The Hunt

The Hunt
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Thomas Vinterberg [IMDB]

I've seen two other films by Danish director Thomas Vinterberg: 'The Celebration' and 'Submarino', both of which I consider foreign masterpieces. Now comes this new concoction with Mads Mikkelsen in the lead and I'm already sold. I was very pumped to finally get a chance to sit down and check this bad larry out... so here we go.

Spoiler Alert:

Before I begin, I would recommend you watch this film first before reading further. It is great... as you can see at the bottom... 5 Arnolds. It is better going in not knowing what will unfold, as it makes for an intriguing ride... also it'd be hard to review or talk about without spoiling certain aspects of it.

Synopsis: A daycare teacher is falsely accused of improper behavior with one of the children under his care and a little that lie starts to tear his life apart.

This film really does a great job at pissing you off. I've said this before, but kids are assholes. This little girl basically screws this guy's life up and there's nothing he can do. It taught me a valuable lesson though, everybody are assholes.... not just kids (sorry about that kids.) When the girl realizes her fabrication carried some weight and decides to fess up, no one believes her. Everyone automatic assumes he's guilty... because why would children lie. It's basically a no win situation for my boy Mads.

The Hunt is a really fascinating look at the small town dynamic, but with a twist. At first I thought people were reacting way overboard and that the events that take place after he's accused were a bit unbelievable... then I thought about it. They really aren't. People suck. They blindly follow without questioning sometimes... not everyone, but a lot. This guy hadn't even gone to court yet and he was already guilty.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It keeps you anxious and guessing what will transpire at every moment. I recommend it, as well as the other two Vinterberg films I mentioned.

Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Mads Matthiesen [IMDB]

This came in the form of a recommendation from my trusted source for all things movie related... so trusted in fact that I can not reveal his (of her) identity. I was told this was a gem, a diamond in the rough if you will... and you will. 

Synopsis: Dennis is an aging pro body builder who is socially challenged when it comes to hooking up with the ladies. So he decides to go to Thailand where the easy women flow like a full bodied Bordeaux.

Teddy Bear is an extremely enjoyable film and really easy on the viewer. At no point during its run time did I feel bored or removed. It grabs you instantly and brings you on a weird little journey into a world that is captivating and it almost seems real... like a quasi documentary at times. Kim Kold is very affable and pulls out a a performance which is unexpected and raw. I hope to see him in other things in the future.

I can't think of any real negatives at all... it's partly in Danish and partly in English, so if you don't like to read while you watch TV, skip it. Other than that, get going... it's on Netflix instant and it's a winner.

Holy Motors

Holy Motors
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Leos Carax [IMDB]

This year is coming to an end and that means "best of 2012" lists are popping up everywhere. In preparation for putting my own together, I figured I'd pop on Holy Motors, a film which has been making its way into many "best of" lists this year. So... here we go.

Synopsis: A guy in a limo drives around Paris and is given assignments where he takes on the lives of different characters.

I'll start by saying if you're looking for some kind of narrative in your movie going experience and you wanna check out Holy Motors... you're gonna have a bad time. This film has zero storyline and is more like a group images and events linked together by the protagonist and his limo. It's a beautiful looking film and there are lots of stunning visuals (like the dog in theater at the beginning.) What do these cinematic paintings and their sporadic dialogue interlaced throughout them mean? This enigmatic title's main point is to question the viewer. It's confusing and basically leaves you scratching your head. For me, there are other movies that do this much better (Synecdoche, New York), but I still applaud the film maker for trying to do something different. It just didn't work for me... mainly I found the movie tiresome and a little slow.

I don't think Holy Motors is horrible and it's something that I'd like to revisit, but if you're not into artsy films... you will loathe this.

Amour

Amour
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Michael Haneke [IMDB]

I've been reading a lot of buzz about this film. It picked up the Palme d'Or at Cannes, has been atop many "best of 2012" lists, and almost gave the folks over at Gawker a heart attack. I decided to finally give into the hype machine and check this bad larry out.

Synopsis: An aging couple's love is put to the test when one of them falls ill and starts down the path towards death.

