mogensenf Reviews

The Estate (II) (2022)

Should have been so much better

[5/10 · 15 October 2023]

Aunt Hilda (Kathleen Turner) has been diagnosed with cancer and have little time left. As the close family hears about this, they appear one by one to Hilda's big mansion. Trying to convince Hilda to be the one to inherit her large fortune.

There's the sisters Macey (Toni Collette) and Savanna (Anna Faris) who have tried to run their father's restaurant, with not a lot of success, and the bank is about to close the place. First arriving though are the couple Beatrice (Rosemarie DeWitt) and James (Ron Livingston), also running out of money. Last in line is Richard (he now prefers Dick) (David Duchovny).

Now they all try to impress Hilda, not very impressive though. But they're doing an effort. Trying to give Hilda a last erotic encounter with the boy, now old man, who fancied her in high school. They try to take her to visit her sister, they have been enemies for a long time.

I guess that this film hasn't been thought much about, when the action was made, probably not filled a lot in the script. As a viewer of this film you will be a step ahead of the happenings at all time.

The most surprising thing about this film is the fantastic cast, however they were persuaded to perform here is hard to understand.

Vita & Virginia (2018)

Popularity was never a sign of genius

[9/10 · 1 October 2023]

This is a real story of real people. In the centre of it all is the two authors / writers Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton) and Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Debicki). They met at a party in December 1922. Vita has for a long time wanted to meet Virginia. She's very impressed by the writing of Virginia, who up until now hasn't really been that popular. Vita was more popular, a real socialite, and with a reputation of being a lesbian. She is married to Harold Nicolson (Rupert Penry-Jones) who, as a matter of fact, is a gay man.

Virginia is living with her crew, consisting of her husband Clyde (Gethin Anthony) her sister Vanessa called Nessa (Emerald Fennell), and to top it off Nessa's sometimes lover, the gay Duncan (Adam Gillen).

Vita's mother (Isabella Rossellini) warns her of getting to close to Virginia, calling her and her crew socialists and bohemian. Vita certainly got a mine of her own, and after some fighting, she starts having an affair with Virginia, bringing her a new discovery of enjoying sex in a different way.

It's quite obvious that this relationship won't be without problems, but it's a gift to see how this, for the times, strange friendship will end.

This movie, directed by Chanya Button, probably contains the best chemistry between two actors. Gemma Arterton co-produced the film and really starting the whole thing. It's so well acted by all, but the two leads really deserves all accolades coming their way. The only thing that could have made this experience better for me, would be that I have known more about the works of the two women. Woolf's book Orlando is written about their relationship. They ended up as friends through 15 years until Virginia's suicide in 1941.

On the Rocks (2020)

"We all just wanna be loved"

[7/10 · 29 September 2023]

Laura (Rashida Jones) is married to Dean (Marlon Wayans), they have got two very nice kids. Living in New York, Dean is starting up a new business, with a lot of success, but keeping him away from home a lot. Laura is an author, but at present, she's having problems writing. Laura's taking care of the kids, bringing them to school and daycare and taking them home again. In the working hours she's trying to write, but mostly not getting anywhere.

It's during this time that Laura seems to detect a certain lack of interest from Dean, and she starts to suspect, that Dean could be having an affair. Not really having any friends to talk with about her problems, she contacts her father Felix (Bill Murray) for advice. Laura's parents have divorced, with Felix being the cheater, so he most naturally know about things. One of Dean's new co-workers is Fiona (Jessica Henwick), she is the suspect to have feelings for Dean.

Felix and Laura agrees on following the two around having dinners in New York, and even plans on following the suspects on a business trip to Mexico. Will they be able to catch the two in the act?

This film brought the director Sofia Coppola together with Bill Murray again. That brings you in a state of hysterics, could the two deliver a masterpiece that was "Lost In Translation". No, they couldn't, but that was also quite impossible to do. What we get is an entertaining, quiet little film, that despite the question of adultery, really ends up being a film about father and daughter. All parts are very well played, of course as always, Murray is in a class by himself. Also nice to see Wayans in a more dramatic part, than he usually plays.

Coppola has a certain way to make films, perhaps one can say it's the French way, using the time it takes to tell a story, in a human speed, with beautiful takes.

The Flash (I) (2023)

Hope they'll be back in a flash (II)

[8/10 · 28 September 2023]

Barry Allen aka The Flash (Ezra Miller) is waiting to be served a sandwich at a diner, when he receives a call from Alfred Pennyworth (Jeremy Irons) with a plea to stand in for Batman (Ben Affleck) who are chasing the thieves of a deadly virus.

The problem is in Gotham where a hospital is falling apart, endangering patients and staff. Barry lets sandwich be sandwich and hurries to the hospital, where he saves all, while the building gets destroyed. After that he rushes back to the diner, to get his sandwich, and go to work. His biggest worries are an upcoming trial against his father Henry (Ron Livingston), who is being accused of the murder of his wife, Barry's mother, Nora (Maribel Verdu). An old school pal Iris West (Kiersey Clemons) is now a journalist and she questions Barry, if he has anything to say regarding his father's case, though both seem to like each other quite a lot, Barry won't talk with her because he is feeling misused.

Thinking of his incredible speed, he wonders if he can, so to say, run back in time, and hopefully find out who is the real killer of his mother, and perhaps even save her life. He gived it a try, and at first it seems that he is lucky. He is now at his parent's house, and Nora is still alive.

