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Låt den rätte komma in (2008)
Good Stuff
What I liked most about this flick were the nuances. The way that Oskar was bullied was very well done. Very believable; the steely knife pulled out of a jacket while he's half naked in the pool. The author/director could clearly feel Oskar's fear. Truly inspiring! And even though you see that Eli collected Oskar from the beginning, it feels okay. They needed each other.
The lady bursting into flames was interesting. That was the only part that made me laugh in a "fonzie just jumped the shark" kind of way. But when I think of it overall, I think that this scene is okay now. I'll have to check it out again.
Great story and great implementation! Bravo!
Delusions in Modern Primitivism (2000)
Almost Perfect except...
Great acting and hilarious execution of the idea. The laughing Ray and the lack of a scar kind of broke the trance though. Unfortunately, Daniel Loflin's sanctimony is kind of along the same line as Sam Menedes' or Tony Kaye's who travel to other countries to do their commentaries. Personally, I would've had more respect for Loflin if he'd poked fun at German neo-Nazis. But, I suppose it's alway easier to critizize the other guy, especially when you come from a place where you're too ashamed to fly a flag in your front lawn, let alone tattoo one on your back. Chalk one up for freedom of expression.
Delusions in Modern Primitivism (2000)
Almost Perfect except...
Great acting and hilarious execution of the idea. The laughing Ray and the lack of a scar kind of broke the trance though. Unfortunately, Daniel Loflin's sanctimony is kind of along the same line as Sam Menedes' or Tony Kaye's who travel to other countries to do their commentaries. Personally, I would've had more respect for Loflin if he'd poked fun at German neo-Nazis. But, I suppose it's alway easier to critizize the other guy, especially when you come from a place where you're too ashamed to fly a flag in your front lawn, let alone tattoo one on your back. Chalk one up for freedom of expression.
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
A Great Narrative for Budding Brainless Anarchists and Iconoclasts
I don't like being preached to, but given no choice, I'd prefer to see a film which doesn't blame one group of people for today's problems but rather looks for real solutions. But "Bowling" is not about solutions.
Obviously only slightly less backwards than his home-town buddies, on whom he takes no mercy, Moore show's himself in "Bowling" to be an innocent mid-westerner who rarely sees much of the world and Her people outside of Flint Michigan.
"Bowling" is proudly hailed by some as "incendiary". And of course it is. But in the current world climate, being so is really no trick. Hitler was "Incendiary" too back in the 40s! Should we be proud of him as well? Hitler blamed the poor "state of the union" on the Jews and Moore blames the poor "state of the union" on the "white man". A race which according to Moore has the unique distinction of being both incredibly cowardly AND viciously greedy. How convenient! Umm...can we say "racism"?
Moore accosts the media for weaving tragedies and inciting fear, while at the same time manufacturing a few tragedies of his own and basking in the attention. He exposes the tactlessness of Charlton Heston's NRA speech and its chronological proximity of to the events at Columbine, while ignoring the disgracefulness of releasing an anti-American film so close to September 11th.
Even more demoralizing than this movie was the crowd of lemmings surrounding me in the theatre; all cheering and laughing in perfect unison. None of whom seemed to recognize the inaccuracies of "Bowling's" historical implications. Lies that would repulse even Howard Zinn.
You won't see dissident propaganda like this in countries like China, Russia, and Japan because people get killed for it. In Japan, the invasion of the Chinese mainland was REMOVED from the history books! "Bowling" confirms once again that in America we have the uncommon and fortunate privilege to say anything we like, anyway we please, and get away with it. It's IRONIC that Moore back-stabs the same system which provides him these rights.
Don't you think?
American History X (1998)
Trite and Moronic Sensationalism
Reminiscent of Spike Lee's Malcolm X who's main character had a change of heart and mind in prison that was followed by an epiphany when he saw men and woman of all races alike searching for answers, American History X unfortunately fails to demonstrate the most important element of any cathartic journey: Soul Searching.
This is an obvious fiction of a boy who filled the vacuum of his missing father with a figure who would do his father's murder justice. The idea is interesting. However, it attempted to gather sympathy (and successfully) for the boy's plight by taking pot shots at easy targets. Derek is portrayed early in the movie preaching a succinct set of more than half-baked ideals which magically disintegrated with his "change of heart" in prison; when all his better angels kindly removed his indignation. The most insulting nugget of sanctimoniousness is Sweeny's comment "Ask yourself one question...has this made your life better?". Folks, when fighting for ANY cause, no-one ever expects the quality of one's life to improve. Did Ghandi's life improve by fasting?!
Frankly, this is a very tough and serious subject that deserves more than a `change of heart'; it also demands a change of mind. It demands a journey of thought and reason. But in Hollywood who needs reason when you have tears, right? Thus we're left with a serious theme that is trampled by trite and exaggerated sensationalism.
I believed at first that the sanctimoniousness was Tony Kaye's. But perhaps this touch is Edward Norton's who apparently monkey-ed around in post-production to the point where Tony Kaye wanted to use a pseudonym (I don't blame him). This wouldn't surprise me after seeing Norton's naive tear-jerker Keeping the Faith. Unfortunately, in Norton I'm "Losing the Faith".
This movie could've been much better if it was created for grown ups. But then it would have to have been created by grown ups.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Not So Great Expectations
Even though my expectations were low, oh how disappointing I found this movie. I suppose fame went to George's head, he felt that he was flawless, and he couldn't "cash the check".
The most difficult is the fact that this movie had the chance to be pretty good. It moved along at an incredibly fast and exciting pace right from the start. I had goosebumps for the first 20 minutes. Unfortunately there were some real bombs throughout.
I don't mind Jar-Jar so much. What makes me squirm are things like the whiney Jedi council (especially Yoda) who demonstrates nothing impressive especially when testing Anakin with that dumb little etch-a-scetch. The Jedi council should have been one of the best scenes in the movie! And some of the action sequences were so poorly directed they were reminiscent of the A-Team. (However, Darth Maul was so good he made the Jedis look like the high school colorguard.)
Lucas was great in his day with American Graffiti, THX, and Star Wars and it suggests that maybe a younger director breath life into this story. But then I remember Irvin Kershner who had no trouble directing an excellent Empire Strikes Back at age 57!
I would love it if Irvin came out and directed some of the new episodes...sorry George. You were truly great once! I don't care what people say about the bad dialog and bad acting in Star Wars. That movie was beautiful! Please get back to your roots and keep in simple. You're losing your vision. Remember don't worry about anybody else, just do your own thing and people will love you.
Before Sunrise (1995)
Once Again Linklater Avoids Mediocrity!
As in his other movies, Linklater has a terrific earthy reality to his movies which makes me feel like one of the characters. He always hits on my own personal issues so accurately that I feel like he's reading my mind. I always thought of such issues as mine alone, so I find his movies to be a cure for my own feelings of aloneness as well as for anyone of my generation (born in the 60s).
I appreciate his sticking to his vision in this film. Bravo!
The Tao of Steve (2000)
Excellent dialog but could've used a better ending
This was a clever and tastefully created movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys good inspiring subtle dialog.
The hasty ending however cast a retroactive superficial fluff over the rest of the movie's beautiful balance of humor and serious subject matter. From what I understand there were 3 different endings that needed to be decided on for the final release. I wish the producers had chosen a different one.
All and all though I wish there were more movies like this.