Change Your Image
lenusik
Reviews
American Wedding (2003)
Absence of any conflict or plot.
As a huge fan of charming American Pie I am soooo disappointed. They decided to make Stiffler main character; he is trying so hard he is overacting in almost every scene. There is no conflict: the only attempt at it is so Jewish grandma calling Michele "shiksa" and parents catching Jim at stupid moments. The actors are trying but the writer's failure to come up wth any plot cannot be saved by profane jokes. The only success is dancing scene at the bar and Paul Finch and Stiffler Mom scene as it brings back the memories of first movie back. So worth watching for those scenes.
Ha-Chaverim Shel Yana (1999)
love has many forms
So we have 3 love stories throughout this movie - well, actually we have love for music as well, but traditional stories are three. One is very sexy, and once can justify that the gas masks the characters wear (there are attacks from Iraq at the time) and the need to be in the sealed room they share enhances the feelings. Eli is hardly a sentimental type, he asks Yana for a date as his lover yells for him from the bedroom ... yet he is very kind to Yana. He seems Mr. No Commitment, yet he is the one who asks "what now" after Yana's estranged husband is back to her life or at least back to the country. There is no real drama in this story. Prefering sexy and kind roommate to the husband who is ready to abandon Yana alone pregnant with a huge loan is a no brainer.
The second love story of Rosa who first appears very business like is sad and entertaining. It is more life story than love story and one that makes you sob.
What truly amazes is the third couple. Alik is hardly anyone's type - yelling at his wife, squalid, dignity and morals long gone and you'd think his marriage experiences lack of contentment - yet it is Alik's wife who truly amazes with the way she looks at Alik, compliments him and her love is love that makes him a better man - at the end even Alik is quite a likable character!
The Others (2001)
gives u chills for days
If you are after something that will give you chills for days that is it. Professionally done thriller, good actors. However, very weak line with the balance between deathful fantasy and reality. I have a feeling that the authors inspired to create more than a thriller, some kind of deep thought on life and death and that did not materialize.
Russkiy bunt (2000)
the best character ... is Savelich
It is not Mikhalkov's style Russia, the movie lacks patriotism, Russian officers are not shown to be too brave or smart. I think the Orthodox church would hate it because of the way the priest is shown. It's rather sad story with plenty of violence and blood and that makes the interpretation easier to believe. The most likable character is actually Savelich, he is so honest and devoted to his master, so ready to sacrifice his life, and he is plain funny. Grinev and Masha are children by today standarts, Shvabrin lacks some passion (did Pushkin actually intend for Shvabrin to have so indifferent face ... Shvabrin is after all a passionate person), Pugachev is clearly negative (what does one expect from a substance abuser) but they are all vivid characters, and I recommend the movie to anyone remotely interested in Russian history.
Al di là delle nuvole (1995)
Just stories
It's just stories, some we wish happen to us, some we wish never happen to us, all about unfulfilled desire. The locations and nude bodies are beautiful, but after the second story all I could think was 'it takes more than just beauty to create a real film'. Then of course the film unfolds. The stories are moving except Sophie Marceau fails to communicate her story in this film. Malkovich plays the story for both of them though. The voiceover fails to link the stories but helps Malkovich to provoke some thought.
I'd say it is worth seeing and the best of Antonioni I have seen. Given his age - remarkable!
Bezymyannaya zvezda (1979)
Piece of art. Very romantic!
The small provincial town atmosphere is described very well by the single night out for everyone: people go to the railroad station to look at the large train that passes at the same time. We can see all the characters there at once, and immediately draw conclusions that the town is full of characters. The teacher Marin is there later to get the book from Buharest he ordered...and the train that never stops, suddenly stops that night...here comes Mona. We immediately feel like we know so much about their lives. We also are so sad to see her go and him stay. Igor Kostolevskiy is awesome (and so good-looking)!