Okay Films

[Okay]

I actually only created an account to make a film reviews thread.

Here I'm going to be writing my thoughts on every film I watch from now on, and I already have an enormous amount of films on my "To Watch" list so it will be interesting how many of them I'm going to be able to check out. I'm also not opposed to film suggestions from anyone, so feel free to drop some if you have any.
I'm going to be using both the site's rating system and mine which consists of the following:

Citizen "****ing" Kane ! ==== > is only given to movies that I think are extraordinary or near perfect.
Full Price === > is only given to movies that I think should be seen whenever you got time to do so.
Matinee === > is only given to movies that are okay.
Rental === > is only given to movies that should be rented IF you're interested in seeing them.
Just take a nap instead === > is only given to movies that are pretty much poop.
**** YOU ! === > is only given to movies that are so awful they angered me.

Watch(ed)list: Mommy (2014) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1636665#post1636665) | Funny Games (2007) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1637174#post1637174) | The Rabbi's Cat (2011) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1637728#post1637728) | Ida (2013) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1637733#post1637733) | GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (2014) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1638132#post1638132) | Two Days, One Night (2014) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1638632#post1638632) | Audition (1999) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1639074#post1639074) | Benny's Video (1992) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1680030#post1680030) | A Town Called Panic (2009) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1639747#post1639747) | The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1641651#post1641651) | Force Majeure (2014) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1642341#post1642341) | Magical Girl (2014) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1642803#post1642803) | My Father and My Son (2005) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1643007#post1643007) | Elevator to the Gallows (1958) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1643207#post1643207) | The Bicycle Thief (1948) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1643372#post1643372) | Caché (2005) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1644028#post1644028) | Under the Shadow (2016) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1644153#post1644153) | The Skin I Live In (2011) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1649937#post1649937) | Mother (2009) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1650574#post1650574) | La Haine (1995) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1652770#post1652770) | The Imposter (2012) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1655419#post1655419) | I'm Not Scared (2003) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1656971#post1656971) | Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1659936#post1659936) | Miss Violence (2013) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1661788#post1661788) | Black Dynamite (2009) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1663692#post1663692) | Tangerine (2015) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1665410#post1665410) | To Take a Wife (2004) (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1666734#post1666734) | Krisha (2015) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1671129#post1671129) | Waltz With Bashir (2008) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1676025#post1676025) | Incendies (2010) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1676979#post1676979) | Persona (1966) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1677734#post1677734) | Thesis (1996) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1678759#post1678759) | The Fool (2014) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1678960#post1678960) | Amour (2012) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1679640#post1679640) | A Separation (2011) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1695474#post1695474) | Close-Up (1990) (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1702261#post1702261)

[Okay]

Mommy (2014) 5
https://roobla.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/mommy-2014-film-quad-poster.jpg

Description:
"Mommy" is a French Canadian film about a 46 year old mother dealing with her beloved son who suffers from ADHD, they immensely struggle through their day to day life but with the presence of their new neighbour Kyla a balance is achieved in the family, together they face an emotional roller coaster of challenges.

Thoughts:
I already knew I would like this film beforehand but god was I so wrong, the brilliance of this movie had me and my expectations blown away and a big reason for that was the actors performances, the three leads managed to work extremely well together and individually, their characters have such an authentic and charismatic relationship with each other but also intriguing and entertaining characteristics that make each of them stand out single handedly, they really carried this picture to excellence.
Xavier Dolan should be praised eternally for making this masterpiece, he is the director and the writer which is pretty admirable, I will definitely be checking out his other works from now on.
The movie has a unique 1:1 aspect ratio and no it's not done just for the sake of being different for no contributing reason, in fact it's purpose becomes very apparent once you reach a certain moment in the film.
The best adjective to use when describing "Mommy" is alive, and that's because it truly has a pumping heart, it sticks with you after the credits have rolled, and so does the emotional effect it delivers. I am not embarrassed or hesitated to say that I cried during "Mommy", in fact I got teary-eyed just by thinking about it long after it was over.

Rating:
There aren't many films that I'm willing to give such rating to but "Mommy" easily deserves it, it has amazing performances, storytelling, cinematography, dialogue, soundtrack and most importantly it delivers a lasting impact on the viewer. This is a Citizen "****ing" Kane !
https://cdnb1.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/003/050/789/large/flaminia-cavallari-mommyrender-ambiente.jpg?1469010852&dl=1

[Okay]

Funny Games (2007) 2
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/9e/51/bf/9e51bffab52cbd9f58540f6770b133b9.jpg

Description:
"Funny Games" is a shot for shot remake of the 1997 Austrian predecessor, it also has the same director/writer of the original, it is about a family of three being haunted by two psychopaths in their own home.

Thoughts:
It's been years of me hearing about how ground-breaking this film is and now is finally the time to experience it myself....such a dull, empty and dry experience it was.
I'm usually not fond of horror movies, wait is this even considered a horror movie ? I don't know and I don't care, but anyways... that's because the vast majority of them is an exact replica of another, most of the time they're badly acted, poorly made and just a big waste of time, gladly this was the opposite of the generic "horror" film you would expect but it still managed to feel like a complete waste of time.
People praise this film till the wheels fall off because of the director's intent of making it in the first place, which was expressing a political statement that I kinda agree with, but couldn't he just tweet about it instead of making an hour and fifty one minute long remake ?
The lack of gore is thought to be the issue for people who didn't like this, but for my case I actually didn't mind that whatsoever. I feel as though "Funny Games" would've been less painful to sit through had it been shorter, and by that I mean for it to literally be an hour long maximum !
It also reminded me of another "horror film" called "Resolution" which I enjoyed much better, the difference between the two is that the later has more depth to it's characters and a heart which "Funny Games" lacks.
The only redeeming quality about this feature is the acting and the cinematography, but even that couldn't save the movie for me. There are also a couple of mistakes that I couldn't help but notice, which took me out of the film, even though I was never really invested in it in the first place.

Rating:
At the end of the day, "Funny Games" bored the hell out of me, while I do usually love and praise similar films to it, it somehow still managed to drop the ball. This is a Rental.
https://assets.mubi.com/images/film/95/image-w1280.jpg?1445947536

[Swan]

People praise this film till the wheels fall off because of the director's intent of making it in the first place, which was expressing a political statement that I 100% agree with, but couldn't he just tweet about it instead of making an hour and fifty one minute long remake ?

I don't understand this sentiment at all. How can you be a fan of cinema, let alone art, if you feel that way? Art is expression. That's obvious. And it includes expression of ideas - like political ideas. I would so much rather find out someone's political thoughts through a piece of art they made than a stupid little tweet.

I disagreed with a lot of your review here, but the idea that an artist should not express their political thoughts through their medium absolutely boggles my mind.

[Okay]

I don't understand this sentiment at all. How can you be a fan of cinema, let alone art, if you feel that way? Art is expression. That's obvious. And it includes expression of ideas - like political ideas. I would so much rather find out someone's political thoughts through a piece of art they made than a stupid little tweet.

I disagreed with a lot of your review here, but the idea that an artist should not express their political thoughts through their medium absolutely boggles my mind.

That was a joke. I didn't like the movie so much I wish he would of tweeted about this "message" he was so eager to state, so the film can be prevented from happening.

Everything that the film presented I understood, from the 4th wall breaking to the rewind scene, to the mocking of the media's eagerness to see violence, but the movie as a whole still felt so empty.
I'm going to be watching another Michael Haneke film soon, so hopefully it will be a less miserable experience.

[cricket]

Nice to see the praise for Mommy, a movie I'm planning on watching in the next couple of days.

[Okay]

Nice to see the praise for Mommy, a movie I'm planning on watching in the next couple of days.

You definitely won't be disappointed. I would like to know your thoughts on it after you see it.

[cricket]

I'm going to watch it in the morning if I wake up early enough.

[Okay]

The Rabbi's Cat (2011) 3
http://i67.tinypic.com/1zwj03k.jpg

Description:
"The Rabbi's Cat" or 'Le Chat Du Rabbin" is a French animated film directed by Joann Sfar, who also has written the book it is based on with the same title. It takes place in Algeria during the 1920's, where a cat suddenly knows how to talk in human language, after devouring a parrot.

Thoughts:
This film takes many risks and wears them as a badge of honour, the first of them being the animation style that is deprived of the usual Hollywood tropes, instead it uses the pen and ink technique in a stylized manner, which is a gorgeous view for the audience.
Second, it tackles intimidating subjects such as the relations between people from different religions, and the film is also courageous enough to not shy away from pointing out the flaws of each faith, you might not agree with the message that the movie delivers, but you still have to give credit when it's due, and plus it is told in such a charming and humorous fashion that leaves you admiring Joann's work.
"Le Chat Du Rabbin" is no where near being a masterpiece though, it has many weaknesses, with the one standing out the most is its inconsistency that is visible in different fields, the film sets some rules to inform the viewer of its world nature, yet it constantly flip flops between breaking and following them, moreover, this action is committed in various forms throughout the movie.
I'm not fond of the pacing as well, and that's because the plot ridiculously jumps all over the place. The film's saving grace is the charming cat, but during a portion in the middle, he's no where to be seen in the scene, I personally thought that his absence hurt the overall quality and reduced the glamour the film was producing.

Rating:
With the amusing dialogue and characters, "The Rabbi's Cat" achieves its pretentious goal, but the inconsistency and pacing prevents it from finishing in a better place, therefore...This would be a Matinee.
http://toutlecine.challenges.fr/assets/inline-fix-img/2011-03/le-chat-du-rabbin-2010-4-g.jpg

[Okay]

Ida (2013) 3
http://www.impawards.com/intl/poland/2013/posters/ida_ver2.jpg

Description:
"Ida" is a Polish film set after world war two, it follows a young orphan that just before taking her vows as a Catholic nun, she has to meet what's left of her lost family, her aunt Wanda. Together they embark on a journey to find their relatives final traces.

Thoughts:
Where "Ida" shines the most is in the cinematography department, it is a stunning picture to look at, so just for the visual experience alone it deserves to be seen.
The two main characters are portrayed very ably and correctly for their time, Agata Kulesza as Wanda is one of the highlights of the film, I tend to really enjoy when a character balances its partner in crime and she did just that for Ida.
I have a large amount of respect for the movie and its ambition regardless of its flaws, one of the issues I have with it is the pacing, for only an 82 minutes running time, "Ida" does feel drawn out a bit during a few scenes, I also would of liked more depth to Agata Trzebuchowska's character, and I say that because I think I would of enjoyed the ending much better had she been given more self centred scenes.
Speaking of the ending, I thought the idea behind it was a brilliant way to conclude the film, unfortunately I didn't think it was executed to it's fullest measure. There are also some moments that were deprived of logic and didn't make much sense to me. This is a good movie, but it could of been better.