But suddenly he finds out that there's something wrong, because he can see himself coming home from school, only as a younger version. He succeeds in stopping the younger Barry. They talk and slowly it dawns on him, that he has arrived in a wrong timeline. Meanwhile Superman's old Nemesis General Zod (Michael Shannon) has landed, he will destroy the world, if they won't bring him the last living Krypton person on Earth. Barry can see he needs help and says he will be trying to contact Superman. But as it turns out, nobody in this timeline knows Superman. Therefore he will try to look up his friend Batman. Together, the two Barry's find Wayne's Manor.

To Barry's big surprise, the Bruce Wayne they meet is not the man he knows, this Batman (Michael Keaton) has been retired for 25 years. He chooses to help them, and they find out that the last person from Krypton, is being held captive in Russia. Off they go in the Bat-plane. It shows that they're arriving in a facility with lots of scientists, and learn that the wanted person is being held in solitude, and has been for years.

Of course they find the prison, and they discover that it contains a person from Krypton, but it's not Superman, it's Supergirl aka Kara Zor-el (Sasha Calle). Now the three superheroes sets off to fight General Zod, a very exciting and dangerous fight.

This is the superhero movie that in my opinion makes the best use of the Multiverse. It also stands out in the way that is one of those superhero films that uses quite a lot of humour, perhaps only outdone by Batman: The Movie (1966), and the two DeadPool movies (2016 & 2018). There's really good acting all around, and it's quite fantastic how Ezra Miller is playing both Barrys. There is a couple of cameos to look out for, George Clooney, Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa. The film has been long underways, but director Andy Muschietti has done a real good job. It also must be said that it's wonderful to see Michael Keaton back as Batman. Hopefully there will be a sequel. A little fun thing: While Barry is waiting for his sandwich at the diner, the radio starts playing the fantastic Chicago song "If You Leave Me Now". Then Alfred calls. When Barry returns from saving all the people at the hospital, the Chicago song is still playing on the radio.

The Missing (I) (2003)

Well played and exciting

[8/10 · 23 September 2023]

We're in New Mexico it's 1885. Magdalena (Maggie) Gilkeson (Cate Blanchett) is living with her two daughters Lilly (Evan Rachel Woods) and the youngest Dot (Jenna Boyd). She's running a small farm, and gets by being the closest thing to being a doctor for miles. Helping her is her boyfriend Brake (Aaron Eckhart). One day an elderly gentleman is arriving at their place, looking for the Healer as she is being called locally.

It turns out that the gentleman is named Samuel Jones (Tommy Lee Jones) and by the way is the father of Maggie. Samuel has for years being living as an Indian amongst the natives. Maggie doesn't like it, she's mad at him for leaving the family.

One day Lilly, Dot and Brake is out amongst the cattle, and a group of Apache Indians and military people kidnaps Lilly, and are on their way to Mexico to sell the eight women they have kidnapped. Sadley Brake is killed in a horrendous way.

Though not really what she wants, Maggie and Dot teams up with Samuel to hunt down the kidnappers and free Lilly.

A gruesome fight breaks out between the two teams, will Maggie succeed in freeing Lilly from the life as a slave in Mexico?

Nowadays westerns are not made on a bigger scale, the reigns of the John Wayne type of character is no more. It seems it has to be something special and different. To really give clout to the project Ron Howard is chosen to direct, Jones and Blanchett, two of the best actors in the world of today, are playing the leads, and Woods and Boyd plays the daughters with conviction. Mix it with a bit of Indian magic or witchery and a Christian pray for a good outcome of the story!

It's a fine story, and quite exciting what the outcome will be. Recommended.

Drive (I) (2011)

Take a ride with Drive

[9/10 · 21 September 2023]

A man with no name (Ryan Gosling) is working three jobs in Los Angeles. Most of the time, he is working as a car mechanic, he also does stuntdriving in movies, good honest work. But then there's the third occupation, he uses his driving skills as a getaway driver. He's living alone, a quiet person, who doesn't use more words than necessary.

One day he meets a young girl, Irene (Carey Mulligan), who he finds out is his neighbour. She has a Child, Benicio. She seems to be drawn towards him, and the feeling is mutual. He learns that Irene's husband, Standard (Oscar Isaac) is in jail. Soon she gets a message that he will be out in a week. Both the Driver and Irene comes to terms with that, not that they really thinks that it is good news.

The Driver's boss at the car repair, Shannon (Bryan Cranston), is having a dream to present his friend as a racedriver, but they need the money for a fast car. Knowing the Driver's talent, he has no quarrel asking the local mob boss Bernie Rose (Albert Brooks) for a loan. He agrees to that, and at the same time, on this occasion another big crook Nino (Ron Perlman) gets involved.

Standard is now returning to wife and kid. But it doesn't take long before The Driver finds him beat up. He tells that he's owing money to criminals. These criminals wants Standard to make a robbery so he can pay them their money. The beating was because he said no to the task, and he's told that if he doesn't take the job the criminals will go after he's wife and son. The Driver, who now is kind of emotional involved with both Irene and her husband, offers to be the getaway driver for the job.

They are getting the assistance from Blanche (Christina Hendricks), and off they go. This probably is a good place to stop, and leave the last and exciting part to the viewer.