Now, if that synopsis didn't set off any bells maybe this will... this movie is bleak. It's not a feel good film in any sense and will probably make you want to have a drink afterwards... well maybe that's just me being an alcoholic. It's extremely sad and had me in tears throughout many scenes, I normally dont tear up in movies, but this one destroyed me. Wow... I don't know where to start, I was floored by this and the emotions it invoked in me. This is filmmaking at it's best and is truly worthy of terms like "masterpiece" and "a work of art." I haven't felt this moved by a film since I first saw Wild Strawberries, which actually shares a lot of the same themes. Both Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva are perfect, and Michael Haneke's direction is flawless in my book.

Love is something a lot of people look for in this world and often times... think they've found. People will confuse it with lust and will lose it as quick as they found it. But when it's real, it's really beautiful and when you see a film like Amour shed light on it in a unique way, it makes you appreciate it so much more. I finished this film and wondered how many people who say they are in love would go through this, this is really love.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: David Gelb [IMDB]

Synopsis: 85 year old sushi extraordinaire (Jiro) is the best in the biz, this documentary shows you why.

You might say... who the hell wants to watch a documentary about a guy making sushi? I do, you little jerk. I love documentaries and often times when done right, they can shine an insightful light on almost any topic. That being said, the praise this film received earlier this year was high and I knew going into it that it wasn't just about making sushi. It's more about the man and his family. It's about their determination to perfect their craft and even how after 70 years of making sushi, you can still feel like there is something to learn. He is an interesting character and while I can appreciate his drive, it's also kind of sad in a way. When all you are is your work, I think you miss out of a lot that life has to offer. I mean, this guy never takes a day off or a vacation. It's work all the time and definitely no play.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is pretty impressive from a technical stand point and delivers on the promise of something different and interesting to watch. It's on Netflix instant if you're curious.

Playtime

Playtime
(1967) [Trailer]
Director: Jacques Tati [IMDB]

Synopsis: A man aimlessly wanders through a modern district in Paris... I guess.

This film is a weird one. It was a little hard to write that synopsis back there a few minutes ago. There's no real narrative or discernible plot... It's more of a visual motif I suppose. I think the director's intent with this piece is to convey the modern world as overly complicated and confusing. The locations and the cinematography used to capture them are wonderful... actually it's the film's greatest asset. Even though it's a French film, there's very little dialog... so those of you who hate subtitles will be relieved when you never watch this. It's also pretty humorous at times, the main character Monsieur Hulot has a obvious Charlie Chaplin vibe about him.

I enjoyed this film, but wasn't in love with it, maybe on a repeat viewing it'll bump up.

Stalker

Stalker
(1979) [Trailer]
Director: Andrei Tarkovsky [IMDB]

This is considered a classic in Russian cinema and now that we're out of the Cold War you can watch it and not have to worry about being labeled a communist. I really admire Tarkovsky's Solaris and in my opinion it's groundbreaking in terms of science fiction. So needless to say I was pretty excited to sit down with this and check it out.

Synopsis: In a weird run down dystopian future, two men hire a stalker to take them into a secret area called the zone.

This film is extremely slow and pretty uneventful, I don't necessarily know if that's bad or not. Stalker is not really sci-fi in terms of special effects, but more in its story; actually, there are zero special effects and in their place are some of the most captivating landscapes and locations I've seen filmed. In fact, that's Stalkers greatest strength: the visuals, especially the cinematography. It's filmed in all these dilapidated sites which look like they were hit with an A Bomb and then left for ruin... it's extremely interesting. Unfortunately for me, the rest of the film tends to drag on and the story isn't very fulfilling. I would still recommend it just for the experience, a lot of it was like watching pieces of art on a canvas... except the canvas was my 52 inch TV.

A Tale of Two Sisters

A Tale of Two Sisters
(2003) [Trailer]
Director: Jee-Woon Kim (IMDB)

I think I added this into my Netflix instant queue because I had seen Jee-Woon Kim's I Saw The Devil and really enjoyed it. My wife saw it in the queue and decided to throw it on because she wanted to watch something scary. There were many times during this film that she cowered into my pillow, so I think she made a good pick.

