KINO W TRAMPKACH FILM FESTIVAL - ONLINE
DHANAK (RAINBOW)
Recommended. Too good to waste on the wee ones. Bollywood at its best: the story's clear-cut and complex at the same time, the pictures colourful with a mesmerising night scene in a village and, last but not least, lots of great music. Pure enjoyment.
Monday 31 August 2020
Sunday 30 August 2020
Friday 28 August 2020
BREAKING SURFACE
Watchable. Relatively short. Filled with action and technical details, showcases snowy Norwegian landscapes as well. Succinct character background. The movie quickly gets straight to the point which is a diving accident and rescue attempts. It's a bit over the top, especially killing someone's dog, as difficulties pile up badly, literally nothing goes as it should. Of course the film's thoroughly engaging. But emptish.
Reviewed from a screener. Cinematic reception might differ.
Watchable. Relatively short. Filled with action and technical details, showcases snowy Norwegian landscapes as well. Succinct character background. The movie quickly gets straight to the point which is a diving accident and rescue attempts. It's a bit over the top, especially killing someone's dog, as difficulties pile up badly, literally nothing goes as it should. Of course the film's thoroughly engaging. But emptish.
Reviewed from a screener. Cinematic reception might differ.
THE NEW MUTANTS
Watchable. Poor CGIs but plenty of mystery revealed gradually. The plot is a copy of "Event Horizon", "Flatliners" and a few less iconic pictures. Perfectly matched footage and "The Big Fight" music theme from "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" as well as footage from "Logan" can be spotted on TV behind the protagonists. Anya Taylor-Joy is particularly impressive as Illyana Rasputin, about the only superhero from the original comic book, others don't appear in the film. The surname, though never explained in the movie - no idea about the comic book, implies she may be a descendant of Grigori Rasputin, famous and powerful healer and mystic in tsar Russia. Marilyn Manson voiced the Smiling Man. Judging from the end credits, Stan Lee managed to become the executive producer before his untimely death. No mid- or post-credit though.
TENET
Recommended. An innovatory and riveting story with top-notch sound. The opening is clearly inspired by the seizure of Dubrovka Theatre in Moscow with the difference in the movie terrorists use a chemical agent on an audience in Ukraine. Once you're glued to the screen, the yarn of time is spun forth and back several times. The plot is so complex, I quickly gave up on following the physics too closely and just enjoyed numerous twists and turns. The time inversion dealer whose hog-like look resembles Weinstein, is an ugly abuser with immense power and wealth. Robert Pattinson, in a supporting role, proves himself a versatile actor. Thrusting music and sound effects - surrounding and extraordinary - surpass "Dunkirk". The ending suggests a sequel is likely. No mid- or post-credit.
VALLEY OF THE GODS
Recommended. What a vision! An extraordinary story with amazing visuals: Monument Valley in Utah, Fontana di Trevi in Rome - where an aria concerto takes place with the singers standing in the fountain pools, mind-blowing interiors and a garden with sculptures of the people the "richest man in the world" knew. Add incredible outfits, especially women's dresses, playing with light the way Sorrentino does and you've got a masterpiece. The bottom is corporate greed, resource exploitation and the sense of life for those in power and those less capable.
Watchable. Poor CGIs but plenty of mystery revealed gradually. The plot is a copy of "Event Horizon", "Flatliners" and a few less iconic pictures. Perfectly matched footage and "The Big Fight" music theme from "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" as well as footage from "Logan" can be spotted on TV behind the protagonists. Anya Taylor-Joy is particularly impressive as Illyana Rasputin, about the only superhero from the original comic book, others don't appear in the film. The surname, though never explained in the movie - no idea about the comic book, implies she may be a descendant of Grigori Rasputin, famous and powerful healer and mystic in tsar Russia. Marilyn Manson voiced the Smiling Man. Judging from the end credits, Stan Lee managed to become the executive producer before his untimely death. No mid- or post-credit though.
TENET
Recommended. An innovatory and riveting story with top-notch sound. The opening is clearly inspired by the seizure of Dubrovka Theatre in Moscow with the difference in the movie terrorists use a chemical agent on an audience in Ukraine. Once you're glued to the screen, the yarn of time is spun forth and back several times. The plot is so complex, I quickly gave up on following the physics too closely and just enjoyed numerous twists and turns. The time inversion dealer whose hog-like look resembles Weinstein, is an ugly abuser with immense power and wealth. Robert Pattinson, in a supporting role, proves himself a versatile actor. Thrusting music and sound effects - surrounding and extraordinary - surpass "Dunkirk". The ending suggests a sequel is likely. No mid- or post-credit.