The film is directed by the Dane Nicolas Winding Refn and he sure knows how to make a film, the pictures created for this are fantastic and like his main character he doesn't fill the film with unnecessary talk. Talking about the characters, this film is cast with really good actors. If you ever had doubts before, it becomes clear that Gosling is a very, very good actor. Of course Mulligan is in fine form as usual. Did she ever make a bad performance?

Equals (2015)

Utopia, well it's not here!

[9/10 · 16 September 2023]

It's after the Great War, humans only exist in two places, in the Collective and on the peninsula. In the Collective It's forbidden to have any kind of emotions. If you do, there's a scale that goes up to 4, meaning you're going to the Den, a place where most "patients" chooses to commit suicide. In the Collective there are several departments, Silas (Nicholas Hoult) is working in section Atmos. One day he's called to the medical department, a routine visit. Much to his surprise he's found to be in stage one.

At work he has noticed fellow worker Nia (Kristen Stewart), he noticed that she has a tendency to, though hidden, show emotions. That makes Silas interested, and he start noticing her every move, practically being obsessed with her.

She calls him out and threatens to blow the whistle on him. Silas can tell she won't do such a thing, and they start talking. Nia says that she hasn't been seeing the doctor for quite a long time, and that she is sure that she, like Silas, got the bug.

The two continues to meet, and do what is the most wrong thing, they fall in love, which, if discovered, is the certain way to the Den. At Atmos, the boss Leonard (David Selby) discoverers the alliance of the two lovers, and warns Silas, who to survive, transfers to another department.

But the love between Silas and Nia is so strong, they still see each other. At the doctor's Silas meets Jonas (Guy Pearce) who is part of a group of Hiders, people who has been hiding in the system, and meet to talk. Silas is being invited to join. Here he meets Bess (Jacki Weaver) who is working at the Den. Now he's trying to decide what is the best way to decide what he and Nia should do to maintain their love. Meanwhile Nia is being chosen to be seeing the doctor. She finds out that she's pregnant! Of course she is being brought to the Den.

Nia and Silas decides to escape the Collective, and flee to the peninsula.

Now, what will happen, will love survive, will the escape succeed? Are they being caught? Will they be helped vy their newly found friends?

This film is directed by Drake Doremus. It's a quiet and effective movie, so full of the forbidden love. The two leads are playing so wonderful, you're feeling their worries, all the way!

La zizanie (1978)

Count workers to fall asleep

[7/10 · 7 September 2023]

The mayor of a French unnamed city, Guillaume Daubray-Lacaze (Louis de Funes) is also a bit of an inventor. His latest invention, a machine that makes all polluted air disappear, it is named CX22. Japanese business people are visiting the factory, hopefully they'll buy some machines.

Guillaumes wife Bernadette (Annie Girardot) helps her husband through thick and thin, arranges dinner, with a healthy amount of alcohol, to soften the Japanese. The plan works, the Japanese boss orders 3000 machines. Happiness all around.

But this big order really demands the factory to expand. Guillaume thinks that the production could just as well, also commence in the house. Soon the whole house are invated. Bernadette soldiers on supporting her husband through 23 years. Now even though that the bedroom also now is being part of production, the couple celebrate their wedding day.

The production still need to expand, and Bernadette is having a big garden, her love and pride. Together with his assistent L'imbecile (yes!) (Maurice Risch) Guillaume arrange the whole garden flodded with gasoline, which of course destroy all plants. That naturally is the point where Bernadette has had enough. She moves to a hotel.

As if this wasn't enough the following is about to happen: A very serious visit from the bank president (Daniel Boulanger), a rivalry with doctor Landry (Julien Guiomar), an upcoming mayor election with a tough TV debate. How will it all end?

The film is directed by Claude Zidi, who earlier has directed de Funes. He brings out the best in the two leads. Sometimes de Funes can be a handful, but he is a bit more gentle here, not that he is all normal! Definitely worth seeing.

Thelma (2017)

Psychokinetics

[10/10 · 6 September 2023]

Thelma (Eili Harboe) have had a terrible, dark childhood. The worst period was when she was 6 years old. Now she's leaving home, going to college. It seems that she has forgotten all the problems. She feels quite awkward, she was raised by two very religious parents, and didn't really experience boys and alcohol, and that seems to be a big part of a college girl's everyday life.

One of the first days she's at the study room, suddenly feeling sick, Thelma gets a seizure.

The first to help her is Anja (Kaya Wilkins). Thelma do not want to go to the hospital, because she would not like her parents to know. Quickly she befriends Anja, they're fine together. Thelma's parents want to visit their daughter. It seems to go just fine, until Thelma tells about an experience she's had about someone they all know. Trond (Henrik Rafaelson), her father, stops her story, blaming her for belittling people, feeling better than others. This kinda destroys the day a bit. It's not much Thelma gets to talk with her mother, Unni (Ellen Dorrit Petersen).

A night later Thelma is having a nightmare, wakes, and having another seizure. At the exact same time, Anja wakes up, she has a very strong urge to go out. She stop right outside the placge where Thelma lives. She goes down to Anja, they both go to Thelma's place. She can't sleep, thinking sexual thoughts about Anja.

Thelma is invited to the theatre with Anja and Anja's mother. During the play, Anja starts touching Thelma's bare legs. It's very clear that she enjoys it, but her morals gets her to run out of the theatre, but Anja catches up with her, they kiss very compassionate.

Now, this is the place to stop the story from my side. The action really strengthens. Some headlines: Anja disappears, Thelma gets examined at the hospital, she learns about her father's mother, her parents plans some very disturbing actions.

