Daughter of Sam

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When you are in an emotionally sensitive state, it’s wonderful when you happen to make the right choice of film to watch. While on any other day I Am Sam might have been just a very good film, I was lucky to pick the day that left me crying past the end credits. Or maybe it really is just this film. I Am Sam

Sean Penn, Dakota Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer star in this Oscar nominated film. I haven’t watched Becoming Sam, a documentary about the film yet, but I think that’s now on my list of films to watch. The film is very sweet and does not get too dipressing at any point and there’s a fair bit of comedy in it as well. Michelle Pfeiffer does an ok job acting, though lags definitely behind Sean and Dakota. Dakota is simply amazing and definitely reflects her character’s name. I’m sure the kind of role Sean Penn had to act in this film is among the hardest kind of roles to act believably, and he does it very well indeed. There’s also What’s Eating Gilbert Grape where Leonardo Di Caprio had similarly difficult role to play – that one also turned out to be a very beautiful film.

I guess I can mention the soundtrack of the film is great, if you like The Beatles songs. Apparently Penn could not afford rights to the real thing, so they’re all covers, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I think I like the contemporary feel of it. The film is beautiful, heartbreaking at times, but a feel-good movie on the whole. It also touches on issues that are important in any family, not just the exceptional kind that Sam and Lucy have in this film.

Se, jie

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Ever since I saw The Ice Storm for the first time, Ang Lee became one of my favorite directors. I haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain yet, and Hulk somehow seemed unexpected film for Ang Lee to make – I’m trying to avoid anything too negative to say about that one. Maybe it’s worth another review, maybe not.

Lust, Caution

Lust, Caution is beautiful, beautifully directed film. It’s slow paced, with well thought out structure. The lead actors do an amazing job throughout and really bring the story together, the tension between them is holding the whole film together. Art direction and cinematography create a wonderful and slightly hazy atmosphere for the film.

If you’ve heard anything else about the film before, it’s likely you’ve heard about the sex and violence bits. While these elements in the film do add to the film, I think they’re getting too much attention really. They’re part of the film and Ang Lee’s done the best he could with those. They don’t have enough screen time to be the main part of the film even if they are integral to it. But then again, some people may find it’s a bit too much while others will wonder what’s the fuzz all about.

Beautiful work, well worth a watch, although I do like The Ice Storm more.

What’s this about England?

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This is England.

This is England

Chances are, you haven’t heard of this film, or the director, Shane Meadows. Mostly (British) people remember another film of his, Dead Man’s Shoes, which I just might write another short review about. So maybe this time I could recommend you a film that you haven’t heard about. Go on, see for yourself. I’ve heard people say the actors in this one are like carved out of a tree, but I strongly disagree, and so do lots of other people. I’m not English though so I might miss out some issues about their acting. Mind you, if you are American or from elsewhere outside Britain, you’ll pretty much miss it too, not in a bad way at all of course. And you can still decide whether you like their acting or not. I do.

I thought it’s brilliant. Marvellous cast. Thomas Turgoose is simply amazing, and he doesn’t let Stephen Graham steal the show. And he gets to do some cool stuff. But Stephen does put on a great show too.

Everything about the film looks so authentic, the cinematograhy, and some of the stock footage just captures the mood of the film and the time the film is set in. The way Shane is used to delivering sense of realism, or naturalism, is so gripping that you feel you’ve gone back in time. It’s a different world.

I don’t want to touch the story of the film too much, but I suppose it would help if you had an idea about what was going on in England at the time, or a thing or two about skinheads. There seems to be a bit of confusion among viewers about what skinheads (then) were all about. Or what being a skinhead back then was about. Times change, you see.

Or you can have a different kind of movie night and watch Romper Stomper. If you liked the style of Romper Stomper, you might find some of the skins in this one a bit soft… I hope that’s not too much of a spoiler… Or if you don’t fancy the whole Englishness of it, go for American History X – it’s not the same thing and while it’s a good movie too, you’d be missing out on something.

Fuckin’ brilliant.

Back to Manderley…

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I don’t think I can say anything new about a classic from 1940, but I just thought it’d be a good idea to remind everyone that when all the new films suck, you can always find something else…. Yes, it’s old. And don’t let the poster fool you, it’s black and white too! Maybe that’s just how Hitchcock liked it, he could have done it in color I guess. But then again, what if he did Psycho in color.

Rebecca

Brilliant story, great cast who make sure there’s always a lot of tension on the screen. Some characters tend to steal the show a bit occasionally though. And quite a few unexpected endings… Which suits the director I guess.Or the producer…

A one and a two and a three…is a crowd.

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Is it a drama? Is it a musical? Is it a romantic flick…. no… its… its… well, I wouldn’t want to put it in a certain locker. It has all of the above, and a pint of the ol’ Iris’ charm. So we have the guy from Commitments (that’s what the marketing guy told us at least), and a gal we haven’t really seen before – that’s nice. They’re both good. Images are exactly what you’t expect from a small budget indie film – traditional, that is. And I liked em. It’s undisputedly film. Grains’n all.

Don’t you just feel at least a little discomfort, when in a musical everyone suddenly burst into a song? I do. Except in South Park the movie of course. Well, here it doesn’t happen, not the feeling of discomfort nor the bursting in to a street wide choir. The songs fit seamlessly into the film. A word of warning to those whom do not enjoy the Ryan Adamish, man-and-a-guitar type ‘woolen sweater-pop-rock’. That is what this film is about. And about making decisions and finding your place and a place for your heart. It’s a feel good movie, but why are you feeling good? Go see, and take your significant other with you and ask her.

