zaterdag 28 augustus 2021

80s Movie Review - Chariots of Fire

Director:
Hugh Hudson
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 1981
Starring: Nicholas Farrell, Nigel Havers, Ian Charleson, Ben Cross, Daniel Gerroll, Ian Holm, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson, Nigel Davenport, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Dennis Christopher, Brad Davis, Patrick Magee, Peter Egan, David Yelland, Struan Rodger    
 
Description: Two British track athletes, one a determined Jew and the other a devout Christian, compete in the 1924 Olympics.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 34: A MOVIE FROM THE 80S
 
Review: “Chariots of Fire” tells the true story of two men in the early 1920s. Harold Abrahams, an Englishman of Jewish-Lithuanian descent. He is studying at the University of Cambridge and is adored by his fellow students. Yet he still feels he is not fully accepted due to his religion. The other is Eric Liddel, a Scotsman and  son of a missionaries who is also expected to devote his life to spreading the word of God. He intends to do just that, but he actually has the dream of going to the Olympics. With both different lives and characters, Harold and Eric have one thing in common: they can run really fast. Eric runs purely for fun, when Harold runs mainly to prove himself and to silence his critics. Both men are selected for the 1924 Olympics in Paris, but they have some obstacles to overcome before they van achieve their goals.
The film doesn’t focus on whether Harold and Eric win at the Olympics, but mainly how they do it. The psychological battles with themselves are strong. Eric especially struggles to combine his faith with his sport and Harold mostly struggles with himself and the people around him. It’s more of a character study than a sports movie.
“Chariots of Fire” does feel a bit outdated now and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted. It’s a classic, but I believe that the opening and closing shots in combination with the legendary music by Vangelis are the most memorable parts of the film. They are more iconic then the film itself. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good movie, but for me it doesn’t feel like a classic.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

TV Show Review - Mare of Easttown (Mini Series)

Season:
Mini series

Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Number of episodes: 7
Year: 2021
Starring: Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Evan Peters, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, John Douglas Thompson, Joe Tippett, Guy Pierce, David Denman

Description: A detective (Kate Winslet) in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.

Review: We have known for some time that HBO creates quality series and “Mare of Easttown” is another absolute hit.
Seven hours of about an hour long you can watch this fantastic series that never gets boring. This detective series seems to have taken inspiration from British and Scandinavian genre series, because it has that same feel and quality. “Mare of Easttown” is one of the better shows I have seen this year.
Mare Sheehan is a small-town detective who is torn apart by the death of her son and the fact that she has been searching for a missing girl for a year. Her family seems completely broken, but they are not dysfunctional. On the surface they seem hopelessly divided and don’t really like each other either. But when you dis a little deeper, you see much more love and togetherness.
Mare lives with daughter Siobhan, her grandson Drew and her mother Helen in the same house. The film doesn’t have any wild car chases or action sequences, there are no picture perfect characters. We meet real people with flaws and imperfection. “Mare of Easttown” seems to be taken from life and captivates from beginning to end.
HBO has managed to created another amazing series. Kate Winslet, who plays the titular Mare, does an excellent job. There is little to be said for her acting. She carries the show and truly convinces you in everything she does. Winslet is surrounded by an equally amazing cast: Jean Smart as her mother Helen, Evan Peters as her partner Colin Zabel, Angourie Rice as daughter Siobhan and Julianne Nicholson as Mare’s best friend Lori.  
The plot of “Mare of Easttown” is not that special, but the way it is played out, including the wonderful and surprising conclusion, makes this series a little gem. And it doesn’t need another season, because Mare’s story has been told and the mysteries have been unfolded. I can truly recommend “Mare of Easttown” for anyone that likes a raw, realistic detective drama with lots of surprising plot twists.

vrijdag 27 augustus 2021

Netflix Friday - Volume 69

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 
Action: Black Hawk Down (2001)
160 elite U.S. soldiers drop into Somalia to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord and find themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily-armed Somalis.
 