Synopsis: A young girl returns from the nuthouse, her family has to deal with her and also a mysterious apparition.

I am kind of torn on this movie. Part of me liked it, the other part did not.

The execution of the film is next to perfect. Cinematography is about a good as it gets. The score is eerie and the acting is all spot on. Kim was able to create a very creepy vibe throughout and I especially liked how dark everything feels.

The plot is a bit convoluted and left me scratching my head. So much so that both my wife and I had to look up the synopsis on IMDB and see exactly what the fuck just happened. I kinda of understood most of it before looking it up, but there's still a ton of unanswered questions (even after looking it up.) This film as impores the use of a very played out theme in Asian horror, THIS GIRL (illustration by yours truly.)

I don't know, I feel like a rewatch may be in store for the future, until then judge for yourself.

Funny Games

Funny Games
(1997) [Trailer]
Director: Michael Haneke (IMDB)

Synopsis: A family weekend at the lake house is rudely interrupted by to psychopaths.

Michael Haneke recently remade an English version of this film as well, so if you're not a fan of subtitles I guess he has got you covered on both ends. I can read, so it doesn't matter to me.

Funny Games is big win for me, I really enjoyed it and it's unlike any thriller I've seen in recent memory. I knew I was in for a treat when the opening title popped up on screen. There's a lot of interesting things that are foreshadowed throughout the first half of the movie... the neighbors, the knife, the golf clubs and so on. What really impressed me was how unconventional Funny Games is. I'm gonna say if you're not interested in having the movie spoiled, stop here and watch it, it rules. It's available on Netflix streaming.

SPOILER START: Haneke does a masterful job at toying with the audience in this film.
Three examples that I loved:
1. The scene where the wife is forced to strip in front of the family. A normal film would have exploited that and showed the nudity, instead Haneke filmed a close up of the mothers face.
2. The rewind scene, when you finally think the mother has revenge, it's striped away from you.
3. The boat scene at the end... you know the knife is there, but it's quickly tossed off the boat and the mother follows right behind it.

It's like Haneke knows you're a sick fuck... you want nudity...you want violence and revenge... nope. He gives it to you his way. The bad guys win. SPOILER END.

Casa de mi Padre

Casa de mi Padre
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Matt Piedmont (IMDB)

Casa de mi Padre stands for "House of my Father." I just taught you Spanish... you're welcome or de nada.

Synopsis: Who knew Will Ferrell was Mexican? Well in this film he is and he's a ranchero who falls for his brother's girl.

The main drawl of this film is that Will Ferrell speaks Spanish throughout it but that starts to wear off immediately. I am impressed the guy took lessons and pulled it off, but it's gonna take more than that to sell this fim. It pays homage to telenovelas and a lot of 60's B-movie westerns... that aspect I liked. There are a lot of cheesy set pieces and effects, the whole acid trip in the middle of the film might be the best part of the whole thing. The rest falls short for me. Especially the dialog and plot, it's just very dull. Worst part of the film... Molly Shannon saying "Mexico is the bestico"...ughhh. Cringe.  I'd go ahead and pass on this. Esta pelicula es basura.

Micmacs

Micmacs
(2009) [Trailer]
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet (IMDB)

I really enjoy Jean-Pierre Jeunet's movies. All of the ones I've seen have been pretty awesome. He definitely has a style that is all his own and Micmacs is no different.

Recently I sat down with my best friend Kurt after a long day celebrating Bastille Day and popped this bad larry in. What better way to celebrate France than a movie?

Synopsis: A guy gets shot in the head, befriends a group of rag tags and sets out to get revenge on the people responsible for killing his father.

This movie looks fantastic and has some spectacular cinematography.   At times, the visual feel of this film reminded me of Citizen Kane and other classic films. There were a lot of interesting set pieces, especially the trash heap house they lived in. The story line is a bit odd and I found it unfolded a little slowly at times. There are also a good amount of fantastical elements that may be hard for some people to digest. If you've seen any of Jeunet's other films you'll know what to expect... it's quirky, funny, and very entertaining.

