Confessions of a filmoholic

That's it. Confessions of a Filmoholic is no more. It's an ex-blog. There are several reasons for that - I'm going to be pretty busy for the next couple of weeks, and rather won't have time to write, I'm also struggling for ideas what to write about. And, last but not least, I seem to be the only person who reads it. I even can't get my friends interested. But, just in case I'm wrong, and there actually is somebody who reads my scribble, there is one more film I want to tell you about. The Life and Death of Peter Sellers tells a story of, well, I think it's quite easy too guess by only looking at the title. For those who don't know, Peter Sellers was one of the best actor of the 1970's, famous for his chameleon-like thespian skills, mostly known for the original Pink Panther series, where he played the clumsy inspector Clouseau. And that was his problem, since he sought recognition for his more serious work. Or, at least that is what the creators of this biographical movie claim. No matter if true or not, The Life and Death... is a very insightful attempt of depicting a difficult personality with serious emotional issues. Also, it is a must-see for a cinephile, since people like Stanley Kubrick or Blake Edwards play an important role in the plot. Unfortunately, people who are not into the history of film may be a little bored. But what I liked the most the movie is, that it doesn't give you any straight answers, most notably to the question if Peter Sellers was a genius, or only wanted others to think he was. And let me finish my last post with this mystery unsolved.
7/10

(I might be back)

Right, first things first. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is awesome. I saw it at the pictures 2 days ago and I can't stop thinking about it. This movie is something I have never seen before - so fresh, original, funny and unexpected. At times during the viewing, Kick-Ass was popping into my mind, as the films bear some resemblance (both feel joyfully anarchistic), but it didn't stay there long. Scott Pilgrim... is breaking plenty of the cinematic rules, or rather I should say, mixing them in a very imaginative way. but you know, what's the best part? It makes sense. And a lot of it - the whole thing can be read as a deep metaphor of what it means to be responsible. Or how to deal with the demons of your past. But don't worry, it doesn't stop being hilarious for a single moment. All the actors are brilliant, with Michael Cera in his best role so far, the music is great and there's plenty of it too. The only drawback, but a minor one, is that some of the action sequences are a bit too fast. If you want to see something totally original, unlike anything you have seen before, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is still out there.
9/10

Let me tell you about my another favourite, a film I really enjoy coming back to, especially when feeling down, since it is pretty uplifting story. It also is set in a very appealing environment - on a road with a rock band in 1970's America, the time in history when the best things were created in music. In Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous you really can see the climate of creativity and joy people were experiencing then, and though the dark sides of rockers' lives are present too (drugs, loneliness etc.) they in the end don't overshadow the feeling of youth and happiness. We all have our cherished memories from childhood, Crowe's happen to be the ones shown in his movie. If you want to trigger some nostalgia for the long gone, Almost Famous is there for you. Yes, the grass was greener then.
9/10

The book vs. the movie part 3. I have got another thing to add to the never-to-be-solved issue if reading the book before seeing the film that was based on it enhances or spoils the experience. You may already know my point of view as for two titles: Watchmen and 2001: A Space Odyssey, now let me tell you about The Road. The movie is based on a brilliant novel of the same title, written by Cormac McCarthy, which won numerous award, including the Pulitzer Prize. So, according to the theory, that you can't make a good
movie out of a great literary source, John Hillcoat's piece should be watchable at best, especially if you had read the book before. Well, this is not the case, simply because the film is as good. Somehow the director managed to make a very faithful adaptation, which not only doesn't feel overshadowed by McCarthy's masterpiece, but also, thanks to the amazing performances from the cast, makes it more heartfelt. To summarize, it doesn't matter if you read the book or not - the film is brilliant enough to entertain you anyway.
8/10

Not very often I watch a movie I haven't heard anything about. Well, I simply do not like to take a risk. Yesterday I did - honestly, I wasn't familiar with the fact of existence of The Squid and the Whale - and I wasn't disappointed at all. It is a small, independent film, sometimes funny, but dealing with serious issues. Thanks to  great writing and impeccable performances from the likes of Jeff Daniels and Jesse Eisenberg it never loses the balance and is really entertaining. The film's biggest drawback is its length - it lasts for mere 75min. Since we are used to movies that usually are twice longer, the moment we get attached to the characters and become really interested in how their problems are going to be solved, it ends. Still, when The Squid... lasts it is a worthwhile experience, one more reason for it being it features Pink Floyd's song Hey You in a pivotal role.
8/10