Rating:
Once again, "Ida" is a beautiful film to look at, a massive portion of it looks like a prepossessing photograph, but there are other elements to it that hold me back from calling it a great film. This is a Matinee.
http://www.eyesteelfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Ida-5.jpg

[ScarletLion]

I'm also planning on watching Mommy very soon. Keep the reviews coming.

[Okay]

Thank you.
Also, if people haven't noticed yet, this thread will be flooded with foreign films, while the english speaking ones make a special appearance from time to time.

[Sunomis]

Thank you.
Also, if people haven't noticed yet, this thread will be flooded with foreign films, while the english speaking ones make a special appearance from time to time.

Great. Keep on flooding then.

[cricket]

Saw Ida recently and liked it a bit more than you did.

Watched Mommy this morning and will write down some thoughts in a bit.

[Okay]

Saw Ida recently and liked it a bit more than you did.

Watched Mommy this morning and will write down some thoughts in a bit.
I hope you loved it.

[Okay]

GETT: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (2014) 4
https://cdn.traileraddict.com/content/music-box-films/gett2015.jpg

Description:
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" is an Israeli drama film and come to find out, it is also the third of a trilogy. It's about Viviane Amsalem, trying to win the battle for her divorce in front of a religious court, after she had grew sick of her husband.

Thoughts:
I've watched multiple films that are entirely set up in a single room, but only "12 Angry Men" could execute that concept excellently, now, I can say that "The Trial of Viviane Amasalem" did so as well. The whole movie is filmed in a small courtroom (except for a few brief scenes), but that never lead me to feel bored or anything close to that, in fact the longer the film was going, the more engaged and gripped by it I was.
The key to greatness in my opinion is always the acting, here Ronit Elkabetz plays Viviane magnificently, she does a phenomenal job at showing her emotions subtly and in a sensational manner, the supporting actors all did a great job too.
The stupendous dialogue makes this drama feel so raw and intense, yet surprisingly funny at times, there are some colourful characters in this picture that add the much needed and appreciated humour.
It's clear that the film makers wanted to communicate a powerful message to the audience, and I think they executed its delivery pretty well.
This being a third in a trilogy doesn't limit the enjoyment you can have through the film without watching the preceding two, I actually think it was better for me to view it the way I did, since it does leave some things to my interpretation and imagination, also I will definitely be checking out the previous films of this story, just to see more of these characters.

Rating:
"The Trial of Viviane Amasalem" is a thought-provoking, heartfelt experience that I recommend everyone to go through. This is a Full Price.
http://www.joylesscreatures.com/uploads/2/4/0/6/24065305/2974165_orig.jpg

[cricket]

Mommy

http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=1638300#post1638300

[Citizen Rules]

Ida (2013) rating_3

"Ida" is a Polish film set after world war two, it follows a young orphan that just before taking her vows as a Catholic nun, she has to meet what's left of her lost family, her aunt Wanda. Together they embark on a journey to find their relatives final traces.
Where "Ida" shines the most is in the cinematography, it is a stunning picture to look at, so just for the visual experience alone it deserves to be seen. The two main characters are portrayed very ably and correctly for their time, Agata Kulesza as Wanda is one of the highlights of the film, I tend to really enjoy when a character balances its partner in crime and she did just that for Ida. I have a large amount of respect for the movie and its ambition regardless of its flaws, one of the issues I have with it is the pacing, for only an 82 minutes running time, "Ida" does feel drawn out a bit during a few scenes, I also would of liked more depth to Agata Trzebuchowska's character, and I say that because I think I would of enjoyed the ending much better had she been given more self centred scenes, speaking of the ending; I thought the idea behind it was a brilliant way to conclude the film, unfortunately I didn't think it was executed to it's full measure. There are also some moments that were deprived of logic and didn't make much sense to me. This is a good movie, but it could of been better.
Once again, "Ida" is a beautiful film to look at, a massive portion of it looks like a prepossessing photograph, but there are other elements to it that hold me back from calling it a great film. This is a Matinee.
I've been following your thread, nice job...Ida is the first movie you've reviewed that I've seen. I liked Ida myself.

Can you elaborate more on what you mean by this.

I thought the idea behind it was a brilliant way to conclude the film, unfortunately I didn't think it was executed to it's full measure. There are also some moments that were deprived of logic and didn't make much sense to me. This is a good movie, but it could of been better. What would you have done to execute the ending to it's full measure?

What scenes did you find deprived of logic?

[Okay]

What scenes did you find deprived of logic?
- How did the nuns in the covenant know that Wanda is related to Ida ? Sure it's left for interpretation, but isn't it weird and kinda stupid that the film would leave such thing as a mystery, when a huge part of the movie is making the audience believe that Ida's identity and background was hidden.
- Wanda tries to take the bible to read it, but Ida wouldn't let her, so a brief tug of war match between them happens for the book, and after Ida's victory, she just places it under her pillow then leaves the room...excuse me Ida but what !?! I thought you didn't want her to take it...placing it under a pillow AND leaving the room won't stop her from doing so, maybe this complaint of mine is petty, but I can't help it that it bothered me so much.


What would you have done to execute the ending to it's full measure?
I thought Ida's sudden 180 in her actions after her aunt's death, came a bit out of nowhere. The way I saw the ending was that Ida wanted to make sure if this traditional lifestyle she was living was what she really wanted, so she decides to experience sexual activities with the sax player, but why would she decide so in the first place ? There was never a scene where Ida expressed her unhappiness due to being a nun, some could argue that you can see that just by her subtle acting and expressions but still...pretty unclear in my opinion. I think it would of been better had she verbally hinted to what she was truly feeling to her aunt, I also think a scene like that would give more depth to the relationship between Wanda and her niece.

[Citizen Rules]

- How did the nuns in the covenant know that Wanda is related to Ida ? Sure it's left for interpretation, but isn't it weird and kinda stupid that the film would leave such thing as a mystery, when a huge part of the movie is making the audience believe that Ida's identity and background was hidden.
- Wanda tries to take the bible to read it, but Ida wouldn't let her, so a brief tug of war match between them happens for the book, and after Ida's victory, she just places it under her pillow then leaves the room...excuse me Ida but what !?! I thought you didn't want her to take it...placing it under a pillow AND leaving the room won't stop her from doing so, maybe this complaint of mine is petty, but I can't help it that it bothered me so much.
Thanks for explaining, I don't remember that scene in detail as it's been awhile since I seen Ida, but what you said makes sense.

[QUOTE]I thought Ida's sudden 180 in her actions after her aunt's death, came a bit out of nowhere. The way I saw the ending was that Ida wanted to make sure if this traditional lifestyle she was living was what she really wanted, so she decides to experience sexual activities with the sax player, but why would she decide so in the first place ? There was never a scene where Ida expressed her unhappiness due to being a nun, some could argue that you can see that just by her subtle acting and expressions but still...pretty unclear in my opinion. I think it would of been better had she verbally hinted to what she was truly feeling to her aunt, I also think a scene like that would give more depth to the relationship between Wanda and her niece. I thought the exact same thing! Ida was confirming to become a Nun and having her have sex right before she joins the Sisterhood was over the top. I guess the audiences wants to see the nice girl, smoke, drink and have sex before dedicating her life to God but that's not what a Nun would do.I see you're new to the site, welcome!

[Okay]

Thank you.

[Citizen Rules]

Keep those reviews coming:)

[Okay]

Keep those reviews coming:)
Posting another one in a bit :)

[resopamenic]

I gotta need put xavier dolan's in the kill list soon :D

[Okay]

Two Days, One Night (2014) 3.5
http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/movie/movie_poster/two-days-one-night-2014/large_1mYAejpMskvskGr0J0SaBvdjmrH.jpg

Description:
"Two Days, One Night" is a French film about Sandra, a woman who has a weekend to convince the majority of her workmates to give up a raise in order to keep her job.

Thoughts:
Marion Cotillard does a great job at playing Sandra, a female who's fighting depression and for her place in a factory, she definitely sells and carries this film from beginning to end, and while I did find her character quite frustrating and annoying at times, It could also be argued that it adds to the authenticity of her persona, furthermore, she definitely deserved the Oscar nomination for this role, she lost weight just so she can appear like a woman who's recovering from an illness, and she also made sure to put in subtle details in her performance that added to the realism.
While you do want the lead to win over her colleagues, you can still understand why many of them are choosing to keep the bonus instead, so the movie has a unique neutral perspective on the happening events.
Personally, while I did find the main girl's acting amazing, that didn't stop it from reaching levels where it nearly became unbearable to watch, Sandra really frustrated me and got on my nerves, but I'm on the fence about holding it against the film or not.

Rating:
Overall, "Two Days, One Night" is a well paced drama with an incredible performance, and an honourable message to convey. This is a high Matinee
http://images.amcnetworks.com/ifcfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2days1night.jpg

[Okay]

Audition (1999) 3.5
http://f.ptcdn.info/917/037/000/nyoh8wcb4KTL0p5PD7A-o.jpg

"Audition" is a Japanese comedy, whoops I mean horror film about a widower who is looking for a new wife, and he decides to set up an audition in order to find the woman he wants.

See, when it comes to horror films, it's either a hit or miss for me, no in-between, I usually love the slow paced ones such as The "VVitch", "The Curse" and "The House of The Devil". I thought "Audition" started out pretty strongly, it had the criteria of what's considered an enjoyable horror movie in my eyes, the story kept me interested, and it never bored me despite its long running time. The main character is Shigeharu, he is looking for a new woman to spend the rest of his life with, and he sets his eyes on Asami during the process of an audition. The film does a great job at showing how creepy and vague this girl is, there isn't much information given about her, which keeps you interested in seeing her true intentions. The lead up to the climax is pretty suspenseful and intense, and once the movie hits the point of no return, it really doesn't shy away. Now on to some spoilers....

So what I really couldn't wait to talk about was the ending...and how farcical it was ! I found Asami HILARIOUS, especially when she kept saying "Kikire kire kire kireee..." I thought that was the funniest thing, and then when she nonchalantly started sawing his leg off using the metal wire, I really couldn't stop laughing at that as well, OH ! And here's the best part ! When the son comes home and sees his dad all messed up, and he's just like "Dad....are you okay ?" meanwhile the father has his leg cut off, he's bleeding everywhere, and there are needles covering most of his body, ehhhhh of course he is okay why wouldn't he be.

There isn't much wrong about "Audition", but I've seen too many horror films to be scared by it, if you're into slow paced films, this is definitely a must watch, especially with that satisfying climax. This is a high Matinee.

https://medialifecrisis.com/media/k2/items/cache/4d8c9898b5bb88437f053c8b957f47f3_XL.jpg

[Okay]

Benny's Video (1992) 2.5
http://fr.web.img3.acsta.net/pictures/210/515/21051540_2013102212371282.jpg

"Benny's Video" is an Austrian film about 14 year old Benny, who is obsessed with watching violent acts on film, to the point where he decides to commit murder in order to fulfil his fantasy.

