AntiHeroAnnie Reviews

Meurtre en trois actes (2013 TV Movie)

Light entertainment with a brilliant ending

[8/10 · 14 September 2019]

I thought this film was an adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Murder in Three Acts." But I soon realized that this was not the case. Still I find this detective very amusing.

Acting is pretty good and I also like the cinematography, editing and costumes. The story is set in the present, but elements from different periods are mixed in this film. For example, everyone drives around in cars from the present, but there is a man with an 80s haircut, a lady with a 90s haircut and this all interspersed with the classical costumes they wear when they perform a play. It makes it a bit strange, but therefore also lighter.

The story is not perfect, but that did not bother me. I certainly think "Meurtre en trois actes" is not an A-film, but it does rise above the B-film. Certainly the ending would not be out of place in an A-film. I was certainly surprised by how excellent it was.

Tell It to the Bees (2018)

'This town is too small for secrets'

[9/10 · 23 March 2019]

This is not so much a love story about a "forbidden" love, but it is also about a child who slowly discovers how things work in the adult world.

This film has a slow start (after about 30 minutes the pace picks up), but my patience is well rewarded at the end. An ending that raises some questions. Yet I didn't feel it had a very strange ending. Only after talking to someone about it for half an hour did I find out why the ending felt good to me. So does the aforementioned quote get a completely different meaning in the end. I think the filmmakers intended to make a film that makes you think.

The acting is very good. Especially Gregor Selkirk, who plays the son, is excellent. I have seen few young actors acting so convincingly and realistically. I had to get used to Anna Paquin, who plays Dr. Jean Markham, because she reminded me a bit of BBC Kate Bliss (Bargain Hunt, Flog it !, Put your money where your mouth is). If you would say that Kate Bliss and Anna Paquin were sisters, I would believe it. I had to suppress a chuckle when Jean said she didn't have any teaspoons. Kate Bliss being the silver expert. I think I have seen Steven Robertson before in the detective series "Shetland" and I had wondered if his accent was realistic. In this film the Scottish accent feels to me more realistic than the one he had in "Shetland". (But I'm not Scottish so it's just a feeling of someone who's second language is English).

Apart from a scene with too many bees (which looks almost surreal), I think this is an excellent film.

Greyzone (2018)

Greyzone is made according to the computer game principle

[5/10 · 13 November 2018]

During the first episode I got the impression that the series would be about the question; What do you do when you invent something that can be used for so many good things, but the only way you can make this happen is to let it also be used for killing people. But the story is about a terrorist threat.

I have the whole series through the feeling as if I am watching a computer game. In each episode, the protagonist must do one or more assignments in which she is hindered by a number of obstacles. If she does these right, the terrorists go to the next level er... episode. Every episode I have the idea that I'm watching a re-run.

I would have found it more interesting if there were a few more sidelines, or maybe one perhaps. The premise of the story, finding the second rocket and preventing an attack, is fine for a movie of 90 minutes (although I find the ending very predictable). But I would have preferred in a series of ten episodes that it would also be a bit more about the company where she works and the takeover. Something more about the fact that also good things can be done with the drone. There is enough room in a series of ten episodes to give the opinions, conflicts and principles about the take-over and invention a more important place. The contrast between the terrorists and a safe life sitting behind a desk in an office had therefore increased and, in my opinion, the series had fallen less in repetition and had would've become more interesting.

Midnight Sun (2016)

Leave it to the Scandinavians to dream up bizarre murders.

[10/10 · 30 October 2018]

This story is well constructed and the acting is superb.

But there are also a lot of other interesting elements in this series. There are the cultural differences. Not only between the French and the Swedes, but also between the Swedes and the indigenous people. The story is set in the far north of Sweden, so a large part of the year there is no night. So this is a problem for our French detective who is not used to that. Discrimination is covered, but it doesn't distract from the main goal of the story; caching the killer. I also liked the fact that the two main characters undergo personal growth throughout the whole series.

Everything is just right and all actions and events can be well explained by the characters of all the characters. And that says a lot when you start the opening scene of the series with a man tied to a propeller of a helicopter. After seeing the first episode I didn't quite know what to make of it. Such a bizarre murder, some dark sense of humour and right after that a really emotional scene. But after watching the second episode I got more into the atmosphere of the story and it got better and better after each episode.

In the last episode there is a rather long scene with only images with a music score. The music is so well made that it isn't melodramatic or inflame other sentiments. It is rather a moment of reflection. Something to think about without being moralistic.

This is the best Scandinavian detective series I've seen so far. And I've seen a lot. I can not think of anything that I didn't liked about it.

Flirting with Fate (1916)

slow start, great stunt work, leading lady without charisma

[6/10 · 19 June 2017]

This movie, with Douglas Fairbanks in the lead, has a slow start. Although painter Augy does not make a penny, he does not look depressed at all and when he falls in love with the beautiful and rich Gladys he's in seventh heaven. But when Glady's seeks consolation with another man, Augy's heart is broken and does not want to live anymore. After a failed suicide attempt, he hires a contract killer to do him in. From that moment on, it becomes a super fun and comic movie. Fairbanks shows what he's best in and does a lot of stunt work.

When I heard about the Dutch film 'De Surprise', with Jeroen van Koningsbrugge and Georgina Verbaan in 2015, I thought I had already seen the plot earlier. The Surprise has the same theme. This film is based on a story of Belcampo, which was filmed for Belgian television in 1984. But this is not the only movie with that same theme. In 2005, the Czechs made 'Shut up and shoot me'. In 1990 the Finns came with the black comedy; 'I hired a contract killer'. The French also made their own version with 'Up to his ears' in 1965. There is even a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode with this theme. Further back, in 1931, the Germans made the slapstick 'Der Mann, the Seinen Mörder Sucht'. But who thinks that 'Flirting with Fate' was the first in 1916 is deceived. It may be the first movie with this plot, but the credits for this original story should go to Jules Verne with his book 'Tribulations of a Chinaman in China', dating back to 1879.

Back to Flirting with Fate. Although Douglas Fairbanks plays the stars of heaven, leading lady, Jewel Carmen, is a bit disappointing. She's just a beautiful face and she hasn't really got charisma. Her friend Phyllis, played by Dorothy Haydel, has a minor role, but clearly has more charisma. In addition, George Beranger, who plays Automatic Joe, deserves a mention. He plays his role as a contract killer excellent.

But apart from the slow start and the flat leading lady this is a very nice movie.