gudaulin

Dance of the Vampires is considered an acclaimed film classic, but I must admit that when I saw it, I was quite disappointed. The individual ingredients are interesting and one could write at length about the beautiful scenery, all the horror clichés and elements that Polanski incorporated and parodied in the film, but as a whole, it doesn't work for me. I will even confess with a grin that Soukup's Wedding of the Vampires, while obviously lower in terms of filmmaking quality, was more entertaining for me. Polanski is indeed an above-average director, but a below-average actor, but I don't know if this is the reason why I have this distance from Dance of the Vampires. Overall impression: 50% considering the director's reputation.

It's easy to recognize on the Pianist that the film was directed by someone who personally experienced the horrors of war and the Holocaust. It is an exceptionally powerful and authentic testimony of the fate of Jews during World War II. Unlike Spielberg's celebrated Schindler's List, it is not calculated and polished, which is reflected in slightly lower ratings. Unlike Spielberg, Polanski chooses the form of a chamber drama of a single man, however, it is an exceptional, touching, and excellently acted film. Overall impression: 100%.

Filmed based on the successful comic book series by Max Allan Collins. Sam Mendes aroused such expectations among critics and fans with his American Beauty that he would not be able to satisfy them no matter how hard he tried. From my perspective and after sober consideration, I prefer Road to Perdition. Clearly, in terms of material selection, it was an obvious bet on certainty, but with American Beauty, that calculation was also, albeit more sophisticated. Mendes' gangster film is a compact film in every aspect, with perfect camera work, a strong story, and charismatic characters. Comparing Road to Perdition to what I've seen in the past year, I have no choice but to raise my rating to five stars. Overall impression 90%.

Luďka Sobotu I really don't like and this is one of two exceptions when I liked his acting performance. In combination with the clever humor of the screenwriting duo Svěrák-Smoljak and the directorial talent of Oldřich Lipský, a timeless popular comedy was created, which regularly appears on the television screen and continues to find new viewers. Overall impression: 90%. Several scenes from the film have become popular, personally, I prefer the scenes with psychiatrist Chocholoušek and with Smoljak warning about the harmfulness of bribes.

Intellectual puzzle about the technology of power and manipulation of individuals, which became a cult affair thanks to the fact that two years later the Soviet invasion came. The film story about a feast and uninvited visitors perfectly captured the gloomy mood of that time. Interesting dialogues and Orwellian-Kafkaesque atmosphere. Strong final scene, when the search for the lost guest, who obviously does not care for company, turns into a merciless pursuit of an outcast. Overall impression: 95%. The film is worth watching, if only because of its atypical cast.

Joke, that is primarily an exceptional literary substance, one of Milan Kundera's best works and at the same time one of the best novels about the atmosphere of the 50s in our country. A bitter narrative about how history can crush individuals, and about the fact that revenge does not have to taste sweet and carry bitterness within oneself means unnecessarily depriving oneself of a lot of pleasant things. It is a burden that marks everyone. One of Josef Somr's crucial roles tailored to his acting. Overall impression: 90%.

Angel of the Lord was preceded by the reputation of being a very high-quality fairy tale that ranks alongside the old proven fairy tale classics. After watching it, I have to say that Czech fairy tale productions have dropped off significantly because Angel of the Lord represents only a better television average and does not belong on the big screen. It is a fairy tale with an obviously limited budget and a screenplay that still needs work, as it contains significant gaps. It's exactly those moments when the main characters are walking back to the castle after the magic transports them from the prison to a distant land. They just keep walking and nothing happens because the screenwriter and director obviously took a nap. Zuzana Kajnarová is unremarkable in her acting, and a few other flaws could be found, yet there is one crucial BUT. Ivan Trojan in the lead role managed to squeeze the maximum out of this opportunity, and his angel Petronel is simply irresistible. Additionally, he is greatly complemented by his contrast, the devil Uriah, also excellently portrayed by Jiří Dvořák. This duo adds a good 30% to the fairy tale. I was also pleased to finally see a live Baby Jesus, which my parents denied me for many years. Overall impression: 65%.

There are movies that we remember from childhood as amazing experiences, and when we return to them after years, we bitterly realize that they have aged and above all, they simply don't work in adulthood. The Goonies belong to those rare exceptions when the film experience repeats every time I watch it again. I become a kid again, embarking on adventurous expeditions, having plenty of free time, and enjoying it despite occasional adult hardships. Whenever I hear the familiar film melody and the voice prompts me, "Don't just stand there, come on," I go and immerse myself once again in the world of my childhood memories. Overall impression: 90%.

The result of this movie is quite sad, considering the great acting team that was assembled. Besides the uninspiring screenplay, which borrows motifs from other successful films, the inexperienced direction of Brad Mirman is also to blame for not achieving much in the role of director. One-time use film. Overall impression: 50%.

The life themes of Forman's films are the position of defined personalities within the system and especially the search for personal freedom within a liberal society. Where are the limits of acceptable human behavior, where does freedom of speech end, and whether it should be set at all? In The People vs. Larry Flynt, he continued what he started in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and continued in the musical Hair. While his previous films received enthusiastic applause from critics and audiences, The People vs. Larry Flynt faced harsh criticism from multiple sides. It came from both the influential Christian right and the equally influential feminist movement, as both groups organized furious demonstrations and disrupted the distribution of the film. The film sparked great controversy and Forman was left significantly isolated this time. Honestly, the real Larry Flynt is an extremely repulsive character, whom Forman, despite all efforts to capture from many angles in the most diverse perspective, humanized inappropriately. This was also aided by the fact of personal friendship between the director and Larry Flynt. Woody Harrelson's outstanding performance in the lead role also contributed to this humanization. The real Flynt was not so much a victim of his passions as he was an excellent unscrupulous businessman. From a directorial standpoint, it is an extraordinary film with a great cast, and even Courtney Love as an uncontrollable bullet of American pop culture performs very well. And why not, when she essentially plays herself? Edward Norton is perfectly cast and the supporting actors around the main stars deliver reliable performances. Only the pathos at the end of the film is unnecessary. But that is related to what I suggested above. It is not a bad film at all, but for its content, I have a considerably colder attitude toward it compared to Forman's other films. Overall impression: +- 80%.