(This review doesn't depict how I currently feel about the film, so check this link out to see my thoughts on it after a second watch: https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1680030#post1680030)
Similarly to Michael Haneke's other work "Funny Games", the film plays on the audience's predilection for violence, by presenting to us a video enthusiast who becomes eager to catalyse what he sees on tape, the director asks the viewer if the careless representation of violence in the media can lead to creating more psychopaths than ever, and the movie is essentially an argument for the case he's making, my personal answer would be no. This character study of Benny is a realistic take on the behaviour of a sociopath, it is also neatly acted considering the lead is only a teenager. Furthermore, Haneke conveys another statement on what would the modern bourgeoisie family do in such a situation, but he presents it in a hyperbolic manner that took me out of the invested state I was in. There are also a bunch of stale moments that don't really add anything to the story, yet are still in the final cut. The ending is what bumped my rating up a little bit, otherwise this would of been "Funny Games 2: The Prequel Sequel".

"Benny's Video" can be interesting at times, but the dull scenes are very overshadowing, not to mention, I got tired of the director constantly whacking my head with his message instead of delivering it subtly. This is a high Rental.

https://assets.mubi.com/images/film/416/image-w1280.jpg?1452484487

[Okay]

A Town Called Panic (2009) 3.5
http://coproductionoffice.eu/sites/default/files/a_town_called_panic.jpg?1303218821

"A Town Called Panic" is a French Belgian film about the crazy adventures of a horse, a cowboy and an Indian man.

In this mad town, the colourful characters move around in a herky jerky manner, behave mindlessly and similarly to looney tunes, not to mention, the used stop-motion style adds to the entertainment value, then the voice acting is the cherry on top. It is quite impossible to dislike this crazy flick, with only a running time of 76 minutes, it keeps itself short, sweet and hilarious. The plot is all over the place...in an actual good way ! The three main figures embark on a journey that just keeps getting more ridiculous by the second, at one point they find themselves in the steaming hot centre of the earth ! The lack of seriousness is what makes the film so darn delightful. My only issue is the last 10 minutes of the movie, and its drop of quality and entertainment, somehow, someway, the fun reached its end of the rope before this circus-like film finished itself.

"A Town Called Panic" successfully does exactly what it's made to do, its refreshing style and humorous characters, get you invested into the occurring bizarre events. This is a high Matinee.

http://www.dvdizzy.com/images/t-v/atowncalledpanic-10.jpg

[cricket]

I didn't dislike Audition, but I was disappointed by it. I thought it was just ok.

On the other hand, A Town Called Panic was a big surprise for me.

I've had Benny's Video on my radar for a while. I should get to it at some point.

[Okay]

I didn't dislike Audition, but I was disappointed by it. I thought it was just ok.

On the other hand, A Town Called Panic was a big surprise for me.

I've had Benny's Video on my radar for a while. I should get to it at some point.

I was disappointed by Audition too, the ending was intended to be scary but I ended up laughing so hard at it.
Benny's Video....ehhhhhh, you probably shouldn't be in a hurry to get to it, but that's just my opinion.

[Okay]

The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (2014) 3
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M85UvH0TRPc/maxresdefault.jpg

Description:
"The Internet's Own Boy" is a biographical documentary film, about the lead up to the suicide of the internet pioneer, and leftist activist, Aaron Swartz.

Thoughts:
Aaron Swartz's documentary is mostly about his astonishing accomplishments, the inequitable justice system, living up to our principles and his influence on today's world.
This biography is very informative, it not only enlightens the viewers on how much of an instrumental Aaron is, when it comes to how the internet currently functions, but also how deceiving the government can be with its overzealous prosecutions, which this information activist was a victim of.
It is also morally inspiring, here is this young man who stands by his principles even when his life is on the line, and that to me is pretty powerful.
Despite the film-makers trying to make this biography balanced, by reaching out to opposing points of views, that doesn't stop it any less from being such a tribute, and that is a significant problem I detest when it comes to documentaries, it lacks any minimal sense of criticism which leaves the presented story to be quite one dimensional and one sided.

Rating:
I would still recommend this engaging morality tale to anyone, since it has enough heart to make a connection with everyone, not to mention, it has a bunch of inspiring morals to it that can teach us how to become better human beings. This is a Matinee.
http://creofire.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/url15.jpg

[Okay]

Force Majeure (2014) 4
http://www.mbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ForceMajeure2014_4.jpg

Description:
"Force Majeure" is a Swedish black comedy drama, about a family's vacation turning into a disaster, after the father prioritised his own escape over saving his blood, during an avalanche.

Thoughts:
Even though Ebba and Tomas (the parents) are the main characters, the film doesn't necessarily emphasise on just their relationship, but in fact, it could be argued that the central focus is instead a theme, and not a specific person, that theme being gender expectations in our society.
Ruben Östlund, the director, smartly films this picture by giving each shot a great sense of framing, he also is such a perfectionist to the point where while on the set, he plays death metal music to capture authentic shots of the actors, showing the sentiment of grief.
This drama is full of tension, frustration and awkwardness, and the actors greatly perform their persona, and project these emotions into the screen very well.
There's supposed to be a comedic aspect to the movie, but I personally didn't get that, except for this one hilarious scene near the end, that earned a lot of laughter out of me.
The cinematography is incredible, giving me a massive desire to visit the French Alps in the future.
The resolution of the main conflict is quite the fresh approach, and the ending has a lot of interpretations to it, which leaves the viewers craving for a conversation.
My only problem with the film is its repetitive and annoying soundtrack, but at the same time I can't be too mad, since it also introduced me to a quite catchy song.

Rating:
"Force Majeure" is a thought-provoking, self-aware, artsy movie, that I highly recommend. It has an engaging avalanche of events, and well developed characters to look forward to. This is a Full Price.
http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/force-majeure-lisa-loven-kongsli-johannes-kuhnke-clara-wettergren-vincent-wettergren.jpg

[Movie Max]

"Okay Films", at first I thought it was a thread about mediocre films, you know, just okay, not great.:blush:

Haven't seen any of the ones mentioned, so far.

[Okay]

Magical Girl (2014) 4.5
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/73/4c/d8/734cd8f77aea3c843bef14336e71f502.jpg

Description:
"Magical Girl" is a Spanish film about the intersection of three people's lives; Luis, an unemployed literature teacher who tries to realise the last wish of his ill daughter, Barbara, a disturbed woman who suffers from mental disorders, and Damian, a retired maths professor who has recently got out of jail.

Thoughts:
Each of the main characters have compelling stories that will easily get you hooked, and once they intersect with each other, it makes for a flawlessly assembled puzzle that doesn't feel forced, it also doesn't hurt that the three leads, pull off some great performances.
The director of the film, Carlos Vermut, develops an eerie atmosphere that stays throughout the movie, he also scatters metaphorical subtleties that make a double entendre, whether it's by imagery, dialogue, connections or details, which results into having a newer experience during second glance. Furthermore, there are things that are left for interpretation, provoking the viewer's thoughts, and that adds to the powerfulness of the film.
The movie also follows the rules of film noir, the cinematography consists of every shot looking pale and sick, which makes this feature much more effective.
The music resembles the final piece of the puzzle, it is so fitting and memorable while also playing its own important role.
This is such an interesting and thought-provoking motion picture, it ably captures the impact that a butterfly effect can provoke, and once the end comes, chills will be left down your spine.

Rating:
Despite its slow pace, "Magical Girl" manages to hook its audience by incredible storytelling that lead to an intense climax. This is a high Full Price.
http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Magical-Girl-1-e1426882170574.jpg

[Okay]

My Father and My Son (2005) 0
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/08/Posterbaba.jpg/220px-Posterbaba.jpg

So apparently, this is supposed to be one of the best foreign films of all time, and the best Turkish film of all time, it even has a score of 8.6 on IMDb, not to mention it's ranked #89 on the top 250, so here is little ole me thinking I'm about to watch a masterpiece.....come to find out, this is one of the worst films I've ever seen in my life. I couldn't even finish watching this piece of garbage, because I was having a mental breakdown. Seriously though...what are you people thinking ? What exactly can anyone see in this ? I really can't wrap my head around it ! The acting is something straight out of Trolls 2, it looks so bad and so forced, the way the actors read their lines is just magical, it's something I've never seen before. And the constant mood swings of these "characters", they literally transition from being happy, to being sad, to being happy again in a matter of a minute. The dialogue....oh my god let me not even get into that. This is an unredeemable, horrendous ******** of a movie, that has crappy production, directing, acting, plot, pacing, it is all rubbish. I can't believe I wasted my time on this, I hate this film, I ****ing hate it so much ! I will gladly give this a **** YOU!

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/images/news/201204/n_18316_1.jpg

[Okay]

Elevator to the Gallows (1958) 3
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kOj3jHzoRc/UXng6OF_IYI/AAAAAAAAFoM/t-yehxOMXw8/s1600/url.jpegg

Description:
"Elevator to the Gallows" is a French film about a wealthy industrialist getting murdered by his employee, who unintentionally leaves evidence behind, thus leading to an unfortunate chain of events, when he goes back to cover up his tracks.

Thoughts:
Once Julien Tavernier goes back to retrieve a rope from the crime scene, he gets stuck on an elevator for the rest of the night, leading to his car getting stolen, and his love interest wandering the Paris streets asking for his whereabouts.
The story is the most intriguing part of this film noir, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what the next scene has in store, although, there are quite a lot of apparent plot holes that take away from the enjoyment you could have, but none of them are substantial enough to ruin the movie.
The main characters are a bunch of anti-heroes, making the film feel fresh due to its uniqueness, while the acting might not be exceptional, it is enough to produce quality scenes.
The director does a great job with his cinematographer, by shooting each scene beautifully and skilfully, while also capturing some breathtaking imagery of the Parisian surroundings.
The jazz score is incredible to listen to, it guides the audience through the occurring events, while also adding to the realism of the setting and the time period.
The screenplay can use some modifications for the better, but just like the other flaws of the film, it isn't weighty to the point of complete ruination.

Rating:
Louis Malle does a great job with his first feature film, it is high class, and a lot of highlights. This is a Matinee.
https://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/articles/main%20elevator%20to%20gallows.jpg

[Citizen Rules]

I haven't seen any of those, so can't comment, but you seem to be real watched:)...Keep up the good work and I'll Be Back.

[Okay]

Thank you. I'm intentionally only watching films that don't get much attention, those tend to be my favourites. But I will be posting some extremely well known ones that I haven't gotten to see yet.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

I've seen from your list only Funny Games (2007), Ida (2013) and Audition (1999) kiri kiri kiri kiri :D - I'm canceling all my acupuncture sessions :) .