Drama: Django Unchained (2012)
With the help of a German bounty-hunter (Christoph Waltz), a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) sets out to rescue his wife (Kerry Washington) from a brutal plantation-owner (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Mississippi.
 
Comedy: Forrest Gump (1994)
The presidencies of Kennedy and Johnson, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal and oter historical events unfold from the perspective of an Alabama man (Tom Hanks) with an IQ of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart (Robin Wright)
 
Animation: Ponyo (2008)
A five-year-old boy develops a relationship with Ponyo, a young goldfish princess who longs to become human after falling in love with him.
 
Romance: The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships, both old and new, begins to resemble 21st century versions of her novels.
 
Horror: The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
A lawyer (Laura Linney) takes on a negligent homicide case involving a priest (Tom Wilkinson) who preformed an exorcism on a young girl (Jennifer Carpenter)
 
Science Fiction: Children of Men (2006)
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which woman have become somehow infertile, a former activist (Clive Owen) agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.
 
Crime: Scarface (1983)
In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant (Al Pacino) takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.
 
Thriller: Blood Diamond (2006)
A fisherman (Djimon Hounsou), a smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio) and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.
 
Documentary: Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal and Greed (2021)
Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world’s most famous art instructor. But a battle for his business empire cast a shadow over his happy trees.
 
Family: Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Three musical chipmunks are discovered by an aspiring songwriter (Jason Lee) who wants to use their amazing  singing abilities to become famous.

zaterdag 21 augustus 2021

Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movie – Update 3

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme of reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.
 

5/ 100: La La Land (2016)

Jazz pianist Sebastian and aspiring actress Mia fall in love and try to support in each other as they pursue their personal ambitions and dreams. Delightful musical by director Damien Chazelle, who also directed another favorite “Whiplash”. The film is in the 1950s and 1960s style and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have amazing chemistry and shine. The soundtrack is fantastic (it has spent many hours in my CD-player) and entered my top five right after my first watch. Check out my review HERE.
 
6/ 100: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
Greg is a nerdy teen that has no friends and doesn’t fit into any social groups. And he would like to keep it that way. He only hangs out with Earl, with whom he makes crappy films based on classics. Until his mother pushes him to visit Rachel, a girl in his school that suffers from leukemia. This film is so heartfelt, honest, raw and pure. I loved every minute of it. Check out my review HERE.
 
7/ 100: The Way Way Back (2013)
To his horror, shy fourteen-year-old Duncan must spend the summer vacation at the beach house of the arrogant Trent, the new boyfriend of his mother Pam. Fortunately, his suffering is eased by a charming girl next door and a job at the local waterpark, led by bon vivant Owen. A coming-of-age film that offers surprises in terms of content and is refreshingly sincere in tone. Directors Nate Faxon and Jim Rash, who previously wrote the screenplay for “The Descendants”, take adolescent suffering seriously without getting bogged down in melodrama. Warm film with a super fun cast. Check out my review HERE.      
 
Still to watch: 93

10s Movie Review - On the Basis of Sex

Director:
Mimi Leder
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, Kathy Bates, Stephen Root, Jack Reynor, Ben Carlson, Chris Mulkey

Description: The true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones), her struggles for equal rights, and the early cases of a historic career that lead to her nomination and confirmation as U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice.

