pas moi, je le jure! 7/10

[jvv]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

[zhangalan]

1. Patterns
2. C'est pas moi, je le jure!

[zzzorf]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

[Mario Gaborović]

17 hours left.

[Angel Glez]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

[Mario Gaborović]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

Don't scare me with your late votes, Angel. Each time I have a unnerving feel you're gonna lose your perfect record you maintained for years.

Can't you vote early on?

[Angel Glez]

1. C'est pas moi, je le jure!
2. Patterns

Don't scare me with your late votes, Angel. Each time I have a unnerving feel you're gonna lose your perfect record you maintained for years.

Can't you vote early on?

Spoiler

0-1, 1-0, 1-0

[pitchorneirda]

1. Patterns

What Matt said, basically

2. C'est pas moi, je le jure!

I didn't dislike it but it feels like any other child's point-of-view movie, and the character played by Suzanne Clément is out of the picture way too soon.

[Fergenaprido]

1. It's Not Me, I Swear!
2. Patterns

It amazes me how relevant Patterns is to my own experience is semi-corporate companies headed by a single CEO-Founder type, and the types of discussions that take place behind closed doors. I will get around to the original TV production eventually. While the dialogue is arguably the strongest component, what held this back for me was how it was acted on screen, with some actors appearing to cut themselves off in anticipation of being interrupted, which threw me off.

Spoiler

I also have a hard time understanding how the CEO could justify everything to himself and be ruthless, but didn't have the guts to fire Briggs after stating he's been on a decline for 10 years. It's a weird writing choice that I can't make fit with the rest of the character - whether out of some perverse sense of loyalty, decorum, or an attempt at a redeeming quality.... And yet it also kid of tracks in my personal life, where the CEO-Founder thinks that they're a great judge of character and worth, and yet are unable to make the "ruthless" decisions in line with their own policies when it comes to people, so perhaps it's more accurate that I'm willing to admit.

My own pick I do love, primarily for its black comedy involving kids, which usually don't mix. Also something I would consider rewatching, but I want to explore so much more.

Both films will be on my ballot this month, and it would be great indeed to see them both make an appearance in the Top 500.

Thanks 72 for a great match, and to all the voters for giving these two films a go.

[Mario Gaborović]

The match is over. Canada wins.

C'est pas moi, je le jure!: 13
Patterns: 7

Congratulations to Fergenaprido. Also thanks to 72aicm and the 20 people who voted this match.

[72aicm]

Congrats Fergen. Good luck in the rest of the tournament

[sol]

I guess it must be tempting for Ferg to stick with Quebec given his three victories so far, but as someone who has explored a wealth of Canadian cinema from all over the country, I am crossing my fingers for another province (or territory) to get some representation in the next match.

[beavis]

Guy Maddin... that is Manitoba right?