The Skin I Live In

The Skin I Live In
(2011) [Trailer]
Director: Pedro Almodóvar (IMDB)

This is a little film that I eagerly wanted to see last year but never got the chance too. It received some pretty stellar reviews and I had heard good things from those I know who saw it. I decided to sit down and see for myself. Now I will pass my words of wisdom onto you.  You're welcome reader.

Synopsis: Antonio Banderas is a crazed surgeon who has issues.

I will start by saying that this is an interesting idea for a movie and well executed for the most part, it's just not a very believable premise. The rational side of me is a real dick and kept taking me out of the film but I still managed to enjoy this. I will keep this part vague and not explain why I had issues with it, as it could be considered spoil territory.

The ambiguous nature of the story and the unease of everything throughout were easily pervade by the director Pedro Almodóvar. Also, Banderas and the main girl were both compelling and seem perfectly cast. The visuals and music were both okay, but didn't stand out in any way.

I'd give this a poke if you're into thrillers, if you don't I'll forgive you.

Herzog Fest

I recently decided to cap off all the John Carpenter films I hadn't seen. I figured he's one of my favorites and I should see his entire body of work. After this epiphany I decided to do the same with some other directors. Who better to start with then one of my all time favorite... Michael Bay! I kid... Werner Herzog. I will start by saying, of his 30+ films, I've seen all of them except 7, these 7 will now be reviewed right here.

 Signs of Life
(1968) [Full Movie]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: A group of German soldiers fall to boredom as their post at a munitions depot on the island of Crete starts to get old.

This is Herzog’s first feature full length and it’s pretty old. It’s an interesting look at a subject Herzog tends to dwell on and that’s man’s descent into madness. All the actors do a fine job and the use of locals in the film (which is another Herzog trademark) makes for a realistic feel. The sound design in this film is awesome and the Greek music used is hypnotic at times. The last 20 minutes of the movie are the best and Herzog manages to use some extremely awe inducing shots to wrap things up. For me the greatest thing about this is seeing the groundwork and style that becomes universal in a lot of Werner's other films. It's like going back and watching a home video of Kurt Cobain performing in his high school talent show.... or something like that.

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
(1974) [Full Movie]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: Bruno S has been held captive and chained in a cellar all his life. One day his captor releases him into the wild, AKA the normal world. Upon his release he's left to try and adapt to this new found reality.

This film is very straight forward for Herzog and stars Bruno S, who was also in Stroszek, which I love. Bruno S has a really crazy bio, especially his up bringing, so in my opinion, he's perfectly cast for this film. Herzog primary injects a classical score and tamed cinematography, which really lets the story be the star of the show. There are still plenty of quirky additions that you would except from one of his movies, but overall this was more toned down. I would recommend this if you can get your hands on it. It's a solid installment into Werner's arsenal and considerable for any film buff.

Heart of Glass
(1976) [Trailer]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: Honestly, there's no real plot here... I guess if I were to try and give one I would use this... A glass blower dies and leaves a void in the hearts of the locals in his town.... I guess.

This movie was an extremely unique viewing experience for me. Visually, it's breathe taking and a lot of frames could be painted on canvas, then sold as fine art. The plot more of a device to explore poetry if anything, it's pretty nonsensical but still very beautiful. I read that Herzog had everyone on set put under hypnosis before they filmed their scenes and you can tell. The performances are odd and seem a little off, which makes things a bit eerie, but in a good way.

I really loved this, but like a lot of Herzog's works, it's not for everyone.

Where the Green Ants Dream
(1984) [Trailer]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: Herzog heads down under for this drama about a group of Aborigines that refuse to leave sacred ground that's been targeted by miners.

This movie employs the use of actual Aborigines and their acting isn't the greatest... but it's still very unique to watch. This is just as weird as any other Herzog film but still manages to walk a straight line in terms plot. It stars the tall guy from Mad Max and he's pretty convincing for the most part. There's a lot of interesting interludes spread throughout this and some really fantastic cinematography. There are a few moments where the movie seems to drag, then other points which are incredible and make up for lost ground. I'm a little mixed on this, I liked it, but I didn't love it. I think I'm gonna give it another poke soon.