Review: In a sea of dark suites with ties, a blue flared dress suddenly appears, stocking-with-seams underneath. It is 1956 and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is rather out of place at Harvard University where she is starting her law studies. The new batch is welcomed by the dean who consistently refers to them as the ‘Harvard man’. He wants to know from the handful of female students why they are taking the place of the man.
That much has changed in male-female relationships since then is partly due to people like Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “On the Basis of Sex” looks back at the career of the lawyer who has devoted her working life to straightening out what is legally skewed between women and men.
Felicity Jones is fantastic as the earnest student who, married young and becoming a mother, struggles to find her way in a professional world where men are the ones who get pats on the back. Extraordinary that her husband and professional colleague Martin Ginsberg wo naturally shares her outrage at an unequal society. And becomes the main homemaker.
The film mainly underlines the historical importance of that career and the film is worth watching. I loved seeing her grow. Ruth Bader Ginsberg is one of the most inspirational women in history. She became an icon. The film shows beautifully how the little Jewish New Yorker who grew up debating stuck to the letter of the law while the world around her was rapidly changing.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

Director:
Patrick Hughes
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas

Description: The bodyguard Michael Bruce (Ryan Reynolds) continues his friendship with assassin Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) as they try to save Darius’ wife Sonia (Salma Hayek).

Review: As much as I liked “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”, it didn’t exactly scream for a sequel. On the other hand, buddy action comedies are extremely rare these days (gosh, I miss those 80s and 90s buddy cop movies), so if capitalizing on this mild success is the only way to keep this type somewhat alive: so be it. “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” still had a solid trump card that wasn’t fully played: Salma Hayek as the scene-stealing wife of the titular hitman. So it makes sense that her supporting role has been upgraded to one of the three leads and she has been given a prominent place not only on the poster, but even in the title.
This time, bodyguard Michael Bryce not only gets stuck with hitman Darius Kincaid, but also with his equally disturbed wife Sonia. This development manages to shake p the dynamic quite a bit. Where Bryce and Kincaid were still equivalent opposites in the first part, this time Bryce is in the minority. He is at the mercy of a couple who behave like children, but treat him as is he were their child. Of course, the coarse -tongued Sonia gets all the attention, to which actress Salma Hayek gives herself over with visible pleasure. Fortunately, the bond between Bryce and Kincaid is not completely forgotten. And while the events of the first film may have created some mutual respect between the two, it by no means mean that they are friends now.
Whereas the first part was set in Western Europe, part two is set in the Mediterranean territory, playing on the tension between Greece and the European Union. Now I’m sure that relationship is still no optimal, but this plot point would have been a lot more topical ten years ago.
“Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is flat, nonsensical and lacks the straightforwardness of its predecessor. It’s a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks exercise that hardly deviates from what made the first part so successful. And yet, again, there isn’t too much to dislike. The actors have fine chemistry, there are some solidly executed chases, and while not every joke hits the mark, there are plenty that will make you laugh. In other times, a film like this would probably have been casually tossed aside as a pointless interlude, but in a time when lavish blockbusters rule the roost, this kind of unpretentious entertainment may deserve a little more benefit of the doubt.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Beckett

Director:
Ferdinando Cito Filomarino
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama/ Action
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: John David Washington, Alicia Vikander, Boyd Holbrook

Description: Following a tragic car accident in Greece, Beckett (John David Washington), an American tourist finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy and on the run for his life.

Review: When Becket is on vacation with his girlfriend April they get into a car accident. In this accident Beckett sees a boy with red hair, but doesn’t know if it is an illusion or not. When Beckett wakes up in the hospital, he goes back to the place where they crashed to see what exactly happened. From that moment on, Beckett is on the run for his life and must survive in a strange country where he doesn’t know who he can trust or not.
The movie has a quick introduction to our main characters, before we get into the action and suspense. “Beckett” has a lot of tension and you really become eager to find out why this is happening to him. The movie captivated me from start to finish.
John David Washington, in the lead, does a good job and proves ones again that he can carry a movie well. Boyd Holbrook and Alicia Vikander both have smaller roles, but are solid.
I liked “Beckett”, but it will probably be a movie that will be easily forgotten.

Rating: 3/ 5

vrijdag 20 augustus 2021

Netflix Friday - Volume 68

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 
Action: Backdraft (1991)
Two Chicago firefighter brothers (Kurt Russell, William Baldwin), who don’t get along, have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose.
 