Masterpiece time! No, really. There Will Be Blood is without a doubt the best film of the last years, which makes it one of the best cinematic experiences ever. Paul Thomas Anderson has always been keeping good form, making the likes of Boogie Nights, or Magnolia, but in his latest outing he simply committed a flawless piece. I won't be writing for too long, there is really not much to add - if you want to see an important film, dealing with serious moral issues, with impeccable performances from some of the best actors out there, with astonishing music and cinematography, the film that is intense and addictive, There Will Be Blood is just for you.
10/10

Masterpiece time! Or is it? Recently I have seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, God knows which time. I have always adored it, but since I started writing this blog I guess I became a bit more critical regarding films, then I used to be. I realise this movie is considered as one of the best ever, but there are some bits that don't quite appeal to me. But first things first: the positives. 2001... aged extremely well. Most of the time you watch it in an awe, since the special effects are really impressive and the whole thing still looks futuristic. The story is engaging as well, the middle part of the film is science-fiction thriller at it's very best. But there are two issues. First is the longevity of some shots. Sometimes the viewer feels like shouting to Mr. Kubrick: get on with it! The other thing is the highly confusing ending. Unlike in case of Watchmen, I'm really happy I had read the book, the film is based on - otherwise I wouldn't have had a slightest idea of what is going on during the last chapter of the movie. Of course, after all that, is still is a bloody good  film, and if you haven't seen it yet, don't waste any more time. It is not flawless but it is a must-see.
8/10

I am really running out of ideas what to write about. Not a very good sign after two months of active blogging. The thing is, why should I write about films everybody likes? If they have read 673 positive reviews of, let's say Lord Of The Rings, why would they enjoy reading 674th? And opposite - does anyone need convincing, that Alien Vs Predator is crap? I don't think so. So how about a few words about a not-too-bad, (but at the same time not-too-special) little film, hardly anybody had a chance to watch? Like Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel - a quirky science-fiction comedy about a bunch of guys who find a time-hole in the gents' at a pub. It is quite smartly written, the plot is pretty engaging, the jokes are hit and miss and there are 7 actors in it. Really. Plus extras. Not a waste of time then, but if I didn't see it for free, I'd say it's a waste of money. To end this kind of pointless review: bare in mind, that if you are a SF fan, you can add an extra point to the score below.
5/10  

Right, who watched Watchmen? It is a peculiar beast. Last night I saw it for the second time and I still can't make up my mind what to think about it. The problem is, that just before the film came out, I read the comic book it is based on, and believe me, it is brilliant. If Zack '300' Snyder's movie was disappointing, writing about it would be an easy task. Luckily it is not. What I like about it is how dark it is - bloody and brutal - a thing you rarely see in a summer blockbuster. It is also serious, taking on poignant moral issues, with an ambivalent ending. You can't do anything but admire the filmmakers' courage - they actually spent $130m to show us this disturbing psychological drama. Also, kudos to the writing team, who managed to transform the complicated graphic novel into a more-or-less coherent movie. So, what is my problem? Well, the film is TOO faithful to its literary source, both on the visual level and plot-wise. It is so stylised you can't really engage with the characters and if you had read the book, there isn't anything that you wouldn't expect. Also, you miss 'I wonder how they showed...' feeling, typical for other adaptations, just because everything looks identically as in the graphic novel. I hope you understand why I wish I hadn't read the book before I watched the film - I guess I would have liked it more then.
7/10  

Hi everyone! Let me tell you about one of my favourite movies - Little Miss Sunshine. It is generally considered a good film, but I get the impression it is not as popular as it deserves to be. It might be the title that puts people off, maybe they don't realise how contrary it is, that, in fact it is a story about members of a dysfunctional family learning to live with one another, and not a 100th version of Rocky, the "rise to fame against all odds" thing, this time set in the beauty contest environment. What you must love about this movie is how utterly witty it is - the dialogs shine, the characters (played by some of the best actors in the business) are true people with real problems and, let's not forget a very important part, it is absolutely hilarious. While I could point out a couple of scenes, that may not fit perfectly, this one should clearly be on your "to be watched asap" list.
9/10

