jordi_smilo Reviews

Zomerdag (2006 TV Movie)

Beautiful in its simplicity

[10/10 · 4 January 2007]

Once in a while, you see a little and very unknown movie that grabs you, touches you and opens your eyes. "Zomerdag" is that kind of movie.

Young Thomas (Ruben van Weelden) rides his bike on a hot summer day, and accidentally, he meets forty-year-old Paul (Marcel Hensema, who was equally fantastic in SIMON). After this first meeting - which is anything but friendly - they keep meeting up with each other, and that's how they become friends. Thomas starts to see Paul as the father he never had, and Paul starts to treat him as if he's his child.

With just a few words, some simple guitar music and a calm way of filming and editing, director Marc de Cloe manages to create a beautiful and beautifully detailed little story. He captures the uncertainties of both adolescents and pre-midlife adults with just a single shot, a silence, a short line of dialogue.

And that's the power of the movie. You don't need much dialogue or wild cinematography or other movie-making tricks to tell a good, recognizable and beautiful story.

If you'll ever be able to see this one, don't miss it. I think you can only watch it on Dutch television, and on the website www.cinema.nl.

"Zomerdag" is a little jewel, unique in its kind.

Driving Test (2005)

Hilarious

[8/10 · 3 June 2006]

I saw "Het Rijexamen" a couple of months ago, as a short before "Red Eye". It was completely unexpected - but absolutely hilarious.

The story's about Lana, an elderly woman who wants to finally get her driver's license. She is very nervous, and unfortunately, her drive instructor is anything but comforting. He's a complaining, cursing, vulgar man, and he has problems in his love life. Lana becomes victim of this man's behavior.

The movie is highly original, and deserves a greater audience. These shorts are the kind of movies that give us hope for the Dutch cinema.

8/10

Dogville (2003)

This could have been so much better

[9/10 · 31 August 2005]

Yesterday evening, I saw "DogVille" for the first time. People around me were very enthusiastic about it, and so was IMDb. That's why I had great expectations of it.

But after three hours, I was totally disappointed. And though the plot outline was interesting to me, I couldn't deny having the feeling of wasting three hours of my life. And I tell you why.

First, the cinematography was completely annoying. Useless camera moves, almost amateur use of zooming and twisting, and, most of all, distant and cold. The editing was painful for my eyes; fast, uncompleted - sometimes I thought the editor did never finish his work! The end was suddenly awful, and it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the movie. The music of the credits showed me a lack of taste; how can someone play such happy music after an awful scene?! And I didn't like Kidman's role; it simply lacked some credibility. Why did she stay in such a horrible place? And why didn't she tell the people of Dogville that she was the victim? That's why my mouth fell open when I discovered by who she was being chased...

Though, I really liked the idea and the production design (beautiful minimalistic). But it isn't enough to save this movie. Simply a waste of a fine cast.

Mister Von Trier, this could have been so much better.

War of the Worlds (2005)

Fifty-fifty

[7/10 · 2 July 2005]

It was difficult to choose between a six and a seven, and I'd rather given it a 6.5, but unfortunately that's not possible.

"War of the Worlds" had great points but also very bad parts.

Like you can expect from Spielberg, the special effects and the spectacle are fantastic. Most of the time I've watched the movie with my mouth open.

But the story has holes where a Tripod could walk through. I mean, the movie was running for just ten minutes, and then suddenly the sky was weird, the thunder came and look: an alien! No, Stevie, that's weak.

The most horrifying part of this movie wasn't the invasion of the extra-terrestrials, but it was the end. It was really the worst end I've ever seen. Why a Hollywood end? Why?! I'd rather seen that the alien had won, that would have been original.

And, as an European, I have to ask: why do those Americans believe that the weird alien ships come from Europe? The American technology is much better than Europe's! But, however, if you want to see a spectacle and you want to switch your mind off, Spielberg's and Cruise's "WAR OF THE WORLDS" is the best you can get.

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Horrible as hell, but beautiful as heaven

[10/10 · 9 May 2005]

It's really amazing how a story can be horrible and beautiful at the same time. "Heavenly Creatures" is a movie that proves it really can.

The story is full of fantasy, drama, friendship and strange elements. The combination of personal drama, extraordinary fantasy and suspense thriller keeps you interested.

Besides the story itself, there are also other factors that makes this movie extremely worth watching. Director Peter Jackson is pulling the strings the whole movie, and his direction is like the cherry on the strawberry pie: it's an extra 'golden touch' on "Heavenly Creatures".

And we must not forget the great acting. Sarah Pierse is fine as Mrs Rieper, and Clive Merrison is cast-iron in his role as Mr Hulme. And then there are the two unique leading girls, Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet. Lynskey does very well in her very complicated and isolated role as Pauline Rieper, but Winslet exceeds everybody with her fantastic, compelling and terrifying role as Juliet Hulme.

The special effects are really "special" and contribute to the film's pretensions, and also the music does his bit. The movie gives you a little nasty feeling in the stomach, but at the end you know, that you've just seen a really unique film.

To me, "Heavenly Creatures" was a unforgettable watching experience. Just a quarter ago, I've ordered the DVD of this film. And I can't wait to see "Heavenly Creatures" again!