I must stop because there really should be a big audience to this film, and if someone should read this review... An incredible cast. Kaya Wilkins, also known as singer as Okay Kaya, is really good. But director Joachim Trier has also done a fantastic job. But one person is carrying the film, Eili Harboe is in nearly all shots, and it's a rare treat to see her. Please watch it, pretty sure you won't regret it.

Project Z (2021)

Zombies in the Norwegian style!

[6/10 · 4 September 2023]

A bunch of young film-people are travelling to a far out Norwegian place to make a student film, a zombie movie. Let's meet some of the crew. First of course there's the director Julie (Eili Harboe), her assistant Marie (Regina Tucker) the leading actress Iben (Iben Akerlie) who is having an affair with Julie's boyfriend, Felix (Vebjørn Enger), then there are the leading male actor Arthur (Arthur Berning), crewmember Leon (Jonis Josef) and last but not least the one experienced actor Dennis (Dennis Storhøi), who won't stop talking about the time, when he was playing in the film "The 13th Warrior" together with Antonio Banderas.

Most of them really believes in the project, we see diva manners from Iben and Dennis suddenly won't play anymore, because Julie will not subnit to his idea. He changes his mind, this filming will give him a chance to film a plea to Spike Lee, he wants to be a part of his new film.

Julie's getting tired of Felix, throws him out of their common room, he seeks love in Iben's room.

During filming a meteorite is coming down to earth very close by, Felix, who films all the time, and Leon goes out to this meteorite and Leon even puts his hand into an opening in it.

Strange sounds are suddenly heard, and before long we see certain hints of a creature lurking. Soon we have the first crewmember being attacked, and then turns into a zombie.

What will happen now, will there be any survivors, if, then who?

This is a Norwegian zombie movie no less. The "real" zombie attacks only appear in the last ten minutes. As a matter of fact I prefer the first 80 minutes, where you get to know the people in their attempt to make the zombie movie.

The lead played by Eili Harboe is the actor who played so fantastic in another Norwegian film namely "Thelma". Another fun fact is, that Dennis Storhøi really did act in "The 13th Warrior".

It's supposed to be a film made out of found footage, but don't let that scare you! The best thing in the film though is the ending, as always in scary movies, there's a twist to surprise you.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Where's Fluffy?

[7/10 · 3 September 2023]

Norah (Kat Dennings) and her friend Caroline (Ari Graynor) are starting their weekend, it's Friday, and they decide to go to town to see if they can find the place, where the hippest band of the moment, Where's Fluffy, are giving a concert.

Everything is happening in New York, and in another part of the city, Nick (Michael Cera) is making his 12th compilation for his girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena). Well, as a matter of fact last time they were together, Tris said she didn't want to be with him no more.

Nick is part of a band with his two gay friends, Thom (Aaron Yoo) and Dev (Rafi Gauron), they're giving a concert tonight. By sheer coincidence Nick and Norah meets at the place where Nick and friends are playing. By chance also, Tris is there, and she is attending the same school as the two girls, she's teasing Norah, for not having a boyfriend, to deny that Norah uses Nick as the boyfriend, confusion all over. As this wasn't enough, suddenly they run into Norah's ex, Tal (Jay Baruchel), he's trying to use Norah to get her father to release his band's first CD. Next Caroline gets really drunk, as usual, and she disappear from the others. The only one who seems to have a lucky day is Dev, who finds a friend in Lethario (Jonathan B. Wight).

Norah and Nick, and the three guys, Thom, Dev and Lethario, sets out to find Caroline. Will they succeed, will Norah and Nick go back to their exes, or will they discover, that they are right for each other? Will they find the place where Where's Fluffy plays.

This is one night in the Big City, that surely never sleeps! It's an okay film, that will entertain for the 90 minutes. It has a fine playlist / soundtrack also. Some bands are seen performing, and with the part of "costumer in deli" you'll see the fine Devendra Banhart.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Long live the Queen

[8/10 · 2 September 2023]

In the Atlantic Ocean there has been found some of the priceless Vibranium. Something that was only believed to be found in the hidden country of Wakanda. At the same time of the discovery, the leader of Wakanda, the Black Panther, T'Challa, is dying. His mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) is taking over the leadership. Her daughter the scientist Shuri (Letitia Wright) has been working very hard to save her brother, but failed.

Wakanda is in mourning, and to add to the problems, the leader of another empire by the name of Talokan, also unknown to the rest of the world, Kukulkan, known by his enemies as Namor (Tenoch Huerta) gives Ramonda an ultimatum, find the scientist who has invented the machine that is able to search for Vibranium. Bring this scientist to him, and the destiny for this scientist is up to him, probably to be killed.

Ramonda allows Shuri to go with general Okoye (Danai Gurira) to the USA. With the help of CIA executive Ross (Martin Freeman), they find the scientist, who turns out to be a student at Cambridge, the 19 year old Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), not all by her own free will she follows the two. But underways they are stopped by warriors from Talokan, only Okoye escapes.

Ramonda now really are worried, she contacts T'Challa's girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) who has been living for 6 years in Haiti. She decides to help.

Ross is still their ally, but his boss Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is breathing down his neck, he is risking jail time, but he still wants to help the Wakandian people, especially because Shuri once saved his life.