 

Scream of Stone
(1991) [Clip]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: A group of climbers try to make it to the summit of Cerro Torro, which is an infamous mountain in Patagonia.

I really enjoyed this, but I'd say it's probably one of the most non Herzog-esque movies I've seen of his. If you were to say Heart of Glass was pretentious, this undissembled entry would be the polar opposite. If you're looking for a film of Herzog's to start with, this would be the one, too bad it's next to impossible to find (a downloaded a VHS rip!)

Donald Sutherland and the rest of the crew do a stand up job, with the highlight for me being Brad Dourif (who was the strangest part of the film.) The score is really effective and brings a creepiness to the film in a lot of spots. All of the climbing stuff is spectacular and shot perfectly. I'd love to see a proper copy of this film on blu-ray... one can only hope.

Invincible
(2001) [Trailer]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: In post WWI Germany a Jewish muscle head becomes all the rage as a performer who accompanies a deranged psychic.

This is officially my least favorite Werner Herzog film. With the exception of Tim Roth (AKA Pumpkin, AKA Ringo, AKA Mr Orange) everyone else in this is horrible. Jouko Ahola (The protagonist) is actually one of the world's strongest men, but he's a shit actor. I don't know if Herzog was unable to find a buff Jewish actor or what, but this casting choice was not the best. I wanted to shoot the little kid every time he spoke. The love interest, I guess she's a famous pianist, but I think they could have found a better actress and winged the piano stuff in the film. Honestly, the acting ruined this for me... everything else: the story, cinematography, and score are great. I just couldn't get past the performances.

.

The Wild Blue Yonder
(2005) [Trailer]
Director: Werner Herzog (IMDB)

Synopsis: Ummm... where to start. Okay... an Alien travels to Earth to escape his dying planet, meanwhile we are trying to leave Earth in search of the Alien's planet... I guess that will work.

This is a strange one and I don't really know if I'd recommend it to anyone. I personally enjoyed it and thought it was an extremely different movie watching experience... but... it's very unconventional and I could see how people could hate this. It plays around with genre by taking a less then straight forward science fiction plot, blending it with documentary footage, and then throwing in Brad Dourif to ground the piece as the alien story teller. It's a very raw film and Herzog's use of basic and almost unenhanced video footage helps give this a different feel from most his other movies.

There's a few spots where the film seemed to drag a bit and the use of stock footage, while always interesting to look at, didn't always help sell the sci-fi poetry.

It's a pretty philosophical piece and its obvious references to man's destructive nature are a bit heavy handed, but then again, it's Herzog... so that shouldn't surprise those familiar with him. This is definitely a little less accessible then most his films... but I still dug it.

Also, if you're interested you can check out my list of Herzog films ranked HERE!

Danger: Diabolik

Danger Diabolik
(1968) [Trailer]
Director: Mario Bava (IMDB)

I'm sitting on a bus from DC to New York right now and decided to kill some time. I had a copy of Diabolik and thought... why not. I didn't know a lot going into this, I just knew Mario Bava (who I'm fond of) directed it and Ennio Morricone (who is my favorite composer) did the score. I had read some praises for it online as well, so I was hoping for a good time... was that time spent wisely... I will tell you now.

Synopsis: Diabolik is a super criminal who is pretty fucking rad and pulls off lots of heists in Italy.

Wow.... this blew me away with awesomeness. I dare you to watch the first ten minutes of this movie and tell me it's not one of the coolest films ever made. I loved everything I saw on screen and was like a parasite just wanting more and more of it as I went along.
What rules about this:

1. The score is bad ass. I want it as theme music to my life.
2. The cinematography is over the top, in a great way. Lots of quick zooms, close ups, and first person shots... plus grand views of Italy.
3. Diabolik and his girlfriend, both are totally hot together, can you say "power couple"?
4. The heists: everyone of them are unique and really fun to watch unfold.
5. Diabolik's hideout... it might be one of the greatest set pieces in film history.

I can't sing enough praises about this movie, in my opinion it's a must see for any fan of Tarantino or Wes Anderson or film in general. My only complaint is that I watched it on my laptop and not on a big screen... call me Nostradamus cause I see a re-watch in my future.