Log: week 34 / 2024
Herman Yau keeps churning out movies, but like the rest of Hong Kong, he seems to be struggling. As an action thriller, Customs Frontline isn't too bad, the problem lies with the bland and unnecessary drama that lies in between, which also makes the film a lot longer than needed. There are plenty of familiar faces and Hong Kong does action pretty well (though in no way is this film a standout), so there's enough to keep the basic blockbuster fan entertained. On the other hand, it's a shame to see Hong Kong cinema barely keeping its head above water, they used to be a lot better at films like this. Decent entertainment, but far from the level they were capable of in the past.Read all
This is quintessential Bollywood cinema. If you've never seen a Bollywood film and have no clue what the fuss is all about, you should start with this one. It features two of its biggest stars, it runs through every genre imaginable, there's song and dance and the film lasts a good three hours. It's a delight if you like Bollywood cinema. If you don't, this is three hours of sugarcoated torture. The performances are childish, the songs are horrid, and the mix of genres is tiring (adding way too much to the runtime). It's like watching a bad soap opera condensed into a three-hour film. For fans only, but that goes for most Bollywood films.Read all
Inside Out was a big hit for Pixar, so a sequel was destined to appear. Going for puberty was the most logical choice, and Pixar is all about predictability, so there you have it. If you want to spend 90 minutes with a purebred American teen going through Hollywood's version of puberty, this movie is for you. The new emotions are annoying (and cliché), the voice acting is subpar and it's just not much fun spending so much time with a kid struggling with puberty. Other than that, this is a typical Pixar movie, deviating little to nothing from their usual template. I'm still waiting for this studio to venture outside their comfort zone.Read all
There are some big names attached to this film. Ray helms the film, while Lupino is credited as the lead actress and co-director. Not that it shows in the final result. On Dangerous Ground is a pretty bland and generic film noir, sporting the usual traits that do absolutely nothing for me. The acting is overstated, the plot is simplistic and lacks the tension needed to keep it interesting and the presentation is dull, despite the focus on strong black-and-white contrasts. The only positive here is that the film is short, clocking in well under 90 minutes, but the film certainly felt longer to me.Read all
A drama with slight arthouse sensibilities. The arthouse elements aren't too pronounced, at its heart this is a pretty straightforward mix of drama and romance, but the documentary bits and the somewhat slower pacing make this a slightly less accessible film. That's not a bad thing though. The setting is interesting, the performances are strong and Shinohara's direction is subtle. If you like the turn-of-the-century dramas this is an easy recommendation, but the film lacks a slicker finish to make an even bigger impact. Still, this is one of Shinohara's better films, it's a shame it took so long to surface.Read all
A pretty standard Western from Peckinpah. With films like these, it's pretty simple: either you like the setting, the characters, and the stories ... or you don't. I fall in the latter category, and even though I have a small preference for the Italian spaghetti western, the genre as a whole simply doesn't do it for me. The performances aren't great, the plot is pedestrian and the setting is terrible. There's nothing here that piques my interest, nothing that looks inviting or keeps my mind invested. The only thing that saves this film from an even lower score is that I've seen much worse still.Read all
Shimizu keeps on churning out outdated J-Horror movies. I'm a little surprised he still finds the budget for these films, as they don't seem to be doing too well. This time, the haunted object is a cassette tape and the victims are members of a popular boy band. If you've seen a handful of J-Horror films, you know what follows. The biggest problem is that the less-is-more approach just isn't that effective anymore. To make things worse, Sana's focus lies on the narrative and the concealed drama, which are as generic as they come. It's not a terrible film, the horror basics are covered, but the film never really goes beyond the bare minimum. Shimizu needs a reboot.Read all
Action cinema in the vein of Guns Akimbo and Hardcore Henry. It's not quite on the same level, but the action is well over the top, there's plenty of smirking and winking going on and the actors are clearly in on the joke. The setting is a little underdeveloped, but the action and brutality make up for it. Not everything works here (the voice-over is annoying and some of the secondary characters aren't up to snuff), but the things that do work more than make up for it. It's been a while since I've had so much fun with a film.