Now there's a war between the two empires in the horizon, and if Talokan is victorious, probably a war with the rest of the world. What might the solution be, can Wakanda find another Black Panther here in the times of need. Under all circumstances there will be a high price to pay.

This is the second Black Panther film. The first one was seen, by many, as one of the best Marvel films made. To me this one is much better, this is of course debatable!

London Boulevard (2010)

It's not easy to escape from your past

[8/10 · 30 August 2023]

Mitchel (Colin Farrell) is being released from prison after a three-year sentence. His former friend Billy (Ben Chaplin) is there to pick him up. Billy is ready to help Michel to get back in his criminal past. But Mitchel says no, he really wants to live the life on the right side of the law. One day in the street Michel helps a woman, Penny (Ophelia Lovibond), from being attacked at a ATM. They talk and Mitchel says that he's unemployed, as a thanks for his help, Penny says she might have a job for him. It proves to be a job as something like a handyman for a very well-known actress, model and artist Charlotte (Keira Knightley).

But first Mitchel wants to find his alcoholic sister Briony (Anna Friel), who are turning tricks to survive. He finds her and tries to get her to live a normal life. Billy is really trying to get Michel back in his crime past, he even introduces him to his boss, the violent insane Gant (Ray Winstone). Gant quickly learns that Michel is a very intelligent guy, and wants to make "business" with him. Again Mitchel says no.

Instead Mitchel wants to see what job Penny talked about, and seeks out the address. There he meets Jordan (David Thewlis), a would be actor, now more of a drug addict, who minds the house where Charlotte lives. Mitchel takes on the job, now being an aide to Charlotte, who daily are being hunted by paparazzi people who are driving her mad, she's obviously trying to find back to life, fighting a depression.

Gant doesn't take Micthels no to working with him that easy. In his insane world he has not only to kill Mitchel but also everyone Mitchel knows. It becomes clear that Mitchel and Charlotte has fallen in love. They decide to move to California. But first Mitchel has to protect his loved ones from Gant.

With the help of Jordan he starts to find a way to protect them all.

Will they succeed, will the couple ever escape to California?

This film is the directoral debut for writer William Monahan, who also made the script for this film. Luckily he is having a fantastic cast, Farrell and Knightley are really good, as always. Winstone and Friel also are wonderful, but the real find in this movie is David Thewlis the drugged out Jordan. This is a UK/US co-production, but made mainly in London. It could be any decade, but the soundtrack, which by the way is magnificent, is 60s music, especially the Yardbirds are an important part of it all.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)

Ghost Rider rides again

[5/10 · 28 August 2023]

The Devil himself is walking the Earth under the name of Roarke (Ciaran Hinds). Being a human he has to give his devilish self on to another person before he dies of old age. He helps the woman, Nadya (Violante Placido), from a deathly fate, is she will be the vessel for his son.

The son is born, named Danny (Fergus Riordan), and mother and son is hiding from the evil. He is nearing his 13th birthday, on this day Roarke will switch body with Danny, to be stronger than ever. Roarke hires Ray Carrigan (Johnny Whitworth) to get a hold of Danny, to perform the transition. The monk Moreau (Idris Elba) is trying to help mother and son, but fails. The only solution Moreau sees now is to get help from the Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze (Nicholas Cage).

Together these two snap Danny from Carrigan, and the plan is now to take all to a holy place, where also Blaze will get help to get rid of the curse laid on him by Roarke, Ghost Rider.

At the holy place, the holy men at the place have a plan, the leader Methodius (Christopher Lambert) thinks that the only way to prevent Danny from being transfered to a new, bodied devil, is to kill him. Making our heroes under attack from several places.

This is a Marvel film, but nowhere near having the same quality that we today are used to. The film is a bit over the top, and who can you give the lead that with no problems can do a bit over the top himself than Nicholas Cage? But as a matter of fact, Cage is the one saving this film from total disaster. There are a few other well-known names as actors in this, but it must be said, that it isn't even as good as the first Ghost Rider film from 2007. The actors are doing okay, but there is to many What! And Why?. Things just happens.

Another "fun" thing is that composer David Sardy borrows quite a lot from Kashmir by Led Zeppelin throughout the movie.

House Calls (1978)

Matthau Magic

[8/10 · 26 August 2023]

Dr. Charley Nichols (Walter Matthau), a surgeon at Kensington General Hospital, has recently lost his wife, but returning to work after a three months vacation. Talking to his good friend Dr. Norman Solomon (Richard Benjamin), thanking him for taking over while he was away. Always being faithful to his late wife, he really now wants to live the sweet life.

Nichols lives up to his "promise" having lots of one night stands. But all is not well at Kensington, the leading doctor Amos Willough is getting quite old, and he's showing signs of senility. He still operates though, using methods used many years ago. That is bad luck for patient Ann Atkinson (Glenda Jackson), after Willoughby's old-fashioned treatment, she's wearing something looking like a boxing protection, making her unable to talk. Nichols sees this, and though Solomon advices against it, he operates Ann, who now can leave the hospital.

Willoughby gets real mad at Nichols, and accuse him of stealing his patients, threatening Nichols that he would fire him, if he doesn't recommends that he can continue his job for five more years.

By coincidence Nichols meets Ann again. Though it conflicts with his new sweet life he is willing to give a relationship with Ann a chance in a period of two weeks.

