Netflix Friday - Volume 94

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: The Bourne identity (2002)
A man (Matt Damon_ is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and suffering from amnesia, before racing to elude assassins and attempting to regain his memory.
 

Drama: 1917 (2019)
April 6^th, 1917. As an infantry battalion assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers (Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay) are assigned to race time and deliver a message that will stop 1600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.
 

Comedy: Daddy’s Home (2015)
Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell) is a radio host trying to get his stepchildren to love him and call him Dad. But his plans turn upside down when their biological father, Dusty Mayron (Mark Wahlberg) returns.
 

Animation: How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
A hapless young Viking (Jay Baruchel) who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friends of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.
 

Romance: Top Gun (1986)
As students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in class, one daring young pilot (Tom Cruise) learns a few things from a civilian instructor (Kelly McGillis) that are not taught in the classroom.
 

Horror: Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
After nearly 50 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town.
 

Science Fiction: Terminator Salvation (2009)
In 2018, a mysterious new weapon in the war against the machines, half-human and half-machine (Sam Worthington), comes to John Connor (Christian Bale) on the eve of a resistance attack on Skynet. But whose side is he on, and can he be trusted?
 

Crime: John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
After returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.
 

Thriller: Munich: The Edge of War (2018)
A British diplomat travels to Munich in the run-up to World War II, where a former classmate of his from Oxford is also en route, but is working for the Germany government.
 

Documentary: Django & Django (2021)
A homage to Italian director Sergio Corbucci of the 1960s and contemporary director Quentin Tarantino, recounting a memorable period in Italian cinema with the sensibility of today.
 

Family: A Cinderella Story (2004)
Routinely exploited by her wicked stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge), the downtrodden Samantha Montgomery (Hilary Duff) is excited about the prospect of meeting het Internet beau at the school’s Halloween dance.

Netflix Friday - Volume 74

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: 1917 (2019)
April 6^th, 2917. As a regiment assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, tow soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.
 

Drama: Darkest Hour (2017)
In May 1040, the fate of  World War II hangs on Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman), who must decided whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.
 

Comedy: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) is an advertising executive and ladies’ man who, to win a big campaign, bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. That woman, Andie (Kate Hudson) is about to write a story on how to lose a guy in 10 days.  
 

Animation: Shaun the Sheep: The Farmer’s Llamas (2015)
Shaun the sheep gets the Farmer to bring home three llamas from the County Fair.
 

Romance: The Girl Next Door (2004)
A teenager’s (Emile Hirsch) dreams come true when a former porn star (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door and they fall in love.
 

Horror: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
On Halloween 1968, Stella and her two friends meet a mysterious drifter, Ramón, and uncover a sinister notebook of stories.
 

Science Fiction: Men in Black (1997)
A police officer (Will Smith) joins a secret organization that polices and monitors extraterrestrial interactions on Earth.
 

Crime: Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980 (2009)
A team of investigators attempt to stop a serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper from claiming his next victim, but uncover something far more terrifying.
 

Thriller: Endless Night (1975)
A working-class Englishman marries an affable American heiress, but their marital bliss is soon interrupted when they begin constructing a home on a land alleged to be cursed.
 
Documentary: Western Stars (2019)
Love concert performance of Bruce Springsteen singing songs from his album “Western Stars”.
 
Family: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
When a massive fire kills their parents, three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), who is secretly plotting to steal their parent’s vast fortune.

Top 20: Favorite Movies of 2020

It’s an obvious statement, but 2020 was the weirdest year. And it also affected the movie business. I think I only went to the movie theater twice this year. The rest of the new films I saw on demand or on a streaming service. But despite it all, 2020 did give us some gems. And as always it was really hard to form a good top 20. It’s based on Dutch release dates, so you might see some movies on this list that are originally from 2019, but came out in 2020 in The Netherlands. And if you miss some movies, it’s possible that it won’t be released here until 2021 or I just haven’t seen it. Since I don’t get to see EVERY film made in 2020. Blood, sweat and tears, but here are the 20 best films of 2020, according to me.
 

20. I’m Thinking of Ending Things
A young woman is on her way to the parents of her brand new, rather boring boyfriend. And all the time she hears a little voice in her head that says: I’m thinking of Ending Things. An end to what? The relationship, her life, his life? Charlie Kaufman, best known for his scripts for “Being John Malkovich” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”, based his third film as a director for the first time on the story of another. But it still is a typical Kaufman film. Incomprehensible, melancholic and heartbreakingly sad. Definitely the strangest movie on the list, yet so beautiful and hard ignore.
 

