Log: week 11 / 2024

Nagashima had a hard time at school, so finding a job isn't easy for him. He gets employed by a small company that cleans up the houses of the deceased. It's a somewhat macabre job, but Nagashima finds the work quite comforting. He works together with Yuki, who also struggled growing up, and the two help each other to open up about their past.

The flashbacks are pretty grim and seem to foreshadow a gritty drama, but when Nagashima and Yoko meet the film turns softer. The back-and-forth keeps it from becoming overwhelmingly sentimental, but the balance shifts noticeably and not for the better. Still, some good performances, strong drama, and a few powerful scenes make this a worthy drama.

The story here is a pretty straightforward adaptation of the book. We follow Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who has trouble getting his life back together after an extended period in jail. When he commits another small crime, he gets Javert on his tail, a tough police inspector who isn't willing to back down for anything.

It's not that the film is a complete bust, it's just that it's a rather plain, narrative classic that keeps on going and going. After 90 minutes or so I was done with it, but that's not even halfway through. And so the excessive runtime turns it into a veritable slog. For true Les Misérables fans only.

This prequel tells how Wonka arrives in town as a young boy, without any money on him. He gets scammed by a crummy landlord and is forced to work off his debt, but his fascination for chocolate cannot be tamed, and with the help of some friendly neighbors he finds a way to pursue his dreams.

These straightforward musicals aren't my thing, except that the sets and costumes can be quite lush, not in the least when the films are more fantasy-oriented. It's the main draw of Wonka, other than that it's a pretty basic fantasy film aimed primarily at a young audience. I'm also glad they kept it under two hours, even if it was a close call. Better than I had expected.

A man runs a small hotel in a provincial Turkish town. He leads a lonely life. While he encounters many people in his job, there are few people he ever connects with. There is one guest who draws the man's attention, and he develops an unhealthy obsession with her, upsetting his boring life.

The performances are crummy, the cinematography is unimpressive and the pacing is slow. The story isn't all that interesting either, but at least the score is pretty atmospheric. It doesn't help much, but it saves the film from being a complete failure. Not the worst Turkish classic I've seen though.

Ruggles is a proud English butler, but in a game of poker, his master loses him to an American gentleman. Ruggles is forced to move to America, where he has trouble getting used to the boarish people. He does however pick up their taste for freedom, and he starts his own little company.

Whatever drama there is, is exploited for laughs. The performances are okay and the tone is light throughout, but the jokes are pretty bland and the presentation is dull as can be. The lead character isn't much fun either, so it's all quite forgettable. I've seen worse classics, but I'm sure I won't remember this one for long.

When Hikaru wakes up one morning, she finds herself with a fox tail on her backside. Nobody knows how the thing got there and Hikaru does a terrible job trying to hide this latest addition to her body. She quickly becomes a sensation, but she's not the only one who has grown a tail.

Miyazaki is always pleasant, and she's perfect for these types of roles. There are some funny side characters and the mood is light from start to finish (even when there is some drama to wade through). A bit more attention to the presentation and a slightly edgier approach could've made this into a real gem, but alas.

Hud is living with the dad and nephew on a ranch. When he hears the cattle may be infected he wants to sell the herd off as quickly as possible, but Hud's father wants to set a good example for his younger nephew, and he decides to destroy the animals. Hud doesn't agree with this decision.

Hud isn't a very pleasant character, and Newman had all the trouble in the world trying to channel that into a solid performance. The setting is dire (the black-and-white cinematography doesn't help), the drama is crude and the pacing is slow. Kudos for trying to make a more realistic Western I guess, but that doesn't make it a good film.

A mysterious factory in a small town has people talking. When some friends come together in a weekend house, they see the factory light up and a strange fog coming their way. Uncertain of what is going on, they lock themselves in, hoping they won't be affected by the dangerous fog.

There's a bit of cabin fever, an unknown enemy, and some horny kids making stupid decisions. There isn't too much gore or outright horror, but the presentation is solid and the sepia colors make for a moody setting. Pretty decent horror filler, but maybe it's because I've been cutting down on horror lately.

The Croods are on their way to the promised land, but Guy and Eep are getting a bit too friendly for Grug, who fears they may run off to start their own pack. Then they run into the Bettermans, who constructed a little paradise of their own. The two families don't get along that well, but they'll find a common enemy to bond over.

The animation is nothing special, the comedy is very crude and there's just nothing here that surprises or excites. It's cookie-cutter animation for children, with the more mature themes handled in the most mind-numbing way possible. But they'll keep churning these out as long as they keep making money I guess.