VALLEY OF THE GODS
Recommended. What a vision! An extraordinary story with amazing visuals: Monument Valley in Utah, Fontana di Trevi in Rome - where an aria concerto takes place with the singers standing in the fountain pools, mind-blowing interiors and a garden with sculptures of the people the "richest man in the world" knew. Add incredible outfits, especially women's dresses, playing with light the way Sorrentino does and you've got a masterpiece. The bottom is corporate greed, resource exploitation and the sense of life for those in power and those less capable.
Tuesday 25 August 2020
бАШТАТА (THE FATHER)
Watchable. What's it supposed to be about? Because the fact the titular father loses it after his wife's demise doesn't lead to any catharsis, regardless of what the film implies. When the elderly man goes missing, you want to know what happened and afterwards uncertainty rules. The loving son is convincing. But there's nothing more to maintain your interest. Most notably, the film's got no point. And yes, I did notice the satire on Bulgarian health service, police, traditional beliefs. But that ironic illustration of life is just a series of events on the way.
THE WISHMAS TREE
Recommended. A delightful cartoon with cute animals, where the main protagonist, Kerry, is a young possum discovering the world, crossing the safety zone, bearing the consequences of breaking rules imposed by adults and, in the process, learning to love strangers, be cautious with them at the same time, experiencing an evil influence on a friend - all in a child-level form. And it looks lovely, you'd just love to cuddle the possums, the turtle, not sure of the vampire. It's Australian hence the map and the possum's dream of snow. The story's universal though.
Watchable. What's it supposed to be about? Because the fact the titular father loses it after his wife's demise doesn't lead to any catharsis, regardless of what the film implies. When the elderly man goes missing, you want to know what happened and afterwards uncertainty rules. The loving son is convincing. But there's nothing more to maintain your interest. Most notably, the film's got no point. And yes, I did notice the satire on Bulgarian health service, police, traditional beliefs. But that ironic illustration of life is just a series of events on the way.
THE WISHMAS TREE
Recommended. A delightful cartoon with cute animals, where the main protagonist, Kerry, is a young possum discovering the world, crossing the safety zone, bearing the consequences of breaking rules imposed by adults and, in the process, learning to love strangers, be cautious with them at the same time, experiencing an evil influence on a friend - all in a child-level form. And it looks lovely, you'd just love to cuddle the possums, the turtle, not sure of the vampire. It's Australian hence the map and the possum's dream of snow. The story's universal though.
Monday 24 August 2020
UNDINE
Recommended. The picture's so watery the rainy night was perfect to see it. Water is in a fish tank, in a large reservoir but also the smudged landscape watched through the windows on the train appears to flow. At some point my eyes started to water as well - due to the story. Director Ferzan Özpetek returns to the enigma he's best at. Undine, as tradition says, is a mythological water nymph who becomes human when she falls in love with a man but is doomed to die if he is unfaithful to her. The tour of Berlin architecture by museum guide Undine Wibeau mentions a phantom space. Is this why she fills her phantom space left after the man who betrayed her? Or is the diver the destiny she misses? Or have both men been unfaithful? Or has she? Two statues in the fish tank replace the single figure of a diver and deepen the mystery. Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski excel as the lead actors.
HERADID (THE COUNTY)
Tuesday 18 August 2020
SWINGERSI
Watchable. The narcissistic celebrity is brilliant. The comedy is engaging, with a number of riveting songs in English. The shooting locations listed mention only two towns in Latvia, where the writers, director and the school kid extras come from, but a panorama of Warsaw and I think the exterior of my former secondary school are used too. Polish actors, clearly handpicked for comic talents. I had fun most of the time. Unfortunately, typical for Poland of late, profuse swearing makes it considerably less funny and certainly less romantic. Not many loud laughs, apart from maybe the kidnapee running, but makes for a nice night out anyway. There are scenes along with the end credits.
