MAGGIE'S PLAN
Watchable. The story of an adult triangle plus 3 kids is involving by its nature but is neither innovative nor funny. One interesting statement comes from a TV interview with one of the characters: "No one has ever foreseen a revolution until its third day."
HANDS OF STONE
Watchable. Very good in whole but flawed. The director of superb "Secuestro Express" says that "90% of movies are too long and too slow." Unfortunately his latest feels a bit protracted at times too. It's quite a schematic boxing movie yet involving, well acted, with a story and some political (Panama-US relations) subplot. Robert de Niro as Ray Arcel, who he had actually worked with on "Raging Bull", R&B musician Usher as Sugar Ray Leonard, who partially trained him, a cameo of Felicidad Duran as a nurse, Ana de Armas as Felicidad Duran acting a rich guy's girlfriend/wife again (after "War Dogs"). Based on facts.
LO AND BEHOLD: REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD
Recommended. Some little known facts: If you created a paper directory of email account holders, the list would be 73 miles/120 km thick. The 2050 FIFA World Championships are likely to be won by a robot team, with one of the robots being actually better than others, just like it is with human players. Stanford University results show that its Open University had 412 best students, only the 413rd was actually studying there. It was possible, luckily never enacted, for a hacker to whistle a signal on the phone to fire missiles in the 90s. Mitnick was able to follow calls (without actual conversations but who called who and from where) of FBI agents who followed him ad stacked his fridge with "donuts for the FBI". These and several other contemporary stories about the internet. Informative and fun.
Tuesday 30 August 2016
Saturday 27 August 2016
MECHANIC: RESURRECTION
Watchable. The action takes you from Brazil (Rio) to Thailand , Australia (Sydney), Bulgaria (Varna) and Cambodia. Jason Statham, Jessica Alba nd Tommy Lee Jones ensure it's all good fun. However, the action goes from point A to point B (C etc.) with no surprises and the dialogues are all like: "Let's go! We have 3 minutes before it blows."
Watchable. The action takes you from Brazil (Rio) to Thailand , Australia (Sydney), Bulgaria (Varna) and Cambodia. Jason Statham, Jessica Alba nd Tommy Lee Jones ensure it's all good fun. However, the action goes from point A to point B (C etc.) with no surprises and the dialogues are all like: "Let's go! We have 3 minutes before it blows."
Thursday 25 August 2016
CZERWONY KAPITAN (THE RED CAPTAIN)
Recommended. It's quite dark and heavy but consistent with the grim story. It is quite brutal too but with very good dialogues lightening up the atmosphere, e.g. the police to a priest: "Wiedzielibysmy wiecej, gdyby sie Pan wyspowiadal." ("We'd know more if you confessed.") or "Bog nas stworzyl ateistami." ("God created us as atheists."). Very good music. Gripping. Kept me on the edge of my seat.
MR. RIGHT
Watchable. Exquisite Anna Kendrick as Martha. Sam Rockwell as Mr. Right isn't sexy but is fun and fit for a killer. Tim Roth is a poor killer here, rather an old prick. The whole thing is silly but good fun.
DOM (a short animation shown together with "Je Me Tue A Le Dire")
Watchable. About a dysfunctional family. The eponymous home is bereft of meaning. All the family members talk about is food, drink and cleaning. You just feel how relieved the girl must to leave. It's all very realistic in several shades of grey and a bit of brown (for the tea and the dog).
JE ME TUE A LE DIRE (DEATH BY DEATH)
Watchable. Have all Belgians decided to specialise in weird comedies, black and white in that? The main protagonist is fat, hairy, ugly. His mother looks little better. So not much of a visual pleasure here. Good music, matching the weirdness of the movie which is predominantly about breasts. Breasts here can either feed or fall ill and it's the guy's main obsession. I found one scene funny: the guy is pissing against a gate when it starts sliding open.
Recommended. It's quite dark and heavy but consistent with the grim story. It is quite brutal too but with very good dialogues lightening up the atmosphere, e.g. the police to a priest: "Wiedzielibysmy wiecej, gdyby sie Pan wyspowiadal." ("We'd know more if you confessed.") or "Bog nas stworzyl ateistami." ("God created us as atheists."). Very good music. Gripping. Kept me on the edge of my seat.
