Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 11:29 AM CDT

Thanks for the clarification. Pretty obvious from piecing together what we knew. And what did he say about Predator haha 😅

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 11:36 AM CDT

As is generally the case with DePalma's films, I fail to see in Domino what many others claim is either missing or sorely lacking. It didn't at all feel like a truncated movie to me. There weren't any glaring logic holes (at least none that bothered me). I'm not sure why so many are more focused on a phantom cut rather than what's in front of them. It's as if an entire narrative has been written asserting that the film that's been released should only be considered in the context of what might have been, not what it is. What a shame.

I really liked what I saw and didn't think it felt unfinished or incomplete. Geoff seems to have confirmed that DePalma wasn't involved in post-production, which probably made it a bit rougher around the edges than DePalma would have liked. But his imprint was all over every scene and this is clearly not a case of another director coming in and changing the movie. I thought Domnio's narrative was efficient, I found the acting to be just fine, I thought its themes were provocative and relevant, I loved the thrilling set pieces and most importantly - I haven't stopped thinking about it for days. I'm really eager for a second viewing. Any talk of "what could have been" based on the aforementioned narrative seems to be prejudging the movie. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 12:23 PM CDT

That sounds about right.

 As someone who has made a few flicks before, you can start to recognize the difference between a bad edit and just not having enough footage. To me, Domino just felt like they were working with what they had or they may only have had time to snag one or two shots for a scene.

A lot of the dialogue scenes are very static and take place in one shot. While De Palma DESPISES coverage this felt less like a creative choice and more like he just shot it as quickly and cost effectively as possible. It feels almost like he trying to save as much time and money in an effort to really nail the bigger set pieces.

 From the cheaper digital effects toto the rough transitions and lack of intricate shots, it feels like this is a case of not having enough rather than someone pulling more out.

 These things happen. Read up on Cronenberg’s Scanners, that film is a miracle of editing because they BARELY got even 70% of the film shot and had to piece it together in the edit. Not to mention he had to write and rewrote the film as they were shooting. It seems like De Palma may have shot even less than that and had to truncate, rework and pray for it to fit together in an edit. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 1:50 PM CDT

So, he was involved in editing, but that's pretty much it.

BTW, that whole portion that was supposed to be filmed in the Port of Almeria and then in Italy after they had left Spain is not in the film, although one of the stills of Guy Pearce on IMDb seems to be from that location?

 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3282076/mediaviewer/rm1799905280

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 2:28 PM CDT

Plays better on repeat viewings. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 3:02 PM CDT

Don't know where else to post this. Apparently Domino is available today (June 04, 2019) on DVD in Canada. 

http://www.mongrelmedia.com/index.php/filmlink?id=32b03013-ef2e-e911-944e-0ad9f5e1f797&type=cs

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 3:03 PM CDT

Wow man, the Legend himself got in touch with u! One day we will find out that he is running this page haha

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 5:05 PM CDT

Ditto

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 6:31 PM CDT

Thanks for the info on the Canada release, baffled-- although it looks like it is a streaming release that begins today? I think the Mongrel DVD version comes out July 30th. Unless I am missing some info at the link you've provided, maybe?

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 9:15 PM CDT

Re: "Harry Georgatos" 

"Plays better on repeat viewings."

You're probably right and I plan to see it again - but I'll let some time lapse.

I saw "Passions" in the theatre and initially thought it was okay, but not great, De Palma. Over a year later, I watched it again and I was stunned. It's such a visuaslly rich movie and it's become one of my top 5 De Palma favorites. Like "Femme Fatale," it's akin to a great painting; it'll tell you something more each time you look at it. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 9:33 PM CDT

If the director refuses to engage conversation with Domino time to move on.

It's only 3 months to the Toronto Film festival where De Palma has said he'll shoot Predator (has to change the title). If this film is going to happen it has to move fast.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 9:46 PM CDT

He said he wanted to shoot at Toronto Film Fest-- it all depends on if they have permission to shoot there, and also if the project gets off the ground in time. 

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 - 10:02 PM CDT

Interesting, Dante-- not sure we'll ever know.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 12:30 AM CDT

I've seen DOMINO 4 times. I'll purchase it on Blu-ray August 2. Watch it a couple times and then leave on the shelf until I get the urge to watch it again.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 3:16 AM CDT

Thanks for the update, it shows in the film. I thought detractors and fans are both right about Domino. It's in turns weird (dialogue delivery), wild (the climax), bad (scenes seem to go nowhere) and wonderful (De Palma doing guerrilla filmmaking 50 years later).

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 1:42 PM CDT

Geoff wrote: "Thanks for the info on the Canada release, baffled-- although it looks like it is a streaming release that begins today? I think the Mongrel DVD version comes out July 30th. Unless I am missing some info at the link you've provided, maybe?"

Nope, you're right, I'm wrong. Streaming is June 04, DVD is July 30th. Oh well! Thanks for the correction! 

