20s Movie Review - Underwater

Director: William Eubank
Genre: Action/ Horror
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, T.J. Miller, John Gallagher Jr. Jessica Henwick, Mamoudou Athie

Description: A group of oceanic researches working for a deep sea drilling company try to get to safety after a mysterious earthquake devastates their deepwater research and drilling facility located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.  

Review: “Underwater’ gets off to a nice, quick start. It only takes a few minutes before disaster strikes: an enormous drilling platform is destroyed by and earthquake, or something similar. It is chaos, but at a depth of about eleven kilometers, in the infamous Mariana Trench. All the rescue pods have been rendered useless on the spot an communication with the surface is no longer possible. The six survivors are trapped.
Captain Lucien sees only one way to escape certain death, but his plan is quite riskyL he and his crew want to make the crossing to the nearby Roebuck base. Thus begins a walk across the ocean floor, neatly ticking off all the setbacks that come with a deep-sea mission of this caliber. From imploding diving masks to malfunctioning oxygen tanks. But there is more hiding in the dark, murky water. The film might not be the most original of its kind, but it works just fine.
Director William Eubank occasionally manages to turn this into an exciting and claustrophobic experience. He often film his heroes close to the skin, and even places the camera in the diving helmet so you see it from their perspective. Fear and panic are therefore very tangible. The evil that presents itself, gives you a H.P. Lovecraft vibe.
Actress Kristen Stewart has been trying to shake off the image of her role in the “Twilight” films and over the years she has managed to do so quite well. In this sci-fi horror she gives shape to Norah, a mechanical engineer who is not easily intimidated. She kind of reminded me of Ripley from “Alien”. And Stewart is really good in this film.
Even though the film doesn’t do a lot of new things, “Underwater” is still a pretty good film to watch. Short runtime, fast pace, exciting and scary because of the claustrophobic feel and the unknown. I recommend.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Ocean's Twelve

Director: Steven Sodenbergh
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Comedy/ Thriller
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Scott Caan, Casey Affleck, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carl Reiner, Shaobo Qin, Elliot Giuld, Vincent Cassel, Bruce Willis, Don Cheadle, Albert Finney

Description: Danny Ocean (George Clooney) once again teams up with experts so he can pull off three major European heists.

Review: Steven Sodenbergh’s “Ocean Twelve” demonstrates the difference between actors and movie stars: the film clearly lacks content, but is filled with beautiful images and gorgeous people. Loads of star power in this film, but rarely do they show their acting skills.
Where “Ocean’s Eleven” has a clear vision and plot, “Ocean’s Twelve” doesn’t really seem to care about the plot. Because it’s really of no importance at all. Danny Ocean and his companions are yet again trying to pull off three major heists. This time in three European countries: The Netherlands, Italy and France.
The other story that we follow is that of an elusive thief called Night Fox. He is in everything the cliché of the flamboyant jewel thief: a rich French baron who was trained by the best thief of all time, he steals purely for fun and leaves a small stone fox statue at the places he robs.
I really enjoyed the first film, but “Ocean’s Twelve” really dragged and was even boring at times. I did like the added humor, especially when Tess Ocean (played by Julia Roberts) had to pretend to be Julia Roberts. And with all those amazing stars in the film, it’s sad that actos like Don Cheadle and Elliot Gould don’t get the screen time they deserve. Because they are true scene stealers.
Overall, “Ocean’s Twelve” was just another cash grab.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

TV Show Review - Westworld (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2020
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, Aaron Paul, Tessa Thompson, Vincent Cassel, Luke Hemsworth, Rodrigo Santoro, Jimmi Simpson, Clifton Collins Jr., Tommy Flanagan

Description: Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.