MR. RIGHT
Watchable. Exquisite Anna Kendrick as Martha. Sam Rockwell as Mr. Right isn't sexy but is fun and fit for a killer. Tim Roth is a poor killer here, rather an old prick. The whole thing is silly but good fun.
DOM (a short animation shown together with "Je Me Tue A Le Dire")
Watchable. About a dysfunctional family. The eponymous home is bereft of meaning. All the family members talk about is food, drink and cleaning. You just feel how relieved the girl must to leave. It's all very realistic in several shades of grey and a bit of brown (for the tea and the dog).
JE ME TUE A LE DIRE (DEATH BY DEATH)
Watchable. Have all Belgians decided to specialise in weird comedies, black and white in that? The main protagonist is fat, hairy, ugly. His mother looks little better. So not much of a visual pleasure here. Good music, matching the weirdness of the movie which is predominantly about breasts. Breasts here can either feed or fall ill and it's the guy's main obsession. I found one scene funny: the guy is pissing against a gate when it starts sliding open.
Monday 22 August 2016
BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE ULTIMATE EDITION
Watchable. 181 minutes pass hardly noticeably. To my astonishment I liked the extended version better. The extra scenes blend smoothly into the storyline, assisted by superb film music. I watched it at a regular cinema this time and I found it much easier to focus on the plot than at Imax. There's no action overload. Tension, gentle wit, nostalgy, sorrow and solemnity mix at an uneven pace which prevents boredom. Ben Affleck is my favourite Batman ever. There are tongue-in-cheek references to the series of Jokers from previous movies and to the Arkham Asylum and intriguing ones to X-Men (the final scene) and Avengers as well as a sequel promise. No after-the-credits scene however. The few things I found a bit annoying are: murmuring Jeremy Irons replacing superb Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's butler and Holly Hunter mumbling as if she couldn't move her face muscles properly.
Watchable. 181 minutes pass hardly noticeably. To my astonishment I liked the extended version better. The extra scenes blend smoothly into the storyline, assisted by superb film music. I watched it at a regular cinema this time and I found it much easier to focus on the plot than at Imax. There's no action overload. Tension, gentle wit, nostalgy, sorrow and solemnity mix at an uneven pace which prevents boredom. Ben Affleck is my favourite Batman ever. There are tongue-in-cheek references to the series of Jokers from previous movies and to the Arkham Asylum and intriguing ones to X-Men (the final scene) and Avengers as well as a sequel promise. No after-the-credits scene however. The few things I found a bit annoying are: murmuring Jeremy Irons replacing superb Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's butler and Holly Hunter mumbling as if she couldn't move her face muscles properly.
Thursday 18 August 2016
IL TRADUTTORE
Watchable. Experiences most viewers can refer to make for involving watching, acting could be better though and pace a bit faster. Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani (literally translated: better an egg today than a hen tomorrow) or so at least do the men in the film think having their foreign love affairs. Yet emotions get involved. Is Andrei unfaithful only to his girlfriend or to himself as well? This part is quite straightforward. However, there's another set of stories in the film as well. A young student is gaining professional experience and the first assignments are full of traps. Whether out of sympathy or for his own advantage he veers off professionalism. People get hurt. So does he.
L'AVENIR
Watchable. A fictitious story very true to life. Nathalie has a life filled with little joys (mildly amusing to the viewer) and little problems. She's constantly busy with her work and family. Then, within a short period of time, she loses most of it. What will she do about it? Well, the example of her inherited cat shows that when suddenly let free you follow your natural instincts. An ordinary, yet thought-provoking story. The woman is a philosophy teacher so you'll find philosophers mentioned or quoted here and there throughout the film, luckily for down-to-earth me those abstract statements are just zest, not the essence. The music is annoying at times.
WAR DOGS
Recommended. It's like "The Wolf of Wall Street" but funnier ("How was the funeral?" "It was amazing!" is one example). First class actors including Jonah Hill known from the above mentioned movie. The story's based on true events, superbly scripted and directed by Todd Phillips (who would expect after his earlier class B "Hangover" or "Borat?), with great locations shots and music going in smoothly. The film, contrary to the book ("Arms and the Dudes" by Guy Lawson) is set chronologically so it's easy to follow the tensions between the people, their way of doing business and the changes, or the lack of thereof, in their company and lifestyles. Only two of the original three gunrunners are portrayed with no detraction from the fun or the story itself.
