Log: week 48 / 2024
Miss Shampoo
The latest Giddens Ko is another wacky genre mix. This time, he blends comedy, crime, romance, and action into an entertaining romp that kept me entertained despite the longer runtime. The mix of genres might be a bit of a hurdle for some who prefer a purer experience, as Ko commits to all of them. That results in a darker and bloodier finale, which stands in contrast with the lighter start. Vivian Sung is the star of the film and charms from start to finish. Yu-hong Hong has a few more struggles but does a commendable job. The styling is lovely, the pacing perfect and Ko is a master of switching between different moods without hurting the overall vibe. Not quite as good as his previous film, but fans won't be disappointed.Read all
A project with some history. The film is based on a song by Hatsune Miku (the Japanese VR idol), which was later turned into an illustrated novel. It explains the overly poppy approach to this film, which is by far the weakest part of it. The rest was actually pretty intriguing though. The setup is different and there are some nifty ideas in here, even though it feels like a mix of borrowed premises. The performances are subpar though and even though the film tries to give a bit of extra flair to the styling, these attempts aren't entirely successful. Still, if you love an original fantasy film, it's worth a shot.Read all
There's a lot of promise here, but like most A24 movies, something simply doesn't work for me. It has a lot to do with the presentation, which felt rather drab and uninviting. In a way, it's like watching a remnant of the grim, realistic dramas of the 70s. That down-to-earth style drags it down. The performances are decent, but nothing too special. The cinematography was dull, and the soundtrack felt a bit out of place. The setup was interesting (though I didn't care for the theater setting) but the comedy lacked bite and the plot development was by the numbers. It's not a terrible film, just not a very memorable one either, despite its unique premise.Read all
Certainly not the worst noir I've seen. The main reason for that is Edwards' part. His performance is solid enough, but it's the calm and collected vibe emanating from his character that is quite interesting. It slips away during the second half of the film, but the way there was quite amusing. The rather chill soundtrack adds to the atmosphere too, giving the film a somewhat ironic undertone. The plot is simple though and the rest of the cast isn't quite as good. But the film is short, it's different enough from other noirs and it's way more entertaining than other films of its kind.Read all
A fine contemporary drama. It has a slightly edgier take than most Japanese dramas, but the themes are consistent. Some 20-something adults are stuck in a small town and they're trying to make sense of their adult lives. That's easier said than done when choices are limited. The performances are good, the presentation is pleasant (but not quite up there with the better films in the genre) and the drama is effective. The pacing and runtime are perfect too, the only thing missing is something that sets it apart from other films in the genre. Fans won't mind too much though.Read all
Classic drama, with a capital D. This is one of those films where everything is extra (except the things that matter). That's not too surprising for a Bette Davis film that received an Academy nod, but it's a good reminder for people unsure of what to expect from The Little Foxes. It's classic Hollywood cinema in and out, not the kind of film I tend to enjoy. The performances are big and bold, the characters are one-dimensional and the plot is simple for a nearly two-hour film. The styling isn't exactly riveting either, so there was very little here to keep me engaged. I know this type of cinema has its fans, I'm just not one of them.Read all
Kevin Hart trying to prove himself in a more dramatic film. The result is pretty much as you'd expect, the only difference with most other comedians is that Hart kept it very Hollywood instead of going the indie route. It's clear though that Hart should do best to stick to his strengths, as he isn't good enough to carry the dramatic parts. The setup is simple, the drama rather generic, the comedy classic Hart. Weitz isn't much of a director either, so Fatherhood is little more than run-of-the-mill Hollywood bandwork. The pacing is decent and the film isn't offensively bad or boring, but I'll be surprised if I remember much of the film in two weeks time. Hollywood filler.Read all
If you think of Russian arthouse, Zvyagintsev is probably a model director. The Banishment features a somewhat depressing setup, dreary landscapes, tragic romances, and a brooding score. It's also quite long and rather slow. But really, you should know that going into a film like this. The score was by far my favorite part of the film, the stark and clean cinematography wasn't too bad either, but a bit generic. I didn't really care much for the characters nor the drama and the pacing became an issue during the second half, but Zvyagintsev is a talented director and if arthouse is your thing, this is one to watch.Read all