If this is the last thing you see…

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Well it isn’t if you are reading this… Maybe you shouldn’t

.cloverfield.jpg

Here we go again, I think half the time they’re trying to make people sick in the theatres with the shaky camera. No, wait, I’m not complaining, I liked this. A lot. It really works very well, and for this type of film, the characters are pretty good too. And thank God there aren’t any big names there either. Not that I know of anyway. Exciting marketing, boring posters. The whole secrecy thing was interesting. I didn’t know anything at all when I went to see this one, I don’t think I’d even really seen the poster. That’s the best way to see a film I think. So you should stop reading and go and watch this now. But as usual, I’m not really going to tell much of the film. Well acted, good cast, I like the genre as well and I think it was well done, which can’t be said of most similar attempts lately. Scary? Yes, I guess. I’m not surre I’d watch it again. And cinema always beats dvd (or blu-ray which I don’t have). I wonder if there’ll be a sequel?

The end of the dead????

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If this is as good as it gets, then maybe its time for George to find a nice cosy (zombi) island where to retire. I had high hopes of Diary of the Dead.

Diary of the Dead

Or is it just me? Go and have a look and see what you think. Oh wait – This is how interesting I found the film: I’m writing this about a year after I watched it in the cinema – for you its same as me reviewing a straight to DVD release. I’m not sure its good enough to even rent. All Romero fans, stop reading and just go and watch it. You might even like it. I’m just saying its nowhere near as good as Day of the Dead or Dawn of the Dead. or obviously Night of the Living Dead. Or the new versions of Dawn of the Dead or Night of the Living Dead. This one is mostly annoying and misses almost all chances of being properly scary, funny or otherwise good. There is a second or two that are very very funny, but it’s not really enough to carry the whole film.

The joke’s on the Bat

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I Shouldn’t even start writing anything. I won’t have anything new to say nor will I have anything really valuable to say. But I suppose I can add to the vast group of people who have this (or that) opinion of the latest batventure.

dk

It’s quite depressing how even the poster art was such a part of marketing, that I didn’t see the point of looking for an especially wicked poster for this post… But at least you can see the main star on this one.

Yes, here’s another batfan who thinks the joker stole the show. That goes with the territory I guess, that’s what jokers do. And he’s so funny too, I could almost cry. I watched this in the Imax and it was worth it. Sound super, picture super. Heath super. The bat-dude was a bit stiff I’d say. And I’m sure I’m not alone when I ask what’s with the voice?! The bat suit is a bit too tight or what? Need I say more? I know maybe I’m saying more than I usually say about a film, but surely you’ve seen this already? And why are you reading this then? If you haven’t seen it, again I ask, why are you reading this? I want to see the next Batman. Or maybe they should start doing a series of Joker… Oh wait, Heath is dead… Long live batman…. Now I really feel bad.

REC

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I can’t think of another title for the post… Well it kind of says it all. Rec is late, but I’d say its worth the wait. Once again someone has been brave enough to try this silly little genre of meta film… Maybe this all became fashionable again with all the big brothers and other camera shows. Rec is constantly paying homage to other brilliant horror films and especially of its own genre. Not completely unlike George Romero’s Diary of the Dead, Rec is a tight package of suspension, emotions and horror. Step by step we dive deeper and deeper – its hard to think of a more effective modern shocker.Rec

Rec seemed faithfull to the its predecessors, all the way down to camera angles, (I’m not really talking about Blair Witch Project) and there weren’t many surprises along the way – and for once there weren’t awkward pauses either, Rec is relentless. Simple yet effective. Did I mention it’s Spanish? Even better. Should I stop here… Yes. Just a couple of more words. Fair acting as well, although the leading actress Manuela Velasco can be annoying at times. And did I mention the film is pretty simple? It’s not exactly Magnolia 2. But it does what it says on the package. Watch on big screen alone in the dark with volume high.

through the valley of the shadow of death

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Well.. mr. Anderson. Now you’ve done it again. And mr. Day-Lewis. What can I say, you are too good in being awful. And by the way, If they ever need someone to replace dr. Henry Jones(Indys father) , I’d say the place is yours. At least in some scenes Daniel sounds just like Sean and even from some angles looks a bit like the man.

So this is quite a long one, 2:40 with credits. But worth all those minutes. But then again so are all Paul’s movies. One really can’t say that if you liked his other films like Magnolia, you’d like this. These have almost nothing in common. It’s not nice, in any ways. but I really didn’t expect it to be. In fact it is really dirty and shows the dark sides of a man in such way that it chills you to the bone. Well the images are beautiful, and the landscapes accompanies the story with fine underline.

The pace is slowish, but not so that you’d get bored. The guy from Radiohead, not the Yorke one, but one by the name of Jonny Greenwood has made haunting and interesting music. And another thing I liked was that there are many long scenes without any kind of dialogue. I read a review of this earlier (gave it 4/5 stars) and it said that when the end credits start you’d like to shout: ”What the f*ck!!” And I agree, but then it gets to you, and the more you think of it the more you want to see it again. So what am I thinking? I’m thinking Stanley Kubrick, I’m thinking of Martin Scorsese in a bad hangover. And I’m smiling.

twb