I am getting old, I guess. Yesterday I started watching Michael Mann's Miami Vice, and did something, I hardly ever do - I turned it off before the end - after half an hour, to be honest. I simply decided that life's too short, to lose another hour of it for a pointless effort like that. And then I saw something quite different - The Conversation. I'll tell you, that switching from a modern action film to an over 30-years old drama was my best decision of the day. Francis Ford Coppola rarely makes movies that aren't awesome, and this one is no exception. For the first half it plays like a social drama with elements of a love story, where Gene Hackman plays a troubled and lost professional eavesdropper, only to become a gripping thriller after an hour. The film is written perfectly, the hints we get in order to be able to solve the mystery are put in the exactly right places, and Hackman's slow fall into paranoia is shown with unspeakable craft from both the actor and the director. A must-see, trust me on this one.
10/10

Social dramas made by British directors are amazing - take fantastic works of, let's say, Mike Leigh, for example Secrets and Lies. Their horrors are decent too, enough to mention aptly named Descent. The film that combines these two genres in quite a good manner is Eden Lake from James Watkins - a very tense story of a couple terrorised by a bunch of immoral teenagers. What is really good about is its unpredictability, the director plays with the viewers' expectations, and it's sometimes hard to say, what is coming next. It is well acted too, especially the kids seem both realistic and terrifying. Unfortunately, it has one major flaw - massive plot holes. Let me give you an example - when the protagonists' car is stolen from their beach-camp, what do they do? They go to look for it LEAVING ALL THEIR STUFF BEHIND (including the tent and diving equipment)! Oh, come on. If the film wasn't so underwritten, it would be really unmissably great. Now, it's only good.
7/10

Hello again! How about some avant-garde? Yesterday, I had a big pleasure to watch something called Koyaanisqatsi . I say 'something', not 'film' or 'movie' for a reason. Calling it a film is a bit like saying that Hieronymus Bosch's Triptych is a comic book - they have some features in common, but they are quite different beasts. So what does distinguish Koyaanisqatsi from a typical cinematic experience? Well, it doesn't have plot as such - it is a stream of beautiful pictures of both natural and human-created environments, aided by an amazing score from Philip Glass. And that is pretty much it. But, believe it or not (I guess you won't - I wouldn't if I didn't see it myself), it is fascinating - one really can't put their eyes off of screen. In the end, I have a real problem how to rate this 'thing'. I can imagine it is not for everyone's taste, but if you are, like me, a person willing to experience something new now and again, try this one out absolutely.
8/10

Yesterday I saw Inception. Even though it was pretty good, I don't feel I'm ready to review it yet. I simply didn't understand it in full, so I'll write about it when I see it again. Until then, let me tell you about the film, it is very similar to. Some say it would be Matrix, some mention Memento, but the movie that resembles Inception most, so much that even feels sometimes like its derivative, is David Cronenberg's EXistenZ. Surely, this director made better movies before (The Fly) and after (History of Violence), but this one is also worth looking at. If you are keen on stories in which reality merges with fantasy to the point you can't tell one from the other and enjoy the lurk into somewhat sick mind of one of the most original filmmakers of our time, which is populated by his favourite 'organic machines' (like a gun made of bones, shooting tooth-bullets), this one is just for you. And if you've seen Inception too, you will see that I'm right.
7/10  

I am quite a big fan of Japanese animation. I am also aware, that many people are not. Some think it is too childish, telling stories about giant robots or talking wolves. Others - opposite - say that a cartoon is not the right medium to deal with serious subjects many of the so called 'animes' undertake. The truth, as usually, lies somewhere in the middle. Take Spirited Away , one of, if not the greatest example of the fore-mentioned art. It is played like a proper fairytale, with witches, dragons and so on. But don't let this ostensible simplicity deceive you - the film is twisting the popular motifs in the most unexpected ways - by the end you will realize, that hardly anything (and anybody) was what they seemed to be. The movie is also a feast for the eyes - you can't help but admire Mr. Miyazaki's vast imagination. The only issue is that, the plot gets a bit confusing towards the end, but it can't spoil the whole experience anyhow, which is near faultless. For the kids inside all of us.
9/10