Watchable. Experiences most viewers can refer to make for involving watching, acting could be better though and pace a bit faster. Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani (literally translated: better an egg today than a hen tomorrow) or so at least do the men in the film think having their foreign love affairs. Yet emotions get involved. Is Andrei unfaithful only to his girlfriend or to himself as well? This part is quite straightforward. However, there's another set of stories in the film as well. A young student is gaining professional experience and the first assignments are full of traps. Whether out of sympathy or for his own advantage he veers off professionalism. People get hurt. So does he.
L'AVENIR
Watchable. A fictitious story very true to life. Nathalie has a life filled with little joys (mildly amusing to the viewer) and little problems. She's constantly busy with her work and family. Then, within a short period of time, she loses most of it. What will she do about it? Well, the example of her inherited cat shows that when suddenly let free you follow your natural instincts. An ordinary, yet thought-provoking story. The woman is a philosophy teacher so you'll find philosophers mentioned or quoted here and there throughout the film, luckily for down-to-earth me those abstract statements are just zest, not the essence. The music is annoying at times.
WAR DOGS
Recommended. It's like "The Wolf of Wall Street" but funnier ("How was the funeral?" "It was amazing!" is one example). First class actors including Jonah Hill known from the above mentioned movie. The story's based on true events, superbly scripted and directed by Todd Phillips (who would expect after his earlier class B "Hangover" or "Borat?), with great locations shots and music going in smoothly. The film, contrary to the book ("Arms and the Dudes" by Guy Lawson) is set chronologically so it's easy to follow the tensions between the people, their way of doing business and the changes, or the lack of thereof, in their company and lifestyles. Only two of the original three gunrunners are portrayed with no detraction from the fun or the story itself.
Wednesday 17 August 2016
Monday 15 August 2016
NIGHT FILM MARATHON - NOC JOKEROW (THE NIGHT OF JOKERS)
SUICIDE SQUAD
Recommended. The rubbish trailer wasn't quite inviting but the movie's quite a ride. Marvelous CGIs (pun intended), fun soundtrack of a wide scope of artists (Kanye West, Rolling Stones, Eminem, Black Sabbath etc.). Punk-like Joker by Jared Leto who perfected tormented heroes already in his debut "Requiem for a Dream". The Joker's girlfriend Harley Quinn, by smoking hot Margot Robbie, is a sassy acrobat reminiscent of Pris from "Blade Runner". She also utters the best lines, like the one about metahumans being unable to live regular lives. Enchantress resembles the phantom from "Grudge", at least before her two metamorphoses. Amanda Waller must have been inspired by Condoleezza Rice in her looks, position and stance. The Joker and Harley Quinn steal the show. Their love affair made me remember all the real life women falling for death row convicts. Don't miss the much revealing sequel-announcing scene after the first end credits!
THE DARK KNIGHT
Watchable. A smart script but some scenes protracted or needless. On the other hand a handful shocked me. Here we get a scruffy Joker by memorable superb Heath Ledger: a combination of madman gestures with a psychopath mind. The main topic of the film is chaos versus plan: how you see the world and how you perceive people's reactions to unusual events determines how you act - so, do you plan?
BATMAN (1989)
Watchable. The worst film of the night. Only interesting for comparison reasons. The Joker here is grotesque in his old-fashioned-cut purple suit. The film looks like SF from the 60s - artificial, forced and conventional.
Uncomfortable seats in the Zlote Tarasy Multikino screen 1, especially the new ones in the middle. And annother delay from the beginning of the marathon. They should have been letting people in through both entrances right away.
