90s Movie Review - Miller's Crossing

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Steve Buscemi

Description: Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss (Albert Finney), tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 34: A FILM FROM 1990
 
Review: This is the third film by the Coen brother, Joel and Ethan. In “Miller’s Crossing” they firmly established their signature visual flair, which they would continue in films such as “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski”.

In this film noir, gangster Leo is asked to eliminate Bernie, but he is the brother of the woman he is in love with. Meanwhile, she is already involved with Leo’s right-hand man Tom.

The theme is good and evil: even the gangsters want to do good, act “ethically”, and be friends with everyone. But their selfishness, distrust, and corruption inevitably gets them killed.

The film feels somewhere between “The Godfather” and “Sin City”, with the gangster and film noir elements, and it’s an intelligent and witty film. Really good, overlooked filmd b the Coen Brothers.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Movie Review - Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Genre: Drama/ Family/ Musical/ Adventure/ Animation
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz
 
    
Description: A father’s wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.

Review: The story of Pinocchio has been filmed dozens of times. Earlier in 2022, we saw the lifeless Disney remake appear on their streaming service. Even though it had my favorite, Tom Hanks, in it, please forget about this film. As visionary director Guillermo del Toro does manage to put a unique spin on the famous story. With stop-motion.

The details are amazing; everything is designed as authentically as possible. Strong also how he sometimes moves the camera continuously through the image for a long time, which must be incredibly difficult with this form of animation. As always with stop-motion animation, it’s very visible that it’s been made with love.

Del Toro added a dose of realism to his version of “Pinocchio”. For example, the plot takes place during World War I and World War II. But the familiar plot elements are also present, like Pinocchio being exploited as a circus attraction.

It’s great to see what Del Toro with the already so familiar characters. Gepetto is a very tragic character here, a father who is still mourning over his deceased son, but must accept that Pinocchio cannot replace him. The cricket is also woven into the story in an original way; he lived in the tree from which the wood that made Pinocchio was used. That way, he follows Pinocchio everywhere he goes.

Del Toro tries to keep it somewhat kid-friendly by adding musical numbers, but these are not the most memorable parts of the film. Overall the film has a grim atmosphere, which makes it not always appropriate for the youngest of viewers. It’s a dark twist on the well-know tale, which overflows with creativity.

Of all the “Pinocchio” movie made over the past 5 years, this is the one to watch. The rest, easily forgettable.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - The Batman

Director: Matt Reeves
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 176 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard,
 
Description: When the Riddler (Paul Dano), a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman (Robert Pattinson) is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement.

Review: Did we really need yet another Batman movie? It looks like we do, because “The Batman” is fantastic. Director and screenwriter Matt Reeves made a dead serious, stylish and intriguing drama.
What is he still fighting for? Fighting evil is a hopeless task in Gotham City. Crime rates are only increasing. Corruption seems to be inextinguishable. Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, sees no more bright spots.

“The Batman” is yet another film adaptation of DC Comics’ graphic novels about the dark knight. Dozens of Batman films and series have been made. With Tim Burton’s “Batman”(1989), Christpher Nolan’s impressive trilogy and even the animated “The Lego Batman Movie’ as major successes, failures like “Batman & Robin” (1997) and less popular films like “Batman V. Superman” (2016).
“The Batman” is an entirely new reboot and it does separate itself from the rest. Because it’s a complete new take on Batman and Bruce Wayne. Reeves vision is closest to that op Christopher Nolan, who around 2005 stripped the superhero film of its innocent image, without self-mockery of later Marvel films. “The Batman” is even darker and never cartoonish. In the process, Reeves exploits the specifics of the character well. Batman is one of the few superheroes without super strength, relying on gadgets, money and his own two fists. A lonely, elitist hero he is, with his butler Alfred as his only trustee.

Reeves emphasizes Batman’s humanity. Heroics are less important, though of course the action scenes are not lacking, culminating in a fine car chase. In addition the film spends a lot of time sleuthing. Grim detective films from the 1970s, but also modern versions like David Fincher’s “Zodiac” and “Seven”, served as inspiration.

Batman’s antagonist is The Riddler (Paul Dano), who sets out on a grim quest through various political assassinations. Very far from the portrayal of Jim Carrey’s Riddler in “Batman Forever” (1995). Dano’s depiction of The Riddler is psychotic and he is a truly scary and disturbing villain. Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) also makes an appearance, as does the Penguin (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell) and mob boss Falcone (John Turturro). As far as casting goes, they did a fantastic job and the actors are all solid. Robert Pattinson foremost. I had doubts, but over the years Pattinson had his fair share of great roles and he made you forget about his awful “Twilight” period. As Batman, Pattinson doesn’t have a lot of dialogue. It’s the look, his walk, the way he is intimidating without saying a word. No cheesy one-liners or cliché dialogue. And I loved how they portrayed Bruce Wayne this time: not the playboy he is mostly known for in the other films. Here he is a broken man, lonely and struggling with his family’s legacy.

There is only one thing I didn’t like. It’s at the end of the film. Without giving any spoilers, it involves a certain character that is introduced, but barely seen. That was unnecessary and added nothing to he plot.