Have you checked some of Eric Rohmer's or Robert Bresson's stuff?

[Okay]

The Bicycle Thief (1948) 4.5
http://img.moviepostershop.com/the-bicycle-thief-movie-poster-1949-1010503554.jpg

Description:
"The Bicycle Thief" is an Italian film set after WWII, when the opportunity of employment is slim, a poor father has to find his stolen bicycle or else he will be fired from his job, and won't be able to feed his already struggling family.

Thoughts:
Since Italy was in such a poor shape post-war, the film ably portrays the conditions during that time period, by showing the importance of having any available job for the Italian men, the former builds up the significance of the stolen bicycle, and how devastating it would be if the protagonist isn't able to find it by the end of the movie.
Therefore, we follow Antonio, who's wandering Rome's streets, searching the corners of the city, trying to find his bike, bringing along his kid Bruno, who adds some humorous scenes and encounters, that break from time to time the ongoing tension that the film builds.
Lamberto Maggiorani steals the show with his ability to showcase powerful emotions, such as misery, frustration, desperation, hope...all through his facial expressions, no dialogue is needed to understand and feel what this man is going through, meanwhile, the superb cinematography neatly captures the distressing situation of that time's society.
From just a simple concept, Vittorio De Sica was able to build a masterpiece, by his amazing directing, especially in the final scene where the breaking point is reached, I was literally at the edge of my seat.

Rating:
This is a must-see film and I can't get enough of praising it, I tried to find a flaw within it but I miserably failed. This is an extremely high Full Price.
http://www.bleachbypass.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/bicycle-thieves-public-domain.jpg

[Okay]

I've seen from your list only Funny Games (2007), Ida (2013) and Audition (1999) kiri kiri kiri kiri :D - I'm canceling all my acupuncture sessions :) .

Have you checked some of Eric Rohmer's or Robert Bresson's stuff?
What was your thoughts on those films by the way ?
I have two films from each of those guys in my "To Watch" list, what would you suggest as their best films?

[Nestorio_Miklos]

What was your thoughts on those films by the way ?
I have two films from each of those guys in my "To Watch" list, what would you suggest as their best films?

Rohmer is so easy and pleasant to watch. I like his moral tales and films with Pauline character the best, Characters are always tempted and fights with moral issues. He goes deep down to the character, dismantling his/her psyche, morals, beliefs, not really caring about the story. Story is always simple.

Bresson is about the same however his films are very sad, bleak and his work with camera is unique, you either like or hate it.

How come I don't get a notification when someone answers my post? It was just coincidence I found your query

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Rohmer is so easy and pleasant to watch. I like his moral tales and films with Pauline character the best, Characters are always tempted and fights with moral issues. He goes deep down to the character, dismantling his/her psyche, morals, beliefs, not really caring about the story. Story is always simple.

Bresson is about the same however his films are very sad, bleak and his work with camera is unique, you either like or hate it.

How come I don't get a notification when someone answers my post? It was just coincidence I found your query

As per Bresson, I liked all his movies but the best for me is Mouchete

[cricket]

Magical Girl sounds very interesting. I added it to my watchlist where it will join The Bicycle Thief.

Elevator to the Gallows was just ok for me; I hardly remember it.

[Okay]

Thanks for the suggestions, duly noted.

[Okay]

Magical Girl sounds very interesting. I added it to my watchlist where it will join The Bicycle Thief.

Elevator to the Gallows was just ok for me; I hardly remember it.
Magical Girl and The Bicycle Thief are an amazing watch, you won't be disappointed.

[cricket]

For Rohmer I like La Collectioneause, Claire's Knee, and My Night at Maud's.

For Bresson, I like A Man Escaped, Pickpocket, and Diary of a Country Priest.

[Okay]

Caché (2005) 4.5
http://www.rollercoasterphilosophy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cache.jpg

Description:
"Caché" is a French film, it follows a married couple searching for the source of a bunch of mysterious video tapes that keep getting left on their porch, the delivered cassettes get more personal by the day, creating disruption and unbalance in the family's life.

Thoughts:
After previously watching "Funny Games" and "Benny's Video", I had no doubt in my mind that I would dislike "Caché" just as much as I disliked the former two, considering they are all directed by the same person, fortunately, Michael Haneke proved me wrong.
Even though the audience is constantly teased by the mystery of the surveillance footage and its origins, that isn't the intended main focus of the film, in fact, knowing the identity of the sender becomes irrelevant by the end of it all. The movie seems to be essentially more about a man's haunting and hidden guilt, his skeletons in the closet, a broken marriage, paranoia, distrust, the clear divide between each social class and the history of Algeria and its impact on France. The viewer understandably gets distracted by the occurring events, and doesn't seem to notice the main message of the film, the bigger picture.
There is some outstanding acting in this picture, especially by Daniel Auteuil, Juliette Binoche and Maurice Bénichou, they work really hard to help build tension and suspense throughout the film, successfully so.
Michael Haneke trusts his audience enough to search for clues and try to piece this puzzle together, by not just dumbing everything down, and that to me is very appreciated.
The more I think about "Caché", the better I like it, and I'm confident that after a second watch it would go down as one of my all time favourites.

Rating:
"Caché" might not be everyone's cup of tea, in fact it may even anger you, but it is extremely well done for its intended audience, and also has enough going on to hold anyone's interest. This is a high Full Price.
http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/review/primary_image/reviews/great-movie-cache-2005/hero_EB20100113REVIEWS08100119986AR.jpg

[ScarletLion]

Brilliant film. Agree with your review.

[cricket]

Cache is certainly a good movie, but yea, it angered me in the end.

[Okay]

It's definitely one of those endings that make you either love the film or hate it.

[cricket]

I was real pissed off at the time but I can appreciate it now in reflection.

[Okay]

Under the Shadow (2016) 1.5
http://www.cinemixtape.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/under_the_shadow_movie_poster.jpg

Description:
"Under the Shadow" is an Iranian film set during the 1980's when Tehran was war torn, it follows a mother and a daughter who are being haunted by a mysterious evil, and they have to fend for themselves to survive through the nights.

Thoughts:
There's a lot of similarities between this and another over-hyped horror film called "The Babadook", except "Under the Shadow" is worse, way worse.
There are two main characters, the mother is played by Narges Rashidi who does a fairly good job at portraying a left-wing female in Iran, meanwhile the young girl is played by Avin Manshadi who's just simply bad at acting...I know, I know, she's just a child but that excuse is insignificant when the movie is trying to be as realistic as possible, while also having a kid that doesn't match up with the character it's supposed to be in that universe.
Speaking of realism, this film fails at showcasing that, by having a moron as the lead. The mum is so ridiculously stupid it's not even funny, at one point she decides to still stay in her apartment after a damn missile hit the flat she's living in, and there are countless of similar situations such as the former that make me want to facepalm myself.
Supposedly, this is a horror film, but yet I wasn't scared by it whatsoever, why ? Because most of the "scares" are a bunch of annoying and predictable jumpscares. And that ending...please, LAUGHABLE !
I have to admit though, there are a few cool shots here and there due to the cinematography, but other than that this movie is a flop.

Rating:
"Under the Shadow" would of been better off as a drama rather than a worthless horror flick, it immensely disappointed me. I recommend anyone who's planning on watching this to just take a nap instead.
http://player.bfi.org.uk//media/images/stills/film/10090/b0b8dcdd8222b22c985a1104c4c02164-1000x563.jpg

[cricket]

I saw what Sumatra Roy said about that movie the other day, but even if I didn't see your review, I wouldn't have any interest.

[Okay]

Now that the holidays are over, I can only watch a film per week hehehe, I'm still gonna try to be as active as possible though.
I watched Pickpocket this past sunday, but for some reason I still haven't got enough time to write about it.

[Okay]

The Skin I Live In (2011) 4
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/09/94/15/09941529a5f89e00fe9e7c7a0bdc9396.jpg

Description:
"The Skin I Live In" is a Spanish film that follows Robert Legard, a plastic surgeon who is obsessed with creating the perfect skin that can withstand any damage, and he uses a woman as a human guinea pig to fulfil his obsession.

Thoughts:
Where do I start ? This is an emotionally and intellectually challenging film, it does not shy away from showing taboo subjects to its audience, and while it does come across as if it's just for shock value, there is a deeper ulterior motive to it.
The score, cinematography and production design are absolutely spectacular, they significantly add to the film's eeriness, but what ultimately stands out the most is the two leads performances, Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya's chemistry together is very intriguing and interesting to watch, whenever they're in a scene, a sense of discomfort and uneasiness crawls under my skin.
The happenings in this motion picture are simply disturbing, they're presented in a nonlinear fashion which boosts the intensity and the viewer's desire to piece this puzzle together.
I didn't once feel bored during the running time of the movie which is two hours, but I do think that the first act could of been a little bit chopped off and better handled. I also think that the movie isn't as complex as it tries to be, which leads to the lack of crave for a second watch, but that doesn't necessarily hurt the overall quality of the film.

Rating:
"The Skin I Live In" is a beautifully directed, amazing psychological thriller that will easily stick with your soul after viewing. This is a Full Price.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xw6MiPAA690/Uj5On71rMHI/AAAAAAAAIw0/tQa0x8reO5s/s1600/skin.jpg

[cricket]

I couldn't get into that, but I'd like to try it again some time. It seems that I've seen a lot of movies with new face/no face stories recently.

[Okay]

I couldn't get into that, but I'd like to try it again some time. It seems that I've seen a lot of movies with new face/no face stories recently.
It was difficult to get into it for the first 40 mins of the film, but the rest did more than make up for that, in my eyes.

[cricket]

I'm definitely going to check it out again because I wonder if the director's style takes some getting used to. It seems that a lot of people love that movie.

[Okay]

Mother (2009) 4.5
https://ohanamivn.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/1-07a-poster.jpg?w=690

Description:
"Mother" is a South Korean film about a mother who is desperately trying to prove her son's innocence and lack of involvement in a young girl's murder case, therefore she searches for the real killer to bring him back to justice.

Thoughts:
One of the best things about "Mother" is how well the drama and the humour mashes together, and it does so in such a captivating way, the director does an excellent job at making a hilarious yet heart clenching film.
Hye-ja Kim's portrayal of a poor, caring mother is one of, if not the best I have ever seen, she plays a character who is willing to stop at nothing for the purpose of freeing her dear son, who's greatly played by Bin Won, they only have each other to count on and lean on, which makes for a compelling relationship that gets you easily invested.
We follow this mother step by step to the key of this case, and we feel her distress and struggle throughout the journey, and once she finally arrives to her final destination, a shocking discovery is found that leaves the audience staggered.
Once this multi-layered movie hits its end, I was left admiring the subtle and smart connected ties that were made, and some thought-provoking scenes that are simply an example of the fascinating art of cinema, and yes I am talking about the opening and ending sequences.