19. Swallow
Not particularly subtle, but smart. That’s how this feature film debut gives its own twist to the rare eating disorder pica. Haley Bennet feels completely at home in this film, which has a great match in colors. Everything is right: from the pastel-colored villa with beautiful furniture to the costumes and make-up of Bennet. Behind this dreamlike life lurks a huge nightmare. It gets crazier and crazier: Hunter first starts eating ice cubes, then a pebble and a marble. Hunter must and will swallow it. Even if it endangers her and her unborn baby’s health. “Swallow” is extremely difficult to watch, probably hard to stomach for those not used to this kind of film. But it’s an amazing and original film. Tip: do not eat while watching this film.
 

18. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
In the US, every kid grew up with Fred Rogers (1928-2003), because of his TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”, in which he talked about social issues with children in an extremely calm and friendly manner. He did this for over thirty years. This film portrait, based on an article in Esquire, follows a journalist wo was initially skeptical about Rogers’ impeccable image, but became increasingly impressed by him. The other American sweetheart, Tom Hanks, is perfectly cast as Rogers and convincingly brings him to life. The film is inevitably sentimental, but also original and nuanced. It will probably impress you more if you grew up with Fred Rogers, but it’s still a beautiful movie with a message. Or like movie critic Scott Mantz once said: this is the movie version of a hug.
 

17. Richard Jewell
True story about security guard Richard Jewell, who during the Olympic Games in Atlanta discovers a backpack with a bomb in it. Because of his actions, it only caused one death instead of hundreds. He is a hero for exactly three days. After that, he is considered a potential suspect. After which the media and the FBI will turn his life upside down. It’s a bizarre story with an anti-hero in the leading role. And Sam Rockwell as the absolute highlight of the film.
 

16. Tenet
The first blockbuster in this Covid19 period and it was exactly the right film at the right time: a two and a half hour adrenaline rush, custom made for the biggest screen of all. With “Tenet”, Christopher Nolan presents his own version of a Bond film: with spy entanglements, exotic locations, fast flying, boating and vehicles, but also with a serious undertone and complicated time travel dispute. The script is very complex, which make a second viewing necessary. The characters are just pawns in an equally fascinating puzzle. If you thought “Inception” was complicated, think again.
 

15. The Half of It
Bookworm Ellie is hired by soccer player Paul to write a love letter for Aster, the prettiest girl in the class. She does this with verve, but there is one problem. Ellie herself is in love with Aster. On paper, this is the umpteenth production from Netflix, starring young adults in love. But by focusing on friendship instead of the usual average romance, director Alice Wu manages to lift her second feature film far above average. Hopefully we will get to see lead actress Leah Lewis more in the future. I really loved this movie more than I expected to.
 

14. The Devil All the Time
The American writer Donald Ray Pollock must have suffered a great deal of religious frustration in the past: his debut novel “The Devil All the Time” is full of perverse preachers, Bible-quoting brutes and other religious madmen. In this ambitious film with an impressive cast, Pollock himself, performs as a storyteller. Place of action is the area around Knockemstiff, Ohio, where the traumatized orphan Arvin Russell tries to stay on the right path. A grotesque, sullen but also fascinating portion of Southern Gothic.
 

13. Bad Education
True story: in 2004, the Roslyn High School newspaper in New York unveiled a major corruption scandal within its own school. In this subdued film, Hugh Jackman impressively plays the role of Frank Tassone, the amiable superintendent of the school district who is confronted with the embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars by one of his closest employees. Screenwriter Mike Makowsky witnesses the scandal as a student up close and turned it into a fascinating modern tragedy about greed. Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney are both superb in their roles.
 

12. Uncut Gems
New York jeweler Howard Ratner lives his life in top gear. He has a family, prestige, and a running business, but is always looking for a new deal or the next chance. Without giving the viewer a second’s rest, the directing brothers Safdie drag their main character from crucial encounter to crucial encounter. And in Adam Sandler they found their ideal protagonist. Always fucked up, frantic and exuberant. But where he irritates you in a lot of his films, he now manages to move you. Sandler’s best performance to date and definitely Oscar-worthy.
 

11. Never Rarely Sometimes Always
The seventeen-year-old Autumn is pregnant, unwanted. She wants to have an abortion, but that is only allowed in her home state of Pennsylvania with permission of her parents. Because she doesn’t want to inform them, she travels to New York with her niece. The rules there are more lenient. This subdued social drama, is a subtle feminist statement that at times is very moving. The leading actresses are fantastic, although their characters remain very passive and therefor somewhat distant. It’s a realistic and raw film, that really made a big impression on me.
 

10.The Gentlemen
We follow American expat Mickey Pearson, who built a profitable marijuana empire in London. When the story goes that he wants to leave the business, Mickey has to deal with conspiracies, intrigue, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to take everything away from him. If you’re a fan of Guy Ritchie’s previous films “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, this is definitely your cup of tea as well. Fun characters and strong performances, especially by Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Grant.
 

