Black Swan: The psychology of obsession

Probably the pinnacle of Natalie Portman's career, Black Swan shows an intense and fascinating conflict in her character, on all levels of oneself.

The only person standing in your way is you...

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In this beautifully written story, we see a ballerina, who after a life of overprotection and control from her mother, fights through the quest to high-profile ballet, perhaps a bit too intensely. [...]

Following: Clever and intricate Neo-Noir

Christopher Nolan's debut feature, Following, is amazingly clever, and its creation, nearly miraculous. The film that, with it's excellence, would come to open the doors for Memento, was shot on an estimated and hugely impressive budget of $6,000.

You take it away... and show them what they had.

Following, tells the story of a masterfully intricate noir style setup, which is already being built from early on in the film, but is so incredibly clever that you can really not suspect anything close to the actual outcome, until the very end. The film alternates between three different moments in the story, throughout its development, showing that Nolan's appreciation for parallel and non-linear storytelling, later seen in such works as Memento and Inception, was already part of him from the get-go. [...]

Moonrise Kingdom: Exquisitely peculiar

One of the greatest pieces in Wes Anderson's work, Moonrise Kingdom tells a story about love, in the most unusual of ways, that is, both the love, and the story.

What kind of bird are YOU?

This movie, as the rest of Anderson's work, is unmistakably his. The unique style he has built over the years, together with cinematographer Robert Yeoman is absolutely visible, with the square framing, the prevalence of static and sideways tracking shots, and of course the heavy use of symmetry and the defining colors. Colors which are perhaps a bit more dull than the extremely vibrant colors in other of his works, like the more recent and, too, brilliant, The Grand Budapest Hotel. [...]

The end of the Monday reviews (for now)

In view of changes in my schedule, I will unfortunately no longer be able to produce the Monday reviews, for an indefinite amount of time.

But don't worry, the article frequency has just been slightly reduced to a weekly rate, the Friday reviews are still going.

See you Friday!

Bridge of Spies: A solid movie with a few writing lapses

When you join Spielberg's direction with the touch of the Coen brothers on the script, great things are expected. Yet, although Bridge of Spies is a solid movie, it is a bit heavy on dramatic exaggerations, and is far from either's best work.

It doesn't matter what others think. You know what you did.

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Despite having originally been written by Matt Charman, the Coen brothers' influence on the script is noticeable, especially through its sporadic witty humor. Such, that gives the movie a more laid back feeling, breaking from the tensions of the cold war, and adding to its enjoyment. [...]

A Serious Man: Masterful ode to meaninglessness

The Coen brothers have reached a surprising level of clarity in a film that is as subjective, and in many ways, even as incomprehensible, as you can get.

When the truth is found to be lies, and all the hope within you dies... then what?

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A Serious Man tells the story of man in search of answers to all of his misfortune, while it highlights the fruitlessness of the quest for a philosophical answer to... well, anything. It actually challenges the meaning of meaning itself. [...]

The Knick: Interesting, intriguing and absorbing

Created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, and directed by Steven Soderbergh, The Knick is a visually stunning depiction of life during the beginnings of medical surgery. Highlighting how much humanity has evolved, both technologically and socially, yet how much has also remained.

The Knick season 1 episode 2

The Knick has beautifully constructed imagery, from the sets and costumes to the lighting and composition, and is able to get you into the atmosphere of early last century while simultaneously conveying a certain feeling of familiarity. [...]

Blazing Saddles: Ridiculously hilarious

Blazing Saddles is all over the place, but it is one of those movies that know how to, while still working as a whole.

Brooks' mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

If you are up for laughs, Blazing Saddles is sure to satisfy your cravings for those "rhythmic diaphragmatic contractions". This absolutely ridiculous parody of the western genre, keeps you laughing while embracing and hugely enhancing all the stereotypes and clichés of the old productions. [...]

The Machinist: Visually interesting but disconnected plot

Defines of the word "commitment", in the context of acting, in what is otherwise a barely entertaining picture, filled with clichés.

The Machinist is a great display of Bale's ability, but lacks as a movie

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The Machinist is unsettling and intriguing but its plot is quite disconnected and "all over the place". The whole movie seems to be a large first act, setting up, but lacking development, only to end with very little payoff. I understand the concept behind the movie's structure, with its almost banal ending, as it wants to remove the aspiring grandiosity from the plot, and bring it down to Earth, but it turns out to just leave you disappointed, as the core of the story is actually quite underwhelming. [...]

No review today, instead some movie recomendations

Unfortunately I was unable to write today's review, but not to worry, Friday we'll be back on track just as usual. As for today, I'll try something new, and leave you with some recommendations of movies I already reviewed.

In Bruges/Shutter Island/Everything is Illuminated/The Gift/12 Angry Men

Here are some differently styled movie, for any mood you may be in [...]

Shutter Island: Mental roller coaster

A spooky yet fascinating movie that is sure to mess with your mind and leave you intrigued while trying process it for the next few hours.

What is the truth?

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Another one of Martin Scorsese's great films, yet again with the terrific Leonardo DiCaprio, and yet again a totally different style, vastly divergent from their previous projects together. This time around, we get a dense mood, set not only by the imagery and sound, but also the story itself, as we follow DiCaprio's character in the exploration of an island destined for the incarceration and treatment of the criminally insane. [...]

Snatch: Intricate comedic gem

After the already great Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Guy Ritchie's Snatch is a clear evolution for him, even if it shows great influence from the former.

Snatch, quite a journey

Ritchie's previous film seems like a build-up to this more developed and polished creation. While he moved a bit away from his early style in his more recent movies, Snatch probably remains the culmination of his work. With an intelligent plot(s), it completely absorbs the viewer, and is also sure to provide quite a few laughs with its amusing moments. [...]

