I liked Elephant, I loved My Own Private Idaho, but I don't really think I liked them for the same reasons other people did. I just liked the silence, but I still want to stay away from Last Days.
Far awayyyyy.

I think you just pin pointed what I've been in love with about the films but unable to figure out. Thankyou

Well, silent moments can give you new insight. It's as if the characters think no one's watching or are acting naturally if you follow them through these moments.
It's like Martin Scorcese wanted Taxi Driver to be like. You stretch the moments to make them lengthy so people say, "Okay, what is this I'm looking at? It is important?" I don't think silent moments are mainly about making a statement, it's mostly for the audience to make what they want of it, which scares the mainstream and always action packed audience, I think.

Mostly I like him.
I was really disappointed by Cowgirls though, that's one of my favourite books. The Tom Robbins genius just didn't translate into film.
I didn't like Elephant either, I thought it was ****ing boring.

from my experience people who like Gus Van Sant very much are people who just like his movies because it's been labelled "cool" and "indie" to like them. Like I'm a rebel if I like him. His movies are boring and they often don't even make you feel anything but still people pretend to like them because no one wants to be labelled stupid just because the emperor has no clothes, so most people pretend he's a genius.

It's like Mulholland Drive. I think it's the worst piece of **** in the history of cinema but still people say it's genius because they are too afraid to face the music and see that the ****ing emperor has his dick and balls out in the air for everyone to see. It's a really really bad movie. There is a very fine line between genius and utter charlatan who makes **** work and I think that Van Sant often fits in the latter.

The only movie I like of his is To Die For, because to say it bluntly, IT HAS A PLOT, something that most of his movies lack. And also because of Nicole Kidman's GENIUS PERFORMANCE in that movie. That movie would be nothing if Nicole hadn't been in it. She should've been nominated for the oscars, I think she wasn't, it was totally overlooked and it was a great movie, but not entirely because of Van Sant, more because of Nicole. And I'm aware that an actor's performance depends largely on the director, but c'mon that was like the first time Nicole showed her real acting skills, she's just amazing.