Reviews

Basically, I have started to get sick of Michael Haneke's torture. He is one of the most ruthless director as he only creates characters without sentiments. The Benny here is so hateful and I just can't help cursing him while I am watching the film. I get the point. It's a critique of bourgeois life. Oh my. But still. Haneke, get a life!

Finally a good film from Austria. Why am I not surprised that it's a low budget production and that the filmmaker is an artist? Austrian cinema can be so boring and pretentious. Please excuse my bashing of Austrian films...maybe I'm biased but here is a film that does exactly what it promises: entertain and explain the world...almost like a Sesame Street for adults...a rich tapestry of styles & information. I think it will be one of those films that i will rewatch in a couple of years and say... yes, it was right about it all.

I didn't know anything about the film, hadn't even seen a trailer. So I made a bet with a friend before seeing the film: "Guess it's about Hader playing a pathetic yet friendly loser struggling with his life, but after all he makes it, and the ending will be hopeful, but still pessimistic." Guess what? I won. Hader is doing the Hader thing. This time he even wrote and directed the Hader thing himself. It is fun to watch, but it is hardly re-imaging what Hader could be. I hope the next time he will step out of his comfort zone and try something truly different.