Confessions of a filmoholic

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