MILITARY WIVES
Recommended. I could listen to them time after time. A masterclass in effective and affective cinema. Humour, emotions, sorrow and lots of hit songs in angelic voices. Perfectly acted too.
Reviewed from a screener. Cinematic reception might differ.
Watchable. The narcissistic celebrity is brilliant. The comedy is engaging, with a number of riveting songs in English. The shooting locations listed mention only two towns in Latvia, where the writers, director and the school kid extras come from, but a panorama of Warsaw and I think the exterior of my former secondary school are used too. Polish actors, clearly handpicked for comic talents. I had fun most of the time. Unfortunately, typical for Poland of late, profuse swearing makes it considerably less funny and certainly less romantic. Not many loud laughs, apart from maybe the kidnapee running, but makes for a nice night out anyway. There are scenes along with the end credits.
MILITARY WIVES
Recommended. I could listen to them time after time. A masterclass in effective and affective cinema. Humour, emotions, sorrow and lots of hit songs in angelic voices. Perfectly acted too.
Reviewed from a screener. Cinematic reception might differ.
Friday 14 August 2020
DIVORCE CLUB
Recommended. Exuberant and frivolous fun that will make you want to divorce and/or stay single forever. Arnaud Ducret in top form as the main protagonist. The movie feels like attending a party. Lots of music, mostly by perennial Kool & The Gang. Constant joie de vivre, facilitated by life on wonderfully shot splendid estates. Light-hearted caper never crossing the line of good taste. Dragging someone on the floor - usual in horrors - here creates a comic effect. Being attacked by an animal - a lemur in this case, hiding from someone, drugs, a spoilt kid and the most amusing: Ferrari ride are all well-known comedy tropes but they don't detract from entertainment in the slightest.
Reviewed from a screener with excellent sound but cinematic reception might always differ.
MANELYST I FLAKLYPA (LOUIS & LUCA - MISSION TO THE MOON)
Watchable. Models and dolls are not my animation style. As for the plot, a little bit of astronomy drowns in the flood of far-fetched details focused around an invention and social structure alike. The characters and most of the story are meant for children but with some winks to parents, e.g. an enterprise is a failure because Greece bankrolled it. Also, one of the main protagonists has paid a lot of VAT in alcohol - that's presented as if it was normal, I seriously doubt its pedagogic value.
Reviewed from a screener, cinematic reception might differ.
Recommended. Exuberant and frivolous fun that will make you want to divorce and/or stay single forever. Arnaud Ducret in top form as the main protagonist. The movie feels like attending a party. Lots of music, mostly by perennial Kool & The Gang. Constant joie de vivre, facilitated by life on wonderfully shot splendid estates. Light-hearted caper never crossing the line of good taste. Dragging someone on the floor - usual in horrors - here creates a comic effect. Being attacked by an animal - a lemur in this case, hiding from someone, drugs, a spoilt kid and the most amusing: Ferrari ride are all well-known comedy tropes but they don't detract from entertainment in the slightest.
Reviewed from a screener with excellent sound but cinematic reception might always differ.
MANELYST I FLAKLYPA (LOUIS & LUCA - MISSION TO THE MOON)
Watchable. Models and dolls are not my animation style. As for the plot, a little bit of astronomy drowns in the flood of far-fetched details focused around an invention and social structure alike. The characters and most of the story are meant for children but with some winks to parents, e.g. an enterprise is a failure because Greece bankrolled it. Also, one of the main protagonists has paid a lot of VAT in alcohol - that's presented as if it was normal, I seriously doubt its pedagogic value.
Reviewed from a screener, cinematic reception might differ.
Wednesday 12 August 2020
LIBERTE
Watchable. Writer and director Albert Serra goes back to his favourite pre-Revolution French aristocracy - though here mingling with German and Italian upper classes - set-up but this time to create porn. Guilty pleasure it may be but stretching it to the 'Liberté' slogan to pass the smut off as art seems over the top. Is the movie deeper than body orifices? Numerous men and two women take the liberty of engaging in activities based on permissive violence where they take turns to abuse in extreme ways, e.g. urinating on lovers, or be abused for erotic pleasure. The aristocrats' preferred pastime appears to be the experience, physical and mental, of both unlimited power and unrestrained freedom and being subjected to treatment which in other situations would be unequivocally inhumane. Here's the core: what constitutes freedom for the upper class is what their subjects would call torture and therefore seek liberté a few decades later. The form of the picture is also peculiar - its voyeurism is two-fold: the participants observe others in between their own sadomasochistic acts and the film viewers feel like hiding in the woods to watch the sex exploits themselves. So the film's a bizarre sort of porn with a second bottom.
