almontin Reviews

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (2001)

A colourful, exciting adventure

[9/10 · 3 September 2011]

This was one very entertaining watch, definitely belying its 6.8 rating on this site. For a family film, it certainly kept this adult in its spell for its entire length (3 hours). Mostly solid acting (especially from the "intense" Mia Sara), very good special sets and effects considering it was made for TV and shot 10 years ago, the pace never slows even though it does allow itself some slower, more contemplative pauses from its break-neck pace, such as the beautiful scenes of Jack (the modern one) climbing the beanstalk through a sea of clouds. The score is very good too and enhances the experience throughout. The fantasy land and inhabitants are right on the money, with a fraction of the money spent on Harry Potters et al, this one hits home.

All things considered, it is a great adaption of an age old tale, with a clever spin to it: those old tales don't always tell the truth...

Last Known Address (1970)

Beautiful and well paced

[9/10 · 22 July 2010]

First of all, this is the first time I have watched a Lino Venture movie, so seeing it with new eyes has perhaps conferred it a special shine. But it is truly a very beautiful movie shot in a 1960s Paris in which only the cars have changed over the years. But the beauty also applies to the cast of actors and to their sensitive acting.

Lino Ventura is the fallen cop who doesn't bare a grudge and is dedicated as ever to his job, landing him into a painful fist fight with some thugs, and dealing chivalrously with his bright-eyed assistant Marlène Jobert who truly delivers as a newcomer to the job of crime fighting, aptly portraying both excitement and disillusion. The supporting cast, good and evil, deliver very well and accurately depict Paris' diversity (often through gritty character depictions and photography) 40 years back.

The plot flows well, sometimes interspersed with dream sequences which are beautifully rendered. Never cheesy (like so many movies of the time), well paced and acted, truly a great cop movie which has aged very gracefully.

My One and Only (2009)

Enjoyable but somewhat tepid road movie

[6/10 · 11 October 2009]

Altogether an enjoyable film, despite a few lengthy bits when the familiar pattern (middle aged blonde with two sons realizes the man she has set to marry is a jerk) seems to repeat itself once too many. I really liked the truthfulness of the depiction of America's 1950s, all the way to Zellweger's mannerisms typical of the times, the dirt roads, the breeches, the hotel detective. Support actors were good as well, though Bacon does'nt get much screen presence. A lot of humorous lines make the conversation interesting to follow, and the heroine's string of unlucky encounters also play to good laughs.

But quite a few items irked me, from the overly black and white depiction of lecherous men, to the pale acting of the two sons, to the frightening number of times Zellweger was told she was 'beautiful' (we get it, middle aged men are horny, she's blonde, but puh-lease, her chemically/surgically enhanced frozen-featured face simply isn't attractive - then again, she does get the word 'old' bandied at her a few times so I guess the director thought a trade off was necessary).

Overall, the film really lacked in-depth characterization and relied too much on its fickle road movie charm to wind its way to a somewhat trite and tepid ending.

Babel (I) (2006)

Shallow, pretentious dreck

[2/10 · 29 May 2009]

Just don't watch this movie if ever you're in two minds to. The (very remotely) interweaving stories of an American couple in Morocco (cue the typically Hollywoodian stereotypical culture shock effects), an illegal Mexican nanny caring for two very white children, and a deaf-dumb love lorn Japanese teenager. Yes, some of the acting is solid. Pitt, despite his character being both despicable and plain silly, delivers a credible performance. The Mexicans are fine and the Japanese do OK. Unfortunately for the actors, the story is simply a pile of putrid dreck, for the ineptness of actions followed by their even lamer consequences, for the numerous plot-holes and goofs, the absurd decisions of the plot, the cringing moments (and gratuitous nudity, from which I'm not one to usually flinch (I'm French duh) but here resembling the director's perverted fantasies more than anything else, certainly not art.

All of it spread out over more than 2 rambling hours, need I add more? Steer clear from this stodgy hodgepodge of clichés, pompous and worn out themes (terrorism, immigration), and haywire action. Blah.

Good (2008)

Disappointing déjà-vu with wooden acting

[2/10 · 8 May 2009]

A German professor (Mortensen) rises through the Nazi nomenclatura ranks before the onset of WW2, all the while seeing life becoming ever harder for his Jewish best friend and their relationship fraying as a result.

I was thoroughly disappointed with this movie, from the start it is difficult to understand what exactly is trying to be conveyed here. The creeping horror of the Jewish segregation mainly feels like a veneer but never feels heartfelt. The fact that Viggo M awkwardly acts the character of a coward throughout the film does not help. It is all too slow and too shallow, all the way to the end. Lead female's acting is wooden, the Jewish friend is barely fleshed out at all and his tempers feel phoney at best. Conversations are often trite and interaction between actors worse.

2 stars then, mainly for the beauty and realism of the renditions and the urban Berlin of the 30s, which prevent this from being un atter flop.

Clubbed (2008)

Gritty, energetic and intelligent

[8/10 · 2 May 2009]

Yes, I liked this movie, and maybe more so because it was British and a mighty welcome change from the guns packed Hollywood gangster flicks.

This is the tale of a man with his heart on his sleeve but failing his life and thus gets involved in an ever increasing cycle of violence. It is relentless and tense from start to finish, with strong acting, likable characters and some clever twists. Also, the 80s atmosphere is very well rendered, the depiction of gritty cityscapes and torn families is actually...beautiful.

I strongly recommend it, despite the graphic violence at times which may be disturbing if central to the plot, it has a more realistic and heartfelt touch than most of the movies I've seen.

Camille (I) (2008)

Unusual road trip cum love story

[7/10 · 1 February 2009]

An unusual movie, which starts off with the classic premise of a hooligan who marries a girl who loves him in order to escape the country. But a twist soon turns the tale upside down. Most of the film hits the right buttons: the story develops smoothly, acting is solid (Sienna Miller's drawl is priceless, she really can act!), chemistry between both leads works, and rolling American rural scapes and quirky side characters really make for a good time. The mood, which starts off as light and romantic soon moves into something darker and downright eery at times.

At times though the pace slows just a tad more than we would like, but don't let this stop you watching this unusual little cinematic treat. Alexandre Montin, Paris

Paraiso Travel (2008)

Energetic and enjoyable

[8/10 · 3 May 2008]

I enjoyed watching Paraiso Travel. The plot line is fairly simple, about the hardships gone through by a Colombian emigrant (Marlon) trying to settle into a gritty-looking New York. Several (clever and quite gripping) flashbacks bring Marlon back to the journey from Medellin to the USA. Though it is simple, it is nonetheless shot with much enthusiasm and with an unbiased approach to the plight of emigrants trying to make it from scratch.

Yes, it is on the whole quite catchy, without too many off-topic errances which frequently marr such films. The film delivers on its depiction of hard-by emigrant families, never allowing itself to wallow into pessimism despite the hero's predicaments, I believe its message is essentially one of hope.

A last note: the ending was in fact very good, a good point for this movie which is worth catching.