Movie reviews

GRETEL AND HANSEL

Watchable. Gretel's potential employer turns out to be a sex pest, she runs from domestic violence, an emaciated zombie-like man attacks the siblings, both: Gretel and Hansel eat hallucinogenic mushrooms in the woods, Gretel has visions even without them, weird music, the witch wears a hat like in "Wicked" (the long-running theatrical performance in London), characters talk in a lofty tone as if expressing the philosophy of this sick vision. Isn't the original fairy-tale horrible enough? It sounds like a well-balance horror without these extra specials. On top of that, it's terribly politically correct: the only good person is black and the script is all feminism envisaged by men: the writers Oz Perkins and Rob Hayes since it emphasizes that Gretel "finds her own way". I practically watched to see how much more stupidity they'll come up with.

AMAZONIA

Recommended. Almost a documentary where the monkey's story only serves to show the lavishness of nature. Shot in a few eco parks and a monkey school, it depicts a pink dolphin, insects, sloths and lots of other wildlife, with a number of amazing close-ups - pure delight.
Traditional local music in the background. Why is this perfection targeted at children instead of nature-loving adults?

LA VERITE (THE TRUTH)

Walked out. Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche know how to bring boredom to every movie. Films about shooting films never enthrall either. A grumpy actress and her bland family also failed to give me a reason to watch till the end. Ethan Hawke - here mocked as if he weren't a good actor - wasn't enough.

SIBYL

Watchable. Pretty-faced Virginie Efira attracts you first but when she appears naked a couple of times it's somewhat exhibitionist, especially that her body is neither slim nor fit. The story, swiftly cut, is engaging at first but about half-way into the plot, you realise that all the major characters take advantage of others: to write a book, to land a role in a movie, to get laid, to shoot a good picture and wear the lovers off each other which feels a bit on the mental side. And it's about shooting a film which never works in films. More and more nudity is thrown in to keep you watching when the story starts limping. Doesn't really work.