SUICIDE SQUAD
Recommended. The rubbish trailer wasn't quite inviting but the movie's quite a ride. Marvelous CGIs (pun intended), fun soundtrack of a wide scope of artists (Kanye West, Rolling Stones, Eminem, Black Sabbath etc.). Punk-like Joker by Jared Leto who perfected tormented heroes already in his debut "Requiem for a Dream". The Joker's girlfriend Harley Quinn, by smoking hot Margot Robbie, is a sassy acrobat reminiscent of Pris from "Blade Runner". She also utters the best lines, like the one about metahumans being unable to live regular lives. Enchantress resembles the phantom from "Grudge", at least before her two metamorphoses. Amanda Waller must have been inspired by Condoleezza Rice in her looks, position and stance. The Joker and Harley Quinn steal the show. Their love affair made me remember all the real life women falling for death row convicts. Don't miss the much revealing sequel-announcing scene after the first end credits!
THE DARK KNIGHT
Watchable. A smart script but some scenes protracted or needless. On the other hand a handful shocked me. Here we get a scruffy Joker by memorable superb Heath Ledger: a combination of madman gestures with a psychopath mind. The main topic of the film is chaos versus plan: how you see the world and how you perceive people's reactions to unusual events determines how you act - so, do you plan?
BATMAN (1989)
Watchable. The worst film of the night. Only interesting for comparison reasons. The Joker here is grotesque in his old-fashioned-cut purple suit. The film looks like SF from the 60s - artificial, forced and conventional.
Uncomfortable seats in the Zlote Tarasy Multikino screen 1, especially the new ones in the middle. And annother delay from the beginning of the marathon. They should have been letting people in through both entrances right away.
Friday 12 August 2016
LES NOUVELLES AVENTURES D'ALADIN (THE NEW ADVENTURES OF ALADDIN)
Watchable. No doubt meant to repeat the success of "Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre" ("Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra") but less funny, hard to say if it's because of Polish dubbing sounding artificial or because it's too obscene at times. One thing's sure: it's not for young children - they won't get it - from teenagers upwards. Some scenes are funny, like the one when Aladin lands on top of a roof just next to the spire, several are meant to be. The dialogues contain plenty of references to country (Poland in the version I saw but certainly individualised in each country) politics, music, comedy shows, literature, world politics, blockbusters, commercials, Internet, even Warsaw (in this case) topography. It's all full of colours, the princess' costumes based on bellydance. The music's just fine - I don't like rap. The main protagonists are shopping centre Santas so it may be better to watch the film around Christmas.
MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES
Watchable. As one of the girls in the movie says: "girls can do shit, too" and this is what the film's about. The humour is of "you may experience after-shock orgasms" sort. Not as gross as "American Pie" but just as dumb. One scene of interest is the quad ride through the "Jurassic Park" location.
Watchable. No doubt meant to repeat the success of "Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre" ("Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra") but less funny, hard to say if it's because of Polish dubbing sounding artificial or because it's too obscene at times. One thing's sure: it's not for young children - they won't get it - from teenagers upwards. Some scenes are funny, like the one when Aladin lands on top of a roof just next to the spire, several are meant to be. The dialogues contain plenty of references to country (Poland in the version I saw but certainly individualised in each country) politics, music, comedy shows, literature, world politics, blockbusters, commercials, Internet, even Warsaw (in this case) topography. It's all full of colours, the princess' costumes based on bellydance. The music's just fine - I don't like rap. The main protagonists are shopping centre Santas so it may be better to watch the film around Christmas.
MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES
Watchable. As one of the girls in the movie says: "girls can do shit, too" and this is what the film's about. The humour is of "you may experience after-shock orgasms" sort. Not as gross as "American Pie" but just as dumb. One scene of interest is the quad ride through the "Jurassic Park" location.
Wednesday 10 August 2016
HELL OR HIGH WATER
My No. 1 readers (number-wise) are American so I was happy to hear of the US release in just two days' time (it's coming out as late as September in Poland). So you're getting my review just in time, in spite of being a continent apart.
Recommended. In a quiet, dusty Texan town a woman in a floral dress is going to work. The clean white of the fabric with blue flowers contrasts with the drabness of her surroundings. What looks like a lazy summer afternoon somewhere, is the start of an unusually busy morning in the middle of nowhere. The script is little short of perfection. The criminal scheme, the policemen's banter, the landscapes and the tough folk who inhabit them create a contemporary western. Everyone's seriously tough here, including women, e.g. a waitress: "Steaks cooked medium-rare" "Can I just have...?" "It wasn't a question." Great acting too. My fave Chris Pine's best role ever: from subtle facial expressions to a shaking hand covering a wound. If it were up to me, he'd get an Oscar. In fact he just acts so well you nearly forget about his blue eyes.