9. David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Biologist David Attenborough, world-famous maker of dozens of nature documentaries and now 94 years old, looks back on his life in this impressive film essay. The conclusion is harsh: in recent decades the wilderness has been systematically destroyed and CO2 emission have increased in an extreme way, causing the planet to face a catastrophe. But it is not yet too late, according to Attenborough. If we radically change our way of life, starting with our diet and agriculture, we can still save ourselves. This documentary was frightening, because of the scary reality it pictures us. But also inspiring and a good lesson for all of us.
 

8. Da 5 Bloods
More than forty years after they fought there, four black Vietnam War veterans go in search of the corpse of their fallen comrade, as well as the chest full of gold they lost after a helicopter crash. In the successor to “BlackKklansman”, director Spike Lee mixes different genres (war, satire, psychological drama), but above all he zooms in on the underexposed role of African-American soldiers in Vietnam. Razor shark and unforgettable. In short: vintage Spike Lee.
 

7. Hors Normes
French director duo Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, best know for “Intouchables”, specialize in feelgood films with more serious themes. “Hors Normes” (international title: The Specials) is no exception. We follow Bruno, who runs a shelter for several autistic children, and his good friend Malek, who trains underprivileged young adults to become supervisors of those children. Bruno is Orthodox Jewish, Malek Muslim. In terms of plot, this truthful drama has little to do with it, but the despite-all-optimistic tone is particularly contagious, and it is played beautifully by both professional and non-professional actors.
 

6. The Lighthouse
New England, 1890. Lighthouse keepers Thomas and Ephraim will have to spend a month together in an abandoned lighthouse on a remote island. It will be an incomparable battle of wills, in which fever dreams and reality merge into one another. Director Robert Eggers, who wrote the scenario together with his brother Max, chose to film in black and white and wrote the roles of Thomas and Ephraim with Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in mind. “The Lighthouse” is loud and baroque in tone and very oppressive and uncanny. Not for everyone, but for the more advanced movie viewer.
 

5. Dark Waters
This movie really surprised me and I never expected to have it this high up on my list before I started watching it. But this film left a big impression and left me speechless as well. It’s a true story about attorney Robert Bilott, who fights against chemical giant DuPont, where substances known to be bad for people and the environment were used for decades. Director of this subdued but impressive film is Todd Haynes, who, after a series of beautiful stylized melodramas (“Far From Heaven”, “Carol”, “Wonderstruck”), for the first time – and with success – ventures into a highly political film.  
 

4. The Invisible Man
This horror/ thriller movie proved what I always claim about the genre: it’s what you don’t see that scares you the most. And here it is very literal, because he is invisible. You are constantly focused on what is going on around Cecilia, watching if you can ‘see’ him. It has only a few jump scares, but all effective and anything but cheap. And Elisabeth Moss proves once again that she is one of the finest actresses of the moment.
 

3. Little Women
Another film adaptation of Louise May Alcott’s world-famous book, nevertheless manages to give an entirely unique twist to the well-known story about an impoverished bourgeois family at the time of the American Civil War. Aspirant writer Jo (Saoirse Ronan), one of the four sisters in the family, is still central, but director Greta Gerwig shows striking understanding for the ambitious Amy (Florence Pugh), who was invariably the ‘bad sister’ in previous versions. I already loved the 1994 version with Winona Ryder, but this is my favorite.
 

2. 1917
War thriller “1917” gives the impression of being filmed in one continuous shot. Experienced viewers will often wonder how cinematographer Roger Deakins pulled it off. The stunning technique, however, does not get in the way of the drama, but contributes to a rare and oppressive tension. Director Sam Mendes based the plot, about two British soldiers being sent on a life-threatening mission in the northern French trenches, on the experiences of his grandfather, and knows how to bring chaos and tragedy on the Great War breathtakingly close.  
 

1. Jojo Rabbit
The corny absurdism of the New Zealand director Taika Waititi worked very well in movies like “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Thor: Ragnarok”, and yet again, in a more heavy theme with the World War II as a background, he managed it again. Jojo is a young boy in Hitler’s army and he finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. It’s a brilliant satire. Waititi himself plays Hitler, who is also Jojo’s imaginary friend. “Jojo Rabbit” is, without any doubt, my favorite of the year.

Honorable Mentions: Enola Holmes, Happiest Season, Mank, 21 Bridges, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Emma., The Hunt, Escape from Pretoria, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Kiss the Ground

Movie Review - 1917

Director: Sam Mendes
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Richard Madden, Andrew Scott, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch

Description: April 6th 1917. As a regiment assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1600 men from walking into a deadly trap.