A little warning. Most of the time the only thing I care about when choosing a film to watch is the name of the director. Usually good directors make good films. Usually... Clint Eastwood more than often makes a great movie - Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby are pretty close to being masterpieces. But once he cheated by making a film that pretended to be quite an achievement but, in fact, was dreadful. I'm talking about Changeling. It is all beautifully shot, well acted, it even is reasonably written, with believable characters and a proper plot twist, but it is no good. The problem is, you do not care about what is going on on the screen for a moment. To be honest I can't name the reasons for that, all the elements seem to fit, but the movie as a whole makes an impression of being calculated - cold and heartless. Which makes it utterly boring. Avoid then.
4/10

A bit of nostalgia. Yesterday I watched a film I used to absolutely love as a kid. I found it really scary then, but recently I heard opinions it was not that good, so I was a bit worried if I would like it now at all. Fortunately, Stephen King's It is not too disappointing. If you, like me, have really fond memories about this movie I can assure you it is still worth to spend full three hours in Derry, Maine, trying to find a way to kill the evil clown, Pennywise. It is pretty well acted, and if not terrifying, it still has threatening atmosphere. The best thing about the film is Tim Curry's portrayal of the malevolent jester, both scary and funny. What aged badly though are the cheap special effects, which rather will make you laugh than shiver. But if you are looking for an old-school B-movie, especially if you saw it ages ago, it won't be a waste of time.
6/10

Great actors can't be around forever. Sometimes they die. If this happens, they don't make new films anymore, which is a shame, but it's not really their fault. At least the ones in which they've already acted will stay with us. Like Blue Velvet in Dennis Hopper's case. He was great in a few other movies too, but in this particular one he was completely magnificent - sad, terrifying, engaging and full of passion. Exactly the same can be told about the film itself - a flawless take on the dark side of a human soul performed by the master of such trips - David Lynch. If you are the director's fan already I don't have to convince you, but if you haven't seen any of his works - or saw the likes of Mulholland Drive and didn't 'get' them - please, give Blue Velvet a go. It is pure cinematic perfection.
10/10

Remember my post about Paranormal Activity? It happens, that sometimes respectable critics give bad films good scores. The bigger problem is when they do the opposite - when they tell you to avoid something, that is actually pretty great. This is the case of The Boat That Rocked. The reviews I read were saying the movie was dreadful, but I watched it anyway, only because of the marvelous cast. And I did not regret it. The Boat... might not be the best thing I've ever seen, not even close really, but it is quite enjoyable. Unpretentious entertainment, which doesn't make you laugh your head off, but puts a wide grin on your face. Good music, great actors, a few laughs - a perfect easy Sunday afternoon film.
7/10

I haven't seen a really great film for weeks. Until yesterday that is. Do you know this feeling, when you really yearn for a great movie for a long time, and when it finally comes you just want to tell everybody how great it is, scream even, since they have probably never heard about it and you can't simply cope with the notion they are missing a fantastic experience? Well, I do. So let me scream: Away We Go!!! The latest effort of Sam Mendes, the guy who brought us (among others) American Beauty and even more depressing Revolutionary Road, is a... uplifting comedy. Quite poignant, pretty realistic, a bit melancholic, but very, and I mean very, funny. Most of the film's humor comes from perfect performances of the whole cast and the direction is impeccable - Mr Mendes is for sure one of the most talented filmmakers alive. Not only it makes you laugh, but also makes you think as any film about love, relationships, family and meaning of it all should. Trust me on this one and please watch it. Soon.
9/10

Thank You for Smoking is the first film from Jason Reitman, the creator of Juno and Up in the Air. Duel is the first film from Steven Spielberg, the creator... Well, I don't think the introduction is necessary in this case. But is everybody familiar with this particular movie? It was television feature shot in 12 days, by then-unknown young director and it showed so good it earned a proper cinematic release. But is it any good now? Can a 40-year old, shot for pennies film, about an evil truck-driver (we don't get to see) who is trying to ride over the main character (for most of the time the only actor on screen) be still watchable? Oh yes, it can. And more, it's gripping and exciting for most of the time, feels almost like a Hitchcock movie. The way the action scenes are shot is pure perfection, the actors are great too and it's also got fantastic score. Duel is not without it's minor flaws (some of the chases get a bit boring after a while), but it most definitely is a small masterpiece.
8/10

