100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 147: Hell or High Water

Director: David Mackenzie
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ben Foster, Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Dale Dickey, William Sterchi, Gil Birmingham, Keith Meriweather, Jackamoe Buzzell, Katy Mixon, Amber Midthunder, Joe Berryman, Taylor Sheridaon, Howard Ferguson Jr., Debrianna Mansini

Description: A divorced father (Chris Pine) and his ex-con older brother (Ben Foster) resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's ranch in West Texas.

Review: We follow two brothers that want to keep their family ranch. To buy it back from the bank, they decide to rob banks. In the opening, Tanner and Toby rob two banks in a row and drive off. Their plans are pretty solid. But cop Marcus, who is almost retiring, is determined to find them.
Toby wants a better future for his ex-wife and kids. And he also tries to tame his reckless brother Tanner, who just got out of jail. On the other side there is Marcus and his partner Alberto, who are trying to find the robbers.
“Hell or High Water” is a modern western, that balances between violent scenes and chases, but also moments of awareness and and critical look on the American society. At one moment it’s a family drama and then it’s cynical humor.
The atmosphere sometimes reminded me of “No Country for Old Men”, but there is more room for optimism in “Hell or High Water”. The band between the two brothers is the heart of the film. With violence and tension added, there is still a little bit of hope left for a better future.
The acting by Ben Foster, Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges is phenomenal. All three of them perform equally as good, without overdoing it.
“Hell or High Water” is one of those movies tha gets a lot of praise, but it’s flying pretty much under the radar. Which is a shame, because more people really need to see this film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 146: Schone Handen

Director: Tjebbo Penning
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Jeroen van Koningsbrugge, Thekla Reuten, Angela Schijf, Camilla Siegertsz, Sol Vinken, Teun Kuilboer, Bart Klever, Marcel Faber, Nino den Brave, Frederik Brom, Poal Cairo, Jenne Decleir, Nino den Brave, Bente Fokkens, Cees Geel, Tjebbo Gerritsma, Trudy de Jong, Han Oldigs

Description: A drug lord's wife (Thekla Reuten) faces a crisis of loyalty when her husband's (Jeroen van Koningsbrugge) cutthroat dealings compel her to flee with their young children.

Review: Jeroen van Koningsbrugge is a Dutch actor and comedian. But he has been doing more serious roles for a while. They say there is a thin line between comedy and drama. But this can easily go wrong. Van Koningsbrugge doesn’t always convince as drug lord.
Eddie deals in drugs. His wife knows, but tries to ignore it Their children think their father runs an honest business. When a good friend is killed, wife Sylvia finds it harder and harder to deal with their lifestyle. It is also harder for her to keep her kids away from the mess Eddie leaves behind. But Eddie has a big impact on Sylvia, becase she has one big dream. Running her own beach club. With the promise, Eddie manages to calm his wife. But it doesn’t take long for Sylvia to realize it’s better to get away from Eddie.
Like I stated before, Jeroen van Koningsbrugge doesn’t always convince as Eddie. It’s Thekla Reuten that steals the show. Her performance is so strong and you feel for her. She makes you care.
As a Dutch woman, I don’t always like the movies that are made here. “Schone Handen” is an okay crime thriller.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 145: Hail, Caesar!

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Musical
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, Alison Pill, David Krumholtz, Wayne Knight, Patrick Fischler, Clancy Brown

Description: A Hollywood fixer (Josh Brolin) in the 1950s works to keep the studio's stars in line.

Review: Hollywood in the 1950s. That’s wat the Coen Brothers are focusing on in “Hail, Caesar!” It critizises, parodies and is also nostalgic about it. It was a time where actors starred in movies where they didn’t necessarily want to star in.
The film is funny and looks stylish. But the context doesn’t really support it. The central story is about fixer Eddie Mannix. He has to keep all his stars in control. Like a stubborn swim film actress who got pregnant. Or a western actor who can not act, who has to be part of a serious British drama film. But Mannix’ biggest problem is the kidnapping of big star Baird Whitlock. The popular actor is taken during the filming of Hail, Caesar!
“Hail, Caesar!” isn’t the sharp comedy it was supposed to be. The cast is probably the best part of the fim. Besides Josh Brolin as Mannix, there is no big part. All the others are supporting roles, which make the cartoonish characters work.
Not one of the Coen Brothers’ best work, I expecte a lot more.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 144: Elle

Director: Paul Verhoeven
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny, Charles Berling, Virginie Efira, Judith Magre, Christian Berkel, Jonas Bloquet, Alice Isaaz, Vimala Pons, Raphaël Lenglet, Arthur Mazet, Lucas Prisor, Hugo Conzelmann, Stéphane Bak, Hugues Martel, Anne Loiret

Description: A successful businesswoman (Isabella Huppert) gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse as she tracks down the unknown man who raped her.