Watched from a screener, cinematic reception might differ.
Watchable. Writer and director Albert Serra goes back to his favourite pre-Revolution French aristocracy - though here mingling with German and Italian upper classes - set-up but this time to create porn. Guilty pleasure it may be but stretching it to the 'Liberté' slogan to pass the smut off as art seems over the top. Is the movie deeper than body orifices? Numerous men and two women take the liberty of engaging in activities based on permissive violence where they take turns to abuse in extreme ways, e.g. urinating on lovers, or be abused for erotic pleasure. The aristocrats' preferred pastime appears to be the experience, physical and mental, of both unlimited power and unrestrained freedom and being subjected to treatment which in other situations would be unequivocally inhumane. Here's the core: what constitutes freedom for the upper class is what their subjects would call torture and therefore seek liberté a few decades later. The form of the picture is also peculiar - its voyeurism is two-fold: the participants observe others in between their own sadomasochistic acts and the film viewers feel like hiding in the woods to watch the sex exploits themselves. So the film's a bizarre sort of porn with a second bottom.
Watched from a screener, cinematic reception might differ.
Monday 10 August 2020
FOUR KIDS AND IT
Watchable when seen for the second time. This time was at the cinema which did make a difference: I noticed that the girl was planning out her publication thoroughly, e.g. a memo sticker shows she was thinking of her book cover. Psammead's fur looks greenish. You can clearly hear the sounds of nature at some point. I realised the movie was shot on locations in London and Ireland. I still had fun, e.g. when the creature made shark-like circles in the sand before appearing for the first time and the lines were brilliant, e.g. "That's not what friends are like. That's what a police mugshot looks like." The whole thing however, did not keep me on the edge of the seat any more. The book author Jacqueline Wilson herself approaches the young author in the early end credits scene which is such a touching detail.
SAMSAM
Watchable. A simple and cheerful tale for nursery-age children. Visibly inspired mostly by... peas but also echoing "Batman" and "Avatar". Planets and creatures are distinguished by their own colours. Buildings, creatures and devices have toy-like shapes and people have unproportionally big heads which will make it relevant to very young kids. It wasn't much involving for me but a girl from the audience was dancing to the music running at the end credits so it's clearly one for little ones.
In Poland, all children movies are currently screened with Polish dubbing only.
Watchable when seen for the second time. This time was at the cinema which did make a difference: I noticed that the girl was planning out her publication thoroughly, e.g. a memo sticker shows she was thinking of her book cover. Psammead's fur looks greenish. You can clearly hear the sounds of nature at some point. I realised the movie was shot on locations in London and Ireland. I still had fun, e.g. when the creature made shark-like circles in the sand before appearing for the first time and the lines were brilliant, e.g. "That's not what friends are like. That's what a police mugshot looks like." The whole thing however, did not keep me on the edge of the seat any more. The book author Jacqueline Wilson herself approaches the young author in the early end credits scene which is such a touching detail.
SAMSAM
Watchable. A simple and cheerful tale for nursery-age children. Visibly inspired mostly by... peas but also echoing "Batman" and "Avatar". Planets and creatures are distinguished by their own colours. Buildings, creatures and devices have toy-like shapes and people have unproportionally big heads which will make it relevant to very young kids. It wasn't much involving for me but a girl from the audience was dancing to the music running at the end credits so it's clearly one for little ones.
In Poland, all children movies are currently screened with Polish dubbing only.
Saturday 8 August 2020
ENDINGS, BEGINNINGS
Walked out. Awfully bland. The scriptwriter had nothing to say and the director found no way to shoot it interestingly. It's also poorly acted. She applies for jobs as if she couldn't care less if she gets them. She gets laid with a guy who appears to have nothing better to do than to drink and have sex. And the erotic scene looks plain ugly, as if she had veiny breasts, on top of being fat. Ah, and dialogues about nothing. Why do they open their mouth at all?!