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 5:19 PM CDT

Sure, yes, and thank you-- also coming out on DVD/Blu-ray July 30th in the U.S. via Lionsgate.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 11:50 PM CDT

I'm curious to see what De Palma does next. Not holding out for Predator as the TFF is only two months out. Have my fingers on Sweet Vengeance.

Thursday, June 6, 2019 - 4:35 AM CDT

Curious, too. I would we would shave heard something by now if Predator was in the works. Too bad, as the producer is someone who has a history of working with De Palma and older auteurs. I fear it might be a long hiatus again.. Hopefully not.. 

Friday, June 7, 2019 - 3:17 PM CDT

Friday, June 7, 2019 - 5:15 PM CDT

Thanks, yes, I noticed that the other day (hadn't read Sragow's review until then).

Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 7:03 PM CDT

I still can't but believe the 148 minute cut doesn't exists. De Palma still hasn't said there's a three hour original cut to The Black Dahlia but we know that it was cut by an hour. Same with Domino. As soon as Christian and his partner arrive in Almeria it arrives straight to the third act in the climax of the movie. Chunks of material and scenes seem to be missing.

It's a badly edited movie which furthers the notion of the 148 minute cut. 

Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 11:03 PM CDT

I can't think of a single bad edit in DOMINO.

Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 11:33 PM CDT

The way Domino stands is just above Get To Know Your Rabbit, Home Movies and below Wise Guys.

Saturday, June 8, 2019 - 11:48 PM CDT

Also the color timing in certain shots are bland and boring. Something bad really happened to the color timing of this film.

Sunday, June 9, 2019 - 4:05 AM CDT

Can someone tell me what was shot in Italy? During the end credits there's a lengthy scroll of Italian crew members.

Sunday, June 9, 2019 - 9:52 AM CDT

Hi Sue-- there are a couple of pics at the link below-- the beheading video, for one, was shot in Italy.  The scenes where the cops follow Al-Din and his crew in the truck were shot there between Mari Pintau and Terra Mala , according to a newspaper clipping that made the rounds that week ("Armored scenes and roads closed to traffic: it was just the crew who were filming the scenes of a pursuit."). It looks like they might have shot some nighttime exteriors of the bullring outside, dressing it up to look like Almeria, probably for the final part of that car pursuit. Soraya Secci, an actress from Cagliari, played the ticket girl in that scene.

https://www.angelfire.com/de/palma/blog/index.blog/1490124/domino-set-pics-eric-schwab-more/

https://www.angelfire.com/de/palma/blog/index.blog?entry_id=1500008

In September of 2017, the production spent a week in Italy for what was to be the final leg of filming.

I posted the paragraph below on September 22, 2017:

https://www.angelfire.com/de/palma/blog/index.blog/1490002/domino-in-italy-for-final-week-of-filming/

Brian De Palma and his cast and crew will spend the next week in Sardinia, Italy, for the final leg of filming on Domino. According to ADN Kronos, Domino will film in Sardinia, "touching several locations including the cities of Cagliari, Capoterra, Domus De Maria and Pula." The production plans to be in the region through September 28th. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau posted a video today to his Instagram, mentioning that he is in "the beautiful city of Cagliari." Carice van Houten posted a pic on her Instagram today that shows herself swarmed within a group of people-- she included the caption, "Italian fans are the best."

More pics:

https://www.angelfire.com/de/palma/blog/index.blog/1490015/set-pics-domino-in-sardinia-italy-today/

https://www.angelfire.com/de/palma/blog/index.blog/1490035/domino-set-pic-instagram-from-cagliari/

Sunday, June 9, 2019 - 4:47 PM CDT

»Domino» has ben around for a long time. Before de Palma came aboard it was going to be be directed by the Swede Hans Moland and produced by Focus. Moland left to do «Cold Pursuit» with Liam Neeson and de Palma picked the project up.

I read the script when Moland was directing and it was a solid piece of work, clocking in at around 120 pages. If you turn a script that long into a film this short, you must loose a lot. I haven’t seen «Domino» yet, but can’t wait to see what the Maestro has done to the script. 

Sunday, June 9, 2019 - 5:14 PM CDT

Re "$$$" and the 3-hour "Dahlia" cut.

Unless Geoff can tell us otherwise, I believe De Palma has always had final cut in his contracts. Which would mean that even if there was a 3-hour, likely rough-cut, version of "Dahlia," he agreed and/or supervised the cuts for the theatrical version. 

Sunday, June 9, 2019 - 5:21 PM CDT

I concur with what jjabely says here-- The Black Dahlia was also edited by Bill Pankow, and there is a video of him talking about editing down what he called a beautiful piece of choreography from that film, where k.d. lang performs at the nightclub with the dancers. He did not really want to cut it down (from something like 4 or 5 minutes down to a minute and a half, I think), but he says in the video (and I'm paraphrasing), the director tells me to fix it, and I fix it. He talks about how he wanted to make sure he kept the best parts of the performance in the final cut, and making sure it all flowed together. He mentions that was one of the things they did to trim down that running time, but the direction came from De Palma himself. That's De Palma's cut.