Juno is a great film. It is also pretty popular, so, I guess there is no need to convince anybody about it's values. But how many of you have heard about Jason Reitman's debut feature, called Thank You for Smoking? It might not be as good as his next film, Juno, but it quite different. First of all, for the most of the time it is immoral. The main character is the spokesman for tobacco companies, whose job generally is to try and convince people, that smoking is good for them. It all is quite wittily written, being a hilarious sharp satire on the absurdities of the Western societies. Unfortunately the film drags a bit in the middle, also the relationship between the main character and his son sometimes just doesn't ring true. Summarizing, it is good, smart entrainment, and it's flaws cannot make you feel disappointed.
7/10

Me again. It's been a while since I last wrote, but I was pretty busy while on holiday. So busy in fact, that I haven't watched any film for the last two weeks. Until yesterday, that is. Yesterday I saw Battle Royale - a film I had been chasing for quite a long while, but I couldn't find a reasonably priced copy anywhere, until I visited a DVD store in Poland, where I got it for equivalent of £5. I had rather high expectations regarding the film, having read a lot of positive reviews, but I must say I was slightly disappointed. The story itself is great - in the nearest future, in order to both rid the society of potential criminals and entertain the public, a group of kids from the naughtiest class is picked every year to be locked away on a remote island and told to kill each other until there is only one winner left. The premise of the film is very fresh, doesn't have a 'Hollywood' feel. The execution is not bad as well - all is very dynamic, funny, and really, really violent. But there is something missing. Be it lack of acting skills in some of the children, or a predicable ending, but this is not the masterpiece I wanted it to be.
7/10

Ok, so I just have written about three comedy films in a row? I guess you can tell that summer is finally here. But enough of that cheerful rubbish, back to the proper, depressing stuff. I am in my mother country at the moment, so how about a review of a Polish film? Unfortunately, the vast majority of them are impossible to get outside Poland (which is a shame, because there is quite a few, that are worth getting to know), so I'm forced to write about something more accessible, which means it will only be remotely Polish. Something like a film shot by a Polish director living abroad. With it being this season of the year, I choose My Summer of Love by Pawel Pawlikowski - a beautiful story of a friendship (and more) between two teenage girls, based in the ever-sunny (at least on film) English countryside. This coming-of-age drama is thoroughly gripping, being at times funny, at times touching, always melancholic and asking serious questions about the meaning of relationships, religion, honesty. It's truly one of the best films of the last decade.
9/10

A few days ago I wrote about the 'scariest film ever made'. Since that post didn't get any nasty comments, I guess everybody agreed with my choice. Either this, or the fact that nobody read it. Still, me being a born optimist (ha!), I believe most of my readers share my cinematic views. If not - let me tease you a bit more. It is time for the funniest film ever made! This has to be Monty Python's Life of Brian - a movie, that seen some 20 times still makes me cry with laughter. There's not really much point in writing about it - if you love the Pythons you've already seen and loved this film too, if you hate them you won't be bothered watching it. If you have just come back from a 40-year trip to Mars, let me tell you it is their most accessible work (by that I mean it has an actual plot), and sometimes it might be a bit offensive (but it is also a part of it's charm). It also features quite a few very accurate observations on the mechanisms of society. Oh, and by the way: Life of Brian is absolutely hilarious.
10/10

Today I would like to tell you about the best (and scariest) horror movie ever made. I know it's pretty tricky to say that, since many people won't agree, putting in the first position the likes of The Exorcist or The Blair Witch Project, but for me there is only one winner – The Shining. Based on Stephen King's novel, directed by the genial Stanley Kubrick and starring the always awesome Jack Nicholson – such mixtures don't always work, or at least they may not meet one's expectations. This is not the case here. Everyone is on top of their game and they have created a chilling masterpiece. Some people say that the film's plot is not close enough to the book, but I can't agree. Those changes made by Kubrick only make the whole enterprise more cinematic. A true work of genius.

