Log: week 36 / 2024
Tough and impenetrable drama that has flashes of true beauty hidden inside. The characters are difficult to read and they're certainly not the most sympathetic, but that's the unique strength of films like After the Fever. It's not for everyone, but if you like Japanese dramas chances are you're equipped to deal with this. Hashimoto may not have been the best option for the part, but she does her best. The cinematography is stylish, the plot and characters are challenging and the pacing is slow but deliberate. There are moments of sheer genius here, but not quite enough to make it a personal favorite. A top-notch drama though, I'm interested in watching Yamamoto's other films now.Read all
A bleak film on a story that exposed the cigarette industry. It's a classic biopic, but Mann does give the film that bit of extra flair. It also helps that Pacino and Crowe are doing a good job here. Despite its "happy" ending though, it's still a distressing film, as it illustrates how corporations use the law to keep basic scientific facts from the public. The Hollywood dramatization was unnecessary, an even darker and drier rendition of the events would've had an even bigger impact, but for a big production, it is bleaker than usual. It could've been a little shorter too and sometimes there's a bit too much focus on the characters instead of the actual events, but all in all, better than I expected.Read all
I think most of the money went to the marketing of this film, it sure didn't go into the animation. This film looked like a bland TV production, not a blockbuster animation. The art style is terrible, the quality of the animation is substandard and even the 2D sequence felt boring and uninspired. The voice acting is also crummy (the usual A-listers who are there to fill posters), the plot is uninspired and unfocused and every single minute of this production screams disinterest. It's a small miracle this film managed to perform at the box office, one of the worst US CG animations in recent years.Read all
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Deliberately slow drama about a woman fighting for independence. I could appreciate the meticulous characterization and the detailed setting, but spending two hours with these characters was a bit much, not in the least because the film keeps a consistent style and tone throughout. The lead performance is strong and the story is interesting, though by now not too original. The presentation is polished but a little dull and not quite refined enough for its kind. The secondary roles aren't on the same level and two hours was a bit much for me. Not a terrible drama, but nothing too exciting.Read all
My second Akerman, and apart from the fact that it was quite a bit shorter than her magnum opus, it didn't do anything to change my mind about her. This film is slow, tedious, and incredibly dry, and if that doesn't work for you, then there isn't anything else to get excited about. The first segment (inside the apartment) is the most intriguing. It's also the one that has the most interesting cinematography, even though the black-and-white footage wasn't the most inspiring. The other two segments were dull, but maybe that's because I was already mentally checked out at that point in the film. This wasn't for me.Read all
Tetsu Maeda's first feature film is a pleasant one. The setup is simple enough, but the mystery elements are fun, the cast does a fine job and the presentation is proper. It's a competent little drama with just the right amount of quirky details to make it stand out from its peers. And those are plentiful. With Kinoshita in the lead and Miyazaki and Mari in supporting roles, the cast doesn't disappoint. The random crime adds enough intrigue and the aftermath provides the right amount of drama, even though the film remains relatively light throughout. The brisk pacing and short runtime seal the deal. Good fun.Read all
A rather grim and violent look at the outcome of riots staged against the rich. The intro is a little slow, but once the coup starts Franco doesn't pull any punches. New Order is blunt and to the point, relieved of any fat and excess, while coldly treading through its pretty cynical plot. It's not for the faint of heart. Franco doesn't shy away from shocking scenes, but the dry delivery keeps this film well within the arthouse realm (core genre fans don't need to bother). The presentation is effective, the performances are solid and the pacing is perfect. Not an easy watch, but if you want an experience, New Order will deliver.Read all
The British noirs aren't that different from the US ones. They are heavily focused on dialogue and whatever action there is looks crummy and forced. The performances were slightly better than usual, but when the film itself isn't all that interesting, it doesn't make much of a difference. The story is incredibly slow to start and the conversations are dull. The characters aren't that interesting either and the setup is basic. It's just one long wait until the finale, which ramps things up a little, but not enough to wake me from my half-slumber. At least most of these noirs are short, which is often their only redeeming quality.Read all
A fun crime flick, thanks to the superb performance of Terence Stamp and the pointy direction of Soderbergh. It's an excessively simple setup really, not the kind that would usually grab my attention, but thanks to some smart choices and a few nice spins it stands well above most of its peers. Stamp's role is key here, he breathes life into his character and turns him into a sophisticated, cold hardass. The narrative toying is cute, the secondary roles are interesting and the pacing is slick. There's no fat to trim here, just the necessary bit to make an entertaining crime flick. Not quite as special the second time around, but worth seeking out if you haven't already.Read all
A police procedural with a monster for a perpetrator. That gives the film some horror vibes, but most of the film is basic US police work. That means action and crime, with Kyle MacLachlan as the poster boy. The result is a little iffy, but at least the horror scenes make it somewhat watchable. As an action/crime flick, it's bland and predictable. Some bad performances and lackluster cinematography don't help. There isn't that much gore, but the supernatural element adds some spice to the story and the creature looks decent enough. It's not a film that left a big impression, but it's not the worst of its kind.Read all
Phantom of the Opera with a Chinese twist. Curse of Lola is a stylish, moody little chiller, but it lacks stronger horror elements to survive multiple viewings. Even when I didn't remember much of the plot, there wasn't quite enough here to keep me entranced for the entire runtime. It's better than your run-of-the-mill horror flick though. The performances are good and the cinematography is stylish. The score is moody too, the runtime is perfect and even though the ending gets a bit too dramatic, the finale is still fitting. A few more memorable moments and this could've been a genre gem, but it's still worth a try if you love Asian horror cinema.Read all
A strange film that reminded me a bit of Tarr's Werckmeister Harmoniak. The barren location mixed with the slightly fantastical elements provides an interesting premise. Erdem also pays enough attention to the presentation, the score and sound design in particular are notable. The performances aren't the greatest though, and the film is at its best when the fantastical elements are in play, but these scenes aren't dominant. A shorter runtime and more focus on the mysterious vibe could've improved Kosmos considerably, but it's still an interesting attempt and one of the better Turkish films I've seen.Read all
A peculiar mix of drama and genre elements. The presentation is mysterious, the plot introduces horror, thriller, and crime elements, but at its heart, this is a drama with LGBTQ+ themes. It's not a trivial task to bring all of that together in a coherent package, but that's exactly what director Elisa Miller did. The performances are good and the underlying drama is interesting, but it's the moody presentation that makes this a worthwhile film. Not the ugly 4:3 resolution, I have no clue why directors keep toying with that, but the cinematography is lush and the score and sound design are excellent. The ending is powerful too, impressive.Read all
Scroll is a fine drama that's a bit more playful with its narrative structure, but stands out thanks to some lovely performances (Furukawa and Kitamura both excel) and its stylish presentation. The struggle of 20-somethings to find their place in the world is a common theme these days, but Shimizu succeeds in giving the film its unique twist. It's a pretty archetypical Japanese drama, if that's not your thing then this film won't change your mind, but the execution is flawless.