It all looks very promising, but something goes wrong at the hospital. A patient, Harry Grady (Lloyd Gough), a very rich patient, dies during operation, his wife Ellen threatens with a lawsuit. As she has a soft spot for Nichols, Willoughby wants him to persuade her not to do such a drastic thing, no matter how.

Will Nichols be able to convince Ellen, will this harm his chances with Ann, will he be fired or will he recommend Willoughby for one more period.

This is a really smart rom com from 1978 directed by Howard Zieff, and he has a completely wonderful cast. A film that shows that you can tell a story without changing camera positions every five seconds. Walter Matthau was a legend. And the music is by Henry Mancini.

Maigret (2022)

A new, old Maigret

[7/10 · 23 August 2023]

Louise (Clara Antoons) is renting a very expensive dress to attend her friend Jeanine's (Melanie Bernier) engagement party. She is being engaged to Laurent Clermont (Pierre Moure), a party hosted by his mother (Aurore Clement). Louise is not welcome, and is being threatened by Jeanine and Laurent.

The next morning, Louise is found in the streets, dead, stung with a knife. Commissioner Maigret (Gérard Depardieu) is taking over the case. He's not a young man anymore and has just been told by his doctor to drop his favourite pass time thing, smoking his pibe. That really doesn't help how he feels at the moment, he's never hungry, can't sleep, he's in quite a bad mood.

He really doesn't have a clue about the victim, not her name nor her address. Finding a medicine bottle, he finds out where Louise lived. There he meet Jeanine for the first time. She's an actor, and after meeting Louise on a train, she helps her to a place to stay, and a bit of work at the film studio.

Knowing that about Louise, Maigret tries to fit the pieces together, trying to find out more about the life of the murdered girl. He therefore tries to find a girl with just about the same characteristics, that's how he meets Betty (Jade Labeste). She's earning her money through prostitution. She has nowhere to live, but Maigret brings her to the available apartment of Louise's. They somehow forms a kind of friendship, and to solve the case, he luckily gets her help. Coming up with the quite surprising ending.

Maigret has been played by a lot of actors, Rowan Atkinson being the latest with a TV series. Here in 2022 he's being played by Depardieu, who's visibly are getting older. He's bringing a very slow walking Maigret to the streets of Paris. As always he plays very convincingly. But overall the best performance must be Jade Labeste's portrait of Betty. A film worth watching.

Rosetta (1999)

Artfully experience

[10/10 · 15 August 2023]

Rosetta (Emilie Duquenne) have to leave her job as her trial period is over. Police have to be called to get her out of the factory. Rosetta is a troubled young woman who has to live with her alcoholic mother (Anne Yernaux) in a trailer park. She's really trying to get her mother to go to rehab, but failing. After several attempts to get another job, she lands one in a deli, where waffles is the main salesobject. Riquet (Fabrizio Rongione) is also working there, they get something you could call friends, but then again.. After three days Rosetta is getting fired, not because she doesn't do her job well, but her boss' (Olivier Gourmet) son is taking over.

This is a very, very rare film. It runs for a little over 90 minutes, and Emilie Duquenne is in every frame. Her performance is literally out of this world. You never get told how old she is supposed to be, but Duquenne was 18 years old during the shoot. The problem to describe this film is, that you'll have a very hard time to do so without giving too much away. You don't wanna do that, but you really want others to see this masterpiece. It is directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and boy do they deliver. But the film belongs to Duquenne, who very deservedly won the Best Actor Award at Cannes in 1999, the Dardennes also deservedly won the Palme d'or. If I just had one film to recommend to others, it probably would be this.

This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

The troubles with the Altman's

[9/10 · 9 August 2023]

Judd Altman (Jason Bateman) is leaving his workplace early to surprise his wife Quinn (Abigail Spencer) with a birthday cake. To his surprise he finds Quinn in bed with his boss Wade (Dax Shepard). The trouble doesn't end there, Judd receives a phonecall from his sister Wendy (Tina Fey) telling him that his father is dead. Of course Judd heads to his hometown to be at his father's funeral.

That's where he meet his mourning mother Hilary (Jane Fonda), sister Wendy, his elder brother Paul (Corey Stoll) and the younger brother, the troubled Phillip (Adam Driver).

In this time of sorrow the partners are also participating, thete is Paul's wife Annie (Kathryn Hahn), Wendy's husband and Phillip's girlfriend, the psychologist Tracy (Connie Britton).

Because of Quinn's infidelity, Judd seeks his friend Penny (Rose Byrne), who still lives in the town.

Now, from here all the people are trying, first of all to experience the sorrow of losing a husband and father, but across all, the problems with their lives gets visible, and all trying their best to solve whatever turns up.

This is a fantastic cast in a fantastic film Directed by Shawn Levy. He really masters to mix the drama with some humour, that makes it clear what all the people are troubled with. There's a pregnancy, missing pregnancy, and people finding out, that they not really are OK with their partners, and restarting old friendships. A film really worth seeing, and with a little luck, well, you could learn something. Especially fine performances by Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, and as always Adam Driver.

Dirty Grandpa (2016)

Dick and Jason on Spring Break

[6/10 · 6 August 2023]

Jason Kelly's (Zac Efron) grandma is dead. He's going to her funeral with his fiance Meredith (Julianne Hough), both lawyers. There he meets his grandpa Dick Kelly (Robert De Niro), who to Jason's big surprise want him to drive them to grandpa's place in Miami, for some needed relaxation now that his 40 year marriage has ended. The problem is that Jason is gonna wed Meredith in little more than a week. But Dick has made up his mind, and Jason agrees with the permission of Meredith, he just needs to be back for wedding rehearsal and other wedding preparations.

