Change Your Image
flashgordonemail
Reviews
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
a gorgeous film
finally got around to seeing this, ralph fiennes and willem dafoe are great. my only real complaint was that none of these great actresses and actors who featured and cameo'd attempted to adjust their accent for regional localisation of where the story is based... other than this the performances were great and the story provided plenty of intrigue and fascination,this combined with wes anderson's great direction and some nice cinematography, along with fantastic set design made for quite a captivating film. i'm not sure if it's my favourite wes anderson film, but its definitely up there with some of his best for me.
The Slender Man (2013)
not worth your time unless you are a serious slenderman fanatic
the slender man as I understand is an urban myth, prior to watching this movie I have watched a series of youtube videos of this phenomenon which attempted to turn a fictional idea into an amateur movie experience. this film adaptation of the urban legend starts off in quite a disorganised way, no real character identification or initiation. I know that in these sorts of films they throw out the rule book in favour of it seeming like found footage. but i'd like it to be pulled together in a better way, you don't really feel anything for the cast, there's nothing where we get to know the people involved.generally I think the found footage style of film needs to evolve, or at least it could evolve. why not take advantage of modern trends, like vloging or mobile phone footage? this movie is part of a horror genre that to me feels like its going a little stale despite apparent high interest. sometimes I feel a lot of these films don't really do much more than what blair witch and the last broadcast did over 10 years ago (these were both great films btw) unlike those films this one fails to build tension as competently. it does provide scares and the odd jump, but not a lot. the script ,acting and story is pretty sub par, the personalities all feel a little flat, there isn't enough mystery,atmosphere and intrigue for my liking and the plot seems to jump about with little cohesion. the only plus side to it that I can identify is the special effects which seem pretty good for a budget film.
Le quattro volte (2010)
a real pleasant surprise
at first I thought it was going to be a film depicting philosophical insight into life and death but it didn't really play out like that for me, it seemed more an observation on the subject, and perhaps the inter connected nature of rural life (and death).almost documentary like in it's approach,a study perhaps. it was quite poetic at times, mesmerising was a good word used to describe it. if you've had a stressed out day and you want a film to wind down with, this is the one. the cinematography is beautiful. its a wonderful spiritual study on life and death. something to note is the lack of dialogue. its very sparse in this regards, this is by no means a bad thing,in my opinion it is most certainly a good thing and lends to that mesmerising quality. I thought I should mention this in my review though, as many peoples expectations of films are that they are to include a verbal narrative or some dialogue between cast members.
Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)
so good it makes you wish the film was real.
well that has left me pining for this film to be made,even if its just an animated version which embodies the spirit of his vision. he's poured his heart and soul into trying to make dune become a reality and you could really see from his enthusiasm and his passion for this come through in this documentary as he explains fervently his creative ideas and processes. you also get a sense of how much it crushed him when the movie industry turned down his proposal and in his sons own words, slit the throat of the film. it was a tragedy this movie was never made, seeing lynch's version I can't help but feel its a lesser, more compromised film. jodorowsky said it himself , the film was not comparable. his idea was much more grandiose. more elaborate, more forward thinking, more exploratory, more visionary and artistic. it would have been a monumental piece of cinema,potentially more epic than star wars. the ideas and creativity that was buzzing in the conjuring up of this film went on to influence many major science fiction theatrical pieces of the proceeding years as the ideas proposed ended up spreading and filtering down to other blockbusters.
It (1990)
it could have been better.
there are some things I like about stephen king's work but this movie/TV show I always found hard to engage with in a way I wanted to, the lore of the monster seems too ambiguous to make any sense of ,at least this adaptation of the novel does. maybe it isn't meant to be interpreted that way but more about how peoples fears are often greater than what they actually fear itself (its all in your head). there is a strong theme running throughout of people facing the problems which they were always bullied or ostracised for. in a way,you can say its about group therapy, they come together to work at defeating their demons. overcoming those problems which come up again later in life and things which inhibit us from taking steps to doing things we want. this I liked, that as a group, they were stronger because they found support with each other and that they weren't alone in their suffering when they were with their friends. still, there is something about it I find a little depressing, the set design and some of the lighting at times looked a little drab and uninspiring and it doesn't really scare me as much as I feel it should. I found myself becoming distracted a bit too much while it was on. I did also find it perhaps it was bordering a little too close to a cheesy kind of gushiness, I guess it's meant to be sentimental but I feel the acting was a little mawkish.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
don't be put off by this one.