Rating:
This incredibly told story deserves to be seen immediately ! With its moving score, enthralling cinematography, clever screenplay and thick plot, it leaves no room for technical mistakes, which makes this one of the best dramatic thrillers I have ever watched. This is a HIGH Full Price.
http://www.hancinema.net/photos/fullsizephoto84229.jpg

[Okay]

La Haine (1995) 4
http://payload388.cargocollective.com/1/14/473004/10070744/LAHAINE2_670.png

Description:
"La Haine" is a French film that follows the lives of three young men of social underclass, in a span of 24 hours. The fellas consist of Vinz, who's a hotheaded Jew, Hubert who's a black boxer and easily the most self-reflective of his mates, and finally, Said who comes from an Arabic background and is the most inexperienced of the three, yet still very thuggish.

Thoughts:
"La Haine" is able to erase our registered beliefs of Paris, by showing us the darker side of the city of lights; the suburbs, it's where our three main characters reside, and live their lives a day at a time.
It's quite difficult to describe the film's plot, and that's because it's almost plotless, we literally witness a typical day of these men's lives, and I have to say that it is in no way shape or form a dull watch, minute by minute you become extremely invested in these characters, their interactions with each other and their surroundings provided a realistic feel to the atmosphere, and that also has a lot to do with the incredible acting, especially by Vincent Cassel.
The movie being shot in black and white is perfect for it, I even think that it would of lost its touch had it been filmed any other way, it also made the viewing of the cinematography much more beautiful.
Mathieu Kassovitz is the director, and he is an absolute virtuoso to me, he shows a lot of his skill by brilliant camera techniques that simply amazed me.
There's a lot to take from this French masterpiece, and most importantly, I believe that the last minute of this film is an experience which every moviegoer has to undergo.

Rating:
"La Haine" is a powerful film with a beautifully conveyed social message, and incredible directing and storytelling. This is a Full Price.
http://www.indiewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/la-heine.jpg

[ScarletLion]

Great movie La Haine. Which in my opinion has the best "dolly cam" shot of all time.

[Okay]

The Imposter (2012) 3.5
http://www.impawards.com/2012/posters/imposter_ver4.jpg

Description:
"The Imposter" is a documentary about a foreign man, tricking a Texan family into believing that he is their missing relative.

Thoughts:
As soon as I read the description of this film, it jumped to the top of my watchlist, I needed to see this and its execution, it is too intriguing for me to resist, and now that I finished watching it, I have to say...I am slightly disappointed.
I don't want to give away anymore of the plot than I already have, because I believe that the best way to see this is by going in completely blind, but just in case you're doubtful, this is based on an actual true story, this is a prime example of the truth being stranger than fiction, it's really mind-boggling.
The intensity and mystery keeps getting built throughout the documentary and a sense of eeriness exists for its entirety, and it remains after so as well, mainly due to witnessing a real psychopath walking us through everything. There are some re-enactments scenes of the events and fortunately, they don't feel cheap or forced.
Despite a running time of 99 minutes, this film unnecessarily slows down at certain points, which is quite annoying, and I also have a hard time believing the authenticity of one specific footage, there are other minor issues that I have with the movie, but discussing them would be crossing spoilers territory.
Even though I only have a few nitpicks, I still found myself disappointed at the wasted potential of making a masterpiece, I think this would of been much better had it been a fictionalised character study of the crazy protagonist, who is by far the best part of this feature. Regardless, this is a visually beautiful documentary, with quite an interesting story to tell, and hidden tricks up its sleeve.

Rating:
"The Imposter" is the equivalent of a mind distorter, it is an irresistible experience that I highly recommend you have. This is a high Matinee.
http://cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/5811/09/file_566510_imposter-trailer-05312012-003320.jpg

[FromBeyond]

good reviews.. few here I want to see... Bicycle Thief, La Haine.

I didn't like Funny Games but for entirely different reasons than you, I found it highly disturbing.

Enjoyed The Imposter

Could disagree more about Under The Shadow and I also don't know why it keeps being compared to The Babadook because I thought it was so much better, not worse. I haaaated The Babadook. I thought the little girl was great and I don't say that for every child actor. Couldn't quite understand why the mother would refuse to leave the building at times... until it became apparent she couldn't yet. Yes it was jump scare orientated but I found them so artful and better than what we see in Hollywood and I had a sense of dread throughout this film.

[Okay]

good reviews.. few here I want to see... Bicycle Thief, La Haine.

I didn't like Funny Games but for entirely different reasons than you, I found it highly disturbing.

Enjoyed The Imposter

Could disagree more about Under The Shadow and I also don't know why it keeps being compared to The Babadook because I thought it was so much better, not worse. I haaaated The Babadook. I thought the little girl was great and I don't say that for every child actor. Couldn't quite understand why the mother would refuse to leave the building at times... until it became apparent she couldn't yet. Yes it was jump scare orientated but I found them so artful and better than what we see in Hollywood and I had a sense of dread throughout this film.

About Under The Shadow, I still hate it, mainly because of the stupid mother, I really couldn't suspend my disbelief whatsoever when it comes to her not leaving the flat earlier on, things continually kept happening and she still decided to stay, I also don't remember there being a point in the film where she realised she couldn't leave yet. The idiotic decision that just made me completely fed up though, was when the mother decided to stay and search for the doll as her daughter asked her to, instead of picking her up, and dragging her away from that place, which I believe is what any good mother would do, I mean seriously what kind of mother is she. Another part that I remember it being annoying was when she had a conversation with her neighbour, and she was like "Don't be silly, Jinns aren't real" meanwhile she lives in a Muslim country, she grew up in this Muslim country, and it's clearly stated in the Quran that Jinns do exist, so her reaction seemed so unrealistic and simply impossible. Not to mention, she had to fight off a bed sheet in the end, A BED SHEET ! That was the villain really...I'm glad you enjoyed it more than i did, I had a miserable time :/

[FromBeyond]

About Under The Shadow, I still hate it, mainly because of the stupid mother, I really couldn't suspend my disbelief whatsoever when it comes to her not leaving the flat earlier on, things continually kept happening and she still decided to stay, I also don't remember there being a point in the film where she realised she couldn't leave yet. The idiotic decision that just made me completely fed up though, was when the mother decided to stay and search for the doll as her daughter asked her to, instead of picking her up, and dragging her away from that place, which I believe is what any good mother would do, I mean seriously what kind of mother is she. Another part that I remember it being annoying was when she had a conversation with her neighbour, and she was like "Don't be silly, Jinns aren't real" meanwhile she lives in a Muslim country, she grew up in this Muslim country, and it's clearly stated in the Quran that Jinns do exist, so her reaction seemed so unrealistic and simply impossible. Not to mention, she had to fight off a bed sheet in the end, A BED SHEET ! That was the villain really...I'm glad you enjoyed it more than i did, I had a miserable time :/

Did you not remember when the neighbour says that if a Jinn takes something that belongs to you, then you cannot be rid of the Jinn.. this was the doll..

There are many things that exist in the Quran, your presuming every Muslim understands Islam in the same way and not their own interpretation of it. I know what your saying because I picked up on the disbelief too, I don't think it was an error or impossible, in fact if everybody had started believing in the Jinn (because it's in the Quran) I would find that impossible

She fought of a bed sheet a few times, it was what I loved, they took the traditional spooky prop which has now become a joke thing and made it live again

[Okay]

Did you not remember when the neighbour says that if a Jinn takes something that belongs to you, then you cannot be rid of the Jinn.. this was the doll..

There are many things that exist in the Quran, your presuming every Muslim understands Islam in the same way and not their own interpretation of it. I know what your saying because I picked up on the disbelief too, I don't think it was an error or impossible, in fact if everybody had started believing in the Jinn (because it's in the Quran) I would find that impossible

She fought of a bed sheet a few times, it was what I loved, they took the traditional spooky prop which has now become a joke thing and made it live again

I do, but I don't think the mother believed her at all, I mean even in the end, she was going to leave the house but her daughter convinced her not to, because she wanted her doll back. Which I thought was just unbelievable.

Well, all Muslims do believe in Jinns, that's part of their religion, and it has nothing to do with interpretation, I just remember her reaction to what she was told as if it was absurd, when she knows damn well she's in a Muslim country. It was really weird.

Unfortunately that didn't work for me, I found it laughable. Thanks for your input though :)

[cricket]

I liked La Haine and The Imposter, but neither as much as I was hoping to.

[Okay]

I'm Not Scared (2003) 2
http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/im_not_scared.jpg

Description:
"I'm Not Scared" is an Italian film about a 9 year old boy, accidentally finding a missing kid, who's kept hostage in a deep hole set in an isolated town.

Thoughts:
This film has been getting so much praise ever since it has been exposed to the public, and in my humble opinion, I don't think it deserves any of it. There are countless flaws that I don't understand how anyone could just dismiss.
First of all, the acting, of course this would of been an issue when you have a movie dominated by children, and every last one of them makes me want to cringe, don't get me wrong though, some of them are good child actors, but what most people seem to forget is that a good child actor doesn't translate into a good actor, and in this case, it translates to a bad actor.
Also, it doesn't really help that the main kid is really unlikeable, actually, pretty much every character is extremely unlikeable, there's almost nobody to root for, and I usually don't mind that, but this time it's clearly done unintentionally.
This isn't necessarily a horror film, yet for some reason, the director felt the need to squeeze in a poorly done jumpscare, plus, it doesn't even make sense in the world of the film, which is an immensely annoying tactic.
Mind you, there is quite the lack of logic, and some would explain it by arguing that we're dealing with children and ignorant adults who are all from a secluded town, that probably doesn't grant a decent education, but there are moments in this film where characters go against human instincts, and I have yet and probably won't get a rational explanation of it.
There are a few good elements in this feature, such as the pretty good score, the pretty good cinematography, some creepy and convincing imagery, an engaging story that definitely kept me interested, and nail biting scenes that would of been amazing with better performers.

Rating:
Unfortunately, this is a very disappointing Italian movie that had so much potential, and I believe that it would of been phenomenal had it been put in the right hands. This is a Rental.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WpO8M24DQ04/TyfarDMQXjI/AAAAAAAAANM/ILa6x6Pp5GI/s1600/dfgfg.jpg

[Okay]

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) 3.5
http://www.impawards.com/1975/posters/picnic_at_hanging_rock_ver1.jpg

Description:
"Picnic at Hanging Rock" is an Australian film set during the Victorian times on St. Valentine's Day, where three young girls and a teacher disappear without a trace while on a school picnic at Hanging Rock, Victoria, leaving the worried town desperately trying to solve the mystery.