Joy: Quirky and fun but unimpressive

David O. Russell's latest creation is quite enjoyable, but lacks the depth of his previous works such as American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook.

From desperation to distinction

Joy is a funny and perhaps overly caricatured and overextended movie, loosely inspired by the life of inventor Joy Mengano. As far as the story goes, everything is hugely exaggerated, to the point where it starts to feel forced. Though that might just be for the sake of its quirkiness. [...]

The Martian: Dispensable

In this, which is Ridley Scott's latest endeavor, we see a movie filled with clichés, extremely poor dialog, and certain surrealisms that go far beyond what the movie set's out to.

Home Alone, when "home" is your neighbor's

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This film sees Mark Watney (Matt Damon) stranded on Mars, while the NASA team on Earth comes up with a rescue plan. While the martian aspect of the movie works quite well, the part on the other planet seems to have been grossly neglected and thus fails to deliver. [...]

The Double: Amazing dissection of society

In his second feature film, Richard Ayoade builds on the ground he laid in Submarine, and the result is a deep and dark dramatic thriller with a flair of his trademark caustic humor.

The loss of one's identity...

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Ayoade has proved time and again that he is the man when it comes to extremely intelligent and witty comedy. And though he generally carries a somewhat abrasive tone, both of his feature films to date, take that characteristic to the next level, especially in The Double, where it becomes most evident. [...]

In Bruges: Distinctly poetic and greatly entertaining

Once one is exposed to the work of Martin McDonagh, one finally realizes what good cinema really is all about. In this, which is one of the greatest movies of all time (as is the norm when it comes to McDonagh), you are instantly immersed into the story and connected with its characters.

Diverging views indeed!

Upfront, you are introduced to both, the context of Bruges, in a stunning display of the Belgian town's night, as well as the contrasting but complementing personalities of hit-men Ray and Ken, and their diverging views towards the city. Furthermore, McDonagh's subtle humor and intense atmosphere are apparent already in the first line spoken, and are a good introduction to the film's tone throughout. A tone that is then greatly supported by the photographic depiction of Bruges, and the well fitting sound track. [...]

The General: Pure visual ingenuity

This is the type of film, to show the wonders one can do with simple physical/circumstantial comedy. But beyond just inducing laughs, it is able to depict the intensity of the American civil war.

Renders one speechless

The General, by the silent era icon Buster Keaton, presents the most unusual issues, and then solves them in the most ingenious form imaginable. And in the end he sells it with his absolute composure at all times.

Furthermore, being the huge production it was, The General has no shortage of spectacular imagery, and some of the greatest practical effects in movie history. [...]

Legend: Underwhelming story but good characters

Legend is a slow paced movie, that never really reaches it's climax. But while not getting your heart pounding for its lack of tension, its merits go towards the psychological insight into Tom Hardy's Kray twins.

On the left, Tom Hardy, and on the right, Tom Hardy

I would like to start out, stating that this review is limited to the context of movies, and does not evaluate or even take into consideration the film's historical accuracy.

Undoubtedly, this film's greatest achievement is Hardy's portrayal of both Reginald and Ronald Kray. His depiction of the twins alone, is enough to show his acting range, as you easily forget that those two people you see on screen, are actually the same. [...]

Everything is Illuminated: Perfect balance of drama and comedy

The first (and to date, only) film written/directed by Liev Schreiber, tells the hugely profound yet funny story of a quirky New Yorker, travelling through Ukraine in search of his past, accompanied by an unusual guide "committee" comprised of an odd grandfather/grandson duo and their dog. A story that incidentally is told with astonishing mastery.

One of a kind. Let's hope that will change

This adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated is the kind of film that makes you glad movies exist, such is the joy of watching it. Beyond being a skilfully directed picture, it counts on beautiful cinematography, a great soundtrack, and editing that is tightly integrated with the sound design, giving a nice dynamic to the film. [...]

She's Funny That Way: Delightful comedy

A film that comes to remind everyone, that comedies are also made of good stories, in this time where many comedy movies are more like stand-up acts, heavily dependent on isolated jokes to be funny.

She's Funny That Way

She's Funny That Way, takes the audience for a ride through the detours of life, and its unexpected encounters. Having a Woody Allen like style, it is by no means a realistic representation of how things happen, but instead, is a light and enjoyable fantasy, with a perhaps nicely old fashioned approach to storytelling. [...]

The Talented Mr. Ripley: The escape from reality

A nicely progressing plot, but not without its fast turning points. The Talented Mr. Ripley has a steady pace almost throughout, but still has defining moments that go down very quickly.

Who is Tom Ripley?

With its unsettling but captivating main character, this movie has a contradictorily light quality to it, while still being thrilling, dark, and at times, even slightly disturbing. The Talented Mr. Ripley is well polished, and unlike most other films of the genre, is more about the general gist of the story than the individual facts and incidents. But don't get me wrong, that is not to be seen as a bad thing, as it is really the point of the film, and is brilliantly executed, with its exceptional script, solid direction, and great cast. [...]

Ex Machina: Massivelly overrated

Last time I wrote about a directorial debut, it was a great one (The Gift), sadly with Ex Machina it is a different story. Alex Garland gets pretty much everything wrong, with his weak plot, poor dialog, and despite the cast, even poor acting. Essentially the only thing he has going for him, is the VFX department, which lately seems to often be the deciding factor for a film's popularity.

One's face after watching Ex Machina

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Ex Machina addresses a very current issue, the great dilema of AI, but fails miserably at doing so. Already from the beginning, you get a taste of the absurdly forced dialog that will propagate through the entire movie, to an extent that is indescribable. I know it is a movie about artificial intelligence, but it would be nice if the actual human intelligence in the film wasn't so artificial itself. [...]