codairem Reviews

The New Twenty (2008)

A creditable effort

[8/10 · 1 August 2009]

There is more to this movie than meets the eye. If you're looking for groundbreaking originality or easy comedy, you'll be disappointed. But for an entertaining 90 minutes, this is just fine.

The cinematography is careful and precise. The sex scenes, which one comment decries as gratuitous, are anything but - every gesture contributes to the development of the characters.

Yes, some of the main characters are not exactly lovable human beings. But the movie makes an honest effort at showing their interactions in an honest light, without being sensationalistic (at least not for early 21st century urban standards). And there are many very amusing moments.

The Ninth Day (2004)

a simple story, simply told

[7/10 · 4 September 2005]

I have no great sympathy for the Catholic Church, but I found the movie quite moving while watching it. There were some rank-and-file Catholic (and Protestant) clergy who spoke up against Nazism. They paid a heavy price - in part because there wasn't an outcry on the part of the higher-ups in the church hierarchy. They were more interested in keeping their perks and playing nice with the powers-that-be. This silent betrayal is very well conveyed in the movie.

Unfortunately some of the other dramatic elements don't work as well. I think the movie would have been stronger if Henri Kremer's relationship with his family -- his sister especially, who was willing to put her life on the life so he could flee to freedom -- had been more fleshed out. They don't even show their parting! So although I was interested throughout the movie, it was not quite satisfying.

The Aristocrats (2005)

Worth the admission price, but hardly the funniest of the decade

[8/10 · 17 August 2005]

There was definitely too much hype, but the movie is still worth seeing if you don't object to obscene humor in principle. I found it amusing rather than sidesplitting funny. However there are several moments that make the show well worth it. My favorite "straight" telling of the joke is by Taylor Negron, whom I don't otherwise know and have not seen mentioned among the top comedians performing here. Other than that, the places where I laughed were not so much when the "joke" was being told, much less explained and commented upon, but when the comedian would add something unexpected.

Needless to say, don't go see this if you dislike crude humor.