On their way they meet three friends, two college girls Shadia (Zoey Deutch), a photographer and Lenore (Aubrey Plaza) the third being the gay, Bradley (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman). They're on Spring Break, on the way to Daytona to party. Lenore has a taste for elder men and she tells that she wants to sleep with Dick. It takes Dick some persuasion, but Jason okays the trip not to Miami but to Daytona to join the party.

And what a party! It involves the police and a helping hand from local drug dealer Tam Pan (Jason Mantzoukas). Dick also takes Jason to visit his old army buddy Stinky (Danny Glover), for a very, very short visit.

It soon becomes clear that Jason finds interest in Shadia, and, well, the same thing happens between Dick and Lenore. This is not all, the shenanigans continues.

It's a fantastic cast for this kind of film, and it probably wouldn't have turned out so OK that it really does. It seems that the leads really enjoy playing this kind of goofy comedy. Even Dermot Mulroney has a part as Dick's son and therefore Jason's father. An okay film for a rainy day.

Rolling to You (2018)

Recommended

[7/10 · 2 August 2023]

Jocelyn (Franck Dubosc) is a 40-something and boss of a firm dealing with well-known brands of sportshoes. His business is in Paris, but to suit his lifestyle he lives in the suburbs. He's a man that you without many problems could call shallow, searching for women all the time, but preferably just for one night stands. One day he receives a phonecall from his brother Lucien (Laurent Bateau) saying that their mother is dead.

Arriving late for the funeral talking with Lucien who recommends that he visits the house of their mother to see if he can find anything of interest. He arrives at the house, and sits in his mother's wheelchair as a guest arrives, it's the young, good looking, neighbor Julie (Caroline Anglade). She's a handicap assistant, and because of the wheelchair, she thinks that Jocelyn is handicapped. Julie invites him for a trip to her family in the countryside in the coming weekend. Jocelyn stays in the role as a handicapped person, counting on an affair with Julie. But she has other plans, she wants to introduce him to her sister, who "also" is handicapped and wheelchair user. Arriving to the family home, of course in the wheelchair, he meets the sister Florence (Alexandra Lamy). It's not really love at first sight, but they agree to meet again. Jocelyn desides to bring his two, only, friends to the dinner date. Firstly it's his secretary Marie (Elsa Zylberstein) and secondly his doctor Max (Gérard Darmon).

Now, what probably never have happened before he, against his will, falls in love. Florence is very glad to have met Jocelyn. They are talking together much easier this time, and he finds out that she plays tennis and that she's playing the violin in a well known orchestra.

First Jocelyn secretly watch Florence play tennis, buy through circumstances they meet again. They're now really start liking each other. So much that he travels to Eastern Europe to attend one of her concerts. Of course still in his mother's wheelchair. Jocelyn's biggest problem is now, how to tell Florence that he's not handicapped!

This French film is very well performed, right down to the smallest part. The actor/singer Claude Brasseur has a small part as Jocelyn and Lucien's father, in one of his last performances. The film is directed by Dubosc in his debut in directing.

Shame (2011)

Eminent

[9/10 · 30 July 2023]

Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is quite clearly a sex addict. Using his work PC surfing for porn, looks for any beautiful woman to have casual sex with, if he doesn't succeed he pays for a prostitute. If not available he masturbates often, also at work.

When he's at home, the phone often rings, it's his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan), but he just lets it ring. Because of Brandon's use of internet porn, his PC is believed to be filled with virus and being sent for repair. He really misses it, and his hunt for sex doesn't lessen. He agrees to follow his bragging boss David (James Badge Dale) for a night on the town. Though David's married he does his best to capture the awareness of a couple of women. He doesn't succeed, but Brandon hits it off, and have sex with one of the women.

Soon afterwards Sissy arrives at Brandon's appartement, asking for a place to live, not knowing for how long. Brandon unwillingly accepts. Sissy is happy having a place to stay, whereas Brandon is feeling his addiction more and more. Sissy is a singer in a bar, and Brandon, again unwillingly, accepts an invitation to hear her perform. Uninvited David tags along, and of course he tries to have a one night stand with Sissy. He succeeds, really worsen the state of Brandon.

In a moment of trying to normalize his life, he ends up inviting Marianne (Nicole Beharie) from work out for dinner. They end up in Brandon's bed, but he can't perform. The downward spiral continues.

This film is a rarity, it takes the time to dwell on the very, very fine acting. The two main actors do really shine, giving their all, including full nudity scenes. One wonders what these siblings have lived through in their youth. It really shows that Fassbender can act outside the X-Men series, and Mulligan shows what she can do with a meaty part, which she showed again in the fantastic "Promising Young Woman" in 2020. The acting is so good, but of course it's director Steve McQueen who decides what you see on the screen, and he delivers more than you can expect. The film earned a lot of prize nominations, but strangely enough no Oscar mention. As a matter of fact Mulligans performance of the song "New York , New York" should have resulted in a statuette. The ending of the film leaves the viewer in doubt of what happens.

Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom (2023)

Zlatan makes a Gaul!