Thoughts:
Based on Joan Lindsay's novel of the same name, "Picnic at Hanging Rock" manages to turn an ordinary girls school summer picnic, into a dreadful and haunting disappearance case that you sure want to help and solve.
My favourite part of the experience is listening to the music that flowed very well with the occurring events, which consisted of classical pieces from legendary composers such as Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, not to mention, the haunting panpipe music and other original compositions.
I'm a huge fan of slow burns and I found myself shocked at how bored I was during the second act of this film, where it kinda lost me for a while, and the reason for that was because of how uneventful and unexciting everything was. Another downfall is the fact that some of the actors miserably failed at their job, whenever some sort of emotion is supposed to be projected. There is also an annoying scene where the search party keeps calling for only two people, when there are four missing ladies.
The biggest attraction of this movie is its mystery and how uniquely well it is done, you crave and crave for answers and none of them are given to you without your own efforts and work, and I always like it when the makers trusts the audience by not spilling to them all of the film's guts.
The costumes add a lot to the realism of the time period, while also being the director's way of subtly conveying hints that help at clearing our foggy vision. And the cinematography is as expected, remarkable, the cinematographer manages to make a what is supposed to be a beautiful place and landmark, into a sinister location.

Rating:
Despite its errors, this is a visually beautiful movie with a lot of originality and a haunting mystery case that will leave you puzzled....in a good way. This is a high Matinee.
http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/picnic-at-hanging-rock-image-1.jpg

[Citizen Rules]

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) rating_3_5The biggest attraction of this movie is its mystery and how uniquely well it is done, you crave and crave for answers and none of them are given to you without your own efforts and work, and I always like it when the makers trusts the audience by not spilling to them all of the film's guts.The costumes add a lot to the realism of the time period, while also being the director's way of subtly conveying hints that help at clearing our foggy vision.

And the cinematography is as expected, remarkable, the cinematographer manages to make a what is supposed to be a beautiful place and landmark, into a sinister location. I like what you said in those paragraphs, especially the one I bolded, well said! I reviewed it too and has similar thoughts on the movie.

[Okay]

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback !

[Okay]

Miss Violence (2013) 2.5
https://videocitylondon.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/miss-violence-quad.jpg

Description:
"Miss Violence" is a Greek film about a family's disturbing and dysfunctional dynamic, where the granddad is a dominating patriarch that obsessively controls the remaining members of the household.

Thoughts:
In the very first five minutes of the movie, we see a young girl celebrating her eleventh birthday, then suddenly, jumping off the balcony with a wide smile on her face, for the rest of the time you wonder the reason for such shocking behaviour, and once the cause is revealed, it definitely becomes harder to sit through the film.
I have mixed feelings towards "Miss Violence", I didn't completely hate it, but I can't call it a good film either, and the reason for that is the many illogical conveniences and actions that I can't dismiss, and the performances that range from fine to simply awful. Not to mention, there are some dark and repulsive scenes that are completely unnecessary.
The majority of the actors have pretty much the same job, which is sitting around with a blank face, and yet, they still managed to mess that up, most of them slip up here and there, but the kids...man the kids are just unnatural, to put it nicely. There's one scene where the youngest girl is slapping her brother, but you can clearly see how unconvincing it is, and the editor doesn't help at hiding the technical errors either, so what is supposed to be an effective scene becomes a comical one. Yikes.
I don't have much to say about this without crossing spoilers territory, and that speaks for itself, there isn't anything special about the film, sure it is very well made, and yes there are some strong but few scenes with great camera movements, but that isn't enough to save it from the deep whole it's already in. There are other better versions of this story out there that definitely deserve your time.

Rating:
This is a prime example of a movie trying to be edgy but failing, it has redeemable qualities, but it's all been done before better. This is a high Rental.
http://www.frontrowreviews.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Miss-Violence-3.jpg

[Okay]

Black Dynamite (2009) 4
http://www.impawards.com/2009/posters/black_dynamite.jpg

Description:
"Black Dynamite" is a parody of the blaxploitation genre and an action comedy, following the former CIA agent Black Dynamite, who's looking for whoever's responsible for his brother's death.

Thoughts:
During the 1970s, Black Dynamite is extremely persistent about getting rid of the town's drug dealers, especially after the recent death of his younger brother, so we're taken on a roller coaster of a journey with the protagonist, and we are subjected to the crazy obstacles he encounters.
This is the best spoof film ever made. Period. It has the most heart of any film from that genre, and it's also extremely witty, mainly due to the clever writing that immensely helped at realising numerous quotable scenes.
Michael Jai White steals the show just by his presence alone, he is perfect for the role of Black Dynamite, his character has become one of my favourites in film history because of all of the mixed elements it possesses.
With this being a parody, it capitalises on its ability of making fun of itself while also not being a plotless, braindead film, in fact "Black Dynamite" uses its capabilities the best it can.
Everything is a laughing stock from the straight acting, to the vintage soundtrack, to the characters goofy names, to the cheesy yet clever dialogue, not to mention, the intentional technical mistakes that cause immense laughter.
My favourite scene from the film has to be in the diner, where a group of characters draw a shocking conclusion after some really hard thinking, I've never laughed out loud as much as I did during a segment of a movie until this came, it will definitely stick with me for life. And there are countless of other similar scenes that are just as ridiculously funny.
The only negative I can think of on the top of my head, is the fact that I kinda guessed where it was going during the last act of the movie, which reduced the amount of effect certain final scenes could of had on me, but they were still amusing regardless.

Rating:
This movie is a blast from start to finish, there isn't a single dull moment with Black Dynamite around, you will be entertained, charmed and involved by his tale, and I cannot wait to sit through it again, next time with a bunch of friends. This is a Full Price.
https://i.imgur.com/aB5Cxn1h.jpg

[Okay]

Tangerine (2015) 3
http://www.impawards.com/2015/posters/tangerine.jpg

Description:
"Tangerine" is a comedy about best friends Sin-Dee and Alexandra, embarking on a journey, for the purpose of finding out the truth about a scandalous rumour. What happens next is an avalanche of ridiculous events that you don't want to miss.

Thoughts:
This episode is set in Tinseltown on Christmas Eve, where two transgeder woman who just happen to be prostitutes are our main focus, Sin-Dee and Alexandra. After 28 days of jail time, Sin-Dee reunites with her bestie, only to find out that her pimp has been cheating on her, therefore, they embark on a mission to figure out the girl's and the pimp's whereabouts.
This is quite an impressive film considering it was all shot on an iPhone by Sean Baker, who also made the decision to add the tangerine tint to the movie, which adds to the impact it delivers, I can't call this a beautiful film because it simply isn't, but it's definitely better looking than the majority of Hollywood's disposable garbage.
At the same time, I can't give this flick a pass just for its gimmick, in fact, it is heavily flawed, starting with the amateurish "acting" by everybody, especially Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Sin-Dee's character.
There are some really good jokes and a bunch of hilarious scenes, but for quite some time, "Tangerine" takes the easy way out and decides to spit out the cheap, usual and trashy lines that are considered quote on quote "jokes".
In some scenes, the editing gets very annoying because it's really choppy for no good reason, it felt like an amateur music video which is not good.
Despite all the negatives, I kinda found myself enjoying the majority of this flick, like I said there are some really good scenes to enjoy, the hyperbolic plot adds to the comedy, and having real trans women throughout the film is a nice touch, there is some obvious fake "action" going on, and it may also get too cheesy during the final scene, but I don't mind all of that, plus the whole thing is only 88 minutes short.

Rating:
Some would consider "Tangerine" to be a bad movie, some would even call it a great one, I found myself to be sitting right in the middle while understanding both perspectives, it's an okay film. This is a Matinee.
https://halfacanyon.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/tangerine-sean-barker-kitana-kiki-rodriguez-mya-taylor-james-ransome.jpg

[Okay]

To Take a Wife (2004) 3.5
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjA2MzU0ODgyN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTc4MTc0Mw@@._V1_.jpg

Description:
"To Take a Wife" is an Israeli-French drama film about the unhappy marriage of Viviane, an orthodox Jewish woman who desperately seeks a way out of her broken relationship with her husband.

Thoughts:
This is the first film of its trilogy, the following two being "The Seven Days" and "The Trial of Viviane Amsalem", I happen to be a big fan of the latter, therefore I decided to check out the rest of the story's arcs at some point, good thing I did because I am optimistic about this being one of my favourite trilogies of all time.
The main character's household is an absolute mess, we see her physically and emotionally struggle throughout the movie, by facing obstacles in the form of her husband, her children, her neighbours, her ex-lover and so on and so on...The first scene aptly captures the trauma Viviane is going through just by her facial expressions, it truly sets the tone for the rest of the film.
The film by no means tries to portray Viviane as the perfect wife, the victim or the saint, which I highly praise, in fact, you quickly realise that the cause of the marriage being in a distorted shape goes both ways, the two lovers are simply incompatible.
The flaws of the film take the form of the acting, Ronit Elkabetz doesn't give an as strong performance as the one in "The Trial of Viviane Amsalem", she sometimes tends to overdramatise her showing during emotion requiring scenes, and I'm glad she learned from her work and was able to generate a masterful presentation during the latter film, all of the children/teenagers are okay at best, and in certain parts undeniably awful, fortunately, none of them take a huge portion of the screen time. There are other minor issues, but I think that they're negligible.
In another light, there is a positive factor that extremely works which is the film's authenticity, and its realistic view on the problems married couples face, it is also able to blend in religious ingredients with the story that makes the plot as a whole well grounded.

Rating:
"To Take a Wife" is a well written drama that bumped my urge to watch the final piece of this trilogy, its realistic take on the day to day issues the characters encounter, is what lessens the weight of its weaknesses. This is a high Matinee.
http://ff2media.com/secondcitytzivi/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/02/withelisha.jpg

[Okay]

Krisha (2015) 4.5
https://www.cinemavillage.com/images/usrImage/13-04-2016-04-59-570e0a557e97a.jpg

Description:
"Krisha" is an American drama film about Krisha, an elderly woman returning to her family on Thanksgiving, after a long time being away from them due to addiction. On her break, she had finally put herself back together, but during the festivities, tension rises and old wounds are reopened, leading to madness and bedlam.

