Log: week 20 / 2023

Charles has a robot version of himself that takes care of dating and work, while Elaine lets her robot double handle the physical part of relationships, while she makes sure to receive all the gifts. A mix-up brings the two robots together. They fall in love and decide to leave their human masters behind.

Whitehall and Woodley make a decent onscreen couple, but their chemistry is limited. The sci-fi elements needlessly complicate the plot and the comedy is hit-and-miss, but you can't fault the film for trying to break the mold. It's not a terrible film, it's just that the potential was there to do better.

Ryoko's life is turned upside down when her husband dies in an unfortunate traffic accident. Seven years later, she's still trying to make ends meet. She works as a prostitute, she has to take care of her father-in-law and her son is going through some rough times at school.

Ishii abandoned his love for dark comedy and edgier drama some years ago, this type of drama feels more like a solicitation for an upscale film festival. The acting is fine, there are some strong scenes, but it's all very much by the numbers and 140 minutes is a bit much for a film that has nothing new on offer.

A private detective, both of his eyes bandaged, is being interrogated by the police about two unsolved murders. He tells them he was hired by Malloy to locate the ex-con's girlfriend. It's a simple enough assignment, but one that leads him into a complex web of deceit and betrayal.

There are some nice shots here, but too few and far between to make a real impact. The rest of the film is just flashbacks of how a PI got mixed up in a criminal case. It's a pretty uninteresting setup, told very slowly and deliberately, with some familiar twists along the way. Could be fun if you like the old noirs, unbearable if you don't.

A group of girls gets together for a weekend away from home. They drive to a remote lake cabin, where one of the girls' mothers was almost murdered by a vicious serial killer. Their plan is to get their revenge on the killer, but when they run into a bunch of boys staying on the other side of the lake, their mission becomes a lot more complicated.

Yes, it's all about the girl power, but the kills are solid, the film isn't above making fun of its gender reversals (that shower scene) and there are a couple of fun (though predictable) twists that keep things interesting. It's a basic slasher, but with a couple of amusing touches that make it rise above its peers. This is how to do a remake.

Vivien is part of a program that wants to create proper, obedient girls. They are trained vigorously, and when they meet expectations they advance to a higher level, after which they'll be placed in new homes. Vivien has nearly finished her training, but then Sophia warns her that the intentions of their guardians aren't quite as idyllic.

The performances are nice, the retro sci-fi look fits the film well, the presentation is clean, and the mystery is kept alive until the very end. It might've been smarter to go with an open ending and the pacing could've been a tad slicker, but if you're looking for a stylish and well-executed genre film, give this one a go.

Chihiro works in a local bento shop, a job she took on after being a successful sex worker. She is an honest and cheerful person that looks out for the people around her, but the love she gives doesn't help to fill the loneliness she feels inside. Even so, she enjoys the connections she makes with others.

The performances are strong and Chihiro's character is lovely, but the rest of the film feels a little too laid-back. The cinematography is polished but predictable, so is the score and 130 minutes is a tad long for a film that offers no real surprises. It's a solid drama that doesn't disappoint, but it lacks something extra.

Famous horror playwriter Jack Travis buys a remote castle and hopes to use it as a live stage for his next project. There's a dark legend attached to the house and Travis is planning to exploit it. The townsfolk aren't too happy to see this old bit of folklore revived and they try to stop Travis in his tracks.

The setting and characters add a bit of flair to an otherwise very simple premise, but the film never takes it anywhere. The hauntings are bland, the styling could've been better and the film lacks a proper payoff. It's never boring and quite short, but the potential was there to do more with it.

Tagami is the CEO of a successful manga publishing company. His life goes well until he wakes up one morning with his penis gone. The doctors are stumped, but an underground organization knows more about his affliction. They tell him his penis detached itself and flew away. He has only six days to retrieve his old friend before he is lost forever.