Walked out. Awfully bland. The scriptwriter had nothing to say and the director found no way to shoot it interestingly. It's also poorly acted. She applies for jobs as if she couldn't care less if she gets them. She gets laid with a guy who appears to have nothing better to do than to drink and have sex. And the erotic scene looks plain ugly, as if she had veiny breasts, on top of being fat. Ah, and dialogues about nothing. Why do they open their mouth at all?!
CHARTER
Watchable. A peculiar film which evokes boredom - a parental topic - and suspense - will she be apprehended by the police? - at the same time, with a few touching moments and a heart-breaking car chase towards the end. By the director of "Sameblod" ("Sami Blood") but without the previous bite. The movie looks pretty realistic and very Swedish - the way it's quiet and on the slow side. Is parenthood difficult? I knew it without the picture.
Reviewed from a screener, cinematic reception might differ.
Watchable. A peculiar film which evokes boredom - a parental topic - and suspense - will she be apprehended by the police? - at the same time, with a few touching moments and a heart-breaking car chase towards the end. By the director of "Sameblod" ("Sami Blood") but without the previous bite. The movie looks pretty realistic and very Swedish - the way it's quiet and on the slow side. Is parenthood difficult? I knew it without the picture.
Reviewed from a screener, cinematic reception might differ.
Monday 3 August 2020
UNHINGED
Watchable. The opening scene is brutal but intriguing. Then the broadcast pieces of news create a fascinating background where you'd expect riots or even large-scale lawlessness like in "Robocop". The social set-up quickly gets dissolved when "Duel" meets "Falling Down" only to turn into road-rage fuelled class B slasher caper. It's engaging enough, decently executed, fast-paced and, luckily, only 91-minute long. By the time rubbish has piled up, it blissfully ends. Doesn't make good use of the Atmos sound it's recorded in - it's fine but with no edge, at least when in 5.1.
SCOOB!
Walked out. What a load of nonsense! Characters appear out of nowhere, robots make no sense in the plot, dialogues spread fake news, Covid-19 safety precautions are ridiculed. The movie's on the verge of being harmful. And so chaotic children don't get it either and become bored instead.
Watchable. The opening scene is brutal but intriguing. Then the broadcast pieces of news create a fascinating background where you'd expect riots or even large-scale lawlessness like in "Robocop". The social set-up quickly gets dissolved when "Duel" meets "Falling Down" only to turn into road-rage fuelled class B slasher caper. It's engaging enough, decently executed, fast-paced and, luckily, only 91-minute long. By the time rubbish has piled up, it blissfully ends. Doesn't make good use of the Atmos sound it's recorded in - it's fine but with no edge, at least when in 5.1.
SCOOB!
Walked out. What a load of nonsense! Characters appear out of nowhere, robots make no sense in the plot, dialogues spread fake news, Covid-19 safety precautions are ridiculed. The movie's on the verge of being harmful. And so chaotic children don't get it either and become bored instead.
Saturday 1 August 2020
LA GALLINA TURULECA (TURU, THE WACKY HEN)
Watchable. Turu isn't wacky. She's cute. The beginning is all filled with the love of animals and kindness between people. Then, about 20 minutes in, a circus appears. Does the institution of a circus even exist any more? Why is the idea of reviving one peddled in children movies over and over again? That ruins most of the plot. What saves the picture, are songs - in 3 languages: English, Spanish and translated into Polish - all characters are dubbed in Poland. Remastered hits like "Funky Town" and "Macarena" make your feet dance. Sadly, it's recorded in 5.1 but even in this system, a knocking on the door sounded so realistic I turned back. Ah, and the hen remarks she's more than just the eggs she's expected to lay - a nice nod towards career-oriented women.
Watchable. Turu isn't wacky. She's cute. The beginning is all filled with the love of animals and kindness between people. Then, about 20 minutes in, a circus appears. Does the institution of a circus even exist any more? Why is the idea of reviving one peddled in children movies over and over again? That ruins most of the plot. What saves the picture, are songs - in 3 languages: English, Spanish and translated into Polish - all characters are dubbed in Poland. Remastered hits like "Funky Town" and "Macarena" make your feet dance. Sadly, it's recorded in 5.1 but even in this system, a knocking on the door sounded so realistic I turned back. Ah, and the hen remarks she's more than just the eggs she's expected to lay - a nice nod towards career-oriented women.
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