Review: What would happen if the artificial humans from Westworld would enter the real world? We get an answer tot hat question. The series started with the theme park Westworld, where people could live their ultimate fantasies. In the second season, the so-called hosts started rebelling. In this season, they finally enter the human world.
Here is where we meet some familiar faces: the vengeful Dolores and the peaceful Bernard. We are also introduced to a new character, Caleb Nichols. Because of a larger playing field and more characters, you have to keep up and pay attention. As for the characters, who know probably just as much as the viewers.
Besides some mysteries that we already were familiar with, we are introduced to some new ones. For instance Caleb, who at first sight looks like a regular construction worker, but he has a mysterious app on his phone. And don’t forget the end of season 3, where Dolores left with curious little orbs.
“Westworld” has always been a very complex series and season 3 is no different. It’s even more complicated than the previous seasons. It’s nice to see our trusted characters in different environments for a change, to give the concept ne life.
The characters stay interesting enough, as does the story. “Westworld” season 3 might be even more complex, but it’s another strong season.

Movie Review - Hors Normes

Director: Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Reda Kateb, Hélène Vincent, Bryan Mialoundama, Alban Ivanov, Benjamin Lesieur, Marco Locatelli, Catherine Mouchet, Frédéric Pierrot, Suliane Brahim, Lyna Khoudri, Aloïse Sauvage, Djibril Yoni, Ahmed Abdel Laoui

Description: The story of two men (Vincent Cassel, Reda Kateb), educators of children and adolescents with autism.

Review: Jewish Bruno and Islamic Malik are best friends. One runs a facility for autistic children and the other an organization with underprivileged teens and trains them to become support workers. The successful French director duo Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano (“Intouchables”) wanted to make a documentary about this duo, but thought the story was too good, so they decided to make a movie about them. It's easy to relate to both men and to feel empathy and emotion throughout the film. Like “Intouchables”, you feel how they play with you emotion, but “Hors Normes” is more reluctant. It’s feel more personal, which is explained by the fact that the directors are friends with the men being portrayed in this film.
“Hors Normes” is a powerful indictment of the way in which society treats a group of its most difficult inhabitants: severely autistic young people. Children and young men and women with parents at their wit’s end because institution after institution refuses to take care of them. Some facilities simply can’t because of protocols, some just won’t. But protocols are not what these kids need, only customization will improve their lives. Bruno and Malik did say yes to those parents, they were the only ones that had attention for them and they dedicated thei
r lives to taking care of them and making their life better. Bruno works with them and makes sure that they get places to work and fit in. Malik takes on problematic teens that grew up in bad neighborhoods and trains them to take care of the autistic kids.
There is hardly a plot, but this would have damaged the film. Bruno and Malik and all the people they work with live through a succession of small problems that need to be solved. But nothing goes smoothly. And then there is inspection, if their organization lives up to their rules. Because they don’t have a permit.
There are little moments of happiness, when something goes right for a change or when they realize how impossible it seems what they are doing. This organization really exists and they did have two inspectors over. They aren’t portrayed as villains though, the film is too clever for that. Both leading men are really strong, but Vincent Cassel is the most memorable. It’s one of his best performances.
“Hors Normes” is not a forced feel-good film, but it does make you feel good and it will make you laugh and cry.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 102: Jason Bourne

Director: Paul Greengrass
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles, Bill Camp

Description: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), the most dangerous former operative of the CIA is drawn out of hiding to uncover hidden truths about his past.

Review: Jason Bourne is back. After a spin-off with Jeremy Renner and almost 10 years without Jason Bourne, director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon joined forces again and brought him back to the big screen. Bourne knows about his past, but there are still hidden truths to uncover.
The return of Matt Damon as Jason Bourne is so pleasant. The film starts with an amazing chase scene. Fast paced and it gets your immediate attention. The rebelling of the Greek citizens against the government is a perfect theme, but they stay with referecenses to recent happenings. The plot goes over to a subplot that isn’t as compelling.
Nicky Parsons introduces a new mystery in Bourne’s past by leaking important information. And then there is also Aaron Kalloor, who gives information to the new CIA boss. There is this whole social media thing going on. This subplot is not interesting at all. Because of this, Jason Bourne almost becomes a supporting character in his own film.
The acting is great. Matt Damon proof he hasn’t lost it yet and Tommy Lee Jones does a solid job as the CIA boss. Vincent Cassel is a convincing villain, but Alicia Vikander probably plays the best part.
Luckily for us the action is still there and very well done. And “Jason Bourne” is by no means a bad movie. It’s just the least of all the Bourne movies and the story isn’t as compelling.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 74: La Belle et la Bête

