MovieChat Forums > Cold in July (2014) Discussion > BLUE RUIN or COLD IN JULY?-Which One Did...

BLUE RUIN or COLD IN JULY?-Which One Did You Like Better?

posted 11 years ago by deltsdog
60 replies | jump to latest

I loved them both- both great raw storytelling/film making. No CGI BS, no vampires/werewolves/no kids with special powers- just a great cast and an 80's feel all around. I would take a move like BR or CIJ ANY day over a mess like Transformers or Hercules(cartoons for adults and teen age kids). But that's just me- I know neither film I mention here made any money or will, and Transformers will make more $ in a week than both BR and CIJ combined will ever make, but that doesn't define a films greatness/lure to me. I have Cold In July at a 7/10 (really 7.5 but you can't vote .5s)and I would put Blue Ruin at 8/10- Thoughts?

Plainview: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli.

[–] Lister558 10 years ago

This was an ok revenge movie. Better shot and more known actors, but Blue Ruin was overall a better story and movie.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Jqn_Hgar 10 years ago

Best post i've seen in years, i think both movies rocked and i really can't say that one of them was better than the other because the two delivered some very good storytelling with sharp dialogue and dark tones. i love this kind of movies especially these days where every other movie is either about superheroes or some Foreign movie rip offs with a love triangle i'm talking about a movie that people in France call Battle Royale with Cheese.

I bet you can't wait to see PTA's upcoming Inherent Vice right?

If you liked BR and CIJ I recommend you watch the french masterpiece Un Prophet.

Au Revoir Breaking Bad

[–] deltsdog 10 years ago

JQN HGAR-
CAN NOT WAIT to see the next PT Anderson film- Inherent Vice-J Phoenix looks awesome in it- Sad to see long time Anderson favorite PSH no longer with us- I just saw "A Most Wanted Man" recently and Hoffman was brilliant as always in that.
I'll check out you "Un Prophet- thanks- I see it currently sitting at an impressive 7.9 IMBd rating.

Plainview: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli.

[–] Jqn_Hgar 10 years ago

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls052139706/

check out this list i made for a friend who was looking for movies like these.

Au Revoir Breaking Bad

[–] VHS_for_Life 10 years ago

I haven't seen Blue Ruin, but I'm going to go ahead and say it's better than Cold in July. That movie was disappointing to say the least.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] kevin-cheng5 10 years ago

I prefer Cold in July. I thought Blue Ruin was a beautifully shot film, absolutely great cinematography but I felt the pacing dragged in the middle-end and the ending left me feeling mellow.

Cold In July, I felt, had great acting esp for Dexter, strong characterization. The likability and sympathy I had for Dexter gave a higher level of intensity and suspense during the dire moments. In contrast, Blue Ruin I didn't believe in the main character's motivation for revenge, the softness of his character just made him less interesting.

[–] TheBeardedWonder 10 years ago

Like others, I enjoyed them both as well. But honestly I was let down by Blue Ruin (possibly because murder party, his first movie, is one of my faves so I expected a lot), while this was better than expected. Blue Ruin didn't make me question to myself 'wow, what would I do here' like this movie did. Plus the soundtrack on this is pretty stellar whereas BR's is pretty boring.

BR did have better cinematography and acting, but the middle section (as another poster mentioned) just dragged too much for me to stay into it for the whole runtime...

'Get yourself a real dog. Any dog under 50 lbs is a cat and cats are pointless' - Ron Swanson

[–] deltsdog 10 years ago

hey Bearded- cool you saw and liked Murder Party- that is a bizarre film- You are the only other person I know that saw it (other than myself lol) Expression on the lead's face throughout was priceless...

Plainview: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli.

[–] TheBeardedWonder 10 years ago

I adore murder party. I watched it the other day, just like I do every Halloween in fact. Not many people have seen it I agree, but literally 100% of people i've showed it to who enjoy horror/comedy rave about it. The comedy is just so well done and dark, then they sprinkle in some well done (practical effect!) gore and it's a recipe made exactly for me.

Awesome you've seen and enjoyed it, always great to meet another fan. What did you think of blue ruin then? Were you let down like I was (possibly because of inflated expectations) or did it deliver what you wanted? Just wondering, no big deal either way, just seeing if anyone felt like I did after being so pumped on murder party...

PS: Were you also on the willow creek board? Think we had a convo there too about how lame that movie was haha.

'Get yourself a real dog. Any dog under 50 lbs is a cat and cats are pointless' - Ron Swanson

[–] deltsdog 10 years ago

yep- LOL Willow Creek was so bad- that was me - I remember your avatar and name.
Another one worse was "Don't Blink" -Avoid at all costs.
Just saw a fantastic one the other day - "The Town That Dreaded Sundown 2014" not the 1976 one. If you like the slasher genre- you'll like that- sort of a combo of Scream/Friday the 13th etc. To answer your question- I loved Blue Ruin, and Cold in July and The Rover- all 3 IMO are set to the same pacing techniques, feeling of dread/despair/dark- all 3 I feel are fantastic. Probably Blue Ruin was my favorite of the 3 but it's close, Ruin was so REAL. I love films like that that remind me of my 80's days- lol- before CGI and everything else. I hope Jeremy Saulnier gets the opportunity to Direct something else and something else after that- I think he has tons of potential. Check this review out on The Town That Dreaded Sundown- it was pretty good IMO.

http://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3234280/b-d-review-the-town-that-dreaded-sundown-is-a-hugely-entertaining-atmospheric-thriller-2/

Plainview: Stop crying, you sniveling ass! Stop your nonsense. You're just the afterbirth, Eli.

[–] timmy_501 10 years ago

Cold in July was better I thought. Blue Ruin's style got old fairly quickly and the story is generally a drag and seemed like something I've seen too many times before. Still, I rated it 7/10, it's worth seeing for sure. I liked the thriller elements and the gritty style of Cold in July well enough to rate it 8/10.

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