Log: week 50 / 2024
A decent enough casino flick that stands out thanks to Macy's fine performance. He carries the entire film, as the plot and the rest of the cast aren't that special. The plot has a few fantastical touches, but it's not enough to stand out and the crime elements are very much by the number. Kramer's direction isn't anything special either, if you've seen a few casino-themed films there won't be many surprises here. Still, the relationship between Macy and Bello is nice enough and Baldwin is decent as the film's villain. Not my favorite type of film, but all things considered it wasn't too bad.Read all
More of the same. My big problem with Rebel Moon is that it is way too serious for its own good. At heart, this is a silly space opera. An attempt to create the next Star Wars. And that's fair, it makes more sense than the endless milking of Star Wars, I just don't get why it has to be so dramatic. Sure enough, you need some drama for the setup of the plot, but every single conversation is heavy with sentiment. Rebel Moon is a cheesy genre flick, there's no reason to try and make it into something more. Snyder has no clue how to treat this material, but that seems to be a returning problem for him. There's some fun stuff here, but it's eclipsed by the heavy-handed direction.Read all
A solid indie production that shoots off the rails around the middle point. It's nice to have a twist that turns the whole thing upside down, but if the twist pushes the film in the wrong direction, it's difficult not to feel a little disappointed. It's a personal preference, but it's just something I didn't particularly care for. The performances are solid, the setting is nice and Levine does a good job building up the tension. The second half of the film is less exciting, though there are some fun parallels and reversals. A simpler setup might've been more fun, but it's still a film worth seeking out, if just for the tense atmosphere.Read all
A fun anthology with five horror/supernatural-themed stories. The quality of the shorts is consistently solid, which sounds good, but it's the film's biggest weakness. I love a good anthology, but only when it has some clear stand-out films that push the boundaries. Zoo is lacking that. Each of the films has a story with an interesting spin, but none of the directors managed to add something extra. Apart from the animated short maybe, but budgetary constraints hampered that one. Still, if you like a good anthology and you haven't seen this one yet, you won't be disappointed.Read all
A basic Wahlberg action flick. The plot is complete nonsense, it's like they didn't even try to have it make sense. But The Union isn't a film that worries too much about such trivialities. It trusts that people will enjoy Wahlberg doing Wahlberg, with a little action and comedy on the side. And sure enough, it's somewhat amusing. The film could've been a little shorter and the action is second-tier. It's not a full-blown blockbuster production, and Farino doesn't have the flair to elevate the film on a more limited budget, but if you're looking for some easy action with some light comedy, this is acceptable filler, even if you might not remember much of it afterward.Read all
Korine's latest is one of his most experimental, though the experiment is pretty basic. The entire film appears as shot through an infrared lens and cropped in ugly 4:3 because somehow that's become the norm for films that want to be "a little different". The effect is rather dull and far from the visual trip it no doubt aspired to be. The plot is pretty bonkers and should probably not receive too much attention. This is more about the mood and the experience than anything else. I wish Korine had spent a bit more time on the presentation, both the visuals as well as the music felt sloppy and half-arsed, but it's certainly different from anything you've seen before.Read all
Simple and short, but very well executed. Schlitter is the type of horror film that used to be incredibly popular two decades ago. The setup reminded me a little of Calvaire (a weird old guy in the hills hides a secret), but Schlitter is a more straight-faced take, without the absurd/dark comedy. The performances are good, the build-up of the tension is meticulous and the presentation is adequate. The more visceral horror creeps in around halfway through and doesn't disappoint either, though the finale felt a bit light. Still, if you want something short and sweet, this one won't disappoint.Read all
Chang and Wong do their thing for iQiyi. This feels like a classic Hong Kong comedy, only redone as a contemporary Chinese streamer film. It doesn't make a lot of sense to revisit this niche bit of cinema, but Jing Wong is a legend so I guess he pulled some strings. The result is somewhat amusing, but far from great. The comedy is silly and daft, but that's what these films are all about. The cast feels a bit lost and the presentation is flimsy, but there are some wacky moments and Wong clearly had a lot of fun directing/coaching this. Fans of old Jing Wong comedies should give this a go, others would do best to avoid this one.Read all
A unique Greenaway. It's not an easy movie to describe, it's one of those films that has to be experienced. There's a narrative there and it's not that hard to follow, but there are also a lot of scenes that don't necessarily push the story forward and are there more for the artistry and the mood. As always, I wasn't that impressed with the use of different aspect ratios and the cinematography deserves a more polished release. The performances are solid though and props for the soundtrack, which makes a tremendous impact. An interesting rewatch for sure, but it's not quite the masterpiece I remembered it to be.Read all
A decent silent, though the restored version is way too long for its own good. It's nice that they found the censored material and were able to add it back into the film, but with a runtime of nearly two hours, the film lost me around halfway through. I'm pretty sure I would've preferred the shorter cut. The performances aren't too bad and the pacing is fine. It is very much a classic silent though, so it just runs through the narrative and it does little more than that. If you're hoping to catch some German Expressionist influences here, you'll be sorely disappointed. Still, as silents go, this wasn't too bad.Read all
A typical Chinese streamer fantasy/actioner that somehow made it to the Western market. I've no idea why they've chosen this one, maybe it has to do with the fact that the West has had a few Tai Chi martial arts films before, other than that there's nothing that makes it stand out for a gazillion other films. That means that the CG is sketchy as best, that the plot is a little messy, and that the setting is very familiar. It also means the film is short, fast-paced, and quite amusing. It's not the best of the bunch, but as someone who appreciates a simple martial arts film I didn't mind this one at all. Just don't expect blockbuster quality.Read all
Kurosawa remakes his own film in France, 26 years after the original's release. I can't remember too much from the original, apart from the fact that I wasn't a big fan. This remake doesn't seem to fare much better. I know Japanese directors love to cross over to France, but you have to wonder why Kurosawa bothered with this one. It's a nice chance for Shibasaki and Nishijima to get a bit of extra international exposure, though I don't think this will do their careers any good. The thriller elements are lackluster, the presentation is bland and the performances aren't great. The plot keeps the mystery alive until the very end, I just wish there was more to it.Read all
The titular damsel isn't in distress, instead, she's there to save the day. It's a classic fantasy/fairy tale setup with reversed gender roles. That's fine and all, but this is little more than Brown fighting off a rather dull dragon for more than 90 minutes. The film felt pretty lazy as if the setup would carry it all the way through. Brown isn't bad, but the CG is bland and the sets are uninspired. For a fantasy/adventure, that's inexcusable. The rest of the cast isn't great, the dragon is unimpressive and the finale is cheesy. The action scenes are decent though and the pacing is pleasant enough, but I needed more to feel truly invested.Read all
A film that's a bit difficult to categorize. In a way, it reminded me of Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, only more low-key and drama-driven. There is a layer of mystery here that runs throughout, but ultimately Sleeping Beauty is about Lucy and the somewhat odd job she takes on in order to survive. Browning is perfectly cast, while Leigh's direction is gentle but unflinching (it's a good thing this was directed by a woman). The setup is intriguing and the pacing is pleasant. Despite its risqué content, the film is still a little underwhelming though, as it lacks a sense of urgency and its emotional core feels underdeveloped. An interesting film regardless.Read all