Drama: Dark Waters (2019)
A corporate defense attorney (Mark Ruffalo) takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.
 
Comedy: Julie & Julia (2009)
Julia Child’s (Meryl Streep) story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell’s (Amy Adams) challenge to cook all the recipes in Child’s first book.
 
Animation: Hotel Transylvania 3 (2018)
Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) and company participate in a cruise for sea-loving monsters, unaware that their boat is being commandeered by the monster-hating Van Helsing family.
 

Romance: The Great Gatsby (2013)
A writer and wall street trader, Nick (Tobey Maguire), finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of this millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby (Leonard DiCaprio).
 
Horror: Mother (2017)
A couple’s (Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem) is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.
 
Science Fiction: Star Trek (2009)
The brash James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) tries to live up to his father’s legacy with Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.
 
Crime: Jackie Brown (1997)
A middle-aged woman (Pam Greer) finds herself in the middle of a huge conflict that will either make her a profit or cost her life.
 
Thriller: Fracture (2007)
An attorney (Ryan Gosling) intending on climbing the career ladder towards success finds an unlikely opponent in a manipulative criminal (Anthony Hopkins) he is trying to prosecute.
 
Documentary: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
The iconic metal band struggle for two years to create their album St. Anger, dealing with alcoholism, the loss of their bass player, and the challenge of working with a psychotherapist.
 
Family: Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Wilbur the Pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte (Julia Roberts), a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen.

zondag 15 augustus 2021

Movie Review - Georgetown

Director:
Christoph Waltz
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Christoph Waltz, Annette Bening

Description: Ulrich Mott (Christoph Waltz), an ambitious social climber, marries a wealthy widow (Vanessa Redgrave) in Washington D.C. in order to mix with powerful political players.

I WATCHED THIS FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 32: A MOVIE WITH A NAME IN THE TITLE
 
Review: Christoph Waltz plays the charming Ulrich Mott, an ambitious social climber, who marries the much older Elsa. This way he can come in contact with powerful political players. Elsa’s daughter Amanda doesn’t trust Ulrich. With “Georgetown”, Waltz debuts as a director.
I was really interested when I read the plot, but the film is not that memorable. It has some twists, but nothing surprising. And Waltz’s character is not that different from most characters  he plays. I was actually kind of bored with this film.
“Georgetown” is an easy forgettable film, with fine actors and performances and an okay plot, but doesn’t offer us anything new or special.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

vrijdag 13 augustus 2021

Netflix Friday - Volume 67

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 
Action: Monster Hunter (2020)
When Lt. Artemis (Mila Jovovich) and her loyal soldiers are transported to a new world, they engage in a desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers.
 
Drama: Creed (2015)
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
 
Comedy: Bad Moms (2016)
When three overworked and under-appreciated moms (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Katheryn Hahn) are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun and comedic self-indulgence.
 
Animation: Vivo (2021)
“Vivo” will take audiences on an epic adventure to gorgeous and vibrant locations never before seen in animation.
 
Romance: The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
A shy, middle aged professor (Jeff Bridges) enters into a romantic but non-physical relationship with an unlucky-in-love colleague (Barbra Streisand).
 
Horror: The Shallows (2016)
A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.
 
Science Fiction: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.
 
Crime: Beckett (2021)
Following a tragic car accident in Greece, Beckett (John David Washington), and American tourist, finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy and on the run for his life.
 
Thriller: The Beguiled (2017)
The unexpected arrival of a wounded soldier (Colin Farrell) at a girls school in Virginia during the American Civil War leads to jealousy and betrayal.
 

Documentary: Athlete A (2020)
Follow the Indianapolis Star reporters that broke the story about USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse and hear from gymnasts like Maggie Nichols.