Why always describe the films I loved? Or at least liked enough? Maybe because I don't want to waste my ever missing time for even watching the casual tat we are all surrounded with. Still, now and again I come across a dreadful effort,, the more disappointing when it's made by or with people I admire, and I feel my duty to warn you, dear imaginary readers, against them. I knew, that How to Lose Friends and Alienate People got some not too good reviews, but I still decided to give it a go. Still, a movie starring Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst and never-disappointing Jeff Bridges can't be very bad, can it? Oh yes, it can.The cast is doing their best, but the film is so poorly written and directed it comes out totally unfunny. And bad taste. Please, do me a favor and avoid it. Even Simon Pegg is not a miracle-maker and if he and Mr Bridges still can save it from being a complete disaster, they can't make it watchable.
3/10

OK, enough of the cheerful, welcome back the dark. I am not really keen on Christian Bale as an actor, he seems a bit bland, but I really admire his career choices, with more or less all of his movies making it to the top of my favorites' list. Same thing about American Psycho. Well, this is really weird stuff - a story of an annoyingly self-obsessed successful yuppie during the day, turning into a serial killer at night. Oh, and it's a comedy. Definitely not for everyone's sensitivity (and recommended only for those with strong stomachs - it can be pretty gruesome), but if one 'gets it' this can be a unforgettable experience. Also on the good side there is Bale's performance. I still sustain my opinion about him, but here he somehow managed to make this extremely putting-off character almost likable. The only problem I have with the movie is the ambiguous ending. Of course this is not really a huge disadvantage (it makes you do something other films rarely do - think) but it makes the movie less accessible. Not an easy entertainment, but something truly unique at the same time.
8/10

And now for something completely... foreign: Cinema Paradiso – a small masterpiece from Giuseppe Tornatore, a modern Italian genius. Italy has never been shy of talented directors, enough to mention the likes of Bernardo Bertolucci or Michalangelo Antonioni, but there is something special about his films, Cinema Paradiso being his best achievement so far. It is a story of Toto, a boy growing up in a small town, discovering the delights of love to both movies and girls. Many others have been telling similar stories about coming of age in the place of their childhood, those nostalgic and romantic stories of long-lost innocence, but hardly anybody (apart from Federico Fellini in Amarcord, from which Cinema... borrows a few scenes and motives) does that with so much charm as Mr Tornatore. It may seem boring when read, but believe me this is one of the most touching and funny movies you'll ever see.

Kick-Ass was the film I saw most recently in cinema. Before it started I more or less knew what to expect - a teenage comedy about the real-life superheroes - something like Juno meets Watchmen. By the end of the movie I already knew that what I got was a cross between Burton's Batmans, Pulp Fiction and Snatch. Which is a pretty powerful mix. The whole film is very violent, bloody, quite immoral and simply hilarious. I loved it. The biggest advantage of Kick-Ass over the recent (anti)super-hero movies is it's originality and 'freshness'. There are some unexpected plot-twists and the whole thing feels like it was an enormous amount of fun to make it. The film is very dynamic and somehow very genuine - you can really tell that everybody enjoyed being a part of it. Long story short - because of it's violence and a swearing 11-year old girl not everyone will dig it, but if you are a weirdo like myself, do not hesitate and watch it immediately.
8/10

Now I need to tell you about a film that was undeservedly bashed by the critics. And why did that happen? Apparently everyone was expecting from the director Richard Kelly another Donnie Darko, a dark, teenage drama with a hint of 1980s nostalgia and science-fiction motifs. And Southland Tales is anything but (well, maybe apart from SF, which is still present). What I think people didn't get is the film's tongue-in-cheek quality - when not taken serious it is actually very funny. And also very clever - there is literally a dozen of characters and Kelly's imagination does not know any boundaries. There are so many mad ideas, you could share them between at least five other inventive movies. Funnily enough the film's strength is also it's biggest weakness. As you can imagine the number of characters as well as of the subjects the director brings up make the whole enterprise a bit confusing. It is not really hard to follow, but at times requires a lot of attention. Also, I didn't 'get' the ending. Concluding - a pleasure to watch, a nightmare to understand. Not as bad as they say.
6/10

Hi! Let me begin with my latest discovery. Werner Herzog's Rescue Dawn. This film has been lying on my shelf for a long while and I wasn't really very keen on watching it. Werner Herzog (the guy who recently makes slow-paced documentaries) and a war movie? This didn't add-up. Well, as you've probably guessed by now I was wrong. Very wrong. First of all, IT IS NOT A WAR FILM in a common meaning of the expression. It is a beautiful story of male friendship and sacrifice, although set in Laosian jungle (mostly in a POW camp) during the Vietnam war. The visuals are astonishing, the story is incredibly tense and gripping, everything told with warmth and humor. I can honestly recommend it to anybody. You won't be disappointed.
9/10