NINE LIVES
Recommended. What will send a cat flying across the room? And what will send the owner? When you see a guy in a stylish suit in a flash car in a film you know he's no family guy. The reality is often different from what I can tell about the richest people I've met. Yet here he's a ruthless businessman. This is also where your perfect family film begins. Gentle humour and bright remarks like: "So what? Will he divorce you more?" turn into a hilarious comedy once the guy changes into a... cat. The cat "could do with a (computer) mouse" to send a message and doesn't like tinned cat food: "I think somebody's eaten it once already." And that's just a small portion of lines and gags that still make me giggle hours later. Very good Polish dubbing this time, too.
My No. 1 readers (number-wise) are American so I was happy to hear of the US release in just two days' time (it's coming out as late as September in Poland). So you're getting my review just in time, in spite of being a continent apart.
Recommended. In a quiet, dusty Texan town a woman in a floral dress is going to work. The clean white of the fabric with blue flowers contrasts with the drabness of her surroundings. What looks like a lazy summer afternoon somewhere, is the start of an unusually busy morning in the middle of nowhere. The script is little short of perfection. The criminal scheme, the policemen's banter, the landscapes and the tough folk who inhabit them create a contemporary western. Everyone's seriously tough here, including women, e.g. a waitress: "Steaks cooked medium-rare" "Can I just have...?" "It wasn't a question." Great acting too. My fave Chris Pine's best role ever: from subtle facial expressions to a shaking hand covering a wound. If it were up to me, he'd get an Oscar. In fact he just acts so well you nearly forget about his blue eyes.
NINE LIVES
Recommended. What will send a cat flying across the room? And what will send the owner? When you see a guy in a stylish suit in a flash car in a film you know he's no family guy. The reality is often different from what I can tell about the richest people I've met. Yet here he's a ruthless businessman. This is also where your perfect family film begins. Gentle humour and bright remarks like: "So what? Will he divorce you more?" turn into a hilarious comedy once the guy changes into a... cat. The cat "could do with a (computer) mouse" to send a message and doesn't like tinned cat food: "I think somebody's eaten it once already." And that's just a small portion of lines and gags that still make me giggle hours later. Very good Polish dubbing this time, too.
Tuesday 9 August 2016
PETE'S DRAGON
Watchable. An awfully sad beginning - it needn't have started so miserable, the boy could have just got lost - and very dark cinematography get compensated for with the dragon acting like a dog, some humour, e.g. "Mom, there's a monster behind the window" and the subsequent mum's reaction or "We're chasing a dragon" "Man, don't ridicule us on the radio!" as well as impressive vistas of the vast Tokoroa Forest, Northern Island, New Zealand. Robert Redford and Karl Urban have created the most distinct parts, Wes Bentley looks like a bad guy while not being the worst villain, Bryce Dallas Howard is sugary sweet to the point of nausea.
Judging from the trailer, DOCTOR STRANGE is going to have good 3D but awful voices cast for the Polish dubbing, sounding like in children's movies.
BARBIE: STAR LIGHT ADVENTURE
Watchable. A colourful, yet silly story. Clearly inspired by: "Star Wars", "Jupiter Ascending", Pokemons, "Back to the Future", "Avatar", "Guardians of the Galaxy", "Hunger Games" and some lesser known productions. Lovely with the rings of Saturn in the skyline of Barbie's home planet.
Cinemas should start offering child-free screenings of "children's movies" to the adults who want to see cartoons and the like in peace. It's just talking or screams audible from each direction. Plus some kids get brought in prams - will they understand a film? Really?! Selfish adults who don't know how to entertain their own kids just ruin the cinema experience for others.