Review: Anyone who watched that minute tracking shot in “Atonement”, on the beach of Dunkirk, watched it with jaw dropping amazement. And all those people will be in for a treat for “1917”. In this sweltering film, the camera follows two soldiers in one long shot, while being sent on a life-threatening mission behind enemy lines during World War I. A masterpiece by Sam Mendes, where the technique is fully at the service of the story. One of the most impressive war movies since “Saving Private Ryan”.
On a deceptively calm morning in the spring of 1917, the British soldiers Schofield and Blake are called to their sergeant for a risky mission. A few kilometers further, a British battalion thinks it can attack the retreating Germans. It appears to be an ambush. Communication between the two camps is no longer possible, so Schofield and Blake are sent to deliver the message in person. Within a couple of hours, otherwise it will be too late.
The two clamber over the barbed wire and start, on foot, a mission that seems to be doomed to fail. It’s awfully quiet in and around the German trenches, behind every rustle there’s a threat. Wonderful how the camera wanders around the two men, it glides past craters full of limbs, dives under water, then searches the sky for hostile planes. Whereas in other films the ‘long take’ can feel like a trick after a while, here it works brilliantly. The feeling of unrelenting threat is enormous, precisely because perspective is never changed. The camera is like the third soldier through whose eyes you watch this desperate mission. In reality, the camera is operated by master cinematographer Roger Deakins (“Blade Runner 2049”, “Sicario”, “Prisoners”), who always guarantees visual fireworks.
The fact that the film is somewhat schematic (obstacle-resting point-obstacle, etc.) is not a problem at all. For that, each scene on its own is too compelling or exciting. Lead actors Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay delicately give shape to their characters, flesh-and-blood soldiers, not the overly fearless types who appear so often in war films. The camaraderie between the two forms the leading beating heart of the story.
The clever thing about “1917” is that is combines the gripping art of storytelling with overwhelming experiential cinema. Christopher Nolan’s WOII epos “Dunkirk”, which stylistically shows some common ground, mainly fell into that second category. That film, too succeeded in conveying the raw reality of the battlefield, was brilliantly photographed, but lacked emotional depth. During the credits it can be read that “1917” is based on the war experiences of director Sam Mendes’ grandfather, who knows. Maybe it’s that what makes it so gripping.
I think I can say that “1917” is Sam Mendes’ best film so far.

Rating: 5 / 5

Academy Awards 2020 - Predictions

My predictions of the 2020 Academy Awards.

Best motion picture of the year: “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood”
Best performance by and actor in a leading role: Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Best performance by an actress in a leading role: Renée Zellweger, “Judy”
Best performance by and actor in a supporting role: Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood”
Best performance by and actress in a supporting role: Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Best achievement in directing: Sam Mendes, “1917”
Best original screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood”
Best adapted screenplay: Greta Gerwig, “Little Women”
Best cinematography: Roger Deakins, “1917”
Best achievement in film editing: Andrew Buckland and Michael McCusker, “Ford V Ferrari”
Best achievement in production design: Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh, “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood”

Best achievement in costume design: Jacqueline Durran, “Little Women”
Best achievement in makeup and hairstyling: Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker, “Bombshell”
Best achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score): Hildur Duđnadóttir, “Joker”
Best achievement in music written for motion pictures (original song): Elton John and Bernie Taupin, (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again, “Rocketman”
Best achievement in sound mixing: Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson, “1917”
Best achievement in sound editing: Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate, “1917”

Best achievement in visual effects: Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Daniel Sudick, “Avengers: Endgame”
Best documentary feature: “American Factory”
Best documentary short subject: “Learning to Skateboard”
Best animated feature film: “Toy story”
Best animated short film: “Hair Love”
Best live action short film: “Brotherhood”
Best international feature film: “Parasite”

Movies to Look Forward to - January 2020

Almost the end of the year, which was a pretty good movie year. Especially towards the end of it. Time to look what's ahead in January!

January 2nd – Jojo Rabbit
Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Taika Waititi, Roman Griffin Davis, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen, Stephen Merchant
Description: A young boy in Hitler’s army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.

January 9th – 1917
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, Mark Strong, Colin Firth
Description: Two young British privates during the First World War are given an impossible mission: deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will stop 1600 men, and on of the soldier’s brothers, from walking straight into a deadly trap.

January 16th – Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Starring: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Jennifer Morrison, Mark Duplass, Tricia Helfer, Alice Eve, John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Stephen Root, Allison Janney
Description: A group of women decide to take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network.

January 16th – Dolittle
Director: Stephen Caghan
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, Michael Sheen, Selena Gomez, Ralph Fiennes, Marion Cotillard, Antonio Banderas, Octavia Spencer, Jim Broadbent
Description: A physician discovers that he can talk to animals.

January 23rd – Dark Waters
Director: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, Bill Camp, Victor Garber
Description: A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.