Change Your Image
hartmutw
Reviews
Den tredje vågen (2003)
Great start, trashy ending
My summary says it all: I accidentally switched to that movie on TV and got intrigued by the sinister atmosphere and some compelling characters.
However, the movie loses much of its drive, ambition and suspense in the chaotic and over-the-top showdown, where literally everybody gets randomly shot and a clear plot is not in sight anymore. In addition, the violent demos that serve as a welcome excuse for chaos never would happen that heavily in any Western European city - pure science-fiction. One of the weakest showdowns I have seen in a while, which is a shame for such a great beginning.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Wannabe clone of "Eyes wide shut" or "Memento"
It became quite fashionable in recent years to make confusing movies, with many of them changing perspectives or moving back and forth in the story. That goes very well and adds to tension and atmosphere in well thought-through plots like Eyes wide shut or Memento.
It goes terribly wrong though if director and producer basically do not know what they want to tell us and what the true message of a movie should be. All of this is the case in Vanilla Sky, which makes this movie a complete vase of time unless you enjoy the beautiful looks of Cruz / Diaz or Cruise.
It could have been either a nice yet conventional or a true sci-fi movie but it wanted to be a little bit of everything. While you are struggling for more than 2 hours to keep up with all the changes in perspectives and perception, there is nothing you get in return. Quite a let down.
Murder by Death (1976)
Best crime comedy ever!
Seen it some 20 times and still like it better than "Dead Man don't wear plaid" or other comedies. Brilliant cast (Guinness, Sellers, Falk, Niven) ironically making fun of all known crime story stereotypes. A must-see for every friend of that genre.
Schindler's List (1993)
Easy Holocaust-watching
Oh my, this movie is so full of stereotypes and cliches that I won't even start listing them here.
How dare Spielberg making a movie for easy mass-consumption on such a delicate subject? Being from Germany I feel particularly offended by the way Jews and Germans are portrayed: Everything is like a person that never had dealt with any of these cultures in depth would imagine it from watching just another US movie on the Holocaust. That might be fine for a TV-series or soap opera, but is pretty poor for a movie of that caliber.
Not that I really expected anything but a streamlined feel-good movie by that director, but I find it very offensive to use such a subject just to finally get the Oscar. Disappointing!
Summer of Sam (1999)
Not that bad after all
While I completely share the complaints about inaccurate details on the 1977 punk scene ("The Who", mohawk cut etc.), I still think this is a nice study of human behavior when emotions, racism and prejudice overlay any attempt to reasonable thinking.
Vinnie's role, though almost spoiled by a (imho) lousy actor, is to balance emotions and mind, prejudice and fairness.
Careful: Minor details on the ending: I hope not to say too much about the end, but in the minute he gives way to his friends, madness rules. It is truly amazing to see how a mindless, drugged mob gives way to emotions, disregarding any rules of human conduct in the very minute they want to enforce them. This is the one and only reason that makes this movie different from lots of similar whodunnit movies and I recommend it - especially to those rating "Spiderman" or "Pearl Harbour" any higher than 3 points.
The Score (2001)
Much ado about nothing
All in all a rather disappointing mainstream buddy movie, with - CAUTION: Mentioning some tendencies of the end - promises that aren't kept in the end.
I really was disappointed as the entire film seems to indicate a somehow weird and surprising turn towards the end, similar to what we saw in "The usual suspects" or "Fight Club". However, this 'surprising' end is quite conventional to me and it lacks context. It is neither indicated by the personalities nor the story, but seems to take place only because the spin doctors wrote it in the script.
All in all another example that out of 3, two De Niro movies are just mediocre.
Lulu on the Bridge (1998)
Bad script, nice atmosphere
Whereas I agree with many critical voices stating the script would be a bit unlikely, I just loved the mood and atmosphere of the movie. Of course, Keitel and Sorvino are so different that only magic can make them fall for each other. But what happens then is just very charming and touching. It is similar to recent blockbuster "Amelie": You just have to buy the setting to get a delightful time with the movie. And certainly, Sorvino, Keitel and Dafoe are fun to watch.
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
A non-subtle but enchanting fairy tale
This movie isn't one that will get you thinking or touch you deeply. It is pure emotional indulgence: 2 hours of fun and longing for this artificial yet not entirely unreal world.
As already in 'Delicatessen' and 'City of the lost children', Jeunet artfully mixes surreal elements and sublime colouring with the normal life, hence creating a dense atmosphere filled with humor and charm.
This film's abundance of little but oh so nice ideas is its brand: From smile to chuckle, an endless number of gags makes you wonder why other big budget mainstream comedies aren't half as funny. There's no scene outlining human emotions simplier and better than the one where Amelie turns to a waterfall after not daring to talk to her dream guy.
That's what makes this movie so unresistable, however not 'great' in a classical sense. But that's what cinema is about as well.
The Pledge (2001)
One of few good movies made out of a novel!
Usually, movies based on novels are mostly less subtle and refined as the book and quite disappointing. This is a miracle of an exception where the book, though written by famous Switz Duerrenmatt, is passed by the movie. This movie has it all: Great actors, a dense atmosphere, complexity and an ambiguous ending.
I highly recommend it to everybody but the mainstream fan.
Eye of the Beholder (1999)
Average remake of a once fantastic movie
Strange enough that nobody referenced the 1983 French version of this movie, "La mortelle randonee". Starring Michel Serrault and Isabelle Adjani, this Claude Miller-movie is as cynical as life and one of my all time favorites. The dark humour and the boldness Serrault uses to follow Adjani compensate for the sometimes unclear plot. I saw this movie over 20 times and cannot get enough of it.
This version, however, is a bit worse, because the main characters are not quite as striking. Ewan McGregor is too much a good guy, compared to the ambiguous Serrault. In addition, Adjani possibly can simply not be equalled in her performance of the fugitive murder.