00s Movie Review - Minoes

Director: Vincent Ball
Genre: Family
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 2001
Starring: Carice van Houten, Theo Maassen, Sarah Bannier, Olga Zuiderhoek, Jack Wouterse, Loes Luca, Pierre Bokma, Annet Malherbe, Wim T. Schippers, Paul Haenen, Hans Teeuwen, Katja Schuurman, Hans Kesting

Description: A cat who turns into a young woman (Carice van Houten) helps a journalist (Theo Maassen) protect their town from a factory boss with an evil plan.

Review: Tibbe is a starting journalist at the Killendoornse Courant, but due to his shy nature he can’t find any scoops. The editor in chief of the newspaper gives Tibbe another chance to come up with a good story. While Tibbe has a good story to write about, he meets the remarkable Miss Minoes who sits at the top of a tree. She used to be a cat, she says. She behaves rather cat-like indeed: she purs, she prefers to sleeps in a box and she can talk to other cats. Tibbe has his doubts about Minoes, but when she helps him with exclusive news by talking to all the cats, he hires her as his assistant. In return, she can live with him. One day the cats tell Minoes that Mr. Ellemeet, factory manager and very beloved local benedactor, turns out to be a culprit. When Minoes sees to it that Tibbe publishes the dark secrets of Mr. Ellemeet, all the citizens of Killendoorn turn agains Tibbe. However, Tibbe refuses to rectify his story, and is immediately dismissed.
Minoes is based on the famous children’s book by beloved Dutch children’s book author Annie M.G. Schmidt. She has conquered the hearts of young and old for generations with her heartwarming and humorous stories. This story was skillfully adapted to film.
Theo Maassen plays the role of Tibbe, who is mostly known as a stand-up comedian and this was his first role in a feature film. And since his comedy act is often very harsh, it’s a lot of fun to see him in such a timid, sweet role. Carice van Houten, who we now know as Melisandre from “Game of Thrones”, plays the titular character. She had already played various roles in Dutch films and even won a Golden Calf in 1999 for her role in “Suzy Q”. In “Minoes” is clear why she is one of The Netherland’s nationals treasures in the acting business.
“Minoes” is a wonderful family film, such a kindhearted movie that will put a smile on your face.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 23: Lucia de B.

Director: Paula van der Oest

Genre: Drama/ Crime

Runtime: 97 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Ariane Schluter, Annet Malherbe, Sallie Harmsen, Barry Atsma, Fedja van Huêt, Marwan Kenzari, Fockeline Ouwerkerk, Marcel Musters, Reinout Bussemaker, Bas Keijzer, Ad Nippels, Jochum de Haaf, Amanda Ooms, Isis Cabolet, Ronald Top

Description: A psychological thriller, based on one of the most controversial court cases in the Netherlands. Lucia (Ariane Schluter), a nurse, is sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly having killed at least seven babies and elderly people.

Review: With “Lucia de B.”, the adaptation of one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in the Netherlands, director Paula van der Oest hits a nerve. Many people in the Netherlands know the name Lucia de B. The nurse, that was convicted eleven years ago for murdering several of her patients, was acquitted. How can an innocent woman sit in prison for six year, based on assumptions and gossip? The truth of this judicial miss comes to light in the Dutch drama “Lucia de B.”

During her nightshift Lucia de Berk takes care of Timo, a newborn baby with big health problems. When his conditions worsens, Dr. Kobus is paged. Clearly not focused the doctor declares the child stabile and leaves. The diagnose was wrong, because baby Timo dies a couple of hours later. Bad for Lucia, because this is one of the many incidents where she was present during the loss of a patient. The hospital presses charges. Baby Timo supposedly died of digoxin poisoning, but the pathologist can’t find any puncture wounds. Based on select proof, assumptions and gossip, Lucia is arrested and questioned. Her traumatic youth, where she was forced into prostitution as a teenager, works against her. She is associated with seven deaths and ‘the angel of death’ is sentenced for a lifetime in prison.

Judith Jansen, a public prosecutor who was part of the arrest, starts doubting her own judgment. She wants to proof Lucia’s innocents.

True stories always hit you hard, because at the time it actually happened people followed the story in the news. People always have their own judgment. The tough role of Lucia de B. is played by Ariane Schluter, and she does a pretty good job. Also Fedja van Huêt, as Lucia’s attorney, plays his role very well. The other actors don’t seem as driven as Schluter and Van Huêt.

Aside from the mediocre acting, the story is interesting and intriguing.

Rating: 3/ 5