The outrageous premise is fun, but the tone of the film is surprisingly serious (for this type of thing that is). Ueda certainly improved on the technical side, the actors do a decent job all things considered and the road trip elements add to the intrigue of the film. It's not exactly a masterpiece, but it's quite a bit better than I expected upfront.

A terrible new variation of the flu is raging through the country. A family is on the run and arrives at a hotel, where they'll stay the night, before moving on the next day. When others on their floor are starting to show symptoms of infection, they'll have to be vigilant if they want to escape from the hotel alive.

There's nothing original here, and the limited scope of the film doesn't leave much room for originality either. But the execution is pretty solid. The build-up is smart, the second half is quite tense and the runtime is economic, so the film doesn't overstay its welcome. Proper genre cinema.

Jian Bei, a debt collector, works hard to support himself and his sister. She is terminally ill, but there is a chance she might survive. She can be given an experimental treatment, but in order to get it, Bei will need to pitch in. He'll be given the Buddha Palm skill, which he'll need to complete three arduous tasks. If he can manage that, his sister will be saved.

The setting is cool and the fantastical elements feel pretty novel. The CG can still be a little iffy, but it is mostly functional and the film does a good job of bringing its fantastical sci-fi world to life. Other than that it's a slick but relatively generic action flick. We already know China can crank these out with the dozens, so to see some new elements introduced is definitely a big plus. Good fun.

After sitting out three convictions in jail, Taylor decides to better his life. When he gets together with Joan he makes a real effort, but an unlucky coincidence turns him into the lead suspect of a bank robbery. He is jailed once again, and apart from Joan nobody believes in his innocence. All Taylor cares about is to be reunited with the woman he loves.

The performances are overstated, the plot is pretty simplistic and the endless chatter is distracting. The final third gets a bit more visual, with some moodier moments, but the black-and-white cinematography isn't distinguished enough to make a real difference. It's all just very generic.

Marbles isn't doing much with his life, his only claim to fame is that he came up with a cocktail of drugs that allows him to see ghosts. One day he is visited by a police officer who was just murdered. He wants Marbles to help him catch the culprit. It's a dangerous mission, but Marbles could use the money that's on offer.

The dry comedy (pretty typical for New Zealand) is fun and the mix of genres is interesting, but the film never pushes things beyond the expected, and there is a little excess drama that doesn't really fit with the rest of the film. It's pleasant filler that doesn't outstay its welcome, but it could've been a bit more daring to really stand out from the rest.

Goku and Krillin want Roshi as their sensei, but before he accepts them as apprentices, he has a little mission they need to complete. They are to retrieve the Sleeping Princess and bring her to Roshi. The princess is locked up in a rather perilous castle, and the two will have to learn to work together if they want to get out of there alive.

The art style is basic (but recognizable), and the animation is above-average. There's plenty of comedy and action to keep you distracted from the rudimentary plot, and with only 45 minutes to wrap everything up, you can be sure the pacing is nothing but slick. It's far from an absolute classic, but more than capable filler.

When Rocket is gravely hurt, they need to trace his roots to save his life. This is how they come across the High Evolutionary, a madman who is trying to build and perfect his own societies. When he hears Rocket is still alive, he wants him back under his control, something the Guardians cannot allow.

There are some cool action scenes, the budget is put to good use and though the film is at least 30 minutes too long, the pacing is pretty slick. The score is horrible though and the comedy is pretty cringe-worthy. I think Gunn fares better at DC, where he is allowed to be a little more daring and edgy, but I just wish he'd go back to directing smaller films.

Pablo is a respected director, but his love for Juan, a younger man who doesn't love him back, makes it hard for him to focus on his job. He tries to forget Juan by hooking up with Antonio, but he turns out to be a rather jealous lover, and when he learns about Pablo's fascination with Juan, things get hairy.

The performances are fun, the cinematography is colorful and there are scenes that don't do all that much to advance the plot, but they are amusing and memorable. The film does get a bit too talkative at times and I didn't care too much for its artistic setting, other than that a solid Almodóvar.