Movie reviews

KONIEC SWIATA CZYLI KOGEL MOGEL 4 (EGGNOG 4)

Recommended. Hilarious bits include situation humour like a grapple with a policeman and witty lines, e.g. someone who finds herself at a yoga class: "Że usiąść? Ale muszę się tak splątać, czy mogę normalnie?" ("That I sit down? But do I have to tangle myself like this, or can I normally?"). The set design: both interiors and exteriors is spot on. So is acting. The comedy is in the style of the first two parts. It showcases the diversity of Poland and contains political and movie Easter eggs. I laughed many times.

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

Watchable again. The initial music and sound effects are superb. The deep generational shift from "Women used to be so easy to control" is manifested. The new Agent Smith is hot (Jonathan Groff). But I still couldn't get it. And it felt protracted even when I was watching fully awake, with complete attention.

ドライブ・マイ・カー (DRIVE MY CAR)

Recommended. Or lead my life - that's the concealed meaning. About creating theatre - in an original way, because each actor performs in their own language - which was always a huge no-no to me. But the movie is hypnotising. Also the two male actors, from two generations: 西島秀俊 (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and 岡田 将生 (Masaki Okada) are hot. Japan is depicted as neat and quiet, even in a bar, music is subdued.

COFFEE AND CIGARETTES 

Recommended. A study of 11 little power struggles taking place during small talks. This black and white film becomes more and more fun as you follow each separate story, some with recurring actors, all with repetitions of the check pattern and lines, especially the one about coffee and cigarettes not being healthy. You witness the twilight of the era of smoking allowed in public places - shot in 2003, when the first smoking bans were being introduced - and the time when the black drink had bad fame, before its health-preserving properties were discovered. Some big stars of the time appear: Iggy Pop, Alfred Molina, Steve Coogan, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett who's fabulous as two cousins, a fair share of black actors too. A variety of American and foreign accents are spoken.