Director: Christophe Gans

Genre: Romance/ Drama/ Fantasy

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Vincent Cassel, Léa Seydoux, André Dussollier, Eduardo Noriega, Myriam Charleins, Audrey Lamy, Sara Giraudeau, Jonathan Demurger, Nicolas Gob, Louka Meliava, Yvonne Catterfeld, Dejan Bucin, Wolfgang Menardi, Mickey Hardt, Arthur Doppler, Elisabeth Bogdan, Marie Gruber, Gotthard Lange, Max Volkert Martens, Richard Sammel, Nora Huetz

Description: An unexpected romance blooms after the youngest daughter (Léa Seydoux) of a merchant who has fallen on hard times offers herself to the mysterious beast (Vincent Cassel) to which her father has become indebted.

Review: Fairytales are hip today. Hollywood has done different fairytales, with twists, like “Snow White and the Huntsman”, “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” and “Red Riding Hood”. The TV show “Once Upon a Time” also shows the popularity of fairytales. French director Christophe Gans decided to make a live action version of “Beauty and the Beast”.

France in the 19th century: a merchant lives in a little town with his six children. They have money trouble. When the father decides to pick a rose for his youngest daughter Belle, he makes a big mistake. The flower belongs to a mysterious Beast. This Beast wants to kill the man. In exchange for his freedom, Belle takes his place. Along the way, Belle learns more about the Beast’s mysterious past.

The movie is visual and has many colorful and dreamy scenes. The décor is beautiful. The CGO is sometimes not that great, but manages to convince most of the time. The action scenes are spectacular. Director Gans managed to create a fairytale like atmosphere. Every shot looks like a painting.

With that Léa Seygoux and Vincent Cassel are excellent leads. Seydoux is very strong as Belle, she knows what she wants and is a strong female lead. Cassel portrays the Beast with mystery and a bit of curiosity. The supporting cast is not that important and pretty forgettable. The focus is on Belle and the Beast and the love developing between them.

The movie is dark, but never scary. It has fantasy elements and is sometimes unpredictable even though everyone knows the story. People who like fantasy and adventure, will like this movie.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 16: A Dangerous Method

Director: David Cronenberg

Genre: Drama/ Thriller

Runtime: 99 minutes

Year: 2011

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon

Description: A look at how the intense relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) gives birth to psychoanalysis.

Review: Psychoanalysis, is that a theme for a movie. As long as you don’t approach it to theoretically. Director David Cronenberg has been fascinated by psyche and the effect of the physic. Never has the human mind played such an important part in one of his movies. Two prominent psychoanalysts go head to head in “A Dangerous Method”, being Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. . But the confrontations between the two are limited.

Instead Cronenberg focuses on Sabina Spielrein, a Russian-Jewish patient of Jung, who eventually became a famous psychologist herself. Jung uses Spielrein as his Guinea pig to test psychoanalysis. The young woman , with masochistic tendencies, shows Jung a side of himself he never knew. Spielrein becomes Jung’s mistress and his experiences lead to a break between with Freud.

In “A Dangerous Method” there is a lot of conversation. The scenes between Mortenen and Fassbender, though minimally present, are the highlights of the film. Knightley does her very best, but somehow her weird Russian accent doesn’t really convince us. It is very brave of her to take this role, which is physically challenging for her. It would have been better to focus on Jung and Freud and especially Mortensen doesn’t get that much screen time.

With the wonderful cast and a top director, you can expect quality, but “A Dangerous Methode” disappoints. It’s not as vivacious as it could have been and because of the long dialogues it drags a bit. The moments that capture us, the scenes between Mortensen and Fassbender, aren’t present enough. A missed shot.

Rating: 2,5/ 5