Family: Shazam (2019)
A newly fostered boy in search of his mother instead finds unexpected super powers and soon gains a powerful enemy.

woensdag 11 augustus 2021

Movie Reviews - The Suicide Squad

Director:
James Gunn
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, John Cena, Sylvester Stallone, Alica Braga, Viola Davis, Michael Rooker, Peter Capaldi, David Dastmalchian, Pete Davidson, Nathan Fillion, Daniela Melchior, Taika Waititi, Sean Gunn
 
Description: Supervillains Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena) and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Review: It’s not often that a film is released that seems to serve primarily as a retread of its predecessor. Then again, few films fail the way “Suicide Squad” did in 2016. This attempt to provide some differentiation for DC’s superhero line had plenty of potential, but the end result was far from impressive. The screenplay was a hastily written mess, the characters as flat as a dime and the choices for musical accompaniment both arbitrary and ridiculously obvious. And if those flaw didn’t already neck the film, the questionable editing did. In the end, the most memorable thing about the film was Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.
The film was nevertheless a financial success. The sequel was not immediately made with the same people. The audience would not fall for it so easily the second time around. “The Suicide Squad” functions to some extent as a sequel film (same concept, some returning actors), but one that takes as little notice as possible of its predecessor. To be on the safe side, writer-director James Gun has been enlisted for this second attempt. And he turns out the be the right person in the right place.
This time, the criminal troupe is assigned to a sabotage mission in a South American island state where a coup has recently taken place. That this premise sounds like the average American action film from the 1980s is probably no coincidence. Whereas the productions from the Reagan era took it for granted that American mourners could go about their business overseas, “The Suicide Squad” questions this a lot more. But even apart from all the critical notes that are cracked, this set-up ensures that the mission is completely clear from the start, even when the team members are somewhat in the dark. And when the situation does suddenly take a supernatural turn, it’s an unforeseen complication for which they were not prepared, rather than the film’s loudly stated premise.
Another big improvement is that, unlike his predecessor David Ayer, James Gunn never seems to feel the need to try to portray his characters in a cool way. Thus, the new team consists of all but a few goofy characters in outfits that look anything but intimidating. It is therefore not inconceivable that Gunn explicitly wanted characters that had no plans for film anyway. He succeeds in doing so because he treats the plot with the necessary lightness, but provides characters with sufficient humanity. So this time no visual profiles to show how eccentric the team members are, but just normal introduction scenes and then clear characterization by how these characters deal with the circumstances and each other.
While it is quite plausible that Gunn was hired based on his “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the success of “The Suicide Squad” is mostly related to his past work. After all, Gunn began his career at Troma Entertainment, which specializes in exploitative horror. And he can draw from that experience for “The Suicide Squad” a lot more than he could from his Marvel films. So keep in mind an extremely brutal and sometimes even grotesque spectacle in which a blood flows richly. Perhaps this orgy of violence will not please everyone, but anyone who is used to it can look forward to a frenzied bloody showdown.
The casting choices are on point. Margot Robbie has of course already proven herself as Harley Quinn and is again magnificent in her role. Idris Elba, who sort of serves as the main character Bloodsport, does a wonderful job as well and his interaction an dynamic with John Cena’s Peacemaker is one of the highlights of the film. I also enjoyed David Dastmalchian and Daniela Melchior, who portrayed Ratcatcher 2 and Polka Dot Man, who did an amazing job in supporting the supervillain team. But the scene stealer is without a doubt King Shark, a walking and talking shark voiced by Sylvester Stallone.
Although all elements have an origin in the DC comics, “The Suicide Squad” rarely feels like a movie version of a superhero world. Guns’ eclectic mix of extreme body violence, bizarre characters, absurdist scenes, nihilistic fun and uncomfortable body horror, which also includes alien life, American imperialism and Nazi experiments in passing, is more reminiscent of a “Rick and Morty” episode. In terms of tone, it’s hardly in keeping with other DC films, but the idea of a consistent shared film universe was already a thing of the past with the first “Suicide Squad”. “The Suicide Squad” is one of the best DC movies, probably even the best since “The Dark Knight”.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

zondag 8 augustus 2021

10s Movie Review - A Thousand Times Good Night

Director:
Erik Poppe
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Laryn Canny, Larry Mullen Jr., Chloë Annett, Eve Macklin

Description: Rebecca (Juliette Binoche) is one of the world’s top war photographers. She must weather a major emotional storm when her husband refuses to put up with her dangerous life any longer.