Thoughts:
This magical film was shot by the first time director Trey Edward Shults in a span of 9 days, the entire set was basically his mother's house, his relatives and friends are pretty much the whole cast, and his budget didn't even exceed a $100,000, the fact that this movie is as great as it is, is an incredible accomplishment in itself.
"Krisha" opens up with a close-up of the main character's hopeless face, which is a great way to set the tone for what's to come. The amount of well choreographed and stabilised long takes, prove how substantial the potential of the director is, not to mention the outstanding and unique camera work that surprisingly doesn't come off as pretentious, but instead, helps at describing the state of the lead role.
Krisha Fairchild does a phenomenal job at playing a recovering addict, who's lost and doesn't know her way back despite her tries, the subtle and small efforts put by the actress add to the authenticity and mystery of her character's tale, the rest of the family are also incredible despite being unprofessional and inexperienced as actors, it may show sometimes but it's still so forgiveable.
The special score plays a huge factor in this feature, it goes along with the characters movements, actions and state, without it I don't think the film would be as exceptional as it is. The aspect ratio changes throughout the duration of the movie, and as expected, it is another factor in building the eerie atmosphere, and it also hints to Krisha's interior feelings and mental shape. I was also taken aback by the eye drooling cinematography and how beautiful each scene looked.
This is the realest horror film without having any horror elements in it whatsoever, it excels at building enormous tension, and it tackles frightening situations while also connecting with the audience on a personal level.

Rating:
Ambitious is what "Krisha" is, it succeeds at being a raw and extraordinary take on an already told story, it is sometimes comedic and other times very unsettling, yet it somehow perfectly worked. This is a high Full Price.
http://thefilmexperience.net/storage/2016/krisha-fridge.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1458411546309

[Okay]

Waltz With Bashir (2008) 4
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9f/Waltz_with_Bashir_Poster.jpg

Description:
"Waltz With Bashir" is an Israeli animated biography of the film's director, Ari Folman, who plays himself and goes on a journey to reconstruct his own memories of his experience as a soldier in the 1982 Lebanon War.

Thoughts:
As we follow Ari Folman through his voyage, we meet a bunch of his former companions during the war, who he interviews, and each time we collect with him partial pieces of the full story, we get a full view of the re-told events in the form of fascinating animation.
This incredible documentary has a unique and artistic way of presenting itself, the surreal animation style with illustrations similar to comics makes it much more engaging and interesting, it also gives the director enough room to play and convey his message in a way that wouldn't have been as efficacious in a live action movie.
The soundtrack also is an enormous factor in this feature, it consisted of a combination of 80's and classical music, not only are they fitting and emotional but they're also purposeful as well.
This is by no means a bash Israel/Lebanon/Palestine movie, the point isn't to put the blame on anyone, it simply puts on screen the pointlessness of a war face to face with its devastating and crucial results.
Despite the film's subject not being anything new, it still manages to pull out some originality using its unique techniques, it also puts the audience in the shoes of guilt full soldiers, who spend the rest of their lives being haunted by the horrors of the battlefield, this approach adds to the honesty and sincerity of the movie, meanwhile, the ending is a hard hitting reminder of the brutal reality.

Rating:
"Waltz With Bashir" is a well crafted and powerful piece of art, its ambiguity touches a deep nerve of truth that many war documentaries fail to reach. This is a Full Price.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq18ksvZ1So/VuFWN4BpDZI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/6EyZ8tmD--8/s640/WaltzWithBashir2.jpg

[Okay]

Incendies (2010) 4.5
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg4MzA0NjI5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTUwMzQzNg@@._V1_SY1000_CR0,0,709,1000_AL_.jpg

Description:
"Incendies" is a Canadian mystery-drama film written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, and it is about a twin sister and brother desperately trying to fulfil their mother's death wishes, which consist of travelling to the middle east and seeking the truth about their family's history.

Thoughts:
Denis Villeneuve is rapidly becoming one of my favourite directors of all time, he hasn't made a wrong step yet, and hopefully he continues this path, because I have to say that this phenomenal film has to be his best achievement so far.
"Incendies" tells the fascinating and tragic backstory of Nawal Marwan, while also going back to the present day, and following her children's foot steps through their journey of unlocking their family's mystery, so the movie has a non-linear plot that surprisingly doesn't get confusing or puzzling, mainly due to how well crafted everything is.
Lubna Azabal plays Nawal and gives a baffling performance, she truly is the shinning star of this picture, her character is desperately searching for peace and love which ultimately isn't found for a cheap price, therefore, this woman faces devastation all throughout her journey, and you genuinely feel as though you've gone on an actual trip as well with these characters by the end of the movie.
The film is based on a play of the same name, and the Lebanese civil war, where right-wing Christian militias massacre Muslims and Muslims massacre Christians right back, and it does not shy away from showing the brutality and harshness of the events, there are a chunk of war scenes that are simply shocking and unforgiving.
The cinematography and the soundtrack are both another aspects where the film excels, the imagery of the middle east sucks you right into the atmosphere, while the music blends right in with the heavily impactful scenes.
The only thing that is holding me back from calling this an extraordinary film and giving it a perfect score, is some of the conveniences and coincidences it makes us believe, but nonetheless, none of them are too far fetched or significant enough to ruin the experience.

Rating:
"Incendies" is a powerful and hard hitting piece of film with a terrific script and outstanding performances, sticking through it all is definitely an emotional, uncompromising and relentless experience. This is a high Full Price.
http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2011/04/19/8_wide-ccb55c778ec138ab3b9bc80bdc4c8c243fa7db6a-s900-c85.jpg

[Okay]

Persona (1966) 4
http://img.moviepostershop.com/persona-movie-poster-1966-1020433556.jpg

Description:
"Persona" is a Swedish psychological drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, and it follows an actress who one night stopped speaking in the middle of her performance, and has been silent ever since.

Thoughts:
Persona or "The Poem in Images" is a very confusing motion picture, coming out of it, you realise that not everything about it is supposed to be taken literally, which creates a deeper meaning to its mystery, although I have only watched the film once, I was still able to take enough of it and make my own interpretation of the events.
There are minor spoilers ahead so be aware:
To me, this movie is about accepting our hidden shadow, or the darker side of our personality and soul, where all of our sinister fantasies and thoughts hide from the public's eyesight. Once the mute Elisabet Vogler (played by Liv Ullmann) start getting taken care of by nurse Alma (played by Bibi Andersson), their persona start merging together, and Ingmar Bergman does an incredible job at conveying the idea of "two in one" via the dialogue between these two characters, and through time, it becomes pretty clear that Elisabeth is the person while Alma is the persona.
The performances are fantastic to say the least, Liv Ullmann plays Elisabeth, a silent actress who doesn't speak for 98% of the film, so she is given a difficult task which is to portray all of her emotions through facial expressions, while Bibi Andersson plays Alma, a nurse who doesn't stop talking for the entirety of the movie, their characters are polar opposites yet extremely similar at the same time.
The nickname "Poem in Images" is given deservedly so, the cinematography is amazing especially for the film's time, it is a major part of the movie that helps at clearing the mysterious happenings, but also summons clouds as a barrier for the purpose of making truth seekers paths more difficult.
With all of that being said, is this a pretentious film ? Yes and No. Maybe my opinion will change after a second watch, but right now I definitely feel as though there were some sequences that were just for shock value with no interior context, but fortunately I believe that the average viewer can still apprehend the general idea and the theme of the movie at first viewing.

Rating:
This complex feature is a study that deserves to be analysed, I congratulate the director, the cinematographer and the actors for bringing this artistic piece to life that is in need of several viewings for a proper understanding. This is a Full Price.
http://static.rogerebert.com/uploads/review/primary_image/reviews/great-movie-persona-1966/hero_EB20010107REVIEWS08101070301AR.jpg

[cricket]

I liked Persona but was a little disappointed. I may need another viewing but right now there's about 10 other Bergmans I like more.

I loved Waltz with Bashir and enjoyed Krisha, a couple of pretty unique movies.

Haven't gotten to Incendies yet.

[Okay]

I liked Persona but was a little disappointed. I may need another viewing but right now there's about 10 other Bergmans I like more.

I loved Waltz with Bashir and enjoyed Krisha, a couple of pretty unique movies.

Haven't gotten to Incendies yet.
What would you say is Bergmans best ?
You should definitely check out Incendies, especially if you're a fan of the other works of its director, I personally think this is his best so far.

[cricket]

What would you say is Bergmans best ?
You should definitely check out Incendies, especially if you're a fan of the other works of its director, I personally think this is his best so far.

I wouldn't even bother recommending a Bergman film to anyone because everyone seems to have a different favorite. My favorite so far is Smiles of a Summer Night, which happens to be a comedy. Also up there for me is Cries and Whispers, The Virgin Spring, Autumn Sonata, Shame, and The Passion of Anna.

[cristinajosaf]

Nice, movies...

[Okay]

Thesis (1996) 1.5
http://holayessica.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/krmh6.jpg

Description:
"Thesis" is a Spanish thriller film about grad student Angela, who stumbles upon a real snuff video while doing a thesis on audiovisual violence, she later find out that the victim is a missing student in her faculty, which drives her to crave for more answers.

Thoughts:
"Thesis" is Alejandro Amenábar's feature debut, the film has snatched seven 1996 Goya Awards, which leaves me in a puzzled state, because unfortunately, I fail to understand how that's even possible, and what exactly did the general consensus see that I somehow missed ?
I quite honestly found the film equivalent to garbage, there are no characters, everyone is just a moving corpse, and let me tell you that these living objects make some ridiculous amount of retarded actions and decisions. How ironic that our main "character" Angela, is a university student, who's doing a thesis on an intriguing subject, yet somehow manages to be a complete idiot in every sense of the word.
Luckily, I didn't end up hating the movie after all, it's actually a comedy gold sometimes, just witnessing Ana Torrent's (Angela) acting is enough to keep anyone entertained, she looks like a deer in headlights in every single scene, not to mention her extremely awkward and bizarre behaviour that generates some hilarious sequences.
The writing is awful, it's so cheesy at times, but it's also plain and unusually strange at other times, I really want to know if the writers were on some sort of stupidity pills while doing their job ? Seriously ! There are a lot of scenes where characters behave as if they're from out of this world, its fairly similar to "The Room" in that aspect.
There's literally one scene in the entire film that is actually well done, which is the opening sequence, other than that, there is absolutely nothing to see in this 125 minutes long pile of poop, even if you're looking for an unintentionally funny movie, you have other immensely better options to choose from.

Rating:
These are the times where I wish there was a rating of DUMB/10, it would perfectly describe my feelings towards this feature, so if you're interested in seeing "Thesis", don't... and just take a nap instead.
http://www.filmotech.com/v2/images/FX_OBRAS/7907/7907_02.jpg

[Okay]

The Fool (2014) 3.5
http://static.metacritic.com/images/products/movies/3/51d1d0c0892abf5299aa0f0cea5620d8.jpg

Description:
"The Fool" is a Russian drama film written and directed by Yuri Bykov, it follows a simple plumber who realises a larger problem while doing his job at a building, which is that this old dormitory is in danger of collapsing and burying over 800 inhabitants under its blocks.

