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L'origine du mal (2022)
Fairly entertaining
This was the kind of movie where I wondered, as I got home, at what point it had stopped trying to be a serious film.
As we meet the incredibly charismatic lead we are lead to believe is Stephane (Laure Calamy) everything is perfectly believable. Even her quest to meet her long lost father is something the viewer van accept without question. The home he lives in however, and the people he lives with even more are absurd in such a way that it is no longer a serious attempt to tell a dramatic story. I don't believe the movie takes itself too seriously, but it is definitely sliding into absurdity little by little. In the end, it's a comedy. I never realised that until I got home.
The ending is just ridiculous. No way "Stephane" accidentally kept her girlfriends phone. No way it had not rung before. No way she purposely got caught. I can't think of a single reason to end the film that way. While I was fairly entertained for most of the movie, this made me leave disappointed.
Sweet Tooth (2021)
Suspension of disbelief
The factor that make or break a TV series is the suspension of disbelief. It seems that In a world where a virus has wipes out large parts of the worlds population, and children are now born as part animal, or hybrids as they are called here, just about anything is possible. At first, as we meet Gus, it is. The story focusses on a little boy growing up in a protected and limited environment. Little by little we learn how the world all but came to an end and how the survivors are dealing with life now. We accept this new world as the stage is set for an adventure to begin. However, soon this post apocalyptic tale jumps the shark as many thing just conveniently come together.
Nice concept, definately some ok acting, but way to unbelievable in my opinion. Probably great for 10-12 year olds.
The Prestige (2006)
Well acted and shot but the plot sucks
It's not very often I feel the urge to write a (small) review of a movie I've seen on IMDb. This one however, ranked #73 on the IMDb by the time I watched it, makes me feel I have to state my opinion.
With a great cast and a wonderful director this movie seems to have everything to make it awesome. At first it does not disappoint. With it's non chronological narrative it sets out to be an intelligent story that like it's subject (magic) will provide many surprises.
The eventual plot however could easily suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Imagine Shawshank Redemption or American Beauty ending with a UFO landing explaining all the unanswered questions. We can praise the element of surprise but it still would not fit the story. I feel the same way about The Prestige. Too bad they could not come up with an ending or plot that would have suited the high quality of the rest of the movie!
Love Liza (2002)
Extremely well acted but a little predictable...
Basically 5 minutes into this movies you will know how the film will develop and what the major challenges and issues are going to be. But in my opinion this is a good thing, because not the actions but the emotions of the characters are what this movie is about.
Attention ** SPOILERS **
And so it should be. A suicide is an emotional event, and Wilson (Seymour Hoffman) goes through a whole range of them. Using a cheap and easy drug, getting high on gasoline, he tries to drown his sorrow, only to make things worse for himself.
This movie is an excellent character study if nothing else. The ups and downs after an emotional, life-changing event, and the lack of understanding from some of the people around, but not close. The way different people deal with the same events is striking.
To make a long story short, this movie gives us an interesting fact, but offers hardly any real surprises in the story line. This leaves us with the characters and their emotions and developments. Because of this the movie totally relies on the acting abilities of the lead actors. And they show that they can capture an audience in that way. I was very pleased to get to see this film!
Starship Troopers (1997)
vision of a European on American ways...
Many people see Starship Troopers as a fascist novel, and therefor a fascist movie. The way of thinking about warfare and the world war two type clothes proof their point, or so they say.
First of all, director Paul Verhoeven grew up in WWII and was not too happy about this. To many Europeans, Verhoeven shows the American way in a somewhat overdone way. To us, this is they way American think about war and warfare. The way they feel about their country. Verhoeven is holding up a mirror to American culture (or the lack of it) and people mistake it for fascism. Sad....