Sunday, August 06, 2006

What's Better? Umberto Eco or The Insider?




Today's semi-final features an intriguing match up. Say Michael Mann and many think "Genius, cool, hip, and surprisingly deep." Say Umberto Eco, and many people think, "confusing, dense, and impenetrable."

Then again, say Umberto Eco, and many people think, "Genius,cool, hip, cool, and surprisingly deep." Say Michael Mann and many think, "confusing, dense, and impenetrable."

So who's the real deal and who's the emperor with no clothes?

"What's Better": The Insider or Umberto Eco?

8 comments:

Darrel Manson said...

Hmmm. Who do I want to lose to The Days of Wine and Roses? I've never been able to make it through a chapter or two of Eco (although I could watch the film version of The Name of the Rose.) Is he one of the Tailies on Lost? No, I'll go with The Insider. Not the best film ever, but worth the effort -- can't say I'd ever think Eco was worth the effort it would take.

John Adair said...

Difficult choice. To make things more interesting, I'll go with Eco.

Anonymous said...

The Insider.

M. Leary said...

Eco.

Anonymous said...

No contest. I have never seen a Mann film that I either: 1) found entertaining, 2) found insightful, or 3) ever wanted to watch again.

On the other hand Eco is almost always amusing while making plenty of thoughtful observations about a wide varity of subjects. And I'm dying to re-read Foucault's Pendulum...

Eco. By a landslide...

Anonymous said...

My experience with Mann films v. Eco books is exactly the opposite of Darryl's. Now that's interesting! Or not. :-)

Doug said...

Is there an Eco in here?

The BFI is currently singing the praises of Mann.

Anonymous said...

re: bethr:

I'm boggled. Although, while I've never found Mann to be anything but dull, plenty of opinions I respect view his work as important, so I might just be missing something...