The Personal Recommendation Hall of Fame III: Foreign Language Edition

Shoplifters (2018)

A loving, caring, safe, positive haven amongst a desolute situation. A family of "collectors" that we learn includes the members of this current family. Each of them truly caring about their fellow beneficiaries in this safe, loving, positive hovel. The entire clan also excels at the art of shoplifting as a strategic plan of operation.
I LOVE being able to continue stating in these Personal Rec HoFs that I LOVE what I have: happily drifted off into engrossment/endearment to this family.
And, oh my dear, sweet lord, the ending? Not only did I cry learning where they all ended up at, but I sobbed. Shoulders shuddering, in tiny gasps, sobs.
A personal first.

It
was
glorious.

So I'm feeling, gosh, gee, I don't know. . . I mean, yeah, a kind of affection, sure, if I was gonna be blunt and/or honest about it. I would be, I supposed, inclined to be on the more agreeing spectrum of that theory. Sure, why not?

To me, how can this ensemble, this story, this beautifully shot, emotionally stirring, wonderfully sentimental, a slice of life, by Writer/Director Hirokazu Koreeda, NOT win Best Picture? Sh#t. F@ckin. Yes. It SHOULD.

That was so beautiful.
Truly, truly, oh so very, very beautiful.

The expressing of technical appreciations and the honorary notations of elemental trivia, almost feel unnecessary due to the wondrous gush of emotion that this film gifted me with. This gift leaving a happy muteness to citing the List of Names.
However exceptional they all are.


Yes, yes, I do believe, a F@ckin YAYYYYY is SO in order.
And of course, sincerely, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU


Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

__________________
What I actually said to win MovieGal's heart:
- I might not be a real King of Kinkiness, but I make good pancakes

~Mr Minio

LOL! F@ckin AMEN, brother!

Paris. The future. Full of people in constant movement. Cars driving all around. No vegetation around. Traditional buildings have been replaced with sterile, squared buildings full of buttons and thingamajigs. A future where brooms have headlights and doors make no sound. That is the future that we see in Jacques Tati's Playtime.

The film follows Monsieur Hulot (Tati), a bumbling Frenchman trying to find his way around the city. During the course of the film, he gets lost in a maze of offices while waiting for an important meeting, stumbles upon a trade exhibition full of modern gadgets, meets a couple of friends "from the army!", and spends the night with a group of guests at a restaurant being renovated. During most of his journey, he befriends a young American tourist.

This is my first Tati film and I have to say it was, for the most part, a pleasant surprise. The film has a very loose narrative with very sparse dialogue and little "actual" plot, but is rather a cavalcade of physical comedy, slapstick, running gags, "jabs" at modern society, and clever visual jokes. For the most part, it works perfectly well, as I found myself smiling and chuckling most of the time.

Tati's direction was great all around; from the perspective of building this huge set to how he populates every inch of the screen with *something*. For pretty much every shot, you could look at any corner of the screen and see *something* happening, which I found both amusing and impressive.

I do think that the film runs a bit too long for what it is, and the connection with the American tourist just wasn't there for me. Not that it matters too much in the end, but they do try to amp that up towards the last act. But overall, I had a lot of fun with this.

Grade:

__________________

You two each snuck in a second review in the same day? Maniacs!

Enjoyed the review and I just might have to go searching for this one.
Great job, Thief!

Not even going to try explain the plot of this one. Maybe I'll try a little. It centers on a group of resistance fighters led by Blacky (charismatic and tough) and his pal Marco (smart and tough) and an actress/love interest, Natalia. Marco and Blacky are a thorn in the side of the Germans during the Germans invasion of Yugoslavia in WW2. They develop a rep amongst the Germans and are forced to live underground for the duration of the war. Underground, they produce arms for the resistance. Blacky, being the leader and most sought after is never allowed above ground. Marco, the man making the deals, however is allowed out. Well, the war ends and Marco see's it as an opportunity to continue making boatloads of cash during the Cold War selling the arms the underground folks are making. He lies to Blacky, tells him the war is still raging and proceeds to marry Blacky's love, Natalia. There is so much more (the time frame goes from the early 40's to the early 90's) but that's enough to get you started.

I guess if I had to pigeon hole this one into a genre I'd say it's a war-time comedy, love triangle, drama, musical (heavy on the brass instruments) and it's absolutely bonkers! The first 40 minutes or so, I had a smile the entire time. The humor almost reminded me of silent film era humor or even a cartoon. I really liked it. This is a movie that really shows the best of what people can be: greedy, deceitful, violent, probably a few more things as well and it's hilarious. I don't think it stayed as consistently funny as the first 40 minutes or so but it was always entertaining. I have been wanting to see this for awhile so thanks for giving me the push I needed!

Underground was picked for me last time and I felt the exact same way.

Attachments

 

I'm not saying give up, but at this point I don't think Bergman is for you.

My reaction to The Seventh Seal was pretty much the same. However, after also five films, I do feel like I've warmed up to his style. To me, Persona is a masterpiece and Smiles of a Summer Night, although not great, is light fun. Shame and Cries and Whispers fall somewhere in between those two.

Anybody knows where I can, uhh, find Le Jour se Leve? Of the ones I have left, it's the only one that's not widely available (only AppleTV)

I got one, I'll PM you.

I haven't seen Persona or Cries and Whispers. I'd be willing to watch more Bergman but I'm thinking nordic cinema isn't for me.

Last Train Home (2009)


I sincerely hope this was merely a blind nom, I would hate to think someone watched this film and thought it would be a good idea to give to me. I picked this image because the climax of the film is a father beating his daughter and causing her to permanently estrange herself from her family.



The first half of the film is about this migrant family who commutes into the city to work. It's kinda like poverty porn, we're supposed to feel good about our lives because these people suffer so much. The family has hopes for the future with their children. The film does a great job showing the anxiety of traveling in China.


I was bored by the film and then I hated it...terrible pick for me.

Siddon: People better pick me documentaries or else.

Me: Picks a documentary.

Siddon: Ugh that was a terrible nom for me.

Last Train Home was in the Documentary HoF hosted by Seanc. It was well liked and came in the middle of the pack. I know I liked it as it was an eye opening insight into some of the working class culture of China.

Too bad you didn't care for that, Siddon. I believe it made my ballot for the Doc countdown.

Siddon: I really don't care for films with child nudity


Nomer: Would you like to see a father beat his daughter?

So the daughter was naked when she was beaten? A quite daring documentary

__________________