I WATCHED THIS FILM FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 31: A WAR MOVIE
 
Review: With great passion and dedication Rebecca shows everyone the many untold stories of the world. Because she believes that world is entitled to the truth. Her surrender is accompanied by a businesslike coldness. Emotions need to be turned off and parked untol Rebecca is on safe ground. Her family is somewhat less than enamored with Rebecca’s far-reaching ambitions, especially when she returns from a photo mission in Afghanistan after getting hurt pretty badly. The call from those around her to quit the dangerous job becomes stronger and stronger, but Rebecca struggles between her private life and her work.
Director Eric Poppe’s “A Thousand Times Good Night”,  with its overly sentimental title, begins at once gruesome and powerful. Rebecca attends a funeral, dressed in the local clothes but with a camera in her hand. This turns out to be staged, because the deceased has yet to fall. However, there is no opportunity to say goodbye, because the woman is a suicide bomber. By the other women of her community, she is being groomed for her horrible task. Rebecca wants to come along in the van that will eventually explode. After she gets out of the van, the van explodes and she ends up in the hospital.
As soon as Rebecca is reunited with her family in Ireland, the quality and impact of Poppe’s war drama noticeable deteriorate. The contrast between Rebecca’s tow daughters is striking. The youngest asks id mom hasn’t brought her presents, as if her mother has been on vacation. The eldest better realizes all that her mother has had to endure and even begins to show interest in her work for a school project.
Still, the tension that Rebecca’s work creates in the family have a fairly predictable character. The course of the escalating conflicts is therefore easy to guess. This would not be a problem at all if Pope’s screenplay had been able to accommodate this with strong dialogue and intense interplay from the actors. But alas.
With actors like Juliette Binoche and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on board, things should be fine, one would think. All their solid efforts notwithstanding, the characters are so headstrong that it’s hard to steer them off course. There is little room for nuance or real character development, no matter how well the performers do their best. A pleasant change occurs when Rebecca travels to Africa with her oldest daughter Steph. This initially creates a change of setting. But after her return, it seems as if Rebecca just doesn’t want to learn from her mistakes, even if this helps her family to gain dramatic momentum. The result is a sudden change of direction at the very last moment. It is then too late for this drama to sink in.
The movie didn’t turn out to be what I expected. In this case, that’s a bad thing.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

zaterdag 7 augustus 2021

Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 2

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme of reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.
 
3/ 100: Whiplash (2014)
Outstanding music film in which young, ambitious jazz drummer Andrew takes on his demanding and ruthless teacher Fletcher. There is no false note in this exciting and gripping film from director Damien Chazelle, who presents the music world as a sports arena in which only the most fanatical survive. “Whiplash” convinces from beginning to the long-winded, emotionally crushing ending. And J.K. Simmons created one of the most terrifying movie characters in cinematic history. Check my review HERE.
 
4/ 100: Gran Torino (2008)
After his wife dies, the temper of Walt Kowalski, a Korean veteran, retired factory worker and racist grump, is tested: his children want to put him in a nursing home, and a squeaky-clean pastor keeps coming to ask if he wants to come to confession. When his Asian-American neighbor boy tries to steal his beautiful classic Gran Torino, Walt gets into a fight with a local youth gang. Clint Eastwood stars and directs the film. “Gran Torino” is an exciting, compelling, relevant drama, which is my favorite Eastwood directed film to this date. Check my review HERE.
 

Still to watch: 96