I've watched a few films lately with unconventional themes. this was a continuation of that. it was nice to see gosling in this type of role when so often we see him as the irresistible heart-throb which has the female cast hanging on his every word. interestingly, he still retains his charm even when taking on the role of a man who has clearly lacked female company. his portrayal of this character carrying the mental burdens from past family problems is sincere and softly spoken and somber. but then, that so often is gosling to a tee. I thought the way the community responded to his peculiarities was really nice, that they embraced this unusual side, due to being sympathetic to his condition. things like that restore our faith in humanity, he could have easily been mocked or picked upon but they chose to come from a point of understanding. this is a film about how a community,family and friends help a person they care about get help for their problems and express their thoughts and concerns for him through the medium of his doll. although this film has been categorised as comedy-drama I didn't find it gave me too many laughs. that's not to say that I don't think people will find the humour in this, it is there. it seems to retain a subtle presence throughout the film. slightly off topic from the actual film, I just looked up the artwork and I can't say i'm much of a fan of the style adopted to promote the film, it seems to have been hacked together in photoshop quite crudely without respect to proportion or perspective. if you see this on the shelf, don't let it put you off, the film is decent. date of review; jan 10th 2014
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
close to brilliance, but not quite there
as a fellow daydreamer I like the premise of this film, what I would have liked to have seen was more instances where drifting off tends to have real world implications, rather than it just being applied to social etiquette. the daydream sequences, while being humorously outlandish also served as a motivation for the lead character to act upon his dreams. parts of these I liked, they seem quite inspiring. I have to say, parts of this gave me a good chuckle. stiller often delivers lines or acts in such a way which can elicit this type of response which is frequently why he's stared in a lot of comedies, and although I don't see this film as a comedy in the usual sense, he does lend these characteristics to the film. also the ending I found incredibly touching. but there are moments which left me questioning the directors choices of what to include and what not to include and why. its those confusing moments which for me let the film down a little because there is a lot to take away from it that is very good and beautiful. on a personal note, i'd say out of all the films stiller has directed this is probably my favourite.
Surviving the Game (1994)
needed more busey.
being a bit generous with my interpretation maybe but you could say the plot can be considered a metaphor for how people take advantage of others that are down on their luck and masquerade as a helping hand. don't think this is a great piece of thought provoking cinema though, its really a far fetched story of successful people finding ways to get their kicks by hunting human beings as sport. the rag tag cast of bad guys do a pretty good job of posing as businessmen and high profile professionals with murderous and maladjusted personalities. for a good portion of movie we focus on ice t, who appears to be portrayed as a hapless naive suicidal homeless man (although his personal troubles I feel are not explored enough for the audience to fully sympathies or understand him). his only main advantage is his seemingly fantastic physical ability. its only later on that we see a man who is a little more savvy and able to out smart his hunters. although for someone so keenly and skilfully able to manipulate the people out to get him he does make some incredibly bad errors. this film seems so inconsistent both in ideas and pace. most of the deaths end up seeming quite ludicrous mainly through the fault of how it shows us how each is being dispatched. for the most part there doesn't appear to be any drama, tension or humanity to their demises, they are simply offed strangely and treated as a number on the list of baddies. sure, sometimes you want a baddie to disappear without much celebration.but I just feel that this film doesn't really offer much in the department its supposed to be geared for, there is no plot twists or intelligent writing here just simple bog standard against all odds survival clichés. for the most part its forgettable aside from the noted childhood recollection in the cabin from busey. and hauer sometimes displays a good screen presence although this isn't hauer's best. john c mcginley did a pretty good job with getting into character.
Locke (2013)
a little over rated.
not as brilliant as the critics might suggest. it was a good performance by hardy, but it had to be, because he was the only face we see for the duration of the film. in that singular sense, its an interesting study on the isolation one man feels when put in the situation which he has to control and make right when things are largely out of control and he is facing a personal crisis. when its all upon this one man to work everything out. the backdrop and scenery to this movie is a motorway to London that hardy is driving on, the direction is pleasant enough, as night lights elegantly fade from scene to scene, it carries the film well enough working within the minimal constraints. the idea of a the set of this film being simply a car upon a motorway, kind of brings the movie down to a level of humble familiarity, a drive that many of us make. the story doesn't seem too far fetched either which increases the chances the audience being able to empathise or even relate. my main complaint though was how this film would be categorised. many might say its a drama, but if it is a drama then it significantly lacks drama! it's certainly not a thriller as some have classified it. it's definitely not a bad film, but it is by no means amazing. a significantly middle of the road affair, if you'll excuse the pun. with a few plus points to its credit.
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972)
a great piece of cinema with a lot of depth
first I must comment on the score, its a particularly beautiful piece of music which accompanies a large portion of the film and definitely lends to a sense of understated poignancy and subtle spectacle during many scenes. this is a story of one mans ruthless ambition of power, status and wealth, this mans compulsion of personal greed and success pushes beyond the line of duty to the point of tyranny and mutiny. but there is something beyond that simple base desire, something werner manages to pull out of the actors to show us in quite an inspiring way. this movie evokes a latent feeling of destiny and belief, that sight of their goal and what it would mean to achieve it ,something monumental that would make these men reach a status of legends, possibly by means of notoriety mind you. the main character is a megalomaniac, hell bent on this one goal. yet only once during a near closing speech am I disturbed by his impulsions. this film follows closely in the historical footsteps of the conquistadors who's lives are governed by tales of sacrifice, bravery, murder and ambition, set in an uncertain time when soldiers can become kings. more than anything you are along for the ride, one which is fraught with a mix of peril ,uncertainty and adventure. we witness their suffering, their hardships and what they have to endure and feel compelled to want to see them meet their destiny in the way their vision is quite masterfully portrayed. klaus kinski is fantastic. my only complaints would be moments here and there by the supporting cast which weren't as delicately handled as they could have been. there were moments that felt a little like wasted opportunities if the acting and editing had been spot on. I feel this could be a criticism aimed more at general production and editing procedures for the time though. this film isn't alone in this particular predicament and perhaps symptomatic of the era. I am a fan of films from all eras, but to put it bluntly, there was the odd thing in there every now and then which made me think, that seems a bit funny/cheesy. its not a massive deal though, and for many might endear the film with a certain level of charm.