ottelien-muller Reviews

Train to Busan (2016)

Not just another zombie movie

[9/10 · 9 December 2016]

Please don't miss out on this one! I saw this movie months ago and it still resonates.. A Train to Busan is not just a thrilling, fast-pacing zombie movie - it is as much so about friendship, love, introspection,... in short all the things that separate us from the Undead. Korean filmmakers have a clever way of mixing the genres so flawlessly (comedy, family-drama, horror), that you'll find yourself crying and smiling at the same time. The build up is perfect (The opening scene in particular is very memorable- amazing special effects). Some of the scenes are heartbreaking, the girl in particular acts astonishing well and you'll find yourself on the tip of your seat vowing for that train to make it to Busan.

Neruda (2016)

Neruda: very poetic but lacking in substance

[6/10 · 21 October 2016]

Neruda is an ambitious and out-of-the-box kind of film that in a poetic way tries to combine fiction with nonfiction, saluting the work and wit of Neruda and other artists of his time. However, in my opinion the film does not quite move the way it is supposed to. Cinematographically, it is very well done, with a lot of care for the use of light and surrounding elements. The underscore engulfs the scenes with a sense of drama and vibrant energy, but this is also where it goes wrong: the scenes themselves, do not bring the kind of energy and drama to the screen one might expect from this kind of tale. The minimalism and introvert approach to the acting in Neruda is perhaps somewhat too subtle, reversing the characters to almost two-dimensional beings that lack the personality or warmth that is needed to draw the viewer in. The script and the way some dialogues are cut and played out in different rooms confirm that ultimately Neruda's attempt to escape is a long poem on its own. Only, unfortunately, it is a bit too long and too cold to truly sink in.

Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990)

Great typical nineties small town movie!

[8/10 · 8 April 2015]

Don't be deceived by the rather low IMDb-rating: In it's genre (typical nineties small-town-story), this is absolutely a great movie. While the main storyline is entertaining enough (a rebellious teenage girl in search of her own identity), it is actually the portrayal of some other characters that make the movie so worthwhile. The rhythm of the movie is well-paced, the dialogs are rich and the plot line may seem predictable, but a very open-minded-written script ensures some surprises. If you like the genre then 'Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael', with its dash of romance, comedy, small-town-drama and general quirkiness, won't disappoint.