[5/10 · 30 July 2023]

It's the year 50 BC, we're in Gaul again to follow the two friends Asterix (Guillaume Canet) and Obelix (Gilles Lellouche). They're out in the forest to hunt for the daily boars. As often happens they are having a bit of a falling out, Asterix suggests than they perhaps should live a little healthier, perhaps eating a bit of salad. Not a good idea according to Obelix. This falling out keeps returning throughout this adventure.

In China the empress (Linh-Dan Pham) and her daughter princess Fu Yi (Julie Chen) are out shopping, they're attacked by some of the enemies of the empress. She is captured, but the princess escapes through the help of Grandemais (Jonathan Cohen). He originates from Gaul, therefore he knows about the strength of our friends. Together with the princess' guard Tat Han (Leanna Chea) they travel to get help in the little village.

The enemies of the empress are trying to get an alliance with Cesar (Vincent Cassel). He has his own trouble with the beautiful Cleopatre (Marion Cotillard). After their fall out he decides to help the Chinese with his very big army.

We meet familiar faces, the pirates, but soon the heroes arrive in China to fight for justice.

This is certainly not the best Asterix film, not that they haven't got the right actors, but it's like things really never gets going. I've never thought that I would rate a film starring Marion Cotillard this low, but she's really underused, and her voice is spoken by another actor! There's even a couple of very fine cameos, there's Antivirus played by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Panoramix played by Pierre Richard.

The leads are played by two new actors, Canet who is also director of the film and Lellouche who is taking over the part, that uptil now has been played by Gerard Depardieu.

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Clean the Sails

[6/10 · 19 July 2023]

This is quite a sailing trip. The film starts on land though. We follow the couple Yaya (Charlbi Dean) and Carl (Harris Dickinson). They really have a problem with equality, or rather Carl does. With that in mind we start the travelling aboard a luxury ship. Both crew and passengers comes from many different countries and if one likes dialects this is the place. Captain Thomas (Woody Harrelson), who seem only to be captain as a title, not really functioning like one, he likes his drinks. The crew trying to follow every wish that some of the very eccentric, very rich have. One wishes that all of the crew should jump in the pool, so be it!

Weather gets increasingly bad and a lot of passengers gets seasick, really badly seasick. Thomas finds a drinking buddy in business-man, Russian, Dmitry (Zlatko Buric) most of the other passengers just gets more and more sick.

The trip is just about to end, pirates are close by, to end it all.

The first half of this film is really good. The rich / poor and their relationship. This relation gets turned around, after the pirates attack, the one who manage to take the lead of it all is a cleaning lady, Abigail (Dolly De Leon).

The second half is not that good, there's power struggles, again equality rears it head, and of course the battle to survive.

Out of the multi mix of nationality of actors you'll notice Charlbi Dean (who sadly died in 2022) and Zlatko Buric.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

That ain't no way to treat a Dame

[7/10 · 18 July 2023]

We're back in the DC Universe, and we're back for the second time in Philadelphia, to meet superhero Shazam (Zachary Levi). He's still living with his parentless friends in the house of Rosa (Marla Milans) and Victor (Cooper Andrews). The villains creating problems for our heroes this time are three sisters, or The Daughters of Atlas. The oldest Hespera (Helen Mirren) the middle Kalypso (Lucy Liu) and the youngest Anthea (Rachel Zegler), the youngest but she has lived 6000 years. The sisters wants to collect a newly found staff, which contains powers of the gods, that has been stolen and brought to the USA.

The two eldest sisters does a bloody job, and gets the staff in a museum. Meanwhile Anthea is starting in college where she befriends Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer).

Now the time is ready for a fight between the heroes and the villains. Shazam is suffering a bit because he doesn't think he is worthy nor good enough to control his godly powers, therefor often ask for the opinion of Mary (Grace Caroline Currey). He now through this coming fight perhaps can grow more confident.

The second try on a Shazam movie, and as a matter of fact it is slightly better than the first. Of course a film starring Helen Mirren will always have an advantage. I guess that the film gets to be more entertaining as soon as you accept that most of what you see on the screen is seen through the perception of young people. If one can do that it becomes an entertaining film, even touching at times. It sure is nothing like Batman, but there's quite a few hints to Harry Potter, especially the pen Steve. There's also a couple of digs at the competition, once Shazam is called Captain Marvel and an organisation is called Avengers Society.

An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn (2018)

Every Girl Needs a Colin

[6/10 · 17 July 2023]

Shane Danger (Emile Hirsch) is the manager of a coffee shop. One day corporate let him know that to stay open, he has to fire one of the employees. His choice brings a little trouble to his marriage, because his choice who to let go is his wife Lulu (Aubrey Plaza).

Shane and two of the coffee shop employees, have a plan to steal money from Lulu's brother, Adjay. They succeed. A man, Colin (Jermaine Clement) offers to get the money back. He arrives at the Danger's residence, and under some confusion, Lulu gets away together with Colin.

Lulu happens to find out that on the nearby hotel Moorhouse, there will be a show: "An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn". This becomes very important for her to see.

We meet Mr. Luff Linn (Craig Robinson) who communicate with the world, only by growling. With him are his manager Rodney (Matt Berry). They keep postponing the show, but after a couple of days of mayhem it is show night.

This film is a UK/US co-production, the director is Jim Hosking, an English man. The humour is quite obvious a mix of the two. We learn why Lulu is so interested in Beverly, we wonder who Lulu will choose as her partner, all being discovered in the end. Very fine acting by Aubrey Plaza and Jermaine Clement. Could have been funnier, but an okay film.