Movie reviews

CLIMAX

Recommended again. It was only at the second time that I paid attention to the books and videos beside the monitor on which you see the casting at the beginning of the film. They're quite significant and include among others: Fritz Lang (the man behind "M" - a film about  a murderer), "Un Chien Andalou" ("An Andalusian Dog" - surrealism with some scenes of violence), "Suicide, Mode d'Emploi" ("Suicide Manual" in free translation), "Suspiria" (a horror about a dance school), "Possession", "Le droit du plus fort" ("Fox and His Friends", literally translated would be "The right of the stronger one"), "Mon dernier soupir" ("My last sigh" - by surrealist Luis Bunuel who, together with Salvador Dali, created "Un Chien Andalou"). The film, well worth watching twice in full length, is said to be based on true events from 1996. At the same time director Gaspar Noe is evasive about what incident exactly it's regarding so I'm not sure if it really happened, even if it seems probable. 

JAK PIES Z KOTEM (A CAT WITH A DOG)

Watchable. Only for informative value regarding what problems you may encounter if you end up taking care of a family member after a stroke. Alternatively for Kondratiuk's fans to see their authentic house and pets since it was shot in the family residence. Other than that it's slow, lengthy, disturbing as the man is deprived of his dignity and because the care division is quite sexist: the male caretaker drinks with his paralysed brother and his wife changes his diapers. The case of the disabled man's alcoholic wife whose sister's husband extorted her savings and car is true as well - in court now.

WIES PLYWAJACYCH KROW (VILLAGE OF SWIMMING COWS)

Watchable. Beautiful cinematography by Andrzej Wojciechowski is flattering to all the protagonists and makes for a pleasant watching. The documentary showcases two sides to country life: freegan, vegetarian, money-free, naturalist attitude of the visitors from Berlin and the farm, carnivorous, money-earning approach of the hamlet dwellers. Interesting and presented clearly but I know both the zero growth ideology and the Podlasie mentality very well so to me it's just a summary of what I'm aware of already.

VENOM AT IMAX 3D

Recommended. The plot and even the music score draw on "Spider-Man" with the difference that here the hero is adult and there are some mild sex references. The movie's also preceded by and ends with a post-credit announcing a cartoon version of "Spider-Man" - Spider-Man's universe is said to be alternative to Venom's. The film's got more plot than just a punch-throw-and-shoot action and is convincingly acted, especially by Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed. It's not too long either. The 3D is decent but it's the plot and the music that make the movie. Just like in "The Predator" aliens fight each other. An unusual friendship bond is formed too. Stan Lee makes a cameo as a passer-by with a dapper dog. The villain must have been partly modelled on Elon Musk - mega-rich at young age and dreaming of conquering the space. A mid-credit with Woody Harrelson announces a sequel. The soundtrack and audio effects are fantastic. Dolby Atmos sound, even when played in the ordinary 5.1 format, is so powerful you feel tremors without 4DX. 

JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN

Recommended. I giggled and laughed out loud. Others did too. Rowan Atkinson is hilarious whether he eats hot food or saves the United Kingdom. In the face of a cyberattack you have to go analogue. That comes in handy since Johnny English doesn't do digital. He's backwards in other ways too. A female submarine commander is beyond his imagination. But the world of the MI7 agent does carry the old time charm. Olga Kurylenko - yes, the one from "Quantum of Solace" - wears fabulous cocktail dresses.  

NINA

Walked out. Vulgar language repulsed me first. Conversations about nothing in such language didn't help. Blurred pictures are the least of the problems.