“The Batman” is low-key but incisive, without leaden symbolism or showy digital effects. I loved the dark and grim atmosphere and the casting was nearly perfect. For true Batman fans, “The Batman” is a definite must-see. It’s going on my 2022 favorites list, that’s for sure.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 66: Barton Fink

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Fantasy

Runtime: 116 minutes

Year: 1991

Starring: John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner, Steve Buscemi, Tony Shalhoub, John Mahoney, Jon Polito, David Warrilow, Rochard Portnow, Christopher Murney

Description: A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.

Review: The Coen Brothers have made a name for themselves already, without even making any blockbusters. There are well known filmmakers, because of their directorial and writing quality. Trademarks are subtlety, eye for details, great dialogue or monologue, symbolism and a big dose of dark humor. But before they gave us “Fargo”, “The Big Lebowski” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, it was “Barton Fink”.

John Turturro plays Barton Fink, a shy maybe even unworldly playwright. From his safe life behind the curtains in the theatre, he goes to 1940s California, to write a script for a movie. Off course this can’t go smoothly. The people of Capitol Pictures want Barton to write a standard script, commercially interesting. And this will also probably go wrong.

While writing in a hotel, Barton meets his neighbor Charlie Meadows, played by John Goodman. An insurance man, very kind, compassionate and present. And Barton meets writer W.P. Mayhew, who he admires, and his secretary Audrey. Both people don’t appear to be who they claim to be. Very slowly you see what all these strangers have in common: Incomprehension.

What makes “Barton Fink” a good movie is the atmosphere that makes you feel everything the leading characters feels. You sympathize this unfortunate man, but you also enjoy all the strange things happening around him. And that weird twist also makes this into a very good film.

“Barton Fink” is probably an underappreciated Coen brothers movie, but not a movie for just everyone.

Rating: 4/ 5

Quotables: "The Big Lebowski"

One of the greatest movies of all time and the Coen brothers created one of the most unforgettable and coolest characters ever: The Dude. Here are some of the great quotes from “The Big Lebowski”.





Walter Sobchak: You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don't wanna know about it, believe me.
The Dude: Yeah, but Walter...
Walter Sobchak: Hell, I can get you a toe by 3 o'clock this afternoon... with nail polish. These fucking amateurs...

Jesus Quintana: Nobody fucks with the Jesus!

Walter Sobchak: Fuck it, Dude, let's go bowling.

The Dude: What's in the fuckin' carrier?
Walter Sobchak: Huh? Oh, that's Cynthia's dog. I think it's a Pomeranian. I can't leave him home alone or he eats the furniture. I'm watching him while Cynthia and Marty Ackerman are in Hawaii.
The Dude: You brought the fuckin' Pomeranian bowling?
Walter Sobchak: What do you mean brought it bowling, Dude? I didn't rent it shoes. I'm not buying it a fucking beer. He's not taking your fucking turn, Dude.
The Dude: Man, if my fuckin' ex-wife asked me to take care of her fuckin' dog while she and her boyfriend went to Honolulu I'd tell her to go fuck herself.

The Dude: God damn you Walter! You fuckin' asshole! Everything's a fuckin' travesty with you, man! And what was all that shit about Vietnam? What the FUCK, has anything got to do with Vietnam? What the fuck are you talking about?

The Dude: It's like what Lenin said... you look for the person who will benefit, and, uh, uh...
Donny: I am the walrus.
The Dude: You know what I'm trying to say...
Donny: I am the walrus.
Walter Sobchak: That fucking bitch...
The Dude: Oh yeah!
Donny: I am the walrus.
Walter Sobchak: Shut the fuck up, Donny! V.I. Lenin. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov!
Donny: What the fuck is he talking about, Dude?

The Dude: And, you know, he's got emotional problems, man.
Walter Sobchak: You mean... beyond pacifism?

Walter Sobchak: You have got to buck up, man. You cannot drag this negative energy in to the tournament!
The Dude: Fuck the tournament... Fuck YOU, Walter!
[pause]
Walter Sobchak: Fuck the tournament? All right, I can see you don't want to be cheered up here, Dude. Come on Donny, let's go get us a lane.

Jackie Treehorn: Interactive erotic software. The wave of the future, Dude. One hundred percent electronic!
The Dude:Yeah well, I still jerk off manually.

The Dude: Let me explain something to you. Um, I am not "Mr. Lebowski". You're Mr. Lebowski. I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

Walter Sobchak: That's right, Dude, they peed on your fucking rug.

Walter Sobchak: Donny was a good bowler, and a good man. He was one of us. He was a man who loved the outdoors... and bowling, and as a surfer he explored the beaches of Southern California, from La Jolla to Leo Carrillo and... up to... Pismo. He died, like so many young men of his generation, he died before his time. In your wisdom, Lord, you took him, as you took so many bright flowering young men at Khe Sanh, at Langdok, at Hill 364. These young men gave their lives. And so would Donny. Donny, who loved bowling. And so, Theodore Donald Karabotsos, in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean, which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince.

The Dude: Walter, I love you, but sooner or later, you're going to have to face the fact you're a goddamn moron.