Review: The film opens with a brutal rape scene. It can go into two directions from there: it’s either going to be a revenge story or a tearjerking drama. But director Paul Verhoeven took a completely different path. “Elle” is a daring, somewhat perverted dark movie, which provokes.
Michèle is a tough business woman who wants tob e in control at all times. She runs a successful gaming company and wants no back talk from her employees. That Michèle turns everyone against her, is no surprise. When she is attacked and raped in her own house, she even picks up her daily routine, without calling the police. When het attacker starts to stalk her, she decides t take the matters in her own hands.
“Elle” is anything but polically correct. Michèle is surrounded by dubious characters: from her sexually active mother and her gigolo slash fiancée to her whimpy son and his aggressive pregnant girlfriend.
Michèle is portrayed by Isabella Huppert. She shows guts, both physically and emotionally. Huppert obviously carries this film, without any trouble The rest of the cast sort of fades because of her great performance.
“Elle” tries to balance between dark humor, thriller elements, satire and tries to shock. But one is standing in the way of the other. There never is a balance.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 143: Patriot Games

Director: Phillip Noyce
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 1992
Starring: Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, Patrick Bergin, Sean Bean, Thora Birch, James Fox, Samuel L. Jackson, James Earl Jones, Richard Harris

Description: When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets him and his family for revenge.

Review: When you’re looking for the American version of James Bond, we often think of Jason Bourne. But Jack Ryan could also be that man. Writer Tom Clancy passed away in 2013, but a left a great collection of stories. And Hollywood has used them a couple of times already. In “Patriot Games”, Harrison Ford takes on the role of Jack Ryan.
Jack Ryan is a CIA analyst, who works more behind the scenes. But he does have the best insights in certain cases and is very driven to enter the field. He isn’t an action hero, but determined to solve cases. Tom Clancy’s stories are more pollical inspired. “Patriot Games” is about the IRA. One fo the IRA men gets personal, when Ryan kills his brother.
“Patriot Games” is exciting and has a realistic tone. And the story is solid, because of Tom Clancy’s great work. Because of that, the movie rises above average, but it never overwhelms.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Trailer Sunday (266)

Here are this week's trailers.

Life
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Description: An international space crew discovers life on Mars.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson
Trailer: Trailer "Life"
Comment: I love space stories.

Gifted
Director: Marc Webb
Description: Frank (Chris Evans), a single man raising his child prodigy niece Mary, is drawn into a custody battle with his mother.
Starring: Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Lindsay Duncan, McKenna Grace
Trailer: Trailer "Gifted"
Comment: I like to see Chris Evans in a more emotional role.

La La Land
Director: Damien Chazelle
Description: A jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) falls for an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) in Los Angeles.
Starring: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, J.K. Simmons, John Legend
Trailer: Trailer "La La Land"
Comment: THE 2016 I'm looking forward to the most!

The Lego Batman Movie
Director: Chris McKay
Description: Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett) must not only deal with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted.
Starring: Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes, Zach Galifianakis, Jenny Slate
Trailer: Trailer "The Lego Batman Movie"
Comment: This looks like so much fun!!!

Pet
Director: Carles Torrens
Description: A psychological thriller about a man who bumps into an old flame and subsequently becomes obsessed with her, leading him to hold her captive underneath the animal shelter where he works. But what will the victim have in store for her assailant?
Starring: Ksenia Solo, Jennette McCurdy, Dominic Monaghan
Trailer: Trailer "Pet"
Comment: A creepy and twisted film.

Top 5 Thursday: Movies I Watched For My Challenge (October 2016)

I didn’t see many great film. But I did manage to create this monthly top 5 for you. Here are my favorite films I watched in October, for my challenge. (Sorry, I'm a day late)

5. Black Water
I always like creature features. It’s not spectacular, but with the low budget they had it looks really good and professional.

4. Trick ‘r Treat
A surprisingly fun and original horror flick, didn’t expect that. This could be one of those films that I will see every Halloween.

3. Sully
Not one of Tom Hanks’ best film, but again a fantastic performance. If the movie was longer, it would’ve been boring, but the film had the perfect length to stay interesting the entire runtime.

2. The Monster Squad
A film that every eighties kid will love, guarantee. It’s “The Goonies” meets “The Lost Boys” meets “Ghostbusters” meets “The Little Rascals”. It’s full of nostalgia.

1. The Neon Demon
This movie had been on my to-watch list for a while, because I’m a big fan of director Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Drive”. The movie is stylish, intelligent, scary and disturbing. Definitely a movie you should give a go.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Danish Girl