A classic silent that doesn't stretch itself too thin. The premise is straightforward: two people who are meant for each other bump into each other one day, but then they lose sight of each other again with no way of getting back together. It's one of the biggest romantic tragedies you can think of. While short, the setup of the plot takes a bit too long and the ending is somewhat of a cop-out. A bit more drama could've made for an overall stronger film. But the performances are nice, the pacing is pleasant and the short runtime is perfect. It's a pretty nice and agreeable silent classic, one of the better I've seen.Read all
A decent high school drama that goes through the motions, but struggles to add anything unique. The setup is interesting, with two insomniacs hooking up and trying to make the best of their affliction, but the film doesn't fully commit to its premise, adding extra drama along the way. The performances are solid but not too memorable. The presentation is pleasant without being too remarkable. It's a pleasant enough film, but there are so many similar ones that you need to bring a little extra to get noticed, and that's what this one is lacking. It's decent drama filler, but nothing more.Read all
A fine film that documents one of Australia's poorer governmental choices. Usually, I'm not the biggest fan of these types of films, but the soundtrack is a positive standout, and Christopher Doyle's work as a cinematographer is also a boon. It's the presentation that makes Rabbit-Proof Fence worth my time. The performances are nice too and the setup is pretty damning. The drama is a little on the nose though, and in lesser hands, this could've turned out to be bland Oscar fodder. Luckily Noyce keeps things more stylish, he also kept the runtime under 100 minutes, which deserves applause. A nice film, much better than expected.Read all
Another solid drama from Yuya Ishii. His oeuvre is littered with them, what it lacks though is a film that rises above the rest. The man can direct fine dramas, but that just happens to be the most prevalent genre in Japanese cinema, and the competition is brutal. It would be nice to finally see him directing something more than prime filler. The performances are strong, the chapter-based structure is good and there are some interesting twists and turns that urge the film in different directions, but the presentation is a little bland and despite some touching moments, the drama never really hit me the way it was supposed to. It's certainly not a bad film, just not one that stands out enough from so many others.Read all
This reminded me a little of the ensemble comedies of Koki Mitani, mixed with a murder mystery. It makes for a rather old-fashioned film, saved by a respectable cast and slick cinematography. The presence of Aoi Miyazaki in particular (it's been a while I believe) lifts this film up from mediocrity. The plot isn't the most interesting and the characters are all caricatures. It's the secondary cast that has the most fun, but it's Miyazaki's charm that keeps the film watchable. it could've been a little shorter and the story could've been a bit edgier, but this wasn't the worst of its kind.Read all
The kind of film that does well at the Academy Awards. The lead character has a serious handicap which he overcomes, and is part of a low-income family where life is harsh but the people have a warm heart. And to make things worse, this is a biography, pretty much the most unadventurous kind of cinema out there. Lewis does a decent job but nowadays people would surely raise an eyebrow at an abled man playing someone with cerebral palsy. Sheridan's presentation is absolutely dreadful, the film is a succession of bad clichés and Brown himself isn't the most pleasant person to hang with. The only way this could've been worse is if the film had lasted 2+ hours. That's the only good thing I have to say about this one.Read all
Iwai's early short movies are not to be missed. Undo is a lovely romance, sporting superb performances and boatloads of visual flair. On top of that, the soundtrack is on point and there is no excess whatsoever. The film is trimmed of all the fat, what remains is a slick, touching, and slightly abstract tale about a couple that gets tangled up in their love for each other. Despite its age, this is still a beautiful and poignant film.
Another fine Studio Ponoc film, but even a direct Ghibli spin-off struggles to replicate the success of the legendary anime studio. The Imaginary is a sprawling fantasy adventure, sporting lush animation and imaginative creatures and worlds, but the film is just a little too kid-friendly for my taste. It's not that there aren't any darker elements, the villain is quite scary and the plot has some adult themes (the film is based on a European children's novel), it's just that despite all the magic and wonder on display, it still feels quite familiar and predictable. It's worth a look if you're craving something Ghibli-like though, the core quality is there for sure.Read all