tijdelijk12 Reviews

Ratcatcher (1999)

nice, but not magnificent

[8/10 · 13 August 2004]

I rated this film an 8. That´s too much for it. However the average was at that time only 7.2 which I find a little bit too low.

Obviously this film has it flaws. The main thing missing here seems for me to be a real advancement. The film does not seem to go anywhere. Of course, there´s this boy which has to deal with a lot at too early an age. Of course, it´s depicting lower class family life which is very hard. And yes, it has different layers in it.

I like films that are not pointing any moral fingers, that are not trying to show me some petty ethics. But I just can´t attach any sentiments or emotional feelings to this film. It´s too distant, too abstract. It reminded me a little bit of Cronenberg´s Spider.

But, this film is to beautiful shot. The characters are so genuine. I think this is achieved by keeping the characters one dimensional. Perhaps except for the main character.

My conclusion is that it could have been a really great movie.It still is a great debut. I rate it 7.5

In the Cut (2003)

no development in the characters and disappointing.

[6/10 · 3 July 2004]

A woman teaching English gets involved in a murder investigation. The police officer leading this investigation is instantly attracted to her. Also, from her point of view, this officer incorporates all she loves in her poetry and literature: rough and manly but also protective. She immediately feels this is an opportunity for her to put into practice all she has read about.

Out of her usual environment she finds it dangerous but also feels the excitement of the moment.

Quite cliché all. It is a simple detective story. The characters remain shallow. There is not depth in them and they do not evolve in any way.

I thought Jane Campion would do a much better job. Alas, even she makes mistakes.

What really annoyed me were all the references to "To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf. All this quasi literism makes this film swanky.

I rated this movie a 6. Disappointing for Jane Campion. But not the worst movie I ever saw. There were some nice shots.

Black Spring Break: The Movie (1998)

garbage in, garbage out

[2/10 · 28 June 2004]

This is not a movie. I don't know how to classify a flick like this. There is no acting, no directing, no plot. Nothing.

I work in a video rental shop, so I did not waste any money. I did waste valuable time however. A mistake you don't have to make.

A college football player turning pro, his ex-girlfriend, his best friend and another girl from campus go to Daytona for the Black Spring Break. 2 sports-agents and some wicked girls all try to get some piece of the pie.

Then nothing happens for 90 minutes except for some of the worst acting and dialogue you have ever seen. What's worse, is that it is not even funny.

You are warned.

La vie promise (2002)

coming of age movie for an adult, in reverse.

[7/10 · 22 May 2004]

No, this is not a masterpiece. And no, I have not seen any other movies with Isabelle Huppert. Be that as it may, her acting did amaze me. I will look for other movies with her.

This is a kind of coming of age movie for an adult, in reverse.

When the prostitute Sylvia has to flee Nice, because her illegitimate and ignored daughter killed her pimp, she has nowhere to go accept an old girl friend. This friend suggests she visits her years earlier abandoned going-to-be-husband and son in the North of France. The trip, in which she loses and finds her daughter, makes her realize her live has been worthless and loveless. She also realizes that she has to accept her past and herself if she wants to start a new and better life. The beautiful landscape is very effective in underlining that message.

However, this movie is also quite slow. Although the character Sylvia is interesting and complex, the other characters lack depth and development for this to be a excellent movie. Also, being a many sided woman, Sylvia reminded me of Henry Miller's idea of Mona in the first book of The Rosy Crucifixion.

One Point O (2004)

movie without all the answers

[7/10 · 10 May 2004]

In the near future a young software engineer is the victim of scheme for his mind. Paranoia and fear take over in a quest for survival. The horrible end seems inevitable. For he will be less and less able to make the difference between real and unreal, who to trust and who not.

The viewer is in the same position here, so you also have to make up your mind and try to figure out what is happening here. The clock is ticking.

Nice obscure characters and reliable acting by most of them. Although the dialogues could have been a little bit more acute.

If you like movies which leave you search for answers and will not give you all of them, go see this one. A little bit like Cronenberg.