angel74

The disturbing and dark atmosphere of this four-part miniseries is undeniable, there are some suspenseful moments, but that's about all I can praise. From director Niall MacCormick, who has some pretty successful series under his belt like The Victim and The Sister, I was expecting something much better. (55%)

In a mere twenty-three minutes (and with a minimum of actors), the promising Portuguese director Filipe Melo plays out an interpersonal drama that would put any experienced filmmaker to shame. The story starts very innocently, but gradually builds up in intensity and suspense just before the final climax, which is stronger than it might seem at first glance. (90%)

Franz Rogowski reminds me more and more of Joaquin Phoenix. And not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of charisma and acting talent. I haven't seen him in a gay role before and I have to admit that he handled it well. The Austrian director and screenwriter Sebastian Meise bets on rawness, and so practically the entire plot of Great Freedom takes place in the harsh environment of a prison. He's not a pretty sight. Some of the shots may make those with weak stomachs feel nauseous. Nevertheless, the movie reveals huge amounts about human nature and the need for love. (80%)

The editing may look a bit chaotic in places, but otherwise I think this biopic about the Czechoslovak legendary runner is really good. The filmmakers have managed to capture the atmosphere of the time perfectly, and it is not just a sports drama, the political situation of that time also plays an important role. David Ondříček shows the protagonist with all his pros and cons, while also looking into the private life of the Zátopeks. The actors are impeccable and I have absolutely no reservations about them. Václav Neužil Jr. in the title role certainly deserves an accolade, as he perfectly embodied the role of the runner Emil Zátopek. Of course, I must not forget Martha Issová representing Dana Zátopková, she also portrayed her role very believably. (80%)

Having seen the very compelling movie Mia and the White Lion, I guess I had too many expectations since both films were directed by the same person. But what works great there, doesn't quite work here. Despite the fact that Gilles de Maistre once again filmed with real animals and without digital effects, he set most of the action in the beautiful Canadian wilderness. The soundtrack is also good. However, I see a major problem in the script, which seems patchy, and could definitely use more work. (55%)

I don't blame the people who are quite vocal about not liking this film. It is not for nothing that we say He who smelt it, dealt it. Swedish director Robert Östlund has been breaking social facades for a long time, and here he has done a great job. His movie The Triangle of Sadness, which is full of sarcastic humor and brilliantly constructed situations, basically pokes fun at all of us, even though he's mainly taking a swipe at the top ten thousand. With the extensive vomiting scene on the boat, he then openly points out that the whole Western world is up to its neck in this shit. The slightly ambiguous ending leaves the audience enough room for their own interpretation and identification with the work. (85%)

In his latest film, Parallel Mothers, Pedro Almodóvar explores serious themes such as the switching of two newborn girls in the maternity ward and the sudden death of one of them. The supporting story of motherhood is then not very skillfully woven into the events surrounding the uncovering and exhumation of a mass grave dating back to the Spanish Civil War. However, the gradual unraveling of the whole tangle is not nearly as thrilling and emotional as I would have expected, given the strong theme. It leaves me cold. (60%)

"You you have made it much, much better. You make the world... beautiful. And warm... And kind. And I just wanted to thank you for that before it was too late." - "I haven't made the world beautiful Louis. The world is beautiful. And you have helped me see that too." +++ For all his bad luck, Louis Wain was lucky enough to have experienced a great love. Despite his bleak and cruel fate, he managed to bring joy to other people with his cheerful pictures of cats. And the whole movie continues in a similar vein. The gloomy plot is artfully interspersed with humorously stylized, poetic and visually enchanting passages. Benedict Cumberbatch lends his natural charisma to the emotionally torn character of the eccentric artist, making the movie a truly extraordinary experience. The Electrical Life of Louis Wain fascinated me so much that I now have an incessant urge to get a kitten. (85%)

The feature debut of director Adam Koloman Rybanský is a surprisingly mature movie set in a small Czech village. He delivers a combination of putrid inferiority, stubbornness, xenophobia and fear of the unknown under the influence of misinformation in tragicomic form, with rich use of absurd and black humor. In terms of acting, not to speak of the traditionally great Miroslav Krobot, Michal Isteník and Anna Polívková, who play a married couple, stand out from the rest. (80%)

The idea of a family shopping trip to Ikea had quite a lot of potential, but the Norwegian filmmakers failed to fully exploit it. What's more, I have the nagging feeling that they got stuck somewhere half-way. Because of the unendearing performances from the actors, I couldn't even enjoy the occasional flashes of humor. (45%)