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Reviews
The Father (2020)
Disturbingly good
It is no wonder that sir Anthony Hopkins was awarded an Oscar for his performance in this film. He and Olivia Colman seem to capture the drama as fully as possible. Maybe I should have rated this movie as a 10 instead of an 8. The reason is that this story is told so disturbingly well that I couldn't watch it in one go. The characters are so real and the emotions too that it grabs you by the throat and doesn't lett go. I gather this peek into an elderly persion with dementia is all too real. Should you ever have considered you might become a victim of this horrible affliction, whether as the afflictef or a close family member, you might want to think twice before watching this movie. Because it is disturbingly real and exceptionally strong.
Solace (2015)
Too much
It's an entertaining story, that's alright. Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell do a decent job in portraying the main pro- and antagonist. The promis of a great movie however is ruined by the director of photography and especially the editor. They want too much. It almost looks like they wanted to pay tribute to as many movies from their childhood as they could. The editor cut large parts of this picture to shreds and tries to hide it (or make it even worse) by turning the volume down in quiet sections by something like 21 db. The loud sections make your ears ring, which makes it even harder to hear the soft bits. Cutting and music reminds of cheap horror productions of the late sixties, early seventies. Shots that don't match at all help detach the viewer from the emotions in this film. Only at the end does Hopkins get to succeed in making you possibly tear up.
This movie is exhausting to watch with not enough to show for it but the underlying story and the curiosity of how it will end. Which by the way is no big surprise.
As a first year production at film school it isn't half bad. So it's an A for effort abd D for the report. Sadly this wasn't such a production.
Hope Gap (2019)
depressing
This is the story of a woman who pushes her loving husband away so hard that he actually goes. Her own part in this she never acknowledges. She keeps on arguing, rowing, making problems, making everybody unhappy, most of all herself, and wallowes in self pitty. A genuinely unpleasent person that can make the viewer only feel depressed and unhappy. In so far it is well acted. Bill Nighy seems to have the market of portraying tormented husbands cornered. Annette Benning as the deeply disturbed wife is convincing enough that you can almost view this film in one go.
Should you feel the need to become depressed, this movie will meet your demands. If you only watch this to see the main actors perform, I would recommend another.
Jackie (2016)
Do yourself a favor and skip this one
This film was nomited for a best director award. I was baffled when I found out. Miscast, misdirected, rudderless and poorly edited I can see few redeeming qualities. One of the enthousiastic reviewers attributed poor reviews of this motion picture to the limited age of the reviewers. He suspects them not to know about the asassination. I have seen almost all documentaries about it, all previous motion pictures and tv series, I read about it and visited Dealy Plaza, now Kennedy Square in Dallas, and took great interest in a documentary about Jackie herself. Seeing this film I get the feeling that director and lead actress were no fans of her to say the least, and didn't do her justice.
If you are looking for insight into what happened on November 22nd 1963 in Dallas there are several better productions to choose from. This also is the case when you want to delve into what moved the key figures in this drama. Even when you are not interested in the historical significance and just want to see a good motion picture based on true events, this should not rank in the top 10 of any year.
The Guilt Trip (2012)
Predictable
When you've seen more than one Seth Rogan picture, you'll have noticed he is a one trick pony. Anoyingly so in this picture. It reminded me of what Bob Hope said about one of his later road movies with Bing Crosby: "I can't tell you which parts of this movie are dragging, but it's the cleanest road movie we've ever made." If you need to watch it, be sure you can fast forward it through those 'clean' sections.
It's a road movie, and therefor predictable. That's okay. You're meant to feel better and the end, and preferably tear up. Streisand, of whom I never was a great fan, manages that despite her co-star, looking great in the process. She gets the stars for her performance in this otherwise very mediocre movie.
De Heineken ontvoering (2011)
Ongewoon goed
Many Dutch movies are recognizably that. Dutch film acting is alas often still of a lesser quality than that of British or American actors. In this film however the main characters are totally believavle. Rutger Hauer presents what is possibly his best performance ever, but Reinaut Scholten as the main focus within the criminal circle also never drops the ball.
The story is ofcourse firmly based on facts, some of which were not mentioned in the media at the time.
The story of the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken was also made into a television series, which excelled in choice of music, and takes the story beyond the release of Willem Holleeder.
Both are well worth watching.
Long Shot (2019)
Funny at times
Although not in the top 5 of romantic comedy's, this one isn't as bad as all that. Seth Rogen is over the top, but it seems to work for this picture.
I had a few laughs, which is more than quite a few other supposed comedy's put there. It's always hard for a script writer and director of this type of film to come up with an ending that is up there with Notting Hill. So don't be disappointed if you don't tear up. But the this movie does succeed to be surprising in a few ways. And that's always good.
What Men Want (2019)
Wrong script
Just because it's a ripp off from What Women Want, doesn't mean it's a bad picture. The actors are okay too. The script however is mostly a let down, apart from a few okay gags. It takes too long before the main character receives the gift of hearing what men think, and the plot has too many sidelines that are supposed to be funny, but work out to be irritating. Like the father of the budding sports talent, and the fake family the main character trumps up. The scriptwriter tried to combine several good movies from the past, and ended up with a lemon. The director didn't seem to know how to remedy the situation, which means the actors were hung out to dry, or die in this case.