Thoughts:
In an unnamed 40 year old town in Russia, corruption, greed, and poverty overwhelms the population, with only a small minority consisting of the city's officials living life to the fullest, mainly due to them benefiting off of public works funding for themselves. In this world exists our main character Dima, played by Artyom Bystrov, who decides to take matters in his own hands and face the corrupt system.
Dima is an extremely likeable character who easily manages to make the audience root for him and his ambition, even though the rest of the world seems to think of him as a fool, and Artyom Bystrov does him justice by giving a fantastic performance, matter of fact, everyone without an exception gives an exceptional performance, which immensely helped at making the film more of an emotionally impactful experience.
There are other substantial qualities such as the director's capability at ably building tension, especially during the explosive climax, I was also very fond of the score, it merged pretty nicely with the icy and dark atmosphere that the film obtains.
The movie makes quite a few interesting statements that makes us question the world we're living in, but their delivery is what I'm actually disappointed by, unfortunately Yuri Bykov constantly keeps hitting us in the head by the main theme of his film, it's all for a good cause but more subtlety would of definitely increased the message's effect.
I have other minor complaints, such as the few noticeable technical errors, as well as the contradicting logic and actions of some characters, also, the writing could use a little bit of tweaking, but, despite all of the above, I still loved this movie, it successfully managed to do what it was supposed to do, which is to shake the viewer and raise his awareness.

Rating:
The director intended for his film to be a morality lesson, not only to his country, but to everyone around the globe, and the fact that this lesson is wrapped in a pretty well made movie should be a huge and commendable achievement. This is a high Matinee.
http://www.cinemastance.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/fool-wall-extreme-angle-678x381.jpg

[Okay]

Amour (2012) 4
http://www.impawards.com/intl/misc/2012/posters/amour.jpg

Description:
"Amour" is a French-language romantic drama film written and directed by the Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, and it is about the strength of an old couple's love being measured and tested by life itself.

Thoughts:
I purposely described the film as vaguely as possible because it is a must-see, and it is definitely an experience where going in blind is the best way to go. Michael Haneke keeps proving me wrong and is slowly but surely climbing my ladder of favourite directors, and I'm super excited to check out the rest of his films.
The acclaimed director this time tackles a powerful subject with such brutal honesty, and I don't think anyone could pull off what he did successfully in any other way, he is clearly aiming for the film to touch the viewer in a personal way, and despite it not working for me as effectively as the movie probably hoped for, I was still able to appreciate it for what it did.
"Amour" which means "love" in French, is pretty close to being a flawless film, that is mainly due to Michael's hard work and dedication, just watch the making of Amour and you'll see what I'm talking about, there aren't any technical problems and if there actually are, they're extremely unnoticeable, in fact, everything seems to be carefully put together.
It's impossible to praise the acting enough, since every last actor does a phenomenal job, we spend the majority of our time with Emmanuelle Riva and Jean‑Louis Trintignant characters, and they portray them in such a truthful and realistic manner, not to mention, their relationship is a confronting and honest portrayal of love, they're truly magnificent to watch.
This is a very cold picture, and Haneke makes sure that the audience absorbs every bit of the coldness from start to finish, despite how hard and emotional it may get, what I also admire about his filmmaking techniques is his lack of use of music, the only time we hear a song is when it is actually played in the movie's universe, which adds to the genuineness that the film consistently reaches for.
And of course, this being a Haneke film, it has its fair share of symbolism, and no it doesn't come off as pretentious or complex whatsoever, they simply help at making the message of the story much more powerful.
The only reason why "Amour" didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to is because of the pacing, it is incredibly slow, don't be confused though, I'm not calling it boring or dull since it is clearly far from that, but I can't help to think that certain scenes dragged on for way too long, the former is actually intentional so it isn't much of a critique rather than a personal issue.

Rating:
"Amour" is a beautiful looking movie that is as authentic as it can possibly be, it's sad, it's emotional, it's admirable, and it achieved pretty much everything that the director wanted to achieve. This is a Full Price.
http://68.media.tumblr.com/7f3e3ca6d80a4b2a111603879509c9cd/tumblr_mfzwhw5chn1qadbe9o1_1280.jpg

[Okay]

Benny's Video (1992) 4
https://daveandhiscriticisms.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/screen-shot-2013-07-14-at-12-01-43-pm.png

Description:
"Benny's Video" is an Austrian film written and directed by Michael Haneke, and it is about 14 year old Benny, who is obsessed with watching violent acts on film, to the point where he decides to commit murder in order to fulfil his fantasy.

Thoughts:
Yes, I do realise that I have already reviewed this, but upon second watch, I was able to appreciate it much more, and I would feel extremely guilty if I left my thoughts on this great movie just as I had, maybe I will check out other previously reviewed films of mine, but I doubt my opinion on them would change as much as it did in this case.
So who exactly is Benny? Benny is a 14 year old boy who sees reality through the media, we rarely see him express any sorts of emotion due to his extreme detachment and disconnection from the real world, he is apart of a bourgeoisie family that supplies him with all of his needs, yet it is very apparent that the sense of love is absent when it shouldn't be, Michael Haneke asks the audience for their opinion on this matter and what may be the cause of his behaviour, which allows for multiple interpretations and interesting conversations to be had.
There are many subtleties that I missed during my first watch, and they definitely made for a fantastic second viewing, they absolutely helped at understanding the characters, the message and the unanswered questions even more, but what exactly are the statements that the director is trying to convey to the viewer ? Many, and I'd like for everyone to discover them by themselves and make their own interpretation of the happenings.
I don't even have to get into the acting and the directing, I've already said this before, even when I had bitter feelings towards this feature, the acting is pretty great, especially when we're dealing with a teenager as the lead, I was very impressed by Arno Frisch's portrayal, it would've been so easy to mess up his character, but with Michael's directing that was out of the question, there was also some greatly framed shots similarly to all of his other works.
This is by no means as flawless as "Caché" or "Amour", but where it shines the most in my opinion is once you take it as a character study of Benny, I still hold some of the same critiques I once had, such as the weak and slow pacing, but I think that I easily had a better time and experience once I paid more attention to the little things which made time go by smoothly.

Rating:
"Benny's Video" is a dark and gritty realistic take on quite a terrifying situation, if you've watched it once, I definitely suggest you give it another look. This is a Full Price.
http://www.cinematheque.ch/typo3temp/_processed_/csm_BENNY__S-VIDEO-003-_1000110667__cffdfe67d0.jpg

[cricket]

I didn't read that review since I have Benny's Video on my watchlist already. Your rating is certainly promising.

[Okay]

A Separation (2011) 4
http://www.impawards.com/intl/iran/2011/posters/nader_and_simin_ver6.jpg

Description:
"A Separation" is an Iranian drama film written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, it tells the story of a married couple who are on the verge of getting a divorce, over a disagreement about migration, meanwhile, their daughter tires her best to make sure that doesn't happen.

Thoughts:
Asghar Farhadi and his crew were able to assemble a fantastic cast, that brought the story's tragic characters to life, in such a beautiful way. It is pretty rare to have the entire participants of a project do their jobs to the fullest, and that clearly shows in this feature, I seriously can't even pick a stand-out performance due to how equally well everyone appeared.
And Mr. Farhadi proves to be an exceptional director without even looking at the "behind the scenes" footage that shows how determined he is, I really love and admire when a director has a clear vision in his head, and won't stop until the former is brought to life elegantly, that's Asghar Farhadi for you.
The film not only has a gripping story to tell, but it also uses it as a bridge to broadcast Iran's culture, religion, society structure and its justice system, which most of the viewers probably aren't exposed to, and that creates (hopefully) some rich and interesting conversations.
The events themselves are genuinely engaging, your emotions easily get invested in this world's characters, and each of them are presented in a great manner that makes you understand them and their motives, right or wrong, at least we can see their point of view and perspective and that's due to the great writing.
This is no flawless film though, it has its missteps, for example, the movie cheats when trying to make us believe that a certain scenario is impossible and illogical, when clearly at least through my eyes, I can definitely see it easily happening, I would like to think that this issue stems from the inability to find the perfect flat to shoot in, but if that's the case then they should of just scrapped this whole plot point.
Another thing that bothered me is the daughter's reaction when opening a door, her scream clearly came way before she could possibly see what was wrong, they even tried to fix this problem in the trailer, but it looked bad and unsynchronised. Finally, there's a whole unexplored situation with a woman and her going to a doctor, the writers thought it wasn't significant enough I guess ? But for realism's sake, it should of been explained further, because not doing so kinda created some plotholes.

Rating:
Overall this film is awesome ! The magnificently shot happenings pin you down on your seat, and make you go through its runtime while on the edge, not to mention, the ending is absolutely fantastic. This is a Full Price.
http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/a-separation-34.jpg

[Okay]

Close-Up (1990) 4
http://i63.tinypic.com/2qvt8p1.jpg

Description:
"Close-Up" is an Iranian film written and directed by Abbas Kiarostami. It tells the true story of Hossain Sabzian and his unusual crime: fraud and attempted fraud.

Thoughts:
"Close-Up" is an extremely hard film to categorise, and that is a great thing in this case, Kiarostami merges the documentary style with drama by being able to shoot the raw and real footage of this compelling tale, while also convincing its participants to re-enact the earlier events of the story. So if you're looking for an original and unconventional film, this would be a fantastic choice.
I purposely described the movie as vaguely as possible, and that's because I went into it without knowing the background of the story, and whether it was real or fiction, and I was pleasantly surprised by how internally complex yet interesting it was.
To me, the film is mainly about art, specifically cinema, and how it is used as an effective technique to convey to the audience the experiences cultivated by the artist, and its ability to depict relatable and personal situations that emotionally move and stick with the viewer. Cinema is life changing, not only for our main character, but for us as well, therefore, this is without a doubt an important piece in the history of films, that shouldn't be missed.
The film is also largely about the wide differences between social classes, the former is not only presented in a spelled out manner but subtly as well. The struggles of the poor and their sufferings are heavily touched on without guilt-tripping the audience. We are given a close-up of a poor man's upbringing which partially defines him and is an essential reason why he is the way he is.
In "Close-Up", Abbas Kiarostami not only plays an important role in the story, but also behind the scenes, he smartly tends to deflect our attention by not revealing which point of view is being privileged during certain parts, he also loves to fool around with our expectations which I find to be amusing.
My only problem with the film lays during its last sequence, which is also quite the emotional scene, although, it isn't clear if the director expects the viewer to see it as "raw" and "real" footage or re-enactment, he goes out of his way to make it seem as genuine as possible, while it also being evident that it is staged.

Rating:
The movie's dialogue is its action, and the compelling characters tremendously help at making it hard-hitting and personnel, furthermore, there is a fantastic scene starring and aerosol can, so go check it out. This is a Full Price.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z4e6RpiRhCc/maxresdefault.jpg