100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 7: Be Kind Rewind

Director: Michel Gondry

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 98 minutes

Year: 2008

Starring: Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz, Sigourney Weaver

Description: Two bumbling store clerks (Jack Black, Mos Def) inadvertently erase the footage from all of the tapes in their video rental store. In order to keep the business running, they re-shoot every film in the store with their own camera, with a budget of zero dollars.

Review: ‘Be Kind, Rewind’, today’s kids don’t even know what that means anymore. The time before movies appeared on shiny discs but were sold on big, black rectangle VHS tapes. And when the person before you didn’t rewind the film, it was very frustrating. The store in “Be Kind Rewind” only sells VHS tapes and off course that’s hopelessly old fashioned. But this is a fun film for people with big imaginations.

Jack Black plays Jerry and believes the factory next door brainwashes people. When he unsuccessfully tries to sabotage it, he gets magnetized. This causes for every VHS tape to erase in the store that his friend Mike works at. Mike is responsible for the store after his boss left in order to save the store. One of their regular costumers really wants to see “Ghostbusters” on video, not DVD. Jerry and Mike decide to recreate the film themselves and it’s such a success that many other movies follow.

It’s very clear that director Michel Gondry had loads of fun making “Be Kind Rewind”. The cheap ways to recreate expensive special effects of some of our favorite movies. Those are the most fun parts of the film, when they are shooting the movies. Sometimes hilarious. And for someone who is creative herself, I can appreciate the creativity behind it all.

Jack Black is very typical Jack Black, Melonie Diaz doesn’t really get much to do and Mos Def is okay. So don’t see this for the acting. This film was made with love and enthusiasm and is very enjoyable.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 139: Begin Again

Director: John Carney

Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance

Runtime: 104 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener, Adam Levine, James Corden, Ceelo Green, Mos Def

Description: A chance encounter between disgraced music-business executive Dan (Mark Ruffalo) and the young singer-songwriter Greta (Keira Knightley) new to Manhattan turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.

Review: In “Begin Again” we follow two music lovers who happen two run into each other. Greta followed her boyfriend Dave to New York. He is starting to break through as a pop star, but the fame gets to him and he dumps Greta. Record producer Dan’s life is a complete mess. He lives separate from his wife and hardly connects with his teenage daughter Violet. With that Dan also loses his job. One night Greta and Dan meet during open mic night and they decided to make an album together. Recorded in the most beautiful places in New York.

“Begin Again” brings together a famous actress who never sang, with a famous singer who hardly ever acts. Keira Knightley has a surprisingly good singing voice, fit perfectly for a modest singer-songwriter. Adam Levine, frontman of Maroon 5, has a very good voice and isn’t a bad actor either. It’s a bit of a risk for Levine to play a role that actually mocks singers who sell their soul for hits. And for Knightley it’s also a very huge step to start signing in a movie. The best role however is for Mark Ruffalo. His role might not be the most original, but Ruffalo is experienced enough to make it a memorable role. Dan is funny, pathetic and enthusiastic and you just hope the best for him.

Clearly present is the critique on the current music business. Stay authenic and let the music speak for itself. The result is in Dan and Greta’s album. With minimal resources they record an album on the streets of New York. It gives us some beautiful scenes and it shows us the power that music can have.

The film is filled with beautiful songs and it shows New York at its best. “Begin Again” is a delightful movie that puts a smile on your face. I loved it!

Rating: 5/ 5