Watchable. An awfully sad beginning - it needn't have started so miserable, the boy could have just got lost - and very dark cinematography get compensated for with the dragon acting like a dog, some humour, e.g. "Mom, there's a monster behind the window" and the subsequent mum's reaction or "We're chasing a dragon" "Man, don't ridicule us on the radio!" as well as impressive vistas of the vast Tokoroa Forest, Northern Island, New Zealand. Robert Redford and Karl Urban have created the most distinct parts, Wes Bentley looks like a bad guy while not being the worst villain, Bryce Dallas Howard is sugary sweet to the point of nausea.
Judging from the trailer, DOCTOR STRANGE is going to have good 3D but awful voices cast for the Polish dubbing, sounding like in children's movies.
BARBIE: STAR LIGHT ADVENTURE
Watchable. A colourful, yet silly story. Clearly inspired by: "Star Wars", "Jupiter Ascending", Pokemons, "Back to the Future", "Avatar", "Guardians of the Galaxy", "Hunger Games" and some lesser known productions. Lovely with the rings of Saturn in the skyline of Barbie's home planet.
Cinemas should start offering child-free screenings of "children's movies" to the adults who want to see cartoons and the like in peace. It's just talking or screams audible from each direction. Plus some kids get brought in prams - will they understand a film? Really?! Selfish adults who don't know how to entertain their own kids just ruin the cinema experience for others.
Monday 8 August 2016
TURK PASAPORTU (TURKISH PASSPORT)
Recommended. A little known story of how diplomats' professional and moral duty combined with Turkish efficiency led to saving lives of a few hundred Jews during the Nazi occupation of France. Moving and thought-provoking in the part about how stigmatisation and gradual limitation of rights prepared groud for extermination camps.
Recommended. A little known story of how diplomats' professional and moral duty combined with Turkish efficiency led to saving lives of a few hundred Jews during the Nazi occupation of France. Moving and thought-provoking in the part about how stigmatisation and gradual limitation of rights prepared groud for extermination camps.
Thursday 4 August 2016
NOKTA (DOT) (2008)
Watchable. Chaotic so badly it took me half a film to get a grasp on who's who and who's done what. At the same time remarkably well acted. A simple story showing the ambivalence of human nature.
BAD MOMS
Watchable. "Bad Moms" aren't bad. Great music (lots of songs including ones by DNCE, Foreigner, David Guetta, Flo Rida but also a piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart can be found at http://www.soundtrackmania.net/bad-moms-soundtrack.html), the whole film feels like a party (movied-move-it). Some of the songs are actually called "Shut Up and Dance", "Runnin' Wild", "City Rock" or "Let's Have a Party" and a few scenes are shot in a video clip mode. Humour, party-style, ranges from silly and vulgar ("dick" is probably the most often used noun here), "She threatened me she would bang my husband." being on the decent side, to quite funny like Amy's (Mila Kunis) kissing attempt. In fact the whole movie's in a jest - I was smiling throughout. That's a good thing as the story's about people who cannot quite cope with their parental responsibilities and whenever they mean good it turns out bad. The mum of two who watched the film together with me said being a mum was just like that minus getting drunk when you get fed up with your motherhood. I, in turn, left the cinema smug to be childless.
Watchable. Chaotic so badly it took me half a film to get a grasp on who's who and who's done what. At the same time remarkably well acted. A simple story showing the ambivalence of human nature.
BAD MOMS
Watchable. "Bad Moms" aren't bad. Great music (lots of songs including ones by DNCE, Foreigner, David Guetta, Flo Rida but also a piece by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart can be found at http://www.soundtrackmania.net/bad-moms-soundtrack.html), the whole film feels like a party (movied-move-it). Some of the songs are actually called "Shut Up and Dance", "Runnin' Wild", "City Rock" or "Let's Have a Party" and a few scenes are shot in a video clip mode. Humour, party-style, ranges from silly and vulgar ("dick" is probably the most often used noun here), "She threatened me she would bang my husband." being on the decent side, to quite funny like Amy's (Mila Kunis) kissing attempt. In fact the whole movie's in a jest - I was smiling throughout. That's a good thing as the story's about people who cannot quite cope with their parental responsibilities and whenever they mean good it turns out bad. The mum of two who watched the film together with me said being a mum was just like that minus getting drunk when you get fed up with your motherhood. I, in turn, left the cinema smug to be childless.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)