Log: week 27 / 2024
And once again, Dupieux keeps his winning streak going. This film is a bit loopier than his most recent ones, with a story that doubles down on itself and spirals into absurdity. It's a fitting structure for a film about Dali, the famous absurdist painter. The performances are pleasantly self-aware, the cinematography a step up from Dupieux's earlier films, and the madness familiar but oh-so-gratifying. If you don't care for Dupieux's earlier work this won't be for you, but I'm amazed how he keeps reinventing himself within a narrow niche.
Howards End is a typical costume drama with some class drama to infuse some added intrigue. If you're not swayed by the setting and costumes (like me), there's little else beyond endless dialogues to keep you awake. Those didn't do it for me either, which left me with very little. The performances are decent enough, but that's about it. The drama is bland, the presentation old-fashioned and the runtime is beyond excessive. I'm not the core audience for this film, but there's very little here to set it apart from similar ones, so unless you like a classic costume drama, think twice before sitting down to see this one.Read all
A fine drama with some darker thriller elements mixed in. The narrative elements were a bit too strong for me, I would've preferred a more core drama, especially as that's where Matsuo's talents appeared the strongest. But overall, this was a pleasant, well-paced film with plenty to like. The performances are strong, the presentation is pleasant and the dramatic parts are properly realized. I didn't care as much for the thriller elements, as they felt a little tacked on, but it's not that they actively annoyed me either. Matsuo shows a lot of promise, hopefully he can keep his career going.Read all
A fun film held back by poor CG (and practical effects). While their fantasy output is getting better, the lack of experience in sci-fi is posing a problem for Chinese streamers. There are many positives here, but the lackluster creature design and their flimsy realization get in the way of the enjoyment. The cinematography and editing are cool, and so are the sets. The film is short and well-paced, The Captives is overflowing with genre elements and there are definitely moments of greatness here. But consistency is a problem and whenever the aliens appear it's like looking at a dated videogame.Read all
Hollywood is the mecca of cinema, but few directors ended up making better films once they finally moved over there. Fritz Lang is another example of a man who had something interesting to add while working in Germany, but completely lost his touch once he crossed the ocean. The performances are mediocre, the drama is tiresome and the noir elements don't add much to the film. Clash by Night is also too long for its simple premise and Lang's direction is inconspicuous. It's another forgettable noir from a director who is capable of much more.Read all
Chinese folklore is very suited for horror cinema, the only problem is that they seem to be referencing the same few stories over and over again. Shuigui Bride is a fun and competent genre film, but it's also a story I've seen several times before. The same could be said about Western genre cinema, but I imagine Chinese folklore houses more suitable stories. So we're dealing with the ghost of a bride. Almost the entire film is set during nighttime, the cinematography is proper, the styling competent and the pacing brisk. China has become very skilled at churning out these cheaper streaming films, they rarely rise above their potential, but they're almost always amusing.Read all
A pretty straightforward drama, though in some places categorized as a dramedy, because there's generally a low bar for more arthouse-oriented films to get that label. The Second Mother isn't your typical misery porn tale, which is enough to label it a comedy, should there be any confusion. And that's about all there is to it. The performances are decent, the cinematography polished, and the drama a bit too predictable and compassionate. I didn't care too much for the characters and there wasn't much else to sink my teeth in. It's not a bad film, but not a very memorable one either.Read all
This is where it all started for Jaume Balaguero. The Nameless is also a template for many Spanish horror/thrillers appearing in subsequent years. It's a police procedural that takes the main characters through a nightmarish world, with some pretty graphic and disturbing sights along the way. The film is dark and eerie, the horror elements are relatively few but they are effective, and the performances are solid. It's a solid film, but I've seen one too many to be wowed by them, and there isn't much here that sets it apart from its peers. It's a good start to Balaguero's career, but far from his best work.Read all
A Spanish love triangle which has a few sweet moments (also a couple of steamy ones), but doesn't offer anything too interesting. I didn't care too much for the setting (1950s Madrid) and the presentation was also a little lackluster, but solid performances save the film from worse. The film is based on a true story, but the plot is so generic that I didn't fully understand why they bothered to disclose that info. The direction is decent, but nothing too out of the ordinary. It's a nice enough film, but it fails to stand out in any way and as such it didn't leave much of a lasting impression.Read all
Tsuruta, once one of the leading Japanese horror directors, ended up in China, making a simple streamer horror that feels flaccid and uninspired. Sure enough, the "web novel" setup gives it a more contemporary (Chinese) spin, but it's not enough to add much value to what is just a very basic horror film. The horror scenes are basic, the investigation is simplistic and the presentation feels cheap. Some scenes are decent, and Tsuruta has a lot of experience under his belt, but most of the film leans on clichés that were established more than two decades ago. It's time for something new.Read all
Turkish cabin fever on a boat. Don't expect an outright genre film though, this is a rather slow and deliberate film with light arthouse/international drama characteristics. The film takes its time to establish its characters and build up the tension, but the film never really delivers on its promise. The cinematography is nice, the build-up is decent and there are a few solid scenes, but the film is rather slow and the payoff is very slim. The film can't seem to choose between genre and drama, and in the end, it doesn't succeed on either account. It's not terrible, I just hoped for more.Read all
A nice mix of fantasy, romance, and drama, but not quite as touching as I remembered it to be. It's one of those films I watched quite early on in my quest to explore Japanese cinema, so back then it probably felt more unique. Almost 2000 films later, I've seen this mix of genres done better. It's a nice setup, somewhat original for a drama, with solid performances. The presentation is a tad too slick and the drama a bit too sentimental. There's also an extended concert sequence at the end that could've been cut short to ease the runtime. Overall, still very much worth a watch, but not the hidden gem I once thought it was.Read all
A pleasant Walter Salles. I was familiar with the title, not so much with the plot or setting. The premise is interesting and the performances solid, but it's Salles' somewhat delicate direction that makes the biggest difference. He takes his time to slow the narrative down to insert some moodier moments, which became the standout scenes. There's ample room for sentimentality, and Salles' direction isn't especially subtle, but he finds moments of sheer beauty that temper the raging emotions. The plot is interesting enough and the finale is fitting, the runtime isn't overbearing. A solid film, one that deserves a bit more praise.Read all
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Finally a movie about one of the most legendary and cinematic places Hong Kong has ever known (Kowloon City). And to make it even better, it is directed by Soi Cheang, one of the prime directors working in Hong Kong today. The film doesn't disappoint, with lush sets, amazing action scenes, and solid performances. It's an action spectacle of a magnitude that has been seen in Hong Kong for quite a while. Hopefully, this is the start of a new wave. And if not that, I'll be happy with one or two sequels.
Not on par with Jissoji's version, but a pretty decent sequel nonetheless. Its biggest problem is that it takes quite a while before the film gets going. The first half is a relatively straightforward war movie with few fantasy/horror elements present, the second half cranks things up a few notches, but it never goes overboard. The Last War takes its war drama a bit too seriously, especially for a film that thrives on genre cheese. The second half is much better, with nifty creature designs and several memorable moments. It saves the film from becoming a full-on disappointment, still, I was hoping for something a bit more fulfilling. Read all