Movie reviews

CANAL+

The new and upcoming series and movies cover:

"Maria Antonina" - high budget, shot in Paris, in the beginning of 2023 online. She drank no alcohol but gambled, played till the morning, was supposedly bisexual. Among the scriptwriters is Yorgos Lanthimos known for "The Favourite".

A serial based on "Django". The first version, of 1966, was the most brutal western of the time. 

"Quo Vadis, Aida" - the events of when Ratko Mladić's troops encroached the Safety Zone. As the movie director said, "when Srebrenica was happening, the world went on holiday". I've reviewed it before.

"Stillwater" - Matt Damon received a 5-minute standing ovation in Cannes last year. I've reviewed it before.

"Last Night in Soho" - I've reviewed it before.

"The Last Duel" about one of the last knight duels in France. I've reviewed it before.

The protagonist of "Amy", which I've reviewed before, died 10 years ago. "Reclaiming Amy" is a documentary in which her mother tells about her last conversation with Amy and allegations about her father contributing to her death. 

"Yellowjackets" - a series about man balancing on the verge of humanity, horror.

"This Is Going To Hurt" is already on. Based on a book by a doctor-turned-comedian.

BBC Player has been available to Canal+ subscribers since 1 June. 

"Lokatorka" ("The Tenant. You Can't Burn Us All") since the summer too. I've reviewed it before.

And:

MINUTA CISZY (A MINUTE OF SILENCE) Q&A

The first Polish serial about the funeral industry. Two undertakers compete for bodies. Not even one character is unambiguous. Many scenes shock. The producer "crosses the boundaries of taboo, not bad taste." The serial was consulted with many undertakers. It's been created by Aurum Film, the producers of "Żeby nie było śladów" ("Leave No Traces"), and "Gotowi na wszystko. Exterminator" ("Exterminator"), the director of "Carte Blanche" - the producers' first film, theirs was also "Ostatnia rodzina" ("The Last Family"). Actors Robert Więckiewicz and Ola Konieczna typically yell at each other. Jacek Lusiński wrote it because we don't mourn any more. His mother died during creating the serial. All the events are pre-Covid.

MINUTA CISZY (A MINUTE OF SILENCE) EP. 1

Recommened. A story unusual but set so firmly in the Polish small town reality it's perfectly plausible, including the mafia-like social structure. Brilliant, witty dialogues, full of puns, shocking situations, engaging action, a cliffhanger in the last scene. 

YAKARI, LE FILM (YAKARI, A SPECTACULAR JOURNEY)

Recommended. The dog's delightfully cute and adorable. Other animals are also cute and fun, e.g. beavers when they talk: "Humans have parents too?" and the little beaver named Linden is just brilliantly playful, as is raccoon called Ringtail. Yakari, the human boy is large-eyed and gentle. 

Reviewed from the distributor's screener, cinematic reception might differ.

ENNIO

Recommended. The movie was released on the second anniversary of Ennio Morricone's death. I've never been particularly into his music and now I know why: it's the trumpet he was forced to play since 11 and later used in his compositions a lot. But the documentary is amazing. He was a prolific composer: 500 movies, sometimes 18-21 in 1 year. Apart from himself, Hans Zimmer, Bernardo Bertolucci, Quentin Tarantino, Bruce Springsteen and even some Chinese chap tell anecdotes. You learn how Sergio Leone used his work for him as a ruse not to lend the genius to Kubrick - "A Clockwork Orange" might have had his music - or how directors would bend to his ideas. It's witty, e.g. his several attempts to bid farewell to cinema. His work is multi-instrumental - would sound flat otherwise. Coyotes, ancient texts, experimental scenes and ample imagination - his genius is undeniable.

ENTRE LES VAGUES (THE BRAVES)

Watchable. A teenager dying of breast cancer - hardly plausible and a vexing deja vu of the child-with-cancer topic. Theatre in a movie isn't my cup of tea either. But the two girls are so vivacious it's not particularly repelling.