Life Back Then

Antoki no Inochi
2011 / 131m - Japan
Drama
3.0*/5.0*
Life Back Then poster

You never quite know what you're going to get with Takahisa Zeze, but going by the poster it should be no surprise that you need to gear up for a more sentimental film. At least, that's what you're getting in the latter half, the first part of Life Back Then is quite a bit darker. I would've preferred it if Zeze had kept it like that.

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The flashbacks are pretty grim and seem to foreshadow a gritty drama, but when Nagashima and Yoko meet the film turns softer. The back-and-forth keeps it from becoming overwhelmingly sentimental, but the balance shifts noticeably and not for the better. Still, some good performances, strong drama, and a few powerful scenes make this a worthy drama.

Les Misérables

1934 / 281m - France
Drama
0.5*/5.0*
Les Misérables poster

School can ruin quite a bit. I was forced to read Les Misérables in high school (in French) and I never really recovered from that. I don't care at all for the story and its characters, so the prospect of a 4+ hour film was a little disheartening. But hey, it's considered a true classic, and French classics have surprised me in the past. Not this one though.

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It's not that the film is a complete bust, it's just that it's a rather plain, narrative classic that keeps on going and going. After 90 minutes or so I was done with it, but that's not even halfway through. And so the excessive runtime turns it into a veritable slog. For true Les Misérables fans only.

Wonka

2023 / 116m - USA
Comedy, Adventure
2.5*/5.0*
Wonka poster

My expectations of the new Wonka film were pretty low, but sometimes that can be helpful. I wasn't surprised that the musical elements didn't appeal to me and I'm doubtful that Chalamet can ever redeem himself, but the presentation and the lush styling certainly helped to soften the blow.

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These straightforward musicals aren't my thing, except that the sets and costumes can be quite lush, not in the least when the films are more fantasy-oriented. It's the main draw of Wonka, other than that it's a pretty basic fantasy film aimed primarily at a young audience. I'm also glad they kept it under two hours, even if it was a close call. Better than I had expected.

Motherland Hotel

Anayurt Oteli
1987 / 101m - Turkey
Drama, Crime
1.5*/5.0*
Motherland Hotel poster

A Turkish arthouse drama with light crime elements. Kavur tried to make a moody, even somewhat polished film, but the attempt ended up being pretty poor. Apart from a somewhat decent (but repetitive) score, there isn't much that works here. But kudos for trying I guess.

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The performances are crummy, the cinematography is unimpressive and the pacing is slow. The story isn't all that interesting either, but at least the score is pretty atmospheric. It doesn't help much, but it saves the film from being a complete failure. Not the worst Turkish classic I've seen though.

Skunk

2023 / 105m - Belgium
Drama
Skunk poster

Koen Mortier's fourth feature film is another stunner. It's not quite as out there as his first two films, but few directors manage to catch the gritty underbelly of society with so much flair and enthusiasm. Skunk is more of a straightforward drama, though not without touches of (the darkest of) dark comedy. The cinematography is fitting, the sound design is amazing and the captivating performance of Thibaud Dooms is exceptional. The brutal finale is the icing on the cake. Mortier didn't disappoint.

Ruggles of Red Gap

1935 / 90m - USA
Comedy, Romance
1.5*/5.0*
Ruggles of Red Gap poster

McCarey isn't the worst of the classic directors, but he's at his best when he sticks to silly cheese. Ruggles of Red Gap is exactly that, a simple comedy about a clash of cultures. It's not a great film by any measure, but at least it doesn't take itself too seriously, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.

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Whatever drama there is, is exploited for laughs. The performances are okay and the tone is light throughout, but the jokes are pretty bland and the presentation is dull as can be. The lead character isn't much fun either, so it's all quite forgettable. I've seen worse classics, but I'm sure I won't remember this one for long.

Pakodate-jin

2002 / 82m - Japan
Romance, Fantasy
3.0*/5.0*
Pakodate-jin poster

A cute but somewhat limited fantasy film that gets a bit too family-friendly in the second half. It's just a basic romance with a fun fantasy touch, there are some funny ideas scattered throughout, but considering similar films that were released around that time it feels a tad too flimsy to stand out.

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Miyazaki is always pleasant, and she's perfect for these types of roles. There are some funny side characters and the mood is light from start to finish (even when there is some drama to wade through). A bit more attention to the presentation and a slightly edgier approach could've made this into a real gem, but alas.

Hud

1963 / 112m - USA
Drama
1.0*/5.0*
Hud poster

Dreary drama about three generations of uninteresting men trying to get a handle on their lives. It's not what you call a very subtle film and whatever drama there is, is handled with the grace of a sledgehammer. The final nail is the wooden performances, which make it even harder to sit through.

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Hud isn't a very pleasant character, and Newman had all the trouble in the world trying to channel that into a solid performance. The setting is dire (the black-and-white cinematography doesn't help), the drama is crude and the pacing is slow. Kudos for trying to make a more realistic Western I guess, but that doesn't make it a good film.

Fog City

2023 / 95m - USA
Horror
2.5*/5.0*
Fog City poster

A generic horror that makes the best of its premise to add a little extra mood. It's dumb kids doing dumb things (played by dumb actors), so don't expect anything more going in, but thanks to its nighttime setting and abundance of fog, I found it to be relatively entertaining.

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There's a bit of cabin fever, an unknown enemy, and some horny kids making stupid decisions. There isn't too much gore or outright horror, but the presentation is solid and the sepia colors make for a moody setting. Pretty decent horror filler, but maybe it's because I've been cutting down on horror lately.

Butterfly

Hu Die
2004 / 124m - Hong Kong
Drama, Romance
Butterfly poster

A stylish lesbian drama that turned quite a few heads in Hong Kong. Not because it is so outrageous (on the contrary), it's just that Hong Kong is pretty prudish when it comes to LGBTQ+ topics. The film felt more like a Taiwanese drama to me, sporting lovely cinematography, toned-down performances, and slow but deliberate pacing. There's nothing too novel or original here, but the execution is flawless and the film hits all the right notes.

The Croods: A New Age

2020 / 95m - USA
Comedy, Adventure - Animation
1.0*/5.0*
The Croods: A New Age poster

A toothless sequel that once again delves into an origin story of conservative behavior. It seems to be a popular tale in US animation nowadays (with quite some potential), but to see it executed in the most bland and conservative way possible immediately undermines the very problems it tries to highlight.

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The animation is nothing special, the comedy is very crude and there's just nothing here that surprises or excites. It's cookie-cutter animation for children, with the more mature themes handled in the most mind-numbing way possible. But they'll keep churning these out as long as they keep making money I guess.