Balagueró's attempt to make a US horror flick wasn't too bad, but it's not quite up there with his best work. I really liked the film back when I first watched it, but I've seen so many similar films since, and there's not quite enough here to make it stand out. Apart from the slick and moody direction that is. The setup is simple and takes too long, once the horror gets going Darkness improves and there are some tense and memorable moments scattered throughout. People who love a good haunted house flick won't be disappointed, personally, I need a bit more nowadays to call something a personal favorite.Read all
90s punk drama. Worth it just to catch one of Asano's earliest performances, though you have actors like Ittoku Kishibe present to fill out the rest of the cast. The only problem is that a good print doesn't seem to be available. The DVD version looks drab and lifeless, which kills some of the appeal. The plot is interesting enough, sporting some fantastical elements, though they don't distract too much from the drama. The music can be a little grating at times and the performances are vibrant (they have that punk vibe, so they won't be for everyone), but if you like oddball cinema, this one is worth checking out.Read all
70s crime film with a solid dramatic core. Hoffman directed and starred in this archetypical 70s film, it's no surprise then that my reception was only lukewarm. Hoffman has the chops to pull off the drama, but the direction was rather dull and the crime elements were simply not good enough. Mercer easily outshines Hoffman though, sadly her part is relatively small. The runtime's a bit excessive, the finale underperforms and Hoffman's character is rather predictable, but it's still a step up from some similar films made around that time. Fans of 70s cinema will probably have a good time with it though.Read all
Not quite as bad as the typical US animation films, but apart from some interesting touches (like the Herzog docu voice-over) the film isn't all that good. The story is basic, the comedy doesn't work too well and even though Kaufman wrote the script, it's still primarily aimed at kids. The animation style isn't too great either, the characters look dim and the morality is very on the nose. But the adventure is okay and as US kids' animation concepts go, there are some decent ideas. I wish they'd taken a more creative approach to bringing the story to life, but it easily outshines most of its direct peers.Read all
Courtroom dramas aren't my favorite form of entertainment, but Sorkin's writing saves this film. It also turns it into a bit of a carnival, which may not be ideal for a film based on true events. Then again, I don't watch films for their historical value. Your mileage may vary, so take that into account before starting this film. The performances are strong and for a courtroom drama the cinematography is somewhat dynamic (but that's only in comparison to other films in the genre). The dialogue is fun though and there are some pretty quirky characters to liven things up. The finale didn't hit the mark for me, but other than that, this was much better than I expected.Read all
One of those films I watched as a kid but never revisited. I didn't care much for this video game adaptation when I first watched it, the plot is a downright mess and the way the characters were translated to the big screen makes no sense at all. That said, there is a dumb charm here that turns it into somewhat of an enjoyable trainwreck. The performances are bad, the sets look cheap and it's a good thing most of the cast is introduced by name, or it would be difficult to link half of them to their original characters. But the film is so silly and extra that there's at least some fun to be had. It's not a great adaptation, but certainly not the worst of its kind.Read all
I quite loved the cynical setup of the documentary. Sure, it doesn't have too many revealing passages and the message is quite doomy (because that's how you sell a documentary these days - now that we're talking marketing), but the workshop-like approach was fun and it felt like something out of a Simpsons episode. It's also nice that the people involved are all people who were actively involved in the processes that turned out to be very hurtful, which gives the film some extra credibility. It's all very much single-point-of-view and the tone is quite populist, but it's a good reminder doc for people who feel a little unsure about our consumer society.Read all
The only negative thing I can say about Memoir of a Snail is that it looks a lot like Mary & Max. The 15-year lull didn't do much to influence Elliot's style of filmmaking, but as someone who adored Mary & Max, that's not such a terrible thing. The mix of poetic charm and dark comedy is a delight, the stop-motion work is exquisite and while a little dense and repetitive there wasn't a single